The sky over the rivers and lakes is very clear - Chapter 273
The woman in black let out a long laugh, and said in a mournful tone, "My brother and husband died to kill the wicked and eliminate the demons. Even in death, they were virtuous and chivalrous men who left a lasting legacy in the martial world. Sang San Niang has come here today, and it is either you or me who lives. I have no intention of leaving empty-handed."
Another man clapped and cheered: "Well said! Sister Sang San truly deserves to be called the foremost heroine in the Jingchu region!"
The woman nodded and said, "Then I have no choice but to grant your wish!"
Sang San Niang sneered: "Let's see what tricks you, you vixen, have up your sleeve in this downpour!"
The woman looked up at the sky, but shook her head and sighed, "Yes, the rain is so heavy!"
Suddenly, a figure appeared like a ghost, gently striking out with a palm. Then, with a turn of the body, it floated back into the hall, turning back with a smile. In an instant, amidst the torrential rain, it was like a strange flower blooming, and even the heavily clouded sky became ethereal.
Just as everyone was stunned, they heard a "bang" and a big man fell into the mud pit, splashing rainwater everywhere. The splashes of water had a bright pinkish hue.
Someone exclaimed, "It's Hero Zhao!" and reached out to help him up.
Another person shouted, "Don't touch him! He's poisoned!"
Another person shouted sternly, "Everyone, attack together and take her down!"
Someone roared, "Alright! Let's go!"
The gray-clad man, one of the three masters of Jinzhong, sighed and said, "Miss, I'm sorry!" He then pulled out a pair of tiger-head hooks from his back and charged forward first.
The woman sneered, "So eager to die, I'll grant your wish!"
With a slender hand, she struck at the gray-clad man's ribs. Sang San Niang attacked from the side, her twin willow-leaf swords dancing like flowers, one sword protecting the green-clad man while the other slashed straight at the woman's waist and back.
The woman took a step back, her skirt billowing as she silently kicked at Sang San Niang's lower body. The man in gray immediately countered with a hook, using a diversionary tactic to force her back.
These men were well aware of the woman's ruthlessness and had practiced their combined attack techniques many times before coming, so their attacks were quite measured.
Frustrated by her failure to land a blow in both moves, the woman suddenly smiled and said, "You two seem to be quite compatible, but don't forget to thank your benefactor, who cleared away the obstacle between you and your husbands!"
Na Sang San Niang was extremely virtuous and resolute. After her husband was murdered, she had long harbored thoughts of suicide, so she scattered her family fortune to join the hunt. Now, however, she was slandered by that woman, and she couldn't help but tremble with anger: "You, a woman, have such a filthy heart..." She slashed at him with each stroke, determined to fight to the death.
Someone shouted, "Let's all work together and show no mercy to this witch..." Before he could finish speaking, he screamed and fell to the ground.
Those who were besieging her were filled with hatred and attacked even faster, advancing and retreating as they circled around the woman like a revolving lantern.
Amidst the flashing swords and clashing blades, the woman dodged and weaved, remaining unharmed for the time being, but unable to free her hands to retaliate.
With the cover of others, Sang San Niang finally seized an opportunity and stabbed the woman in the back with her knife.
The woman ducked to avoid it, but the oilcloth bag on her back was torn open by the steel knife, and a pink baby fell out.
Someone exclaimed, "Be careful! Don't hurt the child!"
Looking into those dark, grape-like eyes, Sang San Niang paused for a moment. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the woman kicked out, sending the baby flying into the air, and then swung her hand back, hitting Sang San Niang right in the heart.
Sang San Niang coughed up blood, desperately hurling her steel knife in her right hand before collapsing to the ground with a thud, her eyes wide open in death. The knife had missed its mark, stabbing towards several people cowering in the corner of the hall. The wealthy young master's face remained unchanged; he simply reached out, caught the knife, and gently placed it beside him.
At that moment, Gao Fei's baby fell to the ground. A long-bearded man rushed over and reached out to catch the baby. Before his fingers even touched the baby's swaddling clothes, he suddenly noticed a knife tip appearing under her ribs. Caught off guard, she was almost stabbed squarely and hurriedly withdrew her hand to avoid the knife.
The woman was carrying Sang San Niang's left-handed knife. After forcing the long-bearded man back with a single strike, she went to pick up the baby. The long-bearded man was also skilled in martial arts; he immediately unleashed a powerful palm strike with the force of thunder.
The woman didn't mind at all. She put her left hand on the baby and sent the baby flying into the air. She raised her palm to retaliate, and the instant her palm made contact with the other man's, she suddenly changed her palm into a claw. Her neat and shiny nails pierced the long-bearded man's palm wind like sharp blades and gently tickled his palm.
The long-bearded man felt as if a gash had opened in his palm, and his true energy immediately surged out. He was shocked and withdrew his body, his palms now turning dark green.
Seeing countless dark green lines shooting up his arm, the long-bearded man was horrified: "You...you..." He fell to the ground with a thud, twitched twice, and then lay still, his face now a ghastly green.
The woman smiled and immediately leaped at another person trying to grab the baby, knocking the infant away with a single palm strike. However, before she could hold the baby in her arms, another person attacked with a blade, forcing her to send the baby flying into the air again before facing the enemy with her own palm.
The baby flew around in the air, seemingly finding it very interesting, and kept giggling. This time, when it was sent into the air, whether the woman did it intentionally or unintentionally, it just happened to land on the head of the Buddha, with the swaddling clothes hanging on the corner of the Buddha's crown.
Seeing that it was no longer flying, the baby waved its little hands unhappily and cried "ya ya". It was already hanging loosely, and with this struggle, it actually fell straight down from the Buddha's head.
The woman was locked in fierce combat with the enemy, and no one expected the baby to fall. By the time they discovered it, it was too late to stop their attack and try to save the baby.
The Buddha statue was two zhang tall; if this delicate infant fell from it, she would be half-dead, if not killed. At that moment, a small figure darted out from the side, catching the infant in her arms before she hit the ground, rolling away to avert the fall, and carrying her to the side.
The woman and the others paused for a moment, and when they saw that it was the handsome boy who had been waiting in the corner of the hall who caught the baby, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
When everyone first saw the boy and the three men and one woman at the corner of the hall, they assumed they were just ordinary people seeking shelter from the rain. Later, seeing how fiercely they were fighting, these people remained unmoved, especially the one who looked like a rich young master, who calmly caught the knife. They knew he was no ordinary person, but since they were too busy fighting to pay attention to him, and these people had no intention of helping either side, they stopped paying attention to him.
When everyone saw the boy catch the baby with such skill, they were all amazed. Some even thought further ahead: although the child was young, he had extraordinary talent and, if properly trained, he would surely become famous throughout the world in the future.
Everyone had their own thoughts, and not wanting to affect their kung fu, several people stopped the woman, while a burly man lunged forward and reached out to grab the boy, trying to snatch the baby back.
The baby landed in the boy's arms and, for some reason, became happy again, grinning broadly and reaching out to grab the boy's nose. The boy frowned like an adult, grabbed the baby's little hand, and pulled it aside, completely unaware that someone was rushing towards him.
The moment the burly man's hand touched the boy's shoulder, a flash of a knife appeared before his eyes, and he felt a sharp pain as half of his arm was severed from his body.
The burly man was extremely brave. He grunted, grabbed his severed arm with his other hand, and leaped back several steps, glaring at the man who had cut off his arm.
This person was the heavily made-up woman who had been standing in the corner of the hall. In her hand, she held a curved, broken knife, blade facing downwards, with drops of blood sliding down.
Suddenly, the two groups fighting in the hall retreated, and the woman took the opportunity to walk towards the boy, intending to take the baby back.
The woman brandished her broken knife, pointing it diagonally at the girl, and said, "Don't go near that child!" Her accent was harsh, her voice hoarse, and her Adam's apple bobbed as she spoke; it turned out she was a man in disguise!
The woman paused for a moment, then said, "Fine, I won't go any closer! Tell that boy to give my child back!"
The transvestite nodded, turned around and was about to speak to the boy when he suddenly heard his companion shout, "Watch out!" He was startled, and a sudden pain shot through his chest. He looked down and saw a slender, delicate hand slowly being pulled out of his chest, blood splattering all over the boy and the baby's face and body.
The boy didn't even lift his head; he simply wiped the blood from his face and then gently wiped away the blood splattered on the baby's face with his sleeve.
The woman wiped her hands on the transvestite's body, kicked his corpse to the ground, chuckled softly, and said, "I hate it when people yell at me!"