Wu Tong's tactic of winning with words rather than fists was truly a masterstroke. Voices erupted from all sides as the crowd shouted in unison:
"Gather for righteousness, act on Heaven's behalf!""Gather for righteousness, act on Heaven's behalf!""Gather for righteousness, act on Heaven's behalf!"
The cries thundered through the mountains and forests, lingering for a long while before fading. As the verse goes:
Tyrants roam in rampant ways,(level, level, level, oblique, oblique)Old fiends beg silver for their days,(oblique, oblique, oblique, level, level)Righteous hearts now rise and cry,(oblique, oblique, level, level, oblique)Sleeves rolled up, fists held high.(level, level, oblique, oblique, level)
Witnessing this spectacle, the Three Great Evils of the Central Plains felt a chill in their hearts. They exchanged uneasy glances—if today both heroes of the righteous and the unorthodox paths were to rise together and attack, this would be no trifling matter. Though the three were formidable in martial skill, they knew full well they could not withstand the combined might of all the heroes present. For a moment, none of them could find words.
Yet the Three Great Evils were veterans of countless storms. The bald, hunched-backed "Old Monster of Hedong," Mo Jian, was a man of deep cunning and careful calculation. He reasoned that the matter of the treasure must be set aside for now; preserving his life and escaping unscathed—avoiding being beaten down by the masses—was the true priority. After some deliberation, he stepped boldly into the arena, threw back his head, and burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha! Hahaha!"
After laughing for quite some time, Mo Jian called out in a ringing voice,"This old man may be lacking in talent, but after many years in the martial world, I still know its rules. Wu Tong, Hall Master of the Loyalty Hall, is said to be a hero of our age—yet today it seems he is nothing but a hollow name!"
The 'Henan Tyrant,' Huo Bing, sneered coldly and added,"Old Mo speaks the truth! All this talk of benevolence, righteousness, gathering for the greater cause, acting on Heaven's behalf—what is it, if not relying on numbers to overpower us? The Three Great Evils of the Central Plains scoff at such tactics. This farce will only earn the ridicule of true heroes!"
Hearing this, Ling Xian'er could no longer remain silent. To hear her husband accused of being an empty name cut especially deep. She snorted coldly and said in a low voice,"Mo, you despicable old fiend—after all your vile deeds, you still dare insult Hall Master Wu Tong? If that's the case, why not settle this with a duel? I, a mere young woman, will face you. What say you?"
Mo Jian was secretly delighted. As long as it was a one-on-one duel, opportunity would arise. He asked,"Little girl, is Wu Tong your husband?"
"He is," Ling Xian'er replied. "And what of it?"
Mo Jian said with feigned concern,"This old man cherishes beauty and hates to harm flowers. If I fail to control my strength and injure such a delicate young lady, how would I explain myself to Hall Master Wu Tong?"
Having already consumed the Bee Propolis Pill, Ling Xian'er's internal power had surged by ten years, and she was eager to test her skills. She replied confidently,"That need not concern you. If I were to face all three of you at once, I might not stand a chance—but one on one, according to martial law, that is another matter entirely. Please, allow me to seek your guidance!"
Mo Jian snorted."In that case, this old man shall gladly oblige!"
Though his appearance was strange and grotesque, his sleeves now swept through the air as he struck twice, the force whistling fiercely.
Seeing him take his stance, Ling Xian'er said politely,"Pardon the offense!"
The words had barely left her lips when her figure shot forward. She leapt and threw a clean, decisive punch—smooth, crisp, and seamless. Cheers erupted from the crowd.
Mo Jian's cultivation was profound. Their arms collided; he raised his left arm to block while his right palm followed in quick succession, strike after strike flowing endlessly. Two gusts of force roared through the air as the two exchanged seven or eight moves in the blink of an eye.
Mo Jian thought to himself, This little girl is arrogant—but her skills are indeed far from ordinary.
He immediately poured more power into his palms and launched a fierce strike straight at her. Ling Xian'er felt a surging force rush toward her like a collapsing mountain. She shifted her body two feet to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow.
Her palm techniques suddenly changed. She sprang three zhang straight up from the ground. While airborne, she spread her arms wide, then dove downward, palms raining like a storm. In an instant, she unleashed seven or eight rapid strikes. With her newly gained ten years of power, her movements were swift as flying arrows and fierce beyond measure.
Forced to retreat and reposition, Mo Jian suddenly took a palm strike squarely on the shoulder—啪! Though it was not a vital point, his shoulder instantly swelled. He bared his teeth in pain and staggered back several steps. The heroes erupted in applause.
Ling Xian'er halted her attack and asked coolly,"Do you yield—or not?"
The Old Monster of Hedong flushed crimson with shame. His pride wounded, he barked,"I do not yield! Let us fight again!"
At that moment, a figure dropped in front of Ling Xian'er, blocking her path. It was 'Madman of the West,' Situ Kong.
"Xian'er," he said, "let me have some fun."
She gave a clever smile."With your experience and skill, Senior, you're more than welcome."
Seeing this ragged old man speak so flippantly, Huo Bing of Henan was enraged."Old Mo, take a break! I'll have my fun!"
He suddenly flashed forward, moving with astonishing speed, and struck with a killing punch. The sudden attack shocked the crowd—many thought the old man would surely be struck down.
But in that split second—Smack!!—the old man caught the punch with his right hand.
Huo Bing froze, struggling with all his strength, yet unable to pull free. He immediately followed with a left palm—but the old man caught that as well. Desperate, Huo Bing lashed out with a vicious kick aimed at the groin.
Situ Kong released both hands, flipped backward, and cleanly avoided the kick.
The exchange was lightning-fast. Most spectators only saw the moment the old man seized Huo Bing's punch; the rest happened too quickly for the eye to follow.
Roaring, Huo Bing swung both arms, his twin palms chopping down like iron clamps—a brutally vicious move. Heavier than splitting stone, the strike descended.
Yet the old man did not dodge.
He raised his right arm and met the attack head-on—hard against hard. Smack!Smack!The sounds rang out sharply. Then, in a sudden motion, the old man spread his arms wide and struck twice in rapid succession.
Smack! Smack!
Two light, crisp sounds echoed.
Huo Bing staggered backward, his steps unsteady, his face drained of color as his body swayed…