Surprises At The Provincial Tournament

This follows on from A Week in Bao Shung and runs to 3,010 words.

Indeed my second round opponent, Cao Liu Ho, was a fellow Hoshun and well aware of the tricks I could pull on him. He was also very, very good and fighting him was like fighting Master Que in practice, but not – if that makes sense. I did win but I did so when I slipped and fell on the ball bearing-sized shadow balls he sent rolling across the floor and the resulting thudding of my backside on the floor turned my attack into an olive-sludge coloured whip of energy that lashed across the ring, took out his shadow shield and sent him stumbling backwards out of the ring. I tried to apologise when I offered him a hand to help him to his feet and got the distinct impression that he was raising his eyebrows at me behind his mask. “My dear,” and I can only describe his voice as elegant, which was a great contrast to his monkey-like mask, “never apologise for a legitimate move. Especially if it’s the result of something your opponent did to you.” Then he let me help him up.

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This is now followed by The Finals Of The Provincial Tournament.