The three men surrounded Wu Tong, fists and palms weaving a net of shadows as they launched into a furious assault. Dust and sand whirled under the force of their blows. At that instant, Wu Tong swept his left leg sharply to the side. Elder Mo dared not be careless and leapt back at once. "Yin–Yang Hand" Uncle Anpu's right palm cut in like the wind, while "Iron-Palm Brute" Old Lord Chuanbei's twin palms slashed down like paired blades.
Wu Tong felt a jolt of apprehension. He flipped backward to avoid the assault. The three men were indeed skilled, and now that two attacked and one guarded, their cooperation was seamless. After exchanging over a hundred moves, Elder Mo's confidence swelled. He sneered, "Boy, you strutted around so arrogantly before. Today the three of us are not what we once were. You had better accept your fate!"
"Yin–Yang Hand" Uncle Anpu added coldly, "Wu Tong, today you will lose your life here!"
"Iron-Palm Brute" Chuanbei's eyes flashed with killing intent. "My iron palms will send you straight to the Western Paradise!" he growled. No sooner had he spoken than he gathered his inner strength. His twin palms surged forward like a raging tide, swift and heavy, force coiling within—truly a vicious strike.
"When the heavens go mad, the rain must fall;When a man grows mad, disaster must follow."
Wu Tong shouted, "Good! Come then!" His palms shifted, executing the Six Illusory Palms. With one move, "Fist Within the Palm," he struck out. Though the motion appeared to be a palm strike, it transformed mid-air into a fist, shooting toward their chests. The two men were briefly startled.
"Yin–Yang Hand" Anpu barked, "So you finally have your day!" His figure blurred as he chopped down at Wu Tong. The two men attacked in unison. Wu Tong's body flashed aside with startling speed. Suddenly he unleashed "Palm Within the Fist", a move as swift as lightning. Uncle Anpu thrust his palm forward to block, but Wu Tong's strike slipped through a narrow opening with uncanny fluidity. A sharp crack rang out as Wu Tong's palm slammed into Anpu's abdomen. The force was overwhelming; Anpu flew backward, crashed to the ground, and spat a mouthful of blood.
"Iron-Palm Brute" Chuanbei charged in. Wu Tong spun, parried downward, and thrust out his right palm. Chuanbei hurried to block, but Wu Tong's palm suddenly became a claw, seizing his right wrist. With a yank and twist, Wu Tong drove a punch into the man's ribs—crack! Several ribs snapped; Chuanbei screamed.
Elder Mo darted in, palms slicing through the air. Wu Tong raised his hand to evade. Elder Mo swept his leg toward him, but Wu Tong timed his move perfectly. His palm chopped down on the elder's knee—crack!—the bone broke cleanly. Elder Mo collapsed with a howl.
Wu Tong sighed. "Today's battle was but a light lesson. The three of you may now retire to the mountains."
Ling Xian'er clapped and shouted, "Who else among you refuses to yield? Step forth and test your skill!"
With the Three-Talents Formation broken, Shi Ming was furious. "Wu Tong, you have brought calamity upon yourself and remain unaware! Today, you rebels shall die here!" He turned and barked, "Bai Bing, send the signal!"
A man in a white ceremonial robe embroidered with a red flame stepped forward, nodded, and gestured. Moments later—bang!—a bamboo tube shot into the sky, bursting with a crisp pop, scattering like fireworks.
Arros the Dharma King asked, "Shi Ming, what signal is this?"
Shi Ming burst into wild laughter. "Since you are all doomed, I may as well tell you. That signal summons the Yan army. I was ordered to come and demand your surrender. Should you refuse, I am to call in the waiting Yan troops to erase Jingjiao once and for all!"
Chaos erupted instantly. The followers of Jingjiao shouted in alarm. The sect's Patriarch, Luo Ke, roared, "You dog of An Lushan! When has our sect ever wronged you that you plot so deeply to destroy us?"
Shi Ming replied with a sinister smile, "Jingjiao has aided the Tang court in secret these past years, conspiring with the righteous armies. Yan has seen it all. And today you gather all branches here for an anti-Yan assembly. How is this not courting annihilation?"
Arros Dharma King shouted, "Patriarch, every follower of Jingjiao here is trained in martial arts. If Yan dares attack, we need not fear. We'll fight them!"
Just then, a thunder of hooves rose in the distance. Shi Ming laughed again. "Look—Yan forces have already arrived!"
Seeing danger, Wu Tong called out loudly, "Heroes, today is the moment for true men to slay traitors and safeguard the realm! From this day forth, the Anti-Treachery Assembly of the Great Qin Monastery shall resound through the ages!" Upon hearing that Yan troops were coming, everyone's blood began to boil. As Wu Tong's voice rang across the hall, the monks and followers erupted into cheers, shouting as one:
"Crush the traitors!""Crush the traitors!""Crush the traitors!"
But against all expectation, a Tang army arrived, led by Elder Yi Si of Jingjiao. Yi Si bowed to the Patriarch. "Reporting, Patriarch: five thousand Yan vanguards marched on the Great Qin Monastery, claiming they would raze it to the ground. But General Guo Xin of the Tang's Cavalry Forces learned of this and rode through the night to aid our sect. The Yan forces have now been driven back. General Guo Xin will soon arrive."
Joy swept through the crowd; everyone beamed with relief. Shi Ming's faction fell silent. Arros Dharma King called out, "Patriarch, the Yan lackeys insulted the Great Qin Monastery and sought our destruction. Why not settle this matter today?"
Patriarch Luo Ke paused, then turned to Wu Tong. "Hall-Master Wu of the Loyal-Righteous Hall, you are a high minister of the Tang court. How should these Yan rebels be dealt with? What is your judgment?"
Wu Tong said, "Yan's mandate has ended. As a righteous sect, Jingjiao need not stain its hands with the filth of petty scoundrels. If they admit their wrongdoing, let them leave. But the ringleaders—we cannot release so easily."
Luo Ke nodded. "Hall-Master Wu speaks justly. Shi Ming, you sought power, flattered the corrupt, betrayed your sect, and even plotted to murder the Patriarch. Your crimes cannot be forgiven. Now that matters have come to this, what have you left to say?"
Final Quatrain (English Rendered)
Seizing the sect for lust of power,Schemes of slaughter breeding danger;Who could foresee today's affairs?All are struck by twists so stranger.