The killing move before him was not the only threat. As the woman fell back, she moved as swiftly as a phantom, springing off walls and running along them, already circling behind him. Her hands flipped rapidly, two throwing knives held between her fingers, poised to fly.
Lian Youming seemed utterly oblivious to the pain of his torn cheek. Watching Ma Laosi reach over with his left hand, he turned his hand to meet it and caught it in his palm. Rather than retreat, he pressed forward, squeezing into the opening before his opponent.
Ma Laosi's aged face tightened. He, too, saw that the man before him intended to trade injury for injury, but with their hands locked together, breaking free was already difficult. Nor could he afford a moment's hesitation. He immediately sank his right arm, sending five clawlike fingers straight at Lian Youming's face.
With one hand locked against his opponent's, Lian Youming dragged his sword sideways with the other, about to slash. But the woman suddenly darted in, catching the blade with her twin knives first while sweeping fiercely at his left leg with Chuojiao.
Bang, bang, bang...
For a time, the stone cave was filled with the strange, dull sounds of colliding force.
Power surged around Lian Youming. His fierce eyes flew wide like those of a wrathful guardian, and his already mangled cheek split open.
"Freeze!"
A thick stench of blood poured out with his voice. Like a Buddha commanding demons and heretics to submit, a surge of spiritual power rippled outward. Within five meters of the three fighters, dust rose from the ground and hung suspended in midair.
Ma Laosi's aged eyes abruptly narrowed. He sank his breath into his Dantian and unleashed a mighty thunderous sound.
"Hmph!"
It was none other than the