Chapter 35: The rules of the game

Chapter Thirty-Five: The Rules of the Game.

Kael's chest tightened.

Before Shanyuan could say another word, Kael's fist connected with his cheek.

CRACK.

Shanyuan's jaw twisted from the impact. He staggered back, his hand rising to his face. For a second, surprise flickered across his features. Then he turned, grinning.

"Woah. I never expected that."

He shook his head, still smiling.

"But to be frank, I didn't come here to retrieve anything. My stupid boss told me to forget about the beast soul." He laughed, running a hand through his white hair. "That woman is really crazy. Mysterious. No one knows anything about her. Such a pain in the ass."

He rolled his shoulders.

"But back to you. Let's play."

He boosted forward.

Kael's eyes narrowed. His night vision enhanced, his body reacting on instinct. He bent his head to the side, dodging the incoming blow by a hair's breadth.

"Wow. What an improvement," Shanyuan said, his voice almost impressed.

His fist blurred.

Kael stood his ground, hands raised, countering every strike. His legs widened, a kick rising—almost landing on Shanyuan's jaw, grazing his forehead instead.

"What gave you the right to poke my head?" Kael's voice was low, dangerous.

Dust swirled around them.

Shanyuan dove backward, retreating, landing with an easy smile. "Uh... nothing."

"Nothing?"

Kael boosted forward.

"Oh my, this is becoming beautiful," Crucify muttered to itself, watching, not interfering.

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Kael's fist drove straight toward Shanyuan's temple. Shanyuan's right leg shot back, his body bending low, dodging inches from the blow.

"Cool!"

"What?"

Too late. Shanyuan's left leg swept upward, his waist twisting as his foot slammed into Kael's chest.

BOOM!

Kael crashed into the wall. Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface. He slumped down, panting heavily.

Shanyuan clapped slowly. "Nice try."

He laughed.

Then Kael was already closing in.

His fist connected with Shanyuan's stomach—unexpected, brutal. Another blow landed on his jaw. Shanyuan skidded back, rotating mid-air, landing on his feet again.

"Stop retreating!"

Kael ran toward him, spinning into a kick—but Shanyuan grabbed his leg and flung him away.

Kael hit the ground hard.

"Okay, okay." Shanyuan raised his hands. "I won't. It's just—you're too cunning for me to fight fairly."

"Shut up!"

Kael's fist connected with the back of Shanyuan's head.

THUD.

Shanyuan's body crashed into the wall. He hadn't seen that coming.

Kael's footsteps approached. He grabbed Shanyuan's neck, yanking him upright. His white hair was dirty with dust.

"No one ever pokes me on the head," Kael growled. "No one."

His fist slammed into Shanyuan's jaw.

"No one!"

Another blow.

"No one!"

Shanyuan grabbed his arm, his lips bleeding. He rose Kael into the air and swung him down.

CRASH!

Kael's back slammed into the ground. Stones flew.

"Do I care?" Shanyuan asked, his voice flat. "You don't have any sign of respect, kid."

He grabbed Kael's shoulder.

"Get your fucking hands off me!"

Shanyuan's boot pressed down on Kael's face.

"Let me teach you some rules about our game," he said.

He bent Kael's arm.

"You don't rage at me."

CRACK.

Kael screamed. Pain exploded through his arm.

"Awww! Is it painful?" Shanyuan smiled. "Keep enjoying it."

He grabbed Kael's other arm.

"Hey." Crucify's voice was soft in Kael's skull. "You know the magic word, right?"

Shanyuan gripped tight.

"Let's do the same for this."

He was about to crack it—when—

SLAM!

Shanyuan's eyes widened. Spit sprayed from his mouth. He felt his bones crushing as he was blasted through the air, crashing into a building. Dust and rubble filled the area.

Tracy lowered her leg.

Kael stared at her, shocked. "D-did you just do that?"

"Get up," she said.

Kael's arms were severely injured. Tears streamed from his eyes from the pain. Tracy bent down and helped him up.

"Ah, this is nice."

Shanyuan laughed as he turned around slowly. His bones were reforming. His black jacket was torn, his white hair messy and dusty.

Tracy left Kael stumbling to a corner.

"Hey, yellow-haired girl." Shanyuan grinned. "I've been wanting to fight you since you cracked my fist last time. You must be Elemental Class, huh?"

Tracy stared at him. Silent. Still. Scrutinizing.

"Don't be dumb. Speak up." He walked like a drunk, swaying. "You think that crazy kick of yours can harm me?"

The wind blew, carrying dust across the street. Blood dripped from Shanyuan's body.

"Last warning," Tracy said, her voice flat. "Your job is over. Priceless told me to call it off. I believe she told you herself, but you're too stubborn."

She paused.

"Never follow Kael again. Understood?"

Shanyuan's grin faded. "So you even know Priceless? Is she your boss? Right. I knew that woman was strange. Mysterious. Everything about her is a secret."

Tracy glared at him. "I believe you heard me."

She turned, her hands in her pockets.

The wind blew past her.

Before she could react, a line of blood appeared on her face.

Such insane speed, Kael thought, his eyes trembling.

SCREECH.

Shanyuan came to a halt, watching her.

"I was thinking of beating you up." He smiled. "But you're tougher than I expected. So I decided to do the most painful thing a woman hates."

His grin widened.

"Designing her face."

He boosted.

Tracy took stance, her fists clenched.

Damn. I can't track him.

A blade carved a line across her jaw.

Her eyes widened.

Shanyuan boosted to a building, landing on top, staring down at her.

"Aren't you ashamed?" Tracy called up. "A real man fights straightforward. No petty tricks."

Shanyuan's face fell.

"Uhuh! So you're trying to lure me in?"

He mocked her voice.

"Fight straightforward. Okay."

He straightened, cracking his neck.

"I'll be fair. At least I'm not that cruel to women."

End of Chapter Thirty-Five.