The Grand Tournament

The Sect Tribunal was a coliseum of white marble, suspended by chains over the abyss. Thousands of disciples filled the stands, their cheers echoing like thunder.

Jing stood in the waiting area, nervous. He tugged at his simple green robes.

He was in the lowest bracket. His opponent was a disciple from the Iron Fist Hall.

"Don't die," a voice whispered in his ear.

Jing jumped. Xiulan was standing behind him. She wasn't wearing her usual white. She wore blood-red robes, her hair loose and wild. The air around her was freezing.

"Xiulan! You made it!" Jing smiled.

"If he touches you," Xiulan said, pointing at the Iron Fist disciple across the ring, "I will peel him."

"It's a spar, Xiulan," Jing laughed nervously, patting her arm. "We touch each other. That's the point. Just... watch, okay? I want to make you proud."

Xiulan looked at his hopeful face. She felt a crack in her chest. She wanted to lock him in a box. She wanted to burn the stadium down. But he wanted to shine.

"Go," she commanded.

Jing stepped into the ring.

The match went surprisingly well. Jing used the *Verdant Emperor’s Breath* to root his feet to the ground. He used vines to trip his heavy opponent. He won by ring-out, without landing a single punch.

Jing waved at the stands, beaming. Xiulan stood in the shadows, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword so hard the metal groaned.

Then came the second round.

Jing was matched against a visiting disciple from the Venom Valley Sect. A lanky, sneering boy named Viper.

The match started. Jing bowed politely.

Viper didn't bow. He lunged.

Jing dodged, summoning a wall of bamboo. But Viper spat a mouthful of green mist. It passed through the bamboo and hit Jing’s arm.

Jing cried out. His sleeve dissolved. His skin sizzled, turning black.

"Poison!" the referee shouted. "Illegal technique!"

But Viper didn't stop. He kicked Jing in the chest, sending him sprawling. He stepped on Jing’s wrist—the wrist Xiulan had held yesterday—and ground his heel down.

"Weakling," Viper spat.

Jing screamed.

The sound was the key that unlocked the cage.