A suffocating silence hung over the fighting arena, as quiet and hollow as the sudden void in Ma Jingguo's heart. He could do nothing but stand there, a helpless pawn listening to the man who held all the answers.
Wang Zedong watched him with a cold, paternal gaze. "Miao Mingzhu could not kill you," he stated, his voice a chilling smile. "This is because we are a family, and she acted with my permission."
Ma Jingguo finally met his gaze with a fierce, unyielding glare. "The only family I know is my xiao shushu and my late parents. Our blood may be the same, but my last name is Ma, not Wang." He turned his head and looked at Mu Dishi, his voice a passionate declaration. "I will never be your enemy."
Wang Zedong's smile hardened into a cold scowl. "Since Mu Jiao Long took your uncle Changming away from me," he snarled, "our blood and the Mu blood have been enemies."
"Regardless," Ma Jingguo vowed, his voice raw with emotion, "back then, right now, or in the future... I will never be his enemy."
Mu Dishi's voice was as cold as ice, a chilling whisper that cut through the silence. "In order to get me to take the bait for the Mu treasure map," he said, his words a calculated dissection of Wang Zedong's twisted plan. "First, you sacrificed your son, planting him beside Long da ye. Secondly, you used someone else to massacre the entire Mu village, all for the sake of a corpse. Thirdly, you had your own daughter kill your infant granddaughter just to frame me. And finally, you planted your grandson here to secretly learn the secrets of the Killer String. Am I right?"
Wang Zedong smiled, his eyes gleaming with a twisted pride. "That is correct."
Mu Dishi then looked at Ma Jingguo, his gaze devoid of all warmth. "Have you ever lied to me?"
Ma Jingguo, "Yes, I can explain."
"Very well," Mu Dishi said, his voice cold and even. "If you had only killed Long da ye, I might have considered opening the door for you, allowing you to see your son one last time before you died." His face hardened into a mask of pure hatred. "But because of your twisted plot, you borrowed others' hands to slaughter my parents, my sister, and everyone I knew. Today, one of us will die."
He then turned to Ma Jingguo, his eyes as cold as black ice. "You... you reminded me that anyone who wants to be close to me always has a purpose."
As he spoke, Ma Jingguo watched in silent heartbreak as two tears, glistening like diamonds in the sun, slowly streamed down Mu Dishi's cheeks.
For the first time in his life, Ma Jingguo saw Mu Dishi's tears. In the past, no matter how much pain he was in, Mu Dishi never cried in front of anyone. Ma Jingguo knew how deeply he was hurting in this moment, but no one was there to wipe his tears. Seeing them fall, Ma Jingguo's own tears began to stream down his face. He remembered his broken promise to Mu Dishi, to love him a hundred times more than Wang Biming.
Mu Dishi's eyes were cold as he looked at Wang Biming, then Wang Zedong, and finally at Ma Jingguo. "If you don't throw the first punch," he said, his voice a chilling ultimatum, "then I will."
With a chilling look of determination, Mu Dishi charged all of his inner energy into the palm of his right hand. He struck Ma Jingguo on the chest with a devastating blow, without a single shred of mercy.
The force of the strike sent Ma Jingguo flying, his body a helpless projectile that soared forty feet before colliding with a stone tiger statue with a sickening crunch. He fell to the ground, a crimson trail of blood leaking from his lips.
As if his deed were nothing, Mu Dishi calmly pulled on a pair of black metal gloves. He then unleashed five lethal zither strings, sending them flying toward Wang Zedong and Wang Biming.
At the same time, the five elders of the Yueguang Sect flew forward, a sudden, violent storm, and began their assault on Fu Yuanjun and Elder Tong.
In a blinding blur of motion, Kou Jing Song intercepted a punch from a Yueguang elder just as it was about to land on Fu Yuanjun's back. At the same time, another elder struck Elder Tong from behind, but Kuo Lok flew forward and intercepted the attack, a split second before it hit.
As the chaotic brawl erupted, Bazar Batu grabbed Yan Zhanjin's arm and rushed them both toward the gravely injured Ma Jingguo.
The fighting had now split into two fierce duels: Mu Dishi against Wang Zedong and Wang Biming, and Kuo Lok and Kou Jing Song against the five Yueguang elders.
With a united front, the father and son struck the elders with their Heavenly Dragon Palms. The bone-jarring impact of their combined force was a chilling display of power that sent a shiver down the spine of every martial artist in the arena.
With a thunderous clash, one of the Yueguang elders struck at Kuo Lok, who blocked the attack and pushed him forward toward his son. Kou Jing Song pulled the elder in and delivered a powerful strike to his right chest, sending him flying thirty feet away.
The other four elders rushed the father-son duo at once. Kuo Lok and Kou Jing Song gathered their inner energy into their right palms. Together, they unleashed a devastating wave of energy, causing the four elders to crash into each other in a chaotic pile.
Wang Zedong and Wang Biming flew to the roof, a swift escape from Mu Dishi's zither strings. But as they landed, Wang Zedong caught one of the strings and, with a violent jerk, pulled Mu Dishi up onto the rooftop with them. The father and son immediately launched a combined assault; their Devil Fists a blur of brutal power.
Below, Bazar Batu and Yan Zhanjin rushed to the collapsed forms of Ma Jingguo and Zu Suyin. Bazar Batu grabbed Yan Zhanjin's arm, his voice a frantic whisper. "Check him, quickly!"
Yan Zhanjin pulled his arm away. "Don't rush me," he said, his tone sharp. "If you do this, my thinking won't be as good." He then took a moment to compose himself before placing a hand on Ma Jingguo's left wrist.
Ma Jingguo's gaze was fixed on the three men fighting fiercely on the rooftop. With a groan of pain, he pulled his hand away from Yan Zhanjin. "Let go of me," he said, his voice raw.
He slowly rose to his feet and began to walk toward the building. He tried to use his internal strength to leap onto the roof, but his body wouldn't obey. A bone-deep agony surged through him, a stark reminder of his injuries. He tried a second time, a third, and a fourth, each attempt a desperate, futile struggle against his failing body.
Bazar Batu rushed to his side. "Ma ge," he said, his voice filled with concern. "Mu Dishi's strike has caused you serious internal injuries."
Ma Jingguo shook his head, a pained expression on his face. "He didn't do this on purpose," he insisted, grabbing Bazar Batu's hand. "Help me up onto that rooftop."
"Are you crazy?" Bazar Batu said, holding onto Ma Jingguo's arm. "In your condition, I can't help you."
Ma Jingguo pushed him away, his face contorted in a pained grimace. "If you don't want to help me, then don't stand in my way!"
"Mu Dishi hit you so hard, I believe you have some broken ribs," Bazar Batu insisted. "Let Zhanjin check you."
Ma Jingguo's voice rose, his eyes flashing with a fierce, protective anger. "He didn't do this on purpose!"
Yan Zhanjin stepped between the two. "Batu, let him be," he said, his voice calm.
But Ma Jingguo's attention had already shifted. His eyes went wide as he saw Mu Dishi reach for his golden bell. A sudden, cold understanding washed over him.
"Batu," he yelled, his voice now an urgent, frantic command. "Get everyone out of here!"
"What?" Bazar Batu asked, a bewildered plea in his voice.
"Get everyone out of here now!" Ma Jingguo said, his voice a fierce command.
"Why?" Bazar Batu insisted. "I'm not leaving you or Lok ge ge behind."
"Go now and bring your Lok ge ge, too," Ma Jingguo pleaded, his voice tinged with frantic urgency.
"Why do you want us to leave so suddenly?" Bazar Batu pressed.
"Go now, or it will be too late to leave," Ma Jingguo warned, his eyes locking onto Bazar Batu's. "Xiao shushu is about to use his Killer String, the final move, together in hell. When he unleashes its full power, it will send them all to hell... and you, too."
The martial artists surrounding Ma Jingguo gasped, a wave of terror washing over them at the words "together in hell." Panic took hold, and they began to flee the fighting arena in a chaotic stampede.
Bazar Batu watched the panicked stampede, his eyes wide with a bewildered look. "Is it really that scary?" he asked.
"Yes," Ma Jingguo replied, his voice a grim affirmation. "And you need to get out of here now."
"Then let's go together," Bazar Batu countered, a defiant refusal in his eyes. "Mu Dishi is a big man; he can take care of himself."
Ma Jingguo shook his head, his face a mask of resolute finality. "Xiao shushu and I," he said, the words a heartbroken vow, "we live and die together."
Zu Suyin looked at Ma Jingguo and shook her head, a cynical retort barely audible as she muttered, "He doesn't think so."
"You go with them," Ma Jingguo commanded, pushing Zu Suyin toward Bazar Batu. "Go."
The monks and the rest of the Jinfeng Sect also began to flee the arena in a panicked retreat.
Kuo Lok grabbed Bazar Batu's arm, his voice a resolute command. "Batu, let's go. My mother said it's too dangerous."
"I'm not leaving him behind!" Bazar Batu countered, grabbing Ma Jingguo's left arm. "Ma ge, let's get out of here. If Mu Dishi is as powerful as they say, he will definitely win."
With a powerful shove, Ma Jingguo pushed Bazar Batu back toward Kuo Lok. "Take him and leave now!" he yelled, his voice a final, desperate command.
Bazar Batu pulled his hand from Kuo Lok's grip. "Lok ge ge, you go on ahead and take these people away. I will catch up with you," he said, the words a hollow assurance.
Kuo Lok gave him a shrewd look. "You're lying," he said flatly.
Bazar Batu offered a strained smile. "I am not."
"When you lie," Kuo Lok replied, "you smile and act happier than usual."
Ma Jingguo turned to face Bazar Batu, a bittersweet smile on his face. "Batu, I am glad to have met you, but I can't leave xiao shushu behind. I've done a lot of bad things to hurt him, and I will not abandon him now, when he needs me most. You have a family to return to, but my only family is fighting there."
"Ma ge, please," Bazar Batu pleaded, "reconsider and leave with us."
Kuo Lok stepped forward, his voice a resolute vow. "Batu, if you don't leave, then I won't leave either."
"You saved me," Zu Suyin said, her voice quiet but firm, "and I won't leave you behind."
As a tense standoff settled between them, Fu Yuanjun and ten of his elders walked past, a wave of motion that broke the moment. Fu Yuanjun grabbed Ma Jingguo's arm, his voice a frantic urgency. "Ma Xiong, let's go. You know what happens when Mu ge releases the together in hell."
"I know it fully well," Ma Jingguo replied, his voice a final, resigned acknowledgment. "You don't need to explain. Take these people and leave."
Fed up with the endless push-and-shove game, Yan Zhanjin decided to bring an end to it. He took out a silver needle and, with a swift, precise motion, pricked Ma Jingguo on the back of his neck.
Ma Jingguo felt a tiny, sharp prick. His vision became dizzyingly dark. The sight of Mu Dishi fighting fiercely against Wang Zedong and Wang Biming began to fade. As the world grew dim, he saw the five elders of the Yueguang Sect fly onto the roof to join the attack.
"Xiao shushu..." he murmured, a final, frantic whisper before his consciousness mercifully gave way to darkness.
Bazar Batu caught Ma Jingguo's limp body just as it began to fall. He held him close and looked at Yan Zhanjin, his face contorted in a furious shout. "What did you do?"
Yan Zhanjin's voice was cold and tired. "I'm fed up with listening and watching your push-and-pull actions." He turned to Kuo Lok, a grave order in his eyes. "You carry the white-haired man out of here."
As the last group of people fled toward the main doors, a desperate, lonely battle raged on the rooftop. Alone, Mu Dishi fought fiercely against seven of his enemies.