Severing Time & Space

Achieving Victory Part I

"Victory goes to Wu Jian!"

"Wu Jian is the winner!"

"Wu Jian wins!"

The tournament continued and Wu Jian wracked up victory after victory. However, most of his battles were against his fellow Wu Clansmen. He didn't know if this was coincidence or not. Who fought who in which ring had been determined by random drawing (supposedly), meaning there should have been no way to rig this part of the tournament, but he still couldn't help but wonder if maybe this was part of Wu Wei and Ming Han's plot.

Since he was currently done with his battle and someone else was fighting, Wu Jian went over to watch Wu Meiying's battle. Hou Jingshu was already there, watching the fight with a dour look.

"I'm guessing you lost?" he asked as he walked up to her.

"That obvious?" Hou Jingshu asked with a bitter glare, then sighed. "I lost to Ming Shen in the second round."

"Ouch."

"I normally wouldn't be so bitter about losing, but not only did he beat me, he also..."

"Did he do something to you?" Wu Jian asked.

Hou Jingshu bit her lip, closed her eyes, and gritted her teeth as a shamed blush spread across her cheeks. "He... touched my chest."

"I'll kill him."

"Please don't. That would get you disqualified."

While they were joking, Wu Jian really did hate the fact that Ming Shen had touched Hou Jingshu. He might still be getting used to the idea that she was his fiancée, but that didn't change the fact that she was his fiancée, and he did not want anyone else touching her. Wu Jian wouldn't kill Ming Shen because it was against the rules. However, nothing in the rules said he couldn't beat the boy to within an inch of his life.

Dispelling his anger through force of will, Wu Jian focused on the battle between Wu Meiying and Juishi Meirin. The two girls stood in the exact center of the ring, duking it out with reckless abandon. That was what it looked like, at least. It was clear from Juishi Meirin's red face and Wu Meiying's calm one that his best friend had the advantage.

"How long has the fight been going on for?" asked Wu Jian.

"It just started a few seconds ago," Hou Jingshu answered.

As they spoke, Juishi Meirin threw a high kick at Wu Meiying's face. It was a graceful attack. Her foot traveled in a clear arc that cut through the air. Yet for however graceful her kick was, it was also predictable and easy to outmaneuver.

Wu Meiying lowered her body to the ground, pressed her hands on the ring floor, and swept Juishi Meirin's feet out from under her. The other girl squawked as she fell to the ground. She tried to scramble to her feet, but Wu Meiying moved into a parallel handstand and kicked the other girl in the face.

Many winced as the loud sound of foot meeting face echoed around the arena.

As her opponent's head snapped back from the attack, Wu Meiying stood smoothly to her feet, spun around, and launched a reverse wheel kick. The back of her heel struck Juishi Meirin on the neck, putting her out of commission. Hou Jingshu winced when the Juishi clan heiress dropped to the arena floor with a hard thud.

"That must have hurt," she muttered.

"Yup. Mei's kicks hurt like nothing else," Wu Jian agreed.

"Wu Meiying is the victor!" The elder at her ring stated.

With her victory now announced, Wu Meiying turned to them and hopped off the ring with a grin. Two Zhou Clansmen went onto the ring and carried Juishi Meirin out on a stretcher.