The shockwave from the clash of techniques slammed into the luxurious carriage, rocking it violently. Inside, the Young Miss and her maidservant braced themselves, their eyes fixed on the swirling dust cloud outside. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and disturbed earth. Slowly, agonizingly, the cloud began to dissipate, revealing a deep, jagged crater in the ground where the two powerful attacks had met.
On the rim of the crater, the remaining guards, battered and weary, held their breath. Their hopes were pinned on the mysterious young man who had come to their aid. They desperately wished to see him standing, victorious, amidst the settling dust. The tension was palpable, a heavy weight in the air as they strained their eyes, trying to discern any movement within the newly formed abyss.
As the last vestiges of the dust cloud vanished, the scene within the crater became clear. One figure stood, albeit unsteadily, while another lay motionless on the ground. A collective sigh of relief, mixed with a gasp of concern, escaped the guards' lips. Standing tall, though with one arm hanging limply at his side, was Gù Tiānháo. At his feet, the burly bandit leader lay dead, his eyes wide and unseeing, a testament to the power of Gù Tiānháo's Mountain Shaking Fist.
Gù Tiānháo swayed, his vision blurring. The battle had taken a heavy toll, pushing his body to its absolute limits. He had emerged victorious, but not unscathed. His Qi was depleted, his muscles screamed in protest, and the pain from his injured arm was a dull, throbbing ache. He managed to cast a triumphant, yet weary, glance towards the guards, a silent acknowledgment of his success.
But as their relieved faces came into focus, the world around him began to spin. The adrenaline that had fueled him through the intense combat suddenly receded, leaving him utterly drained. His legs buckled, and before anyone could react, Gù Tiānháo collapsed, falling unconscious into the dust-filled crater. The guards rushed forward, their relief quickly turning to renewed concern for their unconscious savior.