Chapter 16: The Semifinal Veil
The Iron Banner Sect's eastern plaza was transformed for the semifinals, banners snapping in the charged wind. Four contestants remained; victory was as heavy as the silence before a thunderclap.
Jiang Wei tightened the sash of his robe, heart pounding with both hope and dread. Ming Xue waited at the platform's edge, her gaze calm but unwavering, a solitary blossom in a field of stone. Across from them, Shen Ru—the Ice Qi prodigy—spoke quietly with his master, his every motion cool and methodical. Cai Fen stood apart, arms folded, arrogance shimmering off him like summer heat.
The elders took their places—the highest balcony fragrant with incense and anticipation. Senior Sister Wen caught Jiang Wei's eye from below, her slight nod a promise: *whatever happens, see it through*.
A hush fell. The official bracket appeared on a jade screen above the stage:
**Match One: Jiang Wei vs. Ming Xue**
**Match Two: Shen Ru vs. Cai Fen**
*It had always been a possibility*, Jiang Wei realized, but it hit with the force of a falling stone. He would fight Ming Xue—his unexpected friend, confidante in hardship, the only person here who'd seen him at his most uncertain.
They entered the ring side by side, stopping two paces apart. Ming Xue's eyes searched his face for hesitation; finding none, she offered a small, fierce smile. "Hold nothing back," she whispered.
Elder Hui raised his hand. "Begin."
For a moment, neither moved. Time stretched—two souls tangled in both rivalry and trust. Then, as if by unspoken cue, Ming Xue lunged. Her blade whistled, flashing in a sideways arc aimed at Jiang Wei's collar. Reflexes, half-learned and half-remembered, guided his block. Wood struck wood, a sharp crack ringing across the crowd.
Then the dance began. Ming Xue pressed the attack—strikes calculated, never wasted energy, testing not just his guard but his will. Jiang Wei moved with her, parrying, absorbing force, only to release it back in narrow ripostes. Their rhythm was unlike any match so far—less like predator and prey, more like flowing rivers forced to twist around the same stone.
Little by little, their duel claimed the attention of the entire terrace. Murmured commentary fell silent. Even Cai Fen's smile faded as the exchange blurred, artistry and grit on open display.
As sweat slicked his brow, Jiang Wei's thoughts tumbled: *Am I fighting her, or my own fear that I'll lose myself in victory? Am I more than this strange power, or nothing without it?*
Ming Xue feinted; Jiang Wei turned aside, only to find her knee launching up—he barely dodged, momentum nearly lost. His foot slipped, and instinct flared; the pebble's warmth surged, awareness flooding his meridians. Time slowed.
He remembered all they'd shared—midnight talks, laughter beneath the juniper, silent support amid pain. He owed her honesty—his true self, unhidden.
Jiang Wei met the next strike not with brute force, but with heart. He let her see his resolve: I fight to rise, but I will not trample what matters most.
They clashed again, his blade singing against hers, and this time, Ming Xue faltered half a step—her eyes rounding in surprise, then joy. "That's it!" she hissed, voice barely above the wind.
They broke apart, breathing hard. Then Ming Xue spun, purpose in her eyes. Her blade swept low—a move meant to unbalance, not injure. Jiang Wei leapt, turning in mid-air, landing just beyond her reach.
He struck softly—enough for the point, not for shame. Elder Hui's voice thundered, "Winner: Jiang Wei!"
Ming Xue smiled as she dropped her blade, sweat gleaming on her brow. "No apologies?"
He shook his head. "Never for giving my all."
She punched his shoulder, grinning. "Good. That's the only way we're worth remembering."
The crowd erupted—cheers twining with mournful sighs. As Ming Xue bowed and stepped from the stage, Jiang Wei felt a win that was more than victory—it was proof of growth, not just of power, but of soul.
Across the platform, Shen Ru and Cai Fen began their own fierce battle. Jiang Wei watched, knowing the final trial would come soon—and that whatever the result, something in him had already changed.
He had not only survived friendship and rivalry, but honored both.
Upon the Iron Banner's stone, one step from the summit, Jiang Wei prepared for the last, greatest test—the final that would decide not just who ascended, but who he truly was.