Dawn Duel at the Eastern Great Temple
The first light of dawn spilled across the land, yet the rivers and lakes of the jianghu remained as turbulent as ever. This was to be a battle between men. Around the temple square, the crowd pressed shoulder to shoulder, all drawn here for this duel.
Sima Lun stood cold and proud."Since you accuse me of stealing love with the blade, let words be cast aside—let victory be decided by combat!"
For Stone-Splitting Demon Palm Yin Li, fury had already consumed his heart. He could not sever his tie to Jade Guanyin Gao Siyao—even though she had long since drained him of gold and jewels, he clung still to the memories of their once-tender nights.
Suddenly, with a long howl, Yin Li vaulted into the air, striking out palm after palm, wind roaring as his force surged down.
Sima Lun's eyes gleamed. Good! he thought. Shifting his stance, he countered with his own flurry of palms. In an instant, the two men were locked in fierce exchange, fist against palm, move against move, the battle raging without pause.
Wu Tong, watching from the crowd, noted how Yin Li's eyes blazed like twin torches—his inner and outer strength had clearly advanced since their last meeting. His Sixteen Stone-Splitting Palms carried immense power, each blow driven with deadly force. Leaping high, Yin Li descended like an arrow, unleashing his signature strike, "Heaven-Shattering Stone Break."
Sima Lun sprang upward, spinning lightly aside, body twisting mid-air, answering with "Autumn Leaves in the Wind"—one of his Sixteen Whirlwind Palms. He floated down like drifting leaves, narrowly evading Yin Li's crashing strike.
Yin Li snarled and unleashed "Heaven-Opening Earth-Splitting," his palms pressing with crushing power, swift and unpredictable as storm clouds. Sima Lun replied with "Hidden Steps, Vanishing Traces," slipping away with agile cunning. One attacked, the other defended, each probing for weakness, their skill so profound that the onlookers stared in awe, scarcely daring to breathe.
Blow after blow thundered across the square. A hundred exchanges passed in the blink of an eye. Then Sima Lun roared, launching "Thousand-Slash Gale." His body blurred, his palms struck like lightning, and he drove at Yin Li with hurricane speed.
Yin Li braced, summoning his might with "Monument to Posterity." His stance rooted like Mount Tai, his palms as heavy as stone tablets, crashing down with earth-shaking force. Each strike jolted Sima Lun's insides, stars bursting before his eyes. Desperate, Sima Lun spun again with "Autumn Leaves in the Wind," drifting like a falling leaf, but Yin Li pressed relentlessly.
With a sudden cry, Yin Li unleashed "Tombstone Before the Grave." Gasps erupted from the crowd—surely this blow would decide the victor! Gao Siyao's heart faltered, fear flashing across her face as she saw Sima Lun about to be struck.
But at that instant, Sima Lun let out a piercing shout and unleashed "World-Turning Spin." In an instant the tide reversed—attack became defense, defense became attack. The two men clashed head-on, palms colliding with thunderous cracks that shook the square.
Finally, Yin Li drove a palm straight at Sima Lun's center. But Sima Lun twisted sharply, his right hand flicking outward with astonishing speed, faster than lightning. His palm crashed into Yin Li's abdomen with a resounding crack.
Yin Li staggered, blood bursting from his lips as his body reeled backward. His vision swam with golden stars. He leapt away to recover, but Sima Lun pressed on, unwilling to relent.
Just then, a sharp cry split the air:"Stop!"
A shadow flashed between them, forcing the combatants apart.
Sima Lun barked in surprise:"Girl—it's you?!"
The interloper was Zhao Rou.
At that moment, Wu Tong landed lightly at her side, smiling faintly."Elder Sima, the duel's outcome is already clear."
Zhao Rou added sternly:"There's no need to take a man's life."
From the side, Gao Siyao came forward, clutching Sima Lun's arm and pouting."Did I not tell you not to strike so hard? A lesson was enough!"
Sima Lun's mind raced. If he pressed further, he would offend both Wu Tong and Zhao Rou—an unwise move against such formidable allies. Better to give way and claim magnanimity.
He growled:"Yin Li, today you live only because the Lord of Loyalty Hall interceded for you. Our feud will be settled another day. Siyao, come—we're leaving."
With that, he strode off, Gao Siyao on his arm.
Bruised and trembling, Yin Li staggered forward, bowing with difficulty."My thanks to Lord Wu and Lady Zhao for your righteous aid."
Wu Tong returned the courtesy."We are all wanderers of the jianghu. If there is no mortal blood-feud, let mercy prevail. Do not drive matters to the bitter end."
Yin Li lowered his gaze, remembering yesterday's events. Shame filled his heart—was all of this not fated?
Zhao Rou gently said:"Elder Yin, your body needs rest. I have medicine for internal injuries—please take it."
Yin Li's eyes welled with tears."My thanks, maiden. I have already taken a healing pill. Once I circulate my inner qi, I will recover. But I, Yin Li, who once strode the world with pride, have lost both woman and duel this day. I am a laughingstock before the martial world."
Zhao Rou pitied the fallen hero, now like a cock defeated in battle."Elder Yin, seek solitude and heal yourself. Another day, you may yet wash away this humiliation."
Yin Li straightened, forcing himself through pain. His eyes fixed on the horizon."I thank you both for your aid. But today's defeat—I will repay in time. Farewell."
With a final bow, he turned away, heavy-hearted, his steps weighed with loneliness. Once a feared hero of the age, he now vanished into the distance, a solitary figure searching for his own truth.
In the days that followed, whispers spread through the martial world. Of the legendary Tibetan Snow Lotus—said to grow upon cliffs four thousand meters high. Known in medicine as xuelianhua, also called snow lotus blossom or water-mother snow hare's herb. To common folk, it cured illness and prolonged life; to warriors, it granted twenty years of power in a single bloom. It could purge all poisons, heal the gravely wounded, and restore the dying.