Chapter 146: Fire VS Wood
I'd always thought the saying "fire beats wood" was a bit too simplistic. After all, nature is full of plants that thrive after forest fires, seeds that only germinate in ash, trees whose bark evolved specifically to withstand flames.
The relationship between wood and fire is complex, nuanced.
But as I watched Zhang Ruiyang's burning sword cleave through another cluster of my razor leaves like they were made of paper, I had to admit – in a straight-up fight, fire definitely had some advantages.
"Your technique is impressive," he commented, his blade leaving trails of orange light as he settled into a ready stance. "But fire will always consume wood. That's the natural order."
I could feel Han Renyi's anxiety spiking in the back of my mind. "He's right! Fire rouqi users have always been especially effective against wood tech—"
"Natural order?" I interrupted both of them, carefully gauging the distance between us. "Nature's a lot more complicated than that. Besides..." I allowed myself a small smile. "Who said anything about playing fair?"
Zhang Ruiyang's eyes narrowed slightly at that, but his stance remained perfect – the mark of a true professional.
"You know," he said, "I've trained most of the guards in this compound. Taught them everything they know about proper rouqi control and combat techniques." His eyes hardened. "Which means I know exactly how difficult it would have been to eliminate them so quickly. You're no ordinary Tier 1 Rouqin..."
"You're right," I agreed, matching his casual tone while using my connection to the surrounding plants to get a better feel for the battlefield. The garden offered plenty of cover, but most of it was decorative – expensive imported plants that had never been meant for combat. "I'm definitely not ordinary. But then again..." I gestured to his burning sword. "Neither are you."