-----------------------------Chapter 18 Surpassing Boundaries-----------------------------

Ryo glared at Niao Shun with detailed concentration. He could sense her Kung Fu was polished

so he dared not rush in and attack. Her eyes pierced his mind, as if she could read his moves

before he even initiated them. The odds of him falling someone who had more experience in

Martial Arts were slim. But even with that said, Ryo's will to win was as stubborn as an

elephant; that refuse to move from its resting place in the road.

"What's wrong, having second thoughts?" She asked, still not showing any real stance.

Ryo ignored this taunt, he was focusing on a quick strike, but he could feel no openings. If

he were to go trial by error, it would be dangerous. As of now that was his only option, however.

Quickly he stepped in with perfect timing, skillful right hand; aiming for the nape of her

neck. This punch was easily intercepted by Niao, she interlocked his arm with her left forearm

at the sametime. Immediately, she followed with a roundhouse kick across the Ju-jitsu

practitioner's face; letting him hit the ground from the resulting force.

"Ryo...." Guizhang said with concern, and disappointment.

"Tch..stupid" Ren still rubbing his head, commented.

Hazuki rolled over before jumping back to his feet a bit daze from the attack.

"Your Kung Fu is weak...boy." She extended her hand out, and indicated Ryo to come again.

Ryo jumped right back into it, he faked a kicked to her mid section, in which he didn't

fully extend his leg, Niao flinched backwards before realizing it was a feint, Ryo capitalized

by kicking at her lower extremity. Her fast reflexes allowed her to dodge this by simply lifting

her leg up; and snapping in a menacing forward motion towards Ryo's abdomen. He saw it coming

before she thought it up, evading it enough to trap it between his arm.

"I got you!" Ryo said feeling confident.

She smirked, as she brung her other leg towards Ryo head; which was methodically blocked with his

free forearm. He pushed all his force forward trying to drive her into the ground. Niao being the adept Martial Artist that she was knew this. She simply went with the force into the ground, but at the sametime she shifted weight back with her leg. When her rear made considerably hard contact with the ground, she flipped Ryo off of her with the leg. Instantly, performing a swan

kick up, to return herself to her feet. Ryo, performed a break-fall technique, slapping down on the carpet so his whole body would absorb the shock from the throw.

Niao Shun ran up to the downed warrior, extending her leg high over her head, and immediately bringing down towards Ryo's head, in effort to finish him with a heel smash. From the ground he put both hands up, cupping her heel, then twisting her entire leg, forcing her to turn awkwardly to the side. She twirled out of this, landing on one foot, with the under leg fully extended outward for balance.

Ryo jumped back up only to find Niao Shun was now on the offensive. Jumping into close quarters,

she shot a deadly knife hand towards Ryo's throat in which he deflected, she followed up this by stepping in with another aimed for his torso, in which he blocked with the same hand. Her body performed a three-sixty turn as use the force from the turn to perform a powerful open hand strike. Ryo put up both forearms to form an x-block, but the force from the attack knocked him back into the wall, he managed to keep his footing, and the wall absorbed most of the shock. But

her attack was not finish as she came charging in with a high sidekick, in which Ryo evaded, her attack left the wall disorted after the impact.

"Ryo don't let her trap you!" Guizhang yell.

"Man she's got you against the ropes..tch." Ren shouted.

Hazuki knew if he didn't think of a way out of it, he would lose. He had to clear his mind, this was the only way he would win.

"Its over..." Ryo said as he dropped his hands.

Niao Shun looked at him half-confused.

"Its over? Perhaps, I should put you out of your delusion then."

Again she charged in, Ryo threw a hard left hand as she charged, it was like before, she blocked and interlocked it.

"Stupid boy..." She said as she clamped his arm.

"No..."

Ryo reversed the lock she had on his arm to form his own lock, he use the leverage from his hold, shifting all remaining weight to his right leg; rushing into her solar plexus with his elbow. The resulting impact cause her eyes to bulge and sent her flying back into the glass table behind her, she look at Ryo with shock, before her eyes closed from incapicitation.

Ryo stood there holding the after stance of his attack, as if he were in a silver screen movie being film.

"Ryo? You gonna stand there like that, or get the mirror?" Ren said with a smirk on his face.

"Your skill has improve Ryo." Guizhang commented.

Ryo picked the Phoenix mirror up observing it before putting it away. He looked to Guizhang and Ren.

"Now its all about finding Lan Di, and getting back the other mirror." Guizhang continued.

"Yes."

"Lets go then, they might have some backup coming. And as much as I like beating up Chiyoumen thugs. I don't want to see how steamed they get when they see their beloved mistress in a mess like this uh?"

"Right, lets go."

Ryo looked out of the window, it was storming badly. If he had to face Lan Di again, the only way he would lose, it if he died. He clenched his fist tightly together.

"Shenhua, I'm coming.