Wu Tong and Zhao Rou returned to Lingwu. Over dinner, Zhao Rou recounted all they had seen in the jianghu these past days…
At Mawei Slope, the tomb of the Imperial Consort teemed with visitors; the two then turned toward Huangshan Palace, where they chanced upon the two famed Eccentrics of the Rivers and Lakes. Upon ascending to the palace, they learned the pair meant to inform Danyang Zhenren that the True God Palace's Lord Tuoba Xinge and the Nine Heavens Palace's Lord Long Zhentian had agreed to duel at Huangshan Palace.
It so happened that Danyang Zhenren lamented how incense offerings had dwindled across the various sub-temples, leaving them on the brink of collapse. Inspiration struck Zhao Rou: she recalled the single brocade shoe of the Imperial Consort, and proposed exhibiting the embroidered shoe to travelers—anyone who wished to handle or admire it would pay a hundred cash. She further suggested that, with the two grandmasters about to duel at Huangshan Palace and crowds sure to gather, all visitors entering the palace on that day should likewise pay a hundred cash to relieve the urgent need.
Hearing the plan, Li Qian and Liu Yun praised it at once. Zhao Rou went on: on their way down the mountain they ran into men from the Nine Heavens Palace pursuing Stone-Splitting Demon Palm Yin Li for a deposit he'd taken. Elder Shen Er of the Xuanwu Gate and Elder Lin Ping of the Qilin Gate led the Four Envoys of Heaven, Earth, Wind, and Thunder to fight Yin Li. After fierce exchanges, Yin Li—highly skilled—beat the Nine Heavens men back in succession. At the critical moment, Brother Tong intervened to rescue the group, allowing the Nine Heavens party to escape disaster.
With the scheme settled, Danyang Zhenren immediately set disciples to work. In short order, lanterns hung high throughout Huangshan Palace, and invitations went out far and wide to the martial world. Disciples of many sects, hearing the news, hurried over—not only to witness the duel between two peerless masters, but also to behold the legendary brocade shoe of the Imperial Consort. The palace soon bustled with excitement.
Meanwhile, the enmity between the Nine Heavens Palace and Yin Li was far from resolved. Knowing Yin Li was no ordinary foe, the elders of the Nine Heavens Palace secretly sent for aid, hoping for timely support. Within the palace, Danyang Zhenren conferred with gathered worthies on how to use the tournament to raise the temple's renown, preserve its incense, and stave off decline.
As the day of the duel drew near, forces from all sides converged; the winds of the jianghu stirred anew. All understood that this match concerned more than victory or defeat—it might shift the balance of the martial world, and even the imperial court was said to be quietly watching.
That night, Wu Tong and Zhao Rou found an inn and stayed over. At dawn they came down to eat, when Zhao Rou noticed that Gao Siyao, the "Jade Guanyin," now had a different man at her side—Sima Lun, the Black-Eating King. The two were in the heat of an affair; Gao Siyao kept placing morsels into Sima Lun's bowl. At that very moment Yin Li burst into the inn and shouted, "Sima Lun, how dare you steal my woman?!"
The two men traded barbs over the woman. Gao Siyao's face changed; she rose and declared, "Honored heroes, be our judges! Yin Li and I were merely partners in work. The man is unwed, the woman is unwed. He is not my man, and I am not his woman!" The diners unanimously agreed she spoke reason. Then a burly fellow cried, "Brother, enough talk—over a woman, there is only the duel!" At once the hall roared: "Less chatter!" "Let strength decide!" "Duel!" "To the ring!" Thus the two agreed to a man's duel at the Eastern Great Temple outside the city.
By now Zhao Rou's throat was parched; she ladled a bowl of soup to rest a moment. Just as she raised it to drink, Liu Yun, listening intently, could not help asking, "And how did the Stone-Splitting Demon Palm fare against the arrogant Black-Eating King?"
Li Qian hid a smile. "Sister Yun, you're too hasty. Let Sister Rou finish her soup—then we'll hear the rest!"
Wu Tong chuckled, smiling faintly. "My turn, then. Those two are first-rate masters of this age. It was a duel between men. The square of Eastern Great Temple was packed, all drawn there for the fight."
"Just then, shouts cleared a path before a swaggering retinue; attendants pressed behind. Sima Lun strode in arm-in-arm with Gao Siyao, arrogant to the bone."
"Yin Li saw Gao Siyao on Sima Lun's arm and his face darkened—rage surged to the heavens. 'Sima Lun, let go of her hand!'"
"But Sima Lun merely curled his lip. 'Siyao, wait aside a moment and let me teach this fool his place.'"
"Gao Siyao tittered. 'Don't hit too hard—just teach him a lesson.'"
"'As my Siyao wishes,' Sima Lun replied. Gao Siyao withdrew, leaving the two men alone in the square. The flirtations he had just witnessed stung Yin Li's pride; he snarled, 'This is a man's duel—let's prove who is the true man!'"
"Sima Lun raised his voice coldly: 'Since you say I seized love with the blade, there's nothing more to say—let skill decide!'"
"In the icy air, Yin Li loosed a long howl and sprang into the sky, hurling palm after palm; the force-wind swept in waves. Sima Lun shifted and countered with his own flurry. In a heartbeat the two were trading blows in a tangle—no quarter given. Yin Li's eyes blazed; his inner and outer cultivation seemed beyond what I faced before. He moved like a flying arrow, leaping and cleaving down from above. Sima Lun stamped, turned, and slipped away with light, nimble spins, his body flipping like an autumn leaf. Yin Li's palms crashed down, but struck only air. His techniques came fierce and heavy as stones shattering the sky; Sima Lun's movements were deft and elusive. Attack met defense, needle to needle. Their skill astonished all present; mouths fell open and eyes went wide."
Wu Tong had spoken himself dry, painting the scene so vividly that his listeners felt themselves there within the ring. He paused; Zhao Rou handed him a bowl of soup. As Wu Tong lifted it, Li Qian, now fully enthralled, blurted, "Did the Stone-Splitting Demon Palm manage to put the arrogant Black-Eating King in his place?"
Liu Yun laughed. "Sister Qian, aren't you the hasty one now? Let Brother Tong finish his soup—then we'll hear more!"
At that, Li Qian's cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment. Zhao Rou quickly smoothed things over: "Brother Tong took Sister Yun west this time; he brought me to Huangshan Palace; in a couple of days he'll take you out as well. Nothing's more exciting than adventuring with Brother Tong!"
Wu Tong said, "Indeed. We'll be setting out again in a few days—your company would be most welcome, Qian'er."
Liu Yun chuckled. "Sister Qian, as the saying goes, 'Beneath the lotus curtains, a spring night runs warm.' With your husband by your side through the long night, take good care of yourself!"
Li Qian's face went scarlet in an instant. "Brother Tong, look—Sister Yun is teasing me!" Truly, the wheel of fate turns for all; heaven spares no one. A debt repaid, a score settled—the wrong done to Liu Yun in days past was answered today.
Seeing this, Zhao Rou hurried to change the subject. "Sister Yun, Sister Qian—shall we keep listening, or not?"
Liu Yun laughed. "Only a jest!"
Li Qian added, "I'm fine—please continue, Sister Rou."