Chapter 49: The Fifth Defeat

Yang Guo's move was beyond everyone's expectations.

This "everyone" included Yang Guo himself, who had executed the move, and Jinlun Jinlun Fawang, who had been struck by it.

The two of them stood there, one not knowing how he had struck the blow, the other not knowing how he had been hit. Their eyes met, both feeling somewhat dazed. However, Jinlun Jinlun Fawang's cultivation was profound; seeing Gu Qing and Xiaolongnu closing in for a pincer attack, he surged his internal energy and gave his shoulder a sharp jolt. This forced Yang Guo to flip backward and retreat, his arm, which had been attacking Jinlun Jinlun Fawang's, left numb and trembling violently.

It was during this moment of vibration that Gu Qing reached him, his "Claw of Shattering Hardness" striking out to seize the meridians, aiming for Jinlun Jinlun Fawang's Quchi, Shaohai, and Chize acupoints. With Xiaolongnu also flying in, Jinlun Jinlun Fawang was forced to abandon Guo Fu, tossing her toward Gu Qing and Xiaolongnu while he himself leaped backward.

"Don't catch her with your hands!"

Gu Qing warned Xiaolongnu.

Gu Qing had previously used Huo Dou to trick Jinlun Jinlun Fawang; seeing the monk abandon Guo Fu so easily now, he was on guard. As Guo Fu flew toward them, Gu Qing used the stance of the Quanzhen Palm, tapping her leg to slow her momentum before passing her to Xiaolongnu. Xiaolongnu pointed her fingers lightly, and a white silk ribbon emerged, wrapping around Guo Fu several times before lowering her gently to the ground.

"You certainly have plenty of tricks up your sleeve."

Seeing Gu Qing's caution in rescuing Guo Fu, Jinlun Jinlun Fawang sneered.

Gu Qing stood his ground, reached out, and held up four fingers.

Jinlun Jinlun Fawang did not understand what he meant.

"The fourth defeat!"

Gu Qing said to Jinlun Jinlun Fawang.

What fourth defeat?

Jinlun Jinlun Fawang didn't even know where he had been defeated.

"The first defeat at the Hero Gathering, the second defeat in kidnapping Guo Fu."

Gu Qing reminded Jinlun Jinlun Fawang, then continued: "The pursuit of Gu Qing failed because you couldn't catch him in the dense forest, and the kidnapping of Guo Fu failed again because you encountered Gu Qing in Xiangyang City."

Gu Qing recited Jinlun Jinlun Fawang's track record with lighthearted pleasure.

Jinlun Jinlun Fawang had ruined Gu Qing's good deeds, and Gu Qing intended to humiliate him thoroughly!

As these points were recited one by one, Jinlun Jinlun Fawang began to grow agitated. Gu Qing's statistical summary of his defeats was highly biased; if it were to spread, Jinlun Jinlun Fawang would lose all face.

Without further ado, Jinlun Jinlun Fawang flicked his wrists, wielding his silver and copper wheels, and with a sudden extension of his long arms, he slashed horizontally toward Gu Qing.

In the past, seeing such momentum from Jinlun Jinlun Fawang, Gu Qing would naturally have avoided the brunt of the attack. But now, with his temper flaring, Gu Qing spread his hands—Xiaolongnu's golden silk gloves were already on. Facing the powerful Jinlun, Gu Qing's fist stance was solid, and he met the monk head-on with a "Great Demon-Subduing Fist"!

Fist and wheel collided, and a muffled thud echoed in the air.

Jinlun Jinlun Fawang used the silver wheel to cut diagonally, intending to sever Gu Qing's arm, but under the protection of the golden silk gloves, the blades on the silver wheel merely slid off. Gu Qing's fist stance remained upright, like a mountain, and he struck out with such sudden force that Jinlun Jinlun Fawang was forced to use his copper wheel to block.

"Clang!"

The sound this time was clear and resonant, also reminding Jinlun Jinlun Fawang that he was in the land of Xiangyang.

"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!!!!"

Gu Qing attacked with all his might, every strike landing solidly. The Great Demon-Subduing Fist was thick with power; the more internal energy Gu Qing poured into it, the more he could bring out the subtleties of the moves. As Jinlun Jinlun Fawang parried, the sound of fist striking wheel was like the beating of a gong, carrying far into the deep night.

Excess cannot last long.

In terms of internal energy, Jinlun Jinlun Fawang naturally surpassed Gu Qing; if Gu Qing kept fighting like this, he would inevitably lose!

But Gu Qing's barrage against Jinlun Jinlun Fawang was never intended to secure a victory, but rather to alert more people, thereby bringing others to deal with the monk.

Xiaolongnu watched the intense battle between Gu Qing and Jinlun Jinlun Fawang, her eyes filled with worry.

"Auntie."

Yang Guo handed two swords to Xiaolongnu and said in a very calm tone: "If you and Gu Qing combine your swords, you will surely be able to kill or drive away this foreign monk."

Xiaolongnu flicked her long sleeves, and both swords fell into her hands. In an instant, she stepped forward, her waist swaying lightly, her hands thrusting rapidly. On both sides, sword curtains formed, attacking Jinlun Jinlun Fawang!

Jinlun Jinlun Fawang was in the middle of exchanging blows with Gu Qing when he suddenly felt a flash of white before his eyes. Panic surged in his heart, and he hurriedly used his silver wheel to defend. In the split second he disengaged from Gu Qing, Xiaolongnu thrust her twin swords repeatedly, white light forming circles, striking more than forty times at Jinlun Jinlun Fawang, every move exquisitely precise.

Jinlun Jinlun Fawang defended tightly, but after this round of exchanges, sweat began to bead on his forehead.

He had thought Gu Qing was troublesome enough, but he hadn't expected this beautiful girl to be even more aggressive. These swift, unparalleled moves made even Jinlun Jinlun Fawang's heart leap with fear.

"Gu Qing, Sister Fu has been poisoned!"

After handing over the swords, Yang Guo had stayed by Guo Fu's side. Seeing her unconscious, he checked her injuries and discovered she had been poisoned; her lips were now faintly blue.

As expected...

Gu Qing glanced slightly at Guo Fu, then looked back at Jinlun Jinlun Fawang, saying: "It must be Huo Dou's poison."

Huo Dou had previously used a poisoned dart to strike at Gu Qing, though Gu Qing had dodged it.

Jinlun Jinlun Fawang smiled calmly. To be honest, after Gu Qing had jumped out, Jinlun Jinlun Fawang had wanted to replicate Gu Qing's earlier sneak attack, but Gu Qing had been careful enough to prevent it. However, the potent poison had already seeped into Guo Fu's body.

"Can we exchange for the antidote now?"

Jinlun Jinlun Fawang said with a smile.

He had snuck into Xiangyang City alone specifically to obtain the antidote for the Jade Bee Needles, partly to save Huo Dou and partly to save Kublai, thereby achieving an unparalleled feat.

"Can the 'Reversed Nine Yin' and 'Toad Technique' overcome it?"

Gu Qing asked Yang Guo.

At this moment, Yang Guo repeatedly pressed acupoints on Guo Fu's body, sensing the toxicity. "I'm not sure if it will work, but it's worth a try." As he spoke, Yang Guo stood Guo Fu upside down and used the detoxification method taught to him by Ouyang Feng in his childhood to treat her.

With Guo Fu upside down, her blood flow reversed, and her fingertips turned faintly purple. Following a needle prick from Yang Guo, some black, poisoned blood flowed out.

"Do you still want to exchange for the antidote?"

Gu Qing turned his face to look at Jinlun Jinlun Fawang.

Jinlun Jinlun Fawang let out a long sigh. During this time, Guo Jing and Zhu Zhu Ziliu had also heard the commotion and arrived. Seeing the situation, Guo Jing used the "Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms" and struck fiercely at Jinlun Jinlun Fawang!

Jinlun Jinlun Fawang shook his body, and five wheels appeared around him. The gold and iron wheels had been picked up by Gu Qing, but as the Mongol State Preceptor, Jinlun Jinlun Fawang had already replenished them. These five wheels spun, temporarily blocking Guo Jing and Xiaolongnu, after which Jinlun Jinlun Fawang ignored the wheels and leaped away directly.

As he turned back, Jinlun Jinlun Fawang saw Gu Qing standing on the eaves, not pursuing, but simply holding up a palm toward him.

Jinlun Jinlun Fawang understood immediately what that meant.

The fifth defeat!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 50 =====