Chapter 32

As Feng Yi struck out with a palm, everyone on the spot widened their eyes, their bodies trembling slightly.

Because they were all too nervous.

With a "pah" sound, Ou Peng was struck in the chest, his body like a sheet of paper, flying lightly several zhang straight to the inn's door.

Unexpectedly, Ou Peng landed on both feet, his body only swaying slightly before steadying, as if he had stepped back voluntarily or been lifted and set down.

Not only Ou Peng, but everyone felt bewildered and astonished.

Shui Dai, however, stroked his beard and nodded, his face full of approval.

When Feng Yi first returned Shui Sheng to him without any trickery, it showed how confident he was, not fearing anyone would go back on their word. Such a person is either overconfident in his divine skill or possesses an unyielding spirit—how could someone like that possibly kill a person who had already received his personal praise, offered no resistance, and awaited death helplessly?

That is the normal outcome.

Feng Yi lightly said, "If you can step forward, you're still a man; not letting the water hero's rescue be in vain, only such a person does the saying 'be lenient where you can' apply!"

Hearing this, Shui Sheng's pretty face flushed.

It turned out that, in Feng Yi's eyes, "be lenient where you can" applied only to certain people.

Her upbringing had taught her: "Life is precious; once dead, one cannot be revived. Even those deep in sin and utterly wicked should not be slain casually; they must be given a chance to repent."

Feng Yi's words made this little girl, who had upheld her father's teachings and aspired to be a heroine, realize that acts of chivalry shouldn't be indiscriminate; she must also consider whether a person is worthy of her intervention as a water heroine. Then Feng Yi continued, "The water hero's just spoken golden words are shocking to the deaf and awakening to the dim; I hope you keep them in mind."

Otherwise, as the saying goes, 'Man does, heaven watches'; if not killed by my hand, you'll die at another's.

Ou Peng's face turned pale as he clasped his fists and said, "Thank you!"

Having said that, he bowed to Shui Dai, saying, "Water hero, Ou Peng will henceforth reform his ways, wash his hands in a golden basin from now on, and never again engage in that penniless trade—farewell!" He then turned and left.

Shui Dai again clasped his fists toward Feng Yi and praised, "Your heroic heart and unyielding spirit, I admire!"

Feng Yi shook his head and said, "My moral character is limited; I cannot be a great hero, but I still greatly admire chivalrous acts that help others in distress."

If everyone were like you, able to have a hero's aid when their lives hang in the balance, then the world would be a good one.

Only the good people living at the very bottom can gain an extra chance. If everyone were like me, then this world would be beyond saving.

The crowd was dumbstruck; some even said they were not good? Those traitors who harm the people, the great villains, aren't they always proclaiming before everyone how correct they are? How could anyone still think they are in the wrong? Feng Yi would not be so arrogant as to equate his own will with heaven's heart, deeming all his actions the ultimate truth that everyone must emulate.

He simply acts according to what he believes is right, seeking a clear conscience—and that is the foundation of the Divine Illumination Classic's martial arts: only with a pure heart can one perceive the world with the mind's eye; otherwise, how could one "meet with the spirit, not rely on sight"? How could divine skill be transmitted to the heart? How could divine skill be cultivated?

Feng Yi then scanned the crowd and said softly, "It's a pity that only one person stepped forward just now, so he took the empty palm, while the remaining six will take palms, and I will have to throw real punches!"

Everyone was shocked; it seemed Feng Yi still wanted to fight.

Shui Dai raised his eyebrows, his expression solemn, and said solemnly, "Having come this far, if I were to decline the match now, I would despise myself; there are six of them, so I will take your six punches, old man!"

Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly realized that their lives were merely a pretext for Feng Yi to provoke the Southern Four Oddities.

Shui Dai, who has wandered the martial world for decades with rich experience, had long seen through this—Feng Yi's move today was actually meant to tell the world.

It's you, Shui Dai, rushing to set up the crossbeam, wanting to play the role of Lu Zhonglian; it's not that I, Feng Yi, deliberately sought trouble with you, the water hero.

You, Shui Dai, saved the two people I, Feng Yi, intended to kill; I took your daughter and returned her to you unharmed.

Moreover, I personally released Ou Peng, stating it was out of respect for the water hero, giving ample face inside and out. But Shui Dai, of such stature, having already acted as mediator, cannot back down midway; otherwise his earlier words would be a slap to his own face. Given Shui Dai's standing in the martial world, he would rather die than yield! He must step forward; thus Feng Yi occupies the moral high ground, and when his three brothers arrive, they can only be onlookers, absolutely not interfering.

Otherwise, the Southern Four Oddities' reputation in the martial world would be ruined in an instant.

Shui Dai also saw Feng Yi's intention; his hesitation stemmed from knowing his inner strength was inferior to Feng Yi's, fearing he could not withstand nine punches.

This was not entirely for himself.

Rather, if he were defeated by a few of Feng Yi's punches, what would become of the Southern Four Oddities? Even a disciple whom Mei Niansheng has never seen could not withstand them—that would be too embarrassing.

Shui Dai feared that not only himself but also his several brothers would suffer humiliation, but now there are only six of them.

Moreover, Feng Yi had already exhausted benevolence and righteousness, pushing Shui Dai to a point where there was no retreat, no escape.

Feng Yi's eyes shot bright, he raised his thumb, and praised, "This little trick of mine can only be used on a self-sacrificing hero like you!"

Shui Dai, seeing there was no escape, flipped the lower hem of his robe to his waist, slightly lifted his palms, and assumed a stance.

Yet Feng Yi called out, "Water hero, your boldness means I cannot be stingy; you take your name from the Cold Moon Sword, but fists and kicks are not your forte, while I rely mainly on inner strength. If we compared punches, it would invite gossip; you should use your sword instead—we impose no restrictions on techniques, only judge superiority, which is quite fair!"

Feng Yi's grand spectacle and loud commotion served two purposes: on one hand, to draw fire away from Ding Dian and his wife so they could safely leave this place of right and wrong; on the other, to find someone to test his skill and boost his strength.

As Ding Dian put it, your martial arts are enough to dominate the martial world; what you lack is experience.

Feng Yi deeply agreed with that; shutting oneself away to train, no matter how high one's martial arts, one would not be invincible in the world! But his martial arts are too high, opponents hard to find; even the prestige of the Xie Daoist is no match, only experts like the Southern Four Oddities can help him increase his strength.

Moreover, they are not lone wanderers; not only are they sworn brothers of the gold orchid, but they are also famed heroes. Naturally they cannot act excessively, lest they violate martial taboos and give the Southern Four Oddities a pretext to surround and attack them—that would be seeking glory and inviting disgrace! For he has no need to walk the infamous path of the Blood Blade Old Ancestor, nor does he have the advantage of terrain.

In the original plot, the miracle of the Snow Valley battle could not be replicated once one left that special place.

Even the Blood Blade Old Ancestor himself could not! He compared inner strength with Liu Chengfeng, but when Hua Tiegan launched a sneak attack, he could no longer resist; merely holding the thought that he would rather fall to his death than be killed, he leapt off the cliff.

Just then, a series of follow-ups occurred.

If that were not a snow‑filled valley, the Blood Blade Old Ancestor would have merely shared Liu Chengfeng's fate of mutual destruction.

Nothing more than one being killed by his brother, the other falling to his death at the bottom of the cliff.

Thus the Blood Blade Old Ancestor's victory against four was highly contingent; change the setting, and he would have only a dead end.

After all, which of the Southern Four Oddities isn't a veteran of a hundred battles, an experienced old hand in the martial world, having seen every sort of underhanded trick?

Precisely because of this thought, Feng Yi displayed his inner strength first; then he drove Shui Sheng away; next he released He Bizheng, so as to draw out a figure from the Southern Four Oddities who would have to step forward to mediate.

No matter who came, whether it was Shui Dai or not.

This scheme applies regardless, after all they are all heroes.

Even if it were Hua Tiegan! For he has always been the respected Hero Hua in public.

Thus he first slaughtered a multitude of ordinary martial‑world figures, compelling a righteous hero like Shui Dai to step forward and receive his moves—a truly linked‑chain plot, leaving nothing to chance.

(End of chapter)