Severing Time & Space

Wu Yong's Hatred

It was Wu Yong’s turn. The ten-year-old son of Wu Taohua walked up the stairs, paused at the top, and turned to sneer at Wu Jian. Sparks were practically shooting off the boy’s eyes. Wu Jian was almost tempted to look away, but he felt more confident now that his strength test had been revealed. It gave him the courage to look Wu Yong in the eye. That just caused his older half-brother’s sneer to become even uglier as he turned around and walked up to the testing stone.

“He really hates you,” Wu Meiying muttered. “I wonder why?”

“I don’t know. He wasn’t always like this.”

“No, he was not. I wonder what changed him.”

Back when they were just four years-old, Wu Yong was almost a part of their posse. He wasn’t as close to either Wu Jian or Wu Meiying as they were to each other, but they would often play together. They had been true brothers back then. Wu Jian couldn’t remember when the change had occurred, but at some point, Wu Yong began treating him with disdain instead of kindness. He never figured out why.

“3,816!”

While they were talking, Wu Yong tested his strength, revealing a number that was below Wu Jian’s. The young boy remained standing before the testing stone for several long seconds. His body was stiff at first, but then he began trembling. When he turned around, everyone could see the ugly way his face distorted, though he only had eyes for Wu Jian.

His blazing eyes filled with hate.

Wu Jian trembled a little at seeing so much hatred directed at him. Before he could let fear take over, however, someone grabbed his hand. It was Wu Meiying, of course. She held his hand tightly as though to reassure him that everything would be okay. He took a slow breath and firmly held her hand.

His trembling stopped.

Gritting his teeth, Wu Yong stalked off the stage and stomped over to Wu Fei and Wu Ming. While Wu Ming tried to console the angry Wu Yong, Wu Fei stared at Wu Jian with an odd expression. Wu Jian glanced back at him with a frown. The look didn’t last. After staring for another second, Wu Fei leaned down and whispered something into Wu Yong’s ear.

I wonder what they are talking about.

Despite his curiosity, Wu Jian ended up focusing on Elder Wu Jinsu, who had stepped forward and was surveying them all with a kind smile. He seemed much more down to earth than either Elder Wu Wei or Wu Nin. Now that Wu Jian was paying more attention to him, he realized this particular elder took his responsibilities quite seriously and only thought of doing what he believed was best for the clan.

I believe I have misunderstood him. He is a good elder.

“Congratulations to all of you. You’ve done well to improve your strength. Now that the testing is over, we will hold the Wu Clan Tournament, where all of you will get to show off how much stronger you have become in front of your peers, your parents, the leaders of your clan, and your ancestors above.”

As Elder Wu Jinsu made the announcement, the younger members of the clan became excited. Several people began joking about how they were going to show everyone how powerful they were. A few even adopted a fighting stance and began throwing punches as if to prove they were too powerful for anyone else to lay a finger on them. Wu Jian, Wu Meiying, and Wu Hong were the only people who didn’t overreact like that.

“Of course, before we get to the tournament, there is something else we must bear witness to first,” Elder Wu Jinsu interrupted everyone’s posturing. As the noise died down, he looked at Wu Jian, then at Wu Yong. “Several months ago, Wu Jian challenged Wu Yong to a duel. Now that the strength test is over, it is time for them both to settle their differences in honorable combat.”

Everyone already knew all about the duel, so this didn’t surprise them. They moved up to the seats, whispering along the way, so they could join their parents in watching the duel. Wu Meiying remained by his side for a moment. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

“For luck,” she said as she walked to the tertiary seats and sat in the very front row.

Wu Fei had also remained behind for a bit to speak with Wu Yong. Wu Jian once again couldn’t tell what Wu Fei was saying, but Wu Yong nodded along like he was listening intently, so it must have been about the duel. He was probably telling Wu Yong not to underestimate him. That was what Wu Jian assumed, at least.

Elder Wu Jinsu walked down to the testing ground floor and stood between Wu Yong and Wu Jian. He looked at them both with a serious frown on his face.

“You two have been at odds with each other for several years now. This duel will resolve all of those issues. You will fight until one of you surrenders, is knocked unconscious, or I say the duel is over. No killing is allowed. Fists might not have eyes, but I won’t stand for two promising young clansmen killing each other. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Elder,” Wu Jian said.

“I understand,” Wu Yong said.

While Wu Yong’s words lacked sincerity, Elder Wu Jinsu ignored it and nodded.

“Good. Now, bow to me.”

They bowed to him.

“Bow to your family.”

They turned and bowed to Father and the other members of the Wu Clan in the stands.

“Now bow to each other.”

Wu Jian turned to face Wu Yong and bowed. Wu Yong hesitated. He didn’t look like he wanted to bow, face twisted in reluctance, but then he placed his right fist into the palm of his left hand and bowed.

Elder Wu Jinsu nodded and raised a hand.

“Ready… and… fight!”

He slashed his hand down and then leapt back, signaling a start to the competition.

Wu Yong started off the fight aggressively, rushing up to Wu Jian and throwing a fast straight. Had this been before, Wu Jian doubted he would have even seen the punch, but now he did. He tilted his body to the side, slapped the hand away, and tried to counter with a blow to Wu Yong’s solar plexus, though it was blocked with a forearm. Even so, Wu Jian had the pleasure of seeing Wu Yong flinch at the strength contained in his attack.

Backing off, Wu Yong snarled, “How did you get so strong?! You were nothing but a pathetic wimp five months ago!”

“I don’t know what to tell you. I trained hard,” Wu Jian said with a shrug.

“Don’t mess with me! If training hard was all it took to grow this strong, then I would be a thousand times stronger than you! Ten thousand times stronger!” Wu Yong screamed.

Wu Jian didn’t know what to tell his half-brother. What he just said was the truth. Wu Jian had trained hard every single day for the past five months, waking up early in the morning with Wu Meiying, exercising together, then ending their session by learning how to take blows and lessen the impact from being thrown.

Of course, he also had help from Father’s alchemy pills and the Silver Lotus, but he had used both of those up rather quickly. Everything after that had been gained through his own efforts, through blood, sweat, and torn muscles.

“Whatever! It doesn’t matter how you gained that strength! I’m sure you cheated somehow! And I’ll prove it to everyone right now by beating you! You’re gonna wish you never gained a backbone!”

Wu Yong rushed in once more to attack Wu Jian. This time, he threw a high kick that was so fast his leg blurred, but Wu Jian saw it, and he ducked underneath the attack. He pressed his hands flat against the ground and retaliated with a leg sweep. With just one leg on the ground, Wu Yong was unable to maintain his balance and was swept off his feet. Before he could hit the ground, however, Wu Jian shifted his body, hands pressed firmly to the ground as he lifted both legs, and slammed his feet into Wu Yong’s chest.

“AAAGGGHHH!!”

Wu Yong flew backward, blood spewing from his mouth as he struck the ground hard and rolled. Wu Jian climbed to his feet as Wu Yong stopped rolling and struggled to get back up. He wiped the blood from his mouth and cast a glare at Wu Jian. The expression on his face displayed so much hatred it felt like Wu Yong was drowning in his own negativity. Wu Jian was once again struck by that look.

Why do you hate me so much, brother?