Chapter 70: The Road

Around Guo Jing, Bai Guang flickered like stars gathering, flowing ceaselessly into his palm. He swung suddenly, and a surge of powerful energy instantly condensed into a Palm Thunder, crashing toward Mei Chaofeng as if heaven and earth were collapsing. Facing this sudden thunder strike, Chen Xuanfeng reacted with supernatural speed, shoving Mei Chaofeng aside and preparing to test the thunder with his own body, to withstand this heavy blow head-on.

This Palm Thunder is one of the most domineering thunder arts in Daoist magic; its power is so great that even the former number one under heaven, Wang Chongyang, or Hong Qigong, the most fierce and domineering among the Five Greats, would not dare to easily withstand it head-on. Moreover, Chen Xuanfeng had only cultivated the Nine Yin White Bone Claw, far from comparable to these experts.

Chen Xuanfeng knew this strike was absolutely beyond human defense, but Guo Jing's attack was too swift; the two of them had no time to dodge. After hard-withstanding Guo Jing's Palm Thunder, Chen Xuanfeng felt his five viscera and six bowels struck as if by a heavy blow; a sharp pain spread through his entire body, and he could not help but spurt a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Thief man!" Mei Chaofeng turned pale with shock. She and Chen Xuanfeng had privately pledged their lives to each other after leaving Peach Blossom Island, facing life and death together many times; seeing Chen Xuanfeng in such a wretched state, how could she not be startled?

"Stop shouting; it will be your turn soon." Guo Jing's voice was like the cold wind in winter, biting and stern. His figure moved, as if instantly traversing space, arriving before Mei Chaofeng. In Mei Chaofeng's shock, she had no chance to react; she saw only Guo Jing's fist strike out with the force of thunder, aiming straight for Mei Chaofeng's belly.

Facing this ferocious, peerless punch, all of Mei Chaofeng's resistance was as fragile as paper-mache, utterly useless. She hunched her body, her hands tightly covering her painful belly, and finally lay powerless on the cold ground.

Just at this moment, a clear breeze gently brushed by; clouds and mist scattered rapidly like curtains being drawn aside, and the moon, previously concealed, revealed its true face, pouring down soft and bright moonlight. Guo Jing's figure appeared even more upright under the moonlight, as if a high mountain stood towering on the earth, while the two lying on the ground were clearly visible under the moon's glow, like a quiet painting illuminated by moonlight.

The Seven Freaks of Jiangnan looked at this upright figure, their expressions complex.

Now, with this person's martial arts, even the former head of the Five Greats, Wang Chongyang, would not be a match; the seven of them together could only fight Wang Chongyang's disciple Master Qiu Chuji to a draw; how could they have the face to ask this person to be their disciple?

Recalling the wager between them and Master Qiu Chuji, which had not yet truly unfolded but had already ended in haste, this sudden turn of events left their hearts filled with mixed feelings: both regret and loss, as well as relief and helplessness. It was as if a grand play that had never been performed had its curtain drawn open only to be hastily closed again, leaving behind only the audience's sighs and emotions.

"Everyone, it is time to return; we still have important matters to discuss next." Guo Jing turned his head and gave the crowd a warm smile.

The seven did not hesitate any longer; lifting Chen and Mei, they followed Guo Jing back to the tribe together.

As soon as they returned to the tribe, Ke Zhen'e, head of the Seven Freaks, clasped his fists toward Guo Jing and respectfully said: "Today, Leader Guo helped us capture these two and avenge my elder brother's deep blood feud. If the Leader has any request in the future that does not violate the conscience of heaven and earth, Ke will go through boiling water and fire without hesitation."

Guo Jing waved his hand and said: "Great Hero Ke, your words are mistaken. Striking out today to capture these two was simply to remove harm for the people; how could it be that you should repay me?"