Snow Mountain vs. Shadowless Fist

"I've said it, Ding Daxia, after all these years, you should be numb. The adults are numb when they play," Song Qingshu deliberately addressed Ding Dian in the hall, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Let's get down to business."

"Bah!" Ding Dian shot Song Qingshu a venomous glare.

Song Qingshu couldn't help but feel a shiver down his spine from the intensity in Ding Dian's eyes. He thought to himself, "Goodness, this man could win an Oscar for his acting skills."

"Hit me," Ling Tuisi sneered. After years of torture, he had lost interest in the proceedings. It had become a mundane routine for him.

"Puff, puff, puff!" The water and fire stick descended upon Ding Dian, accompanied by the sickening sound of flesh meeting wood. However, Ding Dian remained silent, enduring the pain without uttering a word. He dared not resist, fearing Ling Tuisi's retribution. Besides, the superficial wounds he suffered were inconsequential. Once back in his cell, a few rounds of exercise would naturally heal them.

"Father, please don't force Big Brother Ding!" A sudden female voice from behind caused Ding Dian to tremble uncontrollably. He turned his head, filled with anticipation, and indeed, there stood Ling Shuanghua, the woman who had occupied his thoughts day and night.

Ling Tuisi, enraged and startled, pointed his finger at Ling Shuanghua and bellowed, "Why are you here? Have you forgotten the oath you made at Hitachi?"

"My daughter has never forgotten," Ling Shuanghua approached Ding Dian, offering her support. She turned to face Ling Tuisi and continued, "Fortunately, my daughter received guidance from a skilled master who helped her realize that my mother had led a righteous life. It is likely that she has ascended to the Western Paradise and is no longer suffering beneath the earth."

Ling Tuisi's expression contorted in shock as he glared fiercely at Song Qingshu. However, before he could respond, a deafening crash shattered the door, and a soldier, coughing up blood, was hurled into the room.

"There's an assassin!" a stern voice echoed from outside, causing the hearts of everyone present to skip a beat.

The sounds of battle and clashing blades filled the air as Ling Tuisi's guards struggled to hold their ground. Slowly, they began retreating. Before long, several men garbed as swordsmen burst into the room, their eyes gleaming upon spotting Ling Tuisi seated in the main position. With a surge of energy, they lunged towards him.

Ling Tuisi's guards on either side brandished their blades, engaging the intruders in a desperate fight. Song Qingshu observed the intricate and diverse swordplay, witnessing Ling Tuisi's guards falling one by one.

"Father!" Ling Shuanghua cried out in distress, her voice filled with anxiety, as she leaped high and aimed her sword at Ling Tuisi.

Ding Dian's love for Ling Shuanghua knew no bounds. He couldn't bear to see her in the slightest distress. Witnessing this unfold before his eyes, he was shocked. The iron chains shackling his body shattered inch by inch. With a swift kick, he lunged forward, his fist striking before anyone could react. His power surged forth.

The swordsman was taken aback, hastily retreating and reaching for his sword in an attempt to defend himself. Regardless of the intricate swordplay, Ding Dian advanced directly towards the man's vulnerable opening, transforming his fist into claws and seizing the opponent's chest in one swift motion. The adversary was caught in his grip, instantly rendered powerless.

Song Qingshu, hiding behind a pillar, cautiously peered out, only to witness the lifeless body of the man. He gasped for breath, quickly retracting his head, muttering to himself, "A dead martial artist is of no concern. Keep up the fight. The more chaotic, the better. Pay no attention to me, my dear brother. I haven't achieved any martial arts skills, nor do I aspire to. Better him dead than I."

"Shen Zhao Gong, Wu Ying Shen Fist? You are Ding Dian!" exclaimed the leader of the swordsmen in the hall as they had already dispatched the remaining guards. Upon turning around and witnessing the scene, recognition dawned upon him.

It turned out that the Xueshan faction had thoroughly investigated the prominent masters in Jingxiang prior to their journey. Naturally, they were aware of Ding Dian's formidable martial prowess.

With the arrow already released from the bowstring, the situation had reached a critical juncture. The Snow Mountain faction had no choice but to make swift decisions. If they delayed, the prefect's peripheral guards would surely retaliate, potentially annihilating their entire force. The leader came to this realization, saying, "Junior Brother Feng, Master Uncle and the others can barely hold off the guards outside the door. I'll engage Ding Dian while you go after Ling Tuisi. We'll retreat once he's taken care of." With those words, he brandished his sword and launched an attack on Ding Dian.

"Huh?" Ding Dian leaped into the air, evading a sword strike. Noticing a faint chill emanating from the blade, he knew that this man's martial arts prowess far surpassed the previous attacker. Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a few others, disciples sent by the Ming Xueshan to shield Ling Tuisi. Feeling a sense of urgency, Ding Dian swiftly kicked a chair in their path, temporarily impeding their progress. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he leaped over and confronted them.

Single-handedly, Ding Dian grappled with all four swordsmen from the Snow Mountain Sect, exploiting their weaknesses. He swiftly dispatched two of them. However, the Snow Mountain Sect still had two martial arts experts struggling to hold their ground.

Ding Dian recognized that the martial arts prowess of these two men, Bai Wanjian and Feng Wanli, far surpassed that of the other disciples from Xueshan. He found himself unable to overcome them in the present circumstances. In a moment of calculation, Ding Dian inquired, "Might the two of you be known as Bai Wanjian and Fenghuo, hailed as the 'chill northwest'? Are you the formidable Shenlong's Feng Wanli?"

Bai Wanjian and Feng Wanli grew increasingly fearful amidst the intense battle. They realized that Ding Dian's martial arts might even surpass that of their own master, Ling Tuisi. Hearing the commotion from a distance, they grasped the situation. Feeling helpless, they exchanged glances and launched a swift series of sword attacks, forcing Ding Dian to retreat. Both of them leaped out of the house, declaring, "Ding Dian, the Snow Mountain faction shall etch this grudge into our hearts."

Ding Dian harbored no intentions of pursuing them and silently returned to Ling Shuanghua's side. Observing the agonized moans emanating from the room, Ling Tuisi gazed at the two figures in the hall with a grim expression.

Before anyone could utter a word, the roof tiles shattered, and a dark figure descended, abruptly halting Ling Tuisi's movements. His left hand clamped onto Ling Tuisi's throat like an iron vice, while his right hand emptied his vest. Any slight provocation would result in a lethal strike from his palm, bringing about Ling Tuisi's demise.

Song Qingshu, who had been hiding behind the pillar, secretly exclaimed in distress. Wu Liuqi's appearance at this moment could potentially ruin his plan.

Wu Liuqi, with fury in his voice, exclaimed, "Ding Dian, why did you assist in the abuse of my senior brother and protect this enemy who killed him? Is it because you were captivated by the beauty of his daughter?"

Song Qingshu's expression suddenly became tinged with excitement. What beauty could Ling Shuanghua possess now? Wu Liuqi's assumption of her being a great beauty due to her graceful figure amused him.

"And who might you be?" Ding Dian was also taken aback. He had spent little time with Mei Niansheng and was unaware of his existence as a younger uncle.

"I am Mei Niansheng's junior, who do you think I am?" Wu Liuqi retorted angrily, frustrated by Ding Dian's lack of recognition.

"Wu Liuqi, the beggar in the snow. It's understandable that Ding Daxia doesn't know you," a pleasant female voice interjected. Huang Rong walked in slowly. It turned out that Huang Rong and her companions had swiftly perceived that something was amiss within the prefectural office and hurried back, coinciding with Wu Liuqi's abduction of Ling Tuisi.

"Huang Gang lord..." Wu Liuqi's expression turned grim upon seeing Huang Rong's figure.

"Elder Wu, it may have been forgivable for you to leave the Beggar Gang that day, but why are you now aiding the Mongols in assassinating my court official of the Song Dynasty?" Huang Rong asked calmly. It became apparent that Huang Rong had accompanied her husband and remained loyal to Xiangyang for numerous years. The Beggar Gang had been negligent in its administration, suffering heavy casualties during the Song-Mongol conflicts over the years. Some helpers became disenchanted, perceiving Huang Rong as self-serving and entangled in the ongoing struggle between the two nations. Many felt hopeless about the future, and with Huang Rong assuming leadership of the female faction, discontent within the organization grew stronger.