“I can’t believe you’re still doing this,” Mei murmured as she and Ishin approached the gate of the Combat Hall.

  It was early morning, a mere half hour after dawn. A layer of grey clouds covered the sect, a stark contrast to the warm atmosphere of the day before when Rhee had gone through the Gauntlet.

  “It’s necessary to join,” Ishin replied easily, his spear resting over his shoulder.

  With Rhee recovering in the Restoration Hall, Ishin had asked Mei to watch him undergo the Gauntlet. Part of it was because he felt better having a friend with him. The other part was that when he eventually lost, Ishin wanted someone he trusted there to bring him to the Restoration Hall. He didn’t trust the other disciples of the Combat Hall, or Elder Long Tusk, to tend to him. Mei had been kind enough to accompany him in lieu of her usual responsibilities in the library.

  “But after what happened to Sister Rhee, why would you willingly put yourself through this?” Mei pressed. “This whole process is designed for you to lose.”

  “It is,” Ishin agreed. They were close enough now that Ishin saw the same one-armed disciple resting beside the gate just like yesterday. “But that’s part of discovering my limits.” Jiang Yu had presented that point yesterday, and Ishin agreed with her. If he was going to walk a martial path, he couldn’t be afraid of fighting, even if he knew it would result in his eventual defeat.

  “You’re back,” the idle Combat Hall disciple remarked, a satisfied smile spreading across his lips. “Some don’t return after they learn what the Gauntlet entails.”

  “Then those aren’t meant to follow a martial path,” Ishin replied.

  “Or they have enough sense to recognize there are better paths to walk,” Mei countered.

  “This one looks soft.” The one-armed disciple took a drink from his canteen. “Not going to join?”

  “No.”

  “She’s here to support me,” Ishin supplied. “This is Disciple Wen Mei. My close friend and housemate. And this is…” Ishin trailed off as he realized that he didn’t know the disciple’s name.

  A raucous laugh came from the seated disciple. “You never did bother to ask.” He shook his canteen in chastisement. “My name is Disciple Wo Shou.”

  “Wo Shou.” Ishin considered the name, searching his memory to see if he recognized it from the Combat Hall rankings list. After being unable to recall anything relevant, he asked, “Pardon, do you have a ranking within the Combat Hall?”

  “Everyone has a ranking.” Wo Shou took another sip. “I’m ranked thirty-ninth.”

  Thirty-ninth? That means he was the last person Bai Hao fought before losing.

  Ishin recalled what Jiang Yu had shared regarding Bai Hao’s Gauntlet run. Every person he defeated, he left them…damaged.

  Ishin studied Wo Shou’s missing arm with new awareness, the grip on his spear tightening. That bastard.

  “Careful now,” Wo Shou cautioned. “That looks something like pity in your eyes.” The crippled disciple’s tone lost its playful edge. “It’d better not be for me.”

  “Is something wrong?” Mei asked, looking between the two.

  “Nothing at all,” Wo Shou said before drinking from his canteen again. He jerked his chin toward the gate beside him. “Head on in.”

  Ishin walked inside without another word, Mei hurrying to keep up. Like yesterday morning, half a dozen platforms were occupied by sparring martials.

  “They’re quite aggressive,” Mei remarked, watching some of the fights as they continued toward the center of the Combat Hall’s courtyard.

  “They want to get stronger.” Ishin kept his attention focused forward, toward the larger central platform where Elder Long Tusk and Jiang Yu were speaking. Ishin noticed that Jiang Yu didn’t carry her zither today. Both turned their gazes toward him once they neared.

  And I need to get stronger too.

  Elder Long Tusk rested both thick grey hands behind his back. “You’ve returned.”

  “I told you he would,” Jiang Yu said with a knowing smile.

  “A spirit beast elder,” Mei said, her eyes wide. A moment later, she executed a hurried bow. “Forgive me, Elder. This one is Disciple Wen Mei. I meant no offense.”

  Elder Long Tusk let out a soft chuckle. “No offense taken, Disciple Wen Mei. I am aware of how rare it is for a spirit beast to be a sect elder. You are Elder Su’s niece?”

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  Mei rose to meet the elder’s eyes. “Yes, Elder.”

  Ishin expected Elder Long Tusk to say something further, but instead he asked, “Are you here to join the Combat Hall or observe?”

  “Just observe, Elder.”

  “Very well.” Turning to Jiang Yu, he continued, “Fetch Disciple Deng Hai.”

  “At once, Elder.”

  Jiang Yu returned a few minutes later, Deng Hai in tow. The bald, tattooed disciple carried his halberd in one hand, his nose still a deep shade of purple.

  It looks better than yesterday, but I wouldn’t say he’s healed.

  Still, Deng Hai’s eyes held a clear conviction to fight. Ishin respected that. A true martial.

  Some of the disciples who had been sparring left their platforms, aware of what was about to occur. It wasn’t as large a crowd as when Rhee had fought yesterday, but there were still around ten onlookers. Noticeably, Ishin spotted Shen Hui.

  I owe you for Rhee. Ishin shifted his eyes from the young girl to the man standing opposite him. But first, I have to beat you.

  “Disciples Deng Hai and Ro Ishin, assume your positions,” Elder Long Tusk commanded.

  Ishin moved onto the platform, Deng Hai taking the opposite side. The tattooed disciple brought his weapon forward, curved blade directed at Ishin. Ishin recalled the destructive capabilities of that weapon from Rhee’s fight.

  The platform has been repaired. Indeed, the central platform appeared completely unmarred. They work fast.

  Ishin spun his own spear around, preparing to fight his first true Adept Realm opponent.

  He uses mist qi for ranged attacks. They’re easy to track and not too fast. I can dodge them. Close-range combat is riskier. Best to use Indigo Sky Bolt from a distance.

  “Fight!” Elder Long Tusk declared.

  Deng Hai brought his halberd back and slashed it forward. A large blade of mist flew at Ishin, more than capable of bisecting him if it struck. But just as Ishin predicted, it wasn’t fast enough that he couldn’t dodge.

  He ducked beneath the mist blade and pointed two fingers at Deng Hai. Blue lightning flashed and shot forth at impressive speed. Ishin watched as the speed of his technique surprised Deng Hai. The disciple jumped to the right, but Ishin didn’t relent. A second Indigo Sky Bolt followed two seconds later, striking Deng Hai in the lower left ribs.

  A repressed groan escaped Deng Hai, a section of his robes burned away to reveal charred flesh.

  Not as much damage as I hoped. Did he use a body technique to minimize it?

  Deng Hai twirled his halberd and slammed the butt of it into the platform floor. Mist erupted outward, covering the entire platform. It was so dense that Ishin could barely see his own spear.

  He’s obscuring my sight. Ishin glanced around. But he can’t see in this either. Ishin stepped back cautiously. What’s his plan?

  The faint sound of a footstep reached Ishin’s left. He turned just as Deng Hai’s halberd cut through the mist, descending toward his face. Ishin threw himself backward, but the blade grazed the top of his forehead.

  Blood trickled down his brow and over his nose.

  Another scar.

  Even after retreating several feet, Deng Hai’s weapon vanished again into the thick mist. Ishin wiped the blood from his eyes.

  His inner beast growled, fully aware of the danger. Ishin’s senses sharpened as he scanned the mist, listening for any trace of movement.

  A slight disturbance formed to his right. Ishin jumped back instinctively as the halberd sliced through the space his torso had occupied moments earlier.

  He retaliated instantly, firing an Indigo Sky Bolt into the mist. There was no indication it struck anything.

  I can’t fight him if I can’t find him.

  The inner beast shared his frustration.

  Rapid footsteps echoed from the right. Ishin spun, spear raised—then nothing. Gone.

  Wait. His eyes widened. What would I do if I were him?

  His martial instinct answered, and Ishin sprinted forward. Stone shattered behind him.

  I was right.

  How is he finding me? Can he see through his own mist?

  That didn’t feel fair—but Ishin had no other explanation.

  He pivoted, searching again.

  I can’t see him. I can barely hear him.

  He shifted into the fourth spear stance, prepared for an attack from any angle.

  Sound, sight, smell—useless. His teeth ground together. I underestimated him after watching Rhee win. Foolish.

  The halberd struck from the left. Ishin intercepted with his spear. The force shook his arms and sent him skidding to his knees—but the spear held.

  Thanks, Ma Lin.

  Then it clicked.

  Metal qi…

  Enlightenment struck.

  That’s it!

  Ishin opened his third eye and saw Deng Hai clearly—two chakras blazing, metal and mist, moving toward him.

  I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner.

  He waited, spear lowered.

  Deng Hai struck.

  Ishin pivoted and thrust.

  The spear punched beneath Deng Hai’s ribs. Blood gushed as the mist collapsed.

  “Not a bad strategy,” Ishin said quietly.

  Deng Hai collapsed.

  “The winner is Disciple Ro Ishin,” Elder Long Tusk declared, turning to Shen Hui. “You’re next.”