Chương 11: "Don't Get Sloppy and Disappoint Me, Dear”

Ch 11 "Don't Get Sloppy and Disappoint Me, Dear" Amber quickly jumped back, narrowly avoiding the closed fan strike that came at her.

"Good girl," The attacker in red robes smiled with an odd look in her eyes. Her black hair flowed as gracefully as her attack. Amber knew better than to let another opponent set the pace. With a martial shout, she pressed forward with an assault of punches, kicks, and elbow strikes. The girl in red blocked each with her closed fan, her other hand behind her back. The crowd ooo'd and ahh'd at the martial spectacle. Today was certainly an exciting day in their village.

A sudden closed fan thrust came surging towards her and Amber bent backwards so sharply she thought her spine might snap. It was way too close for her comfort! Amber turned the dodge into a backwards roll to a coiled tiger position, where she launched forward into a series of Blazing Tiger stances. She had to get her Qi flowing more coherently. The challenger nimbly dodged and blocked each of these stance attacks with her closed fan. Her red robes danced like fire with her graceful fluid movements.

She still held one arm behind her back.

"Show me more my dear, so we can properly warm up!" the smiling girl said, opening her fan and slicing at Amber with the tool. The sharp sound cutting through the air was quite alarming for a small fan. Amber dodged quickly by sinking down low into One Tail Sweeps the Mountain, palms hitting the dirt as she swept her leg towards the other girl in red's legs. The fan user skillfully dodged with a small hop, as if she was playing jump rope.

Her missed sweep was channeled into momentum that brought her back to her feet with a spin. Amber was not deterred as she was feeling better and better. If anything, her blood was pumping with excitement at such a challenge. Her Qi was flowing in excellent cohesion with the consecutive forms of Blazing Tiger building it up.

"Your Qi flows in such an odd way." her opponent said, jumping back.

"Are you really Three Star Qi Flowing stage?"

"I'm… not quite sure," Amber admitted.

"Ah… an ignorant fool." Finally the girl stopped smiling as she sighed. Then she started laughing, "Well, I was once as foolish as yourself, so I won't hold it against you." Amber felt suddenly annoyed in a way she couldn't quite describe. Her eyebrows furrowed in the center of her forehead at the emotion. Sparring match or not, she wouldn't be looked down upon by an opponent! She decided to take the fight seriously and force the slightly older girl to use her hidden hand.

The fight resumed as the girls clashed in a martial dance, and Amber became ever more annoyed that the girl had still kept one hand behind her back.

"Here I come!" Amber warned as she pushed Qi to her legs. Her body pulsed with a flash of orange Qi as she drew a small dash from the flicker of Tiger Saint Qi she had cultivated within her. Her sash fluttered in the wind as she stepped in with a speed she hadn't used since fighting Wild Hog. Although she had recovered quite a bit, she was advised to not push her body too hard for at least another week! But she had had enough of being looked down upon by this girl.

Her speed was reaching it's peak as she prepared to hit the fire robed girl with Tiger Breaks the Mountain. It probably wouldn't injure her too bad, Amber thought. Slap! Amber tumbled to the floor and rolled a small distance, quickly hopping back onto her feet before coming to a stop. She was uninjured, but her cheek had an annoying stinging sensation. She realized what she had been hit with. The girl in front of her no longer hid one hand behind her back.

"Not bad! You forced me to use two hands, your speed isn't bad. As fast as a house fly at least," the girl in red giggled again. Amber squinted slightly and growled under her breath at the "compliment." She charged with a wild swing and kick, letting out a battle grunt. Amber's movements grew increasingly more fierce and less precise. The girl in red blocked the punch and dodged the kick, moving around Amber in a quarter circle as she delivered a closed fan thrust straight into the young tiger practitioner's ribs.

"Don't get sloppy and disappoint me dear," the challenger in red giggled. Amber gasped at the blow and staggered a couple of steps before quickly regained her balance. She controlled her breath as she used Burning Sun to flood her body with Qi and moved through stance after stance of Blazing Tiger as she brought the battle of blows back to the challenger in red. Amber had thrown out so many attacks in this skirmish but had yet to land a clean blow. She tried to cool her frustration and focus.

Her fights so far had been against opponents far less proficient in movement and martial techniques. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. As the red robed girl danced and blocked through her blows Amber was beginning to understand her movements. Amber threw a wide swing, purposely leaving her ribs exposed. As expected, the attacker in red dodged and aimed a closed fan thrust directly at the exposed spot!

Without breaking her flow Amber used her swing's momentum to spin her whole body and aimed a fierce side kick straight at the slightly taller girl's exposed stance. A little flicker of Saint Tiger Qi flared within her. Amber smiled, she finally got her. She'll remember getting hit by this! Or so she thought. Suddenly, an explosion of crimson heat erupted inches from her face.

Moving on pure survival instinct, Amber flipped herself backwards breaking her kick, twisting desperately as the searing fire lashed hungrily where she had stood just a heartbeat before. The air shimmered and distorted as a wave of blistering energy crashed outward. Hot Qi flooded the area. The crowd awed and oo'd at the spectacle as they felt a warm wave of air flood over them. Amber rolled on the ground until she came to a halt and gazed at her opponent.

The girl in red was fanning herself casually as swirls of fire and ember disappeared into the air swirling around her.

"Good! That was a bit dangerous. You pass," She said with a smile.

"Do come see me before we depart." She walked back towards the carriages as the crowd parted around her fluttering red robes. The crowd began to chatter with excitement again as they discussed the spectacle.

"Who… was that?" Amber asked.

"A passenger we picked up a few towns back," Guren said, stepping towards Amber.

"She didn't seem to be from a major family," he scratched his short beard as he recounted.

"Seeing as there was nobody to send her off. She did however, pay top coin for a private carriage." He spoke as Amber watched the girl in red disappear.

"This was an exception," Guren said, pocketing the small pouch the red eyed girl had given him.

"But you're a guard now. No more fighting customers. See Dante for instructions before we leave."

"This one obeys." She said with a small bow to her tentative employer.

"Good manners." Guren said as he turned to leave.

"Come here child," The Village Elder waved her over.

"Amazing work," he stroked his beard thoughtfully as she approached.

"As expected of Wild Hog's slayer." The Elder drew forth a pouch and drew out 2 glimmering gold coins.

"Here, this is the extra I received from your caravan pay, the rest is sufficient to make up what we lacked." He stretched his leathery hand out for the young girl to take them, "and thank you again."

"Please keep them," Amber said with a small bow.

"Use it for the villagers in need, and give a portion to Miss Thyme and Old Daisy for me. They took care of me well."

"A righteous heart indeed, Ancestors bless you." He said as he put the coins back.

"Ah, perfect timing. Here comes Miss Solrose now. Miss Solrose!" The Elder called to the approaching girl, who was already smiling jovially.

"Hello! I'm called Lulu," Lulu Solrose gave an enthused small bow. Her robes were a pretty moss green, with a black sash and draping black skirt under her slitted robes. Shoulder length blonde hair brushed her torso. Her appearance seemed to be about the girl in red's age, a bit older than Amber.

"Hello," Amber said, returning the bow.

"My name is amber. I will do my best to protect you." She tried not to look too long at the girl's hair, as she had never seen a blonde person before. Her mother told her it was rude to stare.

"I'm in good hands I'm sure," The blonde girl smiled brightly, "I seemed to have missed some commotion?" The villagers there were dispersing but bustling with chatter at the recent spectacles that had taken place.

"Our good friend Amber here put on quite the impressive display," the Elder said. Amber glanced down at her slightly singed sleeve.

"I suppose so," she muttered.

"Do not underestimate yourself young one. Your heart is filled with courage and righteousness. The Ancestors guide your path." he replied, his weathered face crinkling with a gentle smile.

"Remember Misty Hollow in your heart. Do visit someday if your path permits. Miss Solrose, study well, rest well, and make our village proud. I know we will have a prosperous future due to your excellence. I will take my leave and let you two get acquainted."

"Yes Elder." Amber and Lulu bid goodbye with a bow. Dante approached the two as the Elder left.

"You're the new passenger I take it," he said, gazing towards Lulu.

"You may take a seat in the back carriage, there's an empty seat there. It's the same carriage assigned to our new guard here." He said, looking towards Amber. She stood up a bit straighter as she remembered her false surname she had given.

"Thank you for the consideration, sir." Amber said with a small bow and a clasped fist.

"None necessary. You'll be of more use protecting the carriage where your personal interest lies," Dante said.

"Here is your spear, to be returned at the end of your service." He handed her a simple spear. The wooden shaft felt good in her hands, with a gleaming double sided blade on top about the length of her forearm and hand. The spear stood about half of her height taller than her. A thin red cloth was wrapped tightly where the steel and wood met. Amber smiled at the gift, even if she had to return it. It felt good to have people believe in her.

"Stay close, keep your eyes open, and don't wander off. We've had danger in these passes before," Dante said.

"What kind of danger?" Lulu asked with open eyes.

"Bandits, a couple of small demonic beasts, nothing your friend here can't keep you safe from." He said, gesturing to Amber.

"They tend to stay away from large well equipped groups like ours anyway." Amber bowed slightly.

"This one understands."

"Polite too. Good. The journey to Tiger Gate City takes almost four months if the weather holds. Our speed isn't fast due to all the merchandise, and we'll take a couple days at each major city. As a member of the guard you'll receive food rations as well. So will the new passenger."

"Ah, how rude of me, I'm Lulu!" The bubbly blonde said with a bow.

"Dante, well met." He bowed back slightly then turned to Amber, "When the call comes, don't be late."

"What about the girl in red?" Amber asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"She has her own guards. Focus on your assignment. If you must talk, do it before we leave or on break. Try not to involve yourself in any more fights, though." He turned to leave.

"Please excuse me, Miss Solrose," Amber said, trying her best to sound respect.

"I have some business I must attend to before we leave."

"Just call me Lulu, and don't speak so formally!" she said, "and no problem, it's great you can be right by my carriage while we travel. Ahhhh we're gonna be travel buddies! This is so exciting!" Lulu's joy was evident.

"Ok, Lulu then. I'm looking forward to it as well!" Amber smiled. The blonde girl seemed very nice. She wondered if they could possibly be friends. It was an exciting thought. She didn't have friends in her home village. Lulu went towards her assigned carriage as Amber walked off looking around.

"I think I saw her walk towards this carriage…" Amber muttered to herself, walking with her new spear.

"The girl in red should be in… this one?" Amber stood in front of the carriage, it was quite nice compared to the others. This one had a top on it with drawn curtains. She remembered Guren saying that the girl had paid top coin, yet seemed to not be from a major family. Just as she was wondering if she should announce herself, she heard a voice ring alluringly from inside.

"Come in."