Polished marble pathways lead to the training grounds.
Men stood in regal silk robes, golden engravings on their backs.
What started as raucous cheers was now a dull mumble.
Elem stood in the centre of the training grounds, his sword raised to a defeated guard's neck.
The score was 3-0.
Danho and Santa stood at the other end of the training grounds to observe Elem's duels.
"Stop wasting our time and bring out someone stronger!" Santa shouted at the guards.
"Emperor's guard my ass! Even a bandit could kill the emperor with you buffoons as his guard." Danho shouted, his gaze trailing to the emperor who stood beside him.
"Please shut up," Elem mumbled as he pleaded to Danho and Santa.
Disgruntled jeers resounded from the guards as they were finding a guard who could rip the flesh from Elem's bones.
"Even a bandit could kill me at this level. Bring out stronger guards!" The emperor shouted at his guard with a sheepish grin on his face.
You too...?
Elem thought to himself as he stared at the emperor who was sharing a laugh with Danho.
Just then loud thuds resounded through the grounds; each step bore the weight of a silverback.
A shadow was cast over Elem.
"..." He turned around to face his next opponent.
"Ape...?" Elem mumbled as he saw the monolith of a man he was to face next.
"What did you just call me?" Gong Jing, the emperor's guard, asked.
The blood drained from Elem's face as he noticed the demonic contortions on Gong Jing's face.
"You said it right, Elem. The emperor must have nabbed an ape's child for his guard. Your perception is amazing!" Danho added fuel to the fire.
"Elem, I know he has a face even a mother couldn't love, but to say it out loud is too harsh." Santa chimed in; the contortions on Gong Jing's face grew even more furious.
"I was wrong, my guards. I didn't know you hired people to protect me from beauty traps as well!"
Gong Jing pulled out his sword silently; its length alone stood taller than Elem.
Elem sighed as he gave up on the arsonists behind him and drew his sword.
"Let's have a clean, good fight without trying to hurt each other...!"
Gong Jing glared at Elem; veins bulged through his neck.
"I'm going to kill you."
A fierce red qi burst from Gong Jing's arms as he entered an overhead stance.
Elem turned to his side and extended his sword to Gong Jing.
"Begin!"
The wind roared as Gong Jing's colossal sword hurtled towards his opponent's skull.
A shrill clang sounded through the air before the sword crashed into the ground.
Elem's swift sword stood pointed at Gong Jing's neck; a dense golden aura emanated from the blade's tip. The air hummed as an extension of the sword's vibration.
The colossal sword stood merely an inch away from Elem, its massive edge buried a foot into the ground.
The training grounds went silent.
Voices crept through from the imperial guard's side.
"He defeated that Gong Jing in a single exchange...?"
"Forget about that idiot. Look at the tip of his sword!"
"Is that sword qi?"
The guard's disgruntled mumbles turned to excitement.
"Danho... you didn't tell me the warrior you brought was the Deep Cold sect's leader." The emperor spoke.
"He isn't the Deep Cold sect's leader."
"Then he must be the fourth heaven, Alexander of the west."
"He isn't Alexander of the West either. And don't refer to us as the Five Heavens; we are just glorified warriors."
The emperor went silent, his brows furrowed.
"Are you telling me that there are four people in the plains who can use sword qi now?"
"I'm not telling you anything. You have seen for yourself."
The emperor scratched his chin as he watched Elem's sword.
"Have you come to meet the first sword?"
"Yes. While he is capable, his sword path still needs refinement. I want him to learn a few things from your first sword. I also came here to make you spit out that thousand-year Lay Mou you've been hoarding."
At the scene of the battle, Gong Jing stood still.
Elem lowered his sword from Gong Jing's neck and bowed.
"Your strike was very powerful; I had no option but to use my sword qi. I also ask for your forgiveness. My friends and I made very thoughtless comments."
The contortions on Gong Jing's face eased up. He spoke as he scratched the back of his head.
"I'm honoured to have had a chance to fight an advanced sword master. Your praise means a lot to me. As for the comments, it's alright; I already know that I'm ugly." Gong Jing returned Elem's bow.
The guards began cheering at Elem and Gong Jing.
Danho chimed in.
"Elem, I never expected you to be so cruel. How could you insult such a good man?"
Veins popped across Elem's temples.
"Shut up, you old monster."
Elem covered his mouth immediately and began apologising to Danho.
"Hahahahaha, it's alright, Elem. I was pushing you too far." Danho responded with a smile on his face.
Santa stared at the two with an aggrieved expression.
When he says it, it's alright. When I say it, I get beat down...
***
The afternoon sun soon hid beneath the horizon; the moon came to take its place.
Dim reflections undulated across the surface of Qinghai Lake.
The emperor and Danho sat in an opulent pavilion built of the finest mahogany and adorned with prized jewels from across the eastern plains.
"You've been living in squalor, haven't you, Jin?" Danho remarked as he took a sip of the thousand-year Lay Mou he so desired.
"You could have all this if you joined my court, strongest man alive." Emperor Jin spoke with a hearty laugh.
"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint. Even if I joined your court, I'm no longer the strongest master on the Five Plains."
The emperor took a sip of his liquor, his gaze sharpened.
"So the rumours were really true..."
"You already knew, didn't you, you sly bastard?" Danho spoke as he nudged Jin in the ribs.
"Hahaha, of course I knew; I'm the emperor, you know."
"Tell me, do you think the new strongest would be willing to join my court...? Of course your offer is still on the table."
Danho laughed as he emptied his cup.
"Well, I'm sorry to tell you this. Your recruitment is a bit too late. That man will probably be done with the guardians soon."
The laughter in the pavilion stilled.
"It seems the alliance wasn't lying."
"You really are a sly bastard. Did you call me here only to validate all your information?"
"Ah... Don't get mad, brother. As the emperor, I must know of all things that go on in the Five Plains." Jin spoke as he filled up Danho's cup.
Danho took a puff of the pipe and exhaled slowly.
"Don't worry, I understand. Just drop the pretence with me; you're making me feel like a stranger."
"I'm sorry, brother."
Danho patted Jin on the back and continued drinking.
"Do you plan on challenging the guardians as well?"
"Yes. In five years, I will enter the Demon Continent one last time."
"Were you able to complete your technique?"
"I've gone as far as I can with it. But I'm still lacking something. I feel the answer lies in the continent."
"Hm... I wish you the best, brother. Don't hesitate; if you need something, I can help."
Danho watched the undulations of the lake in silence; the flavours of the Lay Mou coated his mouth.
"Thank you, Brother Jin."
"No need for thanks. If it weren't for you and the first sword, I would've died in the hunt back then."
Danho passed the pipe to Jin.
"On that note, where is that old coot?"
"He headed to your companion's quarters the moment I told him there was a young man who could use sword qi."
The two shared a laugh; the pipe's smoke wafted through the pavilion.
"I pity the kid. To think he would fall into the first sword's hands." Jin spoke with a smile.
"Well, let's hope Elem gains something from the first sword's torture."
Their glasses clinked, its sound permeating through the silent Qinghai Lake.
***
Beyond the eastern plains, deep inside the Demon Continent, silence gripped the forest.
The budding leaves of early spring had now grown fully.
The moon's presence reflected off dew drops on trees; a campfire crackled amidst a canopy of trees.
Vera sat with his back rested against a tree; his eyes were fixed on a lake in front of him.
"Vera... Why should I stay behind with Sword Dog?" Mei asked in an aggrieved tone.
Perfectly cooked skewers of meat rested near the fire untouched.
Sword Dog lay down near Vera; silent whimpers permeated through the air.
"Mei, I've made up my mind. Don't ask anymore." Vera responded as he combed Sword Dog's fur with his hands.
"But—"
Mei's protests were cut off as Vera shook his head.
"The skewers are ready. Eat them before they go cold."
Vera's gaze returned to the lake; his grip over his halberd tightened.
Cold winds rustled the leaves.
The forest's symphony was heard by both the challenger and the last guardian.