Author's forward: Good evening, everyone! I'm so glad to finally be posting this chapter! You can't imagine how much it cost me. These months have been so stressful, work, study, and other stuff kept me so busy and simply not in the mood to write. But the waiting is over, I'm back on the game, and every bad thing in my life can wait outside my fanfic. Enjoy it!
Chapter 8: A lesson learned
Lee/Violet ran towards Xiaoyu at full speed, not allowing the young martial artist to think about the tough situation she was facing now.
In a second, his opponent was right in front of her, throwing a fast left punch she was able to dodge, followed by a right one she blocked with her arm, but she also received a mid kick on her right side, losing balance and getting fully open to receive a Pulse Blast, a strong kick that send her flying two meters away. Xiaoyu took advantage of the impulse and did a backflip . She felt the pain in her ribcage when she landed.
"Oh, my, was I too hard?" Said the silver haired fighter with mockery. "I thought I told you to get ready, not a smart dog I see." Then, he lowered his torso and flexed his knees to have an open and grounded fight stance. Moving his fingers, he started to call for her.
"Come on!"
I don't know who you are, but I have a world that fits you perfectly. Xiaoyu muttered while getting ready to attack. "My turn!"
Ling Xiaoyu approached Lee/Violet and did a Poison Flower combo, a puch right to his head, who got to dodge in a smooth movement, and a strong kick to his middle body, but it got blocked with his arms in a firm stance. Acting quickly, Lee/Violet grabbed Xiaoyu's leg on a firm grip and twisted it along with his body to stay standing behind the trapped student, who tried to get free by throwing a Single Fan hit backwards, but the silver haired fighter got a hold of her wrist with his other hand also proceed to twisted to avoid her movement. The young martial artist was balancing with her left leg while her right leg and harm were firmly and painfully trapped by Lee/Violet on her back.
"Is that all? My precious student, your teacher here is gonna get disappointed!" Lee/Violet said extra nonchalant to the annoyance of Xiaoyu, who couldn't take being pinned down any longer. She put her free hand on the ground while taking the impulse of her left leg to kick his opponent firmly on his stomach, which finally made him release her leg and arm while she kept with the Phoenix Talon combo, almost throwing him to the floor.
Not losing time, she proceeded to turn back from her opponent in a Rain Dance and did an extended back kick, to which her teacher reacted by taking a long step back, almost in synchrony with her attack. Xiaoyu turned herself to be in front of him again and performed her X Marks the Spot combo, a two series of hits in combination with her body constantly turning to make it hard to follow, which almost hitted her opponent twice, only getting to grace just a few locks of his silver hair. She finished her combo with a Raising Axe Kick, but her attack was blocked by her opponent raising his knee as a shield. Facing each other during that last hit, Xiaoyu glanced for a second the excitement of her opponent from their thrilling fight. Lee/Violet jumped doing a cartwheel backwards, gaining distance again from a tired Ling Xiaoyu who needed a second to get back the air into her lungs.
"You have such a vibracious style, even if a little immature yet," Lee/Violet evaluated her while re-adjusting his globes "But, nevertheless, we are not here to compliment our qualities, the test is still on, and you have a lesson to learn about this." He added.
A lesson to learn, what could he mean by that? Xiaoyu was very frustrated about that vague riddle. In the sequence of attacks given and received there was nothing exposing a name from her challenger, or at least his intentions. She was not a huge fan of fighting with no purpose, so she couldn't get the flamboyant teacher. She was doing it to survive right now, but she had no idea why Lee/Violet wanted to fight her so badly, yet it was clear for her he was enjoying it. He is just talking nonsense! She thought as her head was burning with anger.
Lee/Violet got back to the offensive.
He threw a Shredder Kick Combo Mid, two high kicks Xiaoyu got to block with her arms, instantly followed by a spinning middle kick she barely got to dodge with a Cartwheel Left, standing behind him she was ready to surprize him with a backwards attack, but Lee/Violet was also spinning, making a Pirouette Punch right into the young fighter's shoulder, losing balance, which Lee used to hit her directly with a front kick. Being pushed a few steps back and still in pain, Xiaoyu started her attacks. From her Phoenix stance, she gathered her hands while lifted then to hit him with a Wave Crest Heavy on her firm stance, but her opponent never received the impact from her palms, he dodged it in a graceful spinning jump, landing behind her and performing a Shin Slicer, throwing Xiaoyu flat in the ground, completely frustrated and in pain.
Lee/Violet threw a Silver Tail, a low spinning kick, but still on the ground Xiaoyu avoided it by rolling to the side and standing up on her Phoenix stance back to her offensive, or at least the attempt of her offensive. Every punch and kick she performed was energetically blocked by her challenger's defensive. Her Belly Chop and Cloud Kick couldn't pass Lee/Violet's firm arms, a Flapping Wings combo got her the same result. Out of frustration she made a Knee Cracker, not her most graceful attack which was received with a fast evasive from his opponent doing again a Spinning Jump. Xiaoyu was prepared for another low move, but, instead, her eccentric teacher grabbed her by her shoulders and threw her on a Axle Throw. In consequence, her whole body was spinning in the air before hardly landing on the ground. With her last energy remaining, Xiaoyu continued rolling on the ground looking to make some distance, and when she stood up she did a Backflip to be even further from Lee/Violet.
"Giving up already? Young fighters are not made like we used to be."
The levels of distress coming from Xiaoyu were up in the sky, in any second she would only be able to see red.
There is no greatest stubbornness as the one that comes from a warrior who tries to fight his own reflection. A small thought entered her disturbed mind, a secret memento she held close for her times of despair, granted to her by her dear master and grandfather.
She looked around, and understood the situation didn't look good for her. A retreat was the best option, but she knew that if she tried to run away he would chase her and find her. So, instead, she did a Double Map Sweep, a series of two very low and fast circular kicks. Her fast movements with her legs didn't have the intention to attack, but to raise the dust in the ground below her, that added to the morning breeze was enough to make a dust curtain she took advantage of as a distraction. For two seconds, Lee/Violet wasn't able to see his little opponent, by the time his vision was clear, the young student was no longer seen on the battlefield, yet he could feel her presence pretty close.
"Oh my! Are we playing hide and seek now?" Lee/Violet yelled in a mocking tone "Little girl, this is getting sad, what happened to the ferocious fighter who didn't tolerate people "sneaking like cowards"?".
Ling Xiaoyu heard the silver haired mockery from behind the branches of a tall tree, its trunk was thick enough to hide her whole body, but she didn't want to stay there too long, she just needed a second to plan a new strategy.
Wang Jinrei was right after all, if she kept fighting like that she was only destined to lose and it will all be her fault. That train of thought was making her feel hopeless and irritated.
No, Xiaoyu, focus! don't let the anger get in. She took that second to think properly. Her only clue was his fighting style, what did she know about it? It was a combination of multiple martial arts, she had seen it before. But He added something else because he was fast, faster than a man with a big and heavy body like he usually is. And he was surprisingly agile, he could jump and extend his body more than she expected, yet his defense was firm as a rock. He was not what someone expected at first glance, he was full of surprises.
He knows exactly what he is doing, I see it now, in every decision he took so far, every attack, every movement he makes. Xiaoyu kept meditating on the situation. even knowing Lee/Violet style hid something, she still felt something familiar about it. She felt she could figure it out if only she had a moment to look up closely, but it was not possible during fighting. That's when she thought to herself, what if she didn't move at all until the last second? Would she see something?
It's a risky move, but I'm running out of energy. With her new strategy settled, the young and doubtful fighter jumped out of the three to land in front of the mysterious teacher, who was surprised at not receiving a sneak attack.
"So, the kitty is back to play a little bit more?"
"Come right at me with everything you got, if you dare." She challenged him.
Thrilled by the invitation, Lee/Violet launched himself again at Xiaoyu, who this time stood firm in her place. Taking advantage of the situation, he performed a Silver Ciclone, standing in front of her, he flexed his left knee while closing his left hand in a punch, but at the very last moment performed a spin in the air followed by a flying kick.
Standing still, Ling Xiaoyu was able to see the whole movement combination carefully, thanks to that, she saw that the punch in front of her was not a bluffing to distract her, but indeed he was charging all his energy on his fist, to move it fluently through his body to the tip of his feet. Fluently was the key word on this puzzle, because that was that it was all of that about. The strength of his attacks were not coming from the weight of his muscles, but from his qi, energy from the entire universe collected and maneuvered in one single body, the same energy not only Lee/Violet owned, but also Ling Xiaoyu, her friends and family, and the rest of the entities in the cosmos, but only a few studied nowadays how to canalize it.
Ready to test her theory, she reacted to the kick at the last second with a Phoenix Stance, dodging the attack. From her stance, she saw again Lee/Violet's energy moving through his body, this time to his left arm, which he used to do another Pirouette Punch, yet this time the young martial artist was prepared to received it with Great wall right, a simple but precise defensive movement that just with the twist of her arms over her opponent's punch she was able to successfully swerved it right along with its whole qi, leaving a mark on the ground that received the energy blast.
That 's it! That's why he gets so good at attacking and is not tired of defending, he is not blocking me, he is moving with the flow of his energy and I was foolish enough to try to burst into it!
Taking the impulse from the sequence, she did a Spinner to the right to gain distance again and then she started another strategy. In a deep and slow breath, she let all the anger out, that's when she felt a change in the weight she was carrying. She continued, with her body turned to one side but her gaze always front, she let herself take as much space as she needed to feel the river of vitality streaming in every inch of herself. One arm extended up and the other down, when she turned her body to the other side she inverted the posture of her arms, down going up and vise se versa, she continued doing that movement a couple of times, then she took both arms to one side and made a spet front, standing in a loose yet concentrated pose.
"Your little demonstration is enlightening my curiosity," Said Lee/Violet with an inquisitive smile. "Are you not gonna continue with your combative stance?"
"No, Because I don't need to defeat you to pass, Am I right?" Her opponent looked pleased with the drastic change in the young girl. "So, instead, let's let our chi dance."
Ling Xiaoyu put her palms together in front of her teacher, who followed her without a doubt, then she started to slowly and fluidly move their arms in synchrony, every movement on the intention of feeling the cosmic energy concentrated inside them passing in every single part or their bodies. It was not a fight anymore, but a demonstration to communicate a shared knowledge, a shared feeling. Lee then acted with a Spin Kick Somersault Combo, a right kick Xiaoyu passed With a Great Wall Left, another right kick she dodged on her Phoenix Stance, and a Back Flip the both ended doing it at the same time.
Xiaoyu approximate while performing an Hypnotist, with her right hand extended to the height of her shoulder, she started to walk slowly around Lee/Violet, never losing eye contact, subtly guiding him to follow her actions and go along with, when she was close enough, she spinned her body while bending on the ground, with her arms together, she gathered all her qi on her palms, and proceed to unwrap herself to do a Thunder Strike. Lee/Violet responded at the same time as Xiaoyu prepared herself by charging his energy on his right fist, to pass his energy into a left punch. The two powers collided with each other, making an energy pulse release all around them, still on their firm stances.
Surrounded by silence, Ling Xiaoyu feft overwhelmed by the sensation of familiarity, the reason why was so close, yet it seemed as impossible. The young martial artist finished her performance jumping aside doing a Flower Power, a two series of a double kick while jumping in an open and extended spin, after landing she kept spinning on her own axis, to finish kneeled down, closing her hands together in a fist and a punch. Lee/Violet responded by doing a couple of spins, two punches, a spinning jump kick and finished with a punch. The fight was over, nobody said it but they both knew. They faced each other and made a reverence to leave it clear.
"A marvelous demonstration! I can absolutely see how your martial style it's not just a technique, but the whole expression of your spirit, you have it conjoined in every aspect of your life." Lee/Violet flattered his exhausted student, who still was processing that whole experience."But this class is not over yet, you still have an answer to give to me. So tell me, my vivacious student, who am I?"
Suddenly, as if she was struck by lightning, all the clues reassembled in her head and an old memory finally entered.
—China. Ten years ago—-
In the very entrance of a small farm, a little girl was curled and crying under a tree, her face was covered in dirt and her knees were filled with bruises.
"My little lotus, why are you crying?" An old man who just arrived from the fields, carrying a straw basket, asked her.
"I'm not crying, Grandpa!" The tiny infant lied while trying to hide her pink cheeks and nose.
"Then tell me, my child, was the water in your face caused by a passing storm?" Her grandfather asked her with a small but warm smile, impossible for his granddaughter to be dishonest to it.
"Some kids in town were mean to Grandpa." She muttered.
"What do you mean?"
"They were saying bad things! They told me their parents said Grandpa is a liar, that Grandpa is not a martial artist and just a farmer!"
"You worry too much for the empty words of some strangers, my little lotus."
"But they are lying! Grandpa is not a farmer!" The kid snappet, unable to hold her frustration.
"Would it be that bad that your grandpa was a farmer?" Her grandfather asked her, leaving the child confused with the peace he was having at that moment. The old man seated on the ground next to his granddaughter, when he was properly accommodated he kept talking.
"My dear lotus, when we enter the world of martial arts, we let it live in every aspect of our life. Our everyday is now following this strong discipline, we don't just abandoned it after training hours, we are always cultivating our abilities, because being a martial artist it's not what we do, is who we are, it doesn't matter if we sell in stores, or we cultivate the ground or if we fish in a pound, we are always doing it as martial artist, and so, we gain the joy and fruits of doing it like that." He carefully lifted the child's chin and signed with his hand the beautiful and abundant crop field he was just taking care of a moment ago "We never stop being who we are."
The girl's tears stopped, her heart was now too amazed with her grandfather's lessons to feel sad.
"The people who look at me and only see what I plant in my field is not seeing the whole me, and for those people I only feel sad, because their mundane lives have clouded their visions, and they can't see people for who they truly are as much as they can't see themselves for the same." The old man stood up, followed by his little granddaughter.
"Those people are lost, Xiao, and they need a teacher to guide them, just the way I guide my students to the better rode"
"But grandpa, I'm your only student!" Ling Xiaoyu pouted to her grandfather.
"You are so sure about that? What would you say if I told you a long time ago I trained another pupil right here?"
"Really! Who?" Xiayou's eyes sparkled with excitement "Who was it?"
"He was a young man, and he was very strong and vivacious, but he was lacking to see his true potential, it all changed when he discovered his qi."
"And where is he now?"
"Our paths departed a long time ago, he said he had a mission to fulfill, and I hope he is doing fine, but sometimes I wonder if he lost his way like many others." He finished saying while looking with melancholy at the upcoming sunset.
"Grandpa Jinrei, you are lying to me, aren't you?" The little Xiaoyu asked, cutting the serene moment made by Wang Jinrei.
"What! Of course not!" Wang Jinrei answered with a very offended tone.
"Yes, grandpa, you are totally liying!" Little Xiaoyu accused her grandfather.
"I only tell my little lotus nothing but the truth!" Wang Jinrei started with dignity, but just a moment later they both ended up laughing and hugging each other, so happy to have sent the sadness far away from them. "Now, let's go to dinner. I'm going to make the dumplings that you love the most." Wang Jinrei said while lifting one side of the basket, his granddaughter holding the other side.
"I love you, Grampa, you always make me laugh."And they walked together towards their home, grandfather and granddaughter, a small happy family.
—-Back to the present-
"It's you, he told me about you." Ling Xiaoyu looked at him with her eyes wide open. "You are Grandpa Jinrei's other student."
"Excellent! Ling Xiaoyu, you just passed your test" "Now, shall we celebrate with lunch?"
To be continue…
Author's note: That's all for today! In a couple of month I'll bring you the next chapter, and who knows what will happen there (even I am not so sure 100%) but if there is something I can say, it's that next chapter will be easier to write, because that fight scene was harder than I could ever expect, but it was important to the plot to have it.
Thoughts during the creation process: I really like the character of Lee Chaolan in the Tekken games, most of all because he is more complex than one thinks. He is not entirely good or bad, he is just alway rooting for his own team and his own secret intentions. That's why I wanted to give him a more interesting part in my story than what he received in the movie, such a waste of potential. It was hard to write him, not only because he had so many attacks and combos, but I wanted this fight to have a meaning, Lee's style is different from Wang's, yet I feel like they would share the same philosophy. Other thing complicated was Lee's talking, he is the stereotypical flamboyant character, so his words should be more sophisticated than the rest, I had to make sure to no use staff like "totally" or "very", it was too much re-reading in the process.
