The Duel on the Grasslands – English Translation
The three hall masters of the Western Holy Sect were arrogant and competitive by nature. They could not stomach the taunts of Liu Yun and Ling Xian'er, nor could they believe that Wu Tong would actually show up in the desert. Their hearts burned with indignation.
Seeing their doubt, Ling Xian'er said sharply,
"You seem unconvinced that this man before you is Wu Tong, the Hall Master of Zhongyi Hall. Then let's settle this the old-fashioned way: one-on-one, unarmed combat—what do you say?"
The one known as "Hellfiend Yama" Gan Lu immediately felt a strong aversion to Ling Xian'er. His expression turned cold as he growled,
"So be it. Let me face you first!"
With a light leap, Ling Xian'er landed in the center. She raised her hands, internal energy surging through her palms, yet her face remained serene.
"Come at me," she said calmly.
Gan Lu's brows arched sharply—he truly looked like Yama himself. A glint of killing intent flashed through his eyes.
"Take this!"
With a shout, he lunged forward, executing a light body technique. His form darted into the arena with a fearsome roar. Launching both palms, he struck out with a move called "Crashing Waves", his attacks powerful and relentless.
Ling Xian'er countered with "Feather Fan and Silken Scarf", her sleeves fluttering in the wind as her figure darted and danced, evading each blow with graceful precision. Within moments, the two had exchanged over ten moves. Ling Xian'er deliberately played defensive, using evasion to study her opponent's style.
Once she had gauged his technique, she stopped retreating. Suddenly, her palm lashed out. Gan Lu reacted swiftly, countering with a palm of his own, then shifting mid-motion to use his fingers like steel awls.
But Ling Xian'er flowed with his change, transforming her palm into a piercing strike toward his side. The two fighters engaged in rapid close-range attacks. At last, she spotted a flaw in Gan Lu's defense—his chest was exposed.
With a precise thrust to his vital point, Gan Lu's body seized with pain. His punch faltered, power drained. Ling Xian'er wasted no time—a follow-up palm struck him squarely in the chest with a loud thud! He stumbled backward, barely staying upright.
At that very moment, "Black Vajra" Jin Bupa saw the danger. His body surged forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. But before he could reach Gan Lu, a shadow flickered.
Liu Yun intercepted him. Her left hand connected with his, and the two clashed mid-air, each landing apart. Ling Xian'er seized the opportunity—her fingers struck like lightning, sealing Gan Lu's pressure point. With his acupoint sealed, Gan Lu collapsed, unable to move an inch.
Liu Yun said coldly,
"So this is your so-called righteousness? A duel one-on-one, yet you try to intervene?"
Jin Bupa snarled,
"I didn't... I wasn't using poison—I just..."
Liu Yun cut him off,
"You just tried to save him, didn't you? Don't worry—we won't kill you. We only want to know: where are the kidnapped women?"
Jin Bupa growled,
"You'll have to defeat me first!"
Liu Yun sighed,
"Your skills are like those of stray cats and dogs... must we really do this?"
That insult was too much for Jin Bupa. With a roar of fury, he lunged forward, launching the move "Fierce as a Tiger", both palms aimed at Liu Yun's face.
But Liu Yun was light and agile. She twisted, vaulted, ducked, and slid. Her elusive footwork left Jin Bupa swinging at air. His breath became ragged.
"This is that stray cat kung fu I mentioned," she quipped.
Jin Bupa was furious. His fists clenched like iron, his eyes blazing.
"Enough! You'll die for that!"
Drawing a deep breath, he unleashed his ultimate technique: a lightning-fast rush with both fists forward. His iron fists shot out in a two-palm strike—the famed "Vast and Vague", a move from the Wuji Palm school.
Smack!Smack!But Liu Yun parried both strikes, the impact numbing Jin Bupa's wrists.
Then came her counter: a palm slicing through the air—blindingly fast.
"I'm done for!" Jin Bupa gasped in terror.
Crash!The blow landed with devastating force. His body flew backward, rolled, and hit the ground. With a dull thud, he lay there, unconscious.
Just then, Long Fei, the one known as "Invincible Palm", darted toward the horses, clearly attempting to escape.
But another figure moved even faster—Wu Tong.
With a soaring leap, he unleashed a powerful aerial palm strike. The force howled through the air like a storm. Long Fei's eyes widened in shock. He dared not take it head-on. In midair, he twisted, rolled as he landed, and tumbled two full lengths away, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Wu Tong's voice rang out:
"So much for 'Invincible Palm'! Fleeing without a fight—what a disgrace in Jianghu!"
Liu Yun added:
"You promised one-on-one. How can you flee mid-duel? For all the boasting of your sect, this is what you offer?"
Ling Xian'er taunted,
"Didn't you say earlier—even if it's Wu Tong himself, we're hall masters too—nothing to fear, right? What now—running away?"
Long Fei's face flushed red with shame. He snapped,
"What do you want from us!?"
Wu Tong's tone turned cold,
"Tell me: where did the kidnapped girls go? Speak, or my Wolong Blade will do the talking!"
Long Fei barked,
"Wu Tong! The Western Holy Sect isn't something your trio can meddle in! Stay out of this!"
Wu Tong's eyes flashed.
"This fight is over. You've lost. I'll give you one last chance—where are the girls? Speak now, or the Wolong Blade will be unsheathed to purge evil!"
Cornered, Long Fei knew that betraying the sect meant death anyway.
"So be it," he thought grimly. "If I must die, then let it come."
Raising his voice, he roared,
"Hear me, brothers! Death awaits traitors to the sect. Let us raise our blades and face him together!"
Liu Yun calmly warned,
"You've heard the saying: When the Wolong Blade is drawn, even ghosts and gods retreat. For your own sake, don't test it."
Yet the men of the Western Holy Sect, now driven by a feverish loyalty, drew their blades in unison. Their formation was swift and deadly—figures darted left and right, surrounding the trio like wolves.
Wu Tong's eyes gleamed coldly.
"Those who fall beneath the Wolong Blade, have no one to blame but themselves."
And with that, the storm of battle began once more...