57.i Nebula's Parting

Well, Dear Traveler. Would it be a surprise to you if I told you that Ham Song wasn’t the only spirit who cried during that performance?

Everybody was moved. Even over-modernized spirits like Sun Xiao Dan who didn’t know half the things they were looking at. What Blue Force created with his staff was considered living art. And of course, everything seems more spectacular the bigger it is. If you can imagine, three Immortal beings the size of buildings – shrieking and baying at the sky.

As you’ve probably surmised by now, the artificial dragon was the most majestic of them all. Unlike its divine companions, it gazed out at the audience with a deep, terrifying serenity. Its fleshy whiskers snapped gently on the breeze. Its goatee draped low and ghostlike over the lawn. A powerful mist created a halo around the dragon’s fuzzy antlers.

This was no cheap imitation, Dear Traveler. No matter how much our dear old Ham Song wished it to be so.

In the end, Blue Force received the highest of marks for his work. Don’t think low of me when I say that he truly deserved them. Even the Old Master was moved to tears by what transpired. He made sure to say a few words of approval towards Blue Force’s decision to go this route. Not many staff wielders could recreate the wondrous spiritual aura of Immortals with this level of caliber and passion.

It was a near flawless presentation.

Does this scare you, Dear Traveler? Are you wondering how our exhausted hero can stand a chance up against these powerhouses?

To be honest, you should be scared. In fact, there is one spirit in this tale who lets the possibility of utter, humiliating public failure absolutely consume them.

I’m sure you can guess who.

~ Bodhi ~

The monk didn’t let it show, but they were relieved that they had managed to keep Ham Song from breaking down.

The last thing we need is this sensitive hog melting into a puddle of sweet immortal peaches.

Bodhi wasn’t entirely sure what Ham Song’s triggers were when it came to his little barfing episodes, but they didn’t want to draw any attention to themselves at the moment. Peaches were practically banned in the stadium and Bodhi wasn’t really in a position to test their Luck otherwise.

Ham Song’s reaction to the performance was so strong, it made Bodhi wonder how Anari was coping through all of this. There was no way for them to check on her. Not without them risking her neck and their own. The monk figured that if the spider wanted to schedule another meeting, she would seek them out. Not the other way around.

Everything about this tournament was throwing spirits off.

Especially what happened next.

“It seems that we have our first forfeiture of the day, ladies and gentlemen. Sun Yong Kid is saying his farewells to the competition.”

Sun Seven snickered and crossed his arms. “Well would’ja look at that, Sifu.”

Bodhi got to their feet and braced the edge of the aisle.

“You have got to be kidding me!” They hissed, wishing now more than ever that they could have one – just one shot of warm liquor to calm these nerves.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, that overly empathetic monkey king of theirs was actually chasing after Sun Yong Kid after he walked off the field.

“Oh,” Seven followed Sun Ritsu’s path with his finger, “Take a look at that. What do you think Ritsu’s going to say to the little guy?”

Bodhi spoke through a tense jaw. “I don’t know, but if he gets him to come back to the competition, great. On the other hand, if his dumb ass gets penalized for leaving his seat, I’m going to let him have it.”

Even though Bodhi was prepared for one of Ham Song’s shrill eruptions, they still found it aggravating when it actually happened.

“Come back??? Why in the world would we want that insufferable child to come back to the competition?”

Bodhi refused to answer the pig, choosing to smush their face in the center of their palm and moan quietly into it.

Thankfully, Seven saved the monk from having to explain.

“Come on, Hambro.” The monkey snapped his fingers. “The more contestants that go ahead of our champion, the more he has time to charge up his qi. Yeesh. It’s like you’ve got paternal blinders on when it comes to Sun Ritsu.”

Ham Song grumbled something about having more contestants regardless was worse, but Bodhi wasn’t in the mood to argue with him.

The monk was simply relieved to see Ritsu jogging back to the roped off section. No one flagged him. Probably because they were too preoccupied with the sudden forfeiture. Unfortunately, it looked as though Ritsu wasn’t able to get Sun Yong Kid to return with him.

According to Sun Surina’s joyful voice booming through the speakers, Sun Terra the Earthbound Sage was up next.