After Liu Yun was thrown from her frightened horse and fell unconscious into the snow, she was carried away by the Tianshan Snow Ape. Wu Tong gave desperate chase, but the ape soon vanished from sight. Amidst the howling wind and driving snow, Wu Tong pressed on, inch by inch, scouring the mountain cliffs for any trace of it.
At length, he spied a cleft in the rock wide enough for two adults to pass side by side. Quiet as a shadow, he slipped inside. Before long, the passage opened into a vast cavern, dozens of paces wide and tall. Sunlight slanted through a fissure above, revealing another icy corridor and, beyond it, yet another cavern.
At the mouth of this inner cave stood the snow ape. Wu Tong advanced cautiously—but to his shock, the ape stepped forward, pressed its palm to its chest, and bowed deeply, with the bearing of a martial artist offering a challenge.
Wu Tong was dumbfounded. A beast… saluting like a man of the jianghu? This is beyond belief. Yet he could see intelligence in the creature's eyes, and a poise not born of nature alone. Clearly some great master had tamed and taught it. Out of respect, Wu Tong returned the salute.
The snow ape immediately shifted into a martial stance, gesturing for Wu Tong to attack.
Raising his head, Wu Tong saw the ape in full stature—towering a head taller than himself, chest broad, body like a mountain. With a sudden step forward, Wu Tong thrust out a probing palm. The ape blocked skillfully, retreating with precise footwork. Its movements, astonishingly, showed knowledge of martial theory.
A few more exchanges, and the ape's steps grew firm as a mountain. Its technique changed abruptly, left palm slashing like a blade, the force howling through the air.
Wu Tong gathered his qi and met it with a sweeping block, his Sixteenth Palm of the Northern Darkness—Turning Rivers and Seas. Leaping back, he kicked off the stone wall, twisted midair, and launched a barrage of double flying kicks.
The snow ape could not evade and had to take them head-on. Crashing impacts echoed like thunder. The beast staggered backward, stones exploding underfoot, leaving deep gouges in the ground—but still it did not fall. Its great eyes glared like bronze bells, burning with fighting spirit.
Wu Tong landed, immediately following with chained palm strikes. The ape roared, its cry shaking the cavern, and countered with massive blows aimed at Wu Tong's chest. The two clashed in a storm of palm winds, exchanging fifty moves in a blink. The force of their battle sent shockwaves through the cave, stones rattling loose, birds outside scattering in terror.
Yet Wu Tong's heart was fixed on Liu Yun's safety; he could not waste time in a protracted duel. With a burst of speed, he executed the Six Forms of Phantom Palm. In quick succession came Fist within the Palm and Palm within the Fist. His strike slipped past the ape's guard, transforming seamlessly, and landed with a muffled crack. The snow ape grunted, forced back, leaving furrows carved by its heels.
The beast paused, stunned, scratching its head as though puzzled at how the technique had defeated it. Then, incredibly, it patted its own brow and seemed to ponder how to counter the move. At last it spread its arms again, gesturing Wu Tong to continue.
Wu Tong smiled wryly. This creature truly is extraordinary—able to learn mid-battle, to draw inferences from what it sees. This contest grows more fascinating.
He advanced again. The ape nodded, then bounded forward in mighty leaps, descending with a palm strike aimed square at Wu Tong's crown. Wu Tong twisted aside, slipping into the Eight Clouds Hand. His steps were phantomlike, body weaving in and out. The ape's blows shook the air, but each found only emptiness.
Suddenly Wu Tong unleashed Truth Amidst Illusion. Dazzled by the deceptive movements, the ape faltered, unable to discern reality from feint. A flurry of strikes landed clean. Reeling, the ape staggered back and at last collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
Wu Tong stepped back, saluted with clasped fists, and said loudly, "Brother Ape, forgive my offense!"
The snow ape sat up, blinking in confusion—then, remarkably, returned the salute. With a wave of its great hand, it beckoned Wu Tong deeper into the cavern.
Inside, Wu Tong found two figures. One was Liu Yun, lying upon a stone bed, resting peacefully. The other was a white-haired old man, seated in meditation. The ape gestured Wu Tong to sit. On the stone table lay wild fruits of Tianshan. Soon the ape poured tea, even drinking first itself to show there was no harm. Wu Tong accepted and drank.
After the time of one cup, the old man opened his eyes."Young hero," he said slowly, "you have come for this maiden."
Wu Tong rose at once and bowed deeply."I am Wu Tong. Yes, I came for her. She is my wedded wife. If we have disturbed your seclusion, I beg forgiveness."
The elder spoke gently. "The ape is my companion, a snow ape of Tianshan. It has accompanied me through years of cultivation, learning a little of my art. Today, it grew mischievous, playing tricks on passersby. It startled your horses, causing this maiden to fall. Yet the ape's heart is kind. Seeing her unconscious, it brought her to me for healing. She was gravely injured, so I gave her Tianshan Snow Lotus. It is a treasure with power to revive the dying. You need not fear for her."
Wu Tong was stunned. Snow Lotus of Tianshan! A treasure men of the martial world would kill to possess, and Liu Yun had received it unbidden. Dropping to his knees, tears filled his eyes."Senior, you have saved my wife. I have no way to repay such grace!"
The old man was moved by Wu Tong's devotion. "Her body must still recover. Stay here and accompany her."
With that, he departed with the ape, leaving the cavern quiet.
Now alone, Wu Tong sat by Liu Yun's bedside. Her delicate face, pale as jade, pained his heart. He longed to reach out and caress her cheek, to wake her—but dared not disturb her rest. Instead he leaned close to her ear, whispering softly, pouring out tender words of love meant only for the two of them.