The Western Sacred Matron Chen Jinfeng and the Palace Mistress of the Immortal Empress Palace, Nangong Yan, upon hearing the wild nonsense spewed by "Madman of the West"Situ Kong, were instantly enraged beyond measure.
Nangong Yan cursed loudly,
"You wretched old bastard—are you courting death?!"
Chen Jinfeng was even more furious, flames all but bursting from her eyes as she shouted,
"Situ Kong! If you dare utter another word of filth, I will smash your mouth to pieces today!"
The two women were beside themselves with rage, for Situ Kong's words had gravely sullied their reputations. Wu Tong, newly arrived and unaware of the prior entanglements, said evenly,
"You are both elders of standing. Since this senior bears no ties with you, why not let the matter rest here?"
Situ Kong laughed and retorted,
"Exactly! You're not worthy to make me your husband anyway! One of you is too ugly, the other calls herself a 'Sacred Matron.' At your age, you couldn't even bear sons!"
These words were venomous in the extreme, enraging the two women to the point of near madness. Forgetting Wu Tong's presence entirely, they leapt into the air, palms flashing as they struck toward Situ Kong's crown.
Situ Kong hastily dodged, still shouting at the top of his lungs,
"A bamboo viper's mouth, a wasp's poisoned sting—each is deadly enough, but together they palebeside the cruelty of a woman's heart!I, Situ Kong, share no fate with the two of you. Why strike so viciously? Let us part peacefully—why force the issue?"
In a flash, Situ Kong slipped behind Wu Tong.
Chen Jinfeng shouted angrily,
"If you have any guts, stop hiding behind another man!"
Nangong Yan glared at Wu Tong and snarled,
"Wu Tong, move aside—or today we'll strike you down as well!"
Wu Tong replied calmly,
"Ladies, I know nothing of the grievances between you and this elder. But since I have encountered this affair, I cannot simply stand by."
Chen Jinfeng turned to Nangong Yan and said,
"Palace Mistress, why not join forces and deal with Wu Tong first?"
Nangong Yan answered coldly,
"That is exactly my thought."
The two assumed their stances, ready to attack.
Situ Kong, ever eccentric and unrestrained, grinned slyly and fanned the flames,
"Brother Wu here is a mighty hero, a true champion. When facing such venomous women, one must strike hard—show no mercy!"
Situ Kong's flattery only fueled the fire. Nangong Yan's expression darkened as she screamed,
"Old dog! Spouting lies again—shut your foul mouth!"
A gust of wind swept through as she lunged forward with a palm strike. Wu Tong reacted later but arrived first, meeting her attack head-on. Even as they exchanged blows, Wu Tong thought to himself that the hatred among these three ran far too deep.
Raising his brows, he called out sternly,
"Western Sacred Matron—do not mistake my goodwill for weakness!"
At that moment, a sharp wind surged from behind. Wu Tong, keenly perceptive, knew Nangong Yan had launched a sudden ambush. He shifted his form just in time as Nangong Yan shot forward like lightning, striking toward his chest.
Wu Tong deflected the palm and spun aside. Instantly, he unleashed the Sixteenth Palm of the Northern Abyss, "Turning Rivers and Overturning Seas." His body surged forward, both palms cleaving the air like thunderbolts.
Seeing his momentum like that of a ferocious tiger, Nangong Yan countered with one of the Thirteen Flying Swallow Palms, "Coming and Going at Will," darting and weaving to evade.
At the same moment, Chen Jinfeng's Nine Heavens Heavenly Gang Palms struck with blinding speed, raining blows upon Wu Tong from all directions. Wu Tong twisted and turned, parrying with his right palm before suddenly shooting skyward. From above, he descended with the move "Straddling Mountains, Crushing Seas."
Palm winds roared midair as he struck down like a thunderbolt.
Pa! Pa!
Four palms collided.
Chen Jinfeng and Nangong Yan were forced back seven or eight steps before barely regaining their footing.
Wu Tong said coldly,
"Heed my words and leave at once. Otherwise, what may happen next is beyond prediction."
His icy warning echoed again and again through the mountain valley.
Early winter sunlight gleamed upon the snow-capped peaks, dazzling yet gentle. Situ Kong beamed with delight and laughed loudly,
"Brother Wu, what splendid skill! You two vicious old women had better leave now—or who knows what accidents might befall you!"
Chen Jinfeng and Nangong Yan stood speechless, their faces ashen.
Nangong Yan spat bitterly,
"Wu Tong, mountains are high and rivers long—this debt shall be settled another day!"
Chen Jinfeng ground her teeth and hissed,
"Wu Tong, the Western Sacred Sect bears an undying hatred toward you! Wait—this vengeance will be repaid!"
Their fury had nowhere to go. With only harsh words to preserve face, they waved their hands and withdrew with their followers.
The mountain wind whispered softly, pine waves murmured like a chant, and the great battle ended there.
Situ Kong turned to Wu Tong and asked,
"So Han Zhen truly relinquished the position of Hall Master of the Loyalty Hall and passed it to you?"
Wu Tong replied modestly,
"May I ask how senior addresses himself? Former Hall Master Han Zhen of unwavering loyalty has already retired into seclusion."
Situ Kong said,
"My name is Situ Kong—known in the martial world as 'Madman of the West.' Today I was poisoned by an enemy's dissolving-powers powder and nearly met my end. Brother Wu, you saved my life—please accept my bow."
With that, he dropped to his knees.
Wu Tong hurriedly reached out to help him up, but Situ Kong insisted on kneeling.
"If you persist, Senior, you shame me beyond measure," Wu Tong said.
Situ Kong replied earnestly,
"A life-saving grace can never be forgotten. Brother Wu is a true hero—I must pay this respect."
The two remained locked in stalemate until Ling Xian'er stepped forward and said gently,
"Brother Tong, since the elder insists, you may as well allow it."
Tears welled in Situ Kong's eyes as he said,
"The young lady speaks true. Were I a young girl, I would repay such kindness by offering myself—alas, I am no young girl…"
With a heavy thud, he knelt before Wu Tong and cried aloud,
"Benefactor above, please accept this bow from Situ Kong!"
Both knees struck the ground as he kowtowed solemnly.
Though Wu Tong had not wished to accept such a grand gesture, he yielded in the end. As the saying goes:
A single drop of kindnessmust be repaid with a surging spring.
And thus:
Beneath drifting clouds so vague and high, The world's strife spreads before the eye. Tears brim, yet fall not from the face, True rites are borne with solemn grace.