[A/N: A big thanks to Wulfus and kanderson2084 for the Golden Tickets to the book. Thou shall be rembered.]
The sky above the Yu Clan had dimd to a deep indigo.
The two moons — one gold, one silver — slowly rose over the horizon, casting a sacred glow across the mountainside. The air was crisp, tinged with excitent and spirit energy.
Even though night had arrived, no one rested.
Why would they?
The semifinals of the grand youth tournant had finally begun.
While the arena remained exclusive and quiet, the rest of the clan was anything but.
Floating screens glowed across open pavilions, courtyards, and gathering halls.
Disciples crowded around them in small clusters, shouting, whispering, and cheering.
So mourned their spiritual stone losses.
Others clutched winning tickets like treasures handed down by the heavens.
In one courtyard, soone had even set up grilled beast skewers and was selling spicy broth.
Truly a festival.
Up on the tournant platform, Disciple Lu reappeared with his usual enthusiasm, standing in front of the hovering na board.
"And now!" he declared. "We move into the semifinals!"
From the floating board, golden nas shimred to life.
Lin Fan vs. Yu Xueqing
Murmurs broke out instantly.
"Two of the strongest so far..."
"No matter what happens, this match will be incredible."
The two stepped forward without hesitation.
Lin Fan, calm and quiet, gripped his short sword lightly.
His clothes were modest, but his posture was firm and unshaken. Every step he took was asured.
Yu Xueqing wore silver-trimd robes and carried her twin blades at her waist.
Her expression was unreadable — like a frozen lake, still and deep. She moved without a sound, as though her feet barely touched the platform.
Even the wind seed to hesitate around her.
Lu cleared his throat. "Are both participants ready?"
They nodded in unison.
"Begin!"
A sudden flare of light surged from the boundary formation.
And like an arrow loosed from the bow—
Yu Xueqing struck first.
Her twin blades glead in the moonlight as they cut through the air in sharp arcs, one slicing for Lin Fan’s shoulder, the other aid low for his thigh.
But Lin Fan was already in motion.
With a pivot and lean, he dodged backward, narrowly avoiding both cuts.
He didn’t strike back imdiately.
Instead, he watched.
Studied her rhythm.
Yu Xueqing pressed forward again, graceful as a dancer, deadly as a falling star.
Her blades moved in perfect coordination — fast, elegant, precise.
Not a single step wasted. Each strike aid to end the match quickly.
Lin Fan blocked the third attack. Then the fourth.
His sword flashed, deflecting the blows without breaking form.
But Xueqing was relentless.
Her style was like a flowing stream — adapting, shifting angles, never attacking the sa way twice. Her montum built with every swing.
For most disciples her age, this would’ve been overwhelming.
But Lin Fan wasn’t most disciples.
He was a protagonist. A hard working one at that.
He kept his distance, footwork light and minimal.
Every ti she advanced, he gave just enough ground to avoid danger. Every ti she reset, he applied subtle pressure with quick thrusts and short, sharp counters.
And slowly... the tide began to shift.
Lin Fan didn’t need to overpower her.
He just needed to control the pace.
Yu Xueqing lunged with a powerful cross-slash. Lin Fan sidestepped — not back, but in. Too close for twin blades to move freely.
He jabbed at her side.
She twisted just in ti to deflect it, but her balance faltered for a heartbeat.
Lin Fan saw it. He saw the opening.
And stepped forward.
His sword struck again — this ti with aggression.
A clean cut aid at her shoulder. Yu Xueqing blocked, but her wrist trembled.
Their blades locked for a mont.
Then—CLANG!
They broke apart, she was breathing heavier now.
Yu Xueqing’s braid fluttered as she adjusted her stance.
Lin Fan’s shirt clung with sweat.
The crowd watching across the clan was speechless.
The group chat was going wild.
[MoonPeach]: THIS IS TOO CLOSE!!
[FurnaceBoy444]: That twin blade spin just now!! Did you SEE that?!
[MoKi000]: I Mo Ki, would beat them both.
[TournantElder]: Mo Ki, sweep the elder’s courtyard. Now.
Back on the platform, both fighters were slowing.
Not from exhaustion — but from focus.
Now it was a test of patience. One wrong move would an loss.
Yu Xueqing narrowed her eyes.
She dashed in again — feint high, slash low.
Lin Fan didn’t flinch.
He waited—then lunged.
His sword t hers in a flash of steel and sparks.
This ti, he didn’t retreat.
He pressed in, crowding her range again.
Yu Xueqing twisted to escape, but Lin Fan pivoted with her, turning his body like water, guiding her movent.
He stepped on her rhythm.
And then—
His sword tip hovered an inch from her throat.
Yu Xueqing froze.
Ti seed to pause.
Even the spectators went silent.
She exhaled slowly... then stepped back and sheathed her blades.
"You Win" she said softly.
Lu, blinking in awe, raised his hand.
"Winner of the first semifinal match — Lin Fan!"
The cheers erupted like thunder.
Lin Fan bowed to his opponent.
Yu Xueqing returned it with the sa calm grace.
As they descended the platform, the lights shifted.
The board shimred once again. Just for show.
Now it was ti.
The second and final semifinal was about to begin.
Two nas appeared in radiant light:
Yu Xuan vs. Ming Tiani
The arena stilled.
The youngest son of the Patriarch... and the mysterious girl who had breezed through two rounds with luck and elegance.
Everyone held their breath.
Because this?
This was going to be interesting.
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