The silence, strained and deadly, was finally shattered by a unified surge of action. The moment was broken not by a single warrior, but by the coordinated move of the highest skilled martial artists present. They erupted from the ring of onlookers, a blur of motion driven by courage and desperation, and rushed Ma Jingguo at once.
The air instantly became a violent storm of qi and flashing steel. A dozen figures, known masters of their respective sects, moved with terrifying precision. Swords whipped through the air, carving arcs of blinding light; palm strikes were unleashed, their internal energy radiating heat and force; and the chilling whoosh of unseen throwing weapons sliced through the dust-filled temple air. This was no skirmish, but a concentrated, lethal onslaught designed to overwhelm and terminate the formidable enemy in a single, decisive moment.
Gu Tingfang and Wang Biming executed a perfect maneuver, throwing four heavy chains around Ma Jingguo's wrists and ankles. They hauled Ma Jingguo from the wall onto the ground. Yongzheng and Rao Zhengsheng grabbed the two chains on the ground, and the four martial artists desperately focused their internal strength to prevent Ma Jingguo from moving toward the room.
In the dilapidated room of the old temple, Mu Dishi slowly opened his eyes. The four paralyzing nails in his body were slowly being pulled out, drawn by the last reserves of Monk Ling's inner energy. After the final nail was removed, Monk Ling, who was sitting behind Mu Dishi, slumped heavily to the ground, utterly exhausted.
Kuo Lok and Bazar Batu rushed into the room. Kuo Lok immediately helped the monk sit up. Monk Ling wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Kuo Lok attempted to transfer some of his internal energy to Monk Ling, but the monk stopped him. "Ah Lok, it's useless now," Monk Ling said, his voice weak. He looked at Mu Dishi, his sacrifice complete. "Mu gongzi, the old monk hopes you will do what you promised."
Mu Dishi looked directly outside the door and saw Ma Jingguo pinned down by the four chains. Ma Jingguo and the four chain-holders were locked in a desperate test of internal strength. Mu Dishi held a gold needle between his fingers and flew straight towards Ma Jingguo. He flew past Wang Biming, and suddenly a memory flashed in his mind: 'All the martial artists in the martial arts world said in unison that shifu loved martial arts too much and learned all kinds of martial arts. They didn't know, behind their gossips, shifu was just an ordinary loyal man determined to win back the person he loved.'
As he approached Ma Jingguo, he saw Ma Jingguo's signature white hair fluttering in the invisible wind of internal energy, and another memory—Ma Jingguo's last words before Mu Dishi's rescue—came back: 'Because I love you a hundred times more than Wang Biming could ever love you.'
His golden needles, weapons he had perfected, pierced straight into the middle of Ma Jingguo's chest.
Ma Jingguo looked directly at Mu Dishi, tears welling in his eyes. He recalled Yuan Chaomei's challenging words: 'Chief, do you really believe it, or do you just say that to appease your injured heart?' Ma Jingguo roared angrily, broken by the final betrayal. "Xiao shushu!"
Mu Dishi flipped over Ma Jingguo, displaying his returning martial skill. He swiftly pierced a needle on the back of Ma Jingguo's neck, took out two more needles, and pierced them on Ma Jingguo's left and right waists. Subsequently, Mu Dishi exerted his internal strength and slammed his palm into Ma Jingguo's upper back. Ma Jingguo cried out in searing pain.
Bazar Batu was about to leap to his feet but was held back by Kuo Lok. Overwhelmed by guilt, he burst into tears and buried his face in Kuo Lok's chest, sobbing, "Ma ge… I'm sorry…"
Ma Jingguo desperately tried to stop his meridians from being torn apart, but Mu Dishi's momentum was overwhelming. Because both Mu Dishi and Zan Huangming had studied Killer Strings, their combined internal force completely eclipsed Ma Jingguo's own, causing him to suffer severe, searing pain throughout his body. The sudden, violent release of Ma Jingguo's internal energy sent Yongzheng, Rao Zhengsheng, Wang Biming, and Gu Tingfang staggering back into the room. Mu Dishi, thrown back by the recoil, hit the wall, slipped to the ground, and spat out blood.
Ma Jingguo quickly spun around and seized Mu Dishi's throat. He lifted him from the ground and pulled his face closer with his right hand, his eyes burning with fury.
Ma Jingguo demanded, choked with anger, "Why? Why did you help them?"
Mu Dishi did not answer.
Ma Jingguo burst into tears, the bitter anguish raw in his voice. "Xiao shushu, before I break your neck, did you consider me as your lover?"
Mu Dishi replied softly, struggling for breath, "You are not my lover."
Ma Jingguo's grip tightened. "Wang Biming can be your lover, why can't I?"
Mu Dishi countered, "Wang Biming is Wang Biming and you are you. The two of you are not the same in any way."
A consuming surge of anger suddenly emanated from Ma Jingguo's already badly injured body. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. "You just have to lie to me, and I will believe it!"
Mu Dishi showed no fear. "I won't blame you." He reached out, trying to wipe the tears from Ma Jingguo's face, but Ma Jingguo violently grabbed his hand.
Ma Jingguo gritted his teeth. "Don't touch me..." He stared at Mu Dishi with eyes full of disgust. Immediately afterward, his face abruptly changed from fury to stark surprise. "Xiao shushu…" Ma Jingguo's lips trembled, taken completely aback. "Why?" Ma Jingguo wrapped his left arm around Mu Dishi's waist and moved his right hand away from Mu Dishi's throat. He held Mu Dishi tightly in his arms. "Why?"
The gathered onlookers were utterly puzzled. Ma Jingguo had nearly broken Mu Dishi's neck moments ago, and now he was hugging him tightly, his anger replaced by sudden, profound sadness.
Mu Dishi spoke weakly in Ma Jingguo's arms, giving his final, cryptic explanation. "Uncle Long said that if one day I find someone I really love, I will understand why Changming shushu chose to die instead of betraying Uncle Long."
Wang Biming screamed, fury overtaking reason. "Let go of him!" He rushed forward with a punch aimed at Ma Jingguo's back.
Ma Jingguo quickly spun around and met Wang Biming's hard fist with a counterattack. Ma Jingguo's internal energy was so immense that it sent Wang Biming slammed into the air, crashing violently into a pillar in front of the house. The martial artist onlookers gasped in terror, realizing the impossible: Mu Dishi had just supposedly destroyed Ma Jingguo's meridians, yet Ma Jingguo's strength was stronger than before.
Monk Ling frowned in disappointment. "Amitabha…"
Yan Zhanjin gnashed his teeth in horrified realization. "MU DISHI!"
Yong Taihua stared in disbelief. "Shizun…why?"
Wang Biming stood up, vomiting more blood. Wiping the blood from his mouth, he shouted, "Dishi, why?"
Mu Dishi gave a final justification for his action. "Because behind this demon that everyone hates, there is just an ordinary person who wants to take back the one he loves."
Wang Biming shouted, heartbroken, "He is not shifu, and you are not da ge!"
Ma Jingguo silenced him with a roar. "You, shut up!"
Xue Horan quickly asked Yongzheng, "What happened?"
Yongzheng sighed, the truth dawning on him. "Mu Dishi lied to us. He did not destroy Ma Jingguo's meridians but opened Ma Jingguo's meridians and transferred all his internal energy to Ma Jingguo."
Cao Yanmei gasped. "Then he…"
Yongzheng finished with grim finality. "He is invincible now. Even if we work together, we can't defeat him."
Xue Horan looked at the slumped figure of Mu Dishi. "What about Mu Dishi?"
Yongzheng answered sadly, "He is the same as Monk Ling."
Yong Taihua stared at his master, his voice full of sorrow. "In other words, shizun's internal strength can no longer be restored." His voice full of sorrow, the devastating truth sinking in. "Shizun is a martial artist without internal energy..."
In that moment, a white ball flew to Mu Dishi from the left. Ma Jingguo quickly spun around and struck the small ball with a punch. The powder inside exploded, instantly blinding Ma Jingguo. A man rushed forward and delivered a hard blow to Ma Jingguo's chest, pushing him back against the wall. He grabbed Mu Dishi's hand and shoved him toward the sword held by another figure.
Wang Biming shouted in panic, "Don't hurt him!"
When the powder mist finally dissipated, the martial artists standing in the yard saw the Chief Leader of Seventy-Two Islands, his sword pointed dangerously at Mu Dishi's neck. Standing in front of the martial artists was Yang Ru, who had disappeared when ordered to confirm Mu Dishi's death.
Li Kong Bai shouted, his voice laced with confusion and pain, "Ru'er…" Yang Ru stood motionless, looking lifeless. "Ru'er, come over to us." Yang Ru stood still, refusing to give in.
The Chief Leader of Seventy-Two Islands commanded, cold and triumphant, "Kneel down and grovel at my feet." Yang Ru dropped to his knees.
Kuo Lok rushed out of the room, horrified. He cried, "Shifu…"
The Chief Leader of Seventy-Two Islands warned, "Kuo gongzi, don't move, or I will let him stab himself in front of you."
Cao Wenyan walked out of the room, his eyes blazing at the Chief Leader of Seventy-Two Islands. "You killed the other gentlemen of Huangshan and blamed my father for the crime?" He gritted his teeth. "Let Mu gongzi go."
The Chief Leader of Seventy-Two Islands sneered happily. "I am not stupid enough to release Mu Dishi at this time. As soon as I let go of Mu Dishi, Xin Taiyang will pounce on me with all of his strength."
Wang Biming walked up to the Chief Leader of Seventy-Two Islands. "What if I want you to let him go?"
The Chief Leader of Seventy-Two Islands shook his head, enjoying his power. "Stop talking. If you beg me to let him, go again, I really am going to pierce this sword into his throat."
Wang Biming said, his voice quiet and heavy with sorrow, "You killed him, I will never forgive you."
Mu Dishi looked at Wang Biming, finally putting the pieces together. "Do you know him?"
Wang Biming sighed, the truth now exposed. "Yes."
Mu Dishi asked, his voice strained. "When did it start?"
Wang Biming looked down. "A very long time ago."
Suddenly, Ma Jingguo rushed forward and grabbed the sword away from Mu Dishi's throat. The Chief Leader of Seventy-Two Islands struck Ma Jingguo's chest with a punch. With Mu Dishi still held in his arms, they smashed into the wall and fell heavily to the ground.
Mu Dishi helped the blinded Ma Jingguo sit up. He quickly checked Ma Jingguo's pulse. "Lighter than a feather," he murmured, his face pale with alarm.
Miao Mingzhu sat atop the wall, holding her tiny green snake. She lowered her head and smiled down at the gathered martial artists. "Yes... Ma Jingguo... you fell into my hands. I won't let you off as easily as last time." She jumped off the wall and stood beside Wang Biming.
Wu Jinghua stood on the wall and announced, "Chief, the whole place is surrounded by us."
Although Ma Jingguo's eyes were partially blinded, he was still able to make out the chief leader's front collar. He looked at him and said, his voice weak but deadly serious, "Why did you kill Dandan?"
Yong Taihua was taken aback. "Ma Jingguo, what did you just say?"
Ma Jingguo repeated the devastating accusation. "He killed Dandan and Liu jiefu."