Point to Point: The Fencer’s Heart | Chapter 36 | The Behind-the-Back Parry | Novela.app

I hadn't expected an underground tournament to be so considerate of "family." I was allowed to watch the match from right beside the ring. A female fan in the stands pointed at me, asking why I got to sit there. A security guard in a black suit and sunglasses replied solemnly, "He’s family." The look the girl gave me instantly turned volatile, but I just turned my head away calmly, a sliver of secret joy blooming in my heart. However, when the contestants took the stage, I was a bit stunned—and I sensed Ling Xiao was too. Despite the masks, it was easy to tell that Ling Xiao’s opponent was a youth significantly younger than him; he looked like a high schooler! Consequently, Ling Xiao fought with great restraint throughout the match. Every thrust and parry was calculated to avoid the boy's vitals. Before long, some of the more hot-blooded male spectators began shouting, demanding the men on stage fight to the death. The opponent was clearly affected by the atmosphere. He had been following Ling Xiao’s rhythm, but his next strike suddenly became exceptionally fierce. Ling Xiao parried the blow with a backhand. As the crowd’s jeering intensified, the opponent’s momentum grew more aggressive. Ling Xiao tried to create distance, but he was eventually forced into a close-quarters struggle. Their sabers locked together, the screeching sound of metal grinding against metal set my teeth on edge. My heart hammered in my chest. They were pressing too close. This kind of "chuunibyou" fighting style could only come from a high schooler; a professional athlete would never play like this. At this point, blindly clashing blades would inevitably result in both parties injuring each other's faces. But if one person withdrew first, they would be the one shouldering all the risk. Ling Xiao clearly didn't want to hurt his young opponent. Worried he would be the one to yield, I couldn't help but stand up and shout, "No! Keep the pressure on!" Ling Xiao suddenly pressed forward. The opponent's blade was right before his eyes—a sight that nearly gave me a heart attack. Yet, as if forcing a breakthrough, his parrying saber slid up the length of the opponent's blade, from the guard all the way to the tip. The moment the blades disengaged, he used his shoulder to wedge in and shove the boy back! My breath hitched. He really had withdrawn first, but thankfully, he’d knocked the opponent back to create space... It was a clean, decisive move, but the boy’s lower body was steadier than expected. Despite the shove, he only stumbled slightly and managed to stay upright. His saber instinctively lunged toward Ling Xiao, who was already brushing past him! Anyone who fights in an underground circuit has to be both skilled and daring. For this youth to make it this far, he relied not only on his natural talent but also on his deceptive appearance, which often led opponents to underestimate him. Ling Xiao hadn't had time to turn around after the shove. He was wide open from behind. He’d avoided a hit to the face, but there was no way he’d dodge this strike to the back of his head! *It’s over,* I thought. *That’s what you get for being soft-hearted! That’s what you get for your "ice prince" act!* Then, in a flash—a split second, a mere heartbeat—I heard a sharp *clang!* Ling Xiao’s saber had swept back over his head, parrying the blade closing in on the back of his skull from behind! That behind-the-back parry made the entire arena erupt! The women were screaming, the men were shouting "Holy shit!", and I even heard the foreigners in the crowd yelling "Oh God!" and "Holy shit!" For a moment, people forgot the sensory thrill of blood and violence, losing themselves in the rare brilliance of a high-level athletic display. The arena was filled with applause, and the crude insults died down. Compared to the spectators enjoying the show, my feelings were far more complex. Ling Xiao’s strike had been incredibly agile and calm. I imagined myself in his position—could I have pulled off a reversal like that? Honestly, I wasn't sure. Even though these underground matches lacked formal rules and were considered "low-class," the extreme conditions served as a crucible. If I didn't work harder, Ling Xiao was going to leave me in the dust. Aside from that one sneak attack from behind, the rest of the match proceeded without further scares. Ling Xiao finished the boy off in about twenty minutes. When the youth stepped outside the boundary lines of the ring, he looked just as dazed and incredulous as I felt. However, the look he gave Ling Xiao at the end was full of respect. Likely because, although Ling Xiao had suppressed him quite miserably, he was covered only in sweat, not wounds. The female spectators were losing their minds. Even Li Xin was grabbing her brother’s arm and screaming, "Oh my god, Knight is so cool! He’s too cool, brother!" Li Rui smiled and reached up to ruffle her hair. As he turned his head, our eyes met. The CEO gave me a friendly nod and a smile. Immersed in the joy of victory, I forgot to keep my distance and waved back at him excitedly. "Qiao Mai!" Ling Xiao suddenly called my name from the ring. The "Mai" was cut short, swallowed by the noise, but I heard it clearly. Ling Xiao stood at the edge of the ring, looking at me as if he wanted to say something but hesitated, likely remembering he shouldn't have used my real name. His mask hid his eyebrows, leaving only his eyes visible, swirling with complex emotions. I hurried to hand him his water and towel. The crowd was still chanting "Knight," but Ling Xiao descended from the ring, deaf and blind to them all. Drenched in sweat amidst the roar of the crowd, he said to me: "Follow me." *** Ling Xiao and Li Rui didn't get along. I wasn't stupid; I could tell he didn't want me getting too close to the man. On the way back, Ling Xiao fell asleep in the back of the taxi. Even in sleep, this man kept himself under strict control. He sat upright against the backrest, arms crossed and head bowed with his eyes closed. If I hadn't called his name twice without a response, I wouldn't have even known he was asleep. I didn't have to worry about him bumping his head against the window, and I certainly couldn't hope for him to drift off onto my shoulder. I blamed the driver for being too steady. If he’d been a bit more reckless, maybe I would have gotten my wish. Sigh. In the past, I lamented that I couldn't get close to him. Now that I was close, I was plagued by the fear of losing him. When I first started middle school, I had a crush on an older student. That was when I realized my orientation. They say gay kids mature early, don't they? But my feelings for that senior were more like admiration. Everyone has someone they admire when they're young. That object of admiration didn't last long, though; it shifted when I was fifteen. The difference between admiration and love probably lies in this constant insecurity—this fear of gain and loss. Perhaps because fencing acted as our bond, I never looked away from Ling Xiao again. From then on, he occupied the dual roles of admiration and love in my heart. I’m not the type to think too far ahead; thinking too much makes me unhappy. The few "fellow travelers" I knew often worried about the future. Being gay, while becoming less of a novelty, still comes with many problems. Those brave enough to come out are a minority. But I never worried about it. I liked Ling Xiao, so I liked him. I didn't think about anything else. Who cares what happens later? Who can say for sure what the future holds? He might not even like me back, and even if he did, there’s no guarantee of a future. So why think so far ahead? Isn't it enough to just live well in the present? The day the "Concubine" left the club, he told me, "Qiao Mai, having that mindset means you're either immature, or you don't actually take Ling Xiao seriously." Today, I realized he was absolutely right. I took him very seriously. But I *was* immature, which is why I thought I could just drift along with him, maintaining this surface-level peace. I studied Ling Xiao’s profile. Now that I could finally sit by his side, I didn't know what to do next. I just felt empty. I didn't want this secret joy anymore. I didn't want this bittersweet helplessness that couldn't be voiced. I didn't want this mirage of happiness and satisfaction. I didn't want to use the name of "brotherhood" as an excuse to put a mask on him. I wanted to know what he thought of his brother. If I couldn't turn him, then I would stop. I would definitely stop! Ling Xiao opened his eyes then, seemingly surprised that he’d fallen asleep. "Sorry. I was too tired." "If you're still sleepy, sleep a bit more. I'll wake you when we get to the base," I said. Ling Xiao looked out the window. "Aren't we already here?" I had been lost in thought and hadn't realized we were already on the main road outside the base. As the taxi turned in, Ling Xiao narrowed his eyes at me. "What are you thinking about?" "Oh," I stammered slightly. "Just... you won the match today, but you don't seem very happy." The interior of the taxi was dark, save for Ling Xiao’s eyes, which seemed to shimmer with a cold, clear light. "Qiao Mai, Li Rui isn't the kind of person you think he is. Don't have any more contact with him." So after all that, it was because of that "comrade-in-arms" wave I gave Li Rui. I hadn't even spoken a word to him! That wave was completely innocent, okay? Besides... "It’s hard not to have contact. I promised Old Hu I’d take their endorsement." *And that’s only because you refused to take it.* "Taking an endorsement doesn't mean you have to interact with Lilong’s upper management. You sign the contract, film the commercial, and that’s it." He made it sound so simple. I finally couldn't hold it back anymore. "What exactly is the grudge between you and Li Rui?" "It has nothing to do with you." Those six words were like a pre-programmed response—cold and devoid of any emotion. It felt like I’d been punched. "I didn't mean anything by it; it’s just that there’s no need for you to know." Ling Xiao’s tone softened slightly. "You don't become friends with someone just because you want to know every single thing about them, do you? Isn't it fine the way things are now?" I glared at him. *No, it’s not fine! How is this fine?* I didn't need to know every single thing, but I couldn't know *nothing* either! I wanted to ask him about his brother right then and there, but I knew I couldn't force it. I had to plan carefully. I suppressed the surge of frustration in my heart and sat back, enduring the slight. The car was silent for a moment before Ling Xiao suddenly asked, "Hungry?" I’d give that subject change a zero out of ten. However, my traitorous stomach was more cooperative than I was... Ling Xiao had the driver pull over. There was a convenience store by the road. I was about to grab a few bags of dried pork to tide me over, but Ling Xiao put them back. "Pork." Fine. You’re the captain. I’ll eat whatever you let me eat. In the end, I was only allowed to supplement with two packs of biscuits and a bottle of yogurt. I tore open the packaging and looked at the dry "3+2" sandwich crackers inside, feeling no appetite at all. Ling Xiao handed me the yogurt with the straw already inserted. "Eat up. And stop talking." Seeing as his strategy to shut me up was at least somewhat humane, I decided to keep my mouth shut for tonight.