Swords and Plots
"Good morning junior brother Yun" Ageratum said as he came to a stop opposite and delivered a respectful bow.
The library was well lit with midday sun that streamed through the sky lights. Sitting alone, was the sword fiend Zhou Yun his trademark blood red sheathed blade resting against the table he studied at. Manuals, scrolls, and diagrams strewn about. Evidence of frustration clear for all to see.
"Junior?" Zhou Yun spat with a grimace. His dark brow raising up from the scroll he held in his hands. "What foulness do you reek of today? What is this nonsense of junior" The distain in his voice as he speaks dripping like venom.
"Ah apologies Brother Yun, our senior Brother has insisted upon us all to use the proper forms of address you see" Ageratum explained as he bowed frantically. "Naturally I protested but as you know he can be so stubborn about this stuffy things." Ageratum seemed to subtly emphasize as he continued his apologetic bows, face hidden behind an impenetrable mask.
Anger drew forth from an already frustrated face, glowing red as veins popped and Zhou Yuns fist clenched. "Our Senior Brother?! Who dares?!"
"Calm, calm yourself Brother Yun of course I mean no disrespect. Naturally it is Seni-" The masked cultivator caught himself before he misspoke further. "Ah, that is to say Brother Tian".
"The pampered painter dares to elevate himself above me? FOOL! He has eyes but does not see mount Tai!" Yun's rant broken only by a forceful laugh. "He will learn that his silver spoon is no match for the veterans steel." Despite his arrogant and mocking attitude, the red faded somewhat from his face and his fist unclenched. Where once there was a volcano shaking the earth in fury now was only a kettle, boiling but quiet. Yun's focus returned to the indecipherable scroll before him. Before the moment of emotion was lost fully Ageratum continued.
"Oh course brother of course. Even the teachers say you are the second most prominent of the swordsman within the sect" The cloaked cultivator turned to leave as he spoke, feigning interest in a column of manuscripts.
"What fresh hell is this? Second best? Which teacher? When!" The volcano awakened once more.
Without turning to face his martial brother Ageratum continued. "It is merely something I may overheard, perhaps I was wrong. It is just they say seni-, Brother Tian is the greatest swordsman of our generation. Of course they might not have included you due to.. well. Anyway, Idle chit chat I am sure."
Before he had finished speaking Zhou Yun had left, storming from the room blade in hand.
"Oh no brother, please come back. Please." Ageratum called after him half heartedly as he turned toward the stairs. Knowing full well that the balcony above had a nice view of the inner courtyard and that Tian was in that same courtyard practicing his calligraphy.
"Your skill with the pen is masterful Taizhou, I hope one day for you to meet my Master Yu, he would be overjoyed to see your calligraphy." Tian held the Taizhou's work delicately in his hands almost mesmerized by it as he spoke.
"Yours is by no means inferior, your strokes are forceful but measured. I can feel the spirit of freedom from your "SKY 识". Taizhou continued writing as he offered a compliment in return.
"You are too kind, From your "WORLD 界" I can feel the essence of the Tao itself. I can sense the chill of a snowy mountain, I can hear the rush of a river. The I can almost see birds in flight over the open plains" Taizhou smiled at the comment, his work was undoubtedly the better and it was nice having another appreciate the true depth of his mastery of the brush.
"It is you wh-" Taizhou's voice cut off as a black boney hand grasped his heart tightly, a feeling of tremendous weight crushing down on his shoulders like an anvil, as a cold steel blade pressed against his neck ready to cut open his jugular and spill forth his life blood. His knees quaked until suddenly the dreadful despair that drowned him was washed away, replaced with a radiant warmth like a spot of sun that pierced the darkest of clouds. With the wash of warmth came a clarity and peacefulness that settled into his heart.
"Enough!" Came a shout the same moment. Tian's white tranquil Qi flowing from him as he stepped past Taizhou and confronted the raging swordfiend as he approached.
"Pampered bastard, do you dare call yourself my senior!" Zhou yelled as he stormed further into the courtyard.
Confused but unwavering Tian stopped his advance. "I know not what has caused this outburst Brother Yun but it is entirely inappropriate" His voice stern though not angered.
"If we are to be Brothers" The word practically vomited forth "then I am the senior and you are the junior."
Before Tian had a chance to reply Taizhou added. "Well.... technically Brother Yun, Brother Tian IS the 2nd senior brother as he was accepted as a disciple before you. In the hierarchy of disciples he sits behind 1st Senior Brother Xu and Little Elder Sister Yue." Having now recovered from the surprise of Zhou Yun's oppressive aura the storyteller spoke as he collected the brush he had dropped.
"SILENCE BARD! Save your fanciful tales for the buffoons in the inn. I have no wish to sully my ears with the garbage you call a story" The words were spoken quickly and with force but Zhou Yun's eye never left Tian who stood before him. "If you dare, then prove yourself senior here and now. Draw your blade and I shall draw mine. None shall have doubt henceforth!" Zhou Yun's hands held tightly to the handle of his blade and the sheath, ready in a fraction of a moment to draw and strike.
"Brother Yun there is no need for this, we are all of the same generation. The Sect has no hierarchy save Master and Disciple. Teacher and Student" Tian held his hands up, palms forward and empty. "I do not even have a blade" His voice holding a note of sadness.
Zhou Yun, still raging saw the non threat and began to soften until a voice broke the silence from above.
"If you seek a blade I happen to have one here" Ageratum dropped from the balcony a masterwork sword, in a simple but elegant sheath. "I am always happy to help senior brother." The blade landed tip down and sunk into the earth. Handle coming to rest just a handspan away from Tian.
Zhou Yun reignited immediately. "There you have it, no more excuses. Draw and taste bitter defeat or submit now and end this farce" Yet for his part Tian stood silent and unmoving as the seconds drew on.
The sword fiend continued. "My blade has been drawn. I will not sheath it until victory has been attained or defeat suffered. I swear it to the Heavens, I swear it by my Sword. I swear it on the Tao." The uttering of a Tao oath is no simple thing, a fact known to all within the cultivation world. Few would dare provoke the wrath of heavens in such a manner, risking their Tao and their chance at eternity but few had the unrestrained stubbornness and unbridled boldness of Zhou Yun.
Tian remained silent, but his hand reached out for the blade that lay before him. Unwilling to ask a martial sibling to break a Tao oath, he resolved himself for battle for it must now be fought lest Zhou Yun bring ruin to himself and the school. He closed his eyes and exhaled. As his eyes opened they were focused and bright, glowing with inner power.
While only a moments had passed the air grew thick with anticipation. The netherworld aura pulsed around Zhou Yun, dark and oppressive contrasting almost elegantly with the sharp white glow of serenity of Tian Rui.
Without warning the sword fiend charged forth, a blur of speed and strength he drew his blade and aimed a vicious slash at Tian's throat. The scholar for his part remained calm, tilting his head back slightly without taking his eyes off his foe. The green glowing blade passed through the air missing the mark by only a hairs breadth, while the radiant blade of the scholar darted forth in a sharp thrust. Yun parried near effortlessly, and the swords rang out in a thunderclap.
"Too slow" Yun taunted, his eyes gleaming with the love of battle as he unleashed a flurry of strikes. Each blow was more powerful than the last, driven by pure power they were delivered with the force of a lightning bolt yet with a delicate grace Tian flowed around them, moving simply but with such blinding speed and precision that at times it looked like he had not moved at all.
Yun pressed his attack and Tian absorbed the onslaught, at the two fought, Tian began reading Yuns attack with keener and keener insight. Despite that Yun was relentless. As seconds grew into minutes, soon the sun once high in the sky began to set as the two swordsman clashed. Tian countered rarely though each time he a small cut would surface on the swordfiend's arms or legs as he over committed or lost balance.
"Let us end it here, we are evenly matched." Tian offered, his voice steady despite his aura now showing the telltale signs of fatigue.
Yun snarled in response, leaping forward and unleashing a powerful desperate overhead strike. His own aura shaking and ephemeral impossible to gauge accurately without a specialist technique. It seemed however that such a move, fast as it came, was anticipated as Tian slipped forward and ducked to the side, sweeping out with the flat of his blade striking hard into the ankle of his foe. Yun stumbled, for the first time a flicker of doubt and fear crossing his face.
Seizing his moment Tian pressed on in a flash, not with his sword but with a pair of fingers striking down hard with a crisp movement. The fingers dug deep hitting the Lesser Yin meridian and temporarily impeding the flow of blood and qi from the chest to Zhou Yuns sword arm.
Yun cried out furiously as his arm slumped down though his hand trained through countless hours did not lessen its grip.
"Yield" came Tian's voice, calm as ever as he lifted his borrowed blade to Zhou Yuns face.
"Id rather die. Strike you coward or admit defeat" Yun spat, his voice filled with the inviolable fire and passion of his Tao.
"I believe that will suffice" came a wise chirp from the roof of a nearby gazebo, the voice of the headmaster carrying across the entire inner court without the need for him to raise it. "Your oath is fulfilled. Victory or Defeat. So was it said, so it has been." The owl floated silently down to perch on Taizhou's shoulder resting as naturally there as if he was a king and the student his throne. His voice was filled with power and wisdom and brooked no reply and a silence settled onto the courtyard.
That is until a raucous laughter broke it suddenly, Shizhi clapping almost as loudly. "Who is next! Can I be next!"
High above Ageratum tipped out his remaining tea from the small porcelain cup he held, careless of if anyone would be unfortunate enough to be standing below. His expression unreadable under the mask.