"Call me whatever the fuck you want"
As Ling Ling launched herself at Namgung Hao, her fist enveloped in a blood-red aura, she aimed a powerful punch at him. However, Namgung Hao, displaying a calm demeanor, effortlessly blocked her attack with a casual palm technique. The clash of their techniques sent shockwaves rippling through the platform, decimating the area and enveloping it in a cloud of dust.
Amidst the swirling dust, Ling Ling scanned her surroundings, trying to locate Namgung Hao. With a taunting tone, she called out, "Come on, show yourself! What are you, a chicken?" Suddenly, she spotted multiple shadows moving within the dust, surrounding her from all sides. Undeterred, Ling Ling clenched her fists and smiled defiantly. "Come at me, you pervy phantom," she challenged.
Swiftly, Namgung Hao darted around Ling Ling, disorienting her with his agile movements. Ling Ling attempted to retaliate with a kick, but instead, she felt a searing heat on her back. Blood gushed from her mouth as she staggered, overcome by intense pain. "Urrgh... such backhanded tactics," she muttered, realizing that Namgung Hao had used 'Palm of the nineteen Astrals' that had ruptured most of her internal organs, causing severe internal bleeding. Despite the agony, Ling Ling remained determined to continue the fight, refusing to back down.
Back in the vip seats, Shen Wu stared intensely at the swirling dust enveloping the platform where Ling Ling fought Namgung Hao, his thoughts betrayed a hidden concern beneath his usual bravado. "As much as she pissed me off... I hope she's fine," he silently admitted to himself. Despite any frustration he harbored towards Ling Ling, she remained a friend—someone who had endured grueling training alongside him, forging a bond through shared challenges and hardships.
The scent of blood permeated the air, a familiar odor that Shen Wu knew all too well. Ling Ling's blood. It triggered a deep-seated instinct within him, born from their shared struggles and experiences. Shen Wu's grip tightened on the arms of his chair, cracking them slightly under his tense grasp.
Just as Shen Wu was poised to act, Master Gu's sudden and unexpected laughter cut through the air. Startled and confused, Shen Wu turned his gaze towards his master, who was chuckling uncontrollably. "If he was going to defeat little Ling, he should have done it in one go," Master Gu remarked between laughs.
Shen Wu's confusion deepened at his master's words. Beneath the laughter, he detected a hint of cryptic wisdom, suggesting that Ling Ling possessed a resilience and strength that even her opponent underestimated.
As Ling Ling stood with blood-stained hands, a maniacal laughter escaped her lips, sending chills down the spines of everyone in the arena—everyone except Master Gu, who watched with ecstatic anticipation. Meanwhile, Namgung Hao, feeling a sense of dread creeping over him, thought to himself, "It's better if I just kill this crazy bitch."
Without making a sound, Namgung Hao swiftly moved behind Ling Ling, launching his palm strike at her back with the intention of obliterating her from the inside out. However, Ling Ling bent in an unnaturally agile manner, dodging the strike and seizing Namgung Hao by the face. With a powerful motion, she drove his face into the shattered platform beneath them, the force of impact sending shockwaves through the arena.
As she lifted Namgung Hao's bloodied visage towards her own, his face etched with cuts from the sharp debris, he stared in horror into Ling Ling's eyes, which were now consumed by darkness. A thick, blood-red aura enveloped Ling Ling, emanating an aura of sheer menace.
Before Namgung Hao could utter another word, Ling Ling plunged his face back into the platform, eliciting agonizing screams from him. His attempts to surrender were cut short as Ling Ling repeated the brutal process, lifting him up only to slam his face back into the unforgiving surface again and again.
The arena fell silent, save for the blood-curdling screams of Namgung Hao echoing throughout the now still and tense atmosphere. Ling Ling stood amidst the aftermath, her expression unreadable, as the dust settled and silence reigned over the platform.
As the blood-red aura dissipated from Ling Ling and her eyes returned to normal, blood dripping from her mouth, she remarked with a wry grin, "Nah... Master Gu still hits harder." With those words, she turned to walk away from the scene.
Suddenly, a woman in blue robes appeared beside Namgung Hao, kneeling beside him with concern. "Son! Say something!" she pleaded, her gaze then shifting to Ling Ling with a lethal intent. "You bitch, I'll KILL YOU!" she declared, her voice laden with fury.
The woman gently placed Namgung Hao down and drew her sword, her eyes fixed on Ling Ling with murderous intent. Ling Ling found herself unable to move under the overwhelming pressure of the woman's rage. As the woman's sword swung towards Ling Ling's neck, poised for a fatal strike, Master Gu intervened effortlessly. He stopped the sword with his middle finger, using his internal energy to compel the woman to kneel before him.
"Calm down. It's not like the brat died..." Master Gu stated calmly, his demeanor unwavering. The woman, identified as Namgung Cho, seethed with anger. "I, Namgung Cho, will remember this embarrassment!" she vowed through clenched teeth.
Master Gu responded casually, "And I, Master Gu, won't remember this by tonight."
Despite her rage, Namgung Cho remained immobilized under Master Gu's pressure. Just then, Shen Wu and the 5th sage entered the platform. The 5th sage addressed Master Gu, urging him to quell his anger and release Lady Namgung.
Respecting the 5th sage's request, Master Gu released his pressure. Namgung Cho swiftly gathered her son and, with sword in hand, flew out of the arena in a display of raw emotion and determination. The tension in the arena gradually eased as the immediate threat passed, leaving Ling Ling and Master Gu to exchange a glance.
Master Gu smiled cheekily at Ling Ling and remarked, "This Master of yours is so proud of you. You kicked his ass so good..." Before he could continue, he was abruptly pushed aside by Shen Wu, who rushed up to Ling Ling and enveloped her in a tight hug.
Ling Ling chuckled softly and remarked, "I guess this means my junior brother isn't mad anymore." Shen Wu, still holding onto her, scoffed, "Nope, I'm still pissed off, but a tad bit less. You know how big a grain of rice is?" Ling Ling nodded in confusion, and Shen Wu continued, "About a tenth of that."
Ling Ling stared at Shen Wu for a moment before shaking her head and saying, "You... you really are weird." Master Gu then interjected, walking between Shen Wu and Ling Ling, and said, "You kids... just get down the platform."
Shen Wu replied casually, "No problem," but their conversation was interrupted by the 5th sage, who spoke up, "There is a problem actually." Shen Wu turned to face the 5th sage, curious. "What do you mean, Senior Sage?" he asked.
The 5th sage explained, "Well, young man, it's your turn to fight. You don't mind fighting on a slightly damaged platform, do you?" Shen Wu glanced around at the utterly destroyed platform, hardly recognizable as such. After a moment's consideration, he shrugged and replied, "Sure, why not?"
Master Gu chuckled at Shen Wu's straightforward introduction and nodded. "Well, I'll go back and observe your fight from the VIP seats," he said, patting Shen Wu on the shoulder before heading off.
Ling Ling, still playful, leaned in close to Shen Wu and whispered, "I'll be rooting for you and betting my whole net worth on you, so if you lose..." She pointed a finger accusingly at him. "I will tell Master Gu about the forbidden scriptures under your bed." Shen Wu's expression turned pleading as he replied, "Please don't." Ling Ling laughed mischievously and jumped off the platform, shouting back at him, "You better win then!"
Shen Wu watched her go with a mixture of amusement and apprehension before turning his attention back to the arena. Stepping into the center, he couldn't shake the feeling of stage fright creeping over him. As he pondered his nerves, a young man clad in a dark purple robe strode onto the stage. He wore a purple headband and carried a spear casually over his shoulder.
The man bowed respectfully and introduced himself, saying, "Greetings, fellow martial artist. I am Lee Jangdon from The Purple Forest Bandits. I am known as The Purple Spear King."
Shen Wu returned the bow with a nod and replied in his usual blunt manner, "Hey, I'm Shen Wu from The War God Sect. I don't currently have a title, so just call me whatever the fuck you want."