It was said that Li Jian and his two companions, having accepted the invitation of the Huai'an Gang, arrived at the gang headquarters where a grand banquet had been prepared in their honor. The Huai'an Gang treated them with the utmost hospitality.
As fate would have it, the Huai'an Gang Leader was also preparing to journey north to Xuzhou in order to attend the grand gathering of the various canal transport guilds. Thus, both parties agreed to travel together to the assembly.
On this particular day, sunlight bathed the earth brilliantly as the Huai'an Gang Leader and his entourage departed alongside Li Jian and his companions toward Xuzhou. Aside from the escorting gang members, the principal figures accompanying the journey included Gang Leader Gao Tai, his wife Li Jing, Second Leader He Fang, and their daughter Gao Manqing.
The entire party boarded the Huai'an Gang's canal transport vessels. After traveling more than two hundred li, they finally arrived at Xuzhou by dusk and lodged at an inn for the night.
Since the date of the Heroes' Gathering had not yet arrived, Gao Manqing invited Li Jian and the others into the city the following day for sightseeing.
The four companions wandered together through the bustling streets, sampling all manner of pastries, preserved fruits, candied hawthorn skewers, and chilled sour plum soup. Afterwards, they arrived at the famed Terrace of Horse Viewing.
Back in 206 BCE, after the mighty hero Xiang Yu destroyed the Qin Dynasty, he proclaimed himself Hegemon-King of Western Chu and established his capital at Pengcheng. On the southern hill outside the city, he constructed a lofty terrace from which to observe horse performances, hence the name "Terrace of Horse Viewing."
Built along the contours of the hillside, the terrace ascended layer upon layer in elegant arrangement, naturally attracting countless visitors from distant lands.
The four of them toured the scenic grounds in great delight. Yet just then, loud shouting suddenly erupted outside the terrace grounds.
Curious, they walked toward the gathering crowd and heard a young man shouting angrily:
"Xu Tian! You've got quite the nerve! How dare you lay hands on my woman!"
At once, a graceful young maiden stepped forward and rebuked him sharply:
"Duan Zixiong, who is your woman? Did my father ever promise me to you? I have never met anyone so shameless as you!"
As an unmarried young lady, Nie Fang naturally could not tolerate such reckless words. Should rumors spread throughout the martial world claiming she belonged to some man, her reputation would be ruined beyond repair.
The young man named Xu Tian was the son of Xu Li, leader of the Xuzhou Gang. Hearing the maiden's words, he too stepped forward indignantly.
"Duan Zixiong, Miss Nie has already spoken clearly. Stop shouting nonsense! Miss Nie is still unmarried—I will not allow you to tarnish her reputation!"
Duan Zixiong had long been accustomed to bullying others through force and arrogance. Upon hearing Xu Tian's words, he sneered coldly:
"Xu Tian, don't hide behind your family's influence! If you've got the guts, let's settle this according to martial world rules—a duel! Unless you're too afraid!"
Duan Zixiong dared to provoke Xu Tian because his own father was Duan Zheng, leader of the Liangxi Gang. Although Xu Tian's father, Xu Li of the Xuzhou Gang, was also a renowned figure of great influence, the two gangs were considered evenly matched in strength and status.
The delicate young maiden was Nie Fang, daughter of Nie Yun, leader of the Jiangdong Gang. Her cheeks flushed crimson with anger as she said:
"Brother Xu, ignore him. Let us simply leave!"
She merely wished to rid herself of Duan Zixiong's harassment. Yet after being publicly mocked, how could Xu Tian swallow such humiliation?
Furious, he declared:
"Duan Zixiong, so be it! We'll settle this with martial arts!"
Before his words had fully faded, he leapt forward into the open space and cupped his fists.
"Brother Duan, please!"
Duan Zixiong glared at Nie Fang and said bitterly:
"Nie Fang, after only a few days you already call him 'Brother Xu.' We've known each other for years, yet you've never once called me 'Brother Duan!'"
Nie Fang shot him a cold glare.
"Duan Zixiong, perhaps you should look at yourself first. In manners, refinement, and conduct—can you compare to him? You boast of being a hero, yet all you know is how to threaten others. What kind of hero behaves that way?"
Duan Zixiong had once believed himself fairly impressive. Yet now, compared beside Xu Tian, he suddenly felt utterly inferior.
Hearing Nie Fang's cold criticism, his face flushed red with embarrassment and fury.
"Nie Fang, whether I am a true hero or not is not for you to decide so quickly. Once our martial skills are tested, we shall see who the real hero is!"
Children of the martial world admired heroes above all else. Moreover, when rivals fought over the affection of a beautiful maiden, settling matters through combat was considered the proper conduct of wandering swordsmen.
Today, the two had met a worthy rival upon a narrow road where only the courageous would prevail.
Xu Tian strode forward and suddenly halted, planting himself firmly in a horse stance. His bearing appeared awe-inspiring as he lightly cupped his fists.
"Enough talk. Let us end this quickly."
Duan Zixiong likewise returned the salute.
"Xu Tian, make your move!"
The moment those words were spoken, both men simultaneously advanced ten paces before stopping to face one another from north and south positions.
Xu Tian immediately gathered power into his right palm. With a loud whoosh, he struck directly toward Duan Zixiong.
Duan Zixiong swiftly dodged aside as fierce palm wind swept past him. Behind him, a large tree shook violently from the force of the strike, its branches and leaves rustling loudly.
Xu Li, leader of the Xuzhou Gang, had earned fame throughout the martial world through his legendary "Wind and Thunder Palm." Xu Tian had inherited the full essence of his father's art.
The moment that palm strike was unleashed, its force was sharp and overwhelming.
Duan Zixiong inwardly shuddered. After all, Xu Li's reputation shook the jianghu, and many said:
"The tiger father has no dog son."
Thus, he dared not underestimate Xu Tian.
Duan Zixiong spun left and right, his body swaying twice as his left hand diverted the incoming palm. Dodging aside in a flash, his right palm suddenly chopped outward with the technique:
"Opening the Gate to See the Mountain!"
The strike shot directly toward Xu Tian's centerline.
Xu Tian quickly retreated and shifted position, not daring to be careless in the slightest. Spinning rapidly, he saw Duan Zixiong's palms strike like lightning, fierce winds whistling through the air as attacks rained toward him.
Xu Tian immediately countered with the technique:
"Mountain Form Hidden in Shadow."
Their attacks collided head-on.
With a push of his right palm, Xu Tian deflected the incoming strike. His left hand thrust forward while his right wrist flipped, instantly following with another technique:
"Wind Chant, Thunder Roar!"
At that moment, true qi surged from his dantian as internal energy flowed into force. Fierce wind suddenly erupted from the strike.
Duan Zixiong met the attack head-on with both palms extended.
The instant their right palms collided, Duan Zixiong felt a force as heavy as a mountain crashing into him.
His heart sank.
Knowing the situation was dire, he hurriedly inhaled a deep breath of true qi, concentrated his spirit, and circulated energy throughout his body.
Only after retreating three full steps did he finally manage to steady himself.