Hong Shan stood on the platform, watching Qiu Fengqi slowly approach from the opposite side.
Hong Shan wore a black robe with several wave patterns embroidered in gold thread on its sleeves. His sharply defined face was as cold and stern as a carving, and unfathomable light flickered through his deep black eyes.
He cradled a sword in his arms. Its sharkskin sheath was covered in mysterious designs, and a blue gemstone was set into its hilt. It looked exceedingly precious, and he held it with solemn care.
Apart from the traces of cold light at the corners of his eyes, Hong Shan looked no more than twenty-one or twenty-two, a handsome man of icy bearing.
By comparison, Qiu Fengqi looked like a child. His round face had only just shed its adolescent awkwardness, and the faint down at the corners of his lips made him look boyish still.
He wore a rather ill-fitting Lake-Blue Robe, with a black Iron Sword hanging at his waist.
The sword was three feet long and roughly two fingers wide.
Qiu Fengqi's sword looked more like an iron ruler. An Iron Ring hung from its hilt, swaying gently as he walked.
The two men stopped at the center of the arena and saluted each other with clasped fists.
"Begin the match!"
Zhantai Ming, the arena's chief overseer, cleared his throat and announced loudly.
"Please-"
Qiu Fengqi drew the Iron Sword and, without another word, thrust straight ahead.
The blade quivered with a vibrating hum, trailing a black afterimage as it stabbed toward Hong Shan.
Hong Shan's body seemed as light as a feather. He drifted backward on the gust stirred up by the Iron Sword, drawing the longsword from his arms as he moved.
Qiu Fengqi moved as swiftly as a phantom, closing in