Day 20 A duel

Lin Hong was taken back by the resolute look in Liang Yu's eyes. Instincts telling him to be wary. To many plans were in place to risk it. The death of a member of the Dark Moon family would cause an issue.

Another member of the rebellion forces gestured towards Ye Xinghe. If he fought and died due to a member of the Dark Moon family it would help the cause. Especially with the history, the family has with the populace.

"They are scared cousin." Liang Jian said. Finding the moving and whispering of some of the students off-putting. Liang Yu however said nothing waiting for their response of the others. 'Eldercousin has changed so much lately, must be the teaching of the Vice-Principal.' He nodded at his own deduction skills.

"A Life & Death duel is to much." Ye Xinghe said. "We are all students of the academy, no reason to create.."

"How weak." Liang Yu turned away." Your "side" gave a proposal I gave a counter offer. It is a good reminder to be careful with one's words and one's decisions they make. Putting everything on the line for what one believes in.. is the sign of a real man." His eyes landed on An Xueyun. "..as well as a real woman. Something you never have been around I suppose."

"Are you willing to give the same terms with out the Life & Death attach to it?" Ling Hong felt insulted despite it not being directed at him directly and more at Ye Xinghe. "Your insult can not just go by."

"Haaa, fine then. Same stakes but the loser has to complete one favor of the winner that is within their power. How's that sound?" Liang Yu proposed after a little thought. A chance to find out things on a more personal level ensuing. Plus to have a favor owed to him by Lin Hong would be good. Especially if he failed at killing him later.

"Fine! But I will duel you!" Ye Xinghe said. Not wanting to pass the chance to shorten the burden on his clan.

"If there is a duel, it should be me fighting!" Liang Jian shouted. Liang Yu was having none of that.

"Your head is not in a good space right now. Calm yourself for now and just watch." Liang Yu stepped forward to the teacher. "What do you say about the arrangement?"

"A sparring match between fellow students as well as fellow disciples, much to learn from each other." Lin Hong said clearly. Having the utmost faith in Ye Xinghe after hearing about him almost making it to the 3rd Heavenly Layer. " I ask the students and teachers here to show witness, that this isn't some vendetta!"

"Spoken like a true manipulator." Liang Yu said loud enough for most to hear.

"Teacher Chu Xian, I trust you to preside over this match fairly." Ye Xinghe asked almost pleadingly.

"Are you sure about this?" Chu Xian asked. Something about the situation through some flags. But they needed to check some students over to help bring them over to their side. Ye Xinghe gave him a resolute look. "Okay fellas, I want a clean fight!"

As the students looked on intently, a few had some doubts.

"Well, come on now." Liang Yu gestured towards Ye Xinghe that didn't move. "The agreement was to allow the other party to strike first, so make your move already."

"It wouldn't.."

"Do not start with any protests at Lng Yu said angrily. With everything that was at stake, Ye Xinghe still hesitated. " you care so little of your family's situation that you wouldn't even take an advantage that can help their living situation."

"Grrr!" Ye Xinghe growled in anger. A few people whispering in disdain over the situation.

"If I had a son like you.. I think I would kill myself out of shame" Liang Yu said tauntingly. Slowly he focused his 2nd Heavenly Layer qi into the metal seed in the center of his chest. Perfect time to test it really. "So can it be known that he ignored the advantage of first strike? I do not want to waste any more of my time."

"Agreed." Chu Xian said reluctantly. A small look of dissatisfaction passed through his eyes. Instantly a look of panic passe next. Liang Yu launched at Ye Xinghe in an instant. 'He's fast!'

*Tap!* The kick from the ground-launched Liang Yu like a hound at a rabbit.

Xinghe barely dodged the pounce. His arm moved to block as a simple high kick came towards his temple. The weight from the leg attack bared down on Ye Xinghe enough that he groaned in pain.

Circulating his qi, he pushed back and tried to gain some distance.

"Ugh!" Ye Xinghe groaned as Liang Yu was already back on him. Not giving a moment for him to recover. the pressure was building up quickly. He looked into the eye of Liany Yu, which was a mistake. 'I'm.. scared of him still!'

Shaking in place, Ye Xinghe was wide open for a head-on attack. Liang Yu kicked it up a notch as his finger pointed forward. His qi focused up to his second knuckle.

"Dodge it!" An Xueyan shouted. Remembering just how dangerous that attack was. Unlike Ye Xinghe who never paid attention to it. Her hands balled into fists as she made her decision to jump in the moment it became to dangerous.

"Ah!" Ye Xinghe snapped out of it. Pushing his qi hastily, he moved out of the way. But not without a small momento. On his cheek was a burn mark a 1/8 in diameter. Landing to the side, he was ready to prepare a counterattack. 'I can do this!'

*Woosh!* Qi laced Ye Xinghe's eyes. He used his Star Eyes which allowed his perception to kick up another level. Almost slowing things down in a sense.

"You move t slow now, Young Master Liang." Ye Xinghe said with confidence.

"If you say so .. kid." Liang Yu pushed on again. His qi in the ball of his feet and toes now. As the two enter an exchange, the others watched the stamina of the two. Soon, over 20 blows were exchanged in seconds. "What's wrong, can't stand the heat?"

Each strike that was deflected by Ye Xinghe lft scorch marks. He flame qi burning the surface of the boys' sky. Which Ye Xinghe let pile up since he could heal himself later. Damage accumulates, however.

Ye Xinghe started to back pedal under the pressure. The temperature slowly increased around the two. Ye Xinghe's breathing became labored. Liang Yu feeling right as rain as he still had half of his qi still. Control allowed him to fight a lot better than he thought it would at this time.

'I cannot keep taking damage!' Ye Xinghe intercepted the next strike. Catching with his off-hand, he reared back to deliver a straight blow to Liang Yu's chest. 'All on the line!'

*Bong!* The sound of metal echoed out loudly. A small shockwave of force spreading from Liang Yu's feet from the impact as he braces himself.

All of this confirmed a bit of his theory. Without Ye Xinghe getting goaded by circumstance he was unable to really activate the strength of his man character status. The taunting and the ridicule a big part of his development. Liang Yu was not crazy enough to provoke that type of response out of him.

"He did it!" A bunch of the commoner students cheered. They thought it was over with how heavy Ye Xinghe was breathing. But it was short lived at the uttering of some words.

"Fire Body." Liang Yu said simply but it sent chills down their spines. Even the teacher felt a touch of fear. A Flame Vortex made of blue flame erupted forth. It circled around the two fighters. Burning the oxygen up in an instant made it difficult to breathe. 'Humph, just not enough to beat me naturally!'

He did not waste his breathe by speaking. Astral Sense letting him know someone was going to attack at any moment.

Liang Yu flipped Ye Xinghe onto the ground to end the fight. The impact knocking the air from the boy. Making the burning flames that much worse as a bit was inhaled. Liang Yu came down with a punch straight to the solar plexus to top it off.

*Woosh!* Someone shot past in an instant towards the two. A flame burning hot that made contact with Liang Yu's chest. Sending him flying into a tree in the distance.

"Kuff!" Liang Yu spat up blood that evaporated in an instant. The flames dying down as he stood up and charge forward. His qi was spent blocking the blow. Well, his qi from the Fire Martial Arts anyway. If need be, he would use the Flame Vortex Core qi to fight. "Fair fight my ass.. what disrespectful little shits you are."

The students looked on with confused looks. Seeing how the duel was interrupted, they were happy it was over. But how it ended was pretty terrible.

"This is indeed a grave offense." Chu Xian said. He looked over Liang Yu closely seeing he was pretty marked up. Splinters in the back and deep purple bruising around the center of his chest. "What do you have to say for your self An Xueyun?"

The girl paid no attention to the teacher as she fretted over Ye Xinghe. Seeing him breathing just fine she relaxed a little. Finally taking a sense of what she had done on an impulse most thought.

Xia Xuning knew it was not on impulse. She did catch her friend preparing to intervene the moment things turned desperate. Especially after the outburst, she made to snap Ye Xinghe out of his fear.

"Didn't even deliver death blows." Liang Yu said fixing his tattered clothes a bit. Mindful to keep the center of his chest covered up more. "Besides the first strike, the rest were all tame and went to non-life threatening areas. Unlike his punch and your punch to the center of my chest."

A lot of the students took note of that during the fight. On closer look back, Liang Yu went for arms and legs strikes. With only a little qi sent through the attacks. In fact, most of his qi was used on defense it seemed.

"Only the last few moves looked serious." A student said.

"With Ye Xinghe's ability to heal, he will be fine. But let's talk compensation though." Liang Yu gave a cold glare to An Xueyun. "So you can just do what you want huh?!"

"How about I handle the penalty?" Xia Xuning stepped forward. "I am sure I can appease the Dark Moon family."

"This is not about the Dark Moon family, I am the one who was insulted." Liang Yu gave her a cross look before looking at Lin Hong. "Was it not agreed family matters wouldn't matter here? No vendettas right?"

"That is true." Lin Hong did not think Ye Xinghe would have lossed. But the fight looked pretty close. He was convinced it was due to the mental state of the two causing the victory to be in Liang Yu's favor. "I .." His words were cut off as the perpetrator of the duel spoke up.

"I am sorry Liang Yu! I thought you would kill him! Master Xu would have not been happy about this." An Xueyun said slightly tearful. "How can I make it up to you?" She played the pitiful role very well.

"Hmm, I would say let me give you a blow, as you did to the center of my chest earlier. But.." Liang Yu rolled his eyes in thought. Knowing that would not go well at this time amongst the group of students. "Let's just say you owe me one. As well as Ye Xinghe."

As things finally calmed down and every got themselves composed, Lin Hiong kept an eye on Liang Yu. Suprised the Liang Yu was lecturing his cousin on his behavior. The tongue lashing he gave him and the other members of the Dark Moon family was enough to make most of them feel bad.