“Qing Jin of the Eternal Flame Clan vs. Li Ning of the Black Dusk!”
The fighters stand in front of each other on a pristine white ring. The Crimson Cloud has fixed all the damage caused by Xiao Fang and Ruan Dafeng’s fight, and the tournament officials have cleared out the rubble.
Li Ning of the Black Dusk is an impressive-looking young man who wields an equally impressive hammer. Despite not being a member of the Four Great Sects, he managed to make his way to the third stage. That speaks well of his talent, grit, and determination.
However, he is not Liu Jin’s match, and everyone knows it.
The young man stands in front of his opponent and wonders what he is doing there. The fight has yet to begin, but he already feels like a loser. Surrendering before the fight began would have reflected poorly on him and the Black Dusk, but after seeing so many one-sided matches, Li Ning is starting to wonder if perhaps that would have been the wisest move.
“It would be bad if you surrendered,” Liu Jin says.
The words are spoken in a soft voice. Most people in the audience miss them. Li Ning could have almost believed he imagined them if not for the way Liu Jin’s Qi carries his words to his ears. There is no mistaking what just happened.
[Art of the Roaming Thief - The First Step]
Li Ning stands confused, not understanding what just happened or where Liu Jin has gone. A shove to the back makes him yelp in surprise. Liu Jin is standing behind him. Li Ning hurriedly backs away, almost tripping over his own feet. Some members of the audience laugh at him, making his face turn red.
[Art of the Roaming Thief - The Second Step]
The first step reads the opponent’s Qi and steps into their blind spot. The second step reads the ambient Qi and becomes one with it. For Li Ning, the end result is the same. He loses sight of Liu Jin and ends up looking like a fool. Liu Jin would be lying if he said he did not feel bad for him, but he made his choice long before stepping into the ring.
Li Ning’s reputation. His pride. His efforts.
Liu Jin already decided they are an acceptable price to pay.
[Art of the Roaming Thief - The Third Step]
Su Daji sighs as Li Ning’s hammer goes through Liu Jin’s body. The man’s face twists in confusion as he feels the lack of impact before the mirage in front of him fades away. His confusion only grows when dozens of Liu Jins suddenly surround him, each a mirage that seems like the real thing.
“I am surprised,” Ding Yan says. “I did not think the Emperor was the type to play with his food.”
“He’s not,” Su Daji says. “This is just…”
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Lord Feng Gui blinks.
“Did you know about this, brother?” Lord Feng Shang asks. His face is dead serious, which is hardly unusual.
However, for once, that seriousness is reflected on his brother’s face.
“Dear?” Lady Ling asks, caught off guard by her husband’s severe expression.
“Did father know?” Lord Feng Gui wonders at last.
“That… No, it cannot be. Techniques that hide one’s Qi are far from unique.”
“How many of those have three variations that match the stories?”
[Art of the Roaming Thief - Fourth Step]
The Third and Fourth steps of Art of the Roaming Thief are meant to be used together. The Third creates a mirage with Qi. The Fourth drastically reduces the user’s presence, enough that it becomes impossible to differentiate between the mirage and the real thing.
Of course, it is also possible to use the Fourth Step on its own to, for example, go into hiding for several years.
Li Ning cries in genuine rage as he keeps trying and failing to hit his opponent with his hammer. The audience laughs at him, clearly enjoying the show the Emperor is putting on for them. Why else would he keep toying with an opponent he could easily defeat?
“Four steps,” Bai Lianshi whispers, a hand held over her mouth. “It cannot be, but…” Chapters first released on novel•fire.net
Her head turns to her right.
“Meng Yue! Did you know?”
Her sister avoids her gaze.
“I… might have had some suspicions after meeting his master,” she admits. “The technique he was using to hide… It was probably that.”
“His master?!” Bai Lianshi’s gaze rapidly switches from Liu Jin to Meng Yue. “You mean to tell me-”
“I never found out for sure!” Meng Yue cuts her off. “Great Mother saw him through me. If she wanted me to know, she’d have told me! If you want to know more, ask her!”
“I must be imagining things,” Ruan Chenshu says. “That must be it. I have only heard tales about it. Lady Wandering Wind, surely, you must…”
He trails off as terror grips his heart.
The smile on the Wandering Wind’s face is the widest he has ever seen.
“Oh, that child,” the Wandering Wind says. “Truly, he is spoiling me.”
Granny Zhao closes her eyes.
“Stop looking down on me!” Li Ning roars as he raises his hammer.
[Arf of the Roaming Thief - Fifth Step]
Li Ning stops. Suddenly, he is unable to see his enemy even though he’s right in front of him.
Liu Jin takes pity on him and knocks him out.
“The Winner! Liu Jin of the Eternal Flame Clan!”
There are cheers. There are boos.
None of that matters. He has done what he needed to do.
“Master! Master! I have urgent news to report!!”
“My Lord, I saw it with my own eyes.”
“Xiao Shuang! You need to learn this!”
“Chen Guo! Listen to the words of your Great Grandfather.”
“Those snakes of the Eternal Flame Clan were hiding him all this time! Who knows how much they know!”
“The child Emperor is dangerous! He cannot be allowed to live!”
“He has mastered the Fifth Step! Who is to say he has not reached the Sixth or Seventh! If we try to go after him, he’ll disappear for at least eight centuries!”
“He has the blood of one of the One Hundred and Eight! Besides! The Wandering Wind made her feelings quite clear! We need to contain him!”
…is for everyone else to act.