Qiu Feng, the leader of the Phoenix Gang, said coldly:"An Lushan is but a wolf in human skin, guilty of monstrous crimes. How could such a beast become ruler of the realm?"
Yang Linzhong, leader of the Xingwu Gang, sneered and retorted:"The Mighty Emperor has already ascended the throne. Any who oppose him are traitors!"
Yang Linzhong was a man of deep scheming and ruthless ambition. Though outwardly refined, he was sly and insidious, never hesitating to use any means to achieve his goals. In secret, he colluded with An Lushan's forces, hoping to ride the chaos to power and elevate his gang to dominance over the canal syndicates. A master of intrigue, he thrived on sowing discord among the Five Great Gangs, seeking to weaken his rivals and seize control.
At that moment, the gravely wounded Tang Fei forced himself upright and declared:"An Lushan, as a subject of the Tang, should have shown loyalty and gratitude. Yet he betrayed his sovereign and rebelled against the throne. Such treachery cannot escape retribution!"
Zhang Cheng, leader of the Dockside Gang, dismissed him with a laugh:"Foolish words of a bookish scholar! Victory crowns the king, defeat dooms the rebel. Chang'an has already fallen to the Mighty Emperor—he shall soon rule all beneath Heaven!"
The crowd knew well that both sides spoke only to defend their own positions. Words alone carried no weight; only time and history would judge truth.
Qiu Feng raised his voice:"Enough of empty talk! Let us settle this by the laws of Jianghu—through combat!"
Zhang Cheng, a vicious, cunning warlord in his own right, readily agreed. His challenge to the Five Gangs was no mere test of skill but the opening move of a carefully laid scheme.
Yang Linzhong shouted:"Indeed! Strength crowns the victor!"
At this, Xu Li, leader of the Xuzhou Gang, stepped forward with a cupped-fist salute:"Then let me be the first to witness the famed skills of Yang Gang Master!"
Xu Li, known across the rivers and lakes as Thunderhand, was a man in his forties, famed for creating the Wind-and-Thunder Palm. His martial renown shook the land.
Yang Linzhong assumed his stance and called:"Come then!"
Xu Li's eyes blazed with heroic spirit. "Today's duel shall decide who truly stands as hero!" He lowered his stance, fists raised, and bellowed:"Take this!"
With a thunderous roar, he surged forward. Yang Linzhong countered with a piercing cry, his arms sweeping out with the chilling force of the Crying Crane Palm. Their strikes collided in a storm of thunderous impacts, palms and fists aimed at each other's vital points, every move fierce and uncompromising.
Xu Li's palm force rolled like wind and thunder, crashing forward with overwhelming might. Yang Linzhong's body floated like a great crane in flight, his palms gliding and striking with eerie precision. The two masters clashed, blow upon blow, their internal energies exploding in sharp cracks that echoed like firecrackers, shaking the courtyard.
The onlookers gasped in awe as dust swirled and sleeves whipped in the violent gusts. Suddenly, Xu Li found an opening—Yang Linzhong faltered for a breath, his movement breaking rhythm. Xu Li's eyes flashed; he unleashed his killing move, Lightning Surge Palm!
With a thunderous crack, his strike pierced through Yang Linzhong's defense. The impact hurled Yang Linzhong backward like a broken kite, blood spraying from his lips as he crashed heavily to the ground.
The Xingwu Gang cried out in fury, denouncing Xu Li as ruthless and dishonorable.
Yet before the clamor could grow, the crowd parted. Heavy footsteps echoed as a group entered. At their head strode the Left Dharma King Meng Ming, robed in black, his gaze cold as ice, followed by the Four Heavenly Kings of the Black Dragon Sect—East King Yang Chao, South King Hong Qi, North King Wei Chang, and West King Xiao Cheng. Their imposing presence silenced the assembly.
Meng Ming's eyes blazed as he saw Yang Linzhong sprawled in defeat. His voice thundered like a great bell:"Bold indeed! Who dares injure a servant of the Mighty Emperor?"
A wave of dread swept through the crowd. The air itself seemed to thicken with killing intent, as if a greater storm was about to break.