The moonlight pierced the thinning clouds, casting pale silver light over the silent gathering of onlookers.
They were spellbound, eyes flicking from one figure to another as the once-earthshaking battle began to slow, like a song reaching its final note.
Shi Chang Xiao and Solitary Falcon circled each other, the fight growing more intense with each passing breath. The cracks marred the floor beneath their feet, evidence of the sheer power behind each exchange.
The sheer velocity of their movements left afterimages in the air, and the sound of fists connecting reverberated like drumbeats echoing through a war march.
Each man fought with precision, honed instinct, and unwavering focus, but their battle wasn't just physical.
Their forms blurred and collided again and again, one strike sharper than the next, their techniques refined over decades, crashing into one another with a force that caused the hearts of onlookers to clench.
But amid the storm of fists and footwork, one man remained detached from it all.
It was Jun Mo Xie who was calm, observing, amused.
He stood at a vantage point above the chaos, the oni mask covering his face rendering his expression unreadable. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes, hidden behind that eerie smile, never missed a single movement.
From his perspective, this entire chaos had been nothing more than a game.
A game between ambitious fools.
He had enjoyed the show, the competition, the desperation that these so-called experts had displayed just for a taste of the Xuan Core he had casually tossed into the storm.
The Xuan Core had become a beacon, passed from one fighter to the next like a cursed treasure.
He had watched them squabble, posture, and claim righteousness, all while dancing in the palm of his hand.
But now, the novelty had worn off.
It was time to end the game.
Jun Mo Xie tilted his head slightly, then spoke, his voice clear, firm, and smooth, amplified by a soft wave of Xuan Qi. It rippled through the air like a command from the heavens.
"Falcon. That's enough."
The voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the battlefield's noise with startling clarity. It was like a gong struck at midnight.
Solitary Falcon halted instantly, stepping back without hesitation. His breathing was steady despite the battle, his long robe fluttering slightly as the energy around him dissipated. His face was calm, almost satisfied. He turned his eyes to where Jun Mo Xie stood and gave a slight nod.
"Yes, my lord," He said, the tone devoid of reluctance. "It was a good fight. I enjoyed it."
He turned to Shi Chang Xiao with a relaxed sigh, cupped his fists respectfully, and offered a parting smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Another day, then."
Shi Chang Xiao's expression tightened. His brows furrowed sharply as he took a step forward and called out.
"Then, Falcon, we will spar again another day. Or your master might get angry!"
His words were mocking, meant to provoke, to test, to dig beneath the surface.
Solitary Falcon chuckled softly but didn't rise to the bait. "Fine. Since my lord said so, I don't have a choice but to fight another day."
He turned, cupping his hands once more before walking steadily toward Jun Mo Xie, his back straight, not once looking over his shoulder.
Shi Chang Xiao remained rooted to the ground, arms crossed tightly, frown deepening as he watched the silent exchange. His provocation had landed like a stone tossed into a still lake, without even a ripple.
Solitary Falcon hadn't hesitated, not even for a moment. There had been no inner conflict, no glance for permission. The moment Jun Mo Xie had spoken, he had obeyed.
Shi Chang Xiao had thought the loyalty was an exaggeration, a cultivated myth surrounding this masked lord.
But now, he wasn't so sure.
Solitary Falcon turned to Jun Mo Xie, and without any flourish or pretense, gave a simple nod. "My lord, was there anyone among them worthy enough for you?"
Jun Mo Xie didn't answer immediately. He let the question hang for a moment, letting his gaze sweep over the gathered warriors below.
They were watching him with tense, hopeful, maybe even a little fearful expressions.
His voice, when it came, was laced with disappointment and amusement.
"None of them," He said with a light laugh, shaking his head. "They're far too shallow."
He paused, and his tone dipped a fraction, becoming more thoughtful.
"Not a single one with the fire in their soul. There was no hunger in them... No thirst to understand cultivation beyond the surface. They chase power… but have no comprehension of what it truly means."
He looked to Solitary Falcon and added with an almost teasing smile behind the mask, "They're nothing like you, or Feng Juanyun. You both had that edge. These men... they only seek Xuan Qi... a quick power with shortcuts."
His voice rose slightly, drawing the attention of all.
"But since they've worked so hard to put on this entertaining performance..."
He raised his hand and flicked a small object into the air.
The Xuan Core gleamed briefly under the moonlight.
"I suppose it wouldn't be fair to send them home empty-handed."
A series of gasps rang out from the crowd.
Jun Mo Xie let the Core arc lazily through the sky, spinning like a falling star before it landed in the center of the plaza with a soft, muted thunk.
He chuckled again, low and amused. "Let them fight for it one last time."
His tone turned almost playful. "After all... that's all they're good for."
The silence was deafening.
For a moment, no one dared move.
Then, as if a spell had broken, the experts surged forward, scrambling, yelling, jostling, pushing. Their pride was momentarily forgotten, and their grace was abandoned.
The same people who had once declared lofty ideals and lofty causes were now reduced to scrabbling over the Core like dogs fighting over a bone.
Jun Mo Xie turned away from the scene, his voice a quiet murmur behind the mask.
"They want power... they can have it. But they will never understand it."
Solitary Falcon followed him wordlessly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Still, that was generous of you."
Jun Mo Xie laughed again. "A parting gift. I was entertained, after all."
But before Jun Mo Xie could turn and vanish into the rain with Solitary Falcon beside him, a sharp voice cracked through the damp air.
"Wait."
Jun Mo Xie paused, his footsteps halting mid-step on the soaked cobblestones. The sound of the falling rain seemed to hush for a moment, as if the city itself was holding its breath.
He turned slightly, eyes narrowing behind the oni mask. Through the curtain of drizzle, Shi Chang Xiao stood rooted in place. His expression was taut, no longer composed or indifferent.
There was a tightness around his jaw, a subtle tremor in his fingers. The way his brows furrowed betrayed the storm brewing beneath his skin.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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