Chapter 142

Senior sister, you all go. Xiao Longnu's bright eyes darted in the candlelight; her emotions gradually steadied, and she said softly, "The Valley Master didn't force me—I married him of my own free will."

Senior sister, you all go. Xiao Longnv's bright eyes wandered in the candlelight, her emotions gradually steadied, and she said slowly: "Valley Master Gongsun did not force me; I willingly married him."

Li Mochou was truly shocked, stammering, "What? What about Yang Guo?"

Li Mochou was truly startled, froze and said: "What? What about Yang Guo?"

After all, anyone at the Heroes' Gathering could see Xiao Longnu's feelings for Yang Guo.

After all, anyone who appeared at the Heroes' Assembly could see Xiao Longnv's feelings for Yang Guo.

Li Mochou said, "Junior sister, how can you believe his honeyed words? He's only after your looks—he's definitely not a good person."

Li Mochou said: "Junior sister, how can you believe that person's honeyed words? He only looks at your beauty; he is certainly not a good person!"

Li Mochou had learned from hard experience; Lu Zhanyuan's sweet talk, and even after, she'd lost count of how many men had flattered her with honeyed words—she never gave them a kind reply, instead reacting harshly; only someone like Feng Yi made her feel secure.

Li Mochou had profound lessons from experience; Lu Zhanyuan's sweet talk back then, and even after, she didn't know how many men had said sweet nothings to her—she never gave them a glance, instead responding with harshness; only someone like Feng Yi made her feel at ease.

After all, he doesn't even conceal that he's a villain who robs himself—such a person is incomparable to anyone else.

After all, he doesn't even hide the theory that he is a villain who robs himself; such a person is incomparable to others.

Xiao Longnu hesitated a moment, sighed, a trace of weariness showing on her face, and then she calmly explained the circumstances.

Xiao Longnv hesitated slightly, exhaled, a trace of weariness appeared on her face, and she leisurely explained the reason.

At that Heroes' Gathering, she had seen herself and Yang Guo about to marry, and everyone scoffed. Guo Jing said Yang Guo had no steady position in life. But to her, as long as Yang Guo went back with her to the ancient tomb, she could ignore all that.

Actually, that day at the Heroes' Assembly, she saw herself and Yang Guo about to become husband and wife, and everyone looked down on them. Guo Jing said Yang Guo had no steady footing in life. To her, as long as Yang Guo returned with her to the ancient tomb, these things truly didn't matter.

But Ouyang Feng had killed her master, and Yang Guo couldn't bear to leave him, insisting on bringing him along; even though she didn't want to seek revenge for her master, how could she let Ouyang Feng live with them in the ancient tomb, or let Yang Guo ignore his adoptive father?

But Ouyang Feng had killed her master, Yang Guo couldn't let him go and wanted to bring him along; even if she didn't want to avenge her master, how could she let Ouyang Feng live together in the ancient tomb, or let Yang Guo ignore his adoptive father?

Whatever she did, it would only cause Yang Guo trouble and keep him from being happy. So she steeled herself, endured the pain, and left him.

No matter what, she would only cause Yang Guo trouble and prevent him from being happy. So she forced herself to endure the pain and left Yang Guo.

One day, while sitting alone training, her longing surged like a tide, uncontrollable; her internal energy clashed with her meridians, causing her to go mad and reopen old wounds—if the Valley Master hadn't happened by and rescued her, she would have died in the wilderness.

One day, while sitting alone cultivating, longing surged like a tide, uncontrollable; her internal energy suddenly clashed with her meridians, causing her to go mad, old wounds flared up—if Valley Master Gongsun hadn't happened by and rescued her, she would have already died in the wilderness.

Guo Zhi had been widowed for a long time; seeing Xiao Longnu's exquisite beauty, which surpassed anything he had ever imagined, he couldn't help but redouble his efforts to save her.

Gongsun Zhi, having lost his partner for a long time, seeing Xiao Longnv's beautiful and lovely appearance—something he could hardly imagine in his life—could not help but add tenfold zeal to his intention to save her.

At that time Xiao Longnu felt disheartened and listless, and thinking she would live alone afterward, she knew she couldn't restrain herself; she would inevitably fall back into old patterns and seek Yang Guo again, bringing harm to him. Seeing the Valley Master's deep affection and hearing his marriage proposal, she reluctantly agreed,

At that time Xiao Longnv was disheartened and listless, and thought that if she lived alone she would surely be unable to restrain herself, inevitably repeat her mistakes, and go looking for Yang Guo again, bringing harm to him; seeing Valley Master Gongsun's deep affection and hearing his marriage proposal, she immediately steeled herself and agreed,

thinking that after becoming his wife, her bond with Yang Guo would be severed forever; besides, this secluded valley is rarely visited by outsiders, so she figured she would never see him again in this life. Little did she know that Li Mochou would suddenly appear.

Thinking that after becoming a married woman, her bond with Yang Guo would be completely severed, and besides this secluded valley is rarely visited by outsiders, she supposed she would never see him again in this life—little did she know Li Mochou would suddenly appear here.

Xiao Longnu's long-suppressed anguish had nowhere to vent; Li Mochou was ultimately her senior sister, and after the deaths of her master and Granny Sun, she was like an elder to her, and Feng Yi was no outsider, so she haltingly poured out everything that had happened.

Xiao Longnv had long suppressed her anguish with no outlet; Li Mochou was ultimately her senior sister, and after the deaths of her master and Granny Sun, she was like an elder to her, and Feng Yi was not an outsider either, so she haltingly spoke out everything that had happened.

Feng Yi and Li Mochou listened silently, then Feng Yi shook his head and said, "You take the surname Liu—doesn't that just mean you're following Yang Guo's Yang?"

Feng Yi and Li Mochou listened quietly; Feng Yi shook his head and said: "You take the surname Liu— isn't that just following Yang Guo's Yang?"

And yet you feel wronged yourself, as if you're being good to Yang Guo? You don't even say whether, after marrying someone, you could truly forget this feeling; as for this Valley Master, he's far from what you imagine him to be.

"Do you still feel wronged yourself, thinking it's good for Yang Guo? And you don't say whether after marrying someone you could truly forget this feeling; just this Valley Master Gongsun is far from what you imagine!"

Xiao Longnu gave a wistful smile and sighed, "He treats me very well."

Xiao Longnv gave a sad smile and sighed: "He treats me very well."

Feng Yi said, "With your looks, who wouldn't covet you? Who wouldn't want to treat you well? The Quanzhen Taoist Zhen Zhibing, profound in Daoist learning and steady in cultivation, after seeing you once, has been dreaming of you; on your birthday, he's sent you plenty of gifts, hasn't he?"

Feng Yi said: "With your looks, who wouldn't lust after you? Who wouldn't want to treat you well? That Daoist Zhen Zhibing of the Quanzhen Sect, profound in Daoist learning and steady in cultivation, after seeing you once, was haunted day and night; didn't he send you many gifts on your birthday?"

Xiao Longnu blushed and whispered, "How do you know?"

Xiao Longnv's face flushed, and she whispered: "How do you know?"

Although she had never paid attention to this matter, she was aware of it, but it's strange that Feng Yi knows.

Although she had never paid attention to this matter, she did know it, but it was strange that Feng Yi knew.

Feng Yi said, "That day you were injured and lying under the tree, he came over, murmuring softly; I heard him."

Feng Yi said: "That day you were injured, lying under the tree, he came over, murmuring softly—I heard it."

Xiao Longnu lightly nodded and sighed again: "Only Guo'er doesn't care about my appearance, and thus truly loves me."

Xiao Longnv lightly nodded, then sighed: "Only Guo'er doesn't care about my appearance; only then does he truly love me."

Feng Yi snorted and said nothing.

Feng Yi snorted, saying nothing.

Yet deep down he thought: If Xiao Longnu weren't peerlessly beautiful, given Yang Guo's childhood habit of judging people by looks, would he have fallen for her?

Yet in his heart he thought: If Xiao Longnv weren't of unparalleled beauty, given Yang Guo's nature from childhood of judging beauty, how could he have fallen for her?

Would he even go through life-and-death ordeals for her?

And would he go through life-and-death ordeals for her?

This, he absolutely does not believe!

This point, he absolutely does not believe!

Li Mochou embraced Xiao Longnu, sighing, "Our master taught us to be pure and free of desire, but I can't bear this suffering—that's why I left the tomb; I never imagined you would love so deeply, even more than I..."

Li Mochou embraced Xiao Longnv and sighed: "Our master taught us to keep a pure mind and few desires, but I cannot bear this suffering, which is why I left the tomb; I never imagined your love would run so deep, even deeper than mine..."

She stroked Xiao Longnu's cheek, a hint of pity in her brow, and said, "You suffer so much; our master was ultimately harmed by Ouyang Feng for my sake, so this vengeance should be mine—don't dwell on it. Just follow your heart."

She stroked Xiao Longnv's cheek, a hint of pity appearing between her brows, and said: "You are so tormented; our master was ultimately harmed by Ouyang Feng for my sake—this grudge I must avenge; don't think about it anymore. Just follow your own heart."

After Li Mochou's own heartbreak, she wishes all lovers in the world could be parted like mandarin ducks; yet now that she is cherished and cared for, she also hopes her junior sister will find a good match and become a couple.

After suffering emotional wounds, Li Mochou wished all lovers in the world could be parted like mandarin ducks; yet now that she is cherished and cared for, she also wants her junior sister to find a good match and finally become a family.

Of course, that person shouldn't be Feng Yi.

Of course, that person had better not be Feng Yi.

She is proud and arrogant, unwilling to yield to any woman, yet she knows her own appearance truly does not match her junior sister's looks.

She is proud and arrogant, unwilling to yield to any woman, yet she knows her own looks and talent are indeed inferior to her junior sister's.

Xiao Longnu heard her say this solemnly, felt moved, her cheeks flushed, and she whispered, "Senior sister, do you regret what you've done in the past?"

Hearing her speak so earnestly, Xiao Longnv felt moved, her cheeks flushed, and she whispered softly: "Senior sister, do you regret what you did before?"

Li Mochou laughed, "Regret what? I'm helping you, and also… also helping myself, so that no one will say you agreed to marry him…"

Li Mochou laughed: "What is there to regret? I'm helping you—also… also helping myself—so that no one will say you agreed to marry him…"

Xiao Longnu lowered her head even further and whispered, "Before dying, my master hoped you would turn from evil to good, so that I wouldn't be forced to the point of hurting you!"

Xiao Longnv lowered her head further and said softly: "Before our master died, he hoped you would turn from evil to good, so that I wouldn't have to, under extreme circumstances, harm your life!"

I only ever tested Yang Guo for information; from beginning to end, my heart has held only him—I will never be with anyone else!

"Last time I only did it to test news about Guo'er; from beginning to end, my heart has held only Guo'er—I will not be good with anyone else!"

Moreover, he and you…… I could never marry him, so don't think too much about it.

"Moreover, him and you… how could I marry him? Don't think too much about it."

Xiao Longnu also understood Li Mochou's implied meaning.

Xiao Longnv also understood Li Mochou's implied meaning.

Li Mochou showed a satisfied smile, her beauty beyond compare.

Li Mochou revealed a satisfied smile, her beauty beyond compare.

Feng Yi thought: "What a man's mouth, a deceitful ghost—women are no different."

Feng Yi thought: "What a man's mouth, a deceitful ghost—women are no different."

Suddenly they heard a noisy crowd; the three rushed to the window and saw firelight in the distance.

Suddenly hearing noisy voices, the three rushed to the window and saw, in the distance, a fire had broken out.

Feng Yi clapped and laughed, "Looks like this Valley Master won't just get empty joy. Heck, if he loses his estate too, who knows if he'll regret saving you?"

Feng Yi clapped his hands and laughed: "Looks like this Valley Master Gongsun isn't just going to enjoy empty joy. Heck, if he loses his estate too, who knows whether he'll regret saving you?"

Li Mochou coldly said, "So-called kindness expects no return. He did rescue my junior sister—true—but knowing she has a beloved, he still wants to marry her; that's downright sickening."

Li Mochou said coldly: "So-called kindness without expectation of repayment—he did rescue my junior sister, no doubt, yet knowing she has a beloved, he still wants to marry her; it's downright nauseating!"

Feng Yi's view differed slightly; he thought, "Who let your junior sister be so beautiful?" but by the time it reached his lips, it became, "You're right!"

Feng Yi's view differed slightly from hers; he thought: "Who made your junior sister so beautiful?" But by the time it reached his lips, it became: "You're right!"

As the words faded, footsteps grew nearer; Feng Yi said, "Let's go, Old Urchin's commotion will let them know outsiders have come in!" and he strode out with his hands behind his back.

As his words fell, footsteps drew nearer; Feng Yi said: "Let's go, old mischief-maker making such a ruckus—they ought to know outsiders have come in." He then strode out with his hands behind his back.

As soon as Feng Yi stepped out, he saw the courtyard filled with people, all dressed in green robes—disciples. He didn't see the master, so he held his breath and stayed silent.

As soon as Feng Yi stepped out of the room, he saw the courtyard filled with people, all dressed in green robes; not seeing the master, he focused his energy, held his breath, and said nothing.

Then he saw Guo Lǜguō lift a wind lantern, leading two people out of the crowd.

Suddenly, Lü E lifted a wind lamp and led two people out from the crowd.

One was the Valley Master we had just seen; the other was an old man in a green robe with a long beard.

One of them was the Valley Master Gongsun just seen; the other was an old man with a long beard, wearing a green robe.

The old man was extremely short, only four feet tall, with the Five Peaks facing heaven, an unusual appearance, holding a dragon‑headed steel staff about eleven feet long; most striking was a beard that hung straight down almost to the ground, his waist bound with a green grass rope, giving him a strange look.

The old man was extremely short, only four feet tall, with a visage of the Five Peaks facing heaven, his features strange and clear; he held a steel staff about one zhang one chi long topped with a dragon's head; most remarkably, a tangle of beard hung straight down, nearly touching the ground, his waist bound with a green grass rope, giving him a bizarre appearance.

The Valley Master didn't even glance at Feng Yi, his eyes fixed on the house, and said, "Liu sister, is she really your senior sister?"

Valley Master Gongsun didn't even glance at Feng Yi, his eyes fixed tightly on the interior, and said: "Liu sister, is he really your senior sister?"

Feng Yi turned his head; Xiao Longnu and Li Mochou had already stepped out.

Feng Yi turned his head to look; Xiao Longnv and Li Mochou had already stepped out.

Xiao Longnu bowed her head slightly and said, "She is naturally my senior sister!"

Xiao Longnv gently nodded her head and said: "She is naturally my senior sister!"

The Valley Master smiled faintly and thought, "Her senior sister is also a rare beauty."

Gongsun Zhi smiled slightly, thinking: "Her senior sister is actually a rare beauty as well."

He clasped his hands in salute and said, "Miss Liu's senior sister graciously honors us with her presence—I am truly fortunate for three lifetimes, and my humble dwelling shines. Happily, for Miss Liu's wedding, I'll act as witness; please come inside for tea."

He clasped his fists in salute and said: "Miss Liu's senior sister graciously honors us with her presence—I am truly fortunate across three lifetimes, and my humble dwelling shines. Happily, for Miss Liu's joy, I shall act as witness; please enter the hall and be served tea."

Li Mochou neither responded nor returned the salute.

Li Mochou neither responded nor returned the salute.

Feng Yi chuckled and said loudly, "If you're indeed the master of the Valley of No Sentiment, where is the 'Iron Palm Lotus' Qiu Qianchi?"

Feng Yi smiled and called out: "Since you are the master of Jueqing Gu, where is the 'Iron Palm Lotus' Qiu Qianchi?"

The master was stunned; the name Qiu Qianchi hadn't been heard in years, shocking him, yet he kept his composure and said, "I am indeed the master of the Valley of No Sentiment; who are you, and what advice do you have?"

The master stared, stunned; the name Qiu Qianchi hadn't been heard in years, shocking him greatly, yet his face remained unchanged as he said: "I am indeed the master of Jueqing Gu; who are you, and what advice do you have?"

Qiu Qianchi is the master's wife from his youth; younger disciples may not know her, but older ones certainly do, so he naturally cannot deny her.

Qiu Qianchi was Gongsun Zhi's wife bound by hair; the younger disciples don't know, but some of the older ones do, so he naturally cannot deny her.

Feng Yi sneered, "I am Feng Yi. Qiu Qianchi once killed my master's family and burned his estate. My master searched for her until his death.

Feng Yi sneered: "I am Feng Yi; Qiu Qianchi once killed my master's family and burned his estate. My master, until his death, kept searching for her.

I have trained hard in martial arts to avenge the murder and destruction of his home; fortunately, my efforts were not in vain—I finally discovered she had married into the Valley of No Sentiment. Now let her come out and settle this!"

"And I have painstakingly trained my martial arts to avenge the murder and destruction of his home; fortunately, effort never betrays the earnest—I finally discovered she had married into Jueqing Gu. Let her come out, so we can settle this once and for all!"

Feng Yi's might shook the martial world, yet Jueqing Gu was hardly in contact with the outside world, so they actually did not know his name. But everyone heard these words, realizing it was a challenge sent to the Valley Master, and everyone went on alert.

Gongsun Zhi kept sizing up Feng Yi, seeing he was dressed in simple farmer's garb, yet his brows and eyes held a faint sparkle, clearly not an ordinary person, but he did not take him to heart.

Xiao Longnv and Li Mochou were both taken aback—where did this come from? Yet they also did not know Feng Yi's past, let alone his sect, so how could they tell truth from falsehood?

Feng Yi had meant to use Xiao Longnv's earlier promise to marry him and Gongsun Zhi's taking of his wife as a pretext to provoke her, but seeing Xiao Longnv so wan and distressed, her deep affection and sincere intent were something he had never experienced in his life, so he could not bear, for his own sake, to ruin this woman's reputation.

But having seized the valley and killed people, he needed a pretext, so he falsely claimed he had a grudge against Qiu Qianchi, and since this could not be verified anyway.

Gongsun Zhi heard this and believed it without doubt.

For Qiu Qianchi was his wife from the start; he knew well her formidable martial arts and violent temper. When they married, it was because Qiu Qianchi had pursued and killed someone, inadvertently entering Jueqing Gu. Now that the enemy's descendants have come to seek revenge, it is only natural.

Suddenly a trembling voice said, 'Father, is Qiu Qianchi my mother?' The speaker was none other than Lü E.

Gongsun Zhi glanced at her and said, 'Yes!'

Lü E's eyes reddened involuntarily as she said, 'Sir, my mother has been dead for many years; any enmity should be laid to rest.' Seeing her red eyes, Feng Yi knew she meant well and sighed, 'That wicked parents could produce such a daughter is itself strange!' He then said lightly, 'She died? I didn't know that—how did she die at the claws of what beast?'

Gongsun Zhi harbored anger in his heart, yet had not spoken.

The green‑robed old man shouted angrily, 'You are young, yet your courage is not small, but if you want to take revenge, what does setting fire here amount to?'

Feng Yi said coldly, 'Who are you?'

Lü E said, 'This is my eldest senior brother!'

Feng Yi saw the old man was older than Gongsun Zhi, recognizing him as Fan Yiweng, who had come to study under a master; like Lü E, he was a good person, and Feng Yi did not wish to hurt him, so he coldly snorted, 'You're a featherless chicken, a nameless wild fowl—this is none of your business, so just step aside!'

He addressed the Valley Master, 'Qiu Qianchi is dead, yet you, her husband, live on! Since husband and wife are one body, sharing the same enmity, this grudge will surely fall upon you.'

This was reasonable and justified—seeking a wife's vengeance from her husband leaves no room for objection, especially since Gongsun Zhi is a widower, not divorced.

Gongsun Zhi looked toward Xiao Longnv and said, 'Sister Liu, do you have any connection with him?'

Xiao Longnv had not yet spoken.

Yet Feng Yi waved his hand and said, 'What endless nagging? Such a spineless scoundrel—does he even qualify to be valley master, let alone marry a young lady?'

Fan Yiweng's anger blazed, and he bowed to the Valley Master, saying, 'Master, I can no longer treat this person with the courtesy due a guest.'

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Gongsun Zhi waved his hand.

Fan Yiweng was most loyal to his master; seeing his master perpetually lonely and joyless, he constantly hoped to find some way to relieve his boredom. Not long ago, he saw his master rescue a beautiful maiden, and this maiden had agreed to marry him, filling his heart with joy almost equal to his master's. But seeing Feng Yi directly point out that his master was unworthy to marry the master's wife, how could he bear it?

Fan Yiweng struck the ground with his steel staff; on the blue‑stone paved floor sparks flew in all directions, an extraordinary display, and he shouted loudly, 'Young man surnamed Feng, draw your weapon!'

Feng Yi chuckled lightly, 'Very well, I'll take the old one first, then the young!' Without moving his waist or legs, he glided forward more than a zhang.

Fan Yiweng asked, 'What weapon do you use?'

Feng Yi replied, 'To deal with you, these two palms are more than enough.'

Fan Yiweng's face flushed red with anger.

Lü E well knew her eldest senior brother's martial arts were astonishing; though he stood under four chi tall, he possessed innate divine strength, his arts having absorbed seven‑tenths of what his father had taught, and with this steel staff he had slain many fierce beasts.

She reckoned Feng Yi, being young, could hardly match her eldest senior brother's Ninety‑Nine Eighty‑One‑route Water‑Splitting Staff Technique; once they crossed hands, it would be hard to rescue him.

Although she saw her father's face grim with extreme anger, she still mustered courage, stepped forward, and said, 'Sir Feng, even if my mother bore a grudge against your master, she has been dead for ages; as the saying goes, grievances should be resolved, not perpetuated—why must you throw away your life?'

Her tone was gentle, full of concern.

Li Mochou was greatly surprised, and could not help thinking, 'Could this girl have taken a liking to Feng Yi? He hasn't done anything at all!'

Little did she know that when Lü E was six, her father told her her mother had died suddenly, and thereafter Gongsun Zhi grew ever stricter toward her, gradually distancing himself, so they had not seen each other for a long time.

Thus, the Valley Master's daughter was no different from an ordinary disciple; in the midnight reverie, she constantly wondered whether her mother could still be alive.

Moreover, no one in the valley dared mention her mother, so she did not even know her mother's name.

Now that Feng Yi had let her know her mother's name, she felt grateful and wished him to depart, for her father's martial prowess was superb, and he possessed the fishnet formation—who under heaven could match him?

After Gongsun Zhi had killed Qiu Qianchi, he constantly worried that his daughter would learn the truth, guarding against her; seeing her heart turn to outsiders only made him angrier.

Yet in Xiao Longnv's presence he had to keep up appearances; he at once gave Fan Yiweng a glance, made a killing gesture with his right hand, urging him to strike a deadly blow and kill Feng Yi.

Upon seeing his master's gesture, Fan Yiweng was not surprised—after all, when enemies come to the door, should one spare them to avenge later?

He immediately shouted loudly and swept his staff sideways.

That staff was heavy and long; with a burst of his divine strength, everyone saw a gray light still several chi from Feng Yi, while the fierce wind already lifted his clothes and hair ends, showing its force.

Feng Yi immediately retreated, swift as a crossbow bolt; seeing him withdraw, Fan Yiweng thrust his staff forward, and in the moonlight a series of after‑images trailed, like flashing lightning and thunder.

Yet Feng Yi tilted slightly, leapt up from the ground, and made Fan Yiweng's staff strike empty. The speed of his movement left everyone gaping, hardly believable that such agility existed under heaven.

Fan Yiweng suddenly shook his arm, and a steel staff weighing several tens of jin let out a whoosh as he counter‑attacked.

Seeing Fan Yiweng change his move swiftly and fiercely, Feng Yi slipped to the right, and with a whoosh from his left hand he slashed downward diagonally.

A hum rang out as it struck the staff's shaft; Fan Yiweng's arms went numb, and the staff nearly slipped from his grasp.

He had thought Feng Yi was young and inexperienced, that a few moves would be enough to subdue him, but unexpectedly Feng Yi was agile and swift, his inner strength profound, and he couldn't help being secretly startled, thinking: "I hold a steel staff; if today I end up in a draw with this junior, with my master's wife watching, what face would my master have?"

His staff technique swept horizontally and smashed straight down, enveloping Feng Yi's entire body.

The onlookers only felt the wind from the staff growing stronger and stronger, slowly stepping back to avoid being swept away by the staff.

Under the moonlight, the steel staff was seen dancing into a bright, shimmering large circle, producing a whooshing wind; Feng Yi threaded through the gaps in the staff, his body seeming to be lifted by the strong wind, like floating fluff drifting back and forth, and everyone admired his exquisite lightness skill.

Gongsun Zhi had learned the lightness skill of the Iron Palm Gang, was extremely conceited, yet also greatly admired,

Little did he know, Feng Yi wanted to kill Gongsun Zhi, but if he revealed his full strength, he feared the other would not make a move and would instead be ganged up on, so he held back; otherwise, with just that palm strike earlier, how could Fan Yiweng have managed to grab the staff?

By now the two had exchanged over fifty moves, and Feng Yi felt it was about time; he saw the staff wrapped in a surge of vigorous wind, chopping down from above like a thunderclap.

He tilted his body slightly, reached out and lightly tapped and pulled on the staff, and his body was already airborne.

Combining skillful force with brute strength, Fan Yiweng could not hold the staff with both hands; his feet stumbled, then he leapt up, and one could see his head sway slightly as his beard whipped toward Feng Yi's left foot.

Fan Yiweng's long beard was actually a formidable soft weapon, used in the same manner as a soft whip, a duster, or a chain hammer.

Taking him by surprise, he immediately wrapped his beard around Feng Yi's leg, tilted his head back, and with over ten years of skill in his beard, Fan Yiweng exerted a great force that pulled Feng Yi down from the air, while his left hand sealed an acupuncture point on Feng Yi's left leg.

Feng Yi, though impressed, was not panicked; he laughed, "You still have this move!" and secretly circulated his inner energy to seal the acupuncture point on his leg.

Fan Yiweng had barely made a move when he felt as if he had grabbed cotton, sensing something amiss; unexpectedly, Feng Yi planted his cane on the ground, executed an inverted golden hook kick, and his right foot had already struck Fan Yiweng's chin.

Fan Yiweng let out an "ah" and flew backward.

Li Mochou and Xiao Longnv both knew Feng Yi's ability; although they didn't know why he had exchanged dozens of moves with this old man, they also knew Fan Yiweng stood no chance of winning.

However, Fan Yiweng was the second‑ranked expert in Jueqing Gu, usually regarded as a deity by his junior fellow disciples; seeing a youngster defeat him so decisively, they could not help but be shocked and stare at one another.

Lü E thought to herself: "So his martial arts are this good; I don't know whether he or my father is stronger!"

Then Feng Yi twisted in mid‑air, landed on the ground, his posture extremely graceful.

At the same time, the valley lord Gongsun Zhi leapt out suddenly, grabbing toward Fan Yiweng's back; the grab looked casual but possessed tremendous strength, seizing the airborne Fan Yiweng and gently setting him down.

Li Mochou's heart jolted: "This person is truly extraordinary!"

Feng Yi laughed: "Nice skill, my disciple can't handle it; perhaps it's time for you, the master, to step up?"

Suddenly Xiao Longnv said: "Feng Yi, this Mr. Gongsun saved my life……"

Before her words finished, Feng Yi waved his hand and said: "He saved you, but not me; you'd better just watch from the side!"

Li Mochou grabbed Xiao Longnv and shook her head slightly.

Seeing Xiao Longnv pleading for him, Gongsun Zhi felt extremely displeased, thinking: "Junior sister Liu actually looks down on me; I suppose I need to show some skill."

He said slowly: "Originally, with the great celebration approaching, I did not wish to fight, but you press me so aggressively that I have no choice but to ask you to exchange a few moves."

Speaking, Gongsun Zhi's eyebrows rose higher and higher, until his eyes and brows seemed to stand straight up; not knowing which school's formidable martial art this was, Li Mochou and Xiao Longnv also could not help but be startled,

Gongsun Zhi walked slowly around Feng Yi in a circle; Feng Yi knew that the longer he delayed striking, the fiercer his attack would be, and though he remained still, his gaze never left him.

Only saw Gongsun Zhi raise both hands forward three times, palms coming together with a clear clang, ringing like metal striking metal.

Feng Yi sneered: "Sure enough, it's Iron Palm skill!"

Before he finished speaking, Gongsun Zhi suddenly stomped his foot, leapt up, twisted his palms, and struck toward Feng Yi's face.

Feng Yi swung his right palm out flat, with a "pa" sound, meeting Gongsun Zhi's palm.

Gongsun Zhi flipped in mid‑air, then flew backward, landing; his residual force not yet spent, he involuntarily retreated three steps, inwardly startled: "How can this brat's inner strength be so formidable?"

Feng Yi, however, kept a faint smile, motionless, standing in place, yet while shaking his hand he laughed: "Valley Lord Gongsun, what a hard palm! Speaking of which, Qiu Qianchi actually dared to secretly transmit the Iron Palm Sect's secret technique—she truly deserves to die!"

(End of chapter)