waaifu

Hit me.

Hyah!

Strength from the ground, fist and feet communicating. Always be aware of what's under your step! Stand up!

Hyah!

Do not chase the hands, do not clash with the body. See my movements clearly, be aware of your own self! Stand up!

Yes, Dad!

When we train in kung fu, you call me Shih-fu!

Hyah!

Strength through six harmonies, force within one ts'un! Is this how little power your fists hold?!

(Panting) Yes...

Dad? Where are you going?

To find something. Something that can make me stronger.

Can you take me with you? Don't leave me all alone...

I won't stop to wait for you. If you want to stand by my side, then catch me, by your own efforts.

Dad—

It just doesn't make sense!

Hei-yo, it's been madness these days. Not one day of calm.

What? What doesn't click about what I just said, Miss Heroine?

I'm being framed, head to tail! What proof do you have it was me who injured your schoolbrother?

This recording's the proof. If you have any doubts, we could report it to the authorities. Let them decide if this is 'harm with intent,' right?

This recording's clearly out of context. I wasn't even using any strength there. How could that possibly hurt him?

Those are some big words! If it took no strength to get our second-in-line so hurt, he'd be dead if you put any effort into it, wouldn't he?

You—

A coin for a coin, a life for a life. When you hurt someone... you'd better cough up their hospital fees. Here's the bill for your perusal.

This much?!

Our schoolbrother kickboxes to feed himself. If he can't fight anymore, that's every meal for the rest of his life gone with it. Of course he needs careful treatment.

I—I don't have this much.

Of course. You're so young; it's understandable you have no savings. We're not out just to trouble you here. But we have a way.

What way?

You take on this written challenge. Our first-in-line invites you to a kung fu competition three days from now, for our school to uphold its name.

I go for another round so you can stick another battery charge on me?

Don't be so sure of yourself. You only beat our second after he held back out of kindness, and our first's skill is in a league beyond his. Victory is up in the air.

Only, our second's still lying in hospital, so winning this will be... well, you think about it, Miss Heroine.

I understand. You want me to lose on purpose, or else you'll keep hanging this 'harm with intent' thing over me.

Hey, hey, let's be clear, those were your words just now, not mine.

Made your choice? It's the bill or the challenge. One or the other, you know?

Fine... I accept the challenge.

Then go ahead and sign it with your mark. At noon, three days from now, the Plated Fists will arrange a feast at the Jianlan Tavern in the mountains. We insist you grace us, when the time comes.

Also, we'll be holding onto this recording for now. If you skip Shangshu all by yourself, don't blame us when—

Say no more. Three days from now? I'll be there.

Hahaha. You're a forthright one, Miss Heroine. Until then.

You crooked punk—

Hours earlier...

Shoot... I was only a few days behind, and Uncle Lee's already out of Shangshu. Uncle Liang chose this exact time to transfer, too. Now can I talk to...?

Um, what's that up ahead?

This is the grand ten-year anniversary of our Plated Fist opening a training hall in Shangshu, and we'll be performing on this stage.

Thanks to our fellow townspeople and our martial allies, everyone who signs up for a course today gets 30% off!

Is kung fu really this thick in the air in Shangshu? I might just get leads on my dad, if I ask around here.

This guy in front's got a sturdy figure, and he seems pretty skilled. Let's see what kind of show he puts on.

Brothers and sisters, let us display the Eighty One Techniques of the Plated Fist, and give the audience a taste of our kung fu!

These techniques have been a closely-guarded secret, but today is the day we make an exception! We'll open your eyes!

Hyah!

Hm... a lot of the apprentices in the back move slightly stiffly. They're lacking both coordination and force. Probably still haven't been training for long. Commendable vigor, though.

The Techniques of the Plated Fist are time-honored and deep-rooted. If you train hard, you'll be guaranteed to improve your health and live longer.

I'll show you all the results of extended, intense training in our secret techniques! Brother, bring it out!

S-Such thick marble, and three blocks at once! Is he going to split them all in one chop?

There's no way! No human could ever pull off something like this!

Everyone, watch carefully—hyah!

Kung fu isn't about simple, brute force. Isn't drawing all this attention a little overboard...?

Hahaha, that was nothing. Train our techniques to the highest level, and you won't need punches or kicks—you can hurt people with your mind alone!

Observe. With just one chop of the air, I can blast someone over ten meters away!

What?!

Brother! I'll face you!

Good on you! This is a heavy one, so be careful! Hyah—

This is all so fake!

Miss, we haven't met, have we? What are you smearing our kung fu for?!

Smearing? It's incredible you act so righteous while you trick people with this cheap act.

'Hitting people with the air?' What are you teaching, martial arts or Originium Arts?

Hahahaha... Miss, you've seen nothing. I'm not arguing with you.

You have to understand, once a man develops his physical potential to the very limit, kickboxing is mightier than Originium Arts could ever be.

Really? As luck has it, I've been training for a couple years too. I'd like to ask, seeing as you're my senior—what power does your fist at 'the very limits' have there?

She's coming at you! Quick, get down!

What kind of house or school are you from? Are you really going to fight me in front of a crowd?

I'm from no house or school. If your conscience is clear, why should you care how many people are watching?

Fine, then each of us makes three moves and no more, the kung fu way. You can go first, since you're a girl.

Are you sure you want me to go first?

What, are you scared?

*Sigh*.

(This guy probably never practiced any real kung fu. Take a little care. Let's not hurt him.)

(Just make him fall on his face. All he needs is a little humble pie.)

Alright, haiyah!

Brother! Brother!

Eek! He's not getting up, he's not moving! Is he foaming at the mouth?

Run! That might've been a murder!

W-What? I didn't put any force into that!

I didn't find out anything about Uncle Lee or my dad, and I got sucked into this mess to boot. If Aak finds out, he'll die laughing.

I can't let that bunch of kung fu cheats carry on their evildoing, but if they went to the authorities...

How do I handle this?

Who's there? Come out!

Relax, Miss Heroine!

There's Plated Fist people in the shadows all around here. I have to be careful not to catch their attention.

Who are you, and what do you want with me?

I'm a student of the Traceless Fist. Don't worry, Miss Heroine, I've nothing to do with the Plated at all.

Who knew Shangshu had so many schools of kung fu?

There's close to fifty in all, big and small. The Plated you offended yesterday number as one of the largest. You don't know just how big of a headache you've made for yourself, I worry.

They extorted me for about two years' worth of my wages. I couldn't be clearer.

This isn't a simple matter of money. When you crashed their stage yesterday in front of everyone, you may as well have smashed up their sign, and that's the biggest taboo in the kung fu world.

They're going to regain face in the coming challenge, no holds barred. No matter how supreme your kung fu, I fear alone, you'll be...

Let me ask this. You're a martial artist too. You'd sit back and watch them so blatantly swindle people?

You may not know this, but we've always had a rule: We of the martial ways don't spoil our fellows' livelihoods.