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I smiled at the compliment. “An old dude named Iron Pot Wong. A semi-celebrity where I’m from. He was a simple soldier, though and still an Iron bracket contender believe it or not.”

“Thems are the best kind,” another sullied Tribute said, joining Tu’lok by his side. “A great display of skills, Iron Bull. Welcome to the Black Robes.”

More of whom I was quickly starting to dub the ‘Phalanx Crew’ made themselves known, greeting me with respect for my skills. Most were sullied and there was even a white-haired woman amongst them who I desperately wanted to ask if she was related to Threja, but thankfully my better sense prevailed, and I kept my mouth shut as she smiled and gave me a nod of respect.

Blue Rose gave me a nod and a smile as well as she approached and then unexpectantly, she held out her hand for a fist bump.

“Nice job,” she said. “But I still managed to piss him off way more than you, in my fight.”

As she looked back towards the ring, Jei Su Long was being lifted to his feet by a couple of his Black Robed contemporaries. He was drooling blood as he slowly came around and I wondered if I hadn’t given him a Gui Zu style smile. He avoided eye contact as his buddies dragged him past us, but inside I could sense Jei Su Long’s anger and hate.

I knew then what kind of person I was truly dealing with.

He wasn’t one to be humbled like Zu Tien.

He would turn this humiliation into hostility and revenge.

I chuckled at the irony of it.

I was the same, in a way.

Only difference was that I punched up at my oppressors while he punched down at those weaker than himself. Or those he thought were weak, anyway. I felt a sudden flare of my Flame, a new inner truth revealed.

“Congratulations on your victory,” someone said, and I stirred from my inner thoughts to see a mousey looking guy with a bowl haircut and glasses smiling up at me.

“I am Wing Pho,” he said. “A recent arrival to Du Bok Ghong.”

He gave me a bow and I stared puzzled at his black robes.

“You make me glad that I will never have to pass such an exam to earn my ranking here,” he said with a laugh. “Although I will admit my cowardice shamelessly. I am no fighter. Especially not one as talented as you.”

I returned his bow awkwardly. “Yeah…ah. Thanks. No worries.” I took another look at his spectacles. “You a scholar or something then?”

“Indeed,” he said with another bow. “But my family it seems has a senseless tradition of only passing inheritance on to Diamond Bracket champions. Sadly, for my father I was his only male heir. Hence my presence here.”

He laughed again, pushing up his glasses.

We all chuckled stiltedly with him.

It was hard to place just how old Wing Pho was. He could pass for thirty for his cleanly shaven and slightly pudgy baby face, but he had a slight bit of gray at his temples as well. The laughing died down and then he shrugged his shoulders.

“Anyway, I hope we run into one another again,” he said with another bow. “Salutations.”

And with that he ran off to catch up with the two Black Robes helping Jei Su Long.

“Another Token Black Robe,” Tu’lok said with a hint of disdain. “They all stick together in that group. Even the new ones, it seems.”

“Those two carrying him are Token’s also?” Blue Rose asked.

Tu’lok nodded. “This Wing Pho’s one of the worst I’ve seen though. A damn scholar? No question he’ll likely never leave the prison much less step foot on a Hell World to earn his Diamond Bracket status.”

I shrugged.

“Well, he seems harmless enough,” I said. “And don’t discount the powers of a scholar. One of my best friends is one, and hell, this one time my fiancé got pegged for a mass murder because of the skills of a Grand Sage. Mind you, it was really me who did the killing, but I left some evidence that led right back to her. Not on purpose mind you. Well sort of on purpose.”

Both Tu’lok and Blue Rose stared at me slack jawed in silence.

“Is that true, Iron Bull?”

A new voice.

I looked behind me to see Lo Ren and Chu Ren, Chu having asked the question.

“Yeah,” I said. “Kind of a long story, but it all worked out in the end. Don’t worry. She still decided to marry me after all.”

He merely laughed. “There is nothing about you that is not surprising, Master Iron Bull. Amazing display of skill just now. Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” I said, returning his bow.

“We should celebrate,” Lo Ren said. “I have just the thing.”

“What do you mean ‘we’,” Tu’lok said crossing his arms imposingly before them. “We can’t be fraternizing with you Brown Robes. And what do you mean celebrate? We are still in a prison, you know?”

“Hey,” I said draping my arm over Lo Ren’s shoulders. “Once a brown robe, always a brown robe, I say. I won’t forget my pigshit-shoveling roots so easily. Right, Rose?”

Blue Rose laughed. “Gods that was awful. They must be the worse smelling animals in the empire.”

“Still,” Tu’lok, still the straight shooter I’m come to know him to be. “Rules remain. The academy will frown on this.”

“I’m more interested in this celebrating,” Blue Rose said. “What did you have in mind, Lo Ren?”

The two brothers grinned at one another.

“There are perks to being responsible for the fruits and grains of the academy,” Lo Ren said and then glancing about he revealed a small clay bottle in his robes.

“Is that what I think it is?” Blue Rose asked.

“It’s taste quite awful,” Lo Ren said. “But it’ll do the trick.”

“Count me in,” Blue Rose said without hesitation.

Tu’lok shook his head. “This could lead to big trouble on so many levels.”

“Don’t be such a pussy,” Blue Rose said. “Plus, the Iron Bull deserves a celebration after beating that ass, Jei Su Long.”

“Damn right he does,” Lo Ren said and then he looked to me for some kind of confirmation.

Every instinct said Tu’lok was probably right.

But to hell with it.

I’d done dumber shit than this before and having some true recreation after all these weeks was sounding mighty fine.

“Okay, but just a couple of drinks,” I said. “I can’t afford to get busted down in rank right now.”

Blue Rose elbowed me. “What happened to all that ‘once a Brown Robe always a Brown Robe’ crap just now, huh?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Emphasis on the once part.”

We all laughed.

“Meet us in the grain shed just after chow, then,” Lo Ren said. “We can get a few hours of drinking in before they come looking for us at lights out.”

* * *

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

With our pact for mischief sealed, we went our separate ways for the morning, Chu Ren and Lo Ren heading to the fields while Blue Rose and Tu’lok went to their training classes as Black Robes.

I headed to the infirmary.

Upon entering, I had to avoid Jei Su Long and the Token Black Robe posse, as they eyed me from the opposite side of the stone walled infirmary. Only the new guy Wing Pho waved to me, oblivious to the beef now set between our two mini clans. I waited my turn as the healers tended to Jei Su Long and to my delight it looked like I did chip a couple of his teeth. Not Gui Zu level, but enough to make him remember that uppercut for a while I hoped.

As they departed, Jei Su Long stopped as he passed me.

“Don’t think that win was justified,” he said. “You had to resort to tricks to win. No different than that ugly woman you’re always with.”

This guy… I thought.

I could let it slide but to hell with him.

“You ever think that maybe the problem is that you fall for too many tricks?” I said. “Start getting a clue, dumb ass. And for your information, Blue Rose is best looking woman in this joint. Not that a shrimp dick like you would ever have a chance with her.”

His anger spiked and he bit his lip like he wanted to fight me again, but I didn’t even look at him, keeping my head straight with [Indifference].

“Go on and throw the first punch if you dare,” I said with [Fear the Flame]. “I’m ready for round two anytime.”

A few intense seconds went by and I was rewarded with a rivulet of fear leaking from inside of him.

“We should probably get you to your room, Master Jei Su Long,” Wing Pho said with a smile and a laugh to break the tension. “Come on now?”

Wing Pho gave me another apologetic bow as he ushered Jei Su Long pass me out of the room.

As predicted, I thought. Jei Su Long truly didn’t know how to take an ‘L’.

It wasn’t over between us.

Not by a long shot.

The healing masters saw to me next and after a quick patch up with some healing salve I left to find my new digs in the Black Robe Barracks. They were located on the upper floor of the prison and after some inquiries I found a room on the same wing as Tu’lok and down the hall from Blue Rose.

I then hopped onto my cot for some rest and meditation.

I was honestly grateful I had managed to beat Jei Su Long as publicly as I did, even if it would never register with him. But even more so, I was thankful I had managed to come up with a new technique right on spot from it. I’d never thought about summoning the [Spectral Body] technique for a single strike, but I’d done it and had even given it an inspirational name to boot.

The [Struggler’s Fist of Fury].

I was certain the Struggler was well pleased with it too.

Because I know I was.

Punching that bastard in the jaw was satisfying as hell.

I spent the next couple of hours trying to perfect it despite my wounds.

It was mostly spiritual work anyway and I kept my body movements to a minimum.

I then had the idea to create a whole repertoire around the idea, utilizing the [Struggler’s Fury] as a cornerstone. I grabbed some paper and began to scribble down the concept, coming up with attacks utilizing my [Spectral Weapons] as well.

[Struggler’s Cleave of Fury] for the Axe and [Strugglers Slash of Fury] for my Glaive.

I then had the idea to add [Frenzied Lightning] to the mix.

“[Struggler’s Lightning Cleave of Fury],” I said the technique out loud.

Yeah, that sounds cool as hell, I thought.

It would be one hell of a Frenzy Hog of an attack however, but man would it be worth it to do both physical, lightning and spiritual damage in a single hit. And it would be a heck of a lot faster and more Frenzy efficient than summoning my full [Spectral Body] to do the same.

I got to work on the details then, drawing schematics and body positions.

It took me another hour after that to jot down all the meridian sequences for each technique. It was noontime by then and while the eagerness of the new discovery had me yearning to continue, I had other things I needed to work on as well.

A bit of free time was a rare privilege in Du Gok Bhong and I had to make the most of it.

I grabbed some more paper and began writing to Fia. I had promised to do so days ago and still hadn’t gotten around to it. After I finished, I laid back to actually get some rest. While I had made an advancement in my techniques, I had to ensure my body healed as well.

I need to be in tip top shape for what was yet to come.

I wanted to be in good form to enjoy our drink up later.

* * *

I awoke just in time for chow and was a bit stiff, but aside from that the residual Frenzy from my fight had done me good, healing me to again increase my gains. I did have to give Jei Su Long some credit for his raw power in that regard. His Blade techniques were strong enough to penetrate even my [Steel Skin], although I doubted that he’d be able to do the same if I were I overclocked with my [Mark of the Demon] technique on top of it.

I joined a table with all my new Black Robed compatriots taking a seat next to Blue Rose and Tu’lok.

“How was class, guys?”

“Routine,” Tu’lok said. “We did Phalanx drills all day. Perhaps thanks to you.”

I chuckled. “What about you, Blue?”

“I don’t know,” she said between slurps of her soup. “I wasn’t paying attention much. A bunch of classroom work on the history of the Legionnaires. You’re going to have a lot of reading to catch up on.”

That actually sounded super interesting to me. “What books?”

“Who cares,” she said and then tossed her chopsticks into her already empty bowl. “Are you two not done eating yet? Let’s go.”

I smiled at her. “Looks like someone’s eager for a drink.”

“Hush!” Tu’lok said in a whisper. “No one can know of this. I don’t even know why I even agreed to come.”

“Because you’re not a pussy,” Blue Rose said leering at him as she leaned back on her stool.

Tu’lok let out an exasperated sight and shook his head.

But I was looking forward to the festivities myself.

I finished quickly and then, due mostly to Tu’lok’s over abundance of cautions, left the table at separate times and then we all met up outside the courtyard at the start of the fields. It was just going on dusk and the Bloodmoon was cresting over the horizon.

“Let’s make this quick,” Tu’lok said. He then glanced over his shoulder and back towards Du Gok Bhong as lights began illuminating within the prison cells, giving it an eerie façade. “I don’t want to get caught.”

We got underway, creping stealthily through the fields, or as stealthy as two near eight-foot-tall lummoxes could be anyway. It then dawned on me that Blue Rose could just disappear at any time and leave us two holding the bag.

It was perhaps no wonder she was go gung ho.

The is a risk-free venture for her.

We arrived at the grain shed and after making a few bird calls, Lo Ren eased open the barn door to let us inside.

“You made it!” he said. “Good job.”

He ushered us in and led us to the back where Chu Ren had set up a small area lit with a shaded Qi lamp. On the floor were bowls and two large clay jugs. Blue Rose sat down immediately and grabbed one of the jugs.

“About damn time!”

“Hey!” Lo Ren snatched it back from her. “The honoree gets served first. Here you go, Iron Bull.”

I laughed and held out my bowl while Blue Rose impatiently rolled her eyes.

He then purposely served her last. “For being so grabby.”

“Whatever,” she said and then held her bowl high. “To the Iron Bull on her victory over the pompous Jei Su Long. We your fellow tributes solute you.”

Then without warning she dumped the contents of the bowl down her throat.

She squinted and shuddered. “Ack! It’s as bad as you said.”

Tu’lok and I then hesitantly took sips as well.

Notes of rotten vegetables mixed with dirt filled my nostrils as the fiery liquid went down my throat. It was almost enough to make me spit it back out, but I guess I couldn’t complain about the quality of prison hooch.

Tu’lok wobbled his head from side to side. “I’ve had far worse. Another!”

Lo Ren smiled and served us all again.

After a couple more shots I started to get used to the flavor or perhaps the stuff had just killed enough taste buds for me to no longer care. After a few more, I was starting not to care about anything.

Laugher and stories began to flow as we all started to unwind.

Even Tu’lok seemed to loosen up and told us all about his clan back home.

“Unlike most places, on my world, to become a tribute is a great honor. We train and fight as youths for a chance to be sent, even as prisoner tributes. Our talents for cultivator run thin in our Bloodlines, but what we lack in Qi we make up for in brute strength.”

I smiled. “Yeah, no shit. I always wondered what your home world was like. I had a mentor that came from there, I think. Name was Threja. Ever heard of her?”

Tu’lok shook his head. “There are perhaps ten thousand Threjas. It’s not an uncommon name amongst my people.”

My hopes sunk a little, even though I knew it was a long shot to expect much more than that. “Hey, why do people called you Sullied, anyway? Doesn’t it mean dirty?”

He huffed out a scoff. “Our skin. When the Yee first came to our world, it is said they thought we covered ourselves in ash. They named the planet and our people after that. The Sullied. The name has been with us ever since.”

I felt my Flame stir at that.

“What’s the true name of your people?” I asked. “What you call yourself. Do you know?”

He smiled then. “Vhalheen. That is the true name of our world. But it’s illegal to speak such. To the empire. We are simply the sullied.”

I nodded and took another drink.

It was a reminder that I wasn’t the only one from a conquered world.

“What about you, Blue?” I asked. “What’s your world like?”

“Nothing like that,” she said. “I’m from Tenus Prime. A core world.”

We all nearly spilled our drinks.

“You’re from a core world?” Chu Ren said. “How did you end up here?”

“I came as a prisoner remember?”

“So what’s your story?” I asked.

Blue Rose didn’t say anything and merely took another drink.

“We should probably start getting back,” she said. “They’ll be checking the rooms soon.”

I sensed the sudden shift in her mood and decided not to push it.

“One more drink for the road,” Lo Ren said easing the tension. “And then good luck to us all in making it back unseen.”

* * *

The trek back to the dorms was much harder than it was getting to the field.

For one we were all tipsy as hell and giggling like idiots.

And two, it was now dark with the Bloodmoon waxing high in the night sky.

By crimson light we made our way slowly and carefully and by some miracle we made it back inside the walls of Du Gok Bhong without anyone else being none the wiser.

Or so we all hoped.

We shared a final round of fist bumps that I’d passed on to everyone, now serving as our secret club handshake and then disappeared down the halls going each our separate ways. By the time I got back to my room, I was thankful I no longer had roommate and collapsed into my bunk in the darkness, feeling light as a feather from all the alcohol.

Not a bad day, I thought to myself with a mile wide grin on my face.

I was just about drifting off when a loud bell sounded.

I snapped up right, the room spinning and full of blinding light.

“Get up! Get up!”

Fear and panic punched through my alcohol-laden bloodstream and I immediately feared that somehow we’d been caught. As I rose from my bunk and opened my door, I saw Chief Instructor Yora in the hallway ringing the bell.

Ah shit, I thought as I saw all the other tributes joining me, bleary-eyed in the hallway. Maybe that bastard Jei Su Long had seen us and ratted us out.

I was just about to start piecing together what I’d say if confronted when Chief Yora spoke. “Grab your weapons and assemble in the courtyard. You have three minutes!”

People dove back into their dorms then, fighting to put on robes and equipment.

“What’s going on, Chief Instructor?” I dared to ask as she passed me.

She stopped and stared at me with a wry smile.

“Did I not tell you to be prepared?” she said. “It’s time for you first lesson, Iron Bull.”

“I though you said that would be tomorrow.”

She chuckled. “It is tomorrow.”

As she walked off, I realized that it was now just after midnight. I must have passed out for three hours and didn’t even realize it.

Shit…

“Chop chop, Iron Bull!” Yora shouted as she strode down the hall. “This is a lesson you will not wish to be late for.”