Chapter 31: Tang Mu
As the spectacle of the martial tournament unfurled, two figures, Yi Tian and Li Wei, found themselves immersed in the clash of metal and willpower, occupying a reserved spot on the third floor of River Mountain Hall.
"Yi Tian, who do you reckon will emerge victorious?" Li Wei broached the question, his gaze riveted to the stage below where Tang Mu and Yan Bo were engaged in a gripping dance of might and strategy.
Receiving no response, Li Wei turned toward Yi Tian, finding him lost in a trance-like state, his gaze vacant.
"Yi Tian?" Li Wei prodded a touch louder.
Roused from his reverie by Li Wei's voice, Yi Tian blinked a few times, his gaze refocusing. He turned to Li Wei and offered a nonchalant smile.
"Yes?" Yi Tian inquired.
"Who do you surmise will triumph? Personally, I favor Yan Bo, given his advantage in reach and..."
As Li Wei continued elucidating his reasoning, Yi Tian plunged into contemplation. The peculiar trance he'd experienced after scrutinizing the two combatants had granted him a profound understanding of the techniques they employed, and an insight into the nuances that differentiated the main and branch family's martial arts.
"So, what do you think?" Li Wei asked, bringing his exposition to a close.
"Tang Mu will prevail," Yi Tian proclaimed with an air of certainty.
Li Wei paused to contemplate Yi Tian's prediction, then re-immersed himself in the unfolding combat.
...
A triumphant shout from Tang Mu reverberated throughout the hall as he whirled into a kick, narrowly evading a spear thrust directed at his torso. Yan Bo utilized the momentum of his failed thrust to propel himself beyond the reach of Tang Mu's kick.
Tang Mu, unlike last time, was prepared for Yan Bo's advance. With a swift twist of his body, he transformed his kick into an ascending lunge, taking Yan Bo by surprise. Like a whirlwind, Tang Mu executed a spinning ascent, extending his leg mid-spin to land a powerful kick beneath Yan Bo's chin, sending him staggering backwards. The crowd erupted into applause, awed by this magnificent display of martial prowess.
Tang Mu, however, was unable to maintain his momentum and fell on his back, albeit unhurt. Yan Bo regained his stance, wiping a trail of blood from his chin.
"Good kick," Yan Bo commended, his voice tinged with grudging respect. Twirling his spear, he adopted a lower, more defensive stance, evidently different from the one he'd assumed at the outset.
Without wasting a moment, Tang Mu sprung forward.
...
"Remarkable."
Xue Yong's attention was wrenched from the ongoing duel by Xuanfeng's singular remark. Turning to his companion in surprise, Xue Yong echoed, "Really?" Uncharacteristically, Xuanfeng was offering praise to a fellow martial artist.
"Indeed. He is adapting. I'm curious about the technique he's employing," Xuanfeng mused, maintaining his stern visage and rigid posture.
"The Tang branch family, although not affluent, governs a district on the outskirts while residing here in the compound, just like most families," Xue Yong offered, recalling some gleaned information.
After a brief silence, Xue Yong gazed down at his staff, his voice wavering slightly, "Yan Bo, though, I'm not sure I could take him on," he confessed, returning his gaze to the stage.
...
The air hissed as Yan Bo's spear grazed past Tang Mu's torso.
Seizing the opportunity, Tang Mu ducked and leapt backward, but Yan Bo was relentless, pursuing him with aggressive fervor. It had become clear to Tang Mu that Yan Bo was no longer pulling his punches - the earlier kick had changed the dynamic of the duel entirely.
Yan Bo, lowering his center of gravity, swiped at Tang Mu's feet, forcing him to leap into the air. Capitalizing on Tang Mu's momentary vulnerability, Yan Bo prepared to strike.
Tang Mu's face hardened as he made a desperate decision mid-air. He stretched out his arm to intercept Yan Bo's attack, resulting in a slash across his forearm. The blade hadn't cut deep but it was enough to hurl Tang Mu to the side of the stage.
As he skidded to a halt, Tang Mu saw Yan Bo's smug smile. Undeterred, he sucked in a breath, squared his shoulders, and braced himself for Yan Bo's impending assault.
Yan Bo swung his spear with calculated precision, ensuring he was just out of reach for any of Tang Mu's close-range attacks. However, what transpired next left Yan Bo stunned. Instead of evading, Tang Mu launched himself into the air, vaulting over the spear. Yan Bo could only watch as Tang Mu's fist, tightened and focused, connected squarely with his unsuspecting face.
From his vantage point at the base of the stage's front stairs, Xuanfeng couldn't help but marvel at the acrobatics displayed by Tang Mu. However, he sensed the lack of power in the punch; it was unlikely to pose a threat to him.
Yan Bo crashed onto the stage, still clutching his spear. Tang Mu, having successfully executed his daring maneuver, landed and loomed over Yan Bo, his fist poised for the finishing blow.
"Enough," Yan Bo conceded after a moment's pause, "You win."
The music that had been the soundtrack to the competition swelled to a dramatic climax, accentuating Yan Bo's surrender. The gong was struck, its reverberating echo signaling the end of the bout.
"The victor is Tang Mu!" boomed the announcer, the crowd erupting into thunderous applause in acknowledgment of the unexpected turn of events. Their cheers filled the hall, revering the triumphant underdog who had managed to overcome his seemingly insurmountable adversary.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone