Qingxuan returned to the clan at almost sundown, speeding through meandering pathways until he landed at the gate. After having received the interspatial ring, he figured out the mechanics of it and placed nearly all his items within, leaving on the Silent Gale Bow which he hung across his torso.
He slowed down when he got to the entrance and walked silently towards his room. As he made his way, he suddenly stopped when he felt a gaze on him. Someone was staring at him from behind. A tall youth with a weird smile cleared his throat. "You're Qingxuan right? We thought you were dead or something.. See you at the arena.."
Qingxuan heard everything and simply walked off uncaring. The youth threw his head back and laughed before walking off as well.
'Arena?' Qingxuan's head tilted to the side. He really had no idea what was going on, and then he paused. Realisation dawned on him. Three weeks had passed. Today was the day he and Mu Jiangbo were to face off.
"How annoying.." He scratched the back of his neck and kept walking. Fear? There were millions of things in the world he feared. Mu Jiangbo was not one of them..
He got to his room, unlocked the door and saw a sight that made his heart skip a beat. Aunt Lin was standing by the side, watching him intently with eyes that could kill.
"Aunt- Aunt Lin. You look good.." He laughed embarrassedly and scratched his head.
"You brat! You've been out there for two weeks, and here I was worried sick about you. Come here!!" She lounged like a tiger, and grabbed his ear, pinching and twisting to her heart's content.
"Ouch! Ouch! I'm sorry, sorry.." Qingxuan's screams of plea fell on deaf ears and she pinched his ears until she was satisfied. She wasn't going to let him off easily.
"Do you know how worried I was?!" She stopped after a while and then examined to see if he was hurt in anyway.
"Ouch.. That really hurt.." Qingxuan rubbed his sore ears that had now turned pink. Aunt Lin wiped the tears that threatened to fall and then rolled her eyes coldly. "Next time I'll bite them off.." She retorted and walked into the room with him.
"Where exactly were you?" She demanded to know. But Qingxuan placed his bow to the side and sat on his bed.
"Aunt Lin, you know, you've done so much for me, I could never truly repay you." Qingxuan grabbed her calloused palms. "Back then, my heart bled whenever I thought of the struggles you faced, the tears you shed, and the troubles you endured just to take care of me..
My prayers have long been answered, Aunt Lin. The Heavens do have eyes. And I promise, you'll never ever have to struggle a day in your life ever again. From here on, I'm going to take care of you. And I'm going to make your heart's desires come true.." Qingxuan laid out a heart felt speech, and the tip of his nose turned sour.
He really did mean every single word, except on a normal day, he'd rather not have to say all this. But Aunt Lin would absolutely not let him off without an explanation of his whereabouts so he had to pull out one of his trump cards.
"Oh, you little brat! She hugged him tight. You had your mother's heart.." Tears fell down her eyes, and then she turned her gaze to the skies. "I hope you can see this Lan'er. Your son has your heart.." She wept bitterly.
Qingxuan hugged her for a while and then sent a will into the interspatial ring on his finger. A bag fell into his arms, and packed within were hundreds of low grade Yuan stones.
Aunt Lin's eyes widened in shock. "This-This.." Qingxuan smiled. "This is the start of our new life, Aunt Lin. Wait, just wait for a little while, I'll take you out of this god forsaken clan and show you the outside world. Just trust me.."
He pushed the bag to her and patted his chest boastfully. She smiled and pinched his cheeks. "I guess you're a little man now huh. Okay I trust you." She smiled sweetly.
'Growl..' His stomach began to growl which made Aunt Lin giggle.
"I'll make you something to eat.." She stood up, about to leave, when multiple footsteps surrounded the courtyard.
Qingxuan stood up instantly and picked up his bow, before walking in front of Aunt Lin. He rubbed his temples, knowing what exactly was going on..
Outside the courtyard, more than a dozen youths crowded. In their lead, Mu Rong stood proudly, holding onto a blazing torch.
"Qingxuan! You son of a bitch! You challenged Senior brother Mu Jiangbo to a battle on the arena! By the rules of the clan you are required to be present on the arena to battle!
Failure to do so, will lead to expulsion from the clan, or worst case, death!!!"
His voice boomed, and the youths behind him roared in jubilee.
"I know you're in there, you little bastard. If you don't come out now, I swear, I'll burn this trashy home of yours to the ground, along with you and that bitchy Aunty of yours.." He laughed maniacally and hefted the torch upwards, ready to let it fly into the room.
CREAK!
But, the door slowly unlocked, and slowly, he stepped out. Qingxuan', with a nonchalant expression looked past the crowd and allowed his gaze to peer into the distance.
"Qingxuan, you don't have to go…" Aunt Lin grabbed his arm.
But he shook his head. "It's alright. Make sure you prepare that meal. I'll surely come back with an appetite.." He whispered to her and flashed a smile.
And then he turned around and walked down the stairs into the crowd fearlessly. The crowd parted as he made his way. A single stare from him made hearts palpitate, as if a God was staring down at mortals.
He walked through them, until his finally came face to face with Mu Rong.
Qingxuan stared him down in the eyes. A glare that made his legs weak and almost take a step back. Mu Rong grit his teeth. Qingxuan's eyes were covered, blind even, yet he felt a pressure bear down on him.
Even still, he forced out a maniacal laugh. "When Jiangbo tears you apart, I'll be there to put an end to your miserable existence…" His voice was low, yet almost everyone could hear.
Meanwhile, Qingxuan took his gaze off him and walked past him emotionlessly, heading towards the arena, while the crowd followed behind.
The arena was only a couple of minutes away. And even around there, the audience were packed. Most of them were here to see the most talented genius of their generation, Mu Jiangbo tear down a helpless boy. Some even placed bets on how many moves he'd need to take down Qingxuan.
One youth laughed in the middle of the crowd. "I'm going to make so much money today. You bastards really think a blind brat would last 3 moves against senior brother Jiangbo?!"
Another responded. "A bunch of overthinking retards! This is a one move battle!"
"You all are idiots. I heard Qingxuan beat Mu Rong one on one and left him bleeding. This battle will be close.." One youth shook his head.
"You're right. Qingxuan might look frail, but he's not to be underestimated. there's something off about that fellow.."
Qingxuan got to the arena and spotted Mu Jiangbo standing with his arms crossed and a wide smile on his face.
"You showed up after all. Hahaha! I was beginning to think you were too scared to come face me.."
Mu Jiangbo laughed and stretched out his arms, before cracking his neck and knuckles.
Qingxuan resisted the urge to smirk and jumped into the ring effortlessly.
"Oh? You do have some ability afterall.." Mu Jiangbo scoffed arrogantly.
"Fists and legs do not have eyes. Until you accept defeat or are knocked out, I'm bound by rules to continue tearing you down. I might accidentally cripple you or even take your life, but don't blame me little brother. You brought this upon yourself by challenging me.."
Mu Jiangbo's voice echoed across the entire arena. His intentions were clear. He was not going to hold back. Since Qingxuan dared to challenge him, he'd pay with his life or leave a piece of him behind. There was no refereeing to halt the battle in case things were beginning to go wrong. With only enough strength will one be able to walk in and out of the ring in one piece.
A/N: Review?
"He's straight up threatening Qingxuan at this point…"
Someone in the crowd shouted.
"Qingxuan accept defeat now, or there'll be no chance for you when the battle starts!" Someone else screamed from within the crowd which earned that person murderous looks from the crowd.
Meanwhile, Qingxuan wasted no words and simply stared him down like he was looking at a retard.
"Let's begin then!
Flaming Metal Fists!!
Die!!"
His fists began to glow red, as if a hot furnace was being refined in his core. He took a step forward and leapt into the skies before he descended with a punch that soared with incredible destructive power.
BANG!