novel-bin Chapter 79 Dramatic Change
Chapter 79 Dramatic Change
Shi Yunshan leaned against the cold blue brick wall, his back pressed against the wall. The sharp pain from his left elbow made the veins on his forehead bulge. Every breath he took felt like someone was twisting his shattered bones with an awl.
He stared at the figure in dark clothing in the middle of the alley, his eyes burning with rage that seemed to pierce through the snow.
A junior who has just broken through to the ninth level of the acupoints dares to come alone to intercept and kill him!
Now, the junior he had regarded as fish on a chopping board was standing in front of him first.
A sense of absurd regret welled up in Shi Yunshan's heart—he should have struck first on the command platform that day.
While he was still recovering from his attack on Luo Lie, he killed him with a single blow. He didn't care about the rules of the Golden Scales Society, or the witnesses from the escort agency or martial arts school.
Why am I now stuck in an alley like a drowning dog?
His right hand slowly clenched, his knuckles cracking. Even with his left arm crippled, he still had his right fist. Thirty years of arduous training had honed his "Broken Mountain Hand"—it wasn't just for show.
"Master Shi." Jiang Lan's voice cut through the wind and snow, as calm as if he were talking about something trivial, "The road to the Yellow Springs is long, I've come to send you to the Bridge of Helplessness."
"court death!"
The calm on Shi Yunshan's face was completely shattered, and his angry shouts exploded in the narrow alley, causing the snow on the walls to fall in a flurry.
He no longer tried to hide it; his well-maintained face was now contorted with rage.
The muscles in his right arm suddenly bulged, the veins popped out like earthworms, and the bones and muscles roared with a dull, thunderous sound.
His fist was as red as a branding iron, and his entire arm was like a red-hot iron pillar. The snowflakes falling around him were vaporized into white mist by the scorching energy before they even got close.
Mountain-Breaking Hand – Splits Rocks and Collapses Clouds!
This punch carried his life's cultivation, and thirty years of strength were poured out without reservation at this moment.
The fist whistled like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing, determined to blast this arrogant young man into a bloody pulp.
Before the punch even landed, the snowflakes falling in the alley were abruptly pushed aside, creating a brief vacuum. The force of the punch stung Jiang Lan's face.
Jiang Lan's pupils contracted slightly, but he neither flinched nor avoided the attack. He lowered his waist and hips, his spine swaying like a dragon, a deep hum emanating from the depths of his internal organs.
After Lei Yin cleansed his marrow, his internal organs became as tough as cast iron, and there seemed to be subtle thunder rolling in his bone marrow. His blood and qi surged like lead and mercury, becoming extremely heavy and condensed.
This is his source of confidence—internal strength from his internal organs, making him unparalleled in defense.
The fist was less than three feet from his head, and Shi Yunshan's punch was already pressing down on his clothes, making them flutter loudly.
Jiang Lan made a move.
The upper body slid half a step to the side at a slight angle, the movement smooth and fluid. At the same time, the right arm moved from bottom to top, the five fingers joined together like an iron chisel, the fingertips gathering a penetrating spiraling force, striking first after the opponent, precisely targeting Shi Yunshan's right wrist pulse.
The moment Shi Yunshan's wrist pulse was exposed when he threw a punch, he caught it firmly.
"puff!"
The spiraling, hidden force, like a red-hot steel needle, instantly pierced through the skin and flesh, and plunged deep into the wrist pulse.
Shi Yunshan felt the flow of qi and blood in his entire right arm suddenly stop, as if someone had choked the riverbed, and the surging flood was cut off in the middle.
The power of the punch was reduced by 30%, and the punch that split the stone only had 70% of its force left.
He was terrified.
This is hardly the level of skill one should have just reached when entering the ninth acupoint! This young man's strength and experience are clearly no less than mine!
The greatly weakened right palm grazed Jiang Lan's shoulder before slamming hard against the blue brick wall behind him.
"Boom!"
The sturdy old wall was as if it had been struck head-on by a heavy hammer, instantly collapsing inward to form a huge fist-shaped indentation about a foot deep. Spiderweb-like cracks spread wildly, and rubble mixed with snow exploded outward, hitting the walls on both sides with a crackling sound.
The entire alleyway trembled, and the snow on the high walls on both sides fell in a flurry, like a small avalanche.
Jiang Lan's clothes were torn at the shoulder by the lingering scorching palm wind, and her skin felt a burning stinging sensation, causing her blood and qi to surge.
But his feet were firmly planted on the ground, and with the circulation of his internal energy, the force of the recoil was instantly neutralized. His body swayed only slightly before regaining its balance.
Shi Yunshan is in an even worse situation.
His wrist was pierced by a vicious force, not only breaking the palm strike but also causing numbness and tingling pain throughout his right arm, disrupting the flow of his energy. The excruciating pain in his left arm was even more unbearable; every breath seemed to tear at his will.
What chilled him to the bone even more was that the penetrating power and cunning of Jiang Lan's finger strike far exceeded his previous expectations—this was definitely not the level of skill one could achieve when first entering the Nine Acupoints.
"They've hidden it well!" Shi Yunshan gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart and calming down.
As the owner of the Cangsong Martial Arts School and a master with decades of experience, he would not let anger cloud his judgment.
Jiang Lan's sneak attack today was definitely not a suicide mission; he must have been confident of victory. Tonight, it's either you or me. There's no room for holding back.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the soreness and numbness in his right arm, and focused all his attention. A master who has achieved the Nine Acupoints Great Perfection has reached a state of unparalleled control over his body. Even if his left arm is crippled, his right leg, right palm, and movement techniques can all kill.
Jiang Lan gave him no chance to catch his breath. Instead of retreating, she advanced, her body twisting and turning like an agile ape, crashing into the central gate of Shiyun Mountain.
Mountain-Crushing Fist - Tiger Pounce Stance.
With both fists thrusting out simultaneously, like a tiger descending a mountain, they struck straight at Shi Yunshan's chest and abdomen. The wind from the punches exploded, the force fierce and domineering, sealing off all of Shi Yunshan's escape routes. This move sought not skill, but power, aiming to unleash the immense power of his nine acupoints without reservation onto his opponent.
Shi Yunshan hastily bent his knees to block, simultaneously raising both palms horizontally in front of his chest. Fist and palm collided with a muffled thud, and both men were violently shaken.
Shi Yunshan felt an overwhelming force crashing down on him. The blue bricks beneath his feet shattered, and he slid back two steps, his heel hitting the base of the wall, almost falling over.
Jiang Lan's knees felt slightly numb, but with the circulation of internal energy, the recoil was instantly neutralized, like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, creating only a ripple before disappearing without a trace.
Shi Yunshan steadied himself, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes. He discovered that his proud strength was like a mud ox sinking into the sea when it struck Jiang Lan—not blocked, but rather absorbed by that strange internal energy.
What kind of evil skill did this kid practice? How could he make his internal organs so tough?
He dared not wait any longer. Shi Yunshan twisted his waist suddenly, and his left leg swept out silently along the ground, aiming directly at Jiang Lan's lower ankle.
At the same time, his right palm transformed from a slap into a claw, its five fingers like hooks, carrying a force capable of tearing through metal and stone, and lightning-fast grabbed at Jiang Lan's face. One above, one below, combining strength and gentleness, sealed off all of Jiang Lan's space to dodge.
This is Po Shan's killing move - "Earth Overturning Heaven and Earth".
It strikes the throat from above and severs the foundation from below; many masters of internal energy have fallen victim to this move.
A cold glint flashed in Jiang Lan's eyes.
He stomped his foot hard, and the bluestone ground shattered with a "crack," his body twisting instantly. His right arm swept across like a steel whip, in a tiger-like swing. His arm drew an arc in the air, carrying centrifugal force, and smashed towards Shi Yunshan's sweeping left leg.
"Bang!"
Legs and arms crossed, producing a dull thud of bones colliding.
Shi Yunshan felt as if his shinbone had been struck by an iron rod; excruciating pain shot through his entire body, leaving his left leg numb. He gritted his teeth, his right claw already at Jiang Lan's face.
Jiang Lan's left hand emerged from under his ribs and struck Shi Yunshan's claw, deflecting the attack. At the same time, his right fist flew upwards in a tiger-like stance, aiming straight for Shi Yunshan's chin.
That punch was fast and powerful!
Shi Yunshan was jerked backward, the force of the punch grazing his chin and leaving a trail of blood. He staggered backward, his heel kicking a protruding rock, nearly falling backward.
Jiang Lan gave him no chance to catch his breath. She lunged forward, her arms spinning like windmills, unleashing a three-pronged attack: Tiger Pounce, Tiger Strike, and Tiger Swing.
Each punch carried the immense power of the Thunderous Marrow Cleansing technique, combining ferocity with subtlety, speed like lightning and weight exceeding a thousand pounds.
The sound of fists echoed through the narrow alley, one after another, like someone beating a giant drum, each sound more urgent and heavier than the last.
The first punch was deflected by Shi Yunshan's right palm, causing his tiger's mouth to crack and blood to splatter.
With the second punch, Shi Yunshan raised his left elbow to block, but the sharp pain made him groan, and his elbow joint almost dislocated again.
The third punch was too late for Shi Yunshan to block, so he could only dodge to the side. The force of the punch tore off a piece of cloth from his shoulder.
The fourth punch, the fifth punch, the sixth punch... each punch was faster and heavier than the last.
Forced to retreat, Shi Yunshan's back slammed against the cold wall, leaving him nowhere to go. He desperately tried to block with his right fist, but each punch was returned by Jiang Lan. His arm grew increasingly numb, and the gash between his thumb and forefinger grew larger, with blood dripping from his wrist onto the ground, staining the snow beneath his feet red.
His breathing became heavy, wheezing like a broken bellows.
Veins bulged on his forehead, and sweat mixed with snow water streamed down his cheeks, stinging his eyes. He dared not wipe them away, for Jiang Lan's fist continued to pound.
Twenty moves! Thirty moves! Forty moves!
Shi Yunshan's boxing style has fallen apart. It has lost its structure and method; it's just a haphazard display of instinct and decades of brute force.
His left arm hung limply at his side, swaying like a dead snake with each movement, bringing excruciating pain. Each punch from his right arm was slower than the last, and the force was diminishing.
He knew in his heart that he couldn't hold on much longer. This young man's stamina and strength seemed inexhaustible, each punch heavier than the last. His punches struck Jiang Lan as if hitting an iron plate, leaving his opponent completely unmoved; while Jiang Lan's punches pounded on him like a battering ram ramming a city gate, each one making his internal organs churn.
His fist was almost too heavy to lift.
The fiftieth move! Shi Yunshan's punch missed, his center of gravity shifted forward, revealing a large gap in his chest.
Jiang Lan's eyes lit up.
Tiger Pounce – Both fists strike simultaneously, like a tiger descending a mountain, aiming straight for Shi Yunshan's chest and abdomen. He had been preparing for this punch for a long time, the power starting from the soles of his feet, passing through his waist, back, and shoulders, and reinforced by the internal strength of his internal organs, as powerful as a river bursting its banks.
Shi Yunshan retreated hastily, his back hitting the wall. With nowhere to avoid it, he could only cross his hands in front of his chest to protect himself.
"Bang!"
Fist and palm collided, and a muffled cracking sound rang out. Shi Yunshan felt his palm bone shatter—not just cracked, but shattered. The immense force pierced through his defenses, causing his internal organs to churn, and a mouthful of metallic sweetness surged into his throat, spilling from the corner of his mouth.
His body slid halfway down the wall, then he forced himself to stand up. He didn't fall. He gritted his teeth, his bloodshot eyes glaring, and raised his right fist again. His fist was covered in blood, some of it his own, and some that had somehow gotten on him. His lips trembled, and the veins on his forehead throbbed, but the light in his eyes hadn't faded.
The counterattack of a dying person is often the most ferocious.
"Come!"
Shi Yunshan let out a hoarse roar and slammed his raised right fist out. This punch had no technique whatsoever, only brute force and burning hatred.
Jiang Lan didn't dodge. His right hand emerged from below and grabbed Shi Yunshan's wrist as he swung it down. With a powerful, tiger-like strike, his five fingers twisted like iron pincers.
"Click."
The wrist bone dislocated, the crisp sound particularly jarring in the narrow alley. Shi Yunshan's right hand slid open weakly, his fist unable to clench, and his arm hung limply at his sides.
Jiang Lan extended her left hand and placed a palm on Shi Yunshan's chest—the Tanzhong acupoint, the center of Qi and blood in the human body.
The force penetrated deeply, like a steel needle piercing the heart, or an ice pick piercing the bone.
Shi Yunshan's body stiffened. His eyes bulged out, his mouth opened, but no sound came out.
A stream of black blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, nostrils, and ears, dripping down his chin and soaking a large area of his clothes.
His body slid slowly down the wall, scraping off a piece of plaster, the debris landing on his shoulder. His back left a crooked mark on the wall, like the last stroke of a dying man.
Jiang Lan released her grip and took a step back.
He looked into Shi Yunshan's eyes—those eyes still held a light, but it was dying out, like a lamp whose oil had run out and whose flame struggled twice in the wind before going out.
Shi Yunshan's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but only a gurgling sound of blood bubbles came from his throat. His head tilted to one side and leaned against the wall. He didn't move.
Snow fell on his face and shoulders, quickly covering them with a thin layer. His left arm remained hanging down, while his right arm lay askew at his side, fingers pointing to the sky as if grasping at something, but grasping nothing at all.
Jiang Lan withdrew his gaze. He squatted down and reached into Shi Yunshan's robes to feel around.
Several stacks of silver notes, totaling about four hundred taels. The notes were in denominations of ten taels, twenty taels, and fifty taels, neatly stacked and tied together with a cowhide rope.
A small porcelain bottle, with the stopper removed, contained three dark brown pills, emitting a fragrant aroma. Unlike the Peiyuan Pill, these pills had a faint fluorescent sheen on their surface. There was also a thin booklet, its cover blank, its paper yellowed and rough to the touch.
Jiang Lan stuffed all the items into his pocket without examining them closely. He stood up, about to leave.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from the alleyway entrance. There was more than one person. Their steps were synchronized, the soles of their boots thumping against the snow—they were well-trained soldiers.
Jiang Lan leaped off the ground, using the high walls on either side for leverage, and in a few swift movements, he vaulted onto the roof of the alley, lying prone in the shadow of the roof ridge. The snow on his shoulders blended into him, and he breathed very softly.
The group quickly walked into the alley.
The leader wore a black cloak over a dark light armor, and his face was as cold and stern as iron.
A long sword hung at his waist, its scabbard plain and unadorned, like a piece of iron.
Zhou Tieshan, Commandant of the Military Equipment Division of the Prefectural City!
Behind him followed several elite soldiers with long swords at their waists. Each of them had sharp eyes and moved swiftly. As soon as they entered the alley, they split into two lines, spreading out along the wall and blocking all the exits.
Zhou Tieshan's gaze instantly locked onto the corpse at the base of the wall. He walked over, looked down at Shi Yunshan's collapsed face, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
He crouched down and pulled up Shi Yunshan's collar to check his carotid artery—there was no pulse. He then carefully examined his left elbow and left knee; the fractured bones were shocking.
Finally, examining the palm print on his chest, the five fingers were clearly visible, deeply embedded in the flesh. The fabric on his clothes had been shattered by the force, revealing the bluish-purple skin beneath.
"Fractured left arm and left knee, a palm strike to the chest, the force penetrating deep into the chest and shattering the heart meridian..."
He stood up, his gaze sweeping across the alley, looking at the fist mark about a foot deep on the wall, then at the broken blue bricks and splattered blood on the ground.
"The fatal wound was a palm strike to the chest, powerful and domineering, killing instantly."
He looked up towards the rooftops, squinting. The wind and snow were too heavy; all he could see was a hazy gray sky and snowflakes swirling in the air.
"Sir, shall we search?"
A voice behind him asked in a low voice.
Zhou Tieshan remained silent for a moment. He untied the belt of his longsword, gripped it in his hand, and the scabbard tapped softly on the bluestone ground.
His gaze shifted from the rooftop to Shi Yunshan's face.
"No need. Closing the net is the priority; don't let it interfere with our main business."
He hung the longsword back on his waist, turned around, and his voice turned cold, each word like a shard of ice.
"Issue the order: Zhao Family, Cangsong Martial Arts School, Wangyuan Escort Agency Headquarters, and Zhufeng Shop Warehouse, take action immediately!"
"Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy."
"yes!"
The soldiers obeyed the order, their footsteps fading into the distance, soon swallowed up by the wind and snow.
Jiang Lan lay motionless on the roof. He listened to the sounds in the alley until he was sure there were no more voices before slowly raising his head.
Snow fell on his shoulders and eyelashes; he had become one with the night, even his breath carried the coldness of the snow.
He looked towards the inner city—
Several plumes of thick smoke, accompanied by menacing tongues of flame, tore through the heavy night sky and shot upwards. The crimson flames stained the swirling snow with a blood-red hue, standing out starkly against the dark backdrop.
The firelight wasn't in one place, but in many places—the direction of the Zhao residence, the direction of the Cangsong Martial Arts School, the direction of the Wangyuan Escort Agency headquarters, and the direction of the Zhufeng Shop.
The deathly silent county town seemed to have been thrown into a boiling oil pot, instantly exploding. The muffled shouts of battle, the clash of weapons, and screams of agony mingled with the howling wind and snow, echoing from afar.
The Zhao family, Cangsong Martial Arts School, Wangyuan Escort Agency, Zhufeng Shop—those once invincible forces that dominated the prefectural city are being uprooted tonight.
Jiang Lan withdrew her gaze and was about to get up.
"Whoosh—"
A sharp, piercing whistle tore through the howling wind and snow. The sound was short and sharp, like the whistling of an eagle swooping down.
A long sword flew through the air and crashed down like a meteor. The tip of the sword was deeply embedded in the roof ridge three feet in front of him, sinking into the tiles and reaching the hilt.
The sword wobbled and hummed, sending shards of tile flying and snow exploding. The black tassel fluttered in the wind and fell onto the tile surface.
Jiang Lan suddenly turned around.
A figure slowly walked across the rooftops amidst the wind and snow. A dark cloak fluttered in the wind, and the sword at his waist was empty. His face was cold and stern, his eyes sharp as knives.
His hand remained in a throwing posture, the base of his thumb slightly red, a mark left from holding the sword for too long. He slowly lowered his hand, his steps steady, each step landing precisely on the seams of the roof tiles, neither slipping nor wobbling.
"Young man, you just took the stuff and left? Aren't you going to stay and say a few words?"