Chapter 33

As the bed curtains were opened, everyone's gaze shot to the bed. Inside the large red brocade quilt embroidered with a pair of mandarin ducks, someone was wrapped up. Long, flowing black hair danced on the pillow, and the quilt trembled incessantly, clearly indicating that the person inside was very afraid.

Yu Canghai, upon seeing the long hair on the pillow, was greatly disappointed. It was evident that the person under the quilt was not the bald little nun. It turned out that Linghu Chong was indeed harboring a prostitute.

Linghu Chong coldly remarked from the side, "Abbot Yu, although you are a monk, I've heard that the Qingcheng Sect's Taoists are not forbidden from marrying. You have quite a few wives, both old and young. Since you are so fond of women, if you want to see the naked women in the brothel, why don't you just boldly lift the quilt and take a few looks? Why do you need to make an excuse about looking for the Hengshan Sect's female disciples?"

Yu Canghai shouted, "You're talking nonsense!" In a fit of shock and anger, he swung his right palm with a whoosh, striking towards Linghu Chong.

Yue Fangxing, seeing Yu Canghai's movement, hurriedly raised his right palm to meet it. The Qingcheng Sect's Heart-Crushing Palm was renowned in the martial arts world, and his skills were indeed formidable. Even if Linghu Chong were not seriously injured, he might not be able to withstand it. Therefore, he naturally had to help Linghu Chong.

Yu Canghai's palm was originally aimed at Linghu Chong, but when he saw Yue Fangxing step forward, he did not change his move or dodge. Instead, he increased his power, determined to give Yue Fangxing a lesson to avenge his earlier loss in the hall. However, he did not use his full strength in the hasty increase of power.

As soon as the two palms touched, Yu Canghai felt an overwhelming force surge like a tidal wave. If he were to persist, he would likely be injured. With important matters at hand, he naturally did not want to be harmed, so he had to use the palm force to fly backward and dissipate the force.

Unexpectedly, the force still had a lingering effect after he landed. Yu Canghai, caught off guard, had to retreat three more steps, reaching the door.

The palm technique Yue Fangxing used was the "Three Waves of the Sea" he had developed while practicing by the seaside, inspired by the "Three Green Peaks of Mount Tai" technique passed down by Yue Buqun. One palm strike contained three layers of force, like waves continuously surging, each higher than the last. If the opponent retreated even slightly, they would be unable to resist. Yue Fangxing's original power was already superior to Yu Canghai's, and with the latter's intention to retreat, this surprising result was achieved.

The surrounding crowd let out a chorus of gasps. Although Yue Fangxing had toyed with Yu Canghai with his hidden weapon skills in the hall and won a half-move, no one believed that his true skills were superior to Yu Canghai's, thinking it was just a momentary lapse. Now, seeing Yue Fangxing and Yu Canghai exchange palms, with Yue Fangxing standing firm while Yu Canghai flew backward and retreated three more steps, the difference in skill was clear, much to everyone's surprise. This was a genuine test of power, and there was no room for deceit. Even if Yu Canghai did not use his full strength, the fact that Yue Fangxing could withstand his attack and force him into such a predicament was unheard of among the younger generation and rare even among the older masters.

In fact, Yue Fangxing had taken a shortcut. Although his power was superior to Yu Canghai's, the difference was not so great. He had been on guard against Yu Canghai, observing his movements, and when Yu Canghai attacked, he immediately unleashed his power with the Hengyuan Technique. Yu Canghai, although he attacked first, did so in a fit of shock and anger, not using his full strength, and thus suffered a significant defeat.

Yu Canghai was now truly shocked, embarrassed, and angry, his face changing rapidly. Although others did not know, he felt from the exchange that Yue Fangxing's power was not inferior to his own. Even if he used his full strength, he was not sure he could win. If he had lost a move in the Liu residence hall, he could blame it on a momentary lapse, but now it was a clear defeat.

At this moment, a voice came from outside the window, "Bullying the young, how shameless!" Yu Canghai, extremely angry, struck out with his right palm, following the force to the window.

The candlelight inside the room revealed an ugly-faced hunchback trying to escape to the corner. Yu Canghai shouted, "Stop!"

This hunchback was actually Lin Pingzhi in disguise. After meeting Yu Canghai at Liu Zhengfeng's residence, he feared being discovered and quietly slipped out during the chaos in the hall, hiding in a corner to think. He was unsure how to save his parents and was deep in thought. He thought, "I pretended to be a hunchback, and everyone in the hall has seen me. If I encounter Qingcheng Sect members again, I will surely die. Should I return to my original appearance?" Recalling how he became weak and powerless when Yu Canghai grabbed him, he wondered how there could be such a powerful person in the world. His thoughts were tumultuous, and he was lost in thought.

After a while, he saw everyone heading to the Jade Hall and followed. He thought, "The Five Mountains Sword Sect has many upright and skilled martial artists. Their disciples must be excellent. That young man earlier looked about my age but could withstand Yu Canghai's flying dart. His skills are truly remarkable. If I could find a master and learn high-level martial arts, I might have a chance to save my parents."

Outside the Jade Hall, he hid behind a tree, observing the movements inside. He heard everything, from Yu Canghai's fight with Tian Boguang, Liu Zhengfeng's search, to Linghu Chong's brave stand. When Yu Canghai attacked, Lin Pingzhi could no longer hold back and shouted, "Bullying the young, how shameless!"

As soon as Lin Pingzhi shouted, he realized his rashness and turned to hide. However, Yu Canghai, in his anger, moved extremely fast. With a shout of "Stop!" his palm force enveloped Lin Pingzhi, ready to shatter his internal organs and break his bones. Upon seeing his appearance, Yu Canghai sneered, "It's you!"

In his extreme anger, Yu Canghai no longer cared if the hunchback had any connection to Mu Gaofeng. He was about to unleash his palm force when he suddenly felt a palm wind from behind. He quickly turned to block it, only to see Yue Fangxing lightly flicker and snatch Lin Pingzhi. At the same time, a voice from inside the room called out, "Bullying the young, how shameless!"

Yu Canghai turned around and saw Linghu Chong standing by the window. He and Yue Fangxing, seeing Lin Pingzhi speak up for them and then be caught by Yu Canghai, could not stand idly by. Although Linghu Chong could not move, he mocked Yu Canghai with words. Yue Fangxing feigned a palm strike at Yu Canghai, causing him to turn to block, and then snatched Lin Pingzhi. For a moment, Yu Canghai was completely outmaneuvered by the three young men.

Yu Canghai's anger intensified, but the phrase "Bullying the young, how shameless" gave him a way out. He had no certainty of defeating Yue Fangxing, and if he failed, he would lose face in the martial arts world. However, if he let the young man off easily after being toyed with, how could he swallow his pride? He sneered and shouted at Yue Fangxing, "Young man, what skills have you practiced? At your age, you are already better than me. Has your Huashan Sect obtained some divine technique?"

Yu Canghai knew that if Yue Fangxing's skills were so high, his father Yue Buqun must be even stronger. It would be difficult to regain his lost face. Therefore, he decided to admit his inferiority and use a false accusation to create trouble for the Huashan Sect.

Divine techniques are what everyone in the martial arts world desires. Hearing this, the crowd did not have time to consider the shocking news of Yu Canghai admitting his inferiority. They all looked at Yue Fangxing with ill intent, clearly agreeing with Yu Canghai's statement. How could a young man like Yue Fangxing have such power otherwise?

For a moment, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat eerie.

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