Lee Xian, Cultivator of Guyon

The Stuff vs. Strength fight

As the sun sank, a pink twilight roared the village, creating a dramatic atmosphere. However, this atmosphere was soon cut short by the return of the White Eagle Cross School entourage. They came back with more members and a more serious face.

Xian stood in the middle of the village square with a calm face, but in his heart he felt anxious. He knew the fight was inevitable. While grabbing his puppet bag, he took a deep breath.

"You chose the difficult path, Xian," said the young leader of the White Eagle in a cold voice. "This time, we won't be fooled by your hand puppet tricks."

"Who said I'd use a trick?" reply Xian with a mischievous smile. Quickly, he took out the dragon and tiger hand puppets from his bag.

A White Eagle disciple, confidently, leaped forward, attacking Xian with a swift kung fu movement. However, Xian nimbly used the dragon hand puppet to 'attack' back, making a hilarious move similar to kung fu. As a result, the disciple fell down by the 'dragon's' attack, leaving everyone shocked.

"Was... Is that a kung fu hand puppet?" muttered one of the White Eagle disciples with wide eyes.

Xian laughed, "Come, who else wants to try? Maybe this tiger?" He showed a tiger hand puppet with a ferocious expression that actually looked cute.

Another disciple moved forward, but before he could attack, Xian made a tiger puppet imitating the typical movements of the White Eagle kungfu. Everyone, including the attacking White Eagle disciple, fell silent, then burst out in laughter.

"This is. This is so funny!" the student said while laughing.

The young leader of the White Eagle looked at the confusion on the faces of his disciples. "Enough!" he said it out loud. "We didn't come here to laugh!"

Xian, with a serious expression, looked at the young man. "You guys came here for jade, didn't you? But, what exactly does this stone mean to you? Why are you so eager to have it?"

For a moment, the village square became silent. Everyone was waiting for the young man's answer. In a low voice, he replied, "The jade stone has a power that can increase our cultivation. We need it to protect our school from threats."

Xian nodded, "I understand. But power without wisdom will only cause destruction. True power comes from the heart, not from jade."

The young leader of the White Eagle looked at Xian, their eyes met. After a long moment, he sighed, "Maybe you're right, Xian. We're leaving, but this isn't the end of our story."

Xian smiled, "I know. And I'm ready anytime."

When the White Eagle's retinue left the village, the crowd surrounded Xian, praising him for his bravery. However, Xian only smiled as he raised the hand puppets of dragons and tigers, "Credit them!" he said while laughing.

The night deck covers the village, dotted with full moonlight reflecting silvery on a small lake on the outskirts of the village. The shadow of the bamboo trees twitched in the night breeze, creating a smooth rustling sound.

Xian was practicing by the lake, when he heard the sound of approaching steps. Raising his gaze, he saw a middle-aged man in white robes, his face calm yet possessing a powerful aura, giving hints of his ability in martial arts. Behind him, the group of White Eagle Combatant School disciples followed with a respectful manner.

"Are you Master Ling?" xian asked, starting a conversation.

Master Ling nodded, "Right. I heard about you, young man with a hand puppet."

Xian smiled, "Ah, so the news about me has reached your ears. How do you feel seeing your students lose to a hand puppet?"

Master Ling smiled faintly, "I came here not to talk about the failures of my students, but rather to look at the jade and."

Xian raised next to his brows, "Combined skill? With dolls?"

Master Ling laughed softly, "Of course. I want to feel for myself how a village youth is able to defeat my best students with hand puppets."

Xian took a deep breath, "Alright. But we do it in a different way. I challenge you in a 'duel' of hand puppets."

Xian took out two dolls from his bag, a dragon and a phoenix. "You pick one, and we use this doll to 'fight'. Dolls that fall or break first, the owner loses."

Master Ling smiled, "A unique fight. All right, I chose the phoenix."

The fight begins with an agile and dynamic puppet movement. Xian skillfully moved the dragon, making quick attacks, while Master Ling, though initially awkward, quickly mastered how to move the phoenix and counterattack. With quick reflection, the two blocked and dodged the opponent's attack, leaving the audience glued.

Xian's face concentrated full, sweat pouring from his forehead, while Master Ling looked calm. The phoenix and the dragon circled in the air, sometimes colliding, sometimes spaced apart. Their expressions, especially their eyes, showed how serious this duel was.

After fighting for a few minutes, the two were both exhausted. Xian, with a breath of breath, said, "You are great, Master Ling. I've never met a worthy opponent in a hand puppet duel like this."

Master Ling smiled, "And you, young man, are truly unique. I came here with other intentions, but now I feel satisfied with this duel. About the jade.Let it stay with you. I believe you will use your powers wisely."

Xian nodded with a sense of wonder, "Thank you, Master Ling. May we meet again in better circumstances."

Master Ling nodded, "Hopefully so," he said before slowly walking away, leaving Xian by the lake with his thoughts and a hand puppet that had given him an unusual victory.

Day is up in the morning. The sunlight slowly broke through the cracks of the bamboo trees, shining down on the edge of the lake where Xian and Master Ling were sitting next to each other. The gurgling sounds of the lake water and the singing of birds created a peaceful atmosphere that contrasted with the tension that had occurred just moments before.

Master Ling looked at the calm surface of the lake, the reflection of himself and Xian clearly visible. "Xian," he said softly, "I must confess, I initially underestimated you. However, your ability to play with those hand puppets, and how you use them in combat, is shocking."

Xian smiled as he nodded, "Thank you, Master Ling. However, to me, those dolls are not just a fighting tool. They are friends, escapes from solitude."

Master Ling turned towards Xian, "Alone?"

Xian took a breath, "Yes. When I was a child, I was abandoned by my parents. These hand puppets became my friends. They taught me a lot of things, including kung fu."

Master Ling was surprised, "So, that's why you were able to defeat my students with a hand puppet? You learned kung fu from him?"

Xian nodded, "Yes, in my shadow and imagination. They became my teachers and friends."

Master Ling laughed softly, "What a unique story. I understand now. And. Maybe one day, if you want, you can join the White Eagle Surrounding School. You have incredible potential."

Xian looked at Master Ling sharply, "Maybe. However, for now, I want to remain in this village. Where I grew up."

Master Ling nodded in understanding. "Before I leave," he said, "can you teach me how to make and play with hand puppets?"

Xian was surprised but then laughed, "Of course, Master Ling!"

The two then stood up. Xian picked up a piece of cloth and began to show him how to cut and sew it into a hand puppet. Master Ling followed diligently, every movement of his hand being noticed by Xian. After he finished, Master Ling moved his handmade puppet, trying to mimic the movements of kung fu. The two laughed at Master Ling's still-rigid puppet.

"You need to train harder, Master Ling!" cananda Xian's.

Master Ling laughed, "Yes, it seems I should!"

The two then sat back by the lake, enjoying the togetherness and peace they felt. The atmosphere of the day, with the rising sun and the moving shadow of the bamboo trees, bears witness to the meeting of two different but similar people in heart.

Over time, Master Ling left the village with a heart full of respect for Xian. The two promised to meet again, and perhaps, one day, on a different battlefield. However, for that moment, both of them were satisfied with the peace they found.