Wu Tong stepped forward slowly and said,"Honored elders! This is no place to linger. Best leave early, or else this young lady's hands may show no mercy!"
Mo Lao-xian's voice turned sinister:"Had the Two Fiends of Mount Li not been gravely injured that day, I would never have let the matter rest so easily!"
In front of "Iron-Palm Ruffian" Master Chuanbei and "Yin-Yang Hand" Elder Anpu, his words sounded righteous and gallant, yet in truth he was bluffing. Back then, Wu Tong had feared cornering a tiger would invite disaster, and thus allowed Mo Lao-xian to walk away. Who would have thought that now, upon meeting again, the old man would boast only of past courage.
After leaving Plum Blossom Village, Mo Lao-xian spread his tale far and wide. To every jianghu figure he met, he bragged of how, after the Two Fiends were wounded, he had fought the Hall Master of the Loyal Brotherhood, forcing him to yield in awe of his martial prowess, thus saving the Two Fiends. At times he even exaggerated wildly, painting himself as nigh invincible. Yet now, facing Liu Yun once more, all those words hung on him like invisible shackles—leaving him no retreat.
At that moment, "Iron-Palm Ruffian" Master Chuanbei, perhaps by intent or by chance, tried to mask his own unease and said,"It's only this young lass. Mo Lao-xian, since you claimed you fought the Hall Master that day, leave her to you."
"Yin-Yang Hand" Anpu chimed in:"Indeed. Mo Lao-xian's skills are unmatched—she's yours."
Mo Lao-xian forced composure, raised his voice and declared,"You hear that, little girl? My skills are invincible! Be wise and leave at once."
Liu Yun scoffed:"If your skills are truly invincible, why wait? Step forward and try a few moves!"
Mo Lao-xian's heart tightened. He recalled how he had once bragged of battling Wu Tong for three hundred rounds without a winner, thereby saving the Two Fiends. Now, with no way out, his old face could not bear retreat. He thought, "Perhaps fierce words may once again grant me safe passage." So he growled,"Ignorant junior, do not blame me for striking without mercy!"
Liu Yun, unimpressed, replied,"Enough babble. It's only a fight. I'll even let you take the first strike!"
Her words fell, yet her stance was calm, eyes cold, knees bent—hidden power coiling at her feet. It was the opening form of her clan's body arts.
Mo Lao-xian's face changed:"You've brought this suffering on yourself—blame me not!"
Master Chuanbei barked impatiently:"Did you not claim you fought Wu Tong? She's but a girl—stop talking and strike!"
Anpu added:"Enough talk—act!"
Mo Lao-xian stiffened, his color changing, muttered:"Girl, are you sure of this?"
Even Wu Tong interjected coldly:"Mo Lao-xian, in the jianghu we act, not boast. Make your move."
Mo Lao-xian's face turned ashen."Truly you force the tiger to bite!"
With that he leapt like a starving tiger, pouncing upon Liu Yun.
Inwardly he despaired. He knew himself no peerless master, and had already tasted the girl's talent before. Yet now with no escape, he had to fight. With a shout, both palms thrust forth—the opening style of his Thunder-Surging Palm.
Liu Yun gave a cold snort, her body gliding aside like drifting catkins. Her fingers flicked toward his shoulder, swift upon swift. Mo Lao-xian gasped, hurriedly changed his palmwork, but her strike was already upon him. He realized—this duel would not last three hundred rounds, but be decided in a single instant!
His figure flashed toward her; Liu Yun laughed aloud:"Just in time!"
Her steps drew arcs, her body flowing in shifting spirals, elusive and unfathomable. It was the Infinite Palm of the Nine-Mystic True Canon, a move called "Depth Beyond Knowing." Seeing this, Mo Lao-xian froze, unable to read her intent. He lashed out blindly—but struck only empty air. The force of his own blow sent him stumbling forward, utterly disheveled.
Liu Yun's voice mocked him:"Mo Lao-xian, I'm over here! Have your eyes grown dim with age?"
His face flushed crimson. With but one exchange, victory and defeat were plain. Humiliated, he barked,"Such impudence! To toy with your elders—daring indeed!"
But his shame came from his own failure, not from her tricks.
Liu Yun mocked further:"Invincible skills, are they? I am most impressed. Rolling on the ground truly is a martial wonder."
Chuanbei and Anpu shook their heads."Mo Lao-xian," said Chuanbei, "did you not claim three hundred rounds with Wu Tong, with no winner?"Anpu added, "Sounds like nothing but bragging."
Mo Lao-xian roared,"And are your skills so great, that you laugh at me?!"
But the two shuddered inwardly, chilled. All three were past sixty, and now confronted with a formidable young foe. As the saying goes, "Fists fear the young, staves fear the old wolf." Today, before this girl, they felt both fear and defeat—for even three against one, victory was not certain. And Wu Tong, new Hall Master of the Loyal Brotherhood, had yet to lift a hand.
Just then Wu Tong stepped forward, voice firm:"You three are already advanced in years, yet you still waylay merchants? In my humble view, best that both sides step back. Today, let Yun-mei set aside her anger."
He paused, eyes sharp as blades, his tone turning cold:"Elders, I must insist you leave—at once!"
With that, he raised his right hand in a gesture of dismissal, his gaze brooking no refusal.