[Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 30

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Resolving Grudges.

Jiang Tiantao, Daoist Hongchen, and the leaders of the Kongtong and Changbai sects all praised Master Yuantai. Next, the Wudang sect would perform their special skills. As the second-ranking sect, Daoist Hongchen, to avoid gossip, had to reveal one or two of Wudang's closely guarded secrets. However, his performance was entirely for the heroes of the world and the leaders of various sects, not for showing off to Jiang Tiantao.

As soon as Master Yuantai was settled, Daoist Hongchen bowed respectfully to the heroes to the east, west, and south, and said loudly, "The masters of the Shaolin sect have already performed a magnificent 'Arhat Formation.' Our sect will now perform a small 'Four Symbols Sword Formation' to entertain you all." He then turned and

, with a wave of his sleeve, the "Four Swordsmen of Wudang," who were already prepared to enter, leaped down from the Wudang pavilion like flying arrows. The assembled heroes had long heard of the Wudang "Four Symbols Sword Formation," unparalleled in the martial world, possessing mysterious and divine variations. In recent years, no one had been known to have broken this formation. Especially since it was being performed by the renowned "Four Swordsmen of Wudang," it was sure to be even more spectacular. Therefore, all the heroes in the valley felt that their presence was truly an eye-opener. At this moment, the Four Swordsmen of Wudang arrived at the arena. They first bowed to Master Hongchen, then took their positions, simultaneously retracting their swords with a flick of their wrists. A soft, muted sound followed by flashes of cold light, and with a clang, the four long, finely crafted steel swords were drawn from their sheaths.

Upon seeing this, Master Hongchen immediately shouted in a deep voice, "The sword formation begins!"

The four swordsmen responded simultaneously, immediately turning sideways and running in circles, their speed increasing until, in an instant, only flashes of light and yellow shadows remained, their faces disappearing from sight. Suddenly, a deafening shout rang out from within the sword formation. Cold light flashed like lightning, swords as sharp as mountains, sometimes swirling like bolts of lightning, sometimes bursting with dazzling brilliance. Instantly, the cold flames and gleaming light surged and churned, like silver dragons stirring up corpses and snow dragons churning rivers—a truly astonishing spectacle. The heroes throughout the valley watched in utter shock and disbelief, their mouths agape. If anyone were in the formation, wouldn't they be chopped into a bloody pulp under this dense rain of sword light? From within the sword formation, another deep shout rang out. A yellow shadow flashed, the sword light vanished instantly, and the four Wudang swordsmen returned to their original positions, calm and composed, their four long swords gleaming with cold light, radiating chilling flames. The heroes' faces paled at the sight, each one applauding the Wudang Sect's renowned "Four Symbols Sword Formation," a name truly well-deserved.

Seeing the heroes' expressions change, Master Hongchen couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. This way, the Wudang Sect wouldn't be mocked for not deserving the second Golden Red Chair. Then, with a wave of his sleeve, he dismissed the "Four Great Swordsmen of Wudang," stepped forward a few paces, bowed to the assembled heroes, and said humbly in a clear voice, "This humble sword formation is merely for your amusement. Now, I, this humble Taoist, will offer you two of my meager skills." Amidst the buzzing discussions, the heroes erupted in applause.

As soon as the applause subsided, Master Hongchen immediately announced in a clear voice, "This humble Taoist will first demonstrate for you the hidden weapon technique 'Hundred-Step Hairpin.'" As he spoke, he took a step and removed a bamboo hairpin from his topknot. With a flick of his wrist, a dark light, accompanied by a soft sound, shot towards a row of suspended hammers several feet away.

The row of hammers consisted of nine large hammers, each about the size of a melon, all polished from bluestone, smooth, round, and neatly arranged. They were all suspended from their frames by thin hemp ropes. With a flash of light, the bamboo hairpin fired by Daoist Hongchen struck the central hammer. With a clang, the hammer swung wildly, and the hairpin shattered. Daoist Hongchen's profound inner strength was evident. The assembled heroes in the valley shook their heads in admiration, praising him endlessly.

Immediately afterward, Daoist Hongchen let out a deep shout, his right wrist flicking repeatedly, sending out two more bamboo hairpins in quick succession. Two dark lights shot towards the hammers simultaneously. However, the second hairpin flew faster and faster, arriving first despite being fired later. With a soft "shh," the hemp rope snapped, and the hammer plummeted to the ground. Upon seeing this, the heroes immediately launched a fierce attack, their weapons striking first and then striking the falling object. The technique of striking first and then striking later was not difficult; the difficulty lay in ensuring the first weapon hit the falling object precisely. Wrist strength, timing, eye contact, and distance—if these were not perfectly controlled, how could one achieve such a level? Jiang Tiantao, after watching, couldn't help but secretly think that Master Hongchen had indeed put in a great deal of effort.

Amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the heroes, Master Hongchen walked towards a cylindrical stone block weighing about a hundred pounds. He stopped before the block, and as soon as the cheers subsided, he announced loudly, "This humble Taoist will once again perform our school's minor technique, 'Iron Palm Splitting the Stele.' Since Master Yuantai of Shaolin has already inscribed Buddhist chants on the giant stele, this stone block will serve as a temporary substitute." Having said that, he crouched down, secretly gathering his strength, and shouted, "Open..."

He raised his right palm, gathering all his power, and slashed down with tremendous force. Master Hongchen quickly stepped forward, his hands separating, instantly splitting the stone pillar in two, from top to bottom, like a knife cut. The assembled heroes, seeing this, paled, immediately erupting in commotion and discussion. What would happen if Master Hongchen's "Iron Palms" struck someone's head?

Seeing the shocked expressions on the faces of the assembled heroes, a glimmer of light appeared on Master Hongchen's old face. He hurriedly bowed, smiling humbly, and said, "I've made a fool of myself." With that, he turned and walked back to Master Yuantai's side. The heroes, having witnessed this incredible skill repeatedly, were extremely pleased. The valley was filled with a clamor of discussion, like a surging tide, growing ever more heated with each passing moment.

The third person was Jiang Tiantao. Jiang Tiantao, his sword-like eyebrows slightly raised and a smile spreading across his handsome face, stood beside Master Yuantai of Shaolin and first bowed three times to the assembled heroes. Upon seeing Jiang Tiantao's greeting, the clamor of the crowd immediately ceased, and all eyes turned to the center of the arena. The entire valley of over thirty thousand people fell into a deathly silence.

After completing his bow, Jiang Tiantao smiled elegantly and said, "Master Yuantai of Shaolin and Daoist Hongchen of Wudang have both displayed astonishing skills and their respective schools' renowned formations. However, my fortress lacks such unique techniques, so I can only offer three humble skills for your amusement." Although the voice wasn't loud, all the heroes in the valley could hear it.

Master Yuantai, Daoist Hongchen, and the other heroes standing on the mountain peak, as well as Dichun and Xuanchen of the Wudang Sect, were all shocked and their expressions changed. In particular, Zen Master Banting of the Emei Sect was so shocked that he broke out in a cold sweat. He had never expected Jiang Tiantao to have such terrifyingly profound internal strength. Thinking that Jiang Tiantao had refused to fight him, presumably to save his face and self-esteem, he felt both ashamed and grateful.

In his mind, he saw Jiang Tiantao again and humbly said, "I will first demonstrate my finger strength, then my lightness skill, and finally my internal strength." When Master Yuantai

heard that Jiang Tiantao was going to demonstrate his internal strength, his brows furrowed slightly, seemingly surprised. The assembled heroes stirred again, speculating about the very finger technique Jiang Tiantao was about to display.

Before proceeding, Jiang Tiantao first bowed to Master Yuantai and Daoist Hongchen, among others, as a gesture of polite humility. However, as he bowed, he noticed Master Yuantai's furrowed brows and the disdainful expressions of the leaders of the Kongtong, Changbai, Kunlun, and Xueshan sects. He knew they had already witnessed his lightness skill and therefore doubted whether his finger strength surpassed Master Yuantai's and his internal strength exceeded Daoist Hongchen's. As

Jiang Tiantao bowed, his right arm had already been subtly gathering power. Once the bow was complete, he slowly raised his right hand from the spot. The entire valley of heroes widened their eyes in astonishment, even more confused about the finger technique Jiang Tiantao was about to perform. Just as the assembled heroes were bewildered, Jiang Tiantao had already clenched his middle and index fingers, suddenly pointing them directly at the wooden frame of the suspended hammer seven or eight zhang away, and forcefully flicked them out. With a soft "shh," the hemp rope snapped, and the stone hammer plummeted to the ground. At the same moment the hammer fell, Jiang Tiantao's middle and index fingers flashed out again...

With a crisp "crack," the falling hammer shattered into pieces, sending stone chips flying and swirling smoke. The assembled heroes were speechless, letting out a gasp of astonishment. Jiang Tiantao abruptly lowered his arm, and with a flick of his sleeve, his figure soared into the air, executing a move called "Golden Eagle Piercing the Clouds," stretching out his arms and flying diagonally upwards towards the cloud-piercing structure standing in mid-air, several zhang away...

The heroes and experts from the thirty-three sheds throughout the valley were all dumbfounded, their mouths agape. Jiang Tiantao flew to the top of the cloud-shaped platform, secretly pressing his palms against its edge. His body continued its ascent, transforming into a "Cloud Dragon Soaring Through the Sky," descending headfirst and circling. The descent slowed with each

step, until he finally landed gently… Reaching a point five zhang (approximately 10 meters), he flicked his arms, his sleeves billowing, and his body shot diagonally downwards, landing several zhang away in front of a large boulder. Reaching the boulder, he took a few quick steps, inhaled deeply, and with a powerful shout, unleashed a lightning-fast burst of energy from his palms. A terrifying explosion resounded, sending rocks flying in all directions, billowing smoke, and shrapnel whistling through the air. A boulder weighing several hundred jin (approximately 50 kilograms) vanished without a trace, leaving only some remaining fragments.

The heroes and chivalrous figures standing along the edge of the valley, startled, turned and ran wildly, shouting and jostling each other. A series of thuds and clatters of stones and gravel fell to the ground, like a hailstorm, the sound particularly terrifying. Once the stones had fallen, the entire area fell silent, but the thunderous echoes still reverberated among the distant mountains and nearby peaks.

Jiang Tiantao looked at the remaining pile of stones before him and realized that his skill had improved considerably since his duel with Zhang Shitou in Jilin, Fanjing Mountain. Looking up, he saw the entire valley of heroes, mouths agape and eyes wide, staring at him in disbelief. Turning back to Master Yuantai and Daoist Hongchen, he saw that their eyes were flashing with alarm, their faces pale, especially the leaders of the Kongtong and Changbai sects, who were already drenched in sweat and completely ashen-faced.

Seeing this, Jiang Tiantao couldn't help but feel a little regretful. He could only walk over, cup his hands in a respectful bow to Master Yuantai and the others, and humbly say with a smile, "I'm making a fool of myself."

Master Yuantai hurriedly returned the bow with his palms together, and said solemnly, "Young Master's martial arts are unparalleled and deeply hidden. His three unique skills are all truly admirable..." As he spoke, Daoist Hongchen and the leaders of the Changbai and other sects also stepped forward to offer their praise.

Jiang Tiantao thanked them one by one, but felt particularly uneasy inside.

Master Yuantai felt that the Kongtong and Changbai sects no longer needed to perform their special skills, but still humbly asked, "Would you like to continue...?"

The leaders of the Kongtong, Xuebai, Kunlun, and Changbai sects all shook their heads, smiling with shame, and said, "With the bright moon overhead, who would want to watch the skills of fireflies and carved insects? They are hardly worthy of being presented in a refined manner, and there is no need for us to make a fool of ourselves on the spot."

Master Yuantai nodded repeatedly, then respectfully invited them back to the pavilion. Thus, the group of seven, with Jiang Tiantao on the left, Daoist Hongchen on the right, and Master Yuantai in the middle, walked side by side, with the Xueshan sects following behind. When Jiang Tiantao and Master Yuantai ascended the steps, the leaders and masters in the pavilions on both sides stood up from their seats, their faces still showing surprise and anxiety. Due to the excessive astonishment and shock of the crowd, not a single person cheered until Jiang Tiantao returned to the pavilion of "Jiugongbao".

Jiang Tiantao walked to the front of the decorated pavilion and found Rainbow Dragon Girl, Deng Lizhu, Zhu Caidie, Ma Yunshan, and others standing inside, all with expressions of shock, even "Flying Dragon" Deng Zhengtong was no exception. Rainbow Dragon Girl was shocked by Jiang Tiantao's terrifying divine power, while Zhu Caidie was shocked by where Jiang Tiantao had learned the "Finger Flicking Divine Skill." Ma Yunshan and Deng Zhengtong, however, felt that Jiang Tiantao had something else, an even more astonishing and unparalleled skill that he hadn't yet displayed. Wang Yanling and Xue Danfeng, on the other hand, knew everything and were therefore not surprised at all.

"Golden Hairpin" Fu Liying looked at Jiang Tiantao silently with a resentful expression, neither speaking nor smiling. "Silver Hairpin" Huangfu Xiang's clear almond eyes were red and swollen for some reason.

Yuan Zijian and Du Jingyun sat quietly in shame, sweat still dripping from their pale cheeks, thinking of how they were determined to take Rainbow Dragon Girl back from Jiang Tiantao, even willing to use a combined attack against him. Having witnessed Jiang Tiantao's three special skills performance, they were filled with dread and despair. What use would ten or twenty people be, let alone the combined strength of the two of them? Fortunately, they hadn't attacked him on the way here; otherwise, their lives would have been over.

Jiang Tiantao looked at the petite and delicate Wang Yanling, the gentle and serene Xue Danfeng, the ethereal Rainbow Dragon Girl, the beautiful and charming Zhu Caidie, and the radiant Deng Lizhu, and nodded with a smile. He then gestured respectfully to Ma Yunshan, Ning Daotong, and the others, inviting them to sit, and he himself took a seat on the large gold and red chair. Looking around the valley, although there was still a buzzing of discussion like an undercurrent, the atmosphere was tense and astonished.

Jiang Tiantao now truly understood why many people with extraordinary skills kept their abilities hidden, and he also understood what it meant to be truly astonishing. Because the skill level of one person was so vastly different from that of many others, the other side felt utterly powerless, creating a climate of fear among everyone. With this in mind, he resolved to reverse this alarming situation. The only best course of action was to respect elders, treat people kindly, behave politely, and remain humble in all matters. Once he understood this, his mood instantly brightened, and he no longer cared about the anxious expressions of the various sect leaders and masters.

Just then, on the hilltop behind the pavilion, a burly old man in grey robes, leading seven or eight blue-clad guards carrying food boxes, hurried towards the pavilion's defenses. The grey-robed old man was none other than Chen Zhenduo. Soon, Chen Zhenduo and his guards arrived at the back of the pavilion.

The guards had already set out the food boxes behind the pavilion; the leaders and masters of the other pavilions had already begun their lunch. Upon seeing the food boxes laid out, Chen Zhenduo immediately invited Jiang Tiantao and the others to eat. When he noticed the "Rainbow Dragon Girl," he immediately bowed politely and asked, "Greetings, Miss Xiao."

The Rainbow Dragon Girl returned the bow and humbly replied, "Greetings, Old Hero Chen."

Seeing his future young mistress address him as "Old Hero," Chen Zhenduo hurriedly and respectfully said, "I dare not, I dare not." Bin Guai Zhen Jiuzhou Ma Yunshan, Jin Jianying, and Xiao Li Guang, among others, were all those who had personally intercepted the Rainbow Dragon Girl that night, and thus they all understood each other implicitly.

After everyone finished eating, the bell rang to signal the continuation of the meeting. Jiang Tiantao quickly composed himself, hurriedly took his seat, and sat upright in the large gold and red chair. Just as he settled into his seat, Master Yuantai, inside the Shaolin pavilion, rose from his chair with a somber expression and a worried look. He glanced sadly at the 30,000 heroes of the valley, then turned to Jiang Tiantao and said, "The special skills performances of each sect have ended, and it's still noon. In your opinion, Young Master, should we continue with the following program?"

Jiang Tiantao, already standing up, clasped his hands humbly and said, "Please make the decision, Master. I will not hesitate to support you."

Seeing that Jiang Tiantao maintained the same attitude as at the beginning of the event, without any arrogance, Master Yuantai was deeply moved and nodded repeatedly with satisfaction. The heroes of the valley were full of praise. As the saying goes, "A general's family produces tiger cubs, and a virtuous family produces wise sons," and "No one knows a son better than his father." If the highly respected Old Master Jiang did not understand his beloved son, how could he have entrusted the great cause of inheriting Jiugong Fort to Young Master Jiang?

Master Banting of the Emei Sect, grateful for Jiang Tiantao's many virtues, initially intended to propose that the next martial arts conference be hosted by Jiugongbao, as the rules dictated that the highest-ranking leader in the martial arts world should lead the community. However, seeing Jiang Tiantao's humble and courteous attitude, and considering the lifelong reputation of the "Land Dragon" Old Master Jiang, Master Banting knew Jiang Tiantao would never accept the suggestion, and thus withdrew his proposal.

The leaders of the Qionglai Sect, "Fallen Flower Swordsman," and the Diancang Sect, "Bright Whip," had secretly agreed to combine their sects' strengths to launch a surprise attack on Jiugongbao to avenge their repeated setbacks. Now, they decided to abandon this plan. While they witnessed Jiang Tiantao's masterful display of skill and knew their own abilities were vastly different, the real reason was the inspiration they received from Jiang Tiantao's humility. The saying, "Pride goes before a fall, humility brings benefit, and justice resides in the hearts of the people," indeed holds true.

At this moment, Master Yuantai, his mood stable and his complexion rosy, announced in a clear voice the reasons for the repeated advances of the meeting and proceeded with the final meeting to resolve the disputes in the martial world. As soon as Master Yuantai finished speaking, a mournful cry suddenly rang out from the crowd of heroes on the southern ridge. Immediately afterward, a slender figure in green rose from the crowd, performing a "Swallow Returning to the Forest" move, flying straight towards the center of the arena. The heroes throughout the valley, who had already regained their composure, fell silent upon seeing someone appear, and all eyes turned towards the center.

Jiang Tiantao, Deng Zhengtong, and the others, upon hearing the mournful cry, knew it was Leng Ping. Thinking of her enemy, He Laomao, whose skills were highly proficient and whose power was profound, they wondered if she could be a match for the old villain. According to the rules of the meeting, when He Laomao appeared to settle this feud, the various levels of the Dragon Head Assembly should first comment on the merits of both sides before deciding who was right and who was wrong. Regardless of whether He Laomao was right or wrong, Leng Ping had the right to kill him, because she was avenging her father, which was perfectly justified. Moreover, no matter how skilled He Laomao was, he must not harm Leng Ping, because grudges should be resolved, not perpetuated.

If Leng Ping were to be defeated by He Laomao, and with the thirty-three Dragon Leaders of the assembly as witnesses, He Laomao would spare Leng Ping's life, and Leng Ping would be forever barred from seeking revenge against him. Therefore, those who seek revenge are usually certain they can defeat their enemy before accusing him at the Dragon Leader Assembly. Consequently, Jiang Tiantao, Deng Zhengtong, and others were worried for Leng Ping, fearing she wouldn't be able to kill the old villain herself.

At this moment, Leng Ping arrived at the arena, dressed in a martial arts outfit, with two swords tucked into her back, her face streaked with tears, her expression filled with grief. Facing the Shaolin pavilion, she bowed deeply and cried out in a sorrowful voice, "This humble woman has a blood feud with the murderer of my father. I

humbly request that you, esteemed leaders, uphold justice and allow me to personally avenge my father's death, to comfort his spirit in heaven." Upon hearing that it was a blood feud with the murderer of her father, the assembled heroes immediately stirred up a murmur of discussion and commotion. Master Yuantai stood solemnly before his chair, returned the bow with his palms together, and replied loudly, "The blood feud with the murderer of one's father is irreconcilable. The assembly accepts your accusation. Please,

young lady, tell the assembly and all the heroes of the world about your family background and the name of your enemy." Leng Ping wept and recounted, "This humble woman is Zhang Yunhua, from Taolin Mountain in eastern Sichuan. My late father, Zhang Weihan, known as Jin Ziduo, was a kind and righteous man, highly regarded in the martial arts world. In the past, while traveling the martial arts world, he mistakenly associated with the bandit He Laomao. Because of my father's uprightness, he was not corrupted by him." She offered him loyal advice, but the old villain, enraged and filled with resentment, took advantage of her father's unpreparedness and secretly stabbed him three times in the back, killing him. Ten years have passed since then, and she has never stopped thinking about her father's death, unable to eat or sleep. Today, at this grand gathering, she has come to plead her case and beg for justice to comfort her father's spirit in heaven. She will never forget this, and is deeply grateful for the great kindness of all the elders..." At this point, tears streamed down her face as she bowed deeply and knelt on the ground.

All the heroes in the valley looked on with sorrow, shaking their heads and sighing deeply. Master Yuantai, his expression solemn, continued to ask in a loud voice, "Miss Zhang, are you confident of victory?"

Leng Ping raised her tearful face, gritting her teeth and saying hatefully, "This humble woman practices martial arts day and night, and constantly thinks of personally killing the old villain. I am confident of victory."

Master Yuantai nodded solemnly and continued to ask, "Who else knows about this matter?"

Leng Ping said with tears in her eyes, "My uncle, the Land Dragon Elder Jiang, and my uncle, the Flying Flood Dragon Deng Zhengtong, both know about this matter."

Upon hearing that the old master of Jiugong Fortress, Jiang, the Land Dragon Elder, and the Flying Flood Dragon Deng Zhengtong were also involved, the assembled heroes immediately stirred up a commotion and began to discuss the matter. Rainbow Dragon Girl was taken aback. She glanced at Jiang Tiantao, whose expression was solemn, and whispered to Deng Lizhu, "Sister Butterfly, do you know this Miss Zhang?"

Deng Lizhu nodded solemnly and said, "She's the Xiao Hua my brother just mentioned."

Rainbow Dragon Girl was even more confused and couldn't help but whisper, "Didn't Brother Tao say Miss Ping?"

Wang Yanling, who was standing next to her, explained, "Her other name is Leng Ping." As soon as the name Leng Ping entered Rainbow Dragon Girl's ears, something suddenly came to mind: Wasn't the famous singer at Yuanyun Tower at the foot of Dongliang Mountain also named Leng Ping?

Before he could finish his thought, Master Yuantai appeared before Jiang Tiantao, bowed respectfully, and asked in a gentle voice, "Is the young master aware of this matter?"

Jiang Tiantao had already stood up from his chair and replied with a cupped hand, "This fortress is fully aware of this matter."

Master Yuantai assumed that Leng Ping wanted Jiang Tiantao to avenge her father, so he asked again, "What is the young master's attitude towards this matter?"

Jiang Tiantao knew that Leng Ping was usually strong, but now she had a pair of golden swords on her back, indicating that she wanted to use her father's famous double swords to avenge him. Therefore, he replied, "Sister Zhang did not make any requests to this fortress, so it is inappropriate for this fortress to interfere."

Master Yuantai nodded solemnly and then asked Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong, "What is Master Deng's attitude?"

Seeing that Leng Ping had already said she was confident and that Jiang Tiantao had no intention of interfering, Deng Zhengtong naturally could not intervene further. He could only clasp his hands and say in a deep voice, "This old man has nothing to say, I only hope that the old villain will not escape the consequences of his crimes."

Master Yuantai nodded again and then said loudly to Leng Ping in the room, "Miss Zhang, Master... " "The thirty-three dragon leaders are all willing to witness your revenge. I hope you will seize this opportunity, otherwise, you will never have a chance to avenge yourself." After saying this, he waved his sleeve and continued in a deep voice, "Now you can challenge the man who killed your father."

Leng Ping remained kneeling on the ground, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Master, if that old thief comes to Xingzi Mountain, what should I do?"

Master Yuantai said without hesitation, "You can tell the assembly his age, characteristics, clothing, and appearance. The thirty-three dragon leaders and their disciples can arrest him at any time and send him to the Cold Temple on Songshan Mountain so that you can inform the young lady to go and seek revenge." He paused here, and said with particular seriousness, "However, you must rely on your own true abilities at that time. No one else is allowed to interfere."

After hearing this, Leng Ping kowtowed to express her gratitude, stood up and turned to the heroes in the valley, clasped her hands in a salute, and said sadly, "I am willing to risk my life to avenge my father. I hope that all the heroes and chivalrous people will give me their support for justice. Even if I die, I will be eternally grateful." The entire valley of heroes was moved, and Leng Ping's words resonated deeply, immediately gaining the support of the vast majority.

As soon as the clamor subsided, Leng Ping flipped her wrist, took the golden double-edged sword from her back, raised her eyebrows, and glared fiercely, shouting, "One-Eyed He Laomao, are you not going to come and face your death?" Her words fell silent, but not a single person from the three sides responded.

Seeing this, Leng Ping felt a growing anxiety and panic. She feared that He Laomao was not present; if so, avenging her father would be forever impossible. So, she brandished the double-edged sword and again shouted, "One-Eyed thief, are you cowardly and afraid of death? Is this blood debt truly over?" But the buzzing crowd still remained silent.

Leng Ping was indeed panicked. She clasped her hands again and addressed the crowd, saying, "Please, esteemed senior heroes, look to your right and see if there is a thin, one-eyed, hooked-nosed, old man with a missing lip." "

Upon hearing this, the crowd stirred, a great commotion arose, and everyone turned to look around, searching for a thin, one-eyed old man. However, after a brief commotion, the noise gradually subsided, and none of the heroes noticed the thin, one-eyed old man behind them. Upon seeing this, Leng Ping couldn't help but weep bitterly.

Jiang Tiantao, his sword-like brows furrowed and his lips tightly pressed together, had a sudden thought. He abruptly stood up from his chair, faced the crowd, and proclaimed in a loud voice, "He Laomao, your betrayal and assassination of Hero Zhang is common knowledge. Cowardice and avoidance will not solve the problem. Although my father and Hero Zhang are close friends, I have already assured Master Yuantai that I will not interfere in your affairs with Sister Zhang today. Moreover, I guarantee that as long as you appear today, regardless of your victory or defeat, life or death, I will never interfere in this matter." The announcement caused another stir among the crowd .

Some thought Jiang Tiantao's announcement was wise, while others believed that He Laomao wasn't even present, making the announcement unnecessary. However, just as the crowd was discussing this, a figure quietly emerged from the far end of the front row in the northeast corner and began walking towards the center. The crowd was shocked, their eyes widening.

The man was thin, dressed in black, wearing a black felt hat, with low-set white eyebrows, a hooked nose, and a few sparse silver whiskers. Beneath the left edge of his hat was a blind eye—it was none other than the notorious gangster, One-Eyed He Laomao. The crowd shook their heads. This was truly a cunning and treacherous old fox. He had secretly crouched in the northeast corner, surrounded by his accomplices and followers. This old fox was indeed afraid of the young master of Jiugong Fortress, Jiang, interfering in this matter.

One-Eyed He Laomao's single eye gleamed... His brows were furrowed, his gaping mouth curved downwards, and his face was dark and venomous. He hunched over, arms slightly crossed, and strode unhurriedly into the center of the arena. His arrogant and condescending manner showed he completely disregarded Leng Ping.

Leng Ping was startled to see an old man in black, but upon recognizing him as One-Eyed Suo, a murderous intent surged within her, her phoenix eyes turning bloodshot. At this moment, all the heroes in the valley ceased their discussions; the entire arena was utterly silent, so quiet that one could hear... The sound of He Laomao's deliberately dragging felt boots filled the air. Leng Ping waited until He Laomao was fifteen feet in front of her, ready to withdraw her double-wielding technique, when suddenly a chant of "Amitabha" rang out from the Shaolin pavilion. All the heroes in the valley—Jiang Tiantao, Leng Ping, and He Laomao—turned their heads, all looking towards Master Yuantai, knowing the old monk had more to say.

Master Yuantai had already stood up from his chair. He first looked at Leng Ping and asked loudly, "Miss Zhang, is the old man standing here your father's killer, He Laomao?" Leng Ping bowed without hesitation and answered, "Yes."

Master Yuantai then looked at the one-eyed man and continued, "Old Master He, was it you who killed the old hero Zhang back then?"

One-Eyed He Laomao nodded expressionlessly, readily admitting, "Not bad." His reply was powerful and resonant, revealing the old thief's profound inner strength. Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat, his sword-like eyebrows furrowing instantly, worried that Leng Ping might be outmatched. The valley, silent for a moment, erupted into a murmur of private discussion.

Master Yuantai slightly furrowed his brow, continuing to look at He Laomao, asking, "Do you have any hidden grievances or injustices to present to the assembly?"

One-Eyed He Laomao coldly shook his head, saying calmly, "No." Though his voice was flat, his strength was undeniable.

Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong, unable to sit still any longer, abruptly stood up. Upon seeing this, the quick-witted Jin Jianying hurriedly reached out and pressed him down, asking in a low voice, "What are you doing, Brother Deng?"

A bead of sweat appeared on Deng Zhengtong's forehead as he anxiously replied, "I want to ask Xiaohua again if she's truly confident."

Jin Jianying, Ma Yunshan, and Sai Bianque simultaneously and sternly stopped him, saying, "You absolutely mustn't do that! You're not only breaking your promise, but you're also likely to undermine Miss Zhang's confidence."

Deng Zhengtong shook his head in annoyance and had no choice but to sit down as instructed. Jiang Tiantao sat upright in the large gold and red chair, his anxiety no less than Deng Zhengtong's. He gripped the armrests tightly, his starry eyes fixed intently on the scene, seemingly oblivious to the conversation behind him.

At this moment, Master Yuantai asked One-Eyed Shuttle if he knew the rules of the gathering. Both One-Eyed Shuttle and Laomao said they did. Master Yuantai then waved his sleeve and said in a deep voice, "Begin."

Before his words had even finished, Leng Ping had already seized the double attack, shouting, "You old thief, return my brother's life!" Tears streamed down her face as she unleashed a "Wild Horse Parts Its Mane" move, aiming directly for Laomao's abdomen and chest. One-Eyed Shuttle Laomao gave a cold, sinister smile, slightly bending down, and pulled two gleaming seven-inch daggers from his felt boots. Then, with a swift, decisive strike, the attack was easily neutralized. The assembled heroes were shocked, all feeling that Leng Ping's revenge was likely hopeless.

Jiang Tiantao anxiously shifted his upper body, letting out a deep sigh of relief, deeply regretting his earlier public declaration of non-interference. However, if he hadn't made that announcement, the cunning He Laomao wouldn't have stepped forward, and Leng Ping would have had to wait an indefinite amount of time to get her revenge. Thinking this, he looked back at the arena and saw Leng Ping and He Laomao locked in fierce combat.

Leng Ping wielded her golden sword with incredible skill, relentlessly pressing forward, seemingly intent on chopping the old villain to pieces. She appeared to be on the verge of madness. He Laomao, the one-eyed swordsman, remained steady and composed, maintaining a tight defense and waiting for an opportunity to counterattack. According to the rules of the tournament, he absolutely could not harm Leng Ping further. The true purpose of the tournament was to prevent the hatred between the two sides from escalating and to prevent ruthless villains from taking advantage of the situation to eliminate any potential threats. Even if the defendant were a chivalrous and righteous person, even if he had the right to kill someone seeking revenge for their parents, teachers, or relatives, he wouldn't be able to bring himself to do it. This rule of the tournament was entirely designed for ruthless villains.

In the blink of an eye, Leng Ping and He Laomao had exchanged dozens of blows, but despite Leng Ping's relentless advance, she couldn't inflict even the slightest injury on He Laomao. Leng Ping's Golden Character Snatcher was a strangely shaped weapon specifically designed to lock onto an opponent's blade, but she couldn't lock onto He Laomao's two seven-inch daggers. Another thirty blows passed. While Leng Ping's Double Snatcher technique remained extremely unpredictable, it had lost its previous ferocity. Meanwhile, the cunning and sly He Laomao continued his steady and methodical attack, showing no signs of defeat. Jiang Tiantao watched with growing anxiety, while Deng Zhengtong stamped his feet and sighed repeatedly.

Rainbow Dragon Girl, observing this, couldn't help but lament, "Miss Zhang made a huge mistake: her eagerness for revenge and overwhelming grief prevented her from calmly observing and skillfully changing her moves, thus diminishing the power of her Double Strike."

Jiang Tiantao turned and added, "Her real mistake was using Double Strike in the first place."

Wang Yanling, Xue Danfeng, Rainbow Dragon Girl, Zhu Caidie, and Deng Lizhu all asked in unison, "Why?"

Jiang Tiantao explained, "She originally used the 'Sword' technique, but now that she's switched to Double Strike, even with frequent practice, she still can't fully utilize her skills. Furthermore, given the close relationship between He Laomao and Old Hero Zhang... " "Of course, I've seen the old hero Zhang's Double-Strike technique before, and it's inevitable that the old thief has learned it. Now, if I use Double-Strike again to fight him, it's naturally difficult to achieve any surprising results."

Flying Dragon Deng Zhengtong complained anxiously, "Although this girl made a mistake, her filial piety is commendable. She wants to use her father's famous Golden Double-Strike to kill One-Eyed Shuttle..."

Before he finished speaking, Deng Lizhu asked anxiously, "What should we do? Brother and Brother Tao should think of a way."

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly turned around and looked at Jiang Tiantao in the arena, and suddenly said in a deep voice, "There is a turning point."

Everyone looked over and saw that the situation in the arena had indeed changed. Although Leng Ping's expression was still extremely excited, the Golden Double-Strike in her right hand had changed to a "strike instead of a strike" technique, while the Golden Double-Strike in her left hand was still attacking when the opportunity arose. With this change, One-Eyed Shuttle He Zhemao's expression and moves were obviously somewhat flustered and uneasy. Just then, Leng Ping suddenly roared, her lithe body flashing like lightning. Her left hand drew a circle of light, while her right hand, wielding a weapon, unleashed a dazzling, incredibly sharp golden blade, aimed directly at He Laomao's face.

He Laomao, focused on blocking the illusory circle of light, seemed completely unprepared for this sudden, lightning-fast attack. By the time he tried to dodge, it was too late. But he was, after all, a seasoned underworld bandit, his body and face scarred from sword thrusts, knife slashes, and hidden weapon strikes. In the critical moment, he had no choice but to risk everything and launch a desperate attack. With a shout, he suddenly lunged to the side, his dagger blindly stabbing towards Leng Ping's body.

The crowd of heroes, seeing this, paled. A chorus of gasps erupted as the golden light flashed, and the One-Eyed Bandit's left ear was sliced off at the cheek, blood spurting out. With a soft hiss and a flash of cold light, One-Eyed Shuttle's sharp dagger had torn the cloth garment under Leng Ping's left armpit, fortunately without damaging her skin.

Jiang Tiantao and the others, upon seeing this, were startled and jumped to their feet. The valley of heroes erupted in another gasp of shock.

Leng Ping, still a young unmarried woman, was naturally very anxious about her torn clothes. With a cry, she instinctively retreated. The cunning and experienced One-Eyed Shuttle, however, would not let this opportunity slip by. Ignoring the blood covering his face and body, he roared, his right hand flashing upwards with his dagger, aiming for the golden-lettered weapon on Leng Ping's left hand. Leng Ping, distracted by her retreat, hadn't been able to react. With a soft clang and sparks flying, the golden-lettered weapon in her left hand was knocked away by One-Eyed Shuttle.

Upon seeing this, the assembled heroes

erupted in uproar. Even the leaders and experts in the thirty-three pavilions who had connections with the old hero Zhang Weihan were so shocked that they stood up from their chairs. Leng Ping was startled, immediately remembering that this was revenge for her father. What did it matter if she were naked, let alone reveal some undergarments? Her mind raced, and killing intent surged. With a sharp shout, she lunged forward, her right hand wielding the golden sword, executing the "White Snake Spits Its Tongue" sword technique, aiming for One-Eyed Shuai's chest. One-Eyed Shuai, He Laomao, had not expected Leng Ping to use the momentum of his forceful deflection of the golden sword to launch a counterattack. This time, dodging was probably impossible. In his shock, he had already retreated rapidly to the side. But with a muffled thud, a flash of golden light, and Leng Ping's golden sword had pierced into One-Eyed Shuai's left lower abdomen, the sword completely gone.

Upon seeing this, the assembled heroes gasped in astonishment. Just as the crowd gasped in shock, He Laomao dropped his knife, gripped the hilt of his sword tightly with both hands, let out a fierce howl, and launched a vicious kick at Leng Ping's groin. Jiang Tiantao, though filled with rage, couldn't blame He Laomao for his lewdness in this life-or-death battle; in the moment of death, who thinks of such things? However, Leng Ping was determined to die, unafraid of the one-eyed spear's kick to her groin. She slightly shifted her body, gathering all her strength in her arms, and continued her powerful advance.

He Laomao, sinister, belligerent, and ruthless, though his face was covered in blood and his golden spear had pierced his left abdomen, still used Leng Ping's momentum to swing his arms wildly. His flying right leg, due to Leng Ping's sideways movement, only struck her thigh. With a startled cry, Leng Ping's slender body was kicked and pulled up. Amidst the cry, the gold dagger piercing He Laomao's left lower abdomen was snatched away. Her body staggered and rushed towards the one-eyed shuttle.

Jiang Tiantao's expression changed drastically upon seeing this, and he was greatly alarmed. Fearing for Leng Ping's safety, he let out a deafening shout and flew towards the arena like lightning. Just as Jiang Tiantao leaped into the air, several shouts came from the northeast corner where He Laomao had entered, and several people leaped out in succession. Jiang Tiantao's movements were incredibly fast; before Leng Ping could even regain her footing, Jiang Tiantao was already in the arena, simultaneously reaching out to support her.

He Laomao, heavily injured and staggering backward, fearing he might not survive, frantically drew his golden spear, ready to stab Leng Ping, but found that Jiang Tiantao had already caught her. Startled, he dropped the golden spear, clutching his bleeding left abdomen, and swayed as if about to collapse.

Leng Ping, dazed and nearly insane, shoved Jiang Tiantao away and shouted fiercely, "Old thief, prepare to die!" With that shout, her slender fingers shot out, and she leaped towards the one-eyed spear.

Jiang Tiantao, unwilling to let Leng Ping disrupt the rules of the gathering, swiftly intercepted her, shouting, "Sister, calm down! This is fate! You mustn't break the rules!"

Leng Ping, consumed by revenge, paid no heed. Seeing Jiang Tiantao blocking her way, she yelled, "Get out of the way! Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

With these shouts, she unleashed a flurry of punches, like a drumbeat, relentlessly pounding Jiang Tiantao's muscular chest. Jiang Tiantao endured her blows, neither dodging nor retreating. The assembled heroes, witnessing this scene, were deeply moved; many shed tears, especially those connected to the old hero who had fought the Golden Character Robbery. At this moment, the men who had shouted earlier arrived, supporting the one-eyed He Laomao and preparing to protect him.

Upon seeing this, Leng Ping, utterly despondent, let out a wail and embraced Jiang Tiantao, crying out, "Brother Tao, I don't want to live anymore!"

Just then, figures flashed by, and Zhu Caidie, Xiao Xiangzhen, Xue Danfeng, Wang Yanling, Deng Lizhu, and Deng Zhengtong arrived simultaneously, immediately supporting Leng Ping. Jiang Tiantao, heartbroken, handed the weeping Leng Ping over to them just as the five arrived. Turning his head, he couldn't help but sternly ask, "What does Senior Deng want to do?"

Deng Zhengtong, his old face ashen and eyes blazing with anger, who was about to approach He Laomao, stopped upon hearing this, turned to look at Jiang Tiantao, and angrily said, "I'm going to teach this ungrateful, heartless old dog a lesson."

As soon as he finished speaking, a powerful and solemn voice suddenly rang out from the summit of Zhengbei Ridge, chanting "Amitabha." Immediately afterward, a huge bell rang out, its sound shaking the mountains and reaching the heavens. All 30,000 heroes in the valley knew that this momentous event of avenging their father's death had come to an end. Some believed that if Jiang Tiantao hadn't arrived, the great revenge would have been achieved, but the vast majority thought that if Jiang Tiantao hadn't arrived in time, Leng Ping would already be dead. Even Leng Ping herself knew how perilous her situation was, so as soon as she regained her composure, she immediately hugged her younger brother, Tao, and wept bitterly. This was not only because she was heartbroken that her revenge hadn't been fulfilled, but also because she was grateful to her clever and beloved younger brother, Tao. As

soon as the deafening bell rang, Jiang Tiantao, Deng Zhengtong, and the others, as well as the several burly men protecting the one-eyed Suo He Laomao, also stepped aside. Jiang Tiantao took the opportunity to glance at the burly men; each of them had fierce eyes and menacing expressions, clearly not kind-hearted people. Looking again at He Laomao, the one-eyed swordsman, his single eye was slightly closed, his face covered in blood,

his beard and eyebrows all red, his expression fierce and frightening. His lower abdomen was wrapped in a white cloth, with bloodstains seeping out. At this moment, Master Yuantai, who had risen from his chair, looked solemnly at the scene and said loudly, "Enmity should be resolved, not perpetuated. Planting seeds of joy will yield good results. The feud between Zhang and He ends here. From now on, neither side shall use this as an excuse to cause trouble. Miss Zhang and Master He, please leave the scene quickly."

Upon hearing this, Leng Ping covered her face and wept bitterly. Jiang Tiantao, fearing that others might still enter and demand justice from the assembly, immediately urged Rainbow Dragon Girl and the other two to help Leng Ping and head towards the stage of Jiugong Fort. He Laomao, on the other hand, was carried towards the northeast corner of the scene. Jiang Tiantao watched coldly, knowing that the stab Leng Ping had inflicted on his left lower abdomen had not damaged his internal organs; the old thief's injury was not fatal.

Xue Danfeng, Wang Yanling, Rainbow Dragon Girl, Zhu Caidie, and Deng Lizhu helped Leng Ping into the colorful pavilion of Jiugongbao from the left side path, with Jiang Tiantao and Deng Zhengtong following behind. Ma Yunshan, Jin Jianying, and others rose to greet her and offered words of comfort. The masters from the pavilions near Jiugongbao all looked at the beautiful, pitiful Leng Ping, who had risked her life to avenge her father, with sympathetic eyes.

The Three Hairpins Gang's pavilion was the closest, and the five hall masters and incense leaders inside wanted to get a good look. Especially Huangfu Xiang, the Silver Hairpin, was heartbroken when she discovered that Leng Ping was the famous singer who had chased Jiang Tiantao with her on horseback and fought alongside her against the Barbarian Flower Fragrant Concubine. They hadn't seemed to know each other before, but somehow they had formed a family relationship, calling each other sister and brother and showing great care, which made Huangfu Xiang both jealous and angry. Thinking of Leng Ping's presence earlier, in front of all the heroes of the valley, tightly embracing Jiang Tiantao, weeping and calling him "brother"—it goes without saying, she was another young mistress of Jiugongbao. Huangfu Xiang felt a pang of heartache, realizing everyone else had achieved their desires, while she, Huangfu Xiang, was left out in the cold.

In her sorrow, she thought of her father, Huangfu Yang, the Jade Fan Scholar. In his eyes, only Jiang Tiantao was worthy of being his son-in-law, yet Jiang Tiantao completely ignored her. In short, her impression of him at Dongliang Mountain had been terrible. The thought of Dongliang Mountain suddenly sparked an idea in her mind; her almond-shaped eyes lit up. She suddenly remembered a perfect excuse to be playful and coquettish, to pester Jiang Tiantao. Having made up her mind, she couldn't help but chuckle excitedly, letting out a soft hum, thinking, "Hmph, I'm such a fool. Let's see where Jiang Tiantao can run now."

Just as she was feeling smug, she suddenly heard Fu Liying, sitting on the large chair behind her, ask in a low, resentful voice, "Xiangmei, what happy thing have you remembered..."

Huangfu Xiang quickly composed herself, her delicate face instantly turning red, and hurriedly shook her head, explaining, "Nothing, sister."

Fu Liying frowned slightly, puzzled, and said, "Just now you were shedding tears from time to time, but now you're suddenly laughing. How can you say nothing's wrong?" "When Huangfu Xiang was asked, she was speechless and her face flushed red with anxiety.

Just then, a huge bell rang. Immediately afterward, the thirty thousand heroes throughout the mountains and valleys erupted in a thunderous cheer that shook the mountains and peaks and reached the heavens, lasting for a long time. It turned out that Master Yuantai had called three times, but no one among the heroes had entered to request the assembly to uphold justice, so he declared the assembly to be successfully concluded."

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