64 Viscount Sanzu part 2 (1/2)
In the grey light of a winter's day in the Wawrika province Hartley stepped forward to meet the man's fist glowing with a golden light, Hartley's hand hidden under his dark fluttering robe transformed blue, with precision Hartley's punch careened into the incoming punch, the snowflecked air roiled and wriggled as the two opposing pressure collided..
BAM!
The golden glow around the man's hand dimmed visible, he took a step backward just as his after-images faded away like smoke in the wind, Hartley's feet sank ankle deep into the hard snow with a crunching sound, Qin Li held Zhi Ruo who had her pair of black daggers drawn and ready and backed up ten meters as the snow swirled around both men in a cyclone-like pattern reducing the his visibility of the scene to zero, he took no chances and protected Zhi Ruo, who of course would not go willingly..
The man looked at Hartley and smiled. It wasn't a vicious murderous smile but a smile that radiated how impressed the man was that Hartley had pushed him back. The man's eyes shone with excitement and a boyish thirst for competition that defied his age.
”You fat bastard!” screamed Zhi Ruo as she broke loose from Qin Li's grasp and rushed forward flanking to the left ready to assault the lone man.
Qin Li rushed forward summoning his axe but he was concentrating more on the armored soldiers instead, ready to defend their own flanks in the event of a sneak attack.
As the swirling snow drifted away and visibility was restored Hartley held up is right fist ”it's o.k. Ruo.” her graceful movements came to a halt, she huffed in frustration and stepped back to guard the flanks with Qin Li.
Knowing now that the man didn't have murderous intentions Hartley too got riled up with competitiveness, his eyes shone bright with anticipation. Having been disappointed countless times sparring with Qin Li Hartley looked forward to this exchange.
The plump man waved his right hand signalling for Hartley to join him in the middle of the street, Hartley didn't need a second invitation, he strode out with long steps facing the man in the middle of the street with unbridled confidence.
A subtle signal from the plump man and the organized soldiers moved like clockwork and separated into two equal forces and blocked off each end of the normally bustling street not allowing any one to interrupt, heads could be seen peeping through windows as people who recognized the plump well dressed man informed the less knowledgeable. ”That's Viscount Sanzu” the name was uttered in hushed tones throughout the buildings.
Two opponents stood on a mock battlefield of hard packed snow. The plump man dressed in his lavish clothing circled left and right adopting the side on stance of a classic boxer keeping his left foot in front at all times, moving like a crab on the beach. With his left hand held against his left jaw plastering half of his face in a golden glow, his right hand dangled loosely by his waist.
The man's smooth movement defied belief for one so out of shape. Hartley stood with shoulders square on, facing the plump man who had made himself as small a target as possible.
Small snow flakes landed on their shoulders in silence, the two exchanged no words.
Tap! Tap! The man took two exquisite steps forward across the ice leaving after images, even Zhi Ruo was impressed with the grace of the man's movement. His left hand held by his left jaw catapulted into a forward jab, the blurred golden glow came cannoning towards Hartley's face, Hartley used minute movement dodging technique stepping outside the jab to the left.
Viscount Sanzu took two small steps to his right cutting off the angle of retreat and at the same time bombed a right hook as he was pulling back the jab, The man was definitely experienced. Hartley threw out an efficient left straight with the least wasted movement possible an met the man's glowing hook.
Boom! golden sparks erupted, the force of the two fist colliding swept clean the snow underfoot exposing the original brown road, Hartley stumbled back, he was fighting with only his 3rd layer xiantian physique and star fist technique.
Viscount Sanzu stumbled back as well then rushed forward with lithe graceful steps laughing with wild glee as if he were a child on his name day. The viscount fired back with a three hit combo, giving Hartley no room for rest.
Right hook, left hook then a right uppercut aiming at the gut, these punches were executed so fast the viscount's hands left glowing gold after-images in the cold air. Hartley squinted in concentration, taking the Viscount a little more serious and pushed his minute movement techniques to the limit stepping through the punches as if he was a ghost, countering with a simple straight right hand at the viscount's face, the viscount gasped in surprise and as the punch was about to land on his jaw he used one of his special techniques..
The viscount's left hand changed trajectory and stretched like elastic and landed a golden punch to Hartley's midriff at the exact moment Hartley's right fist landed on his jaw.
The ground rattled and they both went sprawling across the snow imprinting a long trail twenty meters apart.