Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 112567 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 563(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112567 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 563(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Another lunged at me with his stick. His face was twisted into a snarl.
My reflexes kicked in as I sidestepped his blow, grasping his wrist and using his momentum to hurl him to the ground. His body skidded across the dirt and stirred up a cloud of dust.
“Good job.” Hu clapped. “When one against many, never remain stationary.”
I stayed in constant motion, ducking and rolling, my eyes never fixed on a single opponent. I darted between them like a swift current, striking quick, hard, and retreating before they could regroup.
This is ridiculous. Hu and Chen will end up killing me before my father gets a chance.
On my right, the crack of a whip split the air. I pivoted, caught the tail end of the whip, and yanked the man forward. He shrieked as my fist connected with his jaw. He crashed to the ground.
Someone slammed me in the side with a stick.
“Remember, Lei!” Hu yelled. “A crowd is both shield and sword. Make use of it.”
Exhausted, I pushed one assailant into the path of another’s swinging stick.
The man crumpled.
The cheers of my men echoed through the mountain peaks.
Chen’s voice carried on the wind. “Damn it, Duck! Did you really?! Are you insane?!”
Wait. What?
I looked Chen’s way.
Someone slammed me in the leg with a stick, making me buckle in pain.
Fuck!
Next, a whip curled around my neck and yanked me to the ground.
Ah!
I choked on my breath and grasped at the whip with both hands.
Hu called out, “Your mind is as much a weapon as your fists and feet. Stay focused, Lei.”
But I couldn’t stay focused.
My mind was racing with thoughts of Duck and Moni.
My grip tightened on the whip around my neck as I struggled to get back on my feet. The few remaining men with sticks and whips continued their assault, their attacks growing more vicious by the second.
Goddamn it!
I focused on my breathing and blocked out all the noise around me. Once my mind cleared, a surge of power came.
Surely, the men with the sticks and whips hesitated, sensing the shift in my energy.
I stood up, unraveling and tearing the whip away from my neck with a fierce jerk.
In an instant, I charged forward and took them all down, one by one, with a flurry of punches and kicks.
When the last man fell to the ground, I stood there panting. Sweat poured down my body.
I checked Chen again.
He was off the phone now and giving orders to four men in front of him.
What’s going on?
Hu called out, “Alright. Next group.”
I snapped my view to Hu. “Next group? That is quiet enough.”
“Practice makes perfect.”
I spotted another wave of challengers stepping into the circle. These men bore weapons of steel— gleaming knives and swords that cut through the air with a menacing hiss.
I raised my hands. “Enough, Hu. I am more than prepared.”
“You will be fighting Uncle Leo with weapons.” Hu signaled them to go ahead. “Now, understand that against blades, distance is your ally.”
“No shit.” I gritted and wiped more sweat off me.
The first swordsman lunged at me, his blade cutting through the air in a swift arc.
My body instinctively twisted to the side and barely evaded his attack. Not missing a beat, I used the same momentum to deliver a roundhouse kick to his head.
He collapsed, unconscious before he even hit the ground.
My men roared in approval.
I grabbed his sword off the ground and faced the others.
Hu waved his hands. “Put the sword down, Lei. This is practice.”
“If I knocked my father’s sword out of his hand, I would pick it up and—”
“You will never knock a sword out of Uncle Leo’s hand.” Hu pointed to the ground. “Go ahead.”
Grumbling, I slung the sword to the side.
Two swordsmen advanced in unison. Their blades gleamed in the sunlight.
I backpedaled, maintaining the distance.
Hu bobbed his head. “Draw them forward and have a plan.”
Suddenly, the session’s intensity was cut by a harsh and rhythmic hip-hop beat. Hard-hitting lyrics rode the bass, although I couldn’t catch a word of what the artist was saying.
Huh?
The sword fighters in front of me turned their gazes toward the sound.
Hu whistled. “Let’s take a break.”
“Yeah.” I changed my direction and headed away from the sparring area. “Who the hell could this be?”
As I walked away from the circle, the beat of the music grew louder and more distinct. It wasn’t until I got closer to the source that I recognized the voice of the rapper.
Is that Tupac?
Soon the vehicle appeared. Dust kicked up around the sleek blue car. Bass reverberated, as it roared up the mountain road.
We all watched the approaching vehicle.
The music continued to grow louder.
Chen stopped ordering his men and shook his head.
I got to him and stopped on his side. “What the fuck is going on?”
Chen sighed. “A lot.”
“Do you have any idea who this is?”