"Hou?" Xu responded inquisitively as Xin smashed clean through the branch the two bandits were standing on. "Good, good! This wouldn't be a fight without some tricks like these up your sleeve!"

Rising to the occasion, Xu launched himself straight at Xin, his right arm cocked back for a punch as his opponent launched a flurry of his own attacks. The speed at which each strike was executed earned a glint of curiosity in Nam-seon, who had opted to use his katars to keep himself from falling following Xu's earlier leap forward. It took a moment, but the bandit had quickly dislodged his weapon from the tree's trunk and kicked off to try and flank Xin.

Xu, on the other hand, was busy trying to parry the blows as they came. It was, clearly enough, a futile effort; though every now and then he would manage to deflect a hit and get one in, none of hits were ever more than glancing blows. Was this what they meant by 'the best defense if a good offense'? Opting to retreat for the moment, Xu used the force from his left fist colliding with one of Xin's to safely retreat for the moment.

"You... That qi... Quite sharp, isn't it? Guess I should count myself lucky, then!" Xu boasted, landing on a nearby tree and grasping hold of one of the branches above his head. "Maybe if this were under different circumstances I could ask more, but that doesn't seem likely!"

Taking a deep breath, Xu swung himself onto the branch and, with a smile, pulled down the collar of his clothes to reveal a thin, iridescent energy swirling around beneath them. It was nowhere near as strong or as refined as what Xin was using, but for someone of his status, this sort of talent was a godsend just on its own. The blows were dulled, true, but the shockwaves still damaged the fighter's body. Had he not pulled away at that moment, his shield might have broken and he would have been more seriously injured.
Though, clearly, that wasn't the case here.

"Now, let me return the favor!"

With a shout, Xu launched himself forward again, this time leading with his left first to strike Xin headfirst. Nam-seon, still a man of (relatively) fewer words, quickly began to strike out at Xin, weaving his way through his adversary's attacks as they came in turn.