Third party PoV:

  The semi-final of the first pool is spear against blade. Yet unlike the day before, where the match-up went as many had expected, with the victory of Fan Shu who managed to make use of the weapon's innate advantage.

  This one was very different. While yes, the reach was an overwhelming weapon in regular, ki-less fighting.

  Fan Shu’s opponent is much more confident and trained than the young master of the Namgoong Clan. An elderly man weaved through every jab and poke, deflecting swipes and somehow managed to push back the younger woman, forcing her to be on the back foot.

  She, like him, knew of their weapon’s strengths and weaknesses. Even if her spear was an exact replica of Fan Dan’s, her stature didn’t quite match. Making her balance off, her swings a bit slower than they should be; the weight and balance of her weapon making her jabs shift her footing just enough for him to notice. And notice he did.

  The old man wasn’t just anyone, no.

  Sword sage Weiyuan is his name, and an anomaly is what he is to the eyes of many members of the murim. So long as he has a sword in hand, no cultivator: from the weakest of the foundation stage to the highest of nascent souls could rival him: a simple mortal man.

  Yet, few people in the secular world knew of his true identity, leading the crowd watching gobsmacked at how the elderly-looking man “toyed” with Fan Shu. Many were fuming or despairing as they had placed bets for the victory of the young star of the Fan Clan.

  < *Hmmm!* Wow, you sure are good, senior Weiyuan.> Fan Shu comments as she blocks one of his swipes with the haft of her spear. The metallic shaft rings loudly as her arms tremble from the impact of his dull blade, feeling like pins and needles bit into her muscles.

  The man smiles, returning to a neutral stance as he keeps his guard up while stroking his long white beard with his other hand.

  < Likewise, young lady. I can feel your dedication to your spear with every move, yet I cannot shake the feeling that… No, not unsuited. Ah! Yes, I think that your weapon is ill-adapted to you, but perhaps you will grow into it.> The calm observation made Fan Shu jolt, seeing the man in a new light. This was something she knew of, and something she couldn’t do anything about it, yet. But for someone other than her martial uncle to notice means that they were dangerous, masterfully so.

  Swallowing hard, she tried to not let her sudden bout of panic show. < I see, thank you senior for the pointer. > She straightened her back (while still keeping her guard up) and used her offhand to salute. Eyes never leaving the elderly combattant from her sight.

  < Yet I am afraid at the moment, I cannot do much in this regard. Let us resume.> Fan Clan’s Shu asks, returning to a neutral stance as well.

  < Indeed, let’s.> Weiyuan chuckles with the warmth of a doting grandfather, before walking at a brisk pace toward her.

  Seizing this chance, the heir of The Righteous Spear levels her weapon’s tip with his center of mass and dashes forward. She had to end this fight quickly, despite having a reach advantage, she has been running, dodging, and blocking every single strike the man did. And right now, it was starting to take a toll on her.

  How did this old man have more stamina than her, she didn’t know, nor did she have time to entertain the thought. For he was about to enter her zone of action.

  Fan Shu lunged forward with surprising speed, yet the sword sage had anticipated her. His legs were taut as she sidestepped her aggressive stab, only for the girl to pivot and strike at his head with the thick end of the spear. Catching off guard as he rolled on the ground with a metallic ring echoing all around.

  < That would have taken my head clean off, young lady.> He gets up barely in time for her follow-up downward slash with the blade.

  But before she could retract her weapon from the ground, he pinned it down with his foot, his sword raised at her neck.

  < A good display of spearmanship from someone so young. But I am afraid this is where this ends. I commend you for wanting to climb two mountains at once but do not forget that the more you advance, the more time you’ll have to dedicate yourself. I look forward to crossing blades with you again in the future when you are able to wield your weapon properly.>

  < And that is it for the semi-finals of the first group! Old Weiyuan qualifies himself for this year's final! Who could have known this elderly gentleman was such a prodigy with a sword? I guess there is really no age to learn and keep training! > The crowd cheered as both contestants were escorted off stage by the healing staff who started checking them.

  < I hope everyone had a pleasant time during our break, but it is time! Time to see who our last finalist will be! Will it be the youngest Core stage fairy, Lu Huan The Unrelenting Storm? Or Tang Clan’s rebellious daughter, Tang Zhenzhen the collector.> The master of ceremony announced, his voice warm and melodic as the two contestants faced each other on the stage.

  < Nice weapon you have there.> The tall and thin woman said, carrying on her back her collection of weapons: spear, picks, war-fans, swords, and many more. In her hand were a simple sword and shield, no decoration of any sort or demarcation adorns them.

  She was one of the most “ready” participants of this contest: ditching her robes for a set of leather and iron lamellar armor. Her glossy black hair was tied in a tight bun.

  < Are both contestants ready?> Tang Zhenzhen dons the helmet she has in her hand, eyes riveted on her adversary as she signals to the MC.

  < Thank you, It was my mother’s.> Lu Huan responds as she nods, lifting her spear in a high guard.

  < I see, then I won’t make a bet out of this.> She raises her shield up and forward, away from her body as she lowers herself. Her body is sideways behind the shield, her eyes keeping the spear in sight.

  Tension rose as the crowd watched on as the master of ceremony started counting down. Both fighters tensed up, their muscles growing taut with power, ready to unleash it at a moment’s notice.

  < Three. Two. OOOOne… FIGHT!>

  The battle barely started when a loud metallic scream rips through the arena as the metal rim of the shield deflects the first and deadly stab at Tang Zhenzhen’s neck.

  Huan, who had dashed into a lunge: propelled her heavy weapon with her entire body weight behind it, making her entire body scream from the sudden burst of power.

  The risk has been calculated, yet Huan wasn’t one to take the numerical art properly as The collector pushed onward. Sliding her shield along the metallic haft, directly to Huan. Not giving the spearwoman any time to react.

  But Huan didn’t care as she made use of her grip placements to whip it back and around the shield, opening the Tang woman’s guard.

  < *Tsk* You are more careful than I gave you credit for.> The Collectors spit, her sword whipping through the air at Huan as she blocks the woman’s spear between her armored side and shield.

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  The flashing silver glint pushes the spearwoman’s mind in a short-lived turmoil: to let go of her weapon and not be hit, but becoming disarmed, or risk taking the hit but keep her weapon. But both choices were not good enough for her, so she improvised.

  Pulling herself toward the armored woman, her sword arm hitting her shoulder and back as the blade found nothing but empty air.

  Now face to helmet. The two glared at each other as they began grappling and wrestling.

  Yet, when Zhenzhen tried to get away from Lu Huan, knowing full well what monstrous strength the woman had.

  Lu Huan had a different objective or rather many others: the weapons the so-called Collector wore on her back. And It didn’t take long for Tang Zhenzhen to notice as much.

  < Let go!> She headbutts the taller woman, yet she remains unfazed despite having been hit with a metal helmet straight in the face. No, it made her smile. Lu Huan smiled as she kept on trying to reach for the handles of the many weapons.

  Frustrated and annoyed at being overpowered and having her collection targeted. Tang Zhenzhen decided to let go of the silver spear to reach for a shorter weapon of her own, discarding her shield along the way.

  But, when she did so, the world around her began to spin upside down, before the ground quickly caught up to her.

  Huan, having been unable to properly grab a weapon, settled for the woman’s shoulder and waist, throwing her across the stage.

  The crowd roar and cheers at the sudden turn of events, many others gasp and even boo as their favorite is not on the back foot.

  Huan’s PoV

  ‘Damn, she is a strong one.’ I pick up my spear and quickly advance on her still-prone form.

  But sadly for me, she manages to get back on her feet after rolling to the side. The weapons that were bound to her back were now left on the floor where she landed.

  In her hand are now a short sword and a dagger she holds outward, protecting her central line.

  ‘ I should try taking my time, she shouldn’t be able to keep on going for long. Between her heavy armor and lack of main weapons, I can tire her out and achieve an easy victory.’ I hold my spear up, guarding my own central line as I slowly walk to her, my stance wide, my steps measured and stable.

  I can see her eyes darting behind the eye holes in her helmet. Her breathing is messed up too, her arms swaying alongside it.

  < Pushing me around like this. Damn you, you’re good. Guess you leave me no choice.> She sheaths her dagger and shortsword and opens something at her sash, pulling long and thin needles out of it. Yet there was something off about them, as the light of the sun didn’t reflect well on them.

  { Damn her, she may be called the Collector. Her name is still Tang at the end of the day! Be careful, those needles are coated with poison.} Like a rock thrown into a calm pond, my inner demon tells me what was setting my instinct off.

  ‘Poison?’ { Yes, poison. Remember what Wu Chang taught us about politics: the Tang are known for their poison and hidden weapons. And she is no different, however much she wants to rebel against her family.}

  ‘No, that I know. What I was thinking about was why I am feeling dizzy…’ I rub my forehead, feeling it slick with blood and something else…

  ‘ No way…’ { Yes way. Either she is more shrewd than we expected, or she is a slob who doesn’t wash her hands after dealing with poison. Either way, this is bad for us. We cannot afford to drag this on anymore.}

  With this new frame of action in mind, I begin dashing towards her as she readies herself: her body low, her arms arced to the side and her wrists bent and ready to sling the poisoned needles at me.

  And like a taut bow, she let loose one needle at me, then two. Then three at once.

  I do my best to deflect the first wave, and the second I bat away with the opposite end. The third forces me to dive sideways, but I am already too sluggish to do even that as one of the needles catches me in the right thigh with a prickle of pain.

  I roll and get up in one motion, pulling out the needle and throwing right back at her. But unlike her trained hands, my own attempts result in the needle flying wildly through the air and missing her by a whole pace.

  But she is surprised enough to look in the direction it came from ( probably due to the heat and fatigue of wearing her armor). But this is an opportunity I take as I charge at her, spear first toward her middle section as I tense my whole body up.

  She quickly looks back at me and tries to sidestep out of the way, but her footwork has turned sloppy, allowing me to deny her by throwing my weapon in the direction she wanted to go.

  My spear cruises through the arena with a sharp whistle as it cuts the air, missing her by a hairbreadth. But the sudden appearance of my heavy spear is enough to make her jolt and change direction.

  Right in time for me to land a jump kick on her torso, sending her flying out of the platform as I crash on the ground where she once stood.

  < And that is it! Lu Huan wins the semi-final by forcing Tang ZhenZhen out of bounds! What a match Ladies and gentlemen; Fairies and lords. The decision-making of both contestants was on point all along, improvising each and every time they came to a standstill. From a well-timed parry into grappling and wrestling to a perfect throw! I am sure that the family of the Collector is proud at seeing their own result in using the family techniques when desperation strikes! Sadly if it were not for Lu Huan’s sheer endurance and grit, I am sure Lady Tang would have qualified.>

  The MC speaks as I start feeling nauseous, my head becoming more and more cloudy as I see something standing over me, a warm hand reaching down and stroking my face as I am falling asleep.

  I was in my bed when I woke up, back at our suite in the Vermilion pavilion. The memory of my fight is still fresh in my mind as I still feel a bit weak.

  { That poison was quite potent.} My guest says as she shows up in my peripheral vision. Floating aimlessly through the air.

  ‘Indeed… I do not think I would have been able to defeat her if we both fought with our Ki at the same stage… the thought is … Frightening?’ I catch myself witnessing my own feelings, a gentle warmth goes through my chest as I do so.

  { That you would…} Her face hardens for a moment as she looks at me with concern, her eyes narrowing for just a moment before returning to how they were before: lazy and bored.

  I relax in bed, laying back down only to hear someone groaning in their sleep nearby. Iulia is at my side, sitting in a chair, her arms crossed over her chest and fast asleep.

  ‘Did she…’ { She did. Never left your side since the match ended. It seems that poison is something she takes really seriously. As For why? You’ll have to ask her, I barely get any input when you’re knocked out.} She turns to look at Iulia, and, I do not know if I am really surprised or not, but we share the same wistful and longing look.

  ‘I see. Thank you.’ { Why are you thanking me? Do I have to remind you who I am?} Her face turns into a scowl as her outline darkens and shifts with inhuman shapes of claws, fangs, and many others.

  ‘ Because you’ve been helping me, and I know that even If I were to lose to you, you’ll take care of Iulia the same I would.’ { SHUT IT. Of course, I am helping you. What am I to take over if you are dead?}

  ‘In a contest duel?’ She gnashes her fangs together, making the sharp and shrill sound like nails on a board.

  { Don’t get used to it. It’s because of her that I am like this, and these sickeningly sweet emotions you’ve refused yourself ended up with me, doing something to me I cannot even understand. Don’t laugh! This is not funny business, but a matter of life and death!} She flies up to my face as I try to stifle my laugh, hitting me with her tiny hands.

  ‘ But aren’t you glad that you have these feelings? Other than hatred, disgust, and rage I mean.’ I push her back with a finger as she starts gnawing on it. The size difference makes it… adorable.

  { NO! I am not supposed to feel these, do you even understand how far I’ve strayed ?! I am a failure, you’ve made me a failure of an inner demon! } There’s fear and disgust on her face, but not aimed at me or anything but herself.

  ‘ How would you even know what to compare yourself to? Who said you are a failure?’

  { ME! That’s who, do you think I’ve come into being like a blank slate? No, I inherited memories of my kin. How and why? I don't even know, but what I do, is that I am not supposed to help you like this. I am not supposed to feel these things. Not yet at the very least. I am supposed to make you fall into rage and hatred, spurring you on with your own disgust for people. Making you see everyone as an enemy or a prey, I can’t do it myself anymore! You’ve made me care. Do you know how impossible this should be? I should not be able or even want to, yet you’ve made me care, not only for you but for others.} She falls down on the blanket, lying down with limbs spread out as she looks listlessly at the ceiling.

  I look at her, giving her but also myself time to process.

  ‘ But isn’t that a good thing?’

  { How is this a good thing? Are you mad or deranged?!} she jumps to her feet and points an accusatory finger at me, trembling with unbridled rage.

  ‘ Because you are no longer bound by rules you couldn’t control? You are free, perhaps the first and most free of your kind. That you all appear with a sort of shared memory surprises me. But, what’s stopping you from blazing your own trail in this world?’ I touch her extended finger with mine, making her tumble back a bit.

  { Aside from you? } She spits, looking dejected as she sits on the blanket. Crossing her legs and arms.

  ‘ Aside from me.’

  { I do not know… This is too much for me… I… I need time to think…} Her body starts to wash away in a dark mist of black and red as she disappears from sight and the forefront of my mind. Leaving me with my own thoughts as I see Iulia beginning to stir.

  ‘ I guess I should give my sorceress a reward for having watched over me with so much dedication, shouldn’t I?~’