intervene, but Chen waved him off.
"It's alright," Chen said gently. "A lesson must be taught." He turned to Maya. "Please, step
back to safety."
Maya retreated to the edge of the mat, her heart in her throat. Vance glared at the old man,
torn between the taboo of striking an elder and his overwhelming desire to salvage his
pride. Finally, ego won.
With a guttural yell, Vance launched a devastating roundhouse kick aimed at Chen's ribs.
The crowd screamed.
But Chen didn't block. He didn't even seem to move quickly. He simply shifted his weight.
Vance's kick sailed harmlessly through the air, throwing the younger man slightly off
balance. Before Vance could recover, Chen tapped his cane lightly against the back of