The Dangers of Hesitation in Battle
In combat, the gravest errors are impatience and hesitation — impatience breeds recklessness, giving the enemy openings; hesitation forfeits initiative, ceding advantage to the opponent.
The Four Heavenly Kings of the Black Dragon Sect, though fierce, were secretly stalling, hoping to delay until their Sect Master and the two Dharma Kings could arrive to aid them.
But Liu Yun, seeing they still hadn't attacked, said coldly:
"If you won't strike, then get out of the way!"
The four exchanged uneasy glances.
Ling Xian'er urged sharply:
"Sister, act now! They're stalling for reinforcements. No more mercy!"
Liu Yun's eyes flashed coldly. She swept her gaze over the four men:
"So be it. The road to the underworld will be less lonely with all four of you traveling together!"
With that, she darted forward, channeling her inner energy into her lower dantian. Her left hand formed a sword seal while her blade fluttered like mist, suddenly thrusting toward West King Xiao Cheng.
The Four Kings dared not face her one-on-one — they all lunged in with blades.
Clang! Clang! Steel rang out as their swords clashed. They attacked in unison, blades stabbing from all sides.
Liu Yun flicked her wrist — a streak of green sword-light swept outward like a jade serpent. Her blade moved like wind, nimble and elegant, its trajectory unpredictable. It darted at throats, swept across chests, sharp as lightning, fast as a shooting star.
Their clash grew ever fiercer. Liu Yun twisted her waist, pivoted her heel, and launched a devastating move:
"Paths of Man and Ghost Must Diverge."
A streak of sword-light streaked across the sky — whoooosh! The air rang with sword cries, resonating in waves.
The Four Kings were stunned. They tried to retreat, but it was too late.
Cries of pain rang out.Blood sprayed through the air.Wounds laced their bodies.Their strength failed — they could no longer fight.
With a final yell, the four fled like beaten dogs.
Ling Xian'er sneered:
"If sister hadn't shown mercy, you'd all be corpses by now!"
The three women quickly mounted their horses and rode on.
Approaching the Uyghur Capital
The capital of the Uyghur Khaganate sat nestled between grassland and desert, backed by mountains and bordered by rivers. A stream meandered through the fertile plains, now awash with wildflowers in the spring bloom. But the three had no time to admire the scenery.
Riding over a hill, they paused to take in the distant view — wide sky, open steppe, wind caressing the plains — it stirred the spirit. But just as they were about to enter the capital…
Sudden gusts of wind swept past their faces.
"Watch out — hidden weapons!" Wu Tong shouted.
He drew his Crouching Dragon Saber with its scabbard, batting away the flying projectiles with rapid clang-clang-clang sounds.Liu Yun and Ling Xian'er spun into motion, scattering sword-flowers to deflect the barrage.
"Cowards, show yourselves!" Wu Tong called out.
More projectiles whizzed through the air — sharp, treacherous, and deadly.The trio again deflected the assault.
Suddenly, three riders burst from the roadside, blocking the path. They were:
Chu Tianba, known as King Chong
Qin Zhonglong, the Demon of Southern Qian
He Wei, the Strange Man of Wuliang
Ling Xian'er spat with contempt:
"And you call yourselves men? Using sneak attacks and hidden weapons — what kind of heroes are you?"
The Coward's Ambush
In Wulin, treacherous weapons were despised. Yet these three notorious figures had ambushed them with nothing but underhanded trickery.
Again, hidden weapons flew. The trio deflected them once more.
Liu Yun scoffed:
"What's wrong? Run out of your precious darts? Pathetic!"
Wu Tong's face darkened:
"Chu Tianba, Qin Zhonglong, He Wei — you three are veterans of the martial world. Using such disgraceful tactics? Ambushing from the shadows? Have you no shame?"
He Wei, the so-called Strange Man of Wuliang, hissed:
"Wu Tong — what are you doing so far out in the frontier?"
Wu Tong fired back:
"More importantly — what are you doing out here? I've no time to waste. Get lost."
Qin Zhonglong sneered:
"This is the end of your road. The Emperor of Yan has commanded Sect Master Murong to stop the Tang Princess from reaching the Uyghurs — at any cost!"
Liu Yun jeered:
"So that's it! You're not strong enough to beat us — so you rely on trickery. And clearly, you didn't bring enough of it. Your aim is garbage!"
He Wei, enraged at her taunts, snarled:
"Liu Yun — just because your father is the Grandmaster of the Celestial Sect doesn't give you the right to run your mouth!"
Liu Yun's voice was cold:
"Did I say anything false? Each of you has already lost to Wu Tong. Now you're here claiming you'll kill him? What's next — borrowed courage from the heavens?"
Challenge Issued
Chu Tianba — King Chong — could no longer hold his temper. He roared:
"I don't care who your father is — I'll shut that mouth of yours right now!"
Before the words finished, he leapt into the air, darting forward in a series of swift bounds. He struck out with a fierce palm toward Liu Yun.
But then — whoosh! A gust of wind, a flutter of robes. A figure flashed in, intercepting him mid-air.
The two landed facing one another.
"This doesn't concern you, girl!" Chu Tianba snapped.
But the girl — Ling Xian'er — replied coldly:
"If you want to hurt my sister, you'll have to go through me."
Chu Tianba scowled:
"If we don't kill Wu Tong today, we'll lose face back at court! Enough — all three of us, together!"
Liu Yun, recalling their past journey west and the so-called great names of these frontier warriors, snorted with disdain.
"Big names, small skills. Forget Wu Tong — I alone am enough for all three of you."
Ling Xian'er was worried:
"Sister, let me help you!"
But Liu Yun shook her head:
"No, Xian'er. Watch carefully. These three call themselves kings, demons, and monsters — grand titles indeed.I'd like to see if their skill is half as big as their name."
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