Right Dharma King Shi Kai had only just arrived at the battlefield when he was stunned to find the three elite fighters on his side lying dead on the ground. His heart sank instantly—the balance of power was clear without a single blow exchanged. Before the fight had even begun, their morale was already broken. If he could not secure victory here, how could he return and face his master?
His eyes narrowed. In a low, oppressive voice, he asked,"The young lady beside you—is she the daughter of the Heavenly Venerable Sect's leader… Liu Yun?"
Wu Tong instantly understood his intent. His heart tightened, and his voice rang out like a clap of thunder, echoing across the field:"Your side has already lost three masters. If you insist on pressing this matter, you will be the next to fall!"Every word was laced with killing intent, his aura surging like a tidal wave.
Shi Kai's fury erupted at once. Cold light flashed in his eyes as he sprang into the air, his body a blur, striking straight for Liu Yun with vicious, merciless intent. But just as he was about to reach her, a figure shot forward like lightning—it was Wu Tong.
His palm came down like wind and thunder. The two clashed in a storm of movement, their figures flickering, palm shadows overlapping. Wu Tong's force was overwhelming—fierce and unyielding. The moment Shi Kai met his strike, he felt a shock jolt through his arm, numbing it instantly. Though his own inner strength was deep, the blow made the blood and qi in his chest churn violently.
Realizing the strength of his opponent, Shi Kai steadied his stance, swept a leg across, and at the same time darted two fingers toward Wu Tong's Shanzhong acupoint, quick as lightning. But Wu Tong's footwork shifted in an instant; his body pivoted without moving his center, and his right palm shot out with the technique Truth as Illusion.
Shi Kai, startled by the sudden move, tried to evade and counterstrike, but his palm struck only empty air—Wu Tong's shadow dissolved before him. A fierce gust of palm wind surged from behind. Knowing he was in trouble, Shi Kai swung his arm back to block.
This Truth as Illusion was the fifth stance of the Six Forms of Phantom Palm—a technique of shifting positions, weaving real and false so deftly that the enemy could not tell truth from deception.
They traded blows for more than ten moves. Shi Kai felt the pressure mounting, fear creeping into his heart.
Then Wu Tong suddenly changed his attack. The stance Illusion as Truth exploded forth—one move containing three variations, crashing down like an unstoppable wave. The sky seemed filled with palm shadows, false and real mingling, dazzling and disorienting. Shi Kai, unable to distinguish them, could only meet them head-on, his heart pounding with alarm.
Within the storm, Wu Tong unleashed a decisive strike—blindingly fast, impossible to evade. Shi Kai was forced to receive it directly.
BANG!
A thunderous impact shook the air. The shockwave rippled outward. Shi Kai staggered back three steps, his chest heaving. His qi roiled like stormy seas, his breath disordered. Horrified to realize he was badly injured, he dropped cross-legged to the ground, forcing his breath into order, terrified the wound would worsen.
Wu Tong did not press the attack. His gaze swept the crowd, voice booming like thunder, shaking all present:"Today, if anyone dares to stop the three of us from leaving, I will unleash a massacre! Whoever bars my path—DIES!"
The four words Who bars my path dies! rang out like the voice of death itself, freezing every man in place.
Black-clad figures trembled, their foreheads damp with cold sweat. None dared to take a step forward. The words echoed in their minds—Who bars my path dies… who bars my path dies…—lingering like a specter they could not banish.
Wu Tong spread his arms and drew the two women close by the waist. His figure was tall and proud, his stride calm and unhurried. Before his steady advance, the crowd melted away, parting to form a path. The three walked straight through, vanishing into the night without a single soul daring to speak.
The night was deep, stars glittering. Returning to the city, they found lanterns blazing, streets bustling with life. They strolled side by side along a quiet street under the moonlight, the breeze gentle, the two women smiling sweetly, their eyes meeting his in silent affection.
Wu Tong paused, gazing at them with warmth in his eyes. Taking their soft hands in his, he spoke with steady, heartfelt resolve:"Rou'er, Yun'er—before heaven above and earth below, I swear this: from this day forth, no matter fortune or calamity, we shall share life and death, aid each other in hardship, and I will treat you with true heart all my life. If I ever betray this vow, may heaven and earth destroy me!"
Though born to wealth, Wu Tong was never arrogant—forthright, sincere, and loyal. His oath now rang with unshakable truth, heavy with feeling.
Zhao Rou's heart trembled, her eyes moist."Brother Tong, my heart is already yours. From this day, I have no regrets. I will walk with you to the end."
Liu Yun bit her lip, her eyes shy yet unwavering."Brother Tong, when I became sisters with Rou-jie, she told me you were a great hero. At the time, I was not wholly convinced. But today, I have seen your character and your valor with my own eyes. Rou-jie's chosen man is indeed extraordinary. I am willing, like Ehuang and Nüying, to share one husband, and follow you in life and death."
Wu Tong was deeply moved. Without hesitation, he wrapped them both in his arms, feeling the warmth of their hearts beating against his own.
The moon hung high, the breeze was soft, the scene like a dream. He looked up at the night sky and murmured,"May we live long, and share the moonlight though a thousand miles apart."
✶ ✶ ✶
Twenty days later, the Tengwang Pavilion was crowded with heroes from all walks of the martial world. Banners of various sects fluttered, voices roared like waves.
When the auspicious hour came, the cry rang out:"The ceremony begins—fire the salute!"
Drums thundered, gongs rang, firecrackers exploded in chorus with the applause.
In the central square, the Heavenly Venerable Sect Leader Liu Xuan, accompanied by Right Envoy Luo An, Left Envoy Hu Qi, the "Heavenly Venerable" Ding Ren, and the "Earthly Venerable" Wei An, strode to the center.
Before him stretched a sea of people. Raising his voice, Liu Xuan spoke passionately:"Fellow heroes, righteous men—An Lushan the traitor rose in rebellion in Fanyang over half a year ago. Now wolves and jackals hold sway, the realm is in chaos. At such a time of national peril, we must unite to strike down the rebels. Our sect, acting in accord with heaven's will, today calls upon the heroes of Jiangnan to join in punishing the traitors…"
Suddenly, a voice like a great bell boomed across the square:"You are all the traitors!"
Gasps rang out. Into the square marched the Black Dragon Sect—its leader Murong Gui, Left Dharma King Meng Ming, Right Dharma King Shi Kai, the Four Heavenly Kings—Yang Chao of the East, Hong Qi of the South, Wei Chang of the North, Xiao Cheng of the West—along with Chu Tianba, the Two Freaks of Western Yunnan, the Demon of Qianzhong, and the Wuliang Freak, leading a great force.
Murong Gui's eyes flashed like lightning as he swept his gaze over the assembly. In a voice that carried to every ear, he declared:"The Tang Emperor is a decadent fool, whiling away his days with Yang Guifei. Now Emperor Xiongwuwang has risen to overthrow him—just as King Tang overthrew Jie, just as King Wu overthrew Zhou. The hearts of the people are with him!"
An Lushan's cavalry had already seized Luoyang, and in the first month of the following year he declared himself Emperor of Great Yan in Luoyang, changing the era name to Shengwu.
The crowd was stunned. We are here to discuss how to destroy the rebels—how have these men come to call us the traitors?
From the crowd stepped the Beggar Sect Leader Fei Jin, roaring,"Damn you! Dogs will always be dogs! Shameless cur! To dare spout such drivel about Tang overthrowing Jie and Wu overthrowing Zhou!"
Before his words had even faded, a shadow shot forward at blinding speed, attacking straight for Fei Jin's brow with a vicious, lethal strike.
Cries of alarm rose as faces blanched at the sudden turn. But Fei Jin met the attack head-on—palms clashing in a single breath. In the blink of an eye, he cut inside the opponent's guard, his right palm surging forward.
BANG!
The attacker flew backward through the air, crashed heavily to the ground, and lay still—dead on the spot.