Pleasant Rain: Forest Fight

"To answer your question." Yu said, taking off his nice over shirt. "The predictionist said I should remain humble in the face of the law. So I ask you, kind sir, why the White Stick society are giving shelter to brigands?"

"The choices of the society are not yours to ponder, boy!" The older man huffed. "Be more worried about your frail predictionist and your young girlfriend. yes...we know all about her."

He swung his metal baton and warmed to his play. "There is very little preventing her from being picked up and taken to a special jail. Some of the men are very lonely there."

Yu stepped back and clenched his fists. He slowly forced himself to relax and focus not on Lao but on the moment he was in. Raising his hands into wu sao he took a defensive posture. "That baton looks heavy, are you sure you want to use it?"

"It suits me fine, boy. I am Bing Liu, leader-of-twenty for the Chang district of Damei. I have not killed in almost a week, please forgive me if I am out of practice."

Yu frowned. "Ah, you wish to fight to the death?" He stepped back and around a rock outcropping. "Perhaps you would prefer to fight as a honorable gentleman?"

"Boy, are you scared already?" In the middle of his sentence Bing struck with blinding speed. Yu's forearm parry sent arcing pain up his arm and into his shoulder. A second strike, too fast for the eye to see, swirled to Yus forehead. Only that he had shurnk in pain saved him. The baton swirled over his head and came back to rest.

Yu threw out a half-hearted punch with his injured arm and felt how strong the damage was. "Ah, perhaps the baton is not such a bad weapon after all." He grimaced. "I see why you are a leader. Your speed and accuracy are good."

Bing quickly threw out two more blinding speed attacks. This time Yu was prepared for them. The darkness worked both for and against him. Having taken off his black over shirt, his white under shirt showed his location. Fortunately the moonlight glimmered off the metal baton when it was raised high and the speed of which Bing swirled it made a distinct sound.

Until Bing realized both. Swirling the baton high and fast he delivered a strong Ox kick to Yu's left knee, pushing him down and nearly breaking the leg. "Tsk tsk, boy. Some of the men bet me it woudl be all week before I killed anyone." He brought the baton down on Yu's back.

"Not that I mind taking their money, mind you." He raised the baton and aimed for Yu's head. "But I was hoping for more of a challenge."

As Bing started his downward swing Yu braced on his strong knee and channeled his chi into a punch that connected with Bing's dan tien and lifted the older man off the ground. Still trying to hit Yu with the baton, even as his air was gone and his heart stopped, Bing flailed up and then down. With a roll capturing Bing's foot and leg, Yu did a hard ground throw to take the fight to the grass.

However, it was over. Bing's motionless form rested, his head split on a rock in the grassy area.

Yu cursed his luck. "I am, most assuredly, in the less opportune time of Ton-Lin's words." Then he smiled. "Yet I acted humbly and am alive. Perhaps a little wiser; next time I need to beware of men with batons."

He sighed, and sought to bandage Bing up as best he could. "Perhaps he is alive but beyond my care."

Hobbling gently, putting his over shirt back on, Yu tried to measure the actual damage to his knee and arm. He returned to the city via the way he had come. The tea house guard seemed surprised to see him return and started to reach for his weapon as Yu said "Master Liu has stumbled and injured his head on a rock. Perhaps you can see to him?"

The guard lifted a spear to block Yu's path. "You wait here." He ordered.

With a swift palm Yu broke the spear's shaft and let his arm continue to the guards chest. Gently touching the man's throat with one finger. Yu quietly said. "No."

Yu moved past the frightened guard and was once again in Daimei. With gentle steps he found his way back to the Daoist temple to consult with Crane Backed Dao. Of course, it was nice to ensure Lao was safe.