Meng Cheng was a man of brute courage but little strategy. Tang Fei's martial skill was renowned among the canal guilds; none dared challenge his edge. In the martial world, he was a figure of stature—humble in manner, well-liked by all, and often able to quell disputes between rival factions. Tang Fei's agility far exceeded Meng Cheng's expectations. No matter from which direction Meng Cheng attacked, Tang Fei always intercepted in time, leaving no opening at all.
Growing anxious, Meng Cheng's anger surged. His brows shot upward as he suddenly let out a fierce shout and drove a punch forward. It was the move "Plowing the Courtyard, Sweeping the Lair," aimed directly at Tang Fei's vital acupoints. The strike was brutally forceful—fist shadows piled like mountains, wind howling through the air, carrying the might of thunder and ten thousand jin of power.
Tang Fei moved his palms like blades, casually chopping and parrying. Meng Cheng attacked three times in succession; Tang Fei answered with three solid counters, each clash hard against hard—yet Tang Fei appeared utterly unstrained. With effortless ease, he neutralized the entirety of Meng Cheng's ferocious拳法.
In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged another ten or so moves. Just as the gathered heroes were watching in rapt fascination, Tang Fei suddenly called out, "Careful!"
His hands shot forward with blinding speed—pa! pa!—two powerful palm strikes. Meng Cheng's internal strength was insufficient to withstand them. Upon receiving the blows, he failed to stabilize himself, staggered backward seven or eight steps, and collapsed onto the ground.
Cheers erupted from the crowd. Tang Fei, a forthright old hero, immediately stepped forward to help Meng Cheng up. Meng Cheng, however, refused the gesture, stood on his own, and walked straight back to his faction.
At that moment, another figure leapt into the arena. He clasped his fists and announced,"Yang Meng of the Xingwu Sect, here to seek instruction from Elder Tang!"
Tang Fei returned the salute with warmth."We meet in martial exchange, not to injure harmony."
These words, spoken with courtesy befitting an elder, revealed Tang Fei's magnanimity and moral bearing.
Yang Meng, third leader of the Xingwu Sect, had long harbored enmity with the Phoenix Sect. Facing Tang Fei's gentle words, he responded coldly,"Save the pleasantries. Let's see the truth beneath our palms!"
Intent on embarrassing the Phoenix Sect before the assembled heroes, Yang Meng spoke without restraint. As the saying goes, a man's bearing determines his stature. Tang Fei's calm dignity earned the Phoenix Sect thunderous approval, while Yang Meng's arrogance and rudeness only invited ridicule, diminishing the Xingwu Sect's standing in the eyes of the martial world.
Unmoved, Tang Fei said evenly,"We determine victory and defeat—nothing more."
Yang Meng's gaze turned icy."Who wins and who loses is no child's play."
Seeing further words were useless, Tang Fei cupped his fists."Then I request Brother Yang's guidance. Please—make the first move."
Yang Meng roared, "I'll offend, then!"He lunged forward like an arrow and struck with a palm. Tang Fei sidestepped, tilted his head, and evaded cleanly, countering with a backhand palm aimed at Yang Meng's face.
Yang Meng slapped aside with his left hand and swept out with a kick. Tang Fei leapt upward, his right arm flashing as a palm chopped downward. Yang Meng ducked low and jabbed two fingers toward Tang Fei's Riyue, Jingmen, and Daiyin acupoints.
Indeed, old ginger is the spiciest. Tang Fei's footwork was superb—swift, balanced in offense and defense, his techniques refined and precise. The more Yang Meng attacked, the more fearful he became.
Suddenly, Yang Meng launched a powerful left-palm assault, the strike whistling toward Tang Fei's head. Tang Fei extended his left hand, hooked backward, and seized Yang Meng's palm. In the same instant, his right palm struck—pa!—squarely into Yang Meng's left chest.
Yang Meng staggered like a drunkard, retreating three steps before collapsing.
Cheers once again shook the arena. Tang Fei rushed forward to assist him, but Yang Meng brushed off the help, rose in anger, and returned to his faction—having lost both the bout and his dignity.
The leader of the Dockworkers' Guild, Zhang Cheng, exchanged a glance with Yang Linzhong of the Xingwu Sect. Yang Linzhong rose from his seat, tapped the ground lightly, and soared forth like a hawk. Upon landing, he smiled and clasped his fists.
"I have long heard of Elder Tang's peerless skill. Though unworthy, this junior seeks instruction today."
Tang Fei smiled in return."The gentleman does not contend—except, perhaps, in archery. Such exchanges preserve true martial decorum."
Years earlier, over whether the canal guilds should attend the Xuzhou Anti-Rebellion Assembly, Tang Fei and Yang Linzhong had fought fiercely, evenly matched. In that past encounter, Yang Linzhong had stumbled backward. Tang Fei, suspecting nothing, stepped forward to help—only for Yang Linzhong to launch a sudden sneak attack.
Bang!Tang Fei took a palm strike square to the chest, staggered back, collapsed, and spat blood.
But time had passed. Tang Fei, generous and broad-minded, had long let go of that grievance.
Now, Yang Linzhong showed no gratitude and sneered,"The Crying Crane Palm is no ordinary art. You'd best be careful!"
With that, he raised his stance and shouted, "Take this!"
His qi sank to the dantian; power rose from the waist, flowing through legs and arms as one. Shoulders sank, elbows dropped. With the move "Tiger and Crane Dual Form," his twin palms spiraled outward, accompanied by a piercing crane cry. The palms shifted—now crane, now tiger—striking with explosive speed.
Tang Fei responded with "Slanting Wind, Swaying Willow," retreating while deflecting. He counter-advanced with a reversed palm.
Yang Linzhong whistled like a crane and unleashed "Twin Bows Subduing the Tiger." His palms shaped like crane beaks, arms arcing like drawn bows as he swung and struck.
Tang Fei rotated his steps, twisted his waist, and answered with "Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain" and "Palm Strikes Like Thunder." His continuous palm attacks poured forth like mercury spilling over the ground—fists, palms, fingers, elbows, legs, knees all striking in relentless succession. He hooked legs, shoved throats, cut arms, kicked knees—every vicious technique unleashed.
Yang Linzhong moved like a swimming dragon, waist pivoting like an axle, yielding to force and avoiding weight. Suddenly, he employed "Twin Bows Embrace the Moon," locking Tang Fei's right wrist and twisting inward, following with a throat hook and a sudden right kick—driving straight upward toward the groin.
His strike was vicious beyond mercy…