17 A Fighting on the Stree (1/2)

'It is even bigger than I remembered' thought Sam as she and Ah Mei left the Jiang Manor and started navigating the crowded streets of the Imperial City.

Everywhere she looked there were colors, sounds and smells to discover. Salespeople called out for possible customers from small stands and shop entrances, while the rich kids laughed and walked around, covering their faces with small fans and pointing excitedly at a few street performers blowing and swallowing balls of fire.

It was weirdly realistic, but as someone used to modern world wonders, such as 'Roudini's' stunts, Sam though it was only a case of very good technique and visual illusionism.

All around, beautifully adorned hairs, delicate gowns heavy jewelry stood out among barefoot street wanderers, plain, brown clothes and tired-looking slaves with tussled, uncared hair. The contrast was so strong, uncomfortably so, that Sam couldn't help looking down at her clothes and then at Ah Mei's, noticing the haggard looking seams, washed cloth and simple braided hair.

The stab of guilt that hit her was even harder to ignore.

”Hum... Ah Mei?” she called tentatively, while avoiding bumping in a group of chattering ladies, all of whom seemed to suddenly stop talking as they noticed her presence.

”XiaoJie?” Ah Mei turned, frowning slightly ”Is something the matter?”

”Ah! No, no, I'm fine, I just...” she stopped, trying to find the right words to say what she wanted without making her uncomfortable ”I... Well... Is there anything you want? Or need... Is there anything you need?”.

Ah Mei blinked, seeming to have been taken off guard.

”Miss, this servant wants for nothing. I'm very glad for everything the Jiang family has provided me” she assured her, still looking a bit uncomfortable.

Sam wanted to shout in frustration. Why is it that everyone seemed to talk in circles around her! Starting with that General of theirs... But she wasn't going to start thinking about him right now! It would only sour her mood and make her forget what she had gone out for!

”I know, I know” she assured her in an annoyed tone ”You are grateful... But, well, I noticed how well Qing Shan's maid dresses... I was just wondering, why don't you have better clothes?”.

”XIaoJie” the younger girl blushed a little ”This servant was just a simple maid on miss's yard... It is my luck to be serving you as a personal maid for now... I don't dare to be greedy”.

Sam blinked, beginning to understand.

”So... You are not considered my personal maid?” she exclaimed in a surprised tone ”But you go everywhere with me! What else they want, an official nomination?”.

The silence she received, along with the girl's lowered head was enough answer.

'Ah!!! Why is it that nothing is easy around here?' she cried to herself, before sighing, waving absentmindedly.

”Forget it... it's just good that I know.” she brushed the matter away, already thinking about talking with her sister after going back ”Let's just get going... We still have work to do!”.

Ah Mei simply smiled at her, taking the lead once more as they started walking again, trying to avoid all the hostiles and curious stares turned her way.

Sam had just begun feeling a bit annoyed by it all when her attention Wass caught by a what looked like a crowd gathering at the side, the voices and cheers beaming animated while bets and curses became stronger.

Curious, Sam stopped and turned to study what looked like a semi-circle of people, a small frown marring her forehead.

”Wei... Ah Mei, do you know what is happening there?”

Ah Mei frowned, following her mistresses'sgaze to find two man standing in the middle of a crowd, looking straight at each other while what felt like a wave of pure energy started to weave and turn itself around them.

'Heavens, they are at it again' she though, feeling the excitement building inside at the prospect of the fight ready to begin.

”Xiaojie!! What great luck! The Great Daoist Master has come back from the mountains!! It is really our fortune to see him conceding to a challenge like this!!” Ah Mei babbled delightedly, almost jumping in excitement.

Sam frowned.

”Ah Mei,what do you mean 'challenge'? And why the hell are you so excited??” she could barely keep the annoyed stick out of her voice. It seemed that, for every question she asked, she got another five or six of them.

'It is really exhausting at times' she sighed miserably at herself.

”Miss, this is such a good opportunity!! Miss really can't miss it!! Let's go!” completely ignoring her scowl, Ah Mei grabbed her hand and almost dragged her forward, in time to hear the guy up in the air declaring what sounded like a challenge.

”I, He Geng Xin, hereby issue this challenge to the Great Daoist Master, promising to be fair and not shame the gifts bestowed to me by the heavens”. asked the tall men with a hard expression, his hands turned into fists at the sides of his dark, expensive clothes.

At the other side, with his legs crossed and floating just a few feet off the ground, what looked like a very young men, with long, straight dark hair and an impeccably white robe floating in the wind smiled slightly, his long, delicate fingers playing with what looked like a bambu flute on his lap.

'Oh My God!' Sam thought to herself, amazed at what she was seeing 'He is flying!'

”Ah Mei” she whispered, trying not to catch the attention of the crowd surrounding them ”I didn't know you had such good CGI here”.

”Hein?” the girl turned a curious, a bit confused eyes at her ”XiaoJie, this servant didn't understand... What is CGI?”.

Before Sam could say anything else, though, the second men, the one that had been standing quietly all that time, made a move with his hand, turning everything suddenly dead silent.

”As it is your right and your choice, I hereby accept your challenge, promising not to stray frown natural laws and be fair and honor the gifts bestowed me by the Heavens.” the young man said, his voice soft, as if hiding a smile ”So be it.” he finished, his eyes still closed, head bent a little, as if feeling the environment at her sides.

Sam started to feel excitement bubbling inside her, even though she didn't know quite what to expect! Maybe it was like those plays at the theatre, where they used light effects to hide the cables and other equipment.

At her side, Ah Mei suddenly stiffened.