In mid-spring, the South was plagued by continuous wind and rain. Only after the Qingming Festival could people go on excursions, so the famous mountains and scenic spots remained devoid of visitors.
Rare indeed was a day like this, with the vast sky painted a single shade of blue. The sun had just emerged, casting its morning light over all creation.
Mount Luofu was shrouded in mist, hazy and indistinct, appearing utterly mysterious.
At Chenglong Cliff, a hundred flowers bloomed in fragrant profusion. Bees and butterflies fluttered leisurely, and birds chirped merrily to their flocks, a sight that could make any traveler forget all the worries of the world.
Between Mount Luo and Mount Fu, beneath the cliff lay a broad hill spanning six or seven hundred feet, overgrown with shoulder-high thorny grass.
Near the foot of the mountain stood three tall, dense pines growing in a tripod formation. Their branches intertwined like a massive canopy, and glistening droplets of water still clung to their needles.
Beneath the pines stood a youth of about seventeen or eighteen dressed in scholar's robes. With sword-like eyebrows and phoenix eyes, his gaze was bright, his appearance exceptionally handsome and elegant, and his bearing extraordinary.
The hilt of a sword, protruding more than three inches, was visible behind his shoulder. With his hands clasped behind his back, he looked around, occasionally gazing up at the sky and letting out a soft sigh.
Clearly, this youth was not here to leisurely enjoy the mountains and waters, nor was he using the picturesque scenery to soothe his soul. He appeared highly restless and anxious, as if waiting for someone.
He seemed to have waited for a very long time. Unable to contain his impatience any longer, he suddenly squatted down in front of a grave, staring intently at the stone stele, upon which three large characters, "Sanyizhong," were still clearly legible.
He murmured to himself:
"There is no mistake. Isn't this indeed the Sanyizhong I've been looking for?"
He prayed silently for a moment, then bowed deeply. Yet, doubt inevitably crept into his mind. The hour of Chen had already passed; why hadn't the person his master mentioned arrived yet? Surely they hadn't run into enemies on the road and met with disaster?
At that thought, a sudden dread gripped his heart. Kneeling before the grave once more, he kowtowed several times and prayed in a low voice:
"Father! Uncle! May your spirits in heaven protect Aunt and Sister, so they may arrive here safely and allow us to fulfill our wishes."
No sooner had he finished his prayer than he heard the sharp whistle of an arrow tearing through the air above his head, plunging into the deep abyss to his right.
Instantly on high alert, he sprang up. Employing the "Clever Swallow Piercing the Clouds" technique, he soared upward through the dense foliage and concealed himself within the ancient pine.
About half a cup of tea's time later, two figures finally appeared on the mountain path. They leaped swiftly up the stone steps, and upon reaching the hill, they stopped abruptly, scanning their surroundings.
They were a beautiful middle-aged woman of about forty and a young girl of fourteen or fifteen, both dressed in simple attire with blue scarves wrapped around their heads.
Though the middle-aged woman wore no makeup, her natural beauty and elegant grace were still strikingly apparent.
With a sharp, piercing gaze, she scanned the thick undergrowth. Her Golden Silk Dragon-Locking Whip flicked out with a sharp crack, striking a protruding rock on the cliffside. A crack over a foot long split open instantly, sending sparks flying and loose gravel raining down.
At the same time, she barked in a low, stern voice:
"Vile scoundrel! Since you had the audacity to come pay respects at Sanyizhong, why don't you show yourself? If you refuse to crawl out, do not blame this old matron for being ruthless!"
The young girl bore a striking resemblance to the older woman—beautiful, graceful, intelligent, and elegant, down to the identical dimples on her cheeks.
Seeing the older woman swing her whip in anger, the girl raised her hands, preparing to step forward and search for any sign of the enemy.
But suddenly noticing a flickering shadow on the mountain ridge to the right, she leaned close to the middle-aged beautiful woman's ear and whispered:
"Mother, Yu'er is going up the mountain to catch rabbits!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she leaped into the air, executing the superb lightness skill, the Seven-Step Cloud Ladder, and glided up the mountain.
The beautiful middle-aged woman did not delay either. Brandishing her long whip, she leaped up and landed beneath the canopy of a pine tree. Just as her toes touched the ground...
Suddenly, a shout rang out from the bushes on the left:
"Wench, take this!"
Immediately following, four cold gleams shot toward her from two directions.
The beautiful middle-aged woman let out a shrill cry. Sweeping her long whip in a circle, she knocked down all the hidden weapons, and the moment her toes touched the ground, she leaped up again. Her Gold-Thread Dragon-Locking Whip struck out, accompanied by a fierce gust of inner force.
Seeing the long whip striking toward them, the two bandits hiding in the bushes leaped to either side in panic. A serrated saber and a pair of bronze maces swung out simultaneously—one attacking her lower body and the other crashing down toward the crown of her head, both extremely treacherous.
Having long been on guard, the beautiful middle-aged woman did not wait for the opponent's saber and maces to draw near. Executing the move "Golden Dragon Swings Its Tail" with her Gold-Thread Dragon-Locking Whip, she ducked low, sweeping the whip at their legs.
Seeing the terrifying force of the long whip, the two bandits hastily leaped back to evade it.
The large man wielding the serrated saber dodged the whip, held his blade horizontally, and barked:
"You woman, by what right do you interfere with White-Forehead Tiger Cheng Guang's paying of respects at the Three Righteous Graves?"
He then lunged forward, executing the move "Splitting Mount Hua with Mighty Force" to chop down at the beautiful middle-aged woman.
Although the black-faced large man wielding the bronze maces was extremely strong, the whip had struck the mace in his left hand, leaving the web of his hand numb and sending a surge of fury to his heart.
Brandishing his pair of bronze maces, he roared:
"You wretched woman, did you not even bother to ask how deep of a friendship Black-Faced Tiger Lao Lan has with the Three Righteous Men, that you dare to stop the Two Tigers of Qilian from paying respects at the Three Righteous Graves today?"
At the same time, he lunged forward, raising his twin maces high, and brought them down toward the crown of the beautiful middle-aged woman's head with the move "Flaunting Might to Strike the Waves".
The beautiful middle-aged woman sneered and shouted:
"I don't care what kind of tigers you are! If you cannot defeat this old lady's Dragon-Locking Whip, don't even think of taking half a step near the Three Righteous Graves!"
Tilting her right shoulder to the side, she dodged the twin maces. With a backhand sweep of her long whip, she wrapped it around the serrated saber and yanked it hard to the side. With a loud "clang," it collided with the bronze maces. The saber snapped in two, and the man stumbled forward, collapsing to the ground with a thud, unable to get back up.
Black-Faced Tiger Lao Lan, who had struck with all his might in his fury, realized things were going awry the moment he saw how incredibly swift her movement technique was, allowing her to easily dodge his twin maces in an instant.
When he saw Cheng Guang's saber being wrapped and pulled toward his twin maces, he tried to withdraw his strike, but it was already too late. Before a cry of alarm could escape his mouth, his maces collided with the saber. Feeling a numbing pain in both hands, the left mace flew out of his grip.
At the same time, his vision went dark, and he fell backward uncontrollably, rolling down the hill to meet his end at the bottom of the valley.
The beautiful middle-aged woman burst into loud laughter. Flicking her long whip, she wrapped it around the corpse of White-Forehead Tiger Cheng Guang, gave it a light toss, and barked:
"Get lost! Do not defile the Three Righteous Graves!"
The corpse flew off the long whip and plummeted into the abyss, prompting another burst of loud laughter from the beautiful middle-aged woman.
Just as her laughter subsided, she suddenly saw several figures leap up from the right, closing in to surround her.
Leading them was a large Buddhist monk, who strode forward, held one hand upright before his chest, and said in a loud voice:
"Amitabha! Female benefactor must be the mistress of the Three Heroes, known as Phoenix Hairpin Li Yufeng. This old monk..."
Seeing the bandits appear and surround her, Phoenix Hairpin Li Yufeng resolved that even at the cost of her life, she would not let them desecrate the Three Heroes' Tomb. As the old monk drew near, she noted his fierce eyebrows, hostile eyes, and the large lump on his bald head. She thought to herself:
"This One-Horned Dhuta wants to meddle in this too? I will never let you have your way!"
Hearing him expose her identity the moment he opened his mouth, her anger flared even hotter. Without waiting for the old monk to finish, she barked:
"Bald rascal, cut the arrogance! Now that you've come to the Three Heroes' Tomb, what's with all this nonsense? Make your move quickly, and I shall send you to the Western Heaven!"
The Gold-Thread Dragon-Locking Whip lashed the ground, coiling into a circle. The double hooks at the tip reared up in the center, resembling a coiled cobra poised to strike.
The One-Horned Dhuta half-closed his eyes, lowered his head, and said:
"Amitabha! Why must the female benefactor be so angry? This old monk sees that your karmic bonds of passion are yet unsevered, and your killing karma is heavy. Remembering that the Three Heroes sowed many virtuous fruits for the Buddhist order during their lifetimes, this old monk only wishes to bring this benevolent bond to a close. Knowing that the heroes of the martial world have gathered at the Three Heroes' Tomb today, we intend to search for the 'One Sword, Three Eagles' that went missing when the Three Heroes met their tragic ends..."
As Li Yufeng listened to the One-Horned Dhuta, she thought to herself:
"Does this dog-meat monk really think he can deceive me with his talk of benevolent bonds and virtuous fruits?"
Thus, she suddenly barked:
"Bald rascal, do not speak nonsense before one who knows the truth! I am sick to death of hearing about your benevolent bonds and virtuous fruits! If you want to find the 'One Sword, Three Eagles', it is not difficult..."
Pointing at her Dragon-Locking Whip, she continued in a low voice:
"Just ask this!"
With this, the One-Horned Dhuta was provoked into anger. His large eyes snapped open, and he raised his eyebrows, shouting:
"Excellent! You obstinate creature, how dare you treat this old monk's compassion as malicious intent! Come, take three of my strikes and let us see!"
With a sharp whoosh, he drew an iron horn from behind his back and prepared to charge forward to attack.
A thin old man with a goatee and eyes flashing with a fierce light appeared highly displeased. Seeing the One-Horned Dhuta about to strike first, he shouted loudly:
"Hold on!"
Without even a twitch of his shoulders or a dip of his body, he took a single step and appeared right in front of the One-Horned Dhuta. Raising his eyebrows and glaring, he barked:
"Wicked, wanton woman! I, the Minshan Woodcutter, have long heard of your supreme skill with the Gold-Thread Dragon-Locking Whip. To finally witness it today, it truly lives up to its reputation. But what a pity that your wanton sins are so heavy. You caused the deaths of the Three Heroes, secretly hid the 'One Sword, Three Eagles', and concealed your tracks at Mount Luofu, thinking you could blind the eyes of the martial world. Who would have thought you would still be discovered by two disciples of the Minshan Sect? Today is the day you make your final peace, for you cannot hope to rely on your vicious wantonness to escape the hands of Weng Chongshan!"
Raising his hands into a fighting stance, he barked:
"Wench, make your move!"
Phoenix Hairpin Li Yufeng seemed to have her own plan. Though she was bitterly reviled by both the One-Horned Dhuta and the Minshan Woodcutter, she remained standing there, completely unperturbed.
A green-faced old Taoist wearing a golden crown, with two tufts of yellow beard on his chin and holding an iron tablet, stepped out from the crowd, leading three disciples dressed in the same manner.
First, he raised a single hand to his chest in greeting to the One-Horned Dhuta and the Minshan Woodcutter, then raised his eyebrows and said in a deep voice:
"Allow this humble Taoist to say a few words. Although today is not a grand assembly of the martial world, it is rare to have so many masters gathered here. I, Yun Zhonghe, wish to make it clear beforehand that I have absolutely no intention of competing for the One Sword and Three Eagles. Rather, it is because fifteen years ago, my sect's eldest senior brother had a feud with the Three Righteous Brothers. They agreed to settle it fifteen years later. Even if the Three Righteous Brothers are dead, their remains must be found to wash away the humiliation of having his limbs severed back then. Now that the Tomb of the Three Righteous Brothers is right before our eyes, please forgive this humble Taoist for taking the first step."
He then turned to Li Yufeng and barked:
"Wicked woman, since you have stood up to protect the Tomb of the Three Righteous Brothers in your capacity as their wife, this humble Taoist will no longer show any courtesy!"
Yun Zhonghe did not care whether the others agreed or not, and shouted loudly:
"Charge!"
With that, he led three of his disciples forward. His right foot stomped down like lightning on the coiled Golden Silk Dragon-Locking Whip on the ground, while both of his hands clawed outward, his ten fingers like hooks executing the move "Crane Snatching Golden Coins" as he lunged at Li Yufeng's face.
Upon Yun Zhonghe's command, the other three Taoists drew their longswords simultaneously, launching a pincer attack from the front.
Praise be to the Hairpin Phoenix; she had endured in silence until now, letting the opponent hurl insults while she focused her mind and gathered her inner energy, ready to face the enemy by using stillness to overcome motion.
Seeing that Yun Zhonghe had unleashed the extremely swift, powerful, and perilous "Crane-Shape Technique" right from the start, she did not wait for his right foot to stomp down. She swiftly retracted her long whip, and with a sharp *whoosh*, swept it to the right like lightning. The body of the whip grazed the ground, while its tip reared up three feet high.
A short, stout Taoist rushing in from the right did not expect her technique to be so incredibly fast. Unable to dodge in time, he was struck squarely on his Qihai acupoint by the tip of the whip and collapsed to the ground, dead instantly.
The momentum of the whip remained swift and powerful. Li Yufeng suddenly spun around, accelerating the whip's force even further. As another Taoist lunged at her back with his longsword, Li Yufeng struck out with her left palm using the move "Crimson Phoenix Spreading Wings" from a distance. With a loud *bang*, the Taoist, along with his sword, was blasted off his feet and sent plunging into the abyss.
Meanwhile, without retracting her long whip, she swept it toward a long-bearded Taoist, wrapping it around his ankle, and barked:
"Down!"
Sure enough, the Taoist crashed to the ground, his skull shattered, dying instantly.
Having failed to stomp on the long whip, Yun Zhonghe knew he had miscalculated, but he still hoped to grab his opponent and turn the tide of the battle.
Little did he know, Li Yufeng was the beloved disciple of the Divine Nun, having mastered all the ultimate techniques of Snow Mountain. Her mastery of the Golden Silk Dragon-Locking Whip had reached the pinnacle of perfection. For nearly ten years, she had been living in seclusion under Mount Luofu, repenting behind closed doors.
Aside from passing down all of her own sect's martial arts to her beloved daughter Yu'er, she had also reviewed the ultimate techniques of the Three Righteous Brothers from when they were alive, teaching her daughter as much as she could remember.
Consequently, her own martial arts had also inadvertently progressed by leaps and bounds. Facing Yun Zhonghe's claw strike, she simply turned her body and evaded it with utmost ease.
Seeing his double claws miss their mark again, Yun Zhonghe knew it would be difficult to win. He hastily leaped backward and shouted:
"Watch your lower stance!"
But it was too late. Seeing his three companions lose their lives to the opponent's Golden Silk Dragon-Locking Whip in the blink of an eye, he was so terrified that a cold sweat broke out all over his body. Daring not stay any longer, he hurriedly said:
"Wicked woman! Remember this debt, we shall meet again!"
With that, he leaped and fled down the hill.
Just then, several agonizing shrieks suddenly rang out from the mountain peak on the right. Li Yufeng knew her beloved daughter had engaged in battle, and judging by the noise, the enemies were not few. Worried that her daughter was alone and vulnerable, and lacking experience in being flanked by enemies like this, she feared the girl would inevitably face grave danger.
However, she did not dare to leave the hill, fearing the bandits would destroy the Sanyi Mound. Hesitating and calculating her options, she decided to risk launching a rapid offensive to eliminate the enemies before her first, before going to rescue her daughter.
Just as she made her decision, she suddenly saw a white figure leap up from beneath the pine canopy, flying straight toward the mountain peak. The movement was so swift that everyone present was stunned.
Li Yufeng's heart shook. With a sharp "whoosh," her long whip swept out with indescribable power, forcing the surrounding enemies to retreat in terror.
Seizing the momentum, she swung her long whip, striking at Dujiao Toutuo's Renzhong acupoint. The moment her opponent leaned aside to dodge, she immediately leaped and shot straight toward the mountain peak.
According to Li Yufeng's calculations, Dujiao Toutuo possessed the highest martial arts among them. As long as she could distract him, she could easily escape. With the superb lightness skill of the Xueshan Sect, it should not be difficult at all.
But her calculations were completely wrong. She had forgotten Minshan Qiaozi. Just as she lifted off the ground, a figure flickered, and Minshan Qiaozi stood blocking her path, shouting:
"Vile woman, do you think you can escape so easily without leaving anything behind?"
At the same time, he swung both hands, attacking to the left and right with the move "Parting Flowers and Brushing Willows."
Seeing that her opponent's attack was too fast and powerful, and that he had already closed in, Li Yufeng could not use her long whip. She struck straight down from above with the move "Flowers Bloom and Fall" from the Three Eagles Form. As her hand neared the top of his head, she suddenly changed her palm into a claw. Before the claw could connect, she suddenly changed it into a finger strike, pointing at Minshan Qiaozi's Jianjing acupoint.
Minshan Qiaozi had always relied on his decades of inner power. His Twelve Forms of the Dragon-Shaped Palm had traveled across the five southwestern provinces without ever meeting an equal, and his palm strikes were incredibly fast and powerful, rarely seen in the martial world.
Although he had only used seventy to eighty percent of his power for this "Parting Flowers and Brushing Willows" move, because he had struck suddenly while his opponent was unprepared, he was confident he would succeed.
Yet, by the time the move unfolded and the palm wind erupted, his opponent had already retreated six or seven feet and easily dodged it by tilting her body.
While still in shock, he suddenly saw Li Yufeng's left palm striking toward him. Thinking she intended to meet him head-on, he hastily increased his power to strike back, only to see her suddenly change her palm into a claw, clawing down at the top of his head. He had no choice but to tilt his head to the side. Believing he had evaded her claw strike, he prepared to launch a counterattack.
Little did he know that the ultimate technique of the Three Eagles Form was unpredictably versatile. Every single move and stance contained up to three variations, both swift and precise. No matter how high an opponent's martial arts or how rich their experience, without prior knowledge, it was nearly impossible to defend against.
Minshan Qiaozi was perhaps growing senile in his old age. Having dodged the claw strike, he should have taken two steps back before changing his move to counterattack.
Who would have thought that out of sheer anger and eagerness to win, compounded by his arrogant nature and constant underestimation of his enemies, he would not only refuse to retreat but actually press forward? He launched his right palm with the move "Green Dragon Splashing Water" toward Li Yufeng's midsection.
Just as Minshan Qiaozi's palm force erupted, Li Yufeng had already changed her claw into a finger strike, hitting his right Jianjing acupoint. Instantly, he felt his entire body go limp, and he collapsed to the ground.
Furious at her opponent's sneak attack, Li Yufeng resolved to take his life. Just as her left hand struck his acupoint, her right foot seized the momentum to kick his Men acupoint, while the long whip in her right hand simultaneously swung down toward the crown of Minshan Qiaozi's head.
Right then, a loud shout suddenly rang out:
“Wretched woman, stop at once!”
Immediately following was the sound of hidden weapons tearing through the air, showering down upon Li Yufeng like a freezing winter rain.
Detecting it just in time, Li Yufeng abandoned her attempt to injure her enemy. She hurriedly whirled her long whip to shield her body. Amidst a continuous clattering of metal, the hidden weapons were all deflected.
Taking advantage of the opening, the bandits rushed forward and rescued Minshan Qiaozi, pulling him back.
While Li Yufeng was still seething with anger, Dujiao Toutuo stepped forward and bellowed:
“Filthy woman, leave your life here!”
At the same time, he swung the iron horn in his hand, bringing it down toward the crown of Li Yufeng's head.
The bandits, wielding over twenty different weapons, surrounded Li Yufeng in the center.
Seeing that her opponents had the advantage of numbers, Li Yufeng had no choice but to exert her full strength, whipping her long whip to hold them off. She kept them at a distance of seven feet, preventing them from drawing near; even Dujiao Toutuo could not advance a single step.
However, these bandits were all renowned figures from both the orthodox and unorthodox paths. Aside from Dujiao Toutuo, there were Dageng Kuangsheng, the Meiling Twin Heroes, the Changbai Twin Tigers, and the Jinling Twin Demons, all of whom possessed formidable martial arts. Moreover, their objective was the Yi Jian San Ying, and having traveled from afar to get here, how could they easily give up?
Dujiao Toutuo possessed profound internal energy. When unleashed, the iron horn in his hand let out a terrifying howl. After launching two attacks, he had already gauged his opponent's strengths and weaknesses.
He realized that although the moves of Li Yufeng's Golden Silk Dragon-Locking Whip were pure and changed rapidly, it had the flaw of being too long, always leaving her right side exposed when she struck.
Thus, Dujiao Toutuo exploited this vulnerability. He attacked with his iron horn from the left, baiting Li Yufeng's long whip to sweep out in defense. He then immediately seized the opportunity to close the distance, shifting his iron horn to strike her right flank while lunging forward, his left hand thrusting out to strike Li Yufeng's Men acupoint.
As Li Yufeng's long whip swept to the left, Dujiao Toutuo managed to evade it, but the eldest brother of the Changbai Three Tigers and two others were struck.
Dahu, bearing the brunt of the blow, was hooked in his Xiemen acupoint by the tip of the whip and fell to the ground, dying instantly.
As for the other two, one had both ankles shattered by the whip, while the other was struck in his Yongquan acupoint; both tumbled down into the deep abyss.
Because the momentum of the whip was too fast to be recalled in time, Dujiao Toutuo seized the chance to close in, his iron horn unleashing a fierce attack accompanied by a bizarre, howling sound.
Li Yufeng had no time to pull back her whip to defend herself. Seeing that she was about to be killed or injured under Dujiao Toutuo's iron horn, it was fortunate that she possessed profound internal cultivation, and her lightness skill was directly inherited from the Xueshan Sect. Furthermore, through ten years of secluded cultivation, she had comprehended the mysteries of the San Ying Secret Manual of the Three Heroes; every single move, from beginning to end, contained three major variations. Most importantly, her reactions were lightning-fast, and she remained calm in the face of danger.
As she spun, without waiting for the iron horn to draw near, she leaped three feet into the air. With her upper body tilting to the right and her torso twisting to the left, she swung her hand, sending the Golden Silk Dragon-Locking Whip sweeping backward.
Thus, not only did Li Yufeng evade the iron horn, but her long whip also forced those who had drawn close to take a step back.
Although she dodged with extreme agility, she only managed to avoid injury to her flesh; the tip of the iron horn swept across her flank, tearing a gash over five inches long in her white robe.
Having escaped danger, Li Yufeng's heart blazed with fury. The Golden Silk Dragon-Locking Whip in her hand danced like thunder and lightning, mostly striking at the vital points of the One-Horned Dhuta.
Seeing her like a frenzied beast, her long whip sweeping east and west, the bandits could no longer find an opening to launch an attack.
Moreover, fewer than ten of the bandits were still alive at this point. They could not coordinate a joint attack, yet none dared to face her in single combat.
Only the One-Horned Dhuta, whose underhanded trick had failed and who had nearly been struck by her long whip, was filled with both shame and rage. He recalled the solemn oath he had made to his senior brother, the Iron-Armed Monk, before journeying south: if he did not wipe out the remnants of the Three Heroes, avenge his brother's grievance, and seize the "One Sword, Three Eagles", he would never return to the mountain.
In his mind, Li Yufeng was merely the mistress of one of the Three Heroes. Although she was a disciple of the Divine Nun of Tieshan, the Nun had gone on a spiritual journey thirty years ago and had not returned; how much martial arts could Li Yufeng have possibly learned?
Never did he expect that his momentary carelessness and underestimation of her martial arts would not only cause his sneak attack to fail but also nearly leave him wounded. Gritting his teeth, he risked everything to launch a desperate assault.
Wielding his iron horn, he unleashed the entirety of his life's learning in a full-force attack. For a moment, whip and horn became entangled in a blur, making it impossible for anyone else to intervene.
In an instant, the two had exchanged sixty or seventy moves. The One-Horned Dhuta could not gain the slightest upper hand, while Li Yufeng, anxious for her daughter and unable to break free to rescue her, could not secure a victory despite unleashing her ultimate techniques.
Whip and horn clashed faster and more fiercely, whipping up a howling gale that sent sand and stones flying. In the blink of an eye, another fifty moves passed.
The One-Horned Dhuta was struck once behind his shoulder and once on his hip, while Li Yufeng's sleeves and the hem of her robe were slashed in several places. With their inner power evenly matched, neither could gain the upper hand.
Indeed, when top masters clashed, every inch mattered. By now, their movements had slowed; neither struck recklessly anymore, instead focusing their minds to contest with pure inner strength.
The onlookers among the bandits stood dazed, not even daring to breathe heavily, their entire attention riveted on the battle.
The Minshan Woodcutter, having been rescued by his companions, sat beneath a patch of thorny grass. Someone was helping him channel his energy to unblock his acupoints. Although his pain had eased and his mind had cleared, the acupoint-sealing techniques of the Xueshan Sect were unlike those of other sects; without their unique unblocking method, the acupoints could not be cleared. Consequently, half of his body remained paralyzed, leaving him unable to stand. He could only prop himself up with his right hand, watching the fight in a half-reclining, half-sitting posture.
Seeing that he could not secure a victory after so long, the One-Horned Dhuta grew extremely frustrated. Sweat began to drench his entire body. He hated Li Yufeng to the bone, but every whip strike she delivered was so treacherous that he could barely catch his breath.
Li Yufeng's heart burned with anxiety. She knew that if the fight dragged on like this, even if she did not lose, Yu'er, fighting the horde of demons alone, would hardly be able to survive.
Just as she was consumed by worry, she suddenly saw a figure leap down from the clifftop, letting out a series of thunderous roars that echoed throughout the valley.
Li Yufeng was suddenly startled, her focus shattering. Her long whip swept across a sharp rock outcropping over five inches high, and the hook at the tip of the whip snagged tightly onto the rock, making it impossible to yank free for the moment.
Overjoyed at the sight, Dujiao Doutuo roared:
"Let's see how you escape this time!"
At the same time, he channeled all his lifelong inner energy into the iron horn in his right hand, thrusting it like lightning toward Li Yufeng's Shenfeng acupoint.
In that moment of extreme peril, seeing Dujiao Doutuo closing in, Li Yufeng suddenly gritted her teeth and shouted:
"Strike!"
She swung her right hand, sweeping outward with the handle of her whip.
This move was so unexpected that Dujiao Doutuo could not dodge in time, and the long whip wrapped around his torso twice.
Her killing intent flaring, Li Yufeng channeled the Dala Divine Skill into her left hand, grabbing a handful of thorny grass nearby, while her right hand pulled a Phoenix-Head hairpin from her hair.
Then, using the "Celestial Maiden Scattering Flowers" technique, she threw them with her left hand. The thorny grass, hard as steel, scattered outward. The bandits standing nearby shrieked in agony one after another, and not a single one survived.
Simultaneously, she threw the Phoenix-Head hairpin with her right hand. It turned into a streak of silver light and pierced straight into the large lump on Dujiao Doutuo's head, bursting the lump and cracking his skull, killing him instantly.
Lying prone on the ground, Minshan Xiaozi had been immensely delighted to see Li Yufeng unable to retrieve her long whip and looking panicked. Seeing that Dujiao Doutuo's iron horn was about to strike her, and believing she could not possibly escape death, he was so overjoyed that he forced himself to sit up and dragged his body to hide behind a patch of grass.
Unexpectedly, just as he was gloating, a flash of the whip's shadow appeared, Dujiao Doutuo collapsed to the ground, and the bandits shrieked miserably, falling dead one by one. He was instantly stunned.
Knowing that escape was impossible now, he had no choice but to seize the initiative and strike first. He pulled a pair of Iron Eagle Claws from his robes and hurled them with a swing of his arm.
Li Yufeng was also momentarily careless, forgetting that Minshan Xiaozi was not yet dead. Seeing Dujiao Doutuo dead, she let out a cold sneer and walked over to his corpse, pulling out her hairpin with one hand and untangling her whip with the other, anxious to retrieve her weapons and go rescue her beloved daughter.
When she heard an unusual sound behind her, she tried to dodge but it was too late. The Iron Eagle Claw struck her Tianzong acupoint on her left shoulder. She shrieked in pain and immediately collapsed to the ground.
Still burning with hatred, Minshan Xiaozi grinned wickedly and cursed:
"Vile wench, here is another one for you, to send you to the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss!"
At the same time, the second Iron Eagle Claw left his hand and flew through the air. At that very instant, several long whistles echoed from the clifftop, and two white figures swooped down from above as if flying.
Before they even arrived, their palm strikes were unleashed. Before Minshan Xiaozi could even see his opponents clearly, he felt a powerful wave of inner force surge toward him, striking him right in the chest. He instantly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his internal organs shattered, and he fell to the ground, dead.
One of the white figures was the youth who had been hiding under the pine tree, while the white figure landing next to Li Yufeng was Xu Yu'er.
The two of them hurriedly bent down to examine Li Yufeng's wound, involuntarily let out a cry of alarm, and knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly.
As it turned out, Xu Yu'er had been informed by her mother that a fierce battle would take place today in front of the Sanyi Tomb, and over the past two years, she had also learned quite a lot about her own background. Though she was young, she possessed extraordinary resolve. Wanting to personally avenge her father and reclaim the One Sword and Three Eagles, she had diligently practiced her martial arts with all her might.
Li Yufeng also passed down all her lifelong martial arts to her, planning to wait until she mastered the few ultimate techniques that she vaguely remembered from her father's Three Eagles Secret Manual. First, she would take her up to Snow Mountain to pay respects to the Sect Leader, her Eldest Senior Sister. After that, they would re-enter the martial world to track down the true culprit who had murdered the Three Heroes and stolen the One Sword, Three Eagles. Once her wish was fulfilled, she would retire to a Buddhist convent and spend the rest of her days serving the Buddha.
One day, while passing through Boluo City, Li Yufeng happened to run into a fellow senior sister from her sect. Having been separated for twenty years, how could they not yearn for each other's company? Thus, they went to an ancient temple on the outskirts of the city to catch up, chatting until late into the night without returning. Left alone at home, Xu Yu'er watched the rain pour down after dusk, when suddenly, two men knocked on the door, seeking shelter from the storm.
Young and naive, Xu Yu'er saw that their clothes were soaking wet. Since it was early winter and freezing cold, she could not bear to turn them away. She let them into the main hall, built a fire for them to dry their clothes, and even brought out food to entertain them.
To her surprise, seeing how vulnerable Xu Yu'er was, the two men harbored wicked intentions. Taking advantage of the moment she went into her room to change her clothes, they barged in—one attempting to molest her, while the other ransacked the room for valuables.
But Xu Yu'er was not about to let them have their way. Before the bandit could even get close, she used the stance "Shedding the Robe, Shifting the Position" to leap out of the room. Reaching out, she snatched the Golden Thread Dragon-Locking Whip from the wall and immediately unleashed a lethal strike, lashing the bandit across the back and sending him fleeing from the house.
Furious, Xu Yu'er ignored the other bandit still in the room and chased after the fleeing one with her long whip. However, after a short distance, he vanished from sight. When she returned home, she found the room completely ransacked.
When Li Yufeng returned home and searched for their missing belongings, she found that every single piece of valuable jewelry was gone. Even the iron box containing the relics of the Three Heroes, which had been hidden away with great care, had been stolen.
Li Yufeng knew that once the relics of the Three Heroes fell into the hands of outsiders, her whereabouts would be exposed, drawing attention to the Three Eagles Secret Manual. Both the orthodox and unorthodox paths of the martial world would surely spare no effort to hunt them down, and she would never know peace again.
Sure enough, less than a month later, the Six Eccentrics of Minshan came looking for them. Li Yufeng used a ruse to deceive them, promising that in one year's time, she would go to the Tomb of the Three Heroes on Mount Luofu, gather their fellow martial artists, and publicly reveal the One Sword, Three Eagles. This was a ploy to lure out the true culprit who had murdered the Three Heroes, so she could settle this blood debt once and for all.
Thus, Xu Yu'er was in high spirits along the way, her mind constantly plotting how to slay their enemies and exact her revenge.
At this moment, she spotted traces of the enemy at the top of the cliff. Without the slightest hesitation, she informed her mother and immediately executed the Snow Mountain Sect's lightweight skill, the Seven-Step Cloud Ladder, leaping up toward the cliff's summit.
This cliff was about fifteen zhang high, consisting entirely of sheer, moss-covered rock faces. It was difficult not only for humans but even for beasts to scale; even rabbits, monkeys, or apes would struggle to climb it.
As she walked up the steps of the hill, Xu Yu'er had already taken note of her surroundings, especially this cliffside. Furthermore, since she often practiced her martial arts in this area, she remembered the footholds very well. Thus, as soon as she vaulted nearly three zhang into the air, her hands grabbed onto a pine root. Using the momentum to swing herself up another zhang, she landed in a rocky crevice to her right.
She continued to leap upward, choosing only the uneven protrusions of the rock. With just three more bounds, she landed on a flat stone less than seven feet from the top of the cliff.
Xu Yu'er was exceptionally intelligent. Upon reaching that spot, she did not act rashly. First, she calmed her mind, regulated her breathing, and listened to the activity on the mountaintop. Only then did she draw the Seven-Star Linked Chain wrapped around her waist and hold it in her hand.
Next, she picked up a large stone and flung it up onto the cliff. As she had predicted, the moment the bandits above saw the dark shadow, they mistook it for an approaching enemy, and seven or eight weapons instantly slashed down.
Seizing this opportunity, Xu Yu'er leaped up, soaring over the heads of the bandits. Before she even landed, she whipped her Linked Chain straight out, sweeping it down from above.
This Seven-Star Linked Chain consisted of seven star-shaped rings with extremely sharp edges. Anyone struck by it would surely have their flesh torn and bones shattered; if they did not die, they would be severely wounded.
Of the six burly men guarding the cliff's edge, two died instantly with crushed skulls, three had their spines broken, and one suffered a broken leg. All of them fell to the ground, groaning in agony.
Delighted by the success of her single strike, Xu Yu'er leaped onto a sharp jutting rock and let out a ringing laugh.
Now she could clearly see seven or eight more enemies ahead. Two were broad-shouldered and thick-backed like tigers and bears, tall and robust; another was skeletal and gaunt, with veins bulging prominently. There were old and young, men and women, tall and short, all of their eyes burning with fierce, hateful glares, weapons gripped tightly in their hands, ready to strike.
This was the first time Xu Yu'er had faced so many formidable enemies, but like a newborn calf that fears no tiger, she found it very strange that they all stood frozen and motionless. She called out:
"Hey! You dog-like bandits, what's wrong with you? Have you all gone to sleep?"
Although these bandits were ruthless killers who did not blink an eye, they had never seen a young girl with such formidable martial skills.
In their minds, anyone who could scale a slippery cliff over ten zhang high and throw a stone to lure the enemy like that had to be either the mistress of the Three Brothers or a seasoned Jianghu master over fifty years old.
To their utter astonishment, she turned out to be a young girl of only fourteen or fifteen. Moreover, seeing the exotic weapon in her hand, which had wounded six of their experts in a single move, they were deeply shaken. Although her inner force lacked refinement, her techniques were incredibly swift and marvelous—a truly rare sight.
Among them was a young woman of about twenty-three or twenty-four. Always arrogant and conceited, her face turned pale and her eyebrows arched in anger upon hearing Xu Yu'er's words. Stepping forward, she barked furiously:
"Impudent wench, do not be so arrogant! First, taste a strike from the blade of Mo Ying'e, the Blue Butterfly!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she thrust the Willow-Leaf Gold-Backed Saber in her hand toward Xu Yu'er's Qikan acupoint with the move "Butterfly Plucking the Flower's Heart."
Pampered by her mother since childhood, Xu Yu'er had never been insulted like this. Hearing the woman call her an impudent wench, she was instantly consumed with rage.
Seeing that the woman had attacked without even waiting for a reply, she did not hold back either. Leaping off the rock, she swung her Seven-Star Linked Chain to meet the attack.
Both charged forward with incredible speed, their lightness skills nearly equal. Although Xu Yu'er's cultivation was weaker, her weapon was longer and heavier, giving her the advantage. The two figures collided in mid-air, the wind whipping loudly through their robes.
In the blink of an eye, their weapons clashed. Amidst a rapid succession of metallic clangs and flying sparks, the two figures suddenly parted and landed back on the ground.
Once they regained their footing, they glared furiously at each other. Checking their weapons, Xu Yu'er's Linked Chain was completely unscathed, while Mo Ying'e's Willow-Leaf Gold-Backed Saber had a large chip taken out of its blade.
Since making her debut, the Blue Butterfly Mo Ying'e had never suffered such a setback. Filled with sudden rage, she held her Golden-backed Saber close in the stance of "Leaping Horse with Spear Athwart" and lunged forward once more.
When she was about two feet away from Xu Yu'er, her Golden-backed Saber suddenly executed the stance "Butterfly Flitting Through Flowers," thrusting toward her waist. In her fury, Mo Ying'e poured all her strength into this strike, her hand moving so fast it was a blur. Had her opponent's martial arts been weak, severe injury or death would have been inevitable.
Although this was Xu Yu'er's first time facing a formidable enemy, she had spent most of her training sparring with Li Yufeng, so her mind remained calm and she did not flinch in the slightest.
Waiting until Mo Ying'e's Willow-Butterfly Golden-backed Saber drew near, she nimbly dodged to the side, took a step back with her right foot, and gripped both ends of her Linked Chain, pressing down hard.
It appeared as though she was pressing down on the spine of the blade, but her left hand suddenly flicked upward. One end of the Linked Chain slipped from her grasp and swept to the right with lightning speed. With a sharp *clang*, the Golden-backed Saber was knocked flying.
Before the momentum of Xu Yu'er's Three Eagles Linked Stance could fade, she suddenly twisted her wrist. The Linked Chain straightened out instantly, pointing directly at the heart of the charging Blue Butterfly, Mo Ying'e.
Xu Yu'er executed the ultimate technique "Houyi Shoots the Sun" from the Three Eagles Stance with extreme agility and precision. It was incredibly difficult to evade; no matter how high the Blue Butterfly's martial arts were, her chest would surely have been pierced.
Fortunately, Xu Yu'er had no intention of dealing a lethal blow. She suddenly lowered her wrist, pulled back her right hand, and flicked the end of the chain upward, hooking the purple bandana wrapped around the Blue Butterfly's head.
Mo Ying'e, the Blue Butterfly, was extremely proud and had never accepted defeat in her life. Having been bested by Xu Yu'er in front of a large crowd today, she felt it was a massive humiliation. Lacking the face to stay any longer, she turned and leaped away, calling out:
"Until we meet again!"
Xu Yu'er did not pursue her. She retrieved her Linked Chain, tucked the purple bandana into her robes, and was just about to call out a challenge when a figure stepped in front of her, letting out a strange, cackling laugh.
Xu Yu'er looked over and saw an old man well past seventy. He had a long silver beard flowing down to his chest, and his temples bulged prominently, marking him as an internal martial arts master. She heard him shout in a booming voice:
"Little girl, who are you? How dare you meddle in this business! Get lost, quickly!"
Seeing the other party adopt such a patronizing tone, Xu Yu'er found it ridiculous and cursed him in her mind:
"You old fool, you don't even recognize the daughter of the Three Heroes, yet you dare to contend for the One Sword, Three Eagles!"
With that thought, she sneered and said:
"You are a strange old man. This young lady hasn't even asked who you are, yet you dare to question me. Let me tell you, this young lady is the daughter of the Three Heroes. If you want to see the One Sword, Three Eagles..."
The old man laughed loudly, cutting her off:
"Excellent! Since the Three Heroes have a girl like you, they can die in peace! I, Fang Hun, the Lao Shan Old Butcher, have finally found the rightful debtor. Friends, let us charge together! Let's end this quickly so we can attend to our main business."
As soon as he finished speaking, the pair of Judge's Pens in his hands thrust forward, targeting Xu Yu'er's shoulders.
The moment the bandits heard Xu Yu'er reveal her identity, even before the Lao Shan Old Butcher could speak, they rushed forward together. Over a dozen weapons lunged from all directions in a coordinated assault, all aiming for Xu Yu'er's vital points.
Though small in stature, Xu Yu'er was incredibly brave and did not fully grasp the danger she was in. She managed to handle the first dozen moves with ease, but due to her weak inner power and lack of combat experience, she soon began to struggle. Although she exerted all her skills, desperately holding her ground with the Three Eagles Linked Stance, as the fight wore on, she began to expose numerous openings.
By the time a hundred moves had passed, she was drenched in sweat and panting heavily, repeatedly finding herself in grave danger. She knew full well that if this continued, injury or death would be inevitable, yet she could not bring herself to stop and admit defeat.
Xu Yu'er calculated silently. Rather than fleeing, it was better to risk her life and take down as many as she could; at the very least, it would ease some of the pressure, avenge her father to some degree, and reduce the number of enemies her mother had to face.
Since she had already resolved to sacrifice her life to avenge her father, what was there to regret in death?
Thus, she brandished the Seven Stars Linked Chains like flying dragons and dancing phoenixes, desperately sweeping down three or four of the bandits.
However, this also exposed many openings. Her left upper arm was slashed twice by Laoshan Lao Tu's iron brush; though the wounds were not deep, they bled profusely and stung sharply, forcing her to retreat repeatedly.
Seeing that Xu Yu'er was at the end of her rope and could no longer hold out, Laoshan Lao Tu barked:
"Little girl, if you want to live, tell me where the One Sword, Three Eagles is right now! Otherwise, this old man will take your life!"
At the same time, his hands wielded the Judge's Brushes like a driving winter rain, thrusting toward Xu Yu'er's face.
Although Xu Yu'er was exhausted, her mind remained sharp. She knew full well she was no match for Laoshan Lao Tu, but since they had been fighting for so long and he had yet to deal a lethal blow, he clearly intended to force her submission so she would reveal the hiding place of the Three Eagles Secret Manual.
Hearing his words now, she knew she had guessed correctly; as long as he did not know where the Three Eagles Secret Manual was hidden, he would not dare to kill her.
Thus, she fought back even more boldly, her Seven Stars Linked Chains lashing out continuously. In the blink of an eye, another twenty moves passed. Although she managed to sweep down another bandit, she also sustained several wounds to her arms, thighs, hips, and back.
Just then, as Xu Yu'er swept her Seven Stars Linked Chains outward, they became snagged in the crescent-hooked spear of a bandit, and she could not break them free.
With Xu Yu'er now almost completely depleted of strength, Laoshan Lao Tu shouted in delight:
"Capture this little girl alive!"
He then rushed forward ahead of the others, raising his pair of Judge's Brushes menacingly.
But just as Laoshan Lao Tu finished speaking, a sharp whistle suddenly rang out from the sky, followed by a shout:
"It won't be that easy!"
Following that, a white figure swooped down as swift as lightning. Before his feet even touched the ground, he lightly flicked his sleeves, sending a surge of powerful energy outward. The bandit wielding the crescent-hooked spear immediately collapsed to the ground, his spear snapped in two.
The white-clothed man thrust both palms forward, dropped his right leg, swept his left leg across, and barked:
"Begone!"
The two large men in front of him were remarkably obedient; following his shout, they tumbled straight down into the abyss.
Laoshan Lao Tu was shocked by this sight. The pair of Judge's Brushes in his hands faltered for a fraction of a second, and his ankles were struck by the gust of palm energy. Instantly numbed, he fell to the ground and rolled over ten feet before springing back up, standing frozen in place.
In her moment of peril, Xu Yu'er caught sight of the white figure swooping down. Thinking that the enemies below the cliff had succeeded and that her mother must have met with disaster, her heart filled with horror and grief, and she nearly fainted on the spot.
Gritting her teeth to compose herself, she was about to strain to pull her Linked Chains back to block and attack the newcomer, resolved to fight to the death.
To her surprise, the white figure merely flashed before her eyes, and she suddenly felt her hand lighten as the Linked Chains snapped back toward her without requiring any effort at all.
Following that, the bandits fell one after another with miserable shrieks, and even Laoshan Lao Tu was forced back. Utterly astonished, she stood there dazed, completely forgetting to strike.
Knocked down by his opponent's single palm strike, Laoshan Laotu was not severely injured, but having his decades of inner power overcome by a mere brat who sent him rolling on the ground left him utterly humiliated and furious. Brandishing his Judge's brushes, he roared:
"Damn brat, you're looking for death!"
He then leapt forward, executing the "Chasing the Stars and Overtaking the Moon" stance from the Kuixing Brush Technique, aiming at both flanks of the white-robed youth.
By this time, the bandits on the cliff were almost all dead or wounded. Aside from Laoshan Laotu, only one man holding a large axe remained, standing frozen and not daring to step forward.
The white-robed youth, his blood up and his movements ceaseless, did not wait for Laoshan Laotu to draw near. He leapt behind the burly axe-wielder, effortlessly reached out to grab him, hoisted him up, and threw him straight at the incoming Judge's brushes, forcing Laoshan Laotu to leap backward to avoid him.
Although Laoshan Laotu retreated quickly and did not directly harm the burly axe-wielder, the force of the throw was so immense that the man flew nearly three zhang. With a loud crash, he slammed into a protruding rock on the cliff face, his bones shattered and flesh mangled, dying a gruesome death.
Seeing that the newcomer was a handsome youth in scholar's robes, Xu Yu'er knew he was not an enemy. Since he had stepped in to help her, her mind was instantly put at ease, and her strength surged.
Hating Laoshan Laotu to the bone, she saw him forced to retreat with his back turned to her. With a loud shout, she swung her Seven Stars Linked Chains, bringing them down toward the crown of Laoshan Laotu's head.
Laoshan Laotu had barely caught his breath when he heard the shout behind him. He spun around in a hurry, only to find Xu Yu'er's Linked Chains already coming down. Panicked, he hastily raised his dual brushes to block.
Unexpectedly, Xu Yu'er's Seven Stars Linked Chains were incredibly versatile. The moment they clashed with his dual brushes, she flicked her right hand, causing the tip of the chain to hook downward and wrap around the brushes. She then yanked back with sudden force.
Laoshan Laotu was horrified as the webs of his thumbs split open, and the pair of Judge's brushes flew out of his grip. Letting out a bizarre shriek, he leapt down the cliff to flee.
Her anger still unappeased, Xu Yu'er swung her Linked Chains and leapt after him in pursuit.
The scholar-robed youth hastily said:
"Sister, do not pursue!"
At the same time, he spread his arms to block Xu Yu'er's path, continuing:
"It is better to follow me down to save the others!"
Without waiting for Xu Yu'er's reply, he leapt down the cliff.
Xu Yu'er had just leapt when she was held back by two gusts of wind from his sleeves. She was about to scold him when she heard him mention saving people below. Suddenly remembering her mother, who was locked in a fierce battle at the bottom of the cliff, she immediately followed the scholar-robed youth and leapt down.
Plunging down from the clifftop, the scholar-robed youth caught sight of someone behind a patch of grass attempting a sneak attack on the beautiful middle-aged lady from behind. In his urgency, he unleashed a "Xiantian Yiqi Palm" strike from mid-air, aiming to deflect the hidden weapons.
Unfortunately, he was a step too late. Just as he unleashed his palm strike, the beautiful middle-aged lady let out a tragic shriek.
Furious at the assailant's cruelty, the scholar-robed youth took advantage of his rapid descent to strike the person's chest with his palm. The assailant's chest bones shattered instantly, killing him on the spot.
Following closely behind the scholar-robed youth, Xu Yu'er saw her injured mother fall to the ground. Overcome with grief, a rush of blood surged to her chest. She could only cry out "Mother!" before fainting and collapsing.
The scholar-robed youth arrived at the same moment. Seeing Xu Yu'er collapse, he quickly reached out to catch her, gently laid her on the ground, and hastily slipped two Jiuxuan Soul-Returning Pills into her mouth.
Then he turned around to examine Li Yufeng's injuries. Seeing blood streaming from her shoulder, he realized she had only fainted from the pain and her life was not in danger, which set his mind at ease.
He was about to reach out and lift her up, but suddenly drew his hands back, looking hesitant. After pondering for a moment, he leaned close to Li Yufeng's ear and whispered:
"Auntie, I am your nephew, Ge Jibai. I am treating your wounds now!"
Having said this to avoid any impropriety, he lifted Li Yufeng and placed her across his knees. With the tender care of a close relative, he gently pulled back her sleeve. But when he took a closer look, he couldn't help but gasp in shock.
He discovered that Li Yufeng's shoulder blade was completely shattered, and the concealed weapon was still embedded in the bone. He feared that even if he extracted it immediately, it would be difficult to save her arm from being crippled.
To make matters worse, he was alone and surrounded by danger on all sides, making it impossible to perform proper treatment. He could only take out some medicinal pills, applying some to the wound while feeding the rest to her. After bandaging her up, he let her rest quietly.
About half a cup of tea's time later, Li Yufeng slowly regained consciousness. Finding herself lying in the arms of a young scholar, she barked in a mixture of shame and anger:
"You brat, how dare you..."
But the sudden movement aggravated her wound, and she fainted from the pain once more.
Ge Jibai panicked and hurriedly massaged her acupoints to revive her.
By this time, Xu Yu'er had also just woken up. Thanks to the miraculous medicine she had taken, her strength had recovered. Just then, she heard Li Yufeng's shout:
"You brat, how dare you..."
She sprang to her feet. Seeing the young man in scholarly robes clumsily touching her mother's body, she was instantly consumed by a blazing fury and roared:
"You scoundrel!"
At the same time, she unleashed an empty-handed palm strike from a distance, aiming straight for Ge Jibai's head.
Ge Jibai was leaning over, massaging Li Yufeng's acupoints to ease her pain and heal her injuries, when he suddenly heard Xu Yu'er's angry shout. Realizing she had misunderstood, and hearing the rushing wind of the incoming palm strike, he knew that if he dodged, his aunt in his arms would surely be hurt. On the other hand, if he countered with a strike of his own, he feared Xu Yu'er would not be able to withstand it. Thus, he could only circulate his full inner energy to protect his entire body and take her blow head-on.
This strike of Xu Yu'er's carried ten tenths of her power, fully intending to kill Ge Jibai on the spot. But when she saw that he did not dodge, she realized he was afraid of hurting her mother and would rather take the blow himself. Her heart involuntarily trembled.
She also recalled that this was the person who had rescued her on the cliff top, and had now risked his life to save her mother. He was nothing less than their great benefactor.
But who was he? Since he had come to their rescue, why did he dare to behave so insolently toward her mother?
Amidst her confusion, she managed to pull back most of her palm force, but it still landed with a sharp smack. The recoil left her own palm aching and numb.
Ge Jibai felt nothing from taking her strike, but seeing her eyes blazing with a terrifying glare, and fearing she might strike again, he quickly said in a gentle voice:
"Sister, do not misunderstand!"
Hearing him call her "sister," Xu Yu'er's anger flared up again. She thought to herself:
"This brat must have wicked intentions, trying to take advantage of me while we are in danger!"
Thus, she barked loudly:
"Impudent! Who is your sister? Get lost this instant, or do you want another beating?"
She raised her right hand, making a gesture as if to strike again.
Ge Jibai hurriedly said:
"Please, don't! Auntie's injuries are severe. It would be better if you helped me bandage her wounds so we can take her home for treatment!"
By now, Xu Yu'er realized that he was indeed bandaging her mother's wounds, and her anger instantly subsided.
However, because propriety dictated that men and women should not have physical contact, and they were strangers besides, she did not dare to approach him so casually. Her face flushed crimson, and she said bashfully:
— If you don't step aside, how is this young lady supposed to help?