Chapter 205

These four horses tossed their manes and raised their hooves, galloping straight toward the bamboo pavilion, and the four passengers dismounted.

When the crowd looked at these four people, the one in front wore all black, was thin and small, with two tufts of rat whiskers, and had a fierce expression.

The second person wore a yellowish-brown robe, also thin and bony, but tall in stature, with sloping eyebrows, a sickly complexion, and a fierce look.

The third person wore a date-red long robe, had a sturdy build, a broad face and large ears, and a thick beard of flower-white hair under the chin, appearing like a wealthy merchant or gentleman.

The last person wore an iron-blue scholar's robe and headscarf, about fifty years old, squinting with a pair of eyes, as if damaged by excessive reading.

Several people glanced around, observing Feng Yi and his group, feeling this crowd was strange and varied—some held a zither, some stared at the pavilion's arrangement, some paced around the pavilion as if performing in a grand play, making clicking sounds with their steps, and some whispered with a woman; in any case, this group didn't even glance at them.

Only a few monks looked somewhat normal; the most notable was an old man with a towering frame, white beard and eyebrows, but his bound waist and back were curled like a shrimp.

Seeing his pained expression, those few monks remained indifferent, which greatly violated Buddhist principles, and they secretly found it strange.

The burly man looked at Xuan Nan and Xuan Tong, clasped his hands, and said: "Two masters, greetings—may I ask your dharma names?"

Xuan Nan pressed his palms together and said: "This old monk is Xuan Nan! This is my junior brother Xuan Tong!"

The four were startled and moved; the black-clothed man laughed: "Truly, having worn out iron shoes to find nothing..."

The burly man interrupted: "So it is the Dharma Hall Head of Shaolin Temple—my apologies for the discourtesy!"

Xuan Nan smiled: "Not at all!"

The burly man said: "I am Deng Baichuan, and this is my second brother Gongye Qian." He pointed to the scholar, then to the yellow-clothed man: "This is my third brother Bao Butong..."

The black-clothed man interjected: "I am Yifeng Feng Bo'e!"

Deng Baichuan said: "We are all retainers of the Gusu Murong young master; a few days ago we saw your temple's Xuzhu little monk, who had scattered hero invitations throughout the martial world, and thus learned your temple is to hold a martial arts assembly."

Feng Bo'e continued: "You wish to make things difficult for my Gusu Murong, yet the little monk who scattered the invitations is stubborn and pompous, utterly lacking the bold generosity of a martial artist; though a monk, he is nothing like the renowned Shaolin monks of the world, and when I fought him, he dared not!"

Xuan Tong raised his white brows and said: "What have you done to my grand-disciple?"

Deng Baichuan said: "Master, do not worry—everyone knows the Shaolin masters are all highly skilled in martial arts; monks just beginning martial arts are not permitted to step outside the mountain gate. My fourth brother saw Xuzhu little monk descend the mountain, so he must be a first-rate expert, hence he wished to spar with him.

But Xuzhu monk said he descended not because his martial arts had reached the threshold, but because your temple had sent disciples far and wide to deliver messages, and manpower was insufficient, so he was ordered to make up the numbers; originally carrying ten hero invitations when he met us, he only delivered four, gave us one, and then went to deliver the remaining five."

Feng Bo'e, who enjoys fighting, had long heard of this; upon hearing this, Xuan Nan and the others also relaxed.

Although Feng Yi was teasing A Zi, he observed all directions and listened to all sides; hearing the names, he secretly wondered: "So this means Xuzhu did not come to Leigu Mountain?"

In the original plot, because Qiao Feng rescued A Zi and injured the Xingxiu Sect members, A Zi then revealed Qiao Feng was her brother-in-law; Ding Chunqiu thus ran to the Beggar Sect to find Qiao Feng, and on the way encountered Murong's retainers as well as Xuan Nan, Xuzhu, and others.

You Tanzhi struck out and injured Xuan Tong, Bao Butong and others, then they went to find Xue Shenyi for treatment, but were all captured by Ding Chunqiu and taken to Leigu Mountain.

This time, Feng Yi changed Qiao Feng's fate—he did not help A Zi repel the Xingxiu Sect, so Ding Chunqiu would not go to the Beggar Sect to trouble Qiao Feng, and thus would not encounter Gusu Murong and Xuzhu, Xuan Nan, etc., at that time.

The four chief retainers of Gusu Murong had no wicked persons, so Xuzhu was naturally unharmed and continued delivering invitations.

Feng Yi never imagined that a casual wave of his hand would again alter someone's fate; pondering, he heard Feng Bo'e say: "Master Xuan Nan is the Dharma Hall Head of Shaolin Temple, long famed for his profound divine skill—today I shall gladly receive your instruction."

Xuan Nan smiled faintly and said: "This old monk and my junior brother Xuan Tong obey the abbot's decree, precisely to go to the Yanziwu residence of Murong patron in Jiangnan to present the invitation—this is already the third time, yet we meet you four here by fate, a karmic connection not shallow." He then produced a large red invitation from his bosom.

Deng Baichuan received it with both hands, saw the envelope bore the eleven large characters "Respectfully presented to the Murong patron of Gusu Yanziwu," and said: "Two masters are high monks and venerable elders of Shaolin, esteemed in the martial world—yet you personally labor to come to our manor; the face of Gusu Murong is indeed not small. We have already received this hero invitation and shall promptly report to our superior. On the Laba Festival of the twelfth lunar month, our superior Murong Gongzi will surely come to your temple to pay homage to the Buddha, personally thank your esteemed monks, and, before the heroes of the world, clarify all these misunderstandings."

Xuan Nan thought: "You speak of 'misunderstandings'—could it be that my senior master Xuan Bei was not killed by your Murong clan?"

Suddenly, Feng Bo'e shouted: "If the Shaolin Sect wishes to make things difficult for the Gusu Murong clan, there is no need to hold any hero gathering—I have come now to receive instruction from the Shaolin Sect's experts!"

Saying this, he rubbed his palms and clenched his fists, ready to strike.

Deng Baichuan said: "Fourth brother, do not!"

Bao Butong said: "No, no! When we arrive at Shaolin Temple, we will say the Murong family killed no one, but Shaolin will surely not believe us, and in the end we must still fight—as the saying goes, better to strike early than late."

Feng Bo'e said: "What the third brother says is true—those who died have nothing to do with our Gusu Murong clan, yet I say this, knowing you will not believe me.

Since reason fails, we must let our hands decide the truth.

Since Xuzhu cannot fight, Master Xuan Nan can—we might as well, before a play, first beat a drum and gong, before speaking, first utter a passage of 'Victorious First Round,' to liven things up, to liven things up.

When the twelfth lunar month's Laba arrives, I, Feng, will again come to Shaolin Temple, start from below, and challenge them one by one upward—satisfying, satisfying!

But at most I can defeat seventeen or eighteen, after which I will be covered in wounds and unable to fight further; to face Abbot Xuan Ci is utterly out of the question—but now, to cross hands with Master Xuan Nan is also an opportunity..."

"Hehe..."

As Feng Bo'e spoke happily, suddenly a girl's clear laughter rang; turning, he saw A Zi say: "What a fine 'better to strike early than late'—no wonder Gusu Murong has such great prestige; it turns out there are two of you—truly, you have let this girl receive instruction!"

Feng Bo'e laughed: "The lady's insight is extraordinary—I wish to hear more!"

A Zi said: "Such subordinates imply such a master—so unreasonable and domineering, in the jianghu one cannot lack prestige!"

A Zi and Feng Yi were deeply affectionate, so she thought the arrival of these people was jianghu folk seeking a confrontation, looking for trouble, and thus did not pay much heed.

After all, this place gathers experts—who could prevail?

She merely took responsibility for watching the spectacle—who would have thought these four were actually retainers of Gusu Murong, thus violating her taboo?

After all, Feng Yi's sole blemish in the jianghu is fleeing in disgrace when facing Murong Fu—how could she not seek a confrontation for her lover?

Yet these words made the faces of the four Gusu Murong retainers change color, when a Xingxiu Sect disciple said: "What the 'Sage of the World' said is correct—what is Gusu Murong? Once they burned my second elder brother like a roasted pig, and only after paying forty thousand taels of silver did they buy peace!"

Bao Butong shouted: "Nonsense, utter nonsense! Before the words faded, his body swayed, he channeled inner strength, and lunged to seize that disciple's chest."

Deng Baichuan said: "Third brother, stop!"

Bao Butong restrained his force, not releasing it, and glanced at his elder brother.

Deng Baichuan looked at A Zi and said slowly: "Miss, are you a disciple of the Xingxiu Sect?"

Originally, on that day, the Qin Family Stronghold and Qingcheng Sect were robbed by Moyunzi of the Xingxiu Sect; the Qin Family Stronghold lost twenty thousand taels of silver, Qingcheng Sect leader Sima Lin was captured, and they were demanded twenty thousand taels of silver to ransom him—coincidentally encountering Bao Butong rushing to rendezvous with Murong Fu.

These two groups had both been subdued by Bao Butong, given the "Yan" banner, told that if trouble arose, Gusu Murong would not shirk responsibility, and thus could not stand idly by.

In the original plot, after Qiao Feng and A Zhu returned from Yanmen Pass, they went to Henan Weihui, Shandong Tai'an, and Zhejiang Tiantai Shan to inquire with Xu Changlao, Dan Zheng, and Zhiguang Dashi about the name of the Leading Brother.

Finally they went to Henan Xinyang, where A Zhu impersonated Bai Shijing to extract information; after leaving Lady Ma's home, the two drank at an inn and happened to encounter Bao Butong, Yao Bodang, and Zhu Baokun.

Qiao Feng knew they were retainers of Gusu Murong, so he stepped forward to help, repelled the Xingxiu Sect's Moyunzi and others, rescued Sima Lin, thinking he had finally done a favor for Murong Gongzi, thereafter he took A Zhu northward and never returned, and thus felt at ease.

But this time, because of Feng Yi, Qiao Feng's fate was greatly altered—he never went to those places to run futile errands, so during that period he did not encounter Bao Butong and company.

Yet Bao Butong still had to aid the Qin Family Stronghold and Qingcheng Sect against the Xingxiu Sect, but without Qiao Feng's level of expert assistance, they naturally could not match Moyunzi and company, and in the end could only honestly produce twenty thousand taels of silver to ransom Sima Lin back.

For Gusu Murong, this incident could be called a great shame and humiliation.

Only those who had previously sparred with Bao Butong, such as Moyunzi and others, were all killed by Feng Yi and Ding Chunqiu one after another, so Bao Butong, upon seeing a few Xingxiu Sect disciples, did not recognize them, but seeing that their attire was similar, he glanced at them as they passed by on horseback.

After all, the banners and drums used to support Ding Chunqiu had long been discarded, so he could not be certain; upon hearing the Xingxiu Sect disciple say that, he became even more furious, and would have attacked had he not seen that A Zi was young.

But A Zi said with a timid face: "I used to be a disciple of the Xingxiu Sect, but now I am not, and I am preparing to become the Sect Leader of the Xingxiu Sect."

She leaned timidly in Feng Yi's embrace, yet spoke such words, leaving everyone astonished.

Who does not know that the Sect Leader of the Xingxiu Sect is the Xingxiu Old Monster Ding Chunqiu?

As for Ding Chunqiu, he is right before their eyes, yet no one knows.

Because they have never seen Ding Chunqiu, no one would equate a five-flower-bound old man with the world-shaking Xingxiu Old Monster.

Feng Bo'e laughed heartily and said: "Miss, your heroic spirit surpasses that of men; you wish to become the Sect Leader of the Xingxiu Sect, so you must have extraordinary abilities—let me learn from you!"

He leapt forward, charging into the hall, his right hand forming a claw, as if an eagle soaring and a tiger pouncing, grabbing toward Feng Yi's shoulder.

Since A Zi appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen, and he was a renowned expert, he felt embarrassed to strike her, so he directly attacked Feng Yi beside her.

To embrace a beauty has always brought trouble since ancient times; Feng Yi naturally understood this and paid it no mind.

Seeing Feng Bo'e's momentum accompanied by strong wind and considerable force, Xue Shenyi exclaimed beside him: "Excellent Eagle Claw Technique!"

Feng Yi slightly raised his left hand, joined his two fingers, and pointed his fingertips toward the "Yangchi" and "Shenmen" acupoints on his wrist.

Seeing Feng Yi accurately target the acupoints, Feng Bo'e exclaimed: "Good!" Remaining calm in danger, he swiftly withdrew his right hand, assumed a bow stance, rotated his elbow, and a dazzling white light flashed—already in his hand was a single-edged sword, which he slashed horizontally.

Feng Bo'e's alias "One Gust of Wind" indeed describes his swift movements; in an instant, the blade reached his body.

Feng Yi knew Feng Bo'e was not a bad person, originally wanting to play with him, so he did not use internal force; but who would have thought he would actually draw a blade? Feng Yi swiftly extended two fingers, already clamping the blade's spine, and the swift, lightning-sweeping single-edged sword became as if embedded in stone, firmly stopping.

Feng Bo'e was startled, hastily twisting his wrist to retract, while at that moment Feng Yi followed through with a push, causing the hilt to strike Feng Bo'e's chest. Feng Bo'e's chest went numb, his right hand suddenly empty, the single-edged sword already flung away with a clang, and Feng Yi flicked his hand to embed it into the ground.

Feng Bo'e's face showed utter shock, but suddenly a muffled groan escaped him, and he immediately collapsed forward; he propped his left hand on the ground, pushed up, and jumped to his feet, then let out a "wah" as he spat a mouthful of fresh blood, and heavily fell to the ground again.

Feng Bo'e had just made a move, but was subdued by Feng Yi with two fingers lightly pinning the single-edged sword; everyone saw clearly and understood that the two's martial cultivation was worlds apart, yet Deng Baichuan, Gongye Qian, and Bao Butong, seeing Feng Yi also not using force, thought they were junior brothers and suffered a great loss, all greatly startled.

Gongye Qian rushed forward, grabbing him and saying: "Fourth Brother, what's wrong with you?"

Feng Bo'e's face turned deathly pale, he waved his hands repeatedly, as if encountering the most terrifying thing in the world, his whole body trembling nonstop, his teeth chattering, unable to speak.

A Zi strangely said: "Huh, this person is perfectly fine, why is he shaking like a winnowing basket? Could he have contracted a malignant illness?"

Everyone was also greatly puzzled; regardless of Feng Bo'e's cultivation, everyone knows he is a man of iron bones and steadfast will, so what could cause him to lose composure like this? They all looked toward Feng Yi.

Feng Yi, however, stared blankly at his own palm, as if unable to believe it.

As for the Xingxiu Sect disciples, they could not help but shout in applause like thunder.

"The Gusu Murong jumping beam clown, how dare you cross blades with Feng the Great Hero? Truly a mantis trying to stop a chariot, unaware of life or death!"

"Feng the Great Hero sits unmoving, destroying the weak and crushing the strong to achieve total victory; we have not only seen the unseen, but truly heard the unheard!"

"This is an unprecedented magnificent achievement in the world; if not for Feng the Great Hero revealing this move, these martial world people would still not know such martial arts exist in the world."

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The Xingxiu Sect disciples' praises naturally sounded at the right time; they all had Western Regions accents, and Deng Baichuan and others, concerned, did not hear clearly what they were saying.

Why Feng Yi brought these few people along, neither driving them away, on one hand to make them do hard labor, on the other to display his might and prestige, harvest emotional value, and experience Ding Chunqiu's grandeur.

However, Feng Bo'e's action was truly unexpected, for he knew this person loved to fight and spar with martial world people, had no other faults, so he did not intend to injure him.

Gongye Qian placed his hand on Feng Bo'e's pulse, only to feel the pulse beating rapidly and urgently, and shouted angrily: "What a thief!" Originally he had discovered his brother secretly showed signs of poisoning, so he hastily took out a small bottle from his bosom, pulled the stopper, and poured out a detoxifying pill, stuffing it into Feng Bo'e's mouth.

Deng Baichuan and Bao Butong, as their bodies swayed, protected the two; Bao Butong's left hand secretly exerted force, preparing to strike Feng Yi.

Deng Baichuan shouted: "Wait!"

Bao Butong looked toward his elder brother.

Deng Baichuan saw Feng Yi's attire bright and elegant, his bearing extraordinary, but his cheeks snow-white, his eagle nose and phoenix eyes, his eyebrows flying like, especially a strand of white hair on his head; though he was handsome, he exuded an indescribable evil aura. Yet he saw Feng Yi from beginning to end only gazing at his own left hand, not looking at them brothers at all.

Deng Baichuan said in a hoarse voice: "Sir, why do you strike and injure people as soon as you act?"

Gongye Qian coldly laughed: "I truly misjudged you; I saw your dignified appearance, but failed to see that you openly fought my brothers, while secretly poisoning them!"

Bao Butong said: "No, no, it is exactly as the saying goes: 'golden jade on the outside, rotten cotton within'; elder brother, you have seen little and are surprised by much!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Yi came to his senses, lightly smiled, and said: "I want to say I did not mean to injure people; do you believe me?"

Feng Yi spoke the truth.

He had just used less than twenty percent of his strength, aiming only to seize Feng Bo'e's weapon; who would have thought the result would be so unexpected?

It is known that since ancient times, those who cultivate internal energy, whether to strengthen the body and cure illness, or as the foundation of superior martial arts, must balance water and fire, yin and yang.

For example, after cultivating one yin meridian, one should then cultivate its corresponding yang meridian, progressing step by step, so that yin and yang merge and harmonize, and internal energy gradually increases.

When the eight yin and eight yang meridians of the hands and feet are fully cultivated, reaching the final Ren and Du Meridians, the sea of yin and yang is opened, achieving water and fire in harmony, dragon and tiger converging, yin and yang penetrating through—this is the completion of internal cultivation.

Feng Yi had long achieved internal cultivation completion, with yin and yang mutual aid in his body; but last night he had just absorbed this extremely yin-cold Ice Silkworm Poison, unable to fully resolve it, causing yin excess and yang deficiency in his body.

Only by using yang-rigid internal force to gradually dissolve the Ice Silkworm Poison, harmonizing yin and yang, can he then greatly increase his power.

Now his yin energy is extremely heavy, and his internal energy carries an extremely severe yin-cold force; although only twenty percent of his strength, mixed with the cold poison, outsiders not only have to resist his internal force, but also resist the cold poison, so his striking force is not as strong as before, yet its power is not weak at all, but rather surpasses before.

What needs to be guarded against is that those with internal energy far deeper than his own may reflect the yin-cold energy back into his body. But such experts, aside from the Sweeping Monk, others simply cannot do this, so his twenty percent strength—how could a minor Feng Bo'e withstand it?

Feng Yi had absorbed the Ice Silkworm Poison but had not yet exchanged blows with anyone; surprised, after a little thought, he understood, thinking: "My twenty percent strength, though smaller than before, has greater power—this is the same state as when Shi Potian drank poisoned wine that day. Not wishing to injure people, but as soon as I use internal energy and strike, I will inevitably injure someone!"

Gongye Qian's detoxifying pill was originally highly effective, but after Feng Bo'e took it, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, leaving no trace; only his whole body trembled, his teeth clenched, and a continuous clacking sound.

Gongye Qian, in panic, reached out to feel his breath; suddenly a cold wind blew toward his palm, piercing to the bone and generating cold. He hastily withdrew his hand, exclaiming: "Bad, how can it be so bitterly cold?"

Thinking that even the breath he exhaled was this cold, then the cold poison in his body must be extraordinarily serious; the situation so urgent, there was no time to discuss right and wrong, he turned toward Feng Yi and said: "My younger brother has been poisoned by your hand; please grant the antidote."

The poison Feng Bo'e suffered was the Ice Silkworm Poison containing Feng Yi's internal energy; where could there be an antidote?

If he were to completely dissolve the cold poison, or if he had not absorbed the cold poison before, using internal energy to absorb poison, it would be possible; but now his internal energy is full of yin-cold poison, yin and yang unbalanced, his body constantly running true energy to dissolve the cold poison; once he uses yang-rigid force to absorb poison, the clash and mutual destruction would cause internal energy to deviate—lightly injuring, severely killing—so he said: "Xue Shenyi, look, is it serious or not?"

Upon hearing Xue Shenyi, everyone knew his medical skill was superb, able to revive the dead and heal white bones, and they were greatly pleased.

Xue Shenyi stepped forward to take Feng Bo'e's pulse, closed his eyes, lifted his head, painstakingly thinking: "From the injury, this internal energy combines the strengths of righteous, evil, Buddhist, and Daoist paths; at least thirty years of cultivation, yet he only lightly pushed!" Then he turned his head to look at Feng Yi, seeing his eyes slightly closed, as if concentrating on regulating his breath.

Listening to his breathing, light, fine, round, and long, his chest calm, almost no rise and fall, he could not help but think: "The higher the internal cultivation, the finer and longer the breath; his breath is almost gone, the depth of his internal energy is simply shocking to hear, no wonder he is so formidable!"

Recalling how his light push just now had such divine power, he inwardly envied: "If I could be as formidable as him, how wonderful that would be!"

I couldn't help but wonder: compared to the Patriarch, who is more formidable?

As I was pondering, Bao Butong shouted: "Xue Shenyi, you're supposed to save people—why are you staring at that kid?"

Xue Shenyi coldly snorted in his heart: "I heal the sick and save lives only when others beg me. If it weren't for Feng Yi asking me to save him, I wouldn't spare you for saying that."

He also ignored him, shaking his head: "Feng Xia, I'm sorry, I'm powerless—this brother's Cold Poison is beyond my ability. From now on, I dare not call myself 'Divine Physician'."

Gongye Qian murmured: "Feng Xia?" Suddenly his whole body trembled, and he cried out in alarm: "Surname Feng—are you Feng Yi?"

Feng Yi's eyes slightly opened, and he said calmly: "Indeed."

In that instant, Deng Baichuan and the others felt their hearts pound like thunder, their throats dry and parched.

They naturally knew of the grudge between Feng Yi and Murong Fu; these four men under Murong's command were indeed formidable martial artists, yet Feng Yi had effortlessly subdued Feng Bo'e to the brink of death—how could a mere young master compare?

And today he also came to Leigu Mountain—they were merely here to hold the front line; once the two met, how could this possibly end?

Thinking of this, they all felt a chill run down their spines, trembling with fear.

A Zi, however, giggled: "I've heard that the Gusu Murong clan's 'using their own methods against them' runs rampant across the world, which is why they're famed alongside 'Northern Qiao Feng'—too bad his few burly underlings can't withstand a single finger from my elder brother, and the others, upon hearing my elder brother's name, tremble all over; for the Murong name to dare borrow the Gusu name is utterly laughable."

She didn't know whether she truly found it funny or not, but she laughed until she doubled over, flowers shaking violently, as if nothing in the world were more absurd than this.

The Gusu Four Retainers's fists clenched tight in anger, Bao Butong's face twisted beyond recognition, and suddenly he roared: "Attack!" Enraged, his right hand formed an eagle's claw, fierce as lightning, straight for Feng Yi's vital points—as if bearing an ancient grudge.

"Amitabha!" Master Xuan Nan's body swayed slightly, his wide sleeve lightly flicking—already he had wrapped Bao Butong's palm.

Only a muffled "pō" sound came from Master Xuan Nan's sleeve; Bao Butong felt a mountain-moving, sea-overturning force surge toward him, his throat slightly sweet, his chest oppressed—he hastily retreated, his back heating up, for Deng Baichuan had braced him from behind.

Master Xuan Nan's "Sleeve Universe" shakes the world—how could this palm hidden in the sleeve be something Bao Butong could resist?

Bao Butong knew he was no match, but his nature was stubborn and fearless; he snapped: "Stinking monk, when I fight someone, why do you meddle?"

Master Xuan Nan smiled faintly and said: "Patron Bao, please calm yourself."

A Zi laughed: "I don't know whether the Master is compassionate or just afraid of the Shaolin Temple's Hero Gathering—are all those attending ghosts keeping an appointment?"

Upon hearing this, Bao Butong suddenly understood: if Feng Yi could reduce Feng Bo'e to this state, he could do the same to him—he likely would never get a chance to attend the Shaolin Temple's Hero Gathering in this lifetime.

His eyes nearly spat fire; suddenly his pupils shifted, and he shouted: "Feng Yi, you can be sworn brothers with Qiao Feng and exterminate the Four Great Evils—truly you shake the world.

But I am merely a lowly foot soldier of the Gusu Murong family, my martial arts utterly inferior. Yet though my skills are lacking, I fear no death—today I will fight you!"

Feng Yi laughed: "You truly have guts, Bao Butong—how do you want to fight? If it's something neither this nor that, then forget it; also, when speaking to me, don't keep saying 'old man'—I'm not used to it."

He wore a smile, but his phoenix eyes flowed with light, making everyone who saw him feel a chill to the bone.

"Amitabha!"

Master Xuan Nan, seeking to smooth things over, took a small wooden box from his bosom and said: "The weather is too hot—don't let your liver fire flare up needlessly. Our sect's Six Yang Righteous Qi Pill is quite effective against Cold Poison." He opened the lid, took out a pill as red as blood, and handed it to Deng Baichuan.

Deng Baichuan thanked him and gave the pill to Feng Bo'e.

But Bao Butong said: "No, no—even if your grandmaster were the Buddha incarnate and could heal my brother's wounds, my brother's guilt cannot go unpunished!"

"I say it was unintentional—so it is!" Feng Yi's expression turned cold: "You must believe it, whether you like it or not. If you refuse to relent, must I kowtow and apologize to you?"

Deng Baichuan said: "I dare not. Your words weigh heavily. You say it was unintentional, but my brother cannot suffer blows for nothing—I am unworthy, yet I wish to learn one move from you, to win people's hearts."

Bao Butong flared: "No, no—elder brother, this is the arena I arranged—how can you steal it from me?"

"Feng Yi, I've heard your palm power is deep and mighty, subduing Evil-Doer—yet I refuse to yield. I, Bao Butong, wager that within a hundred moves, you cannot knock me down—do you dare?"

(End of chapter)