Gatewalker: Remnant of the Tang Clan Chapter 21: Chapter 20 - Brothers in Arms

Read chapter 21 of Gatewalker: Remnant of the Tang Clan by TheeRaven on NovelPedia.

Inside the tunnel just under everyone who was packed into the coliseum two figures stood shoulder to shoulder. Jinhu and Ilho could feel the tension in the air. The screams and yells from all of Murim. They drowned it all out. Ilho turned to Jinhu. "Let's fight like we are sworn enemies." Jinhu laughed. "No. Lets fight like we are brothers." Ilho tapped Jinhu's head. "Did that monk knock some sense into you?". Ilho put his fist out. Jinhu met his fist with is own. "Brothers it is." Ilho chuckled. Both men walked out of the tunnel and onto the platform. The tension in the arena shifted. This wasn’t just another fight. This was two unknowns, fighting to the one spot on the finals. On one side an immovable mountain. On the other, a shadow. ─── Above, Mu Jang leaned over the railing with a grin and threw a pouch of money into Sa Gwan's lap. "Ten says my boy craters yours before five exchanges. Sa Gwan didn't blink. "Make it twenty." Below Wu Jin stood with his arms crossed, his rod tapped his thigh. Wu Cheng stood beside him. Eyes locked on the platform. "These two, couldn't be more different." "It's certainly hard to call." Wu Jin responded. "But no matter who wins, Silent Edge walks away a winner." ─── On the platform the elder stood between Jinhu and Ilho. He raised his hand. As he lowered it the gong rang. Jinhu cracked his knucles. Ilho spun his butterfly swords once and let them settle. The two moved forward. No trash talk, just intent. They met st the center and clashed. Fists met blades. Jinhu's fist shot forward, Ilho deflected it with the flat of his blade. He dipped and spun, aiming his twin swords at Jinhu's ribs. Jinhu didn't budge. He caught both blades between his palms. He smiled and tensed his muscles, as if he was trying to snap the swords in half. Ilho kicked off his chest and launched backwards. He skidded across the stones with grace. They charged again. Clang. Boom. Clang. Each strike was a collision of their master's philosophy. Jinhu didn't dodge, he absorbed. Ilho countered with angles, slipping through the cracks of Jinhu's posture. Each strike Ilho gave was met by a mountain that wouldn't budge. Eventually they locked up, shoulder to shoulder, both pushing against each other, both boys gritted their teeth. ─── Above Wu Jin looked at Sa Gwan. "I don't know if he can break that oaf." "That's right. The mountain stands tall." Mu Jang laughed. ─── Below, Ilho stepped back, and reset. Jinhu smirked. "What? Getting tired already?" Ilho didn’t respond, he sank lower into his stance. Jinhu's qi flared, heavy and dense. Both of them readied themselves to go all in. The fight was just getting started. Ilho blurred forward again. This time faster, he weaved between Jinhu's forearm and elbow. His twin swords flashing like arcs of moonlight. Clang. Clang. Clang. The strikes landed. Ribs, collarbone, thigh. But each one barely cut into Jinhu's tough exterior. Ilho leapt back, blades loose in his hands. "I see where I should hit him." He thought to himself. "But this dummies skin is so damn tough." Jinhu chuckled across from Ilho. He cracked his necked. "That tickled." Ilho sighed. "Figures." He surged forward again, this time not with speed, but precision. A slash to Jinhu's thigh, a feint to the chest, a step behind. He was testing Jinhu's reactions. Breaking down his balance. Above Wu Jin stood. "Smart boy, he's not trying to win head on." Sa Gwan stood next to him. "No, hes trying to collapse his base. Like water slowly eroding a mountain." Jinhu planted his feet. Ilho's next flurry of attacks struck at seemingly impossible angles. Wrist. Shoulder, behind the knee. Each strike cut Jinhu. Each on shallow, but stacking. Jinhu swung, Ilho ducked and skidded past Jinhu's left side leaving another thin cut across his back. Jinhu roared. "You're not getting through like that." He slammed his foot into the ground. A shockwave burst from the platform. Ilho hopped back midair, barely avoiding the blast. He touched his foreh