Ghost Right Envoy Cui Ming and Ghost Left Envoy Duan Hun were both shocked, while Huang Qi, master of Minshan Sect, and Huang Jian, master of Nanshan Sect, broke out in a cold sweat. Each had taken two heavy palms, suffering not lightly; they had barely escaped with their lives. Both thought to themselves: If the Yinshan Twin Ghosts are already this formidable, then in tomorrow's great battle, we may have to rely on the Kunlun Sect and Tianshan Sect…
At that very moment, Cui Ming roared angrily:
"You again?"
Duan Hun likewise snarled:
"Wu Tong—why do you haunt us like a restless ghost?"
Indeed, the newcomer was none other than Wu Tong. He said sternly:
"You fiends—can you never abandon your evil ways and turn to righteousness?"
Cui Ming spat back:
"Boy, meddle too much and you'll lose your life!"
Just then, another figure descended as lightly as a fairy—Liu Yun. With a cold smile she said:
"Yinshan Twin Ghosts, have you forgotten me? A scar healed and now you've forgotten the pain?"
Duan Hun's eyes blazed with sudden fury.
"So it's you, Liu Yun! We've been seeking vengeance on you!"
Liu Yun laughed sweetly:
"Good! At least you have some backbone. Why wait for another day? Let's settle this today!"
Duan Hun sneered:
"We've already defeated the masters of Minshan and Nanshan today. Girl, you had better watch yourself—today is not the same as that day."
Cui Ming added mockingly:
"What's wrong, Liu Yun, are you afraid?"
Wu Tong, having witnessed the dreadful power of the Yin-Yang Two-Man Spin, grew concerned.
"Do not be reckless—the Twin Ghosts are not to be trifled with!"
But Liu Yun only smiled with confidence:
"Tong-ge, that trick of theirs may fool others, but it cannot fool me. Have no fear."
She stepped forward, voice clear and ringing:
"Enough boasting! Believe it or not, within ten moves I can defeat you both again."
The Twin Ghosts stared in disbelief. They thought: That last time, she must have guessed our sequence of moves—that was the only reason she broke our technique with one palm. How else could she have won?
Cui Ming hissed coldly:
"Then let us try again!"
From among the Yinshan followers, a man suddenly shouted:
"The Twin Ghosts are legendary! The world calls them the Yin-Yang Spin, inscrutable even to gods and ghosts! Today they will show their true might!"
Another cried out:
"Girl, you'd better beg for mercy now—perhaps they'll spare your life!"
Pleased at such words, the Twin Ghosts swelled with pride. Duan Hun said loftily:
"Miss Liu, be sensible—leave now."
But Liu Yun only raised her chin:
"Ten moves, no more. If I fail to defeat you in ten, I'll turn and walk away without a word."
Cui Ming's face darkened:
"Little wretch—you go too far!"
Duan Hun snarled:
"Do you take us so lightly? Without our skill, how could the Twin Ghosts stand in the martial world? Enough talk—let's fight!"
Liu Yun said calmly:
"Then let the two of you strike first."
That stoked their rage even higher. With a roar, Cui Ming leapt, palm slashing down at her. Liu Yun stepped lightly through the Nine-Palace steps, neither fast nor slow, and they met in a flurry of palms. Duan Hun circled in, striking, but Liu Yun shifted in an instant, counter-palm aimed straight at his center. Alarmed, he wheeled aside. She pressed relentlessly, her movements fluid and light, her footwork tracing the five-element positions.
The Twin Ghosts had no idea that in the past ten days Liu Yun had eaten the rare Tianshan snow lotus, increasing her inner strength by thirty years. She no longer needed to predict their sequence; she had already mastered their patterns. Her eyes watched all directions, her ears caught every sound.
Suddenly she unleashed the move "How Far Apart?" Her palm clashed against Duan Hun's—Bang!—he was hurled through the air. Cui Ming lunged, but she spun, launching her left palm—Bang!—he too was flung aside. Both fell to the ground unconscious, only groaning faintly.
The crowd gasped in shock. The onlookers had expected a struggle, not a rout. Even Liu Yun herself was startled: last time, one palm had only knocked them down, leaving them groaning. Now, with her newfound inner power, a single strike had sent them into unconsciousness. Truly, it was fortune born of misfortune—had they not survived, it would have been death.
Just then, Heaven's End Soul-Chaser—Unsaveable growled:
"Girl, do you truly wish to make enemies of the Yinshan Sect?"
Liu Yun smiled serenely:
"Commit no evil, perform all good. Follow the Way, and good shall follow. Stray from it, and evil brings retribution. If you remain obstinate and refuse to repent, karma will find you soon enough."
Unsaveable snorted coldly:
"Do not grow arrogant. Tomorrow, the Yinshan Patriarch himself will await you."
He shouted:
"Withdraw!"
And the Yinshan followers departed in haste.
The masters of the four righteous sects approached in gratitude. Huang Qi and Huang Jian bowed deeply.
"Many thanks for your aid! We owe you our lives. Young Hero Wu—are you truly the Master of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness?"
By now Wu Tong's fame had spread across the land, so it was no surprise. Wu Tong and Liu Yun returned the salute.
Wu Tong said:
"I am he."
Liu Yun added:
"The Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness does only what must be done—it is nothing worth mentioning."
Wu Tong asked:
"How are your injuries?"
Huang Qi replied:
"Merely some internal wounds. I have already taken my sect's medicine and circulated my qi. It is no great harm."
Huang Jian sighed:
"But tomorrow, when we face the Yinshan Patriarch, our strength may fall short. His skill is unmatched. I must make a bold request—will the two of you lend us your strength?"
Wu Tong's eyes blazed with heroic spirit.
"The Yinshan Sect tyrannizes the world and brings calamity to all. Now the six great sects unite to bring justice—it is a noble cause, one this junior admires with all his heart. As master of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, how could I refuse? I will join you in slaying these demons!"
The four masters, hearing his words, secretly praised: "Truly a dragon among men!"
That day's deeds of Wu Tong and Liu Yun became a glorious tale for the ages, sung across the martial world, their gallant spirit a shining example for all heroes of the jianghu.