Gatewalker: Remnant of the Tang Clan Chapter 22: Chapter 21 - The Weight of Silence

Read chapter 22 of Gatewalker: Remnant of the Tang Clan by TheeRaven on NovelPedia.

The semifinal platform was repaired after Jinhu and Ilho's battle. The crowd was silent, anticipating the next match to be as thrilling as the last. From the tunnel the two fighters took their positions on the platform. Ryul looked over at Blue. "He's strong. Stronger than some nobody should be. So why does Uncle Yeol favor him. Why does Wu Cheng hover near him like a dear disciple. What makes this kid so damn special." Ryul shook the thoughts out of his head and took a deep breath. He unsheathed his sword. No more questions. If there were answers he would cut them out of Blue. Across the stage Blue watched Ryul lost in thought. He titled his head. His hair shifted in the wind. He stared at his brother, calm, quiet. He thought to himself. "Your blade is sharper than I ever thought it could be baby brother. But can it cut through the truth? Can you shoulder the weight of the answers you're chasing?" Their eyes locked. The elder of the Alliance raised his hand. They both moved before the gong had rang. The fight between brothers was on. Ryul lunged, his qi burst forward. Wudang's techniques followed. Elegant but controlled sword arcs sliced through the air. Blue moved and met him. Flowing Steel gliding across the stone. He didn’t block Ryul, he flowed. He slid inside of Ryul's reach and out of it in one motion. He turned. Their swords met again. CLANG. CLANG. CLANG. Steel met steel, and neither pushed to far. Both were testing. They danced around the platform, each swing probing the other. As they danced Ryul realized it. "He's not struggling at all. He's reading my movements. Like he knows me." Ryul stepped back, shifted his stance. Wudangs seven petals sweep. Blue sidestepped the first strike, parried the second with an upward flick of his jian. Ryul struck again, this time a feint left, then right. "I got him." Ryul thought. That last feint turned into a real swing towards Blue's neck. It was met with a jian and a smile from Blue. Ryul met his smile with words. "Why does Uncle Yeol favor you?" Blue shoved Ryul to make space. "Why does old man Cheng watch you like a favorite son? Ryul yelled. CLANG. Ryul dashed in again. Blue met his questions with his blade. He twisted his body, Ryul stumbled and reset. "Why wont you fight me seriously? Is this pity? Or am I not worthy of your blade." Ryul cried out. In the stands So-Yeon watched as she clenched her fists. "Why is Ryul hesitating." Across the way Namgung Gyeom looked at Cheng and Yeol confused. "That footwork... it looks like... Yoryeons." "A keen eye old friend. He has mastered what we could not." Cheng said softly. Yeol nodded. Back on the platform Ryul's breath grew ragged as his frustrations bled into each strike. "Why won't you speak?! What makes you so damn special?" Blue finally answered with speed. He surged forward, Flowing Steel carried him like the wind, he appeared behind Ryul's guard. He swept his brother's legs. Ryul barely avoided it. A second strike, Whispering Gale, lashed upward. It forced Ryul to pivot with a knee bent to avoid it. Ryul's eyes grew larger as a thought came to him. "That footwork. So-Yeon showed it to me a few times. It's... grandfather's." Ryul gritted his teeth and pushed off the floor with a blast of qi. Blue met him as they clashed midair. Once. Twice. Then a blur of ten strikes in rapid succession. Sparks flew in every direction from their swords. They landed and Ryul roared. "Answer me, damn it!" Again Blue said nothing. He let the silence carry the weight. Once Ryul settles he pushed. His sword no longer probed Ryul, it pressed. Each strike landed with intent. No longer did he keep rhythm with Ryul, he was punishing him. Ryul backpedaled, eyes wide. Blue pushed him into forced parries and bad angles. Ryul had no room to breath between strikes. His breatj grew heavy, his arms ached more each time their blades met. But he kept going. Ryul went for a counter, Blue slipped passed he planted on foot behind Ryul and shoved. Ryul staggered o