Authors Note
Im sorry I did not see that this chapter was a little bit creepy and filled with code-stuff. I don't know what happened there. I did everything as usual.
Well, I fixed that problem and hopefully it won't happen again.
I hope you still enjoy reading this.
The attack of the alliance was announced by a huge ringing bell around the whole valley when heavy winds blew around the place and dark clouds were gathering in the horizon.
Shiren waited up to this moment before start moving behind the lines of the alliance.
Now with them being distracted with fighting the Jade-Palace was the best time to sneak through the battlefield, according to his plan that is.
He hold at the start of the stairs right before the Hall of Heroes and collected his classmates on this place while warriors begun to run down the stairs towards the defences.
"This is it. Our final battle. Are you ready?" Shiren asked: "This is your last chance to go back. When we are down there, there will be no more time for hesitation. We win or we will lose."
"Is this a serious question?" Lao asked confusedly as he wouldn't suggest Shiren being serious here.
"No it wasn't," Shiren answered honestly: "I'm counting on all of you. Our goal is this mansion over there. And with it, this red fox," he said and looked shortly to the mansion. It was constructed with one tower and the rest of the mansion was formed into a circle around a big garden.
"And how do we get to it?", Yong asked: "You did not tell us so far. We need to go down the stairs. There is no other way unless we climb down a side path but… it would take too much time now."
Shiren forgot he only asked Lao for the enemies positions and Ku Zhan for possible strategies those solders would use to make his plan. He forgot that he never mentioned any kind of strategy: "We need to sneak past the fights as good as possible. But with the alliance being mostly distracted we should be good going past the major fights," Shiren explained: "I thought I already told you that."
"Sounds like a plan...", Yong said worried without answering about the topic if Shiren already told her or not.
"It gonna be fine. Our goal is the mansion, nothing else. Deny fights as most as you can and find your way trough. We need all straight we can get when we are facing Junjie. Lao, you said the first defensive line of the alliance comes right at the village?"
"Yes," Lao answered after Shiren summarised the plan.
"So we should be able to go this route," Shiren decided: "The fights are taking place on the stairs and the alliance has a disadvantage while climbing up this mountain."
Right as Shiren turned around and was about to go Ku Zhan stopped him: "Hold," he said and Shiren toured around again. "What is it? There is not time to waste now."
"I know. It's just: Wouldn't it be better for us to split up and we meet on the mansion? In a group we are way to easy to spot."
"You got a point.", Xing said: "But what if someone will not make it? Or maybe two or three of us?"
"It's a high risk, indeed.", Lao agreed but argued: "But it has a high reward. I can fly over you and look after you if you insist. But I suppose it is better to still stay close to each other. Maybe not as a clump but you know… a bit split but still in range to help if necessary."
"Lao, you are a genius, did I ever tell you that?" Shiren asked him.
"You can certainly do it more often," he answered and Shiren nodded.
"Good. If that's all: There is a war to end."
He wasn't sure if anything would work but until everything worked and it was the best strategy he was able to think about right now.
He did never talk to any of the members of the Jade-Palace. He did not even know what they were doing the whole time but he also did not care a bit.
Shiren was on his way down as he saw the battles between the Jade-Palace's forces and the alliance.
From all he has seen this was the most terrifying view he could imagine. People fought everywhere. Were all of the main battles of the army turned out like this?
How are people able to allow such things, he wondered. It was a real battle with weapons. He has never seen such a battle before. Despite all this he made himself to move on. As quicker he defeated Junjie as earlier does this stop.
He and his comrades moved like they planed. They passed by the most battles, split up often times but found each other very quick.
Shiren was acting on the assumption he could see Lao very easy but as he looked up the sky he just saw the other side of the battle. The birds battling each other in the air.
He really did not want to be any kind of part of this. For the first time he was actually really happy he left the alliance.
Yong, Xing and Ku Zhan did great too. They kept eye-contact often times to find a way down the battlefield. It was not always easy to deny fights while being busy not get attacked by anyone.
In a group of people though he lost the group and was not able to find them again and they did not even entered the entrance of the Jade-Palace. The place where all the show fights were taking place.
He had to hurry up and the fighters are moving the whole time. He had to move on.
Shiren entered the place where the Jade-Palace was doing it's show fights and tournaments. The first entry, and it looked bad. The buildings were already a bit broken and the gate was destroyed. People were fighting but not for any boxing matches.
He ignored the fights though and went straight on, downstairs and made his way to the gate.
But as he arrived there he heard someone talking to him. The voice was familiar to him. Sadly. He hoped he did not need to fight familiar faces right now.
"If the people would only tell things they understand, a huge silence would rule the world soon," Huan said as Shiren saw him. He was standing right on the gate which leaded to the outside of the palace. He looked at Shiren like a person he did no longer understand. In his face were fear to see. He was confused and appalled; He did not believe what he saw.
"Huan, what are you doing here? This is a battlefield.", Shiren said to him. As far as he remembered Huan was someone who avoided fighting as often as possible.
"Shiren… what are you doing here? On this battlefield? … On whom´s side?", he asked back.
"Huan, listen, I don't have the time to explain," Shiren tried to persuade and already looked downwards the way but Huan did not let him go on by going to him.
"As our chieftain told you run away from him… I did not believe what I heard. I suspected someone was tricking him while looking like you. But now I see what you really did. I'm appalled, Shiren. Why did you turn your back to the alliance? We are almost to win here. Why do you want to commit to the suffer of all this? The war could be over right now!" Huan wondered.
"Huan, you don't understand. Even if I would explain you why. But you can believe me, I´m doing it for all of us. For the greather good," Shiren tried to explain but Huan shook his head.
"You really do? This way you just betray all of your allies! Whatever your reasons are there was no reason to silence. You can talk with us and together we would been able to find a solution."
"I know. I do understand this but yesterday… I was overwhelmed with everything I was not able to decide correctly. You would understand if you would know about the Chi. Huan… I tell you something: I read the scroll. Now, do you think the alliance would still want me as their ally? Yes but… what do you think would happen to me?", he asked.
"It's no matter what I think. Even if you would be right… I can't. Please understand. I can't afford to get a traitor mark."
The one moment of insecurity of Huan made Shiren starts walking past him. "I know. You would not get a second chance. Just let me go and we forget about this. You don't need to go trough my suffer. It's okay when I do this alone," he tried to cheer his old friend up. But Huan did not found that statement very amusing.
"Your suffer?" Huan asked.
"Leaving everything behind and risk your entire life. Yes. It's mental hurt."
"Hurt… So you think you… are suffering from this?"
"… What's your point?" Shiren started wondering. He did not know where Huan wanted this conversation to go to but it seemed like there were some unspoken mysteries Shiren did not yet to discover.
"It's ironic. You do not look like you are suffering trough this process. Not at all. More like you found your true purpose."
"You know that's not right! I'm not here to fight the alliance! But I have to!"
"Damn it, Shiren! I hate to do this!" Huan spoke out loud as he started blocking Shirens path again.
Shiren looks silencing at him while he is preparing for fight.
Huan looked at him with anger in his face and said louder: "I think you overestimate what it means to feel true pain! I'll show you ´cause it's quite truly time you finally learn how true hurt feels like!"
"We don't have t-" But Shiren got interrupted by Huan who already tried to attack him and the fight begun.
Though all in all Huan was a peaceful soul and a kind person he was a very dangerous fighter.
A strike Shiren was just barely able to dodge. It was followed by a nearly simultaneously kick which made Shiren backing off. He looked at his friend running with an angry face at him. Ready to hurt him. Seriously this time. Shiren would have never expected to once fight against him in such circumstances.
The first few moments Shiren fought passively and tried to dodge and parry as most as possible. That made Huan directing the fight. His quick attacks gave no room to turn the tables. Huan put Shiren under so much pressure he had no other choice but to fall back.
Shiren took some seriously wounds before he hit his first counterattack against this berserk. Huan was skilled and strong but yet not perfect neither a master. His fighting stile was offensive. But he did not yet perfected it against a very thin, tiny and agile foe.
So Shiren used one good opportunity in Huan's defense and slithered behind him. Now he started to strike back like there was no tomorrow. He could not let Huan time to breathe. One perfect attack from him on the right spot could knock out Shiren very quick. He hated to be that fragile. That often he and Huan battled over the last year Shiren knew that Huan was aware of that. On the other side Shiren did not recognize anything Huan was doing, like he was fighting an entire other person.
Back in the training facility Huan was a balanced warrior with both good offense and defense which he switched very often which made him a good training partner.
But now it was just the offense. Shiren wondered why. Something brought him out of his patience.
But it was not the time to think about that.
Once Shiren made a mistake and attacked way to high.
Huan grabbed his tail immediately. He swung Shiren around and threw him away.
Shiren bounce on the ground heavily. But he was still capable to fight.
He immediately turned up and looked at Huan. He jumped to make a more powerful attack.
Shiren slithered away and used the momentum to make a counterattack.
That felt like back in the old days where he would say now: "And there is another punisher." As he would teach Huan to not make such mistakes on the battlefield like they used to do.
He felt so sad things turned this way. Huan always was a person Shiren could laugh with, playing games and just having a good time between all those lessons. He used to be a very adorable and such a kind and candid person.
Especially the last few days Huan was there for him as he lost his aunt. He protected him and made him so proud.
And now they fighting each other face to face and Shiren had no other option but to defeat him.
Shiren punished Huan's reckless attack and took another few hits at him before he stroke his shoulder and Huan backed off, heavily breathing.
"Damit, Shiren! Why are you doing this? I trusted you! I trusted you with my life!", he screamed.
"You know I still like you. But I must go through you if you won't step aside!", Shiren strictly answered before he realized Huan was actually crying.
"Why doing this?" Huan asked: "There are better ways we can handle this! Come back and we will discuss that!" This statement made Shiren taking a deep breath.
"No. I'll never going back. The my time with the alliance is the past now."
"I hate this sound of yours right now…" He tried to go up again but his wounds pushed him down again. "I… can't..."
"Huan, please just give up. There is no sense for you fighting any more!"
Huan looked at him with a cramped face but relaxed it after a few moments and he said: "… Damn, you're right… as always… Looks like I'll always be weaker than you. … Pass. I hope we do not see each other again."
"Huan…" Shiren tried to say something but Huan waved him away:
"GO!" while not anymore looking at him. Shiren hesitated but he realized there was nothing more to do for him anymore. He turned and went away.
During the fights Xing and Yon had their own battles on the field they did not manage to avoid. Some with more or less delight.
Yong already passed the main gate of the Jade-Palace and made her way down the stairs as she encountered a familiar face.
"Panggui! What a pleasure," Yong said very obvious ironically and looked at him like she was already pleased to see this guy in some kind of trash sack.
"Misses Yong, that's how you call yourself now?" he asked strictly polite with anger in his tone.
"I have no business with you. Step aside, the coward you are. You always have been," Yong answered menacingly.
"I do not have to listen to such a kind like you. You know I've made my research. Princess."
Yong fold her arms and said: "Don't call me that like it would actually effect anything! I thought you would be satisfied having my place in that tiny village."
Panggui stepped one step forward and put a fist on his chest and said proudly: "I took this place because someone had to. I must ask you to return with me at once so we can settle things ordinary."
Yong laughed loosely:"If I would have time, maybe, but sadly neither do I want to. I know you just want your little tiny trial just to ban me again or something. Now be a good politician, move aside and let me pass or I will really consider going back but just in order to set your house on fire before I leave again."
Panggui grew nervously: "You won't… dare! Your parents really did a mistake with you."
Yong chuckled but grew serious: "Hah. Of course. Now you play innocent as always. Just because I won't listen to stories you maid up, it does not mean I have no respect or something. But I'm running out of patience. I have some actually decent people waiting for me."
Panggui readied up to attack Yong:"By the pride of the alliance I will take you down."
Yong didn't take any fighting position as seriously as her opponent did and simply answered: "Yeah. Like you ever had something to do with pride. Do your worst."
The fight did not take long. Yong knew her advantage with the high ground and was aware about the skills of her foe. He was a politician as far as she remembered. And since back then as she left her village she did not expected him to actually training Kung Fu or something.
After the fight against Mei there was nothing she feared any much longer.
She attacked first, dodged his two attempts of striking and got two magnificent punches on his upper part of the body.
He tried to back off but slipped on the stairs. Yong, recklessly bumped him down a few more stairs. He laid with the face down and as he tried to go up again Yong put him down again with her foot and unemotionally looked down at him when he said:
"That looks not good, I must admit but with everything I've got I will prove my rightful place in-"
Yong strengthened the pressure a little bit when she interrupted him: "I'm getting real tired of your trash speech bullshit."
"You will regret this. Mark my words."
Yong simply rolled him aside so he fell further down the stairs.
"I've already forgotten them," she said quietly and moved on.
Xing felt bad right as she saw a white fox coming her way. She recognised his yellow armour immediately.
"Woah, Xing? Hey! Over here!", Huyuan called.
"Huyuan, what's the matter? I'm quite busy right now," she answered and tried to keep the conversation short.
Huyuan was a bit out of breathe when he said: "Of course I just… want to come with you. I was in panic as you did not return yesterday. I almost thought they got you. And as you already know, your family paid me to protect you so… I'll make sure nothing happens to you."
Xing nodded slightly. "Thank you, that's sweet but I'm comfortable to do just fine."
"No. I don't want to risk anything. You have to understand. It's not just the job, you know? I do not want you to get hurt… princess."
Xing felt bad. She remembered Huyuan saved her life once already as she, naively, tried to do a very dangerous mission on her own because she somehow thought she was already the best fighter in the world. It was the time her family hired him at first as a protector right as he returned with Xing.
"You can't, Huyuan."
Huyuan stood still for a moment and tried to figure out her motive: "Wait. Why not?", he perplexedly asked.
"Because I am currently on my way to this villa there!" Xing explained and pointed on the mansion.
"Why? As far as I remember this is not a secret place of the Jade-Palace. There is nothing in there."
"There is, but you better do not follow me if you do care about your honour," she said honestly.
Huyuan's expression grew dark and sad: "… So the rumours are right. Someone started calling you and your friends turned to the Jade-Palace."
Xing explained her position immediately: "I did not. I do not care about anyone of them. But Shiren is right. We need to fight Junjie. He is a user of the Chi."
Huyuan grew angry: "That's betrayal! Xing, I know you a long time now but I never would had suspected you to do any kind of… that."
She sighed. "I can't fully believe I really do this either. But it has to be done. Now you know it and I do not want to put you into this too."
"No no no, not that fast! I promised to protect you! I've sworn it," he said loud, slow and clear.
"And I do appreciate it. This has nothing to do with you."
The last thing Xing wanted to do is fighting him but she slowly realized Huyuan wasn't the man she could persuade now.
Huyuan went desperately: "You don't understand. It's not about me, it's about what you're doing. Hell, I want to believe you but I can't let you pass!"
"Step aside, Huyuan! This is not funny!" Now she and Huyuan both got an angry tone in their voice.
"Hell, it's not. Not at all. I've sworn to protect you. And if it means I have to fight you, I'll do no less!"
Xing knew she would not be able to do a long fight with Huyuan. She certainly had people waiting for her right now.
But she also was not able to fight someone she did not want to fight. She did not want to go that far to actually fight a friend. And he saw in his eyes his will was not about doing this fight either.
After a short hesitatingly fight Xing came over herself for one minute and started fighting Huyuan back down the stairs and with his high disadvantage he wasn't up to fight her any much longer:
"Ungh alright! I can't fight you any more! I've failed… Go as you please. … But this will have consequences," he said as he surrendered.
"I know, Huyuan. I'm sorry."