"Road Tiger" Wang Ba said with swagger: "I'll let you take the advantage. You can strike first!"Liu Yun thought to herself, This man has already taken all the benefits, yet still insists on putting up a grand show. She could only shake her head and reply, "Very well, I'll make the first move. You had better keep your eyes sharp!" With that, she lightly tapped her toes, her body rising into the air, and suddenly struck out with her palm.
"Road Tiger" Wang Ba, startled, tried to counter, but it was already too late. He had no choice but to meet her with both palms, clashing force against force.
Boom! The shockwave blasted outward, wind howled, and dust flew as Wang Ba was driven back three or four steps, his feet gouging deep furrows into the ground. Terror struck his heart: How could this young girl possess such inner strength? Could she be from some great orthodox school, trained in secret arts?
Liu Yun sneered coldly: "I told you to keep your eyes open. But you refused to believe!"
Wang Ba's face darkened. "So what if you caught me off guard? That's nothing to brag about. I'll let you strike first once more!"
Liu Yun frowned. What hidden confidence does this man have? She snorted. "I've held back time and again, yet you remain arrogant. Very well—this time I'll show no mercy!"
With those words, her body spun high into the air, flipping once before she kicked off a towering tree, borrowing momentum. Like a hawk diving from the sky, she shot forward and unleashed her twin palms. Wang Ba's heart lurched—This is bad! He hurriedly raised his arms to block.
The two palms collided with thunderous crackles. A resounding pang! burst forth, and Wang Ba was sent flying like a severed kite, crashing hard against a tree. He slumped to the ground, unconscious.
The bandits gasped in shock, fear gripping every face. Liu Yun stood firm in the middle of the road, sweeping her gaze across them. "If any of you still wish to fight, step forward now. Otherwise, scatter!"
The bandits exchanged nervous glances. Just then, their second leader Wang Tao barked: "Brothers, don't be afraid! We have numbers on our side—kill her!"
But suddenly, a shadow dropped from the sky, landing with the sound of rushing wind. The newcomer's voice boomed: "Whoever's not afraid of death, come test me first!"
Hooves thundered in the distance—several riders galloped up. They leapt down, one rushing to lift Wang Ba, pressing fingers beneath his nose. "He still breathes!" Quickly, another fed him a pill, while a third sat behind him, palm to his back, transferring energy. After a moment, Wang Ba groaned awake, but weak and speechless.
Then three burly men strode forth, shouting, "Who dares wound the Road Tiger Wang Ba?"
Liu Yun's eyes flashed. "And what of it? He waylaid travelers and was beaten—justice served!"
The leader, a hulking brute with shoulders like a bear, snarled: "Girl, you're sharp-tongued. Do you even know who we are?"
"Then speak your names," Liu Yun replied icily.
The man's fury blazed. "So arrogant! Fine, hear this well—together we are called the Three Hawks of Tianshan!"
His two brothers, one fat, one thin, grinned wickedly. "Frightened yet?"
These three were none other than Bai Li Tian, Bai Li Yun, and Bai Li Feng.
Liu Yun only laughed softly. "Stronger hands always exist. Boasting before others is useless. My name is Liu Yun. Enough words—come at me!"
Bai Li Tian scowled. "So disrespectful! Don't blame me when I strike without mercy!"
But Liu Yun advanced boldly, voice steady: "No more talk. Strike now. When the duel ends, retribution will find you."
Enraged, Bai Li Feng lunged, palm descending like thunder toward her crown. Liu Yun didn't flinch—her body swayed gracefully, hand flashing out. Their palms collided.
Boom! Energy blasted outward. Bai Li Feng staggered back three steps, nearly losing balance, while Liu Yun stood like a mountain. "So this is the strength behind your fearsome title? Laughable."
Bai Li Yun roared and leapt, his palms a storm of shadows. Liu Yun murmured, "Heaven turns the earth, six jia steps unfold…" Her body slipped aside, vanishing from his strike. He stumbled forward, startled.
He whirled to attack again, but Liu Yun's left palm drew him in while her right palm thrust out. "All misfortune shall not touch me!" she intoned. His balance broke, his body pitching helplessly. Seizing the moment, she swept a leg, sending him flying like a rag doll. He crashed into Bai Li Tian, and the two tumbled to the ground in disgrace.
Liu Yun laughed lightly. "So this is the skill that shakes the land? Nothing but noise."
Humiliated, Bai Li Tian straightened his robes and roared, "You'll pay for this!" He planted into a horse stance, fists surging, and charged with a flurry of strikes.
But Liu Yun bent low, her steps nimble as flowing water. His fists struck only air. She spun, weaving through his onslaught with the mysterious Xuanji Steps, fists and palms raining down like a storm. Bai Li Tian faltered, overwhelmed.
Suddenly, Liu Yun's form blurred, her footwork darting across the Nine Palaces. She cut through his guard with a lightning palm.
Pang! A crack like thunder split the air. Bai Li Tian screamed, his body hurled high before crashing heavily to the ground.