Chapter 103 - Hundred And Three - Jin Li wants to punish me (2/2)

”I hope you don't mind if I go first,” Pavo announced, to which Jin Li simply shrugged.

”Tch,” a voice said angrily behind Sun as the first years watched, ”he's looking down on Senior Pavo.”

”Two handsome men sparring,” a young girl sighed next to her friend, ”This is going to be good!”

”Here I go!” Pavo said as he launched an attack, which was parried effortlessly. Pavo danced back on his toes, making it seem that he was testing the other and having decided what next to do, he performed a rather tricky manoeuvre, impressing his juniors with his skill.

However, while Sun snickered beneath his breath, Jin Li was sneering inwardly. What was with this flashy technique, all for show with no use in battle? Jin Li clicked his tongue and countered the move with a much less showy and simply thrust of his sword. Pavo could not dodge the blow, but at the same time, did not reveal any pain from it, giving the impression that Jin Li's attack had been weak. Only the first years, with the exception of Sun, were fooled by this however.

Pavo launched a series of moves, that Jin Li dodged one by one, already too bored by this showman. Soon, Pavo's smile was less amicable and his skin was coated in a light sweat, while Jin Li's breath remained steady and unchanging, his brow dry and his movements remained light. ”Let's end this!” Pavo declared, abruptly, deciding to perform one desperate feat, a technique he had been practicing, but not yet mastered. However, it was one he had scrimped and saved for, using his points to gain this coveted skill.

”Sure,” Jin Li replied, stifling a yawn.

Pavo began his attack, his sword swiftly switching between thrusts and slices, his footwork steady upon the ground as he inched forward to press Jin Li into a defensive pose and push him back. Jin Li had not encountered this technique before, but quickly understood that should this continue, he would likely take a blow to either his unprotected side after he parried or to his stomach as his stance would be all wrong to block the other's sword. However, there was an easy enough solution.

Jin Li used his stored strength to push away the other's sword to stop his momentum. He then made a series of feather light steps to the side, turning his body as he did and raising his sword so that his opponent's neck was a whisper away from the sheathed blade. ”The end,” Jin Li murmured, unkindly, before withdrawing his blade and glancing at Teacher Eridana.

”Good job,” the woman acknowledged Jin Li's win, glancing through lowered lashes at the distraught look on the Senior's face, before it altered back into his usual amicable one. She sighed inwardly, it seemed the lesson they wanted this Senior to learn, had not been. This Jin Li also, he was a troublesome one. She glanced over at her fellow Teachers, wondering if they had managed to come to a decision about him, finally.