Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

Steadying herself, Ming Yue's breathing slowed as she made a casual strike. It was a simple attack, a downward slash. 

It was neither fast nor slow but all of the power that gathered in that sword revealed itself. 

As the blade came down, iridescent energy came out as it formed the shape of the moon. Everyone saw it, the visage of a waning crescent as it flew up into the sky, illuminating all that was around it. It split apart the clouds before vanishing into the sky. But it didn't dissipate, ir just continued to fly up. 

"That's... impossible..."

"Can you even avoid it?!"

"You can't counter it at all."

"How does that technique even work?"

Everyone's eyes widened in shock and awe at the attack. It was one thing to be able to endure such an attack and another to be able to produce something of that caliber. 

"Wait, that's the attack she used against the Idol of Chaos! The shape of a crescent moon!" one of them pointed out. 

"It is! The one all those other soldiers talked about!"

"The one in the rumors right?!"

"I can't believe I witnessed the attack the Fairy of the Moon used against the Idol of Chaos!"

 Despite their voices, Ming Yue was too busy rethinking the attack. Her face showed neither happiness nor frustration, just pondering. 

"It's not quite there yet. I need to control it better, it should be smoother. I'm still missing something."

Ming Yue began to think of what went wrong before taking a breath and looking at the sword. 

"It's not perfect but it's getting better."

That much she knew.

She turned around to see everyone watching her keenly before stepping back. 

"I'm sorry, I wasn't quite used to this sword yet. Please, who is the next person?" 

The murmuring continued with no one else daring to come forward, not after what they just saw. Even if it was just a simple spar with no danger, they didn't do it. Having seen a portion of her strength, they all lost the desire to fight, overcome by a sense of defeat. They can only stand there and wait for another person to come forward. 

"I'll have a go at it!" 

Finally, someone stepped forward, a figure who Ming Yue was surprised to see. 

"Xuan Yin."

Standing before her was indeed her old friend from back then, the granddaughter of the Dancing Archer. After several years, Xuan Yin changed quite a bit. Her clothes were a tight-fitting dark green tunic and pants, coupled with boots. Her right arm was covered in plate mail, even her hand was protected by a gauntlet. It wasn't thick or heavy but seemed quite flexible instead. 

The scar on her lip had lightened considerably but there was a new one running across her cheek. Her hair was still tied into a bun, held together by a simple hairpin. She had a proud expression on her face but was still light-hearted. 

What truly shined was her bow, it was no longer a longbow but instead, a recurve one.* It was still black but had bands of silver at the top and bottom while the drawstring was pure white. There was a quiver on her back and finally, a pet, a falcon twice as big as Xiao Yin. 

Its feathers were pitch black while its beady eyes stared intently at Ming Yue. 

"After several years, you've grown a lot! I used to be taller than you!" 

Xuan Yin chuckled before talking as Ming Yue returned with a small smile. 

"Yes, it has", she replied. 

"When my grandfather told me to join this war, I thought why not? Then I heard rumors about a young woman and thought it could be you. What a surprise!"

"I see."

Ming Yue's eyes fell upon her bow, finding it much different compared to before.

"Your bow, it's different", she pointed out.

Xuan Yin looked down before holding it up for her to see. 

"Yeah, I went back to the Forgelord about a year ago with my grandfather. His gift to me."

"And is he doing well?" 

She nodded. 

"He's still in the Stone Forest, enjoying his retirement."

"That's good to hear."

There was a small silence after their exchange as the archer began to fiddle with her bow. 

"Now then, should we get this rematch started?" she questioned. 

Ming Yue stood there quietly before holding her sword with both hands and pointing it towards the ground. Taking her stance, she nodded. 

"Please."

Xuan Yin smiled before looking at the others. 

"It would do you all some good if you stepped back", she warned while waving her bow.

"Oh yes."

"We should."

"Here you go."

Everyone did as she asked, walking back several paces and widening this little arena. 

"Good, let's start then."

She reached for her quiver and took out an arrow, placing it on her bow. Power seemed to well up within her as she pulled back the drawstring. 

"One exchange first", she said. 

They both looked at each other, waiting for the right moment. 

After another second, Xuan Yin let go drawstring, firing the arrow straight at Ming Yue. It flew quick, aimed at the point between her eyes. But she stood still to meet the arrow, thrusting forward. As the two points touched, her sword carved through the arrow, cutting it in half. 

She looked forward only to find two more arrows flying towards her. But Xuan Yin was no longer there. 

"Where?" 

Ming Yue ran past the arrows before turning to search for her. 

"Hah! You're one of the few people to ever meet that first arrow! You may have improved greatly but so have I!"

As she scanned for Xuan Yin, three more arrows flew to which she cut down in an instant. Her eyes then caught her, prancing around like a deer, arrows continued to fly from a number of different angles and directions. 

But the young cultivator wasn't going to be beaten in a game of chase. 

Ming Yue moved swiftly, following Xuan Yin while dealing with her arrows. Neither of them used techniques, it was pure and utter skill from the both of them!

It wasn't long before a hundred moves were exchanged and still there seemed to be no change in the duel. It was a standstill at this point. 

But both of them had plenty of other tricks. 

"Can you still catch up because I can still go even faster!" Xuan Yin tried to spurn Ming Yue on while moving even faster. 

Even the rate at which her arrows came seemed to quicken. Ming Yue smiled but said nothing else, matching her in speed. 

It had come to a point where those that were watching found it somewhat difficult to follow them. 

"How can they be so quick?"

"And their movement, one is like a dancer, the other is like a phantom!"

At this point, Xuan Yin's face turned serious as she loaded on four arrows, shooting them in quick succession without warning. 

Ming Yue lowered her body before lunging forward, landing on the first arrow. At that moment, she propelled herself forward, pushing off of the arrow had flying straight towards her opponent. Her sword flashed as she attacked Xuan Yin, looking to end the duel. 

"You've got to be kidding me?" 

The archer had a helpless smile on her face as she raised her bow up, along with her hands. 

"I lost!"

As soon as she uttered those words, Ming Yue stopped in her tracks with her sword just moments away from Xuan Yin's neck.

She pulled it back and straightened up while giving her a strange look. 

"Why did you surrender? You could have avoided that", she asked. 

Xuan Yin laughed at her, putting away her bow and walking up to place her hand on Ming Yue's shoulder. 

"After what you just did? I'd rather not. I don't know what's happened in the past few years but you've become even more monstrous."

"I have?"