—“He sealed my acupoints, leaving me immobilized. He silenced me by striking my mute acupoint. Could it be that he anticipated I wouldn’t be able to resist joining the fight if left unrestrained?”
—“Could he have done all this… for me?”
As soon as this realization hit him, Huo Xiao Di felt a wave of dizziness and discomfort. His thoughts were a chaotic torrent, crashing over him so relentlessly that he failed to notice the shift in Zhong Xiong’s fighting techniques below.
Suddenly, the sound of rushing wind filled the granary—Zhong Xiong’s moves had transformed, becoming swift and ferocious, brimming with raw power.
The wind roared, swelling to fill every corner of the space.
—Could this be the true form of the Flying Fork?
The sharp metallic whistle of the steel fork cutting through the air and the resounding clash of fork against sword reverberated through the granary, making the structure tremble as if it might collapse.
Under this storm of overwhelming force, beneath the onslaught of such unrelenting techniques, Zhan Zhao seemed like a fragile boat tossed amidst a raging sea, precarious and vulnerable.
How could Zhan Zhao, who just moments ago could barely stand, endure such an assault?
The realization struck Huo Xiao Di like lightning.
Though his body was immobilized and his neck restrained, preventing him from seeing the two fighters’ movements, beads of sweat had begun to gather densely on his forehead.
Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of two shadows cast on the wall. The sunlight streaming through the granary’s door illuminated the figures of the two combatants, their movements etched in light and shadow on the opposite wall.
Huo Xiao Di stared in shock. Zhan Zhao’s figure moved with the speed of shooting stars and lightning—there was no trace of the severe injuries he supposedly carried!
—How was this possible?
Just as he tried to focus for a clearer view, the shadows vanished as the fighters shifted positions.
Gradually, the sound of the wind began to die down. Zhong Xiong’s heavy breathing grew louder and more labored.
Yet Huo Xiao Di could not hear a single sound from Zhan Zhao.
As long as the wind hadn’t stopped, it meant Zhan Zhao was still holding his ground.
After a long pause, the wind finally ceased. Once again, the two figures reappeared on the wall.
—This time, the shadows were motionless.
After what felt like an eternity, Zhong Xiong’s voice rang out again:
“Impressive, truly impressive! The Southern Hero lives up to his reputation. I never thought you’d be able to withstand so many of my moves. If you weren’t already gravely injured, I wouldn’t stand a chance against you. But if you continue to fight, the poison and your injuries will worsen, and I’ll be unable to fulfill the prince’s orders.”
Zhan Zhao’s steady voice replied, “You flatter me. The Xiang Yang Prince must wish to capture me alive. For the prince to show such regard for a mere fourth-rank imperial guard like myself is an honor I can hardly deserve.”
Zhong Xiong burst into laughter. “Who in the martial world doesn’t know? Though you hold a fourth-rank position, the emperor holds you in high favor. Both the Southern Qing Palace and the Kaifeng Prefecture consider you indispensable. Your valiant stand here—could it be you’re buying time for your fleeing companion?”
Zhan Zhao chuckled. “Master Zhong, your insight and keen mind naturally see through everything.”
—At such a critical moment, he could still laugh!
Huo Xiao Di’s heart gave a sudden thud. He had sensed something off about Zhan Zhao ever since Zhong Xiong’s arrival, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
Now, with Zhan Zhao’s faint smile, clarity dawned in his mind:
—Why had Zhan Zhao’s speech become so fluid and natural as the fight progressed?
Straining to focus on the indistinct shadows cast on the wall, Huo Xiao Di saw Zhan Zhao’s figure leaning casually against the granary wall. Zhong Xiong’s long fork appeared to be pointed directly at Zhan Zhao’s chest, while Zhan Zhao’s sword was aimed at Zhong Xiong’s abdomen. Yet, based on their conversation, it was clear Zhong Xiong had gained the upper hand.
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