Chi Myst'wing 9 Fight Till The Final

Chi, Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere had one last meal with Prosper before he went his separate way. The first semi-final match was between Zhans.h.i.+ and Zhu Ming would begin soon. The victor of this match would compete in the final match. Chi and Vincere found their place at the front row before the stage so that they could have a close-up view at the fight just to make sure Zhu Ming wouldn't dare to play any trick.

Zhans.h.i.+ and Zhu Ming entered the stage with a powerful tide of cheers welcoming them. Both of them prepared themselves for their fight while looking at one another with cautious. Once they were readied, the referee rang the bell and shouted. "The fight begins!"

At the same moment, both Zhans.h.i.+ and Zhu Ming leapt, readying fist and kick toward each of them. Zhans.h.i.+ evaded Zhu Ming's kick while his fist missed Zhu Ming. Zhu Ming had managed to avoid Zhans.h.i.+'s fist. Several series of fists and boots of dragon conquering skill from Zhans.h.i.+ failed to land on Zhu Ming… this happened because Zhu Ming was more agile than Zhans.h.i.+. It was not apparent that who would win unless either one becomes exhausted. It seemed like they would fight for an eternity... unless any of one resolved to trick.

It suddenly came to Zhans.h.i.+ that he tilted as he was looking at someone behind Zhu Ming... and that distracted Zhu Ming to look behind, to see what Zhans.h.i.+ was looking at. Without any hesitation, Zhans.h.i.+ gave Zhu Ming a punch, sending Zhu Ming fainted on the spot. It was a stroke of luck that Zhans.h.i.+ managed to trick the master of tricks.

The whole crowd cheered as the referee p.r.o.nounced Zhans.h.i.+ victorious.

The heroes had dinner together, and they were curious about how Zhans.h.i.+ could think of distraction to beat Zhu Ming, which Zhans.h.i.+ said, "it just came to my mind. Luckily, I haven't run out of tricks."

The other day was the match between Chi and Vincere. The sky was cloudless. It looked like the Sol really wanted to watch the match. Before the match, the heroes had breakfast together.

"Good luck to two of you," said Zhans.h.i.+. "Whoever wins, I'll be please for you."

"Sister Chi," said a young mouse-la.s.s, who had appeared from nowhere. "I always love the way you fight. It's so graceful." She then offered Chi a gla.s.s of sparkling blue juice. "Here, I wish you good luck."

"Thank you," said Chi as she took the gla.s.s. "How sweet. What's your name?"

"Evsa," said the mouse-la.s.s. "I know you'll win the upcoming match. Just have sensed it."

"Thank you, Evsa." And Chi drank the juice.

"For the champion to be!" And every one of them clinked their gla.s.ses and drank.

And they headed to the stadium for the second match of the semi-final. Those who win in this match shall make it to the final to face Zhans.h.i.+ while the unlucky one shall face Zhu Ming for the third place. Chi and Vincere headed to another entrance with so much spirit and enthusiasm. As both of them entered the stage, roars of Chi and Vindicta's name echoed from the crowd. Even before match had started, Chi and Vincere already knew who would be the winner.

"Chi, remember what we promised?" said Vincere. His voice was clear despite the loud roar echoed from the crowd.

"Yes." Chi nodded with a sweet smile. "Let's see whose skills are better."

Once the bell had rung, and the referee had announced the battle had started, Chi and Vincere readied their defensive position. Without any warning, Vincere sprinted toward Chi while she still remained calm. She could expect where Vincere would deliver his blow that she was more than ready to deflect the blowback to Vincere as an offence. Yet, Vincere could evade as Chi launched her offensive.

But Chi held back her offence and launch another a.s.sault instead with her other hand. Vincere who had expected Chi's first offence but had not expected for Chi's second one…

He could only swing himself to avoid it. Chi swirled her palm and gust of sands came circling around her palm and Vincere's did the same. They launched the wave of air pressure at the same time, a small whirlwind formed and dwindled into thin air after a while.

Chi and Vincere fought for many rounds which could see Chi gaining the upper hand, but Vincere wouldn't just yield so easily. "You're outstanding," said Vincere and Chi replied, "You too." Vincere continued his relentless a.s.sault with his swing while Chi prepare to deflect and deliver damage to Vincere.

Chi paused her movement. Feeling a sudden lightness in her head, her vision became blurry that she couldn't see Vincere's incoming attack. She felt Vincere's attack hit hard on her midriff that she shrieked. The shock from the audience echoed around as she landed on the ground. She felt her body became heavier that she couldn't pull herself up. Perhaps she had lost all her strength. What had happened to her? Why she felt weak so sudden?

"The winner goes to Vindicta Patriarca!" With the declaration of the winner, the loud roar of cheers echoed from the audiences.

"Chi, are you alright?" said Vincere. "What happened? Why suddenly you stopped?"

"Me feel weak…" Even her eyes couldn't be opened wide. She could be only able to regulate her breathing as she recalled the breathing method taught by Sister Nuwa.

"Chi, let me help you." Chi felt Vincere's supporting hand at her shoulders, pulling her up. Then, she heard several Cyaians came rus.h.i.+ng toward her. "She looks weak…" That was the last words before her vision turned dark.

Her dark vision wasn't really dark at all. She could saw many greyish-black shadows moving around a dark background. And she heard a faint voice calling her name. She knew the voice was not Vincere's, but someone who had a blood relation with her.

"Don't worry, Chi-dear. You will be alright."

The voice was from her papa.

Chi soon gained her consciousness. She could feel a soft mattress supporting her back and a warm blanket covering her body. There was a bittersweet taste in her mouth. Once she found her strength, she opened her eyes. The total darkness transitioned to blurry white until she saw Vincere, who was standing at her side. Zhans.h.i.+ and Lord Benevence were there too.

"Chi, how do you feel now?" said Vincere said.

"Me have felt much better," said Chi.

"Lady Myst'wing, you had been poisoned."

Chi turned to the Cyaian who had spoken and realised that he was a physician. "Don't worry, the poison is not harmful. It only drains all your energy until you fainted. I have let you drank some tonic to replenish your strength. And there is some tonic left in the bottle. Make sure you finish it all and take more rest."

"Thank you, sir," said Chi in a soft tone that it seemed no one could hear her. Vincere thanked the physician that he replied, "You're welcomed." And then, the physician left.

"You ought to take rest," said Vincere. "Remember to finish the tonic, alright?"

Chi nodded.

Then, Vincere, Lord Benevence and some other Cyaians left the room.

So, Chi decided to take rest that she closed her eyes again. She hoped that she could see her papa or mama in her dream. Every single day, Chi missed her mama, and she wished she could know where is her mama right now. Eventually, she fell asleep.

And she woke up, having remembered she had no dream at all. All was dark. She opened her eyes and realised her surrounding was dark too. She had slept the whole day that she felt hungry and she decided to have a meal. She went out and saw Vincere and Zhans.h.i.+ stood just outside her room.

"Chi, you have awoken," said Vincere. "Do you feel much better?"

"Yes," said Chi. "Now me feel hungry."

"Let's have a meal," said Zhans.h.i.+.

"Sure," said Chi. "Me fancy that now."

"By the way," said Vincere. "You must be wondering why both us stood outside your room. We want to make sure n.o.body give you harm anymore."

Chi's lips curled a little. She knew everyone besides her papa, mama and Sister Nuwa would take great care and protect her.

The trio went down to the eatery by stairs. Many people were lining at the buffet table, loading food on their plates, eating their meals with sounds of chatting and cutleries clinking on the tablewares. The smells of cooked, fried and steamed foods were strong to her senses. There was also a sweet fragrant smell of desserts, cakes and pastries. Chi, Vincere and Zhans.h.i.+ took as much as the food they could consume. They didn't forget to take some fruits and salads with them. After that, they settled down at the nearest table to have their meal.

"Chi, Regarding the incident," said Zhans.h.i.+. "Lord Benevence believes that it is not Lord Phopo. Because, if Lord Phopo is the culprit, then why he targeted only you? It must be someone who has grudge in you."

"Zhu Ming," said Chi. He was the only one Chi could think of. But when and how he could poison Chi, she could not think of.

"Chi," said Zhans.h.i.+. "Surely Zhu Ming would easily recognise your favourite food after he had observed you. If he had put the poison on the food tray, surely many people would also be affected. But that day, no one is affected, but you. So, he must have the poison pa.s.sed to you by someone or something? Do you remember having ever eaten something, not from the food tray?"

Chi shook her head.

"Chi," said Vincere. "Do you still remember you had eaten or drink anything before your match?"

Chi took some time to ponder before she said, "yes. It was mouse-la.s.s. She offered me a drink."

"So, it was how the poison was given to you," said Vincere. "If it's from Zhu Ming, there's a high possibility the la.s.s does not know the drink is poisonous."

"Chi, your next match is three days later," said Zhans.h.i.+. "And your opponent is Zhu Ming. Since he lost to me in the semi-final, you and he will be in the third-place round. Maybe he had planned that so that you would fight him in the match. Chi, you must be careful. He wouldn't use the same way to poison you. He could just kill you in that way. Probably, he wants to have the satisfaction of killing you by his own hand."

"Be careful, Chi," said Vincere.

"Or maybe he has done that to know your room," said Zhans.h.i.+. "By poisoning you, doctors and physicians would come to your room. And now since he knows your room already, he may be planning something else to you."

Chi felt as though a hidden danger was crouching from the darkness, awaiting the time to strike her.

"Don't worry, Chi," said Vincere. "We will devise a plan."

"You can stay in my room," said Zhans.h.i.+. "Vindicta and I will stay in Vindicta's room to watch out for him."

"Alright," said Chi. "Thank you, Brother Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere."

The match for the third-place match arrived faster than Chi felt. That morning, she had a breakfast with Vincere and Zhans.h.i.+. Chi ought to be careful in case Zhu Ming have another way to poison her. With nothing happened which to Vincere and Zhans.h.i.+'s relief, Chi managed to enter the stadium safe and sound. With a welcoming cheer from the audiences, she walked toward the stage. From there, she could see Zhu Ming stood at the opposite side, staring at her as if he wants to eat her up. Chi ascended onto the stage.

"You must have known the reason I made you lost to Vincere by now," said Zhu Ming. "So that I can get the chance to beat you by myself. Once I have enough, I will kill you."

"You won't have that chance."

"You had been weakened," said Zhu Ming with a grin of certainty. "I know where's your room when the physician and your friends visited you. And that makes my plan easier."

"What?" said Chi. She let out a huge shock and disbelieved. At the same moment, the bell had rung, and the match began.

Chi raised her hand to touch her head and closed her eyes to a narrow view. She lowered herself a little, and from her narrow view, she could see Zhu Ming grinned. He looked satisfied that he knew his plan had worked. Though the loud dissatisfied roar from the audience, Chi could hear Zhu Ming's laugh.

Zhu Ming trod toward Chi with a wicked grin. He knew Chi was now weak as the effect of his poison. Knowing that she couldn't deliver strong attack even though she tries, he walked toward her with great confidence. Chi was on her knees and in his mercy. Zhu Ming placed one hand on Chi's shoulder, and his other hand formed a fist, readied to punch Chi as hard as he could.

Chi opened her eyes wide and turned to look Zhu Ming, giving him a sudden shock as if telling him there was an unexpected flaw in his plan. She circled her hand swift and pushed a torrent of strong air toward Zhu Ming's abdomen and send him flying. Zhu Ming flew with a painful yell as the audience gasped in shock. In a second, he laid outside the stage, groaning in pain.

Chi trod toward Zhu Ming and looked down at him.

"How…" Zhu Ming had a surprised look as if saying he couldn't be outwitted.

"The winner is Chi Myst'wing!" The audience echoed in great cheer for Chi.

"We knew your plan," said Chi. "Me was not in my room as me was resting in another room. My friends were in the opposite of my room the whole night. They saw you blowing something below the door of my room," said Chi.

"Demoness, just you remember," said Zhu Ming, groaning with pain in himself. "You have outwitted me this time and had beaten me many times. One day, you will see… if not by me, it's the heaven that will punish you for what you did…"

At this very moment, Chi really felt as if her heart had been p.r.i.c.ked by thousands of needles. She could only resist her tears from bursting out. On what reason did she have to suffer and being condemned by the sin she had never done. Only the Universe knew she was innocent and understand how she felt right now. Only heaven knew. "How many times me need to say? It's not my doing… me never kill your skywolves brothers." Her voice was shaking when she spoke.

"Liar, demoness!" Zhu Ming yelled as thunderous as he could.

That was what she had expected from Zhu Ming as he had said that many times. Cheers of the audience seemed to accompany her as she made her way to the stadium's exit. Though she had won and the audience was cheering for her, she wasn't as please as she should. She was still thinking of Zhu Ming. The match ended in quite a short time, and Chi was in third place. If Chi hadn't been poisoned in her match between Vincere, she would have made to the final round. Or perhaps everything happened with a reason. At that time, she thought if she hadn't meet Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere, how she could ever manage to outwit Zhu Ming by herself? And if everything happens with a reason, how could that she met with Zhu Ming? It was not her doing and yet she had to face it.

"Well done, Chi!" said Vincere as Zhans.h.i.+ was cheering for her. "Thought the match was very short."

"He still thinks me is the killer," said Chi. "He even said that heaven will punish me for that."

"Heaven knows who you really are, Chi." Vincere and Zhans.h.i.+ then placed their comforting hand on Chi's shoulder as she smiled in return.

A bell rung all loud of sudden, ringing many times. It was not the bell to start or end a match but a city bell alerting the citizens of incoming danger. But what danger was coming?

Chi, Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere dashed out from the stadium. Everyone was looking up at the sky; knowing the danger might have come from the sky.

"Redragon is here!!! Hide, everyone hides!" Everyone was panicked upon the word redragon. "Where is Lord Benevence to protect us?" A citizen had muttered in fear when he was running. There was no defence, and everyone was not prepared to face a redragon. Since Kinma City was so far from Igniswing, never before a redragon had come here. Was the redragon Chi's mama?

"Maybe the redragon is my mama." Chi dashed toward the direction of the ringing bell, to the city hall as she was followed by Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere. They could hear the faint roar of the redragon as they neared the city hall.

"It's not my mama," said Chi, feeling disheartened.

Soon, the redragon seemed bigger as it flew nearer, and it became clear who it was – Emberfist. That was the reason she felt disappointed.

Emberfist flew, spewing flame along his path. He seemed to be excited with a new hunting ground since it had more people and more objects to lay destruction on. He flew near the deafening bell tower and spew flame on it. A shriek of pain came from the tower. Now the bell tower became like a flaming torch. Then, he landed hard on the stony ground, causing the ground to crack with dust, and he laid his fierce gaze at the trio.

"Chi, is that your mama?" said Vincere without leaving his gaze from the redragon.

"No, it is Emberfist." Chi shook her head slowly.

"Amberfist?" said Zhans.h.i.+.

At those words, Chi and Vincere could barely resist their laugh as the name seemed amusing.

"He's the one I fought at the goatmen village," said Zhans.h.i.+. A hint of terror was reflected on his face.

"Ah… Looks like I can get three hunts today," said Emberfist so loud. "Without Myst'wing gal interfere."

Vincere and Zhans.h.i.+ turned to Chi to see her reaction. Almost immediately, Chi could spot their faces glinted with a grin.

"Emberfist!" Chi shouted as loud as she could to attract Emberfist's attention.

"Who are you?" Emberfist drew his brow. "How do you know my name?"

"My ident.i.ty's not important," said Chi. "Stop this hunt right now or…"

"Or what?" said Emberfist. "What can you do to stop me?"

"Three of us can defeat you," said Chi, turning to both Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere and she received their nod of agreement.

"No one ever dares to cross with a redragon…"

"I dare, and I did," said Zhans.h.i.+.

Emberfist had a gaze at Zhans.h.i.+. "I remember you. You're the one I almost have beaten up."

"Now it's going to be very different," said Zhans.h.i.+. "My dragon conquering skill has improved a lot!"

"Please spare lives, Emberfist," said Chi.

"This is your last chance!" said Vincere. "Begone from this city or we will trash you up!"

"The three of you against me? Ha!" Then, Emberfist spread his wings wide, flapping his wings that strong dusty wind spread out like a small sandstorm. He dashed toward Chi with his fist, ready to hit her.

The trio scattered away from Emberfist's path as an attempt to evade his fist. Chi was the closest to Emberfist, whirled and swiped her leg through Emberfist's legs, tipping him off balance, and he fell. Emberfist pulled himself in no time and gave Chi a counter punch, but Chi could evade it with ease. At the same moment, Zhans.h.i.+ had landed his blow on Emberfist which stumbled him backwards and at the very moment, Vincere swiped below, and Emberfist fell hard on the ground.

"ROAR!!!"

Emberfist had gotten furious. The roar was so thunderous that it could tremble the hearts of the timid. Even the birds at the corner of the city were shocked and flew in every direction. His wings. .h.i.t the air so hard that he rocketed to the sky as dust spread further away.

"Oh, no!" Zhans.h.i.+ looked so afraid that he dropped his jaw. Chi recalled that Zhans.h.i.+ had fought a losing battle with Emberfist and almost die… if not for her to interfere. Fighting a sky-high redragon was a death-inviting, but Vincere had no idea of that. So was Chi, as this was the first time she fought a redragon with her new form as she had forgotten that she couldn't fly anymore.

While on air, Emberfist spew flame at them; each of them had to escape the deadly fire. The redragon continued to spew flame around. There was no way to fight Emberfist now. No one could fly. What they only do now was, evading the fire and hope that the redragon become tired and leave the city. That in the case would only happen when the whole city was left in ruin without any survivor.

Chi had managed to hide herself the moment Emberfist turned to another side to spew fire. Then, Vincere managed to hide too. Zhans.h.i.+ was the last to disappear. He had to throw a splintered wood to Emberfist to distract him, and when the angry redragon spin around, he jumped into hiding.

"What? Where's everybody?" Emberfist spoke to himself.

"Any plans?" Vincere spoke so softly that only Chi and Zhans.h.i.+ could hear.

"Come out and fight!" said Emberfist as he felt vexed.

"My only plan is to continue fighting," said Zhans.h.i.+.

"What's the use of fighting without any plan?" said Vincere. "It's like fighting to fail."

Chi, Vincere and Zhans.h.i.+ silent for a moment. For that moment, they could hear Emberfist continued to spew fire and shouting about where was everybody.

���Me will distract him," said Chi. "Vincere, you will bring him down to the ground. And you, Zhans.h.i.+ will give him your strongest punch." Vincere and Zhans.h.i.+ nodded that they understood her plan.

Chi jumped out from her hiding and began circling her hands, launching several waves of air toward Emberfist. The waves of air were fast, yet Emberfist could evade without any effort. At the corner of Chi's eyes, she could see Vincere had climbed at the top of a tower at Emberfist's right, readying to strike at any moment. Chi whirled her hands, and a glowing orb began building near her palm. Emberfist stopped at a moment as he was shocked to see Chi a.s.similating an orb. Once she was readied, she hurled to globe toward him…

The orb travelled fast, but it had tilted a little to the right of its original path. Emberfist was glad and leapt to his right, away from the orb –

Vincere jumped from the tower, giving Emberfist a clasped-hand strike from the top and hit Emberfist on top of his head.

Emberfist howled in great pain; the momentum from the strike sent him speeding toward the ground.

Zhans.h.i.+ came out at the very right timing, and gave Emberfist the strongest dragon conquering strike he could muster, with two fists together, amplifying the damage on Emberfist… and sent him flying several feet… and landed on the ground, rolling.

Emberfist sprawled on the ground. Now shaking with pain, he could barely pull himself up. "That's not possible! No one could ever defeat a redragon!"

"Do you still remember Sister Nuwa?" said Chi, as Emberfist was feeling nonplussed. "Sister Nuwa had defeated your chief."

"How do you know?" said Emberfist. "Who are you all?"

"I'm Vindicta Patriarca!"

"Yu Zhans.h.i.+."

Emberfist was so dazed by the bravery and strength of the two warriors that had dared to fight him. He then turned to Chi, awaiting her to speak. The longer he looked at Chi, the more he felt her eyes were somehow familiar.

"Myst'wing… Chi Myst'wing."

"So, you really are Chi," said Emberfist. "That's why it feels so familiar. And you are here…"

"Emberfist, do you know where's my mama?" Chi awaited Emberfist for his answer, hoping for good news.

"No," said Emberfist. His warm face now became cold. "Never expect this is the last of the redragons!" With his remaining strength, he flapped his wings hard and lifted off. Gale of strong wind and sandblasted in every direction.

Not long the citizens came out from their hiding, applauding and cheering for the trio, wis.h.i.+ng thanks and grat.i.tude for saving the city from the redragon. Never before Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere had been praised like that. They both felt as though they were on cloud nine.

Though Chi was being praised, she was disappointed. She had hoped that the redragon would be her mama, but it turned out to be Emberfist. She was distraught of her mama. Would her mama be trashed by some warriors or fall to being captured? Her mama was a redragon, and since that her mama could cause panic to every Cyaian on the land. There was also a high bounty on a redragon's head, and thus many hunters would want to capture her mama. Emberfist did bring an old memory to Chi, where Chi had met Zhans.h.i.+ for the first time. Perhaps Emberfist did flew so far to search for Chi. She could still remember how he wanted to save her from her execution – by having Chi marry to him. In was so apparent that he wanted Chi so much, perhaps so desperate. Only Chi and every savage soul in Igniswing ever know of this unceremonious betrothal. Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere don't know anything about this.

"Chi, we know what you feel right now. We will help you find your mama." Chi lifted her head and saw how warm Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere were that she felt touched. "Thank you, both of you."

When the Sol hung low, Lord Benevence arrived with his equine along with his followers. He and his followers seemed so worn out from the long travel. Despite that, he still held an audience with the citizens of Kinma City. He apologized for having failed to protect the city. He had rushed to Kinma City as soon as he heard the news of the attack and offered a large amount of aid and support to the victims and to repair the damaged city. Lord Benevence have also heard the courage of Chi, Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere when they faced and defeated the redragons that he awarded each of them a medal of honour.

The damage Emberfist caused had made Lord Benevence postpone the final match two days later. While the final match had set two days later, Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere were grateful to have more time for training. It was not only the final-match contenders had their training, everyone in the city had training too. The fear of another redragon's attack had put a security tension in everyone. Never before any redragon had reached that far from Igniswing. Now the whole Kinma City was more alarmed. More weapons and defences were being built. Though the city had more security, the citizens could hope that there would be no redragon's attack.

Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere were glad that they had Emberfist as a part of their training. Both of them boasted that they would trash one another like how they had trashed Emberfist. That didn't worry Chi as both were her best friends. She would cheer for the winner and at the same time giving encouragement to the loser. She would have a point to be happy and sad at the same time.

The day for the final match of the heroes' tourney had come. For Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere, this was their time to know how much they had poured into their training, and it was the opponent-tras.h.i.+ng day which they were so glad to welcome it.

"My strength can make you cry!" said Zhans.h.i.+.

"Your strength is useless against my skill," said Vincere.

The bell had rung; the final match had started. Both the fighters opened their opening move simultaneously. Zhans.h.i.+ readied with his punch while Vincere with his palm. They were fast, as Chi knew Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere had trained hard. Zhans.h.i.+ launched many punches in just a second and Vincere diverted his attacks back to him which Zhans.h.i.+ was. .h.i.t by his own attack. In some attacks, Vincere failed to counter it and got hit instead.

The audience were suspended and awed at whatever moves Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere showed. Half of the viewers cheered for Vincere and the other half cheered for Zhans.h.i.+. Chi couldn't make her mind who she wants to cheer for. Each fight paused with either Vincere or Zhans.h.i.+ sprawled down, with new bruises and cuts (though they seemed to be enjoying themselves, but Chi gasped when either one fall) and sprang with a swift dash to resume the fight.

After about hundreds of rounds, Vincere rolled out from the stage and landed on the green gra.s.s. In his delight, he smiled and leapt onto the stage to resume…

But the referee rang the bell and shouted, "The winner goes to Yu Zhans.h.i.+!" This stopped Vincere from advancing which he paused for a moment before he laughed at himself. If not for the referee to end the match and declared the winner, neither one would stop despite Vincere had fallen out.

At last, the final match of the heroes' tourney had ended, marking the end of the compet.i.tions. The first-place fall to Zhans.h.i.+, while the second-place went to Vincere and the third was Chi.

To Chi's surprise, neither one was feeling sorry. Both were so pleased; despite bruises and pain on their skin. Both the winner and the loser were glad to, congratulating and praising one another. They had shown the true spirit of sportsmans.h.i.+p and brotherhood. The audience roared and cheer for them, as both were the winner. No one had lost. The song of fighting echoed on-air and Chi was touched beyond word that tears swelled on her eyes.

Later that evening at the stadium, Chi stood in line with her friends: Vincere and Zhans.h.i.+. When the sky was reddish near the western horizon, the ceremony started. An orchestra of musicians playing upbeat, fighting and victorious themes to everyone. The whole compet.i.tors were standing in the middle of the gra.s.s field. All were there - except Prosper which he had returned to his home village and Zhu Ming which Chi didn't sure where was he now. All the compet.i.tors had the chance to join the ranks of Lord Benevence. Those who had made into quarter-final round stood chance to hold an important position in the Warriors of Benevolence.

"We now invite Lord Benevence, the organiser of the Heroes' Tournament to deliver the prizes to the heroes!" Loud applause came from the audiences as Lord Benevence made his way to the stage.

The compet.i.tors of the quarter-final were called to receive their prizes, one by one. There was an award for the best sportsmans.h.i.+p, the most fair-player, the best gentleman and so on. At last, the long-awaited moment came when it was about the time for the top three compet.i.tors to receive the prizes. Chi felt nervous yet excited though she knew she would be called for the third-place.

"The third place goes to… Chi Myst'wing!"

Chi stepped up. Her supporters' cheers accompanied her all along the way to the third-place podium. There, Lord Benevence placed the bronze medal on Chi as she lowered her head, saying "Well done, Lady Myst'wing." And she received a trophy. The trophy had a black platform of a cube and on top had a gold sculpture of a man in a striking fist. Then, as she was about to return to the place where she had come out, she was called to hold her step.

"The second place goes to… Vindicta Patriarca!

Vincere made his way to the second-place podium and received the silver medal and a trophy which was larger than Chi's award.

"And at last, the champion goes to… Yu Zhans.h.i.+!"

Zhans.h.i.+ made his way to the first-place podium as the loudest cheer and applause served as background music. He received a gold medal and a trophy larger than both Vincere and Chi's.

When all the compet.i.tors had received their awards, they went back to their seats. Lord Benevence was so pleased and proud that he gave one final speech which it had a significant conclusion: "What matter is not about gaining to the top three. What matter most are the inspiration, perseverance and the good sportsmans.h.i.+p in every one of us. All the matches were excellent even from the first rounds of elimination. All of you had fought with honour and gallantry. I was deeply touched by the way you all fight. Some matches touch the hearts of ours, which we shall remember for the rest of our lives. No one fights better than the Warriors of Benevolence!" The whole crowd agreed that they roared as they would never roar again. Then, the music of victory and fighting followed as everyone sang together the lyrics. The music was soothing to the ears and attuned to the hearts of everyone that even those who didn't seem familiar with the lyrics just made vocals themselves.

"That was a wonderful song we would never forget," said the emcee when the song ended. "And it marks the ceremony with a very touching ending. Thank you, everyone, for making the tournament a wonderful and significant success. Those who had fought gallantly has the chance to join the ranks of Lord Benevence. Every compet.i.tor will receive an offer letter. The letters are now at the concierge of Anle's Inn. Kindly receive your letter there. Thank you."

With that, the closing and award ceremony ended. Some were so happy that the contestants hurtled to join the other friends and soon, every champagne was popped up. Some went straight to the concierge to receive the letter. Chi, Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere were so impatient that they went to the concierge too.

"Miss Myst'wing, here is your letter. Congratulations."

"Thanks," said Chi, as she took the envelope, opened it and drew out the folded letter while Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere received theirs. She unfolded her letter and read it.

Dear Lady Myst'wing,

I would want to offer my deepest congratulation to you since you have fought hard to the third place. I'm deeply honoured that you had had a great commitment for the peace of the Cyaians and the Eastern Land that made you choose to partic.i.p.ate in The Heroes' Tournament. To appreciate your skills and talents, I am pleased to offer you the ranks in the Warriors of Benevolence.

You are as a result of this enlisted as the Peacekeeper with the rank of 'Officer level 5'. Kindly reply to accept the offer by tomorrow. See you at my mansion tomorrow. For those who have no transport, we have provided carriages in front of Anle's Inn entrance.

Once again, congratulation to you for getting the third place.

For the greater good.

Fax Benevence.

Once she had finished reading the letter, she looked up to the concierge and said, "Me gladly accept." The man at the concierge skimmed the scroll for her name and checked, marking that she accepted the offer. Zhans.h.i.+ and Vincere accepted the offer too. At last, she had landed herself a job to survive while searching for her mama. After they greeted good night to one another, everyone went back to their room for one last night in Anle's Inn. Chi was so jovial that not even words could describe her feelings and that she found herself hard to go into slumber. But when she closed her eyes, she saw her papa, her mama and even Sister Nuwa congratulated her.