85 A Matter of Pride

A resounding beat was enveloping the entire field. An isolated field. The campus in Shrek Academy was more than large enough for everyone to have their own private space of training by walking for a few minutes in a random direction. One could train anywhere as long as they didn't damage the surroundings. Arena's existed for those kind of bouts—though those cost money.

The beat ringed. A ring, then a mighty thump. Another thump, then back to the beat. Karni was executing the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer with the help of Sonic Rhythm. A month later and his movements were unrecognisable to before. Unlike how he started, he was only making minimum movement. His Arms did most of the work.

The only Drumstick he held was his right one, while the left one bounced around. As the Drumsticks collided, the power increased on the next movement. Karni made a small circular motion with his right hand and circled the left drumstick from the left side, to the top, to the right and then sent it toward the ground.

On the ground, the left drumstick bounced back up into the air perfectly, reaching the held drumstick again. In the moment that the two collided, yet more power was added. The right drumstick was becoming harder and harder to hold for Karni. It was the main bearer of the technique.

This was only a single Martial Soul. The two halves were connected to one another. If one of the drumsticks loosened in the technique, the other would too. Especially so when his particular variation worked through resonance between sound and force, between the two Drumsticks. The technique required using this connection, Karni could not just use Sonic Rhythm on a single Drumstick—he had to apply the Sound on the friction between the two, the things that affected the Drumsticks. Karni knew he'd have to get into the habit of using this principle elsewhere as well.

The force kept growing. He always had to start normally, until 9 hits. He'd been working on speeding up that process. After a month it took 5 seconds. After that?

Karni began counting aloud to focus himself. "Fifteen." A thump followed a sound of collision. "Sixteen." He let the left drumstick smoothly flow from left to right again. It hit the ground and bounced back successfully. "Seventeen." There was now nervousness in his voice. As the drumstick was led from right to left again, hit the ground and bounced back, Karni focused. "Eightee- Ack."

The drumsticks were forcefully pulled apart as the 18th hit should've happened. The opposite reaction that began on the ninth hit. Both drumsticks were sent flying in opposite directions.. Karni's hands were now empty and numb. The same thing had been happening for the past week. The same numbness.

This was the first hurdle of the technique that took him this amount of time. The previous movements were smaller breakthroughs, a new hit each brought the force to greater heights, but every ninth hit was a major breakthrough in understanding the technique. Almost like cultivation. Every 10th rank, one needed a Soul Ring.

He'd asked Tang Wulin about it, and he didn't know either. Karni's technique had become his own special variation and it wasn't because of the shape of the weapon, but because of the combination of Sound and Force. The technique had a foundation of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, with core aspects of his Sound comprehension.

He had to rely on himself to figure it out, and he also didn't feel like it was his comprehension lacking. No, what was lacking was something basic. Something Karni wasn't seeing… or, well, hearing. The harmonies. The way the Force and Sound interact.

He'd long since understood the Element's Heart of Sound, but that was more connected to him being able to bring the Sound of surroundings to his aid. How he mixed and matched them was a whole different beast.

His musings were interrupted as he got a call on his soul communicator. "Yeah? Wulin? What's up? … Mm. I have time right now. I'll be there."

Karni was relieved and frustrated at the call. Had the guy finally decided?

… … …

"Hey. Stop acting like you're someone above Tang Wulin. He's doing his best."

Siduo sighed. This whole spiel again. "Excuse me? I'm not acting like I'm above him. I'm fucking frustrated with him. I've practised all of the formations and soul arrays constantly. I have them completely memorised for when we start with the final creation process. We've had the designs finished ages ago! Of course I have a problem when I've observed his smithing skills so many times, yet every single time he says he's not happy with the metal. This is the first one we wanted to do to speed up the whole process! So tell me. Should I not be frustrated?"

"You think he's not aware? That he's not doing anything? Y-"

"Yes. That's exactly what I think. Because I saw what he's doing. He's got that skill, but is single-handedly stopping us from progressing. I can tell he's thinking through something but Gu Yue, if he doesn't tell us-"

Gu Yue stopped her. "He doesn't have to tell us things. He might be going through things."

Siduo raised her eyebrows. "See, even you don't know. I get that you want to defend him, because he's your boyfriend, bu-"

"He's not my boyfriend." Gu Yue said with an almost icy voice.

Siduo raised her arms in defeat. "Fine. Friend. Not the point. The point is that we have had nothing to do the past month! Karni's finished literally 90 percent of my Battle Armour in that time! I'm only missing two pieces now! I spend most of my time in the Tang Sect studying, instead of manufacturing, because I don't have his metal! We don't have anything to do! Tell me, Gu Yue, what were you doing during this time that you aren't bothered by this?"

'What were you doing during this time?' The words struck Gu Yue at a sore spot. Siduo was right and she hated to admit it. It bothered her how much she always pestered Tang Wulin. Not only her, but Karni as well. Both of them had been a bit frustrated with him for the past month, though Karni tried to hide it. She breathed out.

"Oh shut up. I know we haven't been progressing the last two weeks, but he always gave compensation. Alone, you already have the pieces to create battle armour for yourself. So what do you have to complain about."

"That's nonsense." Siduo felt like cursing but kept calm. "That compensation can't be used for shit and you know it. Because both Karni and I are waiting for Tang Wulin to give us the green light to go and actually craft the damn pieces."

"Hah. There you go acting like you're some saint again by being so 'nice' as to wait for him to give you the green light."

Siduo sighed. "I'm not doing it cause I'm some damn saint. It's because I want the best! You know damn well Tang Wulin is leagues above others in Blacksmithing." 

The most egregious problem here wasn't Tang Wulin, it was the relationship between Gu Yue and Siduo. The two butted heads constantly over the past month. Karni and Wulin have had to mediate between them many times now and Tang Wulin's apologies have been endless. Not only for him, but he also apologised instead of Gu Yue, which in turn made Gu Yue angrier. It was a downward spiral.

What was with Wulin? Karni and Siduo were both confused. He was clearly glad that Gu Yue was on his side, but there was also guilt. He knew they were right. Karni had told her that it felt out of character for him to be like this indecisive.

It was actually impressive that the two hadn't jumped at each other yet. Even if, by the looks of it, they definitely felt like jumping at each other right now. Gu Yue wasn't good at facing people who were calmer than her. It made her feel uncomfortable and it made her want to erase that person from existence. Siduo was one of the few people that brought out her true nature as the Silver Dragon King.

The problem was the fact her arguments were perfectly valid. Siduo made sure to acknowledge Tang Wulin's skills as a Blacksmith. She'd had a problem with his behaviour, which somehow made Gu Yue even angrier.

Siduo noticed it as well. Her ears perked up and her face turned into a frown. Her eyes focused into slits. That hostility. Even slight murder intent. "Fine. This had been building up since the Battle for Representatives anyway."

The tension was broken by a call. It was Gu Yue's soul communicator. She picked it up. It was Tang Wulin.

After she finished she looked at Siduo, who had round pupils again. She quickly calmed down. Another thing that made Gu Yue uncomfortable. "Tang Wulin wants to meet up. Maybe he'll give you the reason you wanted to hear all this time." She said with a raised chin before turning and going towards the smithing room they've beed using as their meeting space.

Siduo sighed. "I swear if we don't start in another week I'm getting a different team." It didn't matter how good of a Blacksmith that guy was. They were on a schedule here. Thinking about it, Karni would probably agree with her.

… … …

Val Karni, Wu Siduo, Gu Yue and Tang Wulin were now all in the smithing room. Tang Wulin was smiling while standing in front of them. In his hands, he held two pieces of metal.

"These are alloys. One is very suitable for my battle armour, while the other is suitable for Gu Yue. I was working on her piece for a while now, as proof of concept that I can create high quality alloy even if it isn't connected to my bloodline. I'm confident that if you give me a month for each of you, I'll be able to create high quality alloys for you as well."

Siduo's face was neutral. "How high of a quality."

"Above 90 percent. My own is actually 96 percent in compatibility between the two metals used." There was excitement in Tang Wulin's eyes.

Siduo took one of the pieces in her hands and analysed it. Karni joined, tapping the metal with his Bo Staff. They could tell that this alloy was of an incredibly high quality, even if they couldn't gouge it directly.

She looked over at Karni. "How long do you think you'd need to redesign battle armour to suit the alloys?"

He tapped it a few more times to make sure he was right. He frowned. This… was a bit too different. He'd have to go through a lot of redesigns.

"I think at best I can redesign a piece I'm familiar with in a week, at most, it might take three. A single piece I mean."

Siduo nodded. "In that case, I think we shouldn't do it and wait a bit. We can always do this later on."

Tang Wulin was in thought, but there was definitely disagreement in his eyes. He exchanged a look with Siduo.

Siduo nodded. "It's not just about the time. Let's start from the beginning. We only have a bit more than three months left. First, you need to create the alloys." She pointed to Tang Wulin. "We're not sure if you'll have more difficulties with our choices, and before that, Karni and I still have to study up on what combinations would suit us best."

Tang Wulin nodded at that, but there was determination in his eyes that told Siduo he promised to succeed.

"Fine. The second problem. Redesigning. Let's be honest. Karni is good, but he has to be familiar with the metal to create the best product, so he'd have to wait for you to finish with the smithing." She looked at Karni for confirmation, who nodded. At these things, it was better for her to speak. He'd likely try and play down some of the troubles. Siduo would be more brutally honest in her criticism.

"Finally, there's a problem with me. Based on the quality, I'll throw out a guess. You plan for us to blood bind these right?"

Tang Wulin was a bit shocked. She was correct. He was planning to use this as another carrot to throw at the two should they refuse the idea. "It would be an incredible foundation for our future."

Siduo nodded. "I agree. It is actually the best foundation. But I'll be honest, you'll have to wait for me to become a 5-star Manufacturer. Otherwise I might waste the metal at the very end."

That… made Tang Wulin rethink things. He hadn't thought of that. He wasn't familiar enough with Manufacturers to think that. They had both been so talented that he kind of… assumed they had the skills.

"I believe I should be able to reach it in about 2 months, but with this, we get new questions as well. How long will I need to study the designs? How long until I'm confident I won't mess up the metal? What kind of strain will it have on my body? I heard manufacturing Alloys was quite a different beast. We don't have the guarantee that we have the time for everything."

Tang Wulin now nodded with a sigh. With all of that, he had to admit he jumped the gun a little bit.

"I want to use the alloy." Gu Yue said from the side all of a sudden.

Siduo turned towards her, her ears perking up, but her eyes still normal, if filled with shock.

"What? Why? Did you not hear anything I just said? We might fail!"

Gu Yue kept a neutral impression. "It's nothing much. If you're so scared, just quit. We can always get a better manufacturer."

Siduo was quiet. Karni was quiet. Even Tang Wulin was quiet. Siduo however, unlike the other two, didn't have an expression of shock on her anymore.

"Oh." She said with what Karni recognised as a perfectly controlled tone of neutrality. "Fine then." She turned around and walked out of the room.

Only now did Karni's brain catch up. "Sisi! Wait!" He turned to Tang Wulin. "Just give me a second with her."

He rushed after her. Closing the door behind and shouting again. She stopped immediately and turned to face him. He smiled when he saw her face. She wasn't shaken at all.

"You can't say you're surprised at my decision." She shrugged.

Karni shook his head. "I am, but you're right, I should've seen it coming… Sisi. I'll actually vouch for him this time. That guy will be a Divine Blacksmith in the future. He will be. This is a connection worth making, even if that girl is hot headed when it comes to his decisions. He'll likely be faster than we think in creating the metals as well. In terms of us, we shouldn't have a problem either."

"And if it doesn't work? What will Gu Yue do then?"

Karni sighed. "Just this once, let her be stubborn and in the worst case scenario, we just make her that alloyed armour."

Siduo was silent, before sighing. "Fine. I'll only tolerate this once, for the sake of connecting with Tang Wulin and for no other reason." She walked back towards the room, past Karni. With—what Karni was surprised to find—a troubled expression.

The two entered. Gu Yue was unable to hide her dissatisfaction with this.

"I'm in. Kiki convinced me. That being said, if we won't have the time, the only armour I'm willing to spend time on is Gu Yue, since she can't separate herself from it."

Tang Wulin smiled at her and at Karni who was behind Siduo, also smiling. There was one who didn't appreciate Siduo's comment though. Gu Yue.

"We don't need someone who needs convincing from her boyfriend and doesn't trust her other companions. You already quit."

A laughter escaped Siduo's mouth. Genuine laughter, which disturbed Gu Yue to no end. She didn't know why that would be funny. "Fine, fine, fine. Yeeeeeesh, ahaha. Don't need to be so offended. You're right, you're right. It's only me here who always has to be convinced. I'll go." She turned towards the door again, and before slamming it, she showed a massive grin accompanying a middle finger pointed at Gu Yue.

"Shit. Sisi!" Karni went outside again, this time more frustrated than before. Not at Siduo, but at Gu Yue.

Tang Wulin and Gu Yue stood alone in the room. Tang Wulin had mixed feelings right now. On one hand, he felt glad Gu Yue was so strongly positioning herself beside him, but on the other… "I think you might've gone too far this time, Gu Yue."

… … …

"Kiki. I'm not going back."

"But."

"No fucking way."

"Sisi. Gu Yue went too far this time. I know. I hate it too, but Tang Wulin, he's-"

"Going to become a Divine Blacksmith and bla, bla, bla. Yeah. I know."

Karni didn't know what to say exactly. Because right now, the thought that Tang Wulin would be the Divine Blacksmith was really the only thing keeping him sane with Gu Yue's shit. "But… you should know how important it is to have him-"

"On our side? Yeah. It would be tremendously helpful. I know. But Kiki." She stepped a bit closer to him and whispered with a bit of chirp in his ear. "I don't need anything but a drop of my fucking pride, to not tolerate that behaviour. I respect myself. She didn't just insult my skills this time. She insulted me as well as you. Our relationship. That is something that I won't tolerate, no matter how skilled someone will be in the future."

Karni felt goosebumps. She was so close. The whole happy sound in the whisper made his heart skip a beat. She was… scary. Yet it also made him feel some other things he didn't expect he'd feel.

"I-I…" He stuttered a little, though he wasn't sure because of what exactly. "I understand."

She backed off, a more genuine smile this time around. The two looked into each other and Karni decided. "I'll quit too then."

She was a bit surprised. She even felt a bit guilty, seeing the sincere look in his eyes. He put her above the long term connection he might gain if he didn't. And she knew how hard that was for him. He knew the future. He knew what he might've just lost. For her.

He chuckled a little, easing the tension. "I'll go back and tell them real quick."

"Mm." Siduo nodded, looking at his back. Yet just as he closed in on the doors, her eyes widened. "Wait a minute, Kiki."

Karni stopped himself before opening. "What is it?" His mind stopped working for a second when he noticed the new look on Siduo's face. A smile he hasn't seen in a while. A wicked smile that immediately informed him of a scheme.

"You should stay in the group."

"Ha? Why?"

"Will you allow me to be a bit selfish?"

Karni was confused, but nodded. "Sure, but that doesn't answer my question."

"I want to see that bitch suffer a little bit, maybe straighten her out as a bonus as well. You should stay, and make her feel as useless in the team as possible. Do as much as possible to stand out and show your worth."

Karni blinked… then he couldn't help himself… a smile he tried to hide, with wide eyes.

Now it was Siduo who felt excited. This was the look he usually made when thinking something up.

"How bad do you want me to make her feel?"

Siduo made a smile she learned from Mo Qing. A truly 'kind' smile. "Don't hold back."

"In that case. As soon as I open up the door slightly. Shout at me something ugly. You're good at that. Oh! Better yet, slap me before you start, as if we've just had a huge fight."

"Kiki. You're going all out today." Siduo felt excited, her sour mood completely gone now. She thought up something. "Okay. Got one. Ready."

Karni smiled, but secretly prepared himself for the slap. He lightly opened the door, only letting a crack show. In that moment, he received a mighty slap. His cheek was red.

"Don't you dare drag me back to that witch. Let me go! I don't give a fuck about that guy's skill. We've had to do more work because she can't help with anything! You've had to do more! If you want to be her little bitch go ahead. I'll go and make my own team."

Before she turned back, she lightly touched his cheek, leaned close and gave it a small kiss. Inaudibly saying. "Sorry," and "thanks." Then she made especially loud steps, while waving him goodbye merrily.

Karni had to calm down for a second. She's good. He breathed in and out a couple of times, before finally entering with a clearly upset face. Tang Wulin and Gu Yue looked at him weirdly. On Gu Yue there was even a bit of… guilt? Karni could hardly believe it, but he hid his surprise for now.

"She'll be challenging us. And just so you know," he turned to Gu Yue, "I. Didn't. Quit." He walked closer to Gu Yue, his face becoming a bit uglier. "Tell me. What exactly is your fucking problem? That high pride of yours? Feeling of uselessness? Or your friendship with him and you being protective?" He pointed at Tang Wulin.

"Oh but that couldn't be it." He smiled at her. "Since apparently you find trust between those close to you to be a weakness."

"Huh?" Gu Yue answered back in a bit of anger. "You don't have to stay here either, you know?"

He ignored her proposition. "Why do you make fun of the very thing that makes you trust Tang Wulin. Have you never needed to be convinced by him? To trust in something you didn't? And you trusted it because it's Tang Wulin?"

Gu Yue was taken aback. "I've always trusted his judgement. I don't find it funny."

"Then why speak of Siduo that way? She and I have the same relationship." He looked her in the eye.

Gu Yue stared back, oddly, with a a pained look. It was the first time Karni was so direct.

Karni turned to Tang Wulin and walked close.

Gu Yue found her words. "I'm sorr-"

"I couldn't give less of a shit about your apology right now." He stopped her and turned to Tang Wulin, who didn't have a friendly face right now either. He didn't expect to see Karni like this.

"Siduo is going to challenge us. I hope you're aware she has most of her Battle Armour designed. You also gave her the metal necessary to make it. Knowing how powerful she is right now, she won't have a problem equipping all the limb parts. Probably the head as well. Do you realise how dangerous that is going to be?"

Gu Yue opposed from behind. "It's not like she has a team though, she'll need ti-"

"By tomorrow, I guarantee you, she'll have her own team, and not only that, I'm willing to bet she'll gather all the assholes from the Genius Youth Ranking."

Gu Yue was now silent. That… Would be a problem, because they also don't have a team right now.

"So." Karni turned back to Tang Wulin. "Mister President. Do you have a fucking plan? Because I'll be honest. I'm not sure that your upgraded idea of battle armour will be able to hold that off. At the very least, you, who'll be our main attacking power, needs two pieces of that fucking armour." Karni made a smile that challenged Tang Wulin to take that as something he'd have to do.

Tang Wulin's aura ruptured. He accepted that challenge and Karni was glad to see that happen. He had to silently thank Siduo as well. She gave him a challenge as well. Him and this team. If she didn't leave, he honestly wouldn't have an ounce of worry about their win. With this? He'd have to pull out his 110 percent as well.

… … …

A single street lamp lit up a group of injured bodies. A single, red haired person with slits in her eyes stood above them. Mocking them.

"Fucking weak. Maybe I should find other people? Maybe you're useless?"

"I'm… not weak." A grunt escaped. It was the Dusk Bear Yang Nianxia.

She turned to look at another two people who stood in the shade. "And you two girls? You in?"

"I only have to design?" Wen Bao asked.

"Mm. For these idiots. You won't have to fight. Otherwise I'd test you too."

'Test.' That word didn't sound right to Wen Bao, looking at the group of geniuses laying on the floor.

"I'm in."

Liu Liu smiled as well. "Me too." She glanced at a particular sorry guy with a slight smirk: Luo Guixing lying on the ground, beaten up.

He looked back at her, furious, but not being able to do anything. Some beef had been brewing between those two. A thing she'd have to take care of if she wanted this to succeed. She'd just gotten word from Karni how it went. She'd have a damn good challenge.

Siduo smiled widely, ignoring her current concerns. "Good." She turned to the group laying on the floor. "Now then. You guys will never win against those guys as you are right now. We'll have special training sessions every day in the evening for the next three months. You should be thankful."

"F-Fuck you." Li Tai cursed at her.

"Mm." Siduo smiled. "That attitude is better. Fuck you too! I hope you can still curse at me in a week." Once Mo Qing's signature smile, now truly became her own when combined with pointed cat ears and cruel slitted eyes looking at their prey.

Siduo called Karni on the communicator. "Hey, Kiki. I'll prepare you a good challenge. I hope your side doesn't disappoint. Oh, yeah, and I wanted to ask. Cocoa tomorrow morning?"