The incident broke out so suddenly that Shi Ming unexpectedly burst into wild laughter and said with treacherous malice,"Your Jingjiao people prattle on about benevolence and morality, yet you, too, covet power and curry favor with the mighty. Your hearts lean toward the Tang—how dare you lecture me!"
Standing beside the Jingjiao Patriarch Luo Ke, the Fire King Zhao Ke could no longer suppress his fury."Shi Ming," he shouted, "you have abused the name of the Fire-Worship Cult to commit crimes everywhere. Today, I shall cleanse the sect on its behalf!"
The Mani King Li Rui added sternly,"You should have been expelled long ago! If not for King Zhao Ke's moment of compassion, how could you have hatched your plot to betray the sect and murder the Patriarch?"
Both were Fire Kings of the Fire-Worship Cult, but because they supported opposite sides—Tang versus Yan—their quarrels never ceased. King Zhao Ke and the Patriarch had long intended to deal with Shi Ming, but out of misplaced kindness, they tolerated him. That lenience nearly brought disaster. On the night when the Fire Shrine assembly convened, Shi Ming struck first. The situation had grown perilous—had Wu Tong and his companions not intervened, the Cult would already have fallen into Shi Ming's hands. He would then have unleashed the full might of the sect to annihilate Jingjiao. Thinking of this, Zhao Ke felt only deeper shame for his past softness.
Unable to restrain his rage any longer, he barked,"Shi Ming! You fight for power and profit—yet in the end, all turns to dust!"
Shi Ming gave a cold, wicked laugh."Victory crowns the king; defeat buries the captive. What more need be said? Why don't we settle this with life and death? If I perish beneath your palm, I will have no complaint!"
Zhao Ke King lifted his voice and declared,"Hear me, heroes! Shi Ming, a Fire King of the Cult, has betrayed us and plotted against the Patriarch. Should I kill him or not?"
The gathered warriors roared,"Kill the beast!"
Shi Ming uttered not a word. With a sudden sweep of his hand, he slashed his palm toward Zhao Ke's crown. Zhao Ke tilted his head aside, slipping past the strike, and the two clashed palm to palm. A thunderous crack echoed.
"Shi Ming!" Zhao Ke shouted. "Why do you refuse to answer?"
Shi Ming snarled,"What use are words? Let our palms speak!"
With that, he launched himself forward again. Both men countered with speed for speed, dismantling and exchanging moves. Within moments, fifty to sixty blows had passed. They were fellow disciples of the same lineage; each knew the other's techniques as well as his own. Zhao Ke's fists and kicks held no secrets for Shi Ming, and the reverse was equally true. A sharp smack rang out—Shi Ming's palm struck Zhao Ke's shoulder. Zhao Ke grunted and staggered back several steps. Shi Ming sneered,"Do not think the victory is already yours!"
Years ago they had crossed hands; since then their inner strength had grown immensely, though their martial arts remained that of their shared sect."Then let us try again!" Zhao Ke shouted, unleashing Flame Palms – Fire Blossoms in Silver Light. Instantly the wind howled; twin streams of blazing heat surged forth. His palms descended, fierce and blazing.
Shi Ming's eyes narrowed. He twisted aside, dissolving the attack, and countered with a strike of his own."Do not think," he said coldly, "that you alone have mastered the Flame Palms!"
Before the words even fell, he sprang upward, palms crossing in mid-air. The force of his strike stirred the air itself; waves of heat pulsed outward. In a flash he executed Swallowing Blade, Spitting Fire. The assault came like a storm. From the sidelines, Mani King Li Rui cried out, horrified,"Be careful!"
Shi Ming's palm cut through empty air—yet the invisible force slammed into the ground, shattering stones into fragments. In that instant, Zhao Ke's footwork shifted; his silhouette blurred. With a sudden long cry that sent grass trembling and valleys echoing, he unleashed Heaven-Raising Beacon Flames.
Their palms collided again and again, roaring like tidal waves crashing against cliffs. The sheer ferocity of their power shook all who watched; never had they witnessed such overwhelming force.
Shi Ming spun sharply. With a move called Lightning Spark, his right palm thrust forward, releasing another invisible blast. But Zhao Ke whirled even faster, drew in a sudden breath, and with a palm as keen as a blade, executed Wind Ignites Fire. His strike cut straight in.
Shi Ming tried to evade, but Zhao Ke was already upon him. Their palms met at close range—then Shi Ming's body shuddered violently, his face twisted in agony. Zhao Ke's palm landed squarely upon his chest. Shi Ming staggered backward, unable to regain his footing. Zhao Ke followed like a shadow, sending out another palm.
A heavy crash rang out.
Shi Ming spewed a spray of blood; a shrill, miserable scream tore from his throat. His body flew through the air like a severed kite and slammed onto the ground. He lay still—dead, his face twisted into a ghastly, terrifying grimace.
Zhao Ke King stood solemn and stern. "Bai Bing!"
A trembling voice answered, "Y-yes, my lord!"
"Have several men take Shi Ming's body and bury him."
Moments later, the corpse had been carried away. Shi Ming's followers, shaken to the core, could only stare in dread. With his death, the plot to exterminate Jingjiao collapsed completely.
Wu Tong now strode forward and proclaimed in a ringing voice,"The tide of the world surges vast and unstoppable. Those who follow prosper; those who defy perish. Let the lessons of the past be the warning for the future."
The Fire King Aros then shouted,"You who followed the Yan court to attack us—our Patriarch is magnanimous. Since you were but accomplices, he will not pursue your past misdeeds. Kneel before the Patriarch and admit your wrongs, and you may depart."
But Shi Ming's men were hardened outlaws; though terrified, they hesitated. Kneeling was a blow to pride—they looked at one another in torment.
Wu Tong suddenly barked,"At a time like this, do you still wish to taste the edge of my Crouching Dragon Blade?"
With a hiss like lightning, he drew his blade—its light flaring like a rainbow. The bandits who usually feared no one instantly lost all courage. Their legs buckled; one after another collapsed to their knees, kowtowing desperately:
"Great Patriarch, spare us!""We only followed orders—have mercy!""We knew nothing of the plot—please forgive us!"
Even Mo Lao-xian, the Iron-Palm Brute, and the Yin-Yang Hand—though gravely injured—had no choice but to kneel and beg.
Patriarch Luo Ke spoke slowly,"Heaven cherishes life. Besides, Master Wu of the Loyal Hall bears no grudge and shows kindness even to foes. Let this matter end here. But if you fail to repent, then when we meet again in the martial world, it shall be the day of your death."