Deep and solemn, the morning bell rang throughout Academic No. 13 High School. In the first rays of the sun, Dew held on to the school banners, each thread quivering. Pupils congregated in the square, their faces white with anxiety and their uniforms immaculate.
The steward unfolded a scroll on the dais and nailed it to the bulletin board. Wet black ink glistened in the sunlight:
City H Selection in the Tournament Brackets
Zhou Mu vs. Chen Ho
Qin Ye vs. Bai Yun
Wei Rong versus Bai Zheng
The tree of names, which stretches like fate itself, includes Tian Ruo vs. Sun Ping and others.
Immediately there were whispers.
"Chen Ho... first round against Zhou Mu?"
"Zhou Mu's staff work is serious business. Last year, he humiliated two upperclassmen.
Chen Ho will lose the first battle, hehe. Tournaments are not won by trash with a glowing chick.
Chen Ho paid them no attention. He passed the board and headed for the exchange tent, where examiners sat holding scrolls and scales.
The steward said, "Turn in dungeon spoils."
Chen Ho carefully arranged his bundle:
Fanleaf with blue veins (perfect leaves, roots intact).
Red Dewcups (still dripping with dew).
Hares with horns shed their horns.
Wax cloth wrapped around spider silk.
Clay-sealed slime gel.
Burrow mice's whiskers.
The steward's eyebrows went up. "You collected... this much by yourself?"
He measured the silk's weight. "Just silk will bring in five gold." Herbs give credit to gel and whiskers. Eight gold, four silver, and academy merit points make up your total.
Students in the vicinity gasped. The majority had returned with only a few leaves and bruises.
Chen Ho bowed a little. "I'm grateful."
He saw Tian Ruo across the square as he was leaving. The spear-wielder leaned idly against a pillar, but his eyes grew hawk-like. He remained silent, allowing the silence to sting.
Chen Ho vs. Zhou Mu in the first round
The arena was a rope-ringed circle of stone. The stands were packed with townspeople and students shouting bets.
Zhou Mu went in first, muscles rippling, staff spinning in his hands. He smiled. I apologize, Chen Ho. To save you from embarrassing yourself, I'll end this quickly.
Pionix rested on Chen Ho's arm as he calmly stepped in. Overnight, the little Phoenix chick had grown, its tail glowing faintly, its feathers deeper red. Around it, sparks floated like fireflies.
A flag was raised by the referee. "No fatal strikes. Ring-out or give up. Start!
Staff sweeping for Chen Ho's legs, Zhou Mu lunged. If the blow had landed, the bone would have been snapped.
As though he had heard the blow before it arrived, Chen Ho moved one step to the side. Empty air was kissed by staff.
His shoulder was the target of the second swing. Chen Ho killed the force of the arc by stepping into it. The third roared in.
"Now!" Zhou Mu let out a bark.
Pionix replied. A spark ignited. Zhou Mu lost his balance as its Flame Peck hit the staff in the middle of its swing, scorching the wood with a crack.
After catching the staff and twisting it a finger's width, Chen Ho allowed Zhou Mu's own weight to push him two steps too far. First his heel touched the rope, then the dirt outside.
"Ring-out! Chen Ho triumphs!
The audience erupted in disbelief.
"What?"
"He didn't even launch an attack!"
No, he paid attention. He acted as though he was already acquainted with the staff.
Stunned, Zhou Mu stumbled to his feet and scowled. "You... you were fortunate."
Chen Ho bowed. "I appreciate the lesson."
Zhou Mu's mouth moved, but he remained silent.
In between games
Instructor He Ling walked by, her voice low, at the edge of the ring. "You read the wind."
Chen Ho replied, "I work on listening."
"Take on more." She disappeared into the bleachers.
With a banner that read, "CHEN HO — OUR SECRET HOPE," written in crooked ink, Fatty Lin leaped from the crowd. He almost fell when he waved. "You prevailed! Hehe! How many people are betting against you, do you know? I did, too, but I swear I'll switch right away!
With a slight smirk, Chen Ho returned his attention to the brackets. There was already a waiting opponent for him.
Second Round: Bai Yun vs. Chen Ho
The happy wolf-tamer Bai Yun came in, a wolf-ling pacing beside him. Bai Yun said, "No hard feelings." "However, I want to witness a Beast Tamer's actual fighting style."
Chen Ho gave a nod. "The same goes for
The flag was dropped by the referee.
With its teeth bared, the wolf-ling sprang forward. Just in front of the beast, Chen Ho flung a sash into the air and let it flutter. Training was superseded by instinct; the wolf leaped and pursued the cloth.
"Now!" With a command, Bai Yun lunged to interrupt Chen Ho.
However, Chen Ho had wrapped the tail of the sash around a root. Bai Yun staggered forward, tripping. The wolf skidded across the boundary line after overshooting and becoming entangled in the fabric.
"Ring-out! Chen Ho moves forward!
The audience let out a roar.
After blinking, Bai Yun started laughing. "You're cunning! Hehe! You win, but let's share soup next time. Deal?
Chen Ho put his hand on his wrist. "Agree."
Chen Ho vs. Bai Zheng in the semifinals
Faintly, the wind plates surrounding the ring pulsed—runes preparing to produce erratic gusts. With his hawk resting proudly on his arm, Bai Zheng grinned.
"Chen Ho, this is where you fall."
As soon as the flag dropped, the hawk took off, its wings slicing through the air like blades. Dust was pushed into Chen Ho's eyes by howling gusts.
He remained composed. Counted. One, two, three—what? Rhythmically, the plates gusted.
The hawk bent down. Chen Ho was half a beat ahead. The hawk's angle committed, but the wind missed.
A path of still air was ignited when Pionix's feathers flared—Fire Feather Burst. Nothing was hit by the hawk. Bai Zheng's rhythm faltered and he stumbled. Outside the rope, his heel brushed the dirt as his foot slipped.
"Ring-out! Chen Ho triumphs once more!
The stands burst into action.
"Three victories?
"He still hasn't shown everything!"
"That girl—it's more powerful than a typical firebird."
The End Is Near
The brackets narrowed by evening. There were just two names left:
Tian Ruo versus Chen Ho.
Like a trembling hive, the crowd buzzed.
Dean Mu Qing declared, "The three who advance to the Capital's Beast Tamer Academy will be determined by tomorrow's final." "Get ready, everyone."
With his eyes fixed on Chen Ho, Tian Ruo laid his spear across his shoulders. He grinned icily. "Enjoy today. I put an end to your little miracle tomorrow.
Chen Ho gave Pionix a head rub. Fire dancing in its feathers, the chick chirped softly.
I'll show them more than luck tomorrow, he thought.