Though "Madman of the West" Situ Kong retained only two-tenths of his strength, in a one-on-one fight he was still able to protect himself. Within the field he swayed left and right, his footwork astonishingly swift. Suddenly, without moving his heels, his body spun sharply aside, evading yet another strike. For a moment, even the Western Sacred Mother Chen Jinfeng found herself at a loss.
She unleashed four heavy blows capable of shattering stone and splitting monuments, yet to him they seemed no more than a breeze brushing the body. From this alone one could see how profound Situ Kong's original cultivation must have been. If Chen Jinfeng wished to force him into submission, she would have to expend considerable effort.
Situ Kong leapt and dodged like drifting leaves and flying catkins. Chen Jinfeng's heart jolted; the sharpness in her expression now carried an added note of stubborn defiance. Grinding her teeth, she said,"Palace Mistress Nangong, let us take down this wild monkey together!"
The Immortal Empress Palace Mistress Nangong Yan replied,"We'll encircle him from front and rear, left and right—leave him nowhere to advance or retreat!"
The words had barely fallen when she shot forward like an arrow loosed from the bow. Even at this life-and-death instant, Situ Kong still wore a roguish grin and said,"My apologies, Palace Mistress Nangong—this old man must speak plainly! Your honored appearance is truly… difficult to behold."
Hearing this, Nangong Yan's fury was beyond imagining. She threw back her head and laughed savagely, then abruptly pressed her palms together, mustering her full inner strength. Her shoulders shook as she surged forward, palm thrusting out with a seal—"Summoning Souls, Slaying Demons!"She advanced three steps in a flash, striking straight toward Situ Kong's chest.
With only two-tenths of his power remaining, Situ Kong saw the viciousness of her strike and immediately cried out,"Fail to seduce me, and now you murder to silence me!"
He barely dodged several of Nangong Yan's moves when, from the other side, Chen Jinfeng drew up her dantian energy and attacked from the flank. Situ Kong drifted sideways three feet, narrowly avoiding the palm without counterattacking, and shouted again,"Murdering your own husband! You two vicious women—what grudge have I against you that you refuse to let me live?!"
The two women were nearly choking with rage. Situ Kong was mad and erratic, yet his skill was truly formidable. Still, under the combined assault of two first-rate masters—Chen Jinfeng and Nangong Yan—their attacks grew increasingly fierce. After ten exchanges, Situ Kong ceased his mocking jibes. The three fought faster and faster, until in moments shadows flashed everywhere and it became difficult to distinguish friend from foe.
At this point, signs of defeat began to show for Situ Kong. Two hands could not withstand four. In such close combat, every strike carried true inner force; life and death hung by a single thread. The danger was extreme.
Startled and unable to evade in time, Situ Kong gritted his teeth and circulated his remaining energy. Swinging both arms together, he unleashed the move"Crushing the Heroes with Strength,"forcefully meeting the single palms of both Chen Jinfeng and Nangong Yan head-on.
Such a contest of inner power favored whoever possessed deeper reserves. Situ Kong had only two-tenths of his strength left—was this not courting death?
Both Chen Jinfeng and Nangong Yan were taken aback. Fear crept into their hearts, and they hesitated to meet his palms, instead being caught off guard and thrown into momentary chaos. Regaining their composure, the two exchanged a glance, then channeled their inner power fully, no longer retreating. Their figures shot forward, swift as lightning, attacking again.
The three met head-on once more. Situ Kong suddenly flipped backward in midair, retreating five meters. His upper body swayed, his steps staggered, and only after a moment did he manage to steady himself.
Chen Jinfeng and Nangong Yan revealed triumphant smiles. Nangong Yan said,"Hand over the manual!"
Though forced back step by step by two top-tier masters, Situ Kong still wore his madman's grin and said,"My Nine Heavens Manual is not for women to practice. It is the ultimate hard-yang art—unsuited for female bodies!"
Chen Jinfeng glared furiously and snapped,"Enough nonsense! Today the Western Sacred Mother shall act on Heaven's behalf and beat the manual out of you!"
Situ Kong cried loudly,"Plotting to murder your own husband and calling it 'acting on Heaven's behalf'—is there no justice left under Heaven?!"
Chen Jinfeng's fury only deepened."If I don't smash that filthy mouth of yours today, I will never quell the hatred in my heart!"
Before her words had finished, her body flashed forward, palm winds roaring as she attacked head-on. The two immediately exchanged blows.
Situ Kong shouted,"Sneak attacks and ambushes—what kind of skill is that?"
Even as he spoke, Chen Jinfeng closed in like lightning. Her palms crossed and split, striking out. Her movements were astonishingly fast; the moment she attacked, she unleashed three moves in succession, all aimed at unpredictable vital points.
Situ Kong shifted left. His left hand shot out, gripping Chen Jinfeng's right wrist with eerie precision. She reversed her hand instantly, surged with inner force, and broke free, following with a palm straight to Situ Kong's chest.
At the same time, Nangong Yan struck with a sudden palm. Four palms and four fists clashed. Situ Kong, with only two-tenths of his power remaining and already fighting for a long time, was nearing exhaustion. His response slowed.
A chill spread across his chest—bang, bang! Two strikes landed, one on his left shoulder and one on his back.
Situ Kong hurriedly leapt backward. Chen Jinfeng and Nangong Yan flew after him, palms raised, pursuing relentlessly—
"Stop!"
The shout had not yet faded when a figure darted forth. A shadow swift as lightning landed before the three. Bang! Bang! Two palms struck out, forcing Chen Jinfeng and Nangong Yan to stagger backward.
The newcomer was Wu Tong.
Wu Tong said calmly,"Ladies—have you been well?"
The young woman beside him was Ling Xian'er. With righteous indignation, she declared,"Chen Jinfeng! You feigned death that day and escaped punishment, yet you still refuse to repent. Instead, you dare resume your old crimes and lead the Western Sacred Cult in further evil!"
Seeing Wu Tong, Chen Jinfeng was secretly alarmed. Her heart sank as chaotic thoughts surged—she was already calculating how to escape. Nangong Yan, an old adversary of Wu Tong, was likewise uneasy. The two exchanged a glance, unwilling yet reluctant—again they had run into those who thwarted them at every turn.
Chen Jinfeng said coldly,"Wu Tong, we meet only when fate makes us enemies. Today's matter has nothing to do with you—do not play the hero!"
Nangong Yan added,"Do not think yourself invincible. If the two of us join forces, we may not lose to you!"
Wu Tong turned and cupped his fists respectfully toward Situ Kong."Senior, this junior is Wu Tong, Hall Master of the Loyal Righteous Hall. What grievance do these two have with you? Why have they injured you?"
To everyone's surprise, Situ Kong replied,"These two bandit hags want me to be their husband. I found one too ugly, and the other—the Western Sacred Mother—kept begging for affection. Feeling sorry for her, I said: I'll be the Sacred Father, you be my chief concubine, the other women my lesser concubines. I'll be the Sacred Father, you the Sacred Mother—morning and night you fetch my foot-washing water. Who would have thought that when their seduction failed, the two women would try to kill me to silence me!"