{"id":7319,"date":"2023-08-04T22:14:51","date_gmt":"2023-08-04T14:14:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.benjamincheah.com\/?p=7319"},"modified":"2023-08-04T22:14:51","modified_gmt":"2023-08-04T14:14:51","slug":"invincible-under-heaven-week-2-update-and-sneak-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/?p=7319","title":{"rendered":"Invincible Under Heaven Week 2 Update and Sneak Preview!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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We are 2 weeks into the crowdfunding campaign for SAGA OF THE SWORDBREAKER: INVINCIBLE UNDER HEAVEN<\/a>. At 39% funded, there is still a ways to go before we hit the campaign goals\u2014which also means there is still time for you to pick up campaign-exclusive perks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among these perks is Jiao Tu’s Endeavour Volumes 1 and<\/em> 2 by Donald Jacob Uitvlugt. The author has graciously agreed to launch Volume 2 through this campaign: everyone who buys the book here will receive it ahead of the market. Proceeds will go towards support the Uitvlugt family, who has recently fallen on hard times and need all the help they can get. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the higher tiers, grander perks await. You can advertise your product or service through my book: that’s three books’ worth of readers who will discover what you have to offer. You can hire me to go over your book and transform it into the masterpiece you envisioned. You can book a masterclass with me and take your writing to the next level. You can even secure a mentorship slot with me, and partner with a Hugo- and Dragon Award nominated author to write the book of your dreams. And you can get all these services plus<\/em> my books at a massive discount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Act now! Miss out on Jiao Tu’s Endeavour and you’ll have to wait for an extra month like the rest of the world\u2014at least. Skip the deals in the campaign and you’ll have to eat a massive price hike in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may want a custom package. Maybe you want a certain perk or service, but you don’t need all the other books that come with them. Maybe you’re looking for signed paperbacks of my works. Whatever you’re looking for, talk to me and we’ll work things out. You don’t have to miss out on something just because you don’t want to be saddled with things you don’t need, or because it’s not mentioned in the perks list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back the campaign here<\/a>, and witness the explosive climax of Saga of the Swordbreaker!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that out of the way, to mark the second week of the campaign, here’s the second half of Chapter 1 of Book 4, FIST OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. Enjoy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the old days, a challenger would have hired a work crew to cut down nearby trees and build a lei tai in the middle of town. Or he might have done it himself. In the modern era, it was acceptable to rent a lei tai from a gym or martial arts association. Today, Han Yong had brought his own lei tai with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong stood at the village square. A wide, unpaved crossroads where farmers and buses and trucks bustled along on the way to the fields, the store or neighboring towns. Under the watchful eye of the Lis and Constable Chong, the sole police officer on duty in this part of town, Han Yong paced the square, measuring its length and breadth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Satisfied, Han Yong parked himself at the northeastern corner of the crossroads. He unclipped his bag from his belt and held it up at chest height. He opened a couple of pouches and reached in, his hands working hidden controls. A holographic menu floated in front of Han Yong, listing various items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn interspatial storage bag,\u201d Li Guo An muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A black disk appeared before the bag. Blacker than night, thinner than a sheet of paper, it was a portal into dimensions barely seen by living men. White motes swirled within the depths of the disk. One of them grew larger, brighter, speeding towards the mouth of the hole. With a blinding flash of light, it leapt out of the black depths and materialized in the real world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a huge, elevated platform, nearly as tall as the northerner. Sturdy wooden scaffolding held up the stage. The stage itself was a perfect square, sixty-four square mi <\/em>of bare rosewood planks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lei tai, crafted in accordance with the ancient ways, bereft of modern safety equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The men circled the lei tai, inspecting it for structural flaws. Li Ming marveled at its size. He had an interspatial storage bag of his own, but its storage capacity was barely one-tenth<\/em> that of this bag. For an interspatial storage bag to be so small, yet capable of holding so much, Han Yong must have spent a bomb on it. The kind of money that could buy out this village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who was<\/em> he?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is my first lei tai match,\u201d Li Ming said. \u201cWhat are the rules?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe fight until one of us is defeated or surrenders,\u201d Han Yong replied. \u201cDefeat is defined as a knockout, a submission, or being forced off the stage. No time limits, no restricted targets, no protective equipment, no weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTraditional rules,\u201d Li Guo An observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was how I trained.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The commotion attracted a growing crowd. More cops rushed in, holding back the civilians. Chattering filled the air. As the policemen managed the audience, Han Yong pulled out a sheath of documents from his bag and handed it to Li Ming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBefore we begin, please sign this,\u201d Han Yong said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat is this?\u201d Li Ming asked warily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust a minor legal technicality. Don\u2019t worry about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming read the document with twice the care he normally would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a blood waiver. An agreement by both parties to dismiss legal liability in the event of serious injury or death. Han Yong had already signed his name on the bottom. A blank line waited for Li Ming. More lines were reserved for witnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA \u2018minor legal technicality\u2019,\u201d Li Ming said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust something we need to sign to make this a formal match,\u201d Han Yong said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I sign this, it means I can use any technique I want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t plan on holding back. Neither should you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming signed the waiver. Li Guo An and Constable Chong co-signed as witnesses. The policeman held on to the document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust in case,\u201d Chong said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smirking, Han Yong set his bag on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And jumped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a single explosive burst, Chong leapt off the ground, rocketed into the air, and landed softly atop the stage. The sound of the impact carried across the square. Straightening to his full height, he spread out his arms, hamming it up to the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Someone applauded. A boy cheered, and others joined in. The background burbling became a roar of approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming\u2019s eyes widened. The elder Li Ming frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease show us what\u2019s under your sleeves,\u201d Li Guo An said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong rolled up his sleeves, revealing bare skin. Without asking, he lifted the folds of his tunic, exposing muscled abs, then lifted his pants legs to show powerful calves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI trust you\u2019re satisfied?\u201d Han Yong asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Guo An nodded grimly, then turned to his son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll hang on to your gear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reluctantly, Li Ming disarmed himself. First he unstrapped the reality shapers from around his forearms. Then he pulled the knives from his pockets. Finally, he lifted his shirt and removed his war belt, and with it his holstered handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBig Brother, good luck!\u201d Li Ying Zhi cried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His younger sister was at the front of the crowd, along with Mother. He could recognize them anywhere. Li Ming nodded to her. To them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People stirred within the crowd. Soft whispers grow louder, organizing into clusters, cells, a chorus, chanting three words in harmony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLI SHAO YE!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young Master Li. Li Ming shook his head. Everyone called him that, but it embarrassed him. Still, in using that title, they were paying their respects to his father. It was a form of address better suited for someone rich and powerful. Someone like\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He blinked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He wouldn\u2019t call himself powerful. But he was objectively the richest man in town, by a long shot. He just didn\u2019t flaunt so much as a fraction of his wealth. That alone would have earned him the right to be called \u2018shao ye<\/em>\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should he be embarrassed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming shook his head, dismissing that thought. He could dwell on it later. He had a fight to win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong stood on the stage, left fist on his hip, right hand beckoning Li Ming. As Li Ming approached the platform, his father leaned in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t mess around with him,\u201d Father whispered. \u201cEnd this fast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the plan,\u201d Li Ming said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming grabbed the edges of the platform. In a single, smooth motion, he pulled himself up on the stage. His opponent was already waiting for him in the center of the platform, his posture completely loose and relaxed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming\u2019s heart pounded in his ears. Colors smeared into each other. The crowd roared its approval, chanting his name like a rapid-fire mantra. The constables shouted for calm and order. Sister cheered. A stray thought floated into Li Ming\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wish I could have seen Cai Yan again<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He inhaled. Deeply and slowly and smoothly, filling his lungs with oxygen and his dantian with qi. As he exhaled, he visualized a thick black stream flowing out of his nostrils, carrying with it accumulated toxins and stray thoughts, dispersing in the infinite cosmos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was fight time. He had to focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming walked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With every step, he felt the play of his muscles, the subtle shifts of weight from one side of his body to the other. With every breath he charged himself with qi, readying himself for war. He contracted and relaxed his muscles, ridding himself of unwanted tension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong stared at him, his eyes twin lasers burning into Li Ming\u2019s. Powerful qi waves surged from his core, battering against Li Ming\u2019s own, unseen by untrained eyes. It was like walking into the path of a hurricane. Han Yong was projecting an aura of supreme confidence, of martial capability, aiming to crush his spirit. In the face of such pressure, Li Ming did the only thing he could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He walked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electricity crackled through his skin. Fire surged in his veins. Liquid lightning gathered in his dantian, in his hands, in his feet, ready to be unleashed on the world. Li Ming swiveled his head left to right, up and down, breaking out of tunnel vision, keeping his gaze soft and wide and steady.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now, he stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong was now just two arm\u2019s lengths away. He had dropped the facade of etiquette and respect. Here was a wolf in man\u2019s skin, eyes glowing like a tiger on the hunt, shoulders rounded like a bear about to strike, iron fingers curled like eagle claws, his smile like an army of daggers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming held his right fist over his heart, thumb folded over his fingers, knuckles parallel to the ground, covered it with his angled left hand, and bowed slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLi Ming, An Family gongfu, Fuyang Village,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong punched his fist into his open palm, knuckles rotated perpendicular to the earth, thumb arched and digging into the flesh of his index finger, the fingers of his left hand pointed at the heavens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not a salute. A challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHan Yong. Shi da xing. Wanjianhui.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming\u2019s eyes widened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ten Thousand Swords Society! The secret society he had defeated twice before, once in the race to the cache of Yue artifacts, and again when they tried to destabilize the Central Plains. Han Yong was one of them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suddenly it all made sense now. Han Yong\u2019s demeanor. His refusal to read the Lis\u2019 tea signals. The blood waiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This wasn\u2019t a duel. This was an assassination disguised as a duel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a single smooth motion, Han Yong torqued his arms and torso and legs, stepping into his guard. Li Ming barely had time to get his own hands up when Han Yong erupted into motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He stepped like a chicken, swiftly and aggressively, body bladed towards Li Ming, weight rooted on his front foot, rear foot in motion, smoothly switching between them. It was like watching the footwork of wuxingquan through a broken mirror, uncannily similar yet remarkably different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong fired a left straight punch, a right, another left, probing Li Ming\u2019s defenses. The tall northerner had an immense reach, but he was still out of range. Li Ming kept his hands close, defending his centerline, watching, waiting. Another left straight, and Li Ming exploded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fanning his right hand outwards through a tight arc, Li Ming slipped to the left, fingers whipping for Han Yong\u2019s face. Jerking away, Han Yong slapped Li Ming\u2019s hand away with his free hand. Han Yong pivoted through a tight circle, turning towards Li Ming. Li Ming cut into the circle, right hand clawing back, left hand spearing at Han Yong\u2019s eyes. Han Yong torqued sharply, covering his head with his left arm, smashing Li Ming\u2019s arm away, and launched his right fist like a cannonball. Li Ming flowed with the energy, twisting towards the blow, raising his right arm and elbow to form a wing of bone pointing to the ground, deflecting the fist to the side. Li Ming rebounded, whipping a right-handed backfist at Han Yong\u2019s head\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong faded away. Li Ming\u2019s hand passed through empty air. The tall northerner was still there, still within sight, maddeningly out of range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong was good.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The moment the thought sank in, Han Yong blasted in again, spinning into a low kick. Li Ming lifted his left knee and dropped his left elbow, taking the shot against his shin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it was light. Too<\/em> light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The moment Han Yong\u2019s foot touched the floor, he whirled around again, faster, harder, becoming a black blur. He hopped off the ground, lifted his right leg high, and brought it scything down on Li Ming\u2019s head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming dropped into a crouch, driving his left elbow into Han Yong\u2019s torso.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong relaxed into the blow, his turn bleeding off most of the force. His spin went wild, his legs windmilling. Han Yong twisted about in mid-air and dropped into a crouch, slamming his left palm against the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming stepped up to kick him in the head. Han Yong\u2019s right hand shot out, parrying his foot to the left. Unbalanced, Li Ming hopped away on one foot, and stomped the platform to ground himself. Han Yong scrambled to his feet and stole a long step towards Li Ming. As Li Ming brought his hands up, Han Yong twisted around and chopped his right arm down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The blow blasted Li Ming\u2019s left hand down, exposing his temple. Li Ming retreated. Han Yong\u2019s right arm rolled through a tight circle, describing an arc around his head. Li Ming brought his right hand up, covering his face\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong struck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The palm was heavy<\/em>, as if it were a brick. The backhand slap struck with the force of a baseball bat, blasting right through Li Ming\u2019s defenses. Pain exploded in his head. Stars danced across his eyes. Li Ming staggered away, suddenly unable to resist. Instinctively his hands flew to cover his aching skull. He bent over, widening his stance, exposing his low line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Come on, take the bait, it\u2019s right here\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong took a massive step forward and lashed out with his rear foot, aiming at Li Ming\u2019s groin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weakness fled Li Ming\u2019s posture. His arms swept through a tight clockwise circle, his torso twisted counterclockwise, his right foot followed. Han Yong\u2019s foot shot past Li Ming, so close he felt the wind of its passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Li Ming\u2019s fingers seized Han Yong\u2019s leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming lifted and twisted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong threw himself off the ground, getting ahead of the throw. His captured leg eeled out of Li Ming\u2019s grasp and smacked into Li Ming\u2019s chest. But the counter was desperate, poorly-timed, and he lost his own balance. Curling his back, he landed heavily on the floor, and smacked the floorboards. The boom resounded in the town square. Momentum carried him halfway through a roll. Even as he settled, he kept his legs up, guarding his body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming circled around, trying to go for his flanks. Han Yong scooted backwards, away from Li Ming, keeping his feet aimed at him. He planted his hands on the floor, crunched his abs, and exploded into a kip up, getting up on his feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming continued circling. Han Yong rushed straight in, charging like a blood-maddened bull. Li Ming shifted one last step, angling himself very slightly to the left of the incoming force. Han Yong extended his arms, as though preparing for a tackle. Li Ming drilled his right hand out, twisting it palm-up, bumping Han Yong\u2019s right arm out of the way. At the same time, Li Ming exploded into a kick, catching Han Yong\u2019s grounded leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shot halted Han Yong in his tracks. Li Ming twisted his hand back around, snatching at the base of Han Yong\u2019s thumb, then planted his foot and swiveled around on the ball, swiping his left hand down and swinging his rear leg forward. The classic metal fist, expressed as an elbow dislocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong twisted his hand and shot it back, breaking loose of the grip, then swayed back. Instead of slamming into Han Yong\u2019s shoulder, Li Ming\u2019s left palm found only empty air. As Li Ming retracted his arms, Han Yong raced in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong\u2019s hands became balled fists, knuckles pointed down at the ground, left arm over right, forming a spearhead of bone. With a powerful lunge, Han Yong blasted into Li Ming, fists coming in from under Li Ming\u2019s defenses, erupting into a double uppercut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming stepped back, leaning away. Hardened fists shot past his chin, nose, eyes. Li Ming recognized it immediately, the elements of fire and metal expressed through the paradigm of shi da xing, and he knew what comes up must come down. Already Han Yong was rotating his hands, opening them into palms, readying them for a shear, a grab, claws to the face or eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong\u2019s hands came slashing down. Li Ming stepped off to his left, right fist crossing over his left in a horizontal arc, parrying the slashing arms, twisting Han Yong to the side. Driven by momentum, Han Yong\u2019s entire upper torso drove down, blasting into a headbutt. Wind whooshed past Li Ming\u2019s right ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Li Ming drilled his left fist into Han Yong\u2019s exposed armpit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The blow shocked the nerves in his arm. Suddenly numb, Han Yong\u2019s hand dropped, exposing his head. Twisting around, Li Ming drilled out his right fist through a tight backhand swing. Hardened knuckles struck Han Yong\u2019s temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong staggered away. Rubbing his armpit and head, Han Yong glared at Li Ming, his face a mask of rage. He sucked down a breath and rushed in again. Body bladed towards Li Ming, he guarded his head with his right hand and positioned his left hand beneath his right elbow, protecting his charge with blades of bone. Li Ming stepped off-line. Han Yong pivoted to follow, taking a huge step forward, then grounded his front leg and chambered his rear knee. Li Ming crouched, dropping his hands, ready to intercept the incoming kick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong dropped his raised foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swung his other foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raised his arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Too late, Li Ming tried to get his hands up. But he was way behind the curve, and the northerner was taller and faster and stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stepping forward, Han Yong drew his arms through tight rising circles, blowing away Li Ming\u2019s own, exposing Li Ming\u2019s centerline, chambering his hands by his neck, sucking down qi into his dantian with a powerful inhale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All this Li Ming saw in slow motion, a sense of disaster flooding his mind, recognizing everything that was going on, unable to do anything to stop it, helpless before the coming storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong struck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His front foot stomped the floorboards as violently as a bomb. His arms spiraled inwards and crashed down with the force of a runaway train. Heavy palms slammed into Li Ming\u2019s upper ribs. Bone flexed, bent, broke<\/em>. Pain lanced into his chest, a dozen spears of pain burning and tearing and twisting, the deep pain that signaled wounds deep within. The force was inexorable, unstoppable, irresistible, blasting Li Ming off his feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A collective gasp filled the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming automatically tucked his chin and curled his back. His muscles protested. An inferno of pain consumed his chest. He slammed into the hardwood floor, and a volley of fragmentation grenades exploded in his lungs. He willed himself to stand, but his nerves would not respond, his muscles would not move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As if from far away, the crowd chanted his name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLI SHAO YE! LI SHAO YE! LI SHAO YE!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He inhaled. His lungs burned. His breath froze halfway through. But he could still draw breath. His heart could still beat. He could still fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLI SHAO YE! LI SHAO YE! LI SHAO YE!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He pressed his palms against the floor. Pressed himself up. Crunched his abs. Bolts of jagged pain ripped through him, tearing him up from the inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLI SHAO YE! LI SHAO YE! LI SHAO YE!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He couldn\u2019t\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLI MING! FIGHT!\u201d Ying Zhi cried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bellowing at the top of his lungs, screaming through the pain, Li Ming forced himself back up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong stared incredulously at him. His eyes went wide, his hands fell open. But only for a moment. Then he glared at Li Ming and assumed his guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming\u2019s chest was a broken wasteland of agony. Every breath brought fresh torment. His vision narrowed and grayed. The voices of the crowd faded out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong sneered at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming could not drag this out. Willpower was no match for broken bones. The next exchange had to be his last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming brought his arms close, guarding his wounded sides. He breathed as deeply as he could, lowering his posture. Han Yong rushed in, chicken-stepping, arms in a long guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming had to intercept Han Yong. It was his only chance. But where would Han Yong come from? The sides? The middle? High? Low? As though reading his mind, Han Yong zigzagged back and forth, his arms drawing circles, trying to confuse Li Ming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming exhaled. If he couldn\u2019t predict Han Yong\u2019s movements, then he just had to give Han Yong an opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming backed up, slowly, stiffly, leaning forward. He pressed his elbows against his sides, lowering his hands to expose his face, his face twisting in agony. It was an act, but not too far from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Han Yong charged in. Right up the middle. And punched at Li Ming\u2019s head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming straightened and twisted clockwise, left hand parrying inwards, right hand sweeping around and forward. Han Yong\u2019s fist blasted past his eyes, missing his nose by a hair. Li Ming\u2019s left hand found Han Yong\u2019s wrist and pulled down. His right hand, primed and ready by his side, clenched into a fist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And exploded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Half-stepping as he struck, his fist rocketed upwards and forwards, his entire body weight behind it. Hellish stitches ripped through Li Ming\u2019s torso. His knuckles slammed into Han Yong\u2019s chin. More pain erupted, radiating through his fingers, his wrist, his chest, his entire body becoming a symphony of agony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Han Yong dropped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He fell to the floor with a heavy crash. He lay sprawled out on the hardwood planks, totally insensate. His eyes stared sightlessly at the sky, but his chest heaved up and down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A silence fell over the crowd, stretching into a timeless moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the crowd erupted in cheers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLI SHAO YE! LI SHAO YE! LI SHAO YE!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pain blasted through him. Pain filled his brain, his nerves, every fiber of his being. Pain became his entire existence. He breathed it in, reveled in it, letting it pass. Li Ming raised his fist, and more pain racked his body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the crowd cheered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out the corner of his eye, Father pulled himself up on the stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLi Ming!\u201d he cried. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming tried to say something. All that emerged was a painful, tearing, hacking, coughing fit. He covered his mouth with his free palm. Hot liquid sprayed across his hand. When the spasms subsided, he forced himself to look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bright red oxygenated blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Father wrapped his arms around Li Ming. Gentle, unshakable strength enveloped him, lifting him off the floor, supporting his weight. Li Ming coughed again. Bloody sputum spattered across his front and pants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2014\u201d Li Ming began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got you,\u201d Li Guo An said. \u201cWe\u2019re taking you to the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li Ming wanted to say something. But he was cold. And sleepy. And weak. With every step his strength leaked from his body. Colors faded to gray, gray bled to black. As his consciousness faded, he thought he heard a fresh cheer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFUYANG SHENGLONG!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rising Dragon of Fuyang!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We are 2 weeks into the crowdfunding campaign for SAGA OF THE SWORDBREAKER: INVINCIBLE UNDER HEAVEN. At 39% funded, there is still a ways to go before we hit the campaign goals\u2014which also means there is still time for you to pick up campaign-exclusive perks. Among these perks is Jiao Tu’s Endeavour Volumes 1 and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[99,106,138,175,253,275,277,278,341],"class_list":["post-7319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","tag-crowdfunding","tag-cyberpunk","tag-fiction","tag-indiegogo","tag-pulprev","tag-saga-of-the-swordbreaker","tag-science-fantasy","tag-science-fiction","tag-writing"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7319"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7319"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7319\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7319"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7319"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}