Hearing this, the Four Sages of Xuanwu were secretly delighted. To them, settling the matter according to the rules of the martial world could not have been more fitting.
Azure Dragon Sage King Lin Da declared, "Exactly. Let us decide who shall possess the Crouching Dragon Blade through martial contest!"
Black Tortoise Sage King Mo Chao sneered, "A fierce tiger does not bare its fangs for nothing. Do you take the four of us for sickly cats? The Four Sages of Xuanwu are not so easily provoked. If you can defeat the four of us, then we may speak of the Crouching Dragon Blade!"
Li Jian's star-bright eyes shifted briefly toward Tan Wei. Then his brows rose, his gaze sharpened, and he cupped his hands respectfully toward the Four Sages.
"Since that is so," he said with perfect courtesy, "this junior is young and inexperienced. Today, having such a rare opportunity, I ask only that the four seniors grant me a few pointers."
As his words fell, he stepped calmly into the center of the field.
The Four Sages of Xuanwu were all seasoned and shrewd men. Seeing Li Jian speak so humbly, they each thought the same:
A courteous guest may be harmless—but one who comes smiling is often the most dangerous. A formidable enemy stands before us. The reputation of the Four Sages of Xuanwu must not be ruined today.
Yet moments ago, Azure Dragon King Lin Da had launched a surprise attack, only to be blasted back by a single palm strike from this youth. He had lost face badly. One-on-one, none of them dared claim much chance of victory.
Vermilion Bird King Song Jie said, "Since you claim to be the new Hall Master of the Hall of Loyalty, surely you do not object if the four of us face you as one?"
Azure Dragon King Lin Da added, "Your divine skill is peerless. You have defeated many masters of the Justice Alliance—even the Undying Heavenly Demon bowed before you. I admire you greatly. Thus, even if the four of us fight one against one, it can hardly be said we have broken the rules of jianghu."
Hearing this, Black Tortoise King Mo Chao grew even more smug and laughed loudly.
"We proceed according to the rules of the martial world! Today, victory shall decide ownership of the Crouching Dragon Blade!"
That the Four Sages of Xuanwu could utter such shameless words with such lofty dignity was no small feat.
Tan Wei, hearing this, merely shook her head with a faint smile and thought to herself:
Such grand reputations they have. Yet one-on-one they know they have no chance. Too proud to admit it, too afraid of being mocked by the martial world—they can only dress their disgrace in fine words.
But Li Jian remained perfectly composed. With another respectful bow, he said, "This junior shall abide by the seniors' wishes. Matters of jianghu should naturally be settled by jianghu methods. Let martial skill decide victory."
The moment those words were spoken, it was as though a stone had been cast into still water. The gathered crowd stirred at once.
The two sides had exchanged courtesy; now came steel.
With a sudden push of their feet, the Four Sages of Xuanwu leapt into the air, landing in the four cardinal directions—east, south, west, and north.
In an instant, Vermilion Bird King Song Jie sprang from the front, both arms thrusting forward as his palms struck like crashing waves.
Li Jian did not move. His expression remained calm as he met Song Jie's twin palms head-on.
With a thunderous impact, Song Jie was forced backward by Li Jian's palm force and hastily retreated through the air.
At that same moment, Black Tortoise King Mo Chao seized the opening from behind, launching the vicious move Serpent's Fang, Bee's Sting. His palms whistled as they struck straight for Li Jian's back.
Li Jian tapped the ground lightly and flipped away in a somersault, narrowly evading the attack. The moment his feet touched earth, Mo Chao struck again with two roaring palms.
Li Jian met him at once.
Then, with a sudden reverse of motion, Li Jian swept out both palms in counterattack. These strikes were fierce and overwhelming, their force sharp enough to split stone.
Mo Chao saw at once that he could not block them head-on and darted sharply to the right. Even so, he was forced back several steps.
But before Li Jian could press the advantage, Azure Dragon King Lin Da swept in with robes snapping in the wind, his palm already crashing down.
At the same time, White Tiger King Dong Sheng roared and drove in from the right with his killing move, Tiger Bursts the Gate, both palms striking together.
Li Jian shifted and dodged rapidly.
Now the Four Sages attacked from all sides at once, each unleashing deadly techniques, surrounding Li Jian in a storm of palms.
Dust and sand exploded into the air.
It was truly:
Azure Dragon to the left, White Tiger to the right, Vermilion Bird before, Black Tortoise behind.
Their assault was relentless.
Li Jian's heart tightened.
The martial skill of the Four Sages of Xuanwu is no trifling matter.
At once, he cast aside all trace of underestimation and focused himself fully. Before such powerful foes, how could he afford carelessness?
The five clashed fiercely in the center of the field, while the onlookers below were thrilled beyond measure. Cheers erupted without pause, and applause rang through the crowd.
Tan Wei, standing below, had never imagined the Four Sages' combined strength could be so formidable. Her heart tightened with worry for Li Jian.
Then—
Smack!
Li Jian's left palm struck White Tiger King Dong Sheng squarely on the left arm.
White Tiger cried out in pain.
Azure Dragon King lunged in to rescue him, only to be struck in turn by Li Jian's right palm across the upper arm. He too let out a sharp cry.
At that instant, Vermilion Bird King and Black Tortoise King shot through the air from either side, palms howling like wind as they attacked together.
Li Jian met them head-on.
His body swayed under the force of their combined strike.
Then suddenly, he drew in a breath, his true qi surging upward, and shot into the sky.
Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise immediately pursued.
The three fought in midair, exchanging palms in rapid succession, changing forms and angles with dazzling speed.
Li Jian shifted position three times in the air.
Then came one seamless sequence—deflect, sweep, strike.
His hands flashed like lightning.
Smack! Smack!
The three figures dropped back to the ground.
Vermilion Bird King and Black Tortoise King staggered backward, unable to regain their footing before collapsing onto the earth.
This exchange drained all color from the faces of the Four Sages of Xuanwu.
They could no longer withstand Li Jian's assault. Had he followed with another strike, none of them could have endured it.
Fortunately for them, Li Jian stopped.
He did not press his advantage.
The four men, spared disaster by a hair's breadth, felt their hearts pounding wildly in their chests.
Li Jian had won and seized complete control of the field—yet chose restraint.
He said calmly, "This one has won by luck alone in empty-hand skill. If I have offended any of the honored seniors, I ask your forgiveness."
The Four Sages of Xuanwu had been defeated, and their faces burned with humiliation.
Black Tortoise King Mo Chao, however, still could not swallow the insult. He snorted and said, "Your fist and palm techniques are indeed impressive. But what of your skill with blade and sword?"
As the saying goes: The victor is king; the defeated are outlaws.
And another: Men value appearance above the man himself.
Mo Chao had lost the match and lost face besides—something he could not bear.
Before Li Jian could answer, Tan Wei, who had been standing to the side, stepped forward sharply and said with open mockery,
"If you are not convinced, then why not let both sides take up weapons and fight another round?"
Situ Kong clapped his hands and laughed loudly.
"Well said, little girl! An excellent suggestion! If they are not convinced, let both sides take up weapons and fight again!"
The field was packed shoulder to shoulder with onlookers. All at once, they began pointing, shouting, and muttering among themselves.
Then a man at the edge of the crowd suddenly shouted,
"Take up weapons and fight another round!"
The others, seeing someone stir the cry, joined in at once, shouting in unison:
"Take up weapons and fight another round!"
"Take up weapons and fight another round!"