The stronghold master of Jiulong Fortress, Xiang Yang, said,"If our brothers in the stronghold can't even collect tolls from travelers, we might as well shut the place down. What would we eat or drink then?"
The leader of the Flying Sand Clan, Liu Tong, replied coldly,"In that case, we follow the rules of the martial world—let the stronger fist decide."
Xiang Yang asked,"Who will act as witness?"
Liu Tong said,"I have specially invited Thunderbolt HandGe Long to serve as witness."
At that very instant, a shadow flashed before them. A figure descended lightly into the arena—it was Thunderbolt Hand Ge Long. He cupped his hands and said,
"Ge Long greets the two of you."
Xiang Yang returned the salute."With Thunderbolt Hand Ge Long as witness, Xiang here is reassured."
Ge Long coughed softly and asked in a steady voice,
"Will this be a match that stops at a point… or otherwise?"
Those who come are seldom friendly; the friendly seldom come.Liu Tong burst into laughter.
"We'll follow whatever Master Xiang decides."
Xiang Yang sneered.
"If one side admits defeat, the fight ends. But if neither side yields, then death can only be blamed on poor skill."
Liu Tong said coldly,
"The outcome—life or death—remains unknown. Enough talk. Let us settle this."
Ge Long cleared his throat again.
"Are you both ready?"
Seeing the two men nod, he announced loudly,
"Master Xiang Yang of Jiulong Fortress and Chief Liu Tong of the Flying Sand Clan—enter the field!"
The two stepped toward the center. They gave each other a brief salute, but murderous intent flashed across their faces.
Liu Tong suddenly roared,
"Take this!"
His body shot forward like a released arrow. With a fierce palm strike he attacked Xiang Yang.
Liu Tong was a cunning and ruthless man. With killing intent in his heart he showed no mercy. His right palm struck out, while his left swept forward like a raging gale.
Xiang Yang raised both hands and bellowed, unleashing two powerful palm strikes. Their palms collided, their forces roaring like a storm—stones scattered and sand flew.
Xiang Yang feinted with one palm and suddenly struck toward Liu Tong's chest. Liu Tong raised his palm to block, only to find the attack a trick.
Seizing the opening, Xiang Yang roared and chopped a palm toward Liu Tong's abdomen.
Seeing the danger too late, Liu Tong hurriedly retreated several zhang. Xiang Yang pressed forward, shouting loudly as he launched three rapid palm strikes. His speed was astonishing.
In an instant he was upon Liu Tong again.
Liu Tong twisted his body aside and thrust out both palms. Two waves of palm force surged forth like crashing tides.
The duel showed no mercy. In the blink of an eye, more than fifty exchanges had passed.
Liu Tong snarled,
"One palm will finish you!"
With that he lunged forward like lightning. But Xiang Yang was worthy of being called a formidable warlord of the martial world. Though Liu Tong moved swiftly, Xiang Yang moved just as fast. His body flashed aside, drifting several feet away.
Xiang Yang laughed coldly.
"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed!"
The contempt in his voice was unmistakable.
Liu Tong's face flushed the color of pig liver with rage.
"You're dead!"
His fury exploded. He lunged forward again like lightning, unleashing eighteen palm strikes in rapid succession.
Xiang Yang's Iron Sand Palms were fierce and masculine in power. He intercepted the incoming attacks head-on. With a thunderous shout his palms swept out, generating a violent gale.
With a crash, a pine tree by the roadside split into two.
The surrounding fighters gasped in shock.
Liu Tong staggered slightly. Xiang Yang pressed forward relentlessly, closing the distance in a single stride.
The two exchanged a frenzy of palm strikes. Suddenly—bang! bang!—Liu Tong was struck twice and staggered backward.
Just then a shadow suddenly appeared. Several palm strikes thundered toward Xiang Yang.
The attacker was Wei Fu, deputy leader of the Flying Sand Clan.
Liu Tong sneered.
"You're finished!"
The two men joined forces against Xiang Yang.
Xiang Yang shouted angrily,
"Ge Long! What kind of witness are you?!"
Ge Long's eyes flashed with golden light. Suddenly he shouted,
"Stop at once!"
He leapt into the arena like a flying hawk, placing himself between the three fighters.
"Stop!"
But just as he arrived—
Bang!
Xiang Yang was sent flying backward. He crashed heavily to the ground, coughing up blood.
The master of Jiulong Fortress had never imagined that Thunderbolt Hand Ge Long, who had agreed to witness the duel, was actually a hidden accomplice of the Flying Sand Clan.
Believing Ge Long had come to break up the fight, Xiang Yang never expected him to strike a sudden palm.
The blow was too sudden.
Caught off guard, Xiang Yang took the full force of the strike.
Thus it was said:
In the duels of Jianghu,Sand and stones fly in chaos.Who would know a hidden hand lay waiting—Blood spat upon the ground.
Meanwhile the brothers of Jiulong Fortress were blocked outside by the Flying Sand Clan. None dared rush into the arena.
Liu Tong sneered triumphantly.
"You fool. Brave but without brains. How could someone like you achieve greatness?"
Wei Fu shouted,
"Chief! Finish him quickly!"
The two sides stood about seven or eight feet apart.
Liu Tong laughed loudly.
"Xiang Yang, today is your day to die. Still thinking of escaping?"
Suddenly two figures flashed into the arena.
They landed before Xiang Yang.
It was Wu Tong and Liu Yun.
Liu Yun said sternly,
"The actions of you three are no different from those of petty villains!"
Though spoken by a woman, her words carried a powerful righteousness.
Liu Tong sneered.
"Who dares meddle in our business?"
Wei Fu quickly whispered,
"Chief, these two are Wu Tong, leader of the Hall of Loyalty, and his wife!"
Wu Tong's gaze swept toward Ge Long. He smiled coldly.
"Thunderbolt Hand Ge Long—since you agreed to be witness for both sides, yet plotted with the Flying Sand Clan to harm another… such despicable conduct will surely be scorned by the heroes of the martial world."
As the saying goes:A tree without bark dies; a man without shame fears nothing.
Yet Ge Long shamelessly replied,
"To achieve great things, one cannot be bound by trivial rules. A true man does what must be done!"
His shamelessness left even Liu Tong speechless.
Liu Tong said coldly,
"Wu Tong, if you know what's good for you, step aside. Otherwise you'll die here today!"
Their eyes met—sparks seemed to fly.
Liu Yun scoffed.
"Some people simply don't know their place. And what exactly can the three of you do about it?"
Her meaning was clear: even the three of them together might not be Wu Tong's match.
The tension between the two sides reached the breaking point.
Neither side would yield.
The bowstring was already drawn—the arrow ready to fly.