Once the rays of the morning sun filled Two Rivers with its warmth, the small village began to bustle with life. Two Rivers was a quiet town, with less than two hundred in population, but it was peaceful and serene. It was the perfect home to many. Trading ships would ensure the financial stability of the village, and several merchants would set up their shops for a few weeks offering new trends and medicines developed from the outside world. Two Rivers would receive few visitors, mostly visiting family or a rare sailor that had been stranded. Two Rivers was also home to a small martial arts school led by an elderly man, most called Master Li.
He had established the school in Two Rivers, teaching the local villagers and small children what he knew in the ways of martial arts. At first, he taught his students in his humble home, but soon the small village began expanding as did his school. Villagers gifted with the skill of architecture built a circular arena for Msater Li as thanks for his services since the village was poor in the ways of currency. Over the years, more students came from the Imperial City to learn from Master Li, and his school grew. To accommodate, student lodgings and practice rooms were built. And though Master Li acquired new students throughout the years, he decided to keep the school small. When he was asked why, he would answer that he was becoming an old man, and it was becoming difficult to watch so many vigorous young adults, and to train them properly. Though he had mentioned that he planned on giving the school to a special pupil when the time came
Wu the Lotus Blossom stretched her legs and arms, occasionally dropping in a fighting stance to test her balance and become accustomed to the ground of the sparring ring. She recognized other students practicing their sets and katas, waiting for their turn to use the ring. A gentle breeze blew through the school, causing numerous leaves to rustle to life. Wu felt her hair dancing with the wind, welcoming the soft breeze. She pulled her hair back lightly and wrapped a ribbon around the middle of the long strands. Though her focus had improved significantly in the last few years, she would never allow any level of distraction that could affect her sparring matches. However, she did not like the feelings of being restricted or bound tightly, so she always loosely tied her hair back before a bout.
To her left, she saw student Wen practicing the form of Heavenly Wave. His knees would buckle every now and then, but he had been learning to keep his
balance and shift it accordingly. When their eyes met, she lifted her hand in greeting. "Good morning," she said loud enough so he could hear her.
"Good morning, Senior Student!" he said happily. He gave her a small bow, then continued his training.
"I see you're up bright and early," said a cheerful voice, behind her. She turned to see her first sparring partner of the day, Jing Woo.
They both bowed to each other respectfully, one opened hand that closed over a fist. Wu remembered asking Master Li what the gesture signified. His words echoed through her memories, "My student, the closed fist means that you have strength and power, but to have the other hand covering your fist means that you have the ability to control it." It had taken her years to learn how to control the potential that Master Li had nurtured, raised, and cause to bloom within her. Though she knew, she was far from being a master.
"Ready for your first match of the day?" Jing Woo asked with a bright smile. He dipped into the stance of Legendary Strike, set on uses powerful kicks to bring her down.
Wu smiled as well, using the same stance. "Begin," she said. Jing Woo charged with a fury of strong and balanced kicks, roundhouse after roundhouse. Wu swiftly blocked each one successfully, side stepping whenever she felt that she could become overwhelmed. Deep down she knew that she could easily overtake Jing Woo, but this was a learning experience for him. Like Master Li had taught her, she was now responsible for being a model for the junior students. Beating them down within seconds would not teach them anything; however, there was already a student who thoroughly believed in that philosophy.
Jing Woo let out short deep breaths, emptying his lungs with each strike. Wu felt an extra surge of pride when he came at her with more force than he normally would. That small gesture proved many things. He wasn't intimidated of her, he realized that he would have to exert more of himself if he wanted to beat her, and he wasn't intent on holding back because she was a woman.
They had made their way back to the center of the ring, and this time Wu sensed the presence of the others watching. She kept her guard up, dodging or blocking whenever necessary. When she saw her opening, she swiftly changed to Thousand Cuts, and dealt swift blows to Jing Woo's abdomen, causing him to hunch over in pain. The moment he shifted his weight to support himself, Wu
took advantage of his position, crouched and swept his legs from under him. Jing Woo landed roughly on the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and dirt.
Wu waited patiently for Jing Woo to compose himself. When he stood, he bowed to her again, and she followed. "One of these days, I'll beat you," he coughed with a smile.
Wu patted him on the shoulder. "That day is not far off. You've improved much since you came to Two Rivers." She had meant every word. Master Li had practically been a father to her since she had been a baby, so she had the advantage of learning from his teachings since she could walk and speak. Jing Woo had only attended the Two Rivers school for a couple years, and his performance each day has bested previous ones.
"You are humble, senior student," Jing Woo said. He looked over her shoulder suddenly. When she turned, she saw Master Li walking back into his home. "Did you see that? Master Li was watching," Jing Woo said excitedly. "He takes great pride in his students, especially you."
Wu let out a nervous laugh and began dusting off the wrappings around her arms. "You know how I feel about favoritism, Jing Woo…" she said.
"Oh, I know," he said with a laugh. "But you should also know that no one here takes to you unkindly. In fact, every person here looks up to you."
Wu heard Student Lin's snobbish voice perk up. "Except Gao the Lesser of course," she said with a smirk. "Everyone knows he dislikes you, and from what I'm hearing, it's bordering on hate." Wu saw Student Lin entering with a Bo Staff, stretching her arms and back.
"As I said, every 'person' looks up to her. To qualify as a person, you have to be human…" Jing Woo scoffed.
Wu knew that Gao the Lesser was a superficial and spoiled man, and she never truly understood why he loathed her with such passion. "That's enough you two." She turned to Jing Woo. "Another round?"
Jing Woo held up his hands. "Master Li had asked to see you once we were done. It's nothing pressing from what he said, but sometime before noon, he wanted to see you."
Wu bowed again to Jing Woo. "Thank you. Maybe we can continue this later today." She smiled when she saw the faint blush on Jing Woo's cheeks.
She left the sparring ring, and started up the steps toward Master Li's home. The sliding door suddenly opened, and she saw Gao the Lesser emerge, quite angry. When his cold dark eyes found her, he spit in her direction. "Pathetic."
Wu frowned, hating the confrontations with Gao, but he seemed to pick them whenever he could. She walked up two more steps before he cut her off. "The old man wants to see you first. Once you are finished with your little meeting, only then will he focus on my training." He continued to glare at her with venom. Wu wondered what he would look like when he wasn't scowling all the time, or if his face could conjure a smile, even an insincere one. His features were always distorted, twisted in an ugly way, the same way his soul was. She didn't think that Master Li could help him. Gao just seemed so… lost.
"I was training with Jing Woo," she explained. "Had I known out sparring would keep Master Li from teaching you, I would have asked for an evening match."
Gao stepped toward her, invading her personal space. She could feel his breath on her cheeks, but she didn't cower from him. "Well, if you would just finish the whelp in one solid blow, I wouldn't have to wait," he hissed.
"You know, the students are unable to learn from that-" she said, but again he snapped back.
"The weak are left to defend themselves. They should realize it is foolhardy to confront the strong. I believe it is an important lesson they should learn, and if they do not want to learn it themselves, then it should be beaten into them."
Wu shook her head, feeling a headache developing. "You are wrong, Gao. The weak today may become strong tomorrow."
Gao pushed past her, not bothering to look back. "Just finish your damn lesson already, star student. Enough of my precious time has been wasted on you."
Wu felt a hand on her shoulder, and she recognized the warmth of Master Li. He stood beside her. "I am sorry you must endure him daily, Student Wu. I had hoped that he could learn from you, perhaps even learn to respect you, but I fear he is pushed back further with each passing day." He gently pushed on her shoulder, leading her into his home. "Come, we have much to discuss."