25 Martial Arts (2/2)

”The young go first.” he gestured towards me.

I dashed towards him brandishing my daggers. When I got about one meter away I used shifting sands to quickly dash left before taking a swipe at his side with my right dagger. I was about to bury my dagger into his side when a strong force hit my wrist forcing my dagger to miss. I used the force of the hit to gain a bit of separation. I looked down at my wrist, a red mark on it and a numbing sensation ran through it. My strength is an 11, I'm by no means weak. How did he manage to hit that hard? Is this old man really that strong?

Old Man Shui just stood there waiting for me to resume my attack. I dashed back towards him heading straight in with a thrust from my left dagger. I focused on Old Man Shui's movements this time. His arm traveled in an arc and struck my wrist while he spun in the opposite direction away from the dagger. I went past him with the same numbing sensation in my left hand as was in my right.

This time I was able to see how he did it. It's not that he is stronger than me it's that his technique allows him to gather momentum in his arms striking his opponent with more force. Because, of his palm strike the force travels into the muscles causing the numbing sensation. If I get struck many more times I might not have the strength to hold the daggers.

Clearly blindly trying to strike him wouldn't work. So far his defenses have been air tight. I will have to try using a unique method to defeat him.

I dashed towards him the same why I had before angrily saying, ”Fight me like a man.”

A glint appeared in Old Man Shui's eye, it seems this is the effect he was looking for. Most fighters would get frustrated having their strikes deflected like that, while their opponent nonchalantly waits for them to attack again. This would cause them to attack with abandon which is what the old man wants.

Pretending to attack with abandon I swung the dagger wildly at the old man. Just before his palm was about to strike I turned the dagger around allowing the pommel of the blade to strike his palm. Using the momentum from his palm strike I turned my body and struck out with my elbow hitting Old Man Shui in the side of his head. Clearly he wasn't expecting me to use his own force against him and to deliver a crafty blow.

Stunned Old Man Shui stumbled to the ground. I quickly dashed behind him and placed my blade at his throat.

Old Man Shui raised his hands in the air, ”This old man admits defeat.”

The crowd cheered although not as loudly as when I killed Raven's Claw. Such a bloodthirsty crowd, I guess this is what happens when a society that was sheltered for so long get's thrown into a chaotic world. A few even boo'ed wishing I had killed Old Man Shui.

I looked towards the Pavilion where Alexander Morrow sat and bowed, then I left the arena.