Chapter 79

The wind rolled up snow foam, scraping against faces and causing pain.

On Tiger Head Summit, the two stood facing each other; snowflakes hadn't even drifted near them before an invisible surge of qi shook them apart.

Li Ping'an slowly raised his hand, assuming the starting posture. The movement looked slow, yet it left an afterimage. Having entered the Transformation Realm, his view of martial arts had completely changed. The hardness of Eight Extremes Fist, the softness of Tai Chi, and the agility of Carefree Step now merged completely within him, indistinguishable.

Miyamoto Musashi's eyes narrowed. He could see that this youngster was even harder to deal with than yesterday. But a master is a master; he only gave a cold snort, planted his feet neither too close nor too wide, and his whole aura suddenly changed, like a sword just drawn from its sheath.

"Young man, you are indeed a genius." Miyamoto Musashi's voice hoarse like a whetstone, "Too bad, today you will die here."

Li Ping'an laughed: "Do you Japanese all use these lines? Last time that kendo master said the same, and now his sword is still being used as firewood by our Mess Hall Team."

Miyamoto Musashi's face sank, no more words. He moved, instantly covering ten meters, a hand knife straight chopping at Li Ping'an's face—so fast it was unbelievable, the air emitted a tearing-like shrill whistle.

Li Ping'an didn't meet it head-on; using Carefree Step lightly, his body drifted back like willow fluff. Simultaneously his right hand drew a circle, leading and guiding, diverting that fierce force to the side.

"Tai Chi?" Miyamoto Musashi raised an eyebrow, changing from chop to thrust, aiming straight for the middle.

This change of move was extremely fast; it looked like it would soon pierce Li Ping'an's chest. The Anti-Japanese Alliance brothers watching from afar all broke into a sweat.

Who would have thought Li Ping'an's body turned ghostlike, not only dodging the strike but also flowing forward to press against Miyamoto Musashi's front. The Eight Extremes Fist's Sticking Mountain Reliance exploded!

"Bang!" a muffled sound, Miyamoto Musashi stumbled back three steps, leaving a line of deep pits in the snow. A flash of surprise crossed his face, instantly turning ferocious.

"Good! Not bad!" Miyamoto Musashi laughed instead, "Looks like I underestimated you."

He slowly took off his officer's coat, revealing the black karate uniform underneath. In the wind and snow, his bones crackled all over, his whole body seeming to expand a notch.

Li Ping'an's expression also grew solemn. He could feel the opponent's momentum still rising, like a beast gradually awakening.

Suddenly, Miyamoto Musashi moved. This move left only a blur.

Li Ping'an only felt his vision blur, a fierce leg wind already sweeping toward his face. He hastily retreated using Carefree Step, simultaneously crossing his arms forward to block.

"Thud!" Li Ping'an's arm went numb from the shock, he retreated several steps before dissipating the force.

"Is that all you've got?" Miyamoto Musashi, pressing his advantage, unleashed wave after wave of attack. Various karate killing techniques flowed from his hands, each aimed at vital points, reeking of bloodlust.

For a moment Li Ping'an was pressed and could only parry using Tai Chi combined with Carefree Step. Snowflakes flew wildly around them, twisted by the qi into one vortex after another.

"Instructor Li Jiaoguan, be careful!" a young soldier in the distance couldn't help shouting.

Zhou Zhengwei grabbed him: "Don't shout, let Comrade Li focus on the enemy!"

On the battlefield, Li Ping'an gradually figured out the opponent's patterns. His Transformation Realm cultivation let him understand techniques far beyond ordinary people, often allowing him to devise unimaginable solutions in the most perilous moments.

Miyamoto Musashi grew more astonished the longer they fought. He discovered that no matter how exquisite his techniques, they were always neutralized by the opponent. It felt like punching cotton—his whole body felt uncomfortable.

Unable to break through after prolonged attack, Miyamoto Musashi grew anxious. He abruptly stepped back, drew a deep breath, and slowly brought his palms together. A terrifying aura gathered around him.

Li Ping'an's eyes narrowed, knowing the opponent was about to unleash a big move. He didn't hesitate; his inner qi surged, his hands slowly tracing circles, a soft-yet-firm force gathering in his palms.

"Take this move, Void Slash!" Miyamoto Musashi roared, his hands chopping like blades. An invisible qi blade tore through the air, whistling as it lunged at Li Ping'an!

This strike was too powerful; wherever it passed, the snow on the ground was swept up, forming a snow wave!

Li Ping'an neither dodged nor evaded; the speed of his hands drawing circles suddenly increased. At the moment the qi blade struck his body, he exhaled sharply and thrust his hands forward!

"Boom!" a tremendous roar as the two forces collided, kicking up snow everywhere. The spectators were shaken off their feet, all stumbling backward.

After the snow settled, Li Ping'an was still standing, but a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. Miyamoto Musashi also fared poorly, his breathing a little ragged, clearly that exchange had taken a heavy toll.

"Nice use of softness to overcome hardness!" Miyamoto Musashi gritted his teeth, "But let's see how many times you can take that!"

He was about to gather qi again for a second strike, but Li Ping'an wouldn't give him that chance.

Li Ping'an's body flickered, suddenly splitting into three, attacking Miyamoto Musashi from three directions at once! This was the body technique achievable only when Carefree Step was practiced to the utmost—Threefold Carefree Step!

Miyamoto Musashi's face changed drastically; in the rush he could only choose one side to meet the attack. But he chose wrong.

The real Li Ping'an flashed out from his side-rear, delivering a simple Eight Extremes Fist Collapsing Fist. The punch looked ordinary, yet it contained the full power of his Transformation Realm cultivation.

Miyamoto Musashi barely managed to turn and block, but felt a mountain‑toppling surge of force. His whole body was blown away, crashing heavily into the snow.

Before he could get up, Li Ping'an followed like a shadow, unleashing Wind‑Cleaving Eight Blades!

Blade light like snow, too fast to see. Only a few hisses were heard, and several slits appeared on Miyamoto Musashi's karate uniform, blood seeping out.

"Ah!" Miyamoto Musashi roared, ignoring his injuries he leapt up, his hands like claws grabbing for Li Ping'an's throat. He was trying to take them both down!

Li Ping'an did not retreat but advanced, lowering his body to evade the grab, and at the same time delivered a Tai Chi Elbow Bottom Hammer strike that struck Miyamoto Musashi squarely in the chest.

With a "crack", it was obvious his ribs were broken.

Miyamoto Musashi spat out a mouthful of blood, staggered backward. He stared fixedly at Li Ping'an, his eyes full of disbelief.

"Impossible... I've trained hard for forty years... how could I lose to a greenhorn like you..."

Li Ping'an walked over slowly, his voice calm: "You Japanese never understand—martial arts is not a tool for killing. When the heart has the Way, the hands then have skill."

Miyamoto Musashi gave a sinister laugh, suddenly drew a short dagger from his bosom and lunged to stab Li Ping'an! It was so sudden; no one expected this master to resort to such means.

But Li Ping'an seemed to have anticipated it, he slightly turned his body to dodge the thrust, and at the same time his right hand shot out like lightning, seizing Miyamoto Musashi's wrist that held the dagger. With a twist and a pull, the dagger flew away.

"You Japanese..." Li Ping'an shook his head, "Always playing these little tricks."

After saying that, he struck Miyamoto Musashi's dantian with a palm. Miyamoto Musashi let out a miserable cry, his whole body flying off like a broken kite, landing heavily and lying motionless.

A generation's master, and just like that, it was over.

The wind and snow gradually lessened. Li Ping'an stood in place, breathing slightly. The battle looked easy, but it was actually perilous; a little slower and he would have been done for.

"Li Jiaoguan has won!" the soldiers cheered, rushing up the hill and surrounding Li Ping'an.

Zhou Zhengwei stepped forward and patted Li Ping'an on the shoulder: "Well done! Now the Japanese Soldiers should quiet down for a while."

But Li Ping'an gazed into the distance, his brow slightly furrowed: "I'm afraid it's not that simple. Now that Miyamoto Musashi is dead, the Japanese won't let it go."

Squad Leader Yang kicked Miyamoto Musashi's corpse: "One comes, kill one; two come, kill a pair! Now that we have Li Jiaoguan, what are a few Little Devils to fear?"

The soldiers shouted approval, morale soaring.

At that moment, Li Ping'an suddenly said: "Take care of this old bastard's corpse, and before dawn tomorrow, hang it on the gate tower of the county seat."

The surroundings fell silent all at once. Zhou Zhengwei stared for a moment: "Comrade Li, this... is this too..."

"What do you mean 'too'?" Li Ping'an's gaze swept over everyone: "Aren't the Little Devils always boasting about their bushido? Aren't they always saying they'd rather die than yield? I'll let everyone see what fate awaits their master!"

He paused, his voice rising a bit: "I want the Japanese Soldiers' martial world to know that we Chinese are not to be bullied! Moreover, I want the common folk to see that the Little Devils aren't so frightening!"

Squad Leader Yang was the first to react, grinning: "That's right! I'll take people to do it now! I guarantee it'll be hung solid and secure, so everyone in the whole county can see it clearly!"

The soldiers also got excited, chattering with ideas.

"It needs to be hung high, or else those damned Japanese Soldiers will sneak over and take it down!"

"Put up a notice beside it that reads 'The Fate of the Japanese Master'!"

"Better yet, draw a picture so even the illiterate can understand!"

Li Ping'an looked at the excited soldiers, nodded: "Just do that. Remember, it must be hung before dawn; after hanging, withdraw immediately—don't let the Japanese Soldiers catch you."

"Don't worry, Instructor Li!" Squad Leader Yang slapped his chest, "I've got this covered!"

Zhou Zhengwei looked at Li Ping'an, wanted to speak but held back, finally smiling: "Your move is ruthless… but it sure feels satisfying!"

Li Ping'an also laughed: "To deal with extraordinary people, you must use extraordinary methods. We not only have to win, we have to win with momentum, win with prestige!"

The wind and snow finally stopped; a ray of sunshine pierced the clouds and fell on Tiger Head Mountain. The soldiers began to busy themselves—some cleared the battlefield, others prepared to move the corpses.

Li Ping'an stood on the summit, gazing toward the distant county town, his eyes deep.

This hanging will surely shake the entire Kwantung Army—but that's exactly what's needed, so the Japanese Soldiers will know that the people of China are not to be trifled with.