Qian-Kun Left Emissary Li Han, relying on his superb martial skill and keen senses, clung closely to Liu Yun's movements. Liu Yun met him palm for palm, and suddenly darted forward to seize him. Li Han shook both arms, sending a straight, forceful palm toward her chest. Liu Yun raised an arm to intercept; the palm wind brushed past her cheek. In the same instant she unleashed a move from the Seven Absolutes Palm—"Vague and Illusory"—her figure flashing aside as her palm swept across like a sudden gale. Li Han had nowhere to retreat and was forced to meet her with a single palm.
Bang!He staggered back several steps, while Liu Yun remained exactly where she stood.
Liu Yun said coldly,"Stand down. You are no match for me."
Qian-Kun Left Emissary Li Han had roamed the martial world his entire life without ever bowing to another. Pride flaring, he barked,"Qian-Kun Right Emissary Ling Yun, let us join hands and teach this woman a lesson! Let her see our true skill!"
Though their mission was already complete and there was no need to linger, he spoke only to salvage his pride as the Left Emissary of the Nine Heavens Palace.
From the side, Ling Xian'er clapped her hands and laughed, utterly unimpressed."So the mighty Left and Right Emissaries of the Nine Heavens Palace must gang up two-against-one? Will that not bring endless ridicule from the martial world?"
Qian-Kun Right Emissary Ling Yun flushed crimson. With a forced smile he asked,"Young lady, may I ask your honored name? Why not cross a few moves with me?"
Ling Xian'er flashed into the arena."My surname is Ling, name Xian'er. Today your Nine Heavens Palace robbed a treasure belonging to an Immortal of this mountain. Now, having lost the match, you think to rely on numbers? That is hardly true skill."
Ling Yun snapped,"Enough chatter! You and I shall fight—now!"
Ling Xian'er giggled."As you wish. Just make sure you surrender wholeheartedly when you lose."
Ling Yun retorted,"Boasting won't save you. Once we fight, you'll know the truth!"
Before the words finished echoing, Ling Yun struck first. He launched a storm-like assault, ten fingers hooked like talons as he pounced. In the blink of an eye the two had exchanged several blows. Ling Yun, enraged, drove forward with whirling palms—like axes splitting mountains, like iron hammers smashing stone.
Ling Xian'er quickly sank her arms, arched back and raised elbows, defending and countering in one breath. With another move of the Seven Absolutes Palm, she executed "Misdirecting Grace". Ling Yun recognized the motion—Was this not Elder Shen Er of the Black Tortoise Hall's palm technique?
Ling Xian'er suddenly drew a circle with her left hand and struck out with her right. Ling Yun failed to respond in time. Forced to draw his palm back to block—
Boom!He stumbled back four or five steps.
Ling Yun had wanted to intimidate her with overwhelming force, to teach her a lesson and make her back down. Instead, knowing nothing of her true depth, he had been reckless—and paid the price.
"You—how do you know this move? Isn't that Elder Shen Er's palm technique?" he blurted.
Ling Xian'er laughed lightly."Hehe… Elder Shen Er's version is but a crude imitation. This is the true Seven Absolutes Palm."
Ling Yun's face burned with shame."Don't get smug. You caught me off guard, that's all! I was merely testing you!"
Though Ling Xian'er excelled in agility and ingenuity, in raw internal strength she was slightly inferior to Ling Yun. She merely smiled and snorted,"Since you insist on trying again, I shall oblige."
Ling Yun attacked once more, hurtling forward with fierce momentum. His palms rained down, ruthless and fierce. Ling Xian'er dodged thrice, her figure swaying as her arms parted. Her body moved with her palms—whoosh, whoosh!—two strikes shot out, and she immediately reversed her motion to block his counterattack.
Ling Yun lifted his left palm to intercept and fired several more strikes in an instant. But Ling Xian'er's changes were too swift—again she traced a circle with her left and lashed out with her right, this time with the inverse form,
"Welcoming Yet Rejecting."
This move was the mirrored opposite of "Rejecting Yet Welcoming."Ling Yun, unable to adjust in time, was struck yet again—
Boom!He staggered back four or five steps, utterly humiliated.
Ling Xian'er advanced a few steps, brows arched sharply."Ling Yun, do you still wish to continue?"
Ling Yun's expression twisted. His arrogance had brought him low, and this young maiden had rendered him helpless. Before he could answer, Liu Yun declared loudly:
"The treasure the snow-ape gathered from the cliffs was stolen by your Nine Heavens Palace. Since we cannot retrieve it, you two must kneel before the snow-ape and kowtow in apology!"
Ling Yun and Li Han exchanged looks of disbelief.
Ling Xian'er barked,"Kneel!"
Ling Yun roared,"A man may be slain, but never humiliated!"
Li Han shouted,"You go too far!"Suddenly both emissaries spun around and fled.
But Liu Yun and Ling Xian'er had already moved—faster than lightning. They appeared before them, blocking the path."Trying to run?"
The two emissaries stumbled backward. Ling Xian'er sneered,"Only a kowtow—nothing more."
They clashed again. But already wounded and spent, Ling Yun and Li Han could barely stand, let alone fight. Within a few exchanges—bang, bang!—each received a palm and a kick, sent tumbling before the snow-ape, coughing up dark blood. They were a disgrace compared to their former prestige.
Liu Yun commanded,"Kneel and apologize to the snow-ape!"
Ling Xian'er added sharply,"If you don't, don't blame us for what comes next!"
Though unwilling in the extreme, the two emissaries were forced to endure humiliation for the moment and seek revenge another day.Bowing low, they kowtowed:
"Brother Snow-Ape, please forgive us for stealing your treasure!"
Liu Yun barked,"Not like that—three loud kowtows!"
Helpless, they knocked their heads against the ground twice more.
The snow-ape, delighted, hopped about waving its arms.Liu Yun smiled,"Snow-ape, let this matter rest. Only you can find this treasure anyway—you won't have any trouble getting another."
The snow-ape, full of spirit, tapped his own head and chest, indicating he understood.