Red Star

[Zixin Kao]

Li popped right back up bright and cheery. Zixin took it all in stride, of course, nodding along while the other man regained his footing, and with a showy kick upright no less! Good for him. As he rejoined the spar, Zixin kept tabs on the intensity progress, which was next to nothing. Despite the sudden ramp up and kick to the man’s ribs, he didn’t retaliate. Which meant the guy was either the most humble man alive or he flat out didn’t have it in him. It remained to be seen which it was.

Li did change some tactics after a few more minutes. He switched into rapid offensive, and it was all Zixin could do to keep him at bay. They moved around the mats in a game of cat and mouse, though the role of cat changed sides frequently. Finally, Zixin twinkle-toes himself over of the same sweeping move that he previously pulled on Li and kept himself off the floor by the skin of his teeth. He smirked, acknowledging how close that was, and decided that he was also very close to his weapons.

He put up a hand to indicate a short pause and went about the quick process of unwrapping his hands. The straps fell to the floor like a lover’s clothes, and in its place, he took up his two swords.

The chinese dao swords were single-edged, slightly curved, and used primarily for cutting or slicing moves. This particular pair were used for training, which meant their edges were kept duller than would be functional, but it still hurt like a bitch when it ripped up skin. With an eager lick of the lips, he indicated that Li had only a moment to select the weapon of his choosing before Zixin moved in.