Shen Hui didn’t waste a moment, immediately leaping onto the platform. Those same deadly set of daggers hung around her waist. Her expression was one of irritated determination, yet not condescendingly so. Instead, it gave Ishin the impression of a powerful martial who was dealing with a frustrating but necessary fight.

  Her martial spirit is different than Deng Hai’s. On the one hand, there wouldn’t be any passion or enthusiasm pushing her toward victory. On the other hand, she wouldn’t suffer from a warrior’s pride.

  Regardless of Shen Hui’s temperament, Ishin knew better than to underestimate the young girl. His eyes examined those dangerous daggers wrapped around her waist. Shen Hui’s fingers were already curled around a pair of them, clearly only waiting for Elder Long Tusk to start the fight.

  She’s fast, and unlike Rhee I don’t have any defensive techniques. Not that they did her any good either.

  Still, unlike Rhee, Ishin knew what to expect. A benefit of undergoing the Gauntlet second. He brought his spear forward, assuming the second stance.

  She’s primarily a ranged combatant. I’ll have to close the distance if I want to win.

  Memories of Shen Hui’s daggers stabbing into Rhee crossed Ishin’s mind. He would have to avoid that fate. Besides, this battle wasn’t just to obtain a higher ranking in the Combat Hall, but to avenge Rhee. Ishin’s grip tightened on his spear.

  “Begin!” Elder Long Tusk announced.

  In a blur, Shen Hui swiftly drew and flicked a dagger directly at Ishin. Its metal blade glowed with pale light as it cut through the air toward Ishin’s chest. Ishin only had time to step to the right, barely managing to dodge the attack.

  It’s faster than my Indigo Sky Bolt, he realized as he heard the dagger pierce deep into some distant part of the platform. If I didn’t know what to expect, I would have been in trouble.

  But he had known, and now he would execute his strategy. Instead of wasting qi on his Indigo Sky Bolt technique, Ishin cycled as much qi to his legs as possible to increase his speed.

  Another glowing dagger soared toward Ishin as he advanced. With less distance between them, Ishin didn’t have as much time to react. He brought his spear up to block. The dagger collided with the dark metal spear shaft, the force of the impact vibrating through the weapon and into his arm. After a moment of resistance, Ishin shoved the dagger away. The light faded from the blade as the dagger fell to the floor with a clang.

  Ishin spared a glance at the spear shaft. There was a clear cut through the metal. In fact, the weapon had been stabbed halfway through. Ishin was momentarily stunned by the damage wrought from Shen Hui’s attack.

  No time to dwell on it. He resumed his charge, spear aimed at his opponent. Shen Hui had already drawn two new daggers. I just can’t block another attack in the same place.

  Ishin cycled another burst of qi to his legs and leapt into the air to close the final gap. As he descended, Shen Hui flung her two glowing daggers at him. They were both fast—faster than Ishin could normally react—but he wasn’t waiting for the daggers to reach him. Instead, he watched how Shen Hui threw them, predicting their trajectories from the motion of her hands and shoulders.

  Ishin twisted his body the moment the daggers were released, shifting to avoid the left dagger. He then angled the head of his spear to block the second, hoping that the thicker metal at the tip would handle the impact better than the shaft. Sparks ignited as the two metal weapons collided. The spear tip managed to hold, deflecting the dagger away, but the force of the impact was overwhelming. Ishin’s momentum was halted, and he fell to the ground on one knee instead of closing the final distance.

  The tip isn’t damaged.

  Before Ishin could rise, Shen Hui was atop him, surprising him with an aggressive assault. Two daggers in hand, she swiped at him repeatedly. Ishin brought up his spear to block the series of attacks, noticing that the daggers weren’t glowing.

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  Her speed is absurd, Ishin thought as he continued to parry the relentless slashes while still kneeling. There was no reprieve for him to stand. Shen Hui was forcing him into a defensive position where his mobility was hindered.

  She’s overcome our height disparity, Ishin realized, impressed. With their current positions, Shen Hui’s head was barely above Ishin’s. Truly a remarkable reversal.

  A downward slash came toward his head, so Ishin brought his shaft up to block. At the same time, an upward thrust targeted his ribcage. Ishin adjusted the lower end of his spear to bat the blow aside. It was a contest of attrition, Ishin recognized. Both martials were cycling their qi fiercely to enhance speed, neither offering the other a chance to employ greater techniques. Despite their matched reflexes, Ishin recognized his plight. The flexibility of Shen Hui’s daggers gave her the advantage, and before long she would be inside his guard. The hard truth was that at close range, twin daggers were a better weapon than a spear.

  She’s truly skilled, Ishin thought as a dagger blade skated off the upper edge of his spear shaft. It slid toward Ishin’s right shoulder, forcing him to crouch. The blade nicked his upper shoulder, leaving a red scrape. The wound was minor, but avoiding it forced Ishin into a lower position that made it harder to dodge and added strain to his legs.

  There!

  Shen Hui slashed downward at Ishin’s head. He knew the attack was designed as a distraction, forcing him to commit his entire weapon to guard his front so Shen Hui could strike his flank, but it was the opportunity he’d been waiting for. As the dagger fell, Ishin positioned his spear perfectly.

  The blade dropped into the gap Shen Hui had created with her earlier attack. Ishin heard a faint grunt from Shen Hui as she felt her dagger become lodged in the indentation. Ishin used her hesitation to twist his spear, flinging the dagger from her hand. Shen Hui reacted quickly, bringing her remaining dagger down, but without the burden of dodging two blades, Ishin erupted from his crouched position to the left.

  Pivoting on his heel, Ishin swung his spear at Shen Hui’s side. The girl vanished right before his spear struck.

  This technique!

  He looked around—and found Shen Hui had appeared in front of him. She thrust her dagger forward, seizing the opening left by Ishin’s failed swipe. At this distance, Ishin had no chance to dodge. Remarkably, it reminded him of his fight against his phantom self during his tribulation. Enlightenment came to him.

  This is going to hurt.

  Ishin stepped forward into the attack, adjusting his body so the dagger stabbed to the right of his stomach, avoiding a fatal strike. The pain of severed abdominal muscle was immediate and vicious, but Ishin was no stranger to pain. He cycled qi to his head and slammed his forehead into Shen Hui with full force. Ishin’s vision went white for a moment, and the cut on his forehead stung sharply from the headbutt. A soft gasp escaped Shen Hui, and Ishin felt her body tremble.

  When Ishin’s vision returned, he found Shen Hui’s hands had gone limp, leaving the dagger plunged into his side. Her jaw was open in silent agony, and Ishin felt something warm and sticky where their foreheads had struck. He pulled back and saw a vertical gash split Shen Hui’s forehead, twin trails of blood streaming freely.

  Shen Hui fell first to her knees, and then a moment later collapsed flat onto the hard, cold platform floor, defeated.

  A violent cough racked Ishin, brought about by the dagger still lodged in his side. He collapsed onto his rear and nearly fell backward, but managed to prop himself up with his arms. Ishin grimaced as his spear hit the floor.

  “Disciple Ro Ishin is the winner,” Elder Long Tusk announced.

  A discussion erupted from the few observing disciples, but Ishin couldn’t focus on anything being said. His attention was captured by the dagger impaled in his side.

  I have to get this healed. He was certain he wouldn’t die—not immediately, at least—but that might change if the wound wasn’t treated soon.

  A pair of disciples stepped forth and collected Shen Hui’s unconscious form, carrying her away for healing. As Ishin expected, no one moved to assist him. He found Jiang Yu watching him from the side of the platform, pleased.

  “Next is Disciple Zixuan Jun.”

  Ishin groaned. Just like I thought.

  He watched as a stocky man who appeared to be made of pure muscle stepped onto the platform. Unlike Shen Hui, this member of the Combat Hall wore a wide grin. His hair was tied into a tail that reached his waist, and he was a head shorter than Ishin. Curiously, there was no sign of scarring or injury on him, unlike Deng Hai or Shen Hui.

  “A pleasure to exchange pointers with you,” Zixuan Jun said with blatant glee. He offered Ishin a bow. “Do you require assistance, or can you stand on your own?”

  At least he’s polite.

  “I’ll manage,” Ishin answered, pushing himself up with effort. He pressed a hand against the dagger, preventing it from slipping out. Carefully, he walked over and retrieved his spear. “Let’s get this over with.”

  Zixuan Jun spread his fists to his sides. “I look forward to it!”

  “Begin,” Elder Long Tusk announced.