“That actually looks like a proper fencing posture, but that’s useless.” Ahn Suhyeong slashed at Xia Lei.

Xia Lei blocked it and the two foils clashed with a clang. Xia Lei’s wrist twisted sharply before Ahn Suhyeong could react and the straight blade bent backwards to land with a smack on Ahn Suhyeong’s face. 

This smack stupefied Ahn Suhyeong and stunned everyone else. 

The rule in fencing was that stabbing, slashing and whipping did not gain points, but the red mark which appeared on Ahn Suhyeong’s face was more convincing than gaining 100 points. Ahn Suhyeong would have lost half his face if they were using real swords!

“Sorry, I was too nervous and accidentally hit your face,” said Xia Lei with an apologetic face. “Are you all right?”

‘Sorry, I hit your face accidentally’. 

These words were like a second hit to Ahn Suhyeong’s face. He had gone on an aggressive offence minutes earlier but had not managed to even graze a corner of Xia Lei’s clothing. Xia Lei had gone to change his trousers and slapped his face with just one attack after coming back!

Ahn Suhyeong’s face burned; half with pain,...