When the last remnants of the storm fell down on the wet and muddy ground at the Valley of peace Junjie prepared his last defence, still cocksure of himself to be victorious with thieves and mercenaries on his side.
On the other hand Ku Zhan organised a final attack on the courtyard on order to break through Junjie's defence and arresting him to the Jade-Palace which was still occupied with the forces of the alliance.
Ku Zhan went straight for an attack. He was sick of getting jaded. 2 times were way enough for his like.
So while Shiren, Xing and Lao distracted his forces and with Yong covering him he went straight for the first strike without hesitation by attacking multiple times with his staff.
Junjie was prepared for a fight this time. He dodged the first three hits. Then he countered with a strike on his own. Ku Zhan parried quickly and immediately fought back again. He knew he must not let Junjie time to break his defence. Yong was still there to look after him but Ku Zhan wanted it to end as quickly as possible. Junjie jumped back and still kept his eyes on Ku Zhan, who begun to talk:
"Junjie… You started that war and you took so many people into suffer! With that you thorned so much apart from this province and the Jade-Palace just barely stays now! When do you have enough? What is it else for you to take? How many people do need to suffer until you finally stop?"
Junjie was calm, focussed and sober when he looked at him and answered: "Just five..."
Ku Zhan understood but stood calm and took a deep beath. He knew just one mistake could ruin this engagement. Junjie may not has been as strong as Kai was but he still was a user of Chi, that's the most threateningly issue.
A few more times Ku Zhan tried to defeat him with his staff. He attacked multiple times with it and got one hit on him. But he just was not quick enough for Junjie who managed to catch the staff at some point. Ku Zhan immediately let go of it and started a melee attack with his pure fists.
He would not waste time here by any case.
After a few seconds of dancing paws Junjie got an excellent hit with his foot against Ku Zhan and threw him away.
Seeing that Yong immediately went in and stood against Junjie for Ku Zhan to protect him before there was any chance to take his Chi.
She caught Junjies attention by faking an attack on him and then position herself swiftly behind him. He immediately turned around and Yong backed off one step. She looked at his posture and sought for a lack in his defence.
In order to hide her investigation on him she begun to talk: "Don´t think I have any mercy to any kind of yours," she said very angrily but still calm. While she spoke she clearly controlled her feelings and did not show any weaknesses in her tone, like she used to before she started learning Kung Fu.
Junjie replied: "I never intended to ask you for mercy but I could recommend you to do so." He though seemed to look through Yong and knew what she was up to do.
Reading his comfortable face she decided to stop the conversation-part: "Hah! Yeah of course. I´m not a woman of words so we might end this and put the formalities apart."
"Right. It never had any use for them in the first place…"
Yong put up a relatively decent fight against him. She fought carefully and more passive than Ku Zhan did. She never attacked more than once at a time. Junjie seemed to be very adaptable. He quickly adapted to her fighting stile but it did not wonder her.
She knew Junjie was facing Shifu and his students often times, according to what she heard about him back in the Jade-Palace.
The combat between Yong and Junjie was not something plebs would call a real fight. It more looked like they were playing chess or something. Yong made careful moves and backed off right when Junjie made an attack to her.
Normally Yong's fights never took that long. In normal conditions she would surprise her victim and getting a high advantage right in the first few seconds of the fight and built up on it during the fight. But Junjie was way more experienced than anyone she ever faced.
Maybe the other person which would be as strong as him would be Mai from the Jade-Palace but Yong never fought her in order to win. She just brought time as much as she was able to and retreated before it was too late.
This time she could not retreat and she needed to defeat him.
During their long fight Xing called from behind: "I do not like to interrupt but we need some help here! We got a… situation."
Indeed she, Lao and Shiren were overwhelmed by enemy reinforcements. Lao was fighting two people at once, Xing just finished one thread and immediately got attacked by the next foe while Shiren was aggressively attacking three at once but he fought into another direction and it did not look like he paid much attention to his allies.
Junjie grinned at her and went away, to the side of the river. She tried to stop him but missed her hit. She wasn't able to follow him since she should not ever do it alone so she turned around and went ready to help.
The solders themself were not that strong but there were many of them and more came during the fight against Junjie. At some point their pure high numbers became a real threat.
But right when the foes, seeing Junjie backing off, changed their direction too and dashed away, to assist their master. Still new solders came from an entry right near by the end of the stream. And there were a face Shiren recognised way to well, right when he looked up after defeating his last remaining enemy. It was Quántóu.
"Of course this jerk is free!" Yong complained.
"Leave him to me,"Shiren said: "So you can do whatever you want."
Ku Zhan sighed but nodded. "However. He is a threat but you know what you have to do, or rather, what you better should not do. I think he have weakened Junjie a bit but it was quite exhausting."
Lao stepped forward: "Don't worry. Me and Xing are taking over now. Since… you know. Shiren is already busy."
Shiren looked at Junjie and said: "I'll take them both if you don't mind."
Xing wondered: "This was a joke, right? You'll get your chance but don't take them all at once. Yong, Kuzi, we count on you."
"Of course," Yong answered and pointed at the group of like eight enemies: "Ku Zhan and I will make you a clear path to Junjie. Shiren takes the right flank where this croc is at. Everyone: Good Luck."
Shiren did not waste any time making his way through the outlaws blocking his way to his target.
It were a few, like five other crocodiles, lightly armoured but with no weapons.
He almost got the feeling like he was enjoying it. Clearing his way, letting nothing stop him and have an eye on someone he dearly wanted to destroy.
The fight was out of any laws and nothing hindered Shiren to use all of his straight.
He knew he shouldn't bite or anything, he promised it but right now he felt more free than ever. He did not had to be the kind soul he always were to the most disgusting people. Nobody was looking and it is a war after all.
Right when he reached Quántóu he grinned.
"I never thought I will see such a piteousness like you again, general. I thought the alliance put you in prison for good."
Quántóu grabbed his sword and explained: "The alliance is too distracted for such matters. I had no problems getting out. Nobody would miss me any way."
"I agree. I do not even feel guilty or anything striking you down, let your hopes and dreams vanish into the unreachable infinity immediately and drag you as far away from your top as possible. Anything you want to say before I begin using your body to clear the ground?"
"You really have changed. You are not the person-"
Hearing that Shiren went from grinning to angered right away. "How dare you taking such words in your mouth? What do you even know about me? You know nothing about me! Except one lesson I'll show you now: That you do not want to mess around with me! You'll remember this until the end of your days! Prepare yourself for a bloody mark on your face!"
The fight against this crocodile was harder than Shiren imagined at the start. His armour was stronger and his body more steadfast than the other people he fought so far. He also carried a sword which was already a threat.
Shiren was aware of his fragile body compared with one of a crocodile. One hit from this guy and the fight could be pretty much over right from the get go.
He remembered how he normally dealt with way bigger and burly foes, right when he made sure his neck was not in the way of this sword which his enemy just swung.
He knew ribbons would work with constraining his foe but that's something he just heard from Grandmaster Viper once. It was a creative fighting stile but he did not suppose it would work when he would try it. Especially against enemies with some sharp tools with them. He tried to get on the massive crocodile but he was quick enough to withdraw his leg in time and used the opportunity to strike again with his sword.
He barely missed the snake.
Shiren tried it again, even more quicker. But Quántóu was always fast enough to keep Shiren on distance. He realized what Shiren was up to do. The only thing which could help him now.
The paralyzing shoulder pinch.
But for that he had to come close and actually get on his shoulder.
But it was not possible that way. He couldn't dodge the sword for ever. And jumping would make dodging even more impossible.
He looked around. He tried to find a way his surroundings could help him. On the left side, against the sun, he found a tree like five metres away.
Immediately he started to disengage this fight on the flat road. He had a plan.
"Stay here, coward!" he heard from behind. He did not waste time looking around to look for his enemy but climbed up this tree as fast as he could. From here his weakness of his small size would be eliminated. The branch was wobbling in the wind but Shiren had to take it.
He put all his eggs in one basket and jumped from the longest branch.
His foe starred at him and prepared his sword. Right when he prepared to swing he got blinded by the sun which was yet not on the top of the sky and his strike missed. Just like Shiren planned. He grappled the arm with the sword, swung himself around it and managed to use the momentum to get the arm's hand right on the way to the croc's face. Shiren crawled behind his head and pulled the hand two more times before he let go of it and went for the next arm which was about grappling him. Everything went so fast. Shiren had not chance to catch his breath. He had to go on. This was his only chance to defeat his foe. And he would do everything for it right now. Loosing was not an option.
He slithered on the forearm and crawled around it so the hand was not able to get him.
Wen he looked in the angry face of the croc he just flipped his tongue.
Quántóu was not able to get rid of him by waggling his arm so he dropped his sword to use his other arm.
When Shiren saw that he instantly went down on the ground again and went for the sword as quick as he was, grappled it and targeted the amour of Quántóu. Especially the shoulders.
"Enough of this nonsense!" Quántóu said and started using his tail to catapult Shiren away.
Shiren jumped and barely managed to hit the amour with the tip of the sword.
He was not proficient with swords but he used them twice in his life so far. This time included. He knew how they worked but he immediately lost it after he stroke.
But it was enough for him. When he landed he used the momentum of Quántóu's turn around to pull one of his legs away which caused him to fall. With a croc on the ground he quickly put away the more loose amour while Quántóu stood up again.
The paralyzing shoulder pinch worked right when Quántóu was again up to grapple him but then fell to the ground. Shiren took a deep breath. "I take the right to say your career is over, sidekick. I do not loose any more words with you."
Lao and Xing were this time up to fight Junjie himself while the others gave them cover.
Xing was the first one attacking while Lao gave her cover and had an eye on her.
"You can´t imagine how long I waited to punch my fist onto your body," Xing said right when she reached him and before they begun to fight.
"Few minutes I guess. Perhaps one day," Junjie guessed.
"That´s not the point! You made my friend hurt! You are responsible for so much pain! And you made me even doing all of that! That are enough reasons to strike you down!"
Though Xing's words were filled with emotion, Junjie stood cold and calm."I'm willing to do anything that accomplishes my wishes. Luckily the last thing left to do is efface a few students."
"Say that again after we destroyed your entire plans and everything you built up!"
Xing, aggressively like she was, straight went for a direct battle without any more hesitation. Junjie though was more experienced, got some hits but also pushed back Xing after ten seconds of straight fighting.
After Xing fell back Lao went in for her, pushed her away and stepped between her and Junjie. Junjie hesitated to continue his attack and looked at Lao. "How many times do I need to defeat you students? Do you think you can accomplish what your mates weren't able to do?" Junje asked.
Lao didn't answer to that question. Instead he made his own topic.
"I could have conjectured you are able to be a neat user of the Chi and to be honest I must admit your idea was fairishly artful. Such a shame you use your ingenuity for the wrong occasion."
Junjie wondered a bit: "What´s that about? Do you want to distract me?"
Lao chuckled shortly and slightly. He smiled during the whole conversation. "Not at all. It´s just my mannerism to note my opponents straights and flaws."
"Now after you´re done with that can we start fighting or do you want to get removed with an attempt of fleeing?"
"Nah, don´t make me laugh. Do you seriously act on the assumption I make my way to you just in order to let you go again? I still have some unfinished businesses with you but the superiors will adjudicate on your penalisation!"
Lao flew up and started a fight with Junjie but before anyone got a chance to hit anyone a solder of Junje screamed. He already raised his arms and stood on the wall right in front of Shiren: "H-Help! L-Let me go! Please! I do not even know you! I'm just a solder fighting for a little money!"
Shiren spoke back aggressively and menacingly: "Back off. Flee. Or have a lovely taste of my delicious venom!"
The guy screamed more while running aside and right away.
Lao sighed loudly and let go of Junjie. He flew right to Shiren after making sure Xing was save and inveighed: "Damn you, Shiren! That was not what we came for!"
"Then take care of this tiny scums. There aren't many left. I'll handle Junjie now myself." He stated slither forward and said: "Don't worry. I will not attempt to… na, we don't have time for this… Just do it!"
He swent straight for Junjie. Lao wasn't even able to stop him and he also didn't want to. Lao had to help the others more than confronting Junjie. The faster all the foes are defeated, everyone was able to focus on Junjie once and for all.
Now Junjie stood against Shiren while the rest of the fight was still going on. Junjie retreated to the shrine at the end of the garden and was prepared of one last fight. Shiren wondered for a second what Junjie was up to do. Finding a little back door to flee?
Junjie, who's faithfulness was readable from his face, started a little conversation: "Now here you are, healthy and sprightly…"
Shiren stood calm when he said: "I´m not interested in any conversations with you. You are a ruthless murder; A monster!"
"Heh… I really should have already disposed you a few days ago..."
Shiren yelled at him: "Shut up! I will rather die than letting your damn mouth breathing under this sky any time longer! I'll enjoy to clear the path which will lead you to the spirit realm with pleasure!"
After saying that Shiren stroke right at Junjie and attacked very aggressively; Reckless and offensive.
But this time he did not catch Junjie off guard. Junjie fought back Shiren after the first few seconds. "You may have surprised me back on the tower," Junjie said: "But now you are nothing but pathetic. Even your companions there made a better fight than you do."
Shiren stroke once more but realized, after getting pushed back again, his aggressive stile was not hurting his foe in any way.
He almost went for another attack out of desperation but he had to focus on this one.
Junjie may not has been the most honourable person but he clearly knew how to do a fight.
From his rage came a bit of his old calmness back when he realized he had to do more than just fight. He remembered one thing now: Kung Fu is more about than just fighting. Patience, courage, discipline, compassion and confidence were the 5 other keys to victory.
As much as he hated it right now he took a deep breath and watch his feelings.
"Now what? Aren't you not trying to attack me again, little snake?" Junjie asked challenging.
Shiren wanted to attack. If he wouldn't Junjie would perhaps back off and vanish. But he had to attack with both body and might. He wondered if Junjie had any weaknesses and he was willing to find out. He went for a next attack but tried to attack from more angles, doing precise attacks and focussed on only that.
He used his flexibility and speed to get around Junjie, dodge his attacks and tried to confuse him. Every attack Junjie made he was able to dodge. His body allowed him to move and dodge with every part of his body without affecting the other part's attack. He was proficient with making such quick and speedy movements though he knew his stamina wouldn't allow him to do it more than approximately one minute which was not much. His movements almost felt like acting on instinct. It felt good.
It was the first time he felt he was really fighting someone. Neither his body or mind hesitated or was pushed back.
They worked together in harmony.
He still fought with anger but this time he actually used it instead of getting used by it. He knew Junjie was a master. One mistake wouldn't be acceptable.
"Now stop this nonsense!" Junjie said out loud and his paws started to glimmer red.
He stretched his left paw right to Shiren when he got him for one moment and tried to take his Chi.
Shiren felt this attempt in his body and stroke right for Junjie's paw and denied the try. He was not yet weakened enough to being absorbed.
Junjie immediately used his other paw to grapple Shiren and throw him against impetus against a stone.
Shiren managed to absorb the shock a bit but still felt a bit dizzy. He shook his head and saw Junjie going after him again. His paws were still glowing.
Shiren understood if Junjie would hit him it would be over. He was not a master of Chi himself to resist it. Neither did he not know how to even use it.
Shiren attacked once more but slowly he felt the exhaustion. This fight was not meant to go any much more longer.
Something had to happen and either way it would be over after that.
Junjie and Shiren, after Shire positioned himself after a short fight behind Junjie, they pushed each other away.
Both were exhausted. But Shiren knew he wouldn't be able to fight any much longer properly and Junjie had a joker: The use of Chi and Shiren was perfectly exhausted to not be able to resist any more.
Shiren remembered the painful feeling when he was taken away from his Chi the first time.
The feeling when he lost his feelings over his body and his movements growing slower until he was unable to move and his body felt like a stone. It contained also fear. When he once was jaided he had to hope for salvation. There was nothing else he was able to do then. And the knowledge created fear. The knowledge and the question: Will I ever be normal again?
His body would be forced to work for Junjie like a mindless beast until Junjie would ever be defeated once more. And he already knew how much Junjie was able to not get into a tense situation. His rage grew into fear. It was already too late to retreat. Was it worth it?
He saw Junjie's hands glimmering red. He knew what came to him.
Was were his options? Junjie was cornered. Now was the perfect opportunity! But for what? Was there anything else? Sadly there was no backup plan. His surroundings weren't helping this time. There was nothing but accept defeat.
"Now, Shiren, if Shifu is not able to defeat me alone, why should you be?" Junjie asked brightly smiling.
Then hooked past Shiren and his face went uncomfortable.
Yong said: "Because he is not alone!"
Shiren breathed again. He saw all of his friends coming at his side to end all of that once and for all. Now there was hope again! They defeated all of his servants and cornered Junjie who was distracted seeing his new foes.
The former class of Jil looked at each other and silently agreed immediately to a plan.
Shiren stroke out first very quick and grappled Junjie's both arms by wrapping his body. Yong and Xing immediately grabbed his neck and tail carefully and pulled easily to steel the grab of Shiren.
Junjie looked up to see what came next.
Lao flew Ku Zhan up above Junjie and let go of him. Ku Zhan made one focussed punch on Junjie's body. A golden circle slipped around the area ad outside of the mansion.
Shiren let go of Junjie and everyone sat down. It was over.
"I've fallen… again… But at some day I'll conquer what's rightfully mine..." Junjie whispered out of breathe, unable to move.
Yong complained: "He is still talking. How's that, Ku Zhan?"
"Shocking to the nerves do sadly not provide you from talking. If it can than at least I can't," he explained.
Lao turns at Shiren who still stares at Junjie. Lao talked quietly: "Hey. It's over Shiren. We've done it."
Shiren sighed but did not answer.
"Listen… I know it's hard but it's the right thing to spare him. Nothing you do now will make anything better."
Shiren recognized he started crying and turned away: "I… need some time."
"Take every time you need. Now we finally got it… At least."