Chapter 232: I Cannot Stand You

    ~~~

    Liu Jin walks into Rainstorm City, and the city grows darker and colder in his wake.

    Lei Kong and Ten Zichun are with the soldiers outside. Soaring Feather has left to carry a message to the Brotherhood of Thunder. Considering the eagles speed, Leader Liu has surely read the letter by now and is panicking about it.

    There are more soldiers in the city than usual. None look like the lazy, drunken fools City Lord Lei kept around his manor. From the quality of their Qi to their bearing, they are completely different. Some have similar features to Lei Kong and the City Lord. They are probably members of the Lei Clan sent from Thunder Blade Fortress. They might even be the ones who killed the citizens of Drizzle Town.

    They are not Liu Jins concern right now. Even City Lord Lei matters little.

    Liu Jin understood who his real target should be the moment he got close to the city. He walks through the streets of Rainstorm City, and none dares stop him. Even the soldiers of the Lei Clan hide away from him. When Liu Jin enters one of the overly bright, alcohol-scented casinos, the people start fleeing the place by the dozen.

    All but one.

    Han waits for him on the other side of a casino table. There is a roulette wheel still spinning there. Han waits until it stops to look up and wave at him.

    I was wondering how long itd take you to get here, Han says.

    You had the people of Drizzle Town killed.

    The lights in the room dim as Liu Jin speaks. Had his aura not already made everyone but him and Han flee the premises, someone would have fainted right there and then.

    I did, Han replies, not showing even an ounce of fear. I figured that would get your attention. City Lord Lei was not so sure. You have him convinced youre just a coward, but I knew better. You fought against me in the Eastern Port City Tournament despite knowing I was looking for an excuse to maim you. Cowardice has never been a flaw of yours.

    Liu Jin tilts his head slightly as he looks at Han.

    The last time they met, Han had unsuccessfully tried to murder him. However, the Han that had easily been fought off by him and Lei Kong is not the same as the creature that sits before him. He is at ease with himself. Confident. Almost smug. He is even bringing up Eastern Port City, whereas the mere mention of his past would have annoyed him before.

    Curious.

    The Lei Clan broke you out. I already figured out that much,

    Correct, but if asked about it, they will deny it and say I broke out on my own. Han snorts. As if the general cared about something as stupid as plausible deniability. Idiots, but they are useful idiots right now.

    Liu Jin frowns. His Qi thirsts for violence, yet he forces himself to take a seat in front of Han.

    If we fight and you win, the City Lord will be rid of me, leaving the Lei Clan free to go after Lei Kong, Liu Jin surmises. If we fight and you lose, the City Lord will say I started a brawl in his city and killed his people, leaving him no choice but to put me down. Is that the plan?

    Correct, Han says, giving the wheel a spin. It is impossible for people like us to fight in a place like this and not get others caught in it. Thats why you have been flaring your aura so menacingly all this time, isnt it? Youre trying to scare away everyone in the city.NewW novels updates at novelhall.com

    Liu Jin nods. If the City Lords soldiers try to stop the people from fleeing, his men have orders to intervene. Thats why he left them in front of the city gates.

    Even if that works, it wont matter. The City Lord will claim you went crazy regardless. Han snorts. Of course, that is only if you win. I have no intention of losing.

    I never imagined you would.

    Im supposed to tell you there are twenty members of the Lei Clan in the City Lords house right now, Han says. Theyre prepared to take your woman hostage the moment our fight starts. Should you win, they are the ones who will attack you.

    I am aware, Liu Jin says. I sensed them the moment I entered the city.

    Han hums. You do not care?

    I believe the Lei Clan will have twenty fewer members should they try anything. Mei is nowhere near as merciful or forgiving as I.

    I figured.

    The wheel stops spinning. It lands on zero.

    Why are you here? Liu Jin asks. Why this?

    Hans face twists with rage. His aura flares like jagged knives.

    The tip of Liu Jins ear is cut off. One of his sleeves is sliced. The injuries heal immediately, but it is telling that there are no such wounds on Hans body.

    Is that why you wont use lightning? Are you really so arrogant? Hans Qi surges violently, and Liu Jin sees he has no choice but to doge his next attack. The Qi blade that follows tears through several streets.

    City Lord Lei, fool that he is, probably never realized how much damage theyd be doing to his city when he agreed to this plan.

    If you use large attacks, you risk hurting others. If you try to run away, Ill chase after the people instead of you. You cannot fight me at a distance because you fear the collateral damage from my attacks. You cannot fight me at close range because then youre under the effect of my Dao. Hans grin grows as he lists off Liu Jins problems. Remember that?

    Liu Jin does not have the luxury to wince as one of Hans attacks slices his side. The cut is shallow, but it hurts.

    With every clash, the truth of Hans words becomes clear. Hans attacks gradually get closer to their mark, while Liu Jins counterattacks become less and less effective. He can hold his own, but thats not nearly enough, and his efforts to limit the damage to the city only hamper him further. Liu Jin had hoped City Lord Lei would order his soldiers to interfere upon seeing the damage Han is causing, but it seems that wont happen, and Lei Kong and Ten are busy at the gates with the soldiers, helping the people escape.

    Its fine, Liu Jin tells himself. He ignores Hans taunts and his crazed laughter. He ignores the pain and only focuses on the task at hand.

    He just needs one opening.

    Its over! Han yells as his leg is about to come down on his head. The Qi about to be unleashed will split the entire city block in half.

    Liu Jin does not dodge.

    He faces the attack head-on, creating a dense layer of Qi around himself, multiple snakes layered on top of another. Offense and defense clash, canceling each other out. For a moment, its just Liu Jin and Han before one another, Han still in midair.

    A needle appears between Liu Jins fingers. A thin layer of white poisonous Qi shines around it.

    He strikes.

    Han had only been half-right earlier. Liu Jin did refrain from more overt displays of poison out of fear of it spreading too far out. The level of poison required to hamper Han would also kill several lesser people.

    However, Liu Jin also refrained from more subtle displays of poison precisely for this moment. To lower Hans guard. Liu Jin has been building up poisonous Qi inside of him all this time, and now its all focused on a single needle. At this distance, in this position, Hans Dao cannot save him. Even a single graze will turn the tide in his favor.

    You arrogant ass!

    The air screeches. It is as if a picture were being torn in half. Liu Jins aim is suddenly off by a wide margin, and Hans leg comes down hard on his shoulder. Liu Jin winces as the earth cracks under him. He dashes away, but the damage is done. Blood, Liu Jins blood, drips to the ground. The wound on his shoulder is deep.

    I told you! Han roars at him. I am aware of it now! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! But I know I can do it! Did you think itd be the same as before?

    He is panting. Despite his words, whatever just happened took a toll on him.

    And yet

    Hans aura feels somehow sharper.

    You told me the world had made me an ugly thing! Well, look at you! Binding yourself to weak creatures you dont even know and hampering yourself for their benefit! Its unsightly! Do you understand? As long as Im myself and youre yourself, there is no way you can win against me!

    I cant stand you.

    That puts a stop to Han. For the first time, Liu Jin is glaring at him.

    Logically, I know you have gone through much. Perhaps, you had no other choice but to become what you are. And yet, I see you, and I think what a waste it is for you to be the one that survived, Liu Jin says tonelessly, his aura simmering around him, working to heal his wounds. I see you, and all I see is a meaningless, hollow existence.

    Han spits to the side.

    Meaningless? You think you get to decide that?! Youre so arrogant its sickening! You cant stand me? Fine! I cant stand you either! The worlds full of people who cant stand each other! Han yells. His knives scream alongside him. Thats why we do this!

    The anger in Liu Jins fades, replaced by a sad smile. That, too, only lasts for a moment.

    Only resolution remains.

    I know.

    The battle to death begins anew in the crumbling streets of Rainstorm City.

    ~~~