Chapter Ninety-Two: The Tempestuous Battle at the Ruined Temple

The beautiful woman fixed her gaze intently on the temple gate, finally catching sight of the first to enter—Liu Tian’s father, the priest—followed closely by Liu Tian himself, then the Korean monk, and finally the master and apprentice known for their acupoint techniques.

The five newcomers also noticed He Zhixing standing a short distance away, accompanied by a stunningly beautiful woman whom they did not recognize. At this moment, the exquisite beauty stroked the sable in her arms and said, “My humble temple is certainly lively today. I didn’t expect so many distinguished visitors at once. May I ask if you have come to offer incense and pray, or do you have other business?”

She had already observed that among these newcomers, two or three had pronounced temples—a sure sign of martial prowess. Her question was meant as a probe, to sound out their intentions. Ordinary people with no martial skills would not be addressed in such a way; indeed, those unaware of the significance of a woman accompanied by a sable would not come with ulterior motives, but simply to pay respects and seek blessings.

The five men also noticed the sable, and it was Liu Tian who appeared most startled, involuntarily stepping back half a pace. He was well aware of the sable’s terrifying lethality; even if he hadn’t witnessed the woman’s martial arts, he knew that this beast alone could easily take his life. How could he not be alarmed?

But what if the sable were his own? Wouldn’t that be formidable? Then he could dominate the region, have whatever he wanted—wouldn’t that be wonderful?

Each person nursed his own secret thoughts, and a heavy silence descended—the hush before the storm. Everyone stood tense and alert; the quiet was uncanny, broken only by the increasingly distinct sound of running water. The three groups faced off in the temple, each keeping its distance.

It was the elder, master of the acupoint technique, who first broke the silence. He raised his hand slightly and said, “Please do not misunderstand, miss. We have not come for you, but for the one beside you. There is no need for us to become enemies.”

He spoke as he cupped his fists in respectful greeting, approaching slowly with the ease of two old friends meeting after a long separation.

The beautiful woman sensed nothing amiss; she took his gesture as a mere formality, a token of friendliness. But just as she let down her guard, the old man suddenly lunged at her with blinding speed, his hand darting not toward her chest’s vital point, but rather striking at the sable nestled in her arms—a classic feint.

He Zhixing hastily called out, “Watch out!”

Unruffled, the woman stepped lightly back, casting a grateful glance at He Zhixing and murmuring, “Thank you.” As she did, the sable in her arms shot forth like lightning at the old man, throwing him into frantic disarray.

At that moment, the other four men also sprang into action. Abandoning He Zhixing entirely, they all targeted the beautiful woman. For the first time, He Zhixing felt the sting of being utterly ignored. “These people are outrageous, acting as if I don’t exist!”

With that, he too leapt into the fray, joining forces with the beautiful woman to battle the remaining four.

Her martial skills proved impressive: her movements were nimble as she wielded a supple whip with remarkable finesse. He Zhixing had no idea where she had drawn the whip from—perhaps from her waist?

“A slender, pliant whip—could it have served as her belt all along?”

The whip’s shadow flickered in a storm of cracks and snaps, the fight reaching a fever pitch. Her agility was astonishing; with each evasion she displayed a mastery of lightness skill that spoke of deep cultivation.

Meanwhile, the old master was left floundering in a desperate struggle with the sable. The remaining four were no better off against the combined assault of He Zhixing and the woman; only the priest and the Korean monk managed to hold their ground with relative ease, while Liu Tian and the acupoint master’s apprentice found themselves increasingly pressed.

He Zhixing unleashed the full thirty-six forms of his Five Elements Blade Technique, each swift and forceful strike from his small wooden-handled blade sending a fierce wind howling. Liu Tian and the acupoint master’s apprentice could barely parry, the pressure mounting with every blow.

Riding this momentum, He Zhixing relentlessly sought openings, hammering away at his two opponents. Their ordeal was known only to themselves. After more than ten minutes of fierce combat, there came two thunderous crashes—both men were struck down, falling hard at a distance.

Now, He Zhixing and the beautiful woman joined forces against the priest and the Korean monk, Park Jeongjin. Two against two, the battle was joined once more!