The third day arrived at last.
That morning Jinshui put on the long robe that Xu Qiao had prepared for him, letting Xu Qiao tidy up his clothes and even comb his hair. He kissed Xu Qiao's forehead before turning around and heading out of the room.
"Jinshui Gege, during these two days I watched you train with Shuqin Guniang, have you managed to train to the highest level?" Xu Qiao asked.
Jinshui shook his head. "It still takes a long time," he said.
"You don't need to bring me to see you train with her next time," Xu Qiao said, "I trust you."
"I know," Jinshui said, then grabbed his walking cane and carried it with him. He didn't to need the cane to walk any longer, but sometimes he still felt the pain in his leg. The walking cane temporarily still functioned as a replacement for his xuanlong sword weapon.
"Today I will come with you," Xu Qiao said, "Lian-er and the others have also informed me, they all want to see this fight."
"Laofuren will also be there and watch the fight," Jinshui said, "I will ask Shuqin and her legion to protect you. Xie Tianhu is the murderer of your family. He is cruel and dangerous. Whatever happens, don't go near him."
The Yumen descendants arrived at the ruins of Yumen base as a light snowfall began to cast a light blanket over the earth. Jinshui walked to the center of the arena while holding Xu Qiao's hand. Behind them followed Zhu Baique and Liuxin, followed by Huang Yu with Liao Xian, and Li Qian with Qin Liangjie and Lin Jixuan last. Everyone seemed to have prepared themselves for a life-death fight.
Huang Lian and Yanzi followed some distance with Shangguan Ruyin, Yin Xiuchen, and Lin Xiaoyan, all of them escorted by Shuqin and the Yuzhi Shi Wu girls. Gu Chenhui also came from the other direction, followed by the two girls Hanleng Shuang Yin, and escorted by Ma Yongtao and his three brothers from Liangshan Liu Mo.
The presence of quite a number of Yumen people created a tense silence. The two envoys of Dayue Mansion greeted Gu Chenhui from a distance, their followers were also on guard to ensure that no one would start an unnecessary fight.
Jinshui let his seven friends walk in front of him while he handed Xu Qiao over to Shuqin, and then advanced to the ruins of the Yumen base's main building. Xie Tianhu was under the roof of the abandoned building beside the main building, apparently still meditating. His disciple Huang Zhe stood beside him, not moving when he saw the arrival of Jinshui and the others.
Several other groups had already arrived at that place, including a group of people wearing state army uniforms, led by two loyal bodyguards of Xianjing Wang, namely Wang Chun and Sima Yisheng. The two of them greeted Jinshui and his friends, indicating that they were also there as intermediaries, and would wait for the results of the fight later.
Jinshui replied to the greeting of the two before sitting down on a boulder to wait. Huang Yu fiddled with the chess pieces in his hand. Lin Jixuan approached one of the Yuzhi Shi Wu members and borrowed the sword he had used yesterday. Zhu Baique and Liuxin had also lost their weapons in the previous fight, so they borrowed the bamboo sword and the flexible sword.
"Huang Ergongzi, I have been curious about your secret weapon skills for a long time," Ye Menghao suddenly approached Huang Yu and greeted him with two hands, "Can you show us a little so we can open our eyes widely here?"
"Ye Shizhe also intends to make us descendants waste a bit of energy before the actual fight?" Huang Yu asked smilingly.
"There was no such intention," Ye Menghao replied calmly. "We are only here as judges, of course, we will not make the fight unfair. Just out of curiosity, it is said that Huang Ergongzi uses chess pieces as a secret weapon, never missed once."
"Three days ago, you used it quite a bit, but we haven't had a chance to see clearly," his brother Ye Menghan added.
"Alright, since we seem to still have to wait, showing off a little won't hurt anyone," Huang Yu said, "only, I just brought a few chess pieces for today's fight, I'm afraid it won't be enough. What if today I Huang Yu just play with some arrows."
He didn't wait for a response from Ye Menghao, then borrowed a bow and arrow from Liangshan Liu Mo's fifth member, Li Baixun. People were whispering, apparently recognizing Li Baixun and his friends as a group of criminals. Ma Yongtao was about to come forward to introduce his name, but Gu Chenhui held him back. Not many really recognized Liangshan Liu Mo members, and now was not the time to reveal their names.
Huang Yu drew the bow and pointed the arrow at his brother Huang Zhe for a moment, the smile on his face unchanged. Ye Menghao saw him aiming at a living human, he was about to block, but Huang Yu had already diverted the arrow towards a fir tree which was quite far at the edge of the arena. The tree's leaves had fallen during the last season, but between its branches there was still a single pine cone hanging. The arrow aimed at it, and was released a moment later.
The eyes of all present were fixed on the arrow, thinking that the arrow would knock down the remaining pine cone. However, Huang Yu apparently had other intentions of showing off his ability in using secret weapons.
When the arrow had just shot, Huang Yu had already set foot, made one somersault in the air and flicked a chess piece from his hand in a very charming style. The chess piece hit the arrow right in the middle and broke it, then flew towards the tree. The pine cone was already brittle, a slight jolt should have knocked it over, but the chess piece that hit it split it right down the middle without sending it out of place.
It really was a display of accuracy, agility, and at the same time extraordinary strength. Several people exclaimed in praise, no one expected that Huang Yu would use such two kinds of weapons. Huang Zhe had already come out from the ruins of the building and looked with clenched jaws. It would be better if Huang Yu shot arrows at him just now, he could use them to provoke other people to insult his younger brother.
Huang Yu returned the bow and arrows to Li Baixun before stepping back to Jinshui's side. Ye Menghao bowed to him in a show of admiration, then also went back to his brother's side.
"Xie Tianhu, today is the third day, as promised you should have succeeded in perfecting the yin shou yang zhang, ready to pit souls against the Yumen descendants," Ma Yongtao stepped forward and shouted at Huang Zhe before that older brother of Huang Yu said anything. "We've all come to watch the fight too, how come we still have to watch you slacking around?"
"My master just needs a little more time to perfect his inner energy," said Huang Zhe. "Why? The Yumen descendants were apparently impatient youths who wanted to distract their opponents before a real fight?"
"We will wait here," Jinshui said. "Should any of you wish to go give any lectures, Hua-mo will happily listen."
"Hua Jinshui, you are the illegitimate son of the demon Wu Youwei, since three years ago people called you Yumen Mowang, and you killed many innocent lives," Huang Zhe boldly stepped forward and directly said to Jinshui in a loud voice. "A few months ago after the meeting at Yiling District you also abducted Lin Tongtian's daughter and already harmed her. Not long after, it was also reported that you had tarnished the fifth daughter of Xu Louzhu of Huofeng Lou who is also my future wife, Xu Qiao, Xu Guniang."
"Wasn't it you who dressed as Yumen Mowang and killed the people in Wuzhang City?" It was Han Budian who replied to his words.
"My sister is fine," Lin Jixuan quickly continued, not feeling the need to point out that Lin Xiaoyan was also there by the edge of the arena when that little sister of him was still like a living doll. "No one would have enough ability to abduct her while my father is around."
"Hua Jinshui," Huang Zhe only spoke to provoke the emotions of Jinshui and his friends. "Brothers here want to hear you explain everything yourself."
He knew Jinshui wouldn't like explaining things. When Jinshui came with Xu Qiao earlier, he also saw that Xu Qiao was a little pale. He knew Xu Qiao wasn't well from a while ago when he could easily take the xuanlong sword from her. This situation, of course, must be taken advantage of.
Xu Qiao was about to step forward and say something, but she was aware of her condition and didn't want to hear Huang Zhe say some more unpleasant words. Shuqin clasped her hand and motioned for her to stay put.
Huang Lian felt Lin Xiaoyan who was beside her react when she heard Huang Zhe's voice. The doll girl's lips moved as if she was going to say something. Yanzi beckoned to Shangguan Ruyin. Shangguan Ruyin found Lin Xiaoyan's hands covered in cold sweat.
"Xu Guniang is my future wife, Huang Gongzi doesn't need to consider himself worthy of being with her," Jinshui replied in a low voice. "I will marry her later when the new leader of the Yumen is appointed."
"Is it true?" Huang Zhe said mockingly. "Then I will attend and join in drinking your wedding wine."
"Dage, you yourself are an unscrupulous human who has already recognized our parent's killer as a master," Huang Yu joined in, "for the sake of our third sister, I'm giving you one chance to repent and admit mistakes here."
"Yu," Jinshui reprimanded Huang Yu, reminding him that Huang Zhe only wanted to provoke anger so that the Yumen descendants would lose their temper and make the situation worse for their side.
"Master is an old friend of our father," Huang Zhe said sharply. "It was Hua Jinshui who killed our parents."
"Huang Dagongzi, how about we exchange moves for a warm-up?" Lin Jixuan suddenly asked, "The son of the Huang Family is said to have mastered a secret needle weapon called baihua chen, and never missed once."
He imitated Ye Menghao's words to Huang Yu a while ago as he walked over to Han Budian, visibly tapping him on the shoulder once.
Just as he finished shutting his mouth, a number of secret needles had already spread out from Huang Zhe's hand, aiming straight for a dangerous point on his body. In Lin Jixuan's right hand was already the splendid sword he had borrowed from the Yuzhi Shi Wu member, but at that moment suddenly in his left hand, a silvery fan had spread out, immediately blocking the attack of the secret needles with a calm movement.
"Not bad," Lin Jixuan said with a laugh, as he fiddled with the silver fan in his hand. The fan was the original white steel fan that was delivered to Huofeng Lou three years ago. The fan that Jinshui had handed over to Han Budian three days ago, seemed to have been secretly borrowed from Han Budian just now. "If Huang Dagongzi studied well before and didn't slack off on practicing, there's no need to show that you feel envious of your younger brother and disgrace yourself by begging your parent's murderer to be recognized as a disciple."
"You!"
Huang Zhe's face turned bright red. Lin Jixuan spoke calmly and even while smiling, each sentence was said firmly yet emotionlessly, his tone sounded irritating but every word was spot on.
Some people seemed to shake their heads, thinking that the first son of the Huang Family was indeed a rotten and very unscrupulous human.
The debate stopped before it got heated. Xie Tianhu had already risen from his seat, striding towards Jinshui with his feet as if they didn't touch the ground. His face was stern, his eyes stared intently at his disciple before turning to Jinshui.
"Hua Jinshui, yin shou yang zhang has been fully mastered," the old man said, "you will go together or one by one, laofu will serve."
Lin Jixuan returned the fan to Han Budian, then walked with his friends to the center of the arena. Jinshui raised the cane in his hand and was ready to exert his energy.
"Where is your sword?" Xie Tianhu asked. He had clashed with Jinshui several times before and each time what he was most wary of was the xuanlong sword.
"Your disciple took it," Jinshui replied honestly.
"Zhe-er, give him back his sword," Xie Tianhu said to his disciple.
"I don't have it," Huang Zhe replied a little arrogantly.
"It's fine," said Jinshui, "this cane my friend gave me is enough."
"Without that demonic sword of yours, you won't stand a chance," Xie Tianhu said these last words while mustering his inner energy, and only a second later the saber in his hand was already slashed at Jinshui.
The people present in the vicinity recoiled when they sensed a considerable surge of energy that Xie Tianhu was mustering out. Jinshui dodged, and the saber attack was parried by Li Qian. Sparks were seen as the two weapons clashed, and Li Qian was pushed three steps away. Xie Tianhu's inner strength was truly powerful, and it was even stronger than three days ago.
Some chess pieces were shot toward Xie Tianhu while the weapons were still clashing, but the flick of Xie Tianhu sleeve knocked those chess pieces off easily. Jinshui slammed the walking cane in his hand apart before Xie Tianhu's surge of energy broke the bones of his friend's arm.
Xie Tianhu no longer looked for who was the weakest among the descendants. He exerted his inner energy into his weapon, slashing at anyone who was nearby. Jinshui and Huang Yu both put all their strength to overcome him, while the other set up a formation.
What those present witnessed was a fight that unfolded swiftly and fiercely. Liao Xian fiddled with the iron pen in his hand, forming a sort of inscription in the air, and his friends charged at Xie Tianhu in pairs, each using internal energy as a self-protection dome while the weapons in each hand aimed at Xie Tianhu's body parts with the aim of scorching his skin.
It was indeed a little cruel method to use in a fair fight, but it was said that weapons had no eyes. Xie Tianhu's inner energy was enormous, although each descendant possessed the inner energy bestowed by their respective masters, Liao Xian had clearly warned against single-handed clashing. Their chance of winning was to injure Xie Tianhu, as much as possible, and inflict pain on him.
But Xie Tianhu's defense was also very difficult to penetrate, hitting the hem of his clothes was not easy. After about fifty moves, only one chess piece belonging to Huang Yu had flashed beside his eyes.
Xie Tianhu's every move was also extremely ruthless and did not hesitate to hurt anyone even a girl like Liuxin. When Zhu Baique used the bamboo sword in her hand to take the one hit aimed at Liuxin, she was slightly out of formation and Xie Tianhu managed to push her out of the arena.
Ma Yongtao saw that his girl was thrown, and he quickly caught up and held Zhu Baique from falling to the ground. Zhu Baique glanced at him briefly and didn't say anything, then returned to join her friends in the field.
The pen in Liao Xian's hand continued to play command. Xie Tianhu also realized that the Yumen descendants were playing a formation and Liao Xian was the leader. He silently aimed, and on one occasion, while dodging Qin Liangjie's spear, he aimed a long-ranged punch at Liao Xian.
However, Jinshui and Huang Yu had already anticipated this move, both of them jointly placed their hands on Liao Xian's right and left shoulders, giving him extra energy to meet that long-range punch. The iron pen rotated once, a loud crash sounded, and the two fighting sides alike staggered back a few steps.
Xie Tianhu just exerted a lot of energy, but he didn't even need to take a breath, quickly his blade was snatched again, aiming at the iron pen that was still floating in the air and had not yet returned to its owner.
Li Qian jumped once and grabbed the iron pen, using the slightest opportunity to lure Xie Tianhu to the side of the arena. Xie Tianhu only lost his guard for an instant, and that opportunity was already used by Qin Liangjie to grab his shoulder, the spear in his hand managed to graze his arm and blood immediately dripped from the wound.
Xie Tianhu reflexively slashed the blade in his hand to shake off the spear. The strength of his inner strength was still in his weapon and managed to make Qin Liangjie thrown out of the arena, not falling down because he nimbly used the spear in his hand to hold his body weight. He spit blood but then quickly returned to the arena.
The iron pen was quickly returned to Liao Xian. The descendants had grown excited again watching Qin Liangjie manage to injure his opponent even if it was only a small wound.
It didn't feel like the fight had been going on for hundreds of moves. Xie Tianhu was still trying to target Liao Xian, but he was more careful and didn't want to lose his guard like the first time. The eight youth opponents besides each mastered good abilities, they also protected their own friends and had a strong spirit of friendship.
Those who watched no one spoke to each other anymore, all of them were enchanted watching how eight young men and women could attack alternately like an endless wave, slowly making Xie Tianhu's speed and strength seem pointless.
Being attacked alternately like this made Xie Tianhu waver little by little. On one occasion he even slashed the blade in his hand carelessly, managing to break part of the walking cane in Jinshui's hand. But next, Lin Jixuan's strike managed to hit his waist, leaving a scratch there.
The descendants had begun to be able to read his every move. Xie Tianhu possessed extraordinary speed and strength, but good cooperation, tightly encircling, attacking in pairs from the right and left or front and rear, really made it difficult for him.
Once when Xie Tianhu had just dodged the rain of chess piece weapons from Huang Yu, Jinshui's palm was already in front of his chest. At that time, if he rushed to slash his weapon, then he would succeed in cutting off Jinshui's hand, but Xie Tianhu instead used his left hand to receive Jinshui's palm.
This opportunity was used by Jinshui to suck up Xie Tianhu's inner energy, shocking those who were present. Xie Tianhu's face immediately turned red, his screams shrill. Recklessly, he strengthened his internal flow again, using the handle of the blade in his other hand to strike Jinshui in the chest and force him to retreat.
The huge energy surge also hit Huang Yu and the others, giving each of them non-light internal injuries.