Before the voice had even faded, the figure had already streaked forward. Seeing the ferocious and sharp momentum of the attack, Li Jian focused his mind and held his breath. Though internally startled, he executed a swift retreat of several yards. Now moving into a steady defensive parry, he spoke amidst the exchange of palms: "If you do not know when to advance or retreat, do not blame me for being merciless!"
Xin Feng countered, "Whatever skill you have, bring it forth!" Just as the words left his lips, "Elegant Third Madam" Qin Hong cried out, "Fourth Brother, I shall lend you a hand!" In an instant, her shadow flickered as she lunged, her fingers thrusting directly toward Li Jian's vital pressure points. The gathered beggars couldn't help but gasp in alarm; this was her signature move, "Turning Hand Strike," the ultimate technique of her Embroidery Hook Hand. Her mastery of pressure-point striking was considered peerless in the martial world. The three figures moved like blurring shadows, engaged in a fierce struggle. Though Li Jian was fighting one against two, he did not fall into the slightest disadvantage.
However, Xin Feng's Soul-Chasing Ruthless Hand was no empty boast; it was sharp and peerless. Qin Hong swayed her body and closed the distance, her fingers flicking out to strike a pressure point and forcing Li Jian back a step. She followed up immediately with a hooking circle-strike. As Li Jian pivoted to retreat, Xin Feng seized the opening to strike at his center. The two worked in tandem—while one engaged his palms, Qin Hong used the left flank to strike at his pressure points. The trio moved faster and faster, a whirlwind of aggressive lunges and interlocking maneuvers. Even after ten moves, Li Jian moved as if flying, his offense and defense perfectly ordered. Xin Feng shouted, "Boy, playing the hero isn't that easy!"
Having gauged their patterns, Li Jian laughed heartily, appearing completely composed. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he spoke with heroic flair: "Zhongyi Hall performs acts of loyalty and righteousness; if I do not stand for justice, who will?" His words drew nods of approval from the onlookers, and the Beggars' Gang felt an even deeper admiration for his chivalrous heart.
Both Xin Feng and Qin Hong were shaken by his words. Xin Feng snorted coldly, "Loyalty and Righteousness? In the martial world, those words are the height of hypocrisy. Those who speak of them are usually the first to die!" With that, he flipped his palms, his internal energy surging violently in a desperate bid to kill Li Jian.
Li Jian's gaze sharpened. He instantly shifted strategy from defense to offense. Stepping forward boldly, his right palm struck out like lightning in a move called "Dragon Soaring the Four Seas." The whistling palm-wind was so majestic it forced Xin Feng to stagger back.
Seeing the situation turn dire, Qin Hong lunged forward, her "hooking hand" darting for Li Jian's throat. Unexpectedly, Li Jian was prepared; he tilted his body, grabbed Qin Hong's wrist with a backhand grip, and used her own momentum to pull her forward while delivering a kick straight to her shoulder, sending her reeling several steps.
Roaring in fury, Xin Feng forced his Qi to steady himself and joined Qin Hong for another combined assault. But Li Jian had already seized the initiative. Amidst the flurry of palm shadows, he suppressed them so thoroughly they could barely counter. The Beggars' Gang cheered wildly, their respect for his strength growing by the second.
Qin Hong shrieked, "Kill him! Avenge Second Brother!" She raised her right hand, her sleeve whistling in the wind as she struck at Li Jian's chest. Li Jian extended his palm to block, turning his body aside just as Xin Feng shouted, "You brought this death upon yourself!" and struck out as well. Suddenly, as the three shadows crossed, two sharp "Clap-Clap" sounds rang out. Xin Feng and Qin Hong lost their footing, staggering back several large steps, their faces contorted in pain. They had clearly suffered a heavy blow.
The Blade King's Challenge
Suddenly, a voice boomed: "All of you move aside! Let my great blade meet him!"
The Beggars' Gang turned to see the eldest brother, Wang Bao, stepping out with his Asura Blade. He scanned Li Jian from head to toe, his eyes flashing like cold lightning, radiating an intimidating aura. Seeing the weapon, Li Jian felt a surge of caution; he feared this man might abandon martial etiquette to use a lethal blade. He smiled faintly and said, "I shall risk my life to accompany a gentleman and learn from your blade-work, Senior."
Wang Bao remained silent in the face of the youth's perceived arrogance. He drew his blade with a sharp shing and slashed out. Alerted by the sound, Li Jian retreated several yards, taking a deep breath mid-air to prepare for any contingency. Once the Asura Blade was unleashed, the techniques flowed without pause. Li Jian continued to leap backward, dodging and weaving. Facing each other—one hacking with a blade, the other leaping back—Wang Bao swung his blade eight times, yet every strike met only thin air.
Narrowing his eyes at the missed strikes, Wang Bao let out a furious roar and charged. His blade-speed increased instantly, the Asura Blade dancing like a chaotic shower of cold stars. The blade-light was blinding, and the chill was biting. Li Jian knew he could no longer simply dodge. Pivoting his feet, he shifted his technique into the "Eight Steps of the Dragon." His movement became ghostly—advancing and retreating unpredictably—skimming past the lethal blade-edge by a hair's breadth. Every member of the Beggars' Gang held their breath.
By the customs of the martial world, unless there is a blood feud, combatants usually fight bare-handed; drawing a blade unexpectedly is considered dishonorable. The Beggars' Gang erupted in anger. "The Four Fiends are despicable!" some shouted. Others yelled, "Utterly shameless!" or "The Four Fiends are nothing but cowards!"
Losing face after so many missed strikes and hearing the insults, Wang Bao flew into a rage. "Whoever speaks again, I shall kill!" He suddenly flew horizontally through the air, swinging his blade toward the disciples on the sidelines. The move was so fast that even if Li Jian had leaped to save them bare-handed, he might have been too late. Li Jian took a deep breath, raised his right hand, and struck out with a single palm.
A wave of invisible Aura (Vajra-Qi) flew out across the space. Sensing the incoming force, Wang Bao reflexively turned and blocked with his blade.
BOOM!
The sound was like a clap of thunder. Wang Bao, the "Blade King," was blasted back three or four steps by the force of the invisible strike. Cold sweat poured down his face. He realized how close he had come to disaster; he had not expected the youth to possess such immense internal power.
Back then, when Qian Ming had tried to flee, Wu Tong had struck his back with a similar invisible palm-force, causing him to spray blood like a fountain—a scene still vivid in their memories. The crowd was aghast. Li Jian's display of divine might today, fighting the Four Fiends alone, was a reincarnation of Wu Tong's bravery from years ago.
The Surrender
The Four Fiends realized they were facing the same humiliating defeat they had suffered at the hands of Wu Tong. Back then, they were spared only because Zen Master Yiye was present. Today, facing the new Master of Zhongyi Hall, they had hoped to reclaim their dignity, but their lack of self-awareness had almost cost them their lives.
At that moment, the Wine-and-Meat Monk flew into the center of the clearing. He bowed respectfully to the Beggars' Gang and Li Jian, announcing loudly: "Young Hero, Young Heroine, and brothers of the Beggars' Gang—we have eyes but failed to see Mt. Tai. We have offended you greatly. I hope you can be magnanimous enough to overlook our transgressions. I, the Wine-and-Meat Monk, apologize to you all." With that, he knelt and struck his head against the ground three times in a formal kowtow.
The clearing fell silent. Li Jian's gaze was deep as he looked at the monk. He said somberly, "The road of the martial world is long. I hope that in the future, you will think twice before you act."
The monk signaled his agreement repeatedly. Seeing that the tide had turned completely, the Four Fiends of the Gale looked grim. Daring not to utter another word, they withdrew their sharp edges, turned, and departed.