Chapter 684: A Deadly Trap

Guo Jing and Huang Rong exchanged a glance, both realizing from each other’s eyes that tonight would not end peacefully.

Hearing the shouts outside gradually die down, Guo Jing knew that most of their skilled allies had likely met their end. If they waited for Ouyang Feng’s companions to enter and attack from both front and back, he and his wife would have no chance of escape in such a confined space.

A plan quickly formed in Guo Jing’s mind. He immediately shouted, “Take this!” His left leg bent slightly, and his right palm drew a circle before pushing forward. It was none other than ‘The Proud Dragon Repents’, one of the ‘Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms’. He had practiced this technique tirelessly, and even when he first learned it, it was already formidable. After more than a decade of diligent cultivation, he had reached the pinnacle of mastery. When he initially executed the move, it appeared effortless, but upon encountering resistance, it could unleash thirteen successive bursts of force in an instant, each stronger than the last, layer upon layer, utterly unstoppable. This was a profound insight he had gained from the ‘Nine Yin Scripture’. Even in his prime, Hong Qigong had not reached such depths in this particular move.

Ouyang Feng had just been about to attack Huang Rong when he suddenly felt a faint breeze rushing toward him. Though the wind was not particularly forceful, it made breathing difficult. Sensing danger, he swiftly crouched down and pushed both palms forward, using his most prized technique—the ‘Toad Skill’.

As the two attacks clashed, both men trembled from the impact.

Guo Jing rapidly intensified his palm force, wave after wave surging forward like a raging tide.

Ouyang Feng let out a series of strange cries, his body swaying unsteadily as if he could collapse at any moment. However, the stronger Guo Jing’s attacks became, the greater Ouyang Feng’s counterforce grew.

During the previous ‘Martial Arts Assembly on Mount Hua’, Guo Jing had been no match for Ouyang Feng. However, he had since made tremendous progress, refining his martial arts to near perfection. Although Ouyang Feng had also gained new insights from reversing the ‘Nine Yin Scripture’, a righteous path was ultimately superior to a deviant one. By the time they fought now, Guo Jing’s strength had already subtly surpassed his opponent’s. Unfortunately, his hand was injured, and he was suffering from severe poison. As a result, he gradually began to fall behind in the exchange.

“Old Poison, take this!” Huang Rong, deeply worried for her husband’s safety, could no longer adhere to martial etiquette. She struck out lightly toward Ouyang Feng’s shoulder. Though her palm seemed gentle, it carried the exquisite power of the ‘Falling Blossom Divine Sword Palm’. If it landed, the force would penetrate directly into the internal organs—even a martial arts master like Ouyang Feng would not escape unscathed.

Ouyang Feng sneered, forcefully pushing with both palms to repel Guo Jing’s attack by half a foot. In that fleeting moment, his hand shot out and grabbed Huang Rong’s shoulder, his fingers like iron hooks. He harbored deep hatred for her and intended to cripple her arm.

As his grip tightened, all three of them were suddenly shocked. A sharp pain shot through Ouyang Feng’s fingers, forcing him to release her at once. His expression darkened. “Soft Hedgehog Armor?” After so many years, he had actually forgotten that Huang Rong still possessed this protective garment.

At that moment, Guo Jing’s palm force struck again.

Ouyang Feng quickly countered, both men exerting their full strength in a desperate clash.

With a thunderous impact, both were sent flying backward.

Dust and debris filled the air as walls crumbled and the house collapsed. Their final attacks had landed on each other’s shoulders in the darkness, causing both to crash through the walls. Half of the roof caved in.

Huang Rong had been startled pale by Ouyang Feng’s earlier grasp. Though unharmed, she instinctively leaped sideways as the collapsing roof threatened to bury her.

Guo Jing and Ouyang Feng stood half a ‘zhang’ apart, motionless—clearly both had suffered internal injuries.

Huang Rong did not dare to attack; instead, she positioned herself beside her husband, guarding him. Both men closed their eyes to regulate their breathing. After a moment, they simultaneously coughed up blood.

Ouyang Feng chuckled hoarsely. “Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms… heh, what a powerful technique.”

“Master Ouyang, do you need assistance?”

A cold laugh suddenly echoed from a distance.

Huang Rong swiftly looked up and saw the approaching figure—it was ‘Iron Palm Floating on Water’, Qiu Qianren. Standing beside him was an old man in a cyan monk’s robe. Though she did not recognize the man, his composed demeanor and subtle movements suggested that his martial prowess surpassed even Qiu Qianren’s.

However, when Huang Rong saw the other newcomer—a young, one-armed man carrying a heavy sword—her expression turned to both shock and fury. “Guo’er! You actually conspired with the Jins to harm your Uncle Guo?”

The one-armed youth was none other than Yang Guo!

Yang Guo’s face showed a hint of hesitation, but he quickly steeled himself and replied coldly, “The debt of my father’s murder and the loss of my arm must be settled.”

“Guo’er…” Guo Jing’s eyes filled with deep disappointment.

“A father-killer and a man who severed his arm—playing the sympathy card now is far too late.”

A handsome young noble in luxurious robes stepped forward. His features were striking, full of masculine charm, but his gaze carried a persistent gloom that made him unsettling to look at.

“Wanyan Liang?”

As sworn enemies of the Jin dynasty, Guo Jing had long studied intelligence on its key figures.

“The one and only,” Wanyan Liang replied with a faint smile. When his eyes landed on Huang Rong’s alluring face, a flicker of greed flashed across them. “I have long heard of Chief Huang’s beauty. Seeing you in person today, the rumors are indeed true.”

Huang Rong felt a wave of disgust under his gaze and could not help but snort coldly.

Even someone as straightforward as Guo Jing could sense his vile intentions toward his wife. Anger surged in his heart.

“Hahaha! The Mongols have besieged Xiangyang for years without success, yet King Wanyan, with his ingenious strategy, has easily captured both Guo Jing and Huang Rong. How humiliating for those Mongol barbarians!”

Tang Kuo Bian stepped out from behind Wanyan Liang, his once-drunken eyes now sharp and clear.

Recognizing him, Guo Jing sighed and said to Huang Rong, “Rong’er, I should have listened to you. This was indeed an excessive trap.”

Wanyan Liang laughed confidently. “Regretting it now is too late.”

Guo Jing roared, “Do you really think you can trap us so easily?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he ignored his injuries and charged toward Wanyan Liang like a cannonball. He knew that their only chance of survival lay in capturing the leader.

A flash of panic appeared in Wanyan Liang’s eyes as he hastily retreated.

Anticipating this move, Qiu Qianren sneered and struck out with his Iron Palm to intercept.

Guo Jing did not slow down; he simply extended his left palm to meet Qiu Qianren’s attack.

Qiu Qianren smirked.

‘If we were at full strength, I might not be your match. But now that you’re injured and distracted, you think you can block my full-force strike with just one hand? I’ll cripple your arm first!’

Gathering all his strength, Qiu Qianren launched a thunderous palm strike toward Guo Jing’s left hand. But instead of hearing a scream, he suddenly felt as if his attack had landed on empty air—an unbearably uncomfortable sensation.

“Many thanks for your help, Master Qiu.”

Guo Jing let out a long cry. Using the force from Qiu Qianren’s strike, his speed doubled in an instant. In the blink of an eye, he was already in front of Wanyan Liang.

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