Chapter 4: An Old Friend from the Poison Sect

“Yun Zhen, didn’t you want to learn my Drunken Cloud Depth? Now, I’ll teach you through real combat—watch closely!” At this moment, Su Wen’s inner energy was surging higher than ever before. Clearly, a bitter battle was inevitable today. Yet, seeing this, Mandala’s face remained calm. After glancing around, a faint smile finally appeared on his lips. “Elder brother, I truly envy you. Ever since you left the Poison Sect, you’ve lived in seclusion here, unlike me—destined for a life of toil. So many years of ceaseless busyness, and in the end, I don’t even know what it was all for.”

“A life of leisure like yours is something I truly desire. We’ve known each other for years, and I’ve always been a bother to you. As for what I want, you know well—just hand over the sect’s manuals, and I’ll leave immediately, never to return. Afterward, you’ll be free to do as you wish, go wherever you please, and I won’t interfere again. For the sake of our past, please don’t make things difficult for me.”

At this moment, Golden Swallow Nook was filled with the fragrance of flowers and the songs of birds, yet beneath it all lingered a faint murderous intent. “Brother, you jest. If you came sincerely, how could I, as your elder, not welcome you? But Mandala, I have long known what kind of man you are. There’s no need to repeat myself—you already know the answer. Let us begin. Show me how much you’ve improved over the years. I’ve heard you’ve mastered the poison arts—today, let me see it with my own eyes!”

It had long been clear that things would end this way. “Zhuang Yun Zhen is yours to deal with. I’ll take on my elder brother. Everyone, be careful—Zhuang Yun Zhen has fully recovered from his internal injuries, and his strength is not to be underestimated!”

“Young man, where do you think you’re going? Right now, your opponents are us. I’ve heard your skills are impressive. Today, we old men want to see for ourselves. Don’t say we’re bullying you—now, we’ll give you ten moves. If you can defeat us in ten moves, we’ll leave at once. But if you can’t, then you’ll have to forgive us.”

Naturally, Zhuang Yun Zhen dared not be careless. Each opponent he faced was a master of considerable skill. This was a battle he could not afford to lose. Fortunately, his internal injuries had healed, and he could now use the Sun and Moon Twin Radiance Palm at will. “Seniors, please grant me your guidance!”

Instantly, thunderous energy gathered in both his palms. With a sudden, fierce motion, he unleashed “Ten Thousand Pounds”—the opening move of Thunder’s Roar, the fifth technique of the Sun and Moon Twin Radiance Palm. This move emphasized overwhelming force and irresistible momentum.

Thunder’s Roar was perhaps the most unique among the eight techniques of the Sun and Moon Twin Radiance Palm. To use it, one needed to first master the Four Tribulations of Thunder. Previously, Zhuang Yun Zhen, due to his injuries, had never dared attempt it. But now, electricity crackled around him, his move preceding his body. The Poison Sect’s experts were shocked—Mandala himself had warned them not to underestimate Zhuang Yun Zhen, and now they saw why. He wielded thunderous energy with such fluency that he was clearly not one to be trifled with.

Astonishing arcs of lightning swept through the crowd like peerless tempests. None of the Poison Sect dared let their guard down. “Everyone, this youngster is truly formidable. He must have practiced some extremely forceful art from childhood, and now, having fused it with thunder, we’re helpless against him.”

This situation was ideal for Zhuang Yun Zhen. With one move, “Ten Thousand Pounds,” he had cowed his adversaries. Yet, perhaps they were merely testing his strength. Throughout their exchanges so far, they had focused on defense, making no real attempt to strike. “If you continue to merely probe me, some of you will die by my hand. If that means nothing to you, so be it.”

“Hmph! Arrogant brat! You think it takes all of us to defeat you? I, the King of Poison Hands, am more than enough. Your paltry lightning is nothing—watch as I break it today!”

The King of Poison Hands conjured wisps of black vapor from his palms. Gifted from birth, he had grown up amidst poison, eventually forging the legendary Poison Hands with which countless masters had perished. His movement was exquisite—his venomous iron hands lashed at Zhuang Yun Zhen’s face with relentless speed. Zhuang Yun Zhen retreated, and the King of Poison Hands struck empty air. “Trying to run? Many have tried, but none have succeeded once faced with me.”

“What use is invincible martial arts? Against my poison, no one can prevail. When I made my name, you were but a child. Now, you dare flaunt yourself before me? Fine, since you seek death, I’ll oblige!”

The King of Poison Hands moved like a whirlwind, fusing his poison with the force of a storm. Who could withstand such power? “You think you can still resist? This is my famed move—Venomous Gale. To die by this strike is your greatest honor. I know there’s much you wish to do, but now, you’ll have no chance.”

Though Zhuang Yun Zhen’s strength was immense and indomitable, he had not been taught how to counter poison experts. Now, he had no choice but to dodge repeatedly, no matter how desperate it looked. As long as he could find a solution, victory would still be his.

“Weren’t you so arrogant just now, boy? What’s the matter? I see—you don’t know how to deal with my poison, do you? Fine, I’ll tell you: your skills cannot break my Venomous Gale. And I’m only one man—if my companions join in, you’ll have no chance of survival!”

“Poison Hands, it’s rare to meet such a worthy foe. Why should you have all the fun? Let me test him too. Let’s see what happens if we join forces!”

Anger flared in Zhuang Yun Zhen’s heart. Lightning surged in his left hand, flame in his right—wielding both elements at once, yet he felt no discomfort. “Enough talk. All of you, attack together. It makes no difference to me!”

“Hmph! Arrogant youth, take my move—Evil Dragon’s Coil!” Finally, Yue Yuan joined the fray. Among the Poison Sect’s elite, Yue Yuan was the true top expert, renowned for his Dragon-Slaying Kicks—said to defeat even the fiercest dragons. Now, his Evil Dragon’s Coil surrounded Zhuang Yun Zhen with a flurry of deadly kicks.

Zhuang Yun Zhen employed his Soaring Bird Phantom Dance, channeling lightning and fire to their limits. Though Evil Dragon’s Coil was fierce, Zhuang Yun Zhen matched it blow for blow. Yue Yuan had never imagined that his Dragon-Slaying Kicks would one day be countered by a youth. Perhaps it was not the kicks that were lacking, but his own inadequacy. “How long do you all intend to stand by and watch? This youngster is formidable. If we’re careless, we’ll all die here today.”

“Indeed, Zhuang Yun Zhen is truly formidable. Even Yue Yuan is fighting. Now, let’s not lose to this upstart!” Mandala’s palm, sharp as a blade, slashed at Su Wen. Su Wen dodged with a twist, countering with a palm so slow it seemed motionless, aimed at Mandala’s back. Mandala recognized the move—Forget Sorrow, the most famous of Drunken Cloud Depth’s techniques. Though it appeared slow, when mastered it wielded unimaginable power, a single strike able to fell ten thousand foes. In the past, Mandala was helpless before it, but now he felt no fear. “Brother, after all these years, your nature is unchanged—always testing me with this move. Yet you know, what once worked now is useless.”

Mandala’s palm strike contained wave upon wave of surging force. As the two extraordinary techniques collided, ripples of energy spread outward. Mandala, now a master of his art, pressed his advantage. He unleashed Phantom Dragon from the Dragon-Slaying Kicks, swift as lightning, impossible to detect.

Combining palm and leg, even Su Wen struggled to defend. In moments, he had been struck several times and looked utterly disheveled. “Again! You’ve grown stronger in my absence, but is this all you have? That’s not what you claimed just now.”

“Dragon-Slaying!”

Mandala ignored Su Wen’s taunts and unleashed his strongest move—Dragon-Slaying. Only by pushing his energy to the utmost could this strike be performed, where energy left the body to attack at range. Mandala had devoted years of bitter toil for this technique, and now, all his effort was for this moment. “Brother, today, it’s time for us to settle things once and for all. Witness my Dragon-Slaying!”

Su Wen saw nothing but lethal intent. Mandala had truly mastered the art of focusing his murderous will into an unstoppable attack. Was this lethal move aimed at finishing him for good?

“Brother, nothing you do now will matter. The moment I unleashed Dragon-Slaying, our feud was settled. You are surrounded by my killing intent. No matter how great your skills, you can do nothing now. How does it feel to face such a deadly strike—do you not regret anything?”

“You talk too much. Take this!”

Su Wen finally appeared, landing a powerful punch right on Mandala’s face. It should have had devastating force, but Mandala was shielded by a formidable aura. “Is this all your strength, brother? If so, I’m truly disappointed. After all these years, I thought you’d become even stronger—not just throw a punch like that. Has the once-mighty Su Wen fallen so far?”

“You should know by now—my aura is impregnable to you. I know it’s hard to accept, but I’m already stronger than you. Once, you looked down on me; now, to me, you’re nothing. I had hoped for a real battle today, even if it destroyed Golden Swallow Nook, but you failed to meet my expectations.”

“Now, die.” Mandala’s voice was ice cold. Once, he had followed Su Wen everywhere, curious about everything. But Su Wen understood those days would never return. The Mandala before him was obsessed with power, believing that strength meant everything. “Mandala, you’re the real disappointment. I tried to use Drunken Cloud Depth to soften your stubbornness, but I failed. You think mastering aura is enough to defeat me?”

“The supreme aura you practice was my own creation. Later, I realized it could change a person’s character. Since I created it, I must be the one to destroy it. Now, let me show you what true power is—behold, Verdant Joy!”

The second level of Drunken Cloud Depth’s secret art, Verdant Joy, was the sole technique of the Realm of Pure Delight. After honing the first level, Realm of Gathering Chrysanthemums, one attained an even deeper serenity. Before Verdant Joy, all force became meaningless.

Su Wen landed a heavy punch on Mandala’s face. Where once it had no effect, now Mandala was sent sprawling. “What happened? How could your attack hurt me now? Impossible! I was certain of my strength—how could you be my match?”

Mandala was stunned—his once unbreakable defensive aura shattered so easily? His expression was not fear, but a mix of confidence and doubt—his faith in himself shaken.

“You don’t know what happened? Deep down, you do. Your protective aura has been broken. Without it, what can you do now? To me, you’re as good as dead. You were never my equal, and you still aren’t!”

“The supreme aura you wield is but a byproduct of Drunken Cloud Depth. You’ve only scratched the surface. I know you’re not willing to accept this, so I’ll give you one more chance. If you can force me to retaliate, I’ll grant all your requests. Do you have any objection?”

At last, Su Wen revealed his true power. Mandala had believed that years of struggle had elevated him above Su Wen, but the outcome was still bitter disappointment. No matter where he went, he was forced to look up to Su Wen. His poison techniques were powerless. “Why? Why am I still under your shadow, even though I’ve become so much stronger?”

“I refuse! I won’t live in your shadow forever. Die! You should’ve been dead years ago!”

Mandala forced his energy to its limits, unleashing poison arts unrivaled in the world. Only he could be the Poison Sect’s number one; Su Wen, the traitor, should have been surpassed long ago. “Die!”

For years, Su Wen had become Mandala’s inner demon. If he did not destroy this demon, he would never rise. The strike he now unleashed was infused with incomparable poison.

But once again, Su Wen’s invincible defense absorbed the attack, and Verdant Joy neutralized the poison. “Surely you believe it now—you are no longer my match. Stop this, or you will die. We’ve been brothers for years; I don’t wish to see you end this way.”

Unlike the one-sided battle between Su Wen and Mandala, the other battlefield exploded with the sounds of fierce combat. Not only the King of Poison Hands and Yue Yuan, but all the elite disciples surrounded Zhuang Yun Zhen. Even facing such odds, his fighting spirit burned bright. After a thousand exchanges, Zhuang Yun Zhen was battered, but his resolve was unbroken. “Pathetic! You all insisted on fighting together—why so timid now after being struck by my Burning Heaven? Don’t you dare attack?”

“Yue Yuan, your Dragon-Slaying Kicks are impressive, but I possess the Immovable Golden Body. Your skills can’t harm me. Against you lot, my Sun and Moon Twin Radiance Palm is more than enough. You don’t deserve to see my other techniques.”

Even battered, Zhuang Yun Zhen remained unstoppable. “Damn it, how is his power still increasing? He can face us all at once—how can we possibly defeat him now?”

“Well then, since none of you dare attack, let me finish this—take my Frosty Ice Dance!” The Frosty Ice Dance fused elegance, illusion, and beauty. Many believed it to be the signature opener of the Sun and Moon Twin Radiance Palm, and rightly so. Instantly, the air turned frigid, Zhuang Yun Zhen’s twin palms weaving a mesmerizing dance. The attackers saw only a blur, and when they came to, they were engulfed in biting cold.

Though the strikes seemed gentle, they unleashed terrifying force. This was the Gentle Jade Dew, the third move, based on the third technique, Spring Thunder’s Transformation. The first four moves of the Sun and Moon Twin Radiance Palm were all of the yin attribute, and only by using Spring Thunder’s Transformation as the foundation could their full power be unleashed. At this moment, Zhuang Yun Zhen moved like the wind, his palms unstoppable. Yue Yuan and the King of Poison Hands had never encountered such an opponent—before, they were bold only because Mandala was present. Now, even Mandala was faltering.

With their pillar gone, the Poison Sect’s elite disciples were at a loss. Even at full strength, they could now muster only a fraction of their power. Zhuang Yun Zhen wished to test the true might of the Sun and Moon Twin Radiance Palm, and as he moved through the first four moves, he found the power astonishing—and the icy backlash he once feared was gone. Clearly, his injuries were healed at last. “Well? Do you still wish to fight? If so, I have a few tricks left. But from the look of you, even if you wanted to continue, you lack the strength.”

The Poison Sect’s fighters were utterly spent. Any movement brought stabbing cold; their meridians had been damaged. “That’s right—your meridians are injured. Even so, I have not killed you—not because I can’t, but because I choose not to, out of respect for Senior Su Wen.”

Having let go of his hatred, Zhuang Yun Zhen felt lighter. He ignored the defeated and strode towards Su Wen. “Senior, all matters are settled. Now I can help you at last. Mandala, you must see now—no matter your poison arts, if I join forces with my foster father, how long can you hold out?”

“Young man, I truly underestimated you. But I did not expect you could actually defeat the Poison Sect’s elite. If this goes on, nothing will be resolved. But I can’t return in failure—I came here with a mission. If I don’t complete it, I can’t go back. Brother, I know I’m no match for you, but for old times’ sake, hand over the sect manuals. After all these years, do you still refuse to return to the sect?”

“Return to the sect? Ha! Are you joking, Mandala? Even now, you think I would go back? Do you remember what I said when I left? I said, once I left, I would never return. Now that you see my strength, you try to lure me back? Too bad—I am not the man I once was.”

“Now, I give you two choices: take your men and leave at once, or stay and keep fighting. But this time, I won’t hold back.”

Su Wen had always been even-tempered, but now, he was truly angry. Even after all these years, he refused to let the past be brought up. “Ha! Are you angry now, brother? Good. But I should tell you—your defeat of me is already known to the sect. Soon, martial experts from the sect will swarm here. Yes, your Drunken Cloud Depth is the best in the world, but even the greatest art is useless against true masters.”

“I can leave, but you’ll be facing endless battles. You’ve lived in seclusion for years, but as a Poison Sect man, you cannot escape these trials. You may wish to run, but can you truly escape?”

“Hmph. I wondered if you’d grown at all over the years, but all you have to say is this? Even if I must face endless battles, it has nothing to do with you. You always pinned your hopes on others. Even if the Poison Sect doesn’t come, I’ll seek them out myself. It’s time to settle the old score.”

“Oh, and if I kill you now, things would be dull, wouldn’t they? You loved tattling in the past. When you return, be sure to tell everyone what you saw here. I’ll be waiting for them. And don’t bother watching Yun Zhen—he’s my disciple. Whatever he wants to do, I’ll support him. In all these years, I’ve never met another youngster as interesting as he. Aren’t you curious to see how the Poison Sect’s arrogant elite will react when he topples them all?”

Hearing this, Mandala understood. His brother never spoke carelessly. If he said so, Zhuang Yun Zhen’s strength must truly be on par with—or beyond—the Poison Sect’s finest. Mandala had never imagined such power from him.

“Hmph. You think I’ll believe that? Your biggest mistake today is sparing me. If I were you, I wouldn’t hesitate. If you don’t kill me now, you’ll never have another chance.”

“Brother, now I truly believe in your strength. Meeting you again fills my heart with joy. I look forward to our next encounter.”

“Just as I thought. Since you won’t fight, take your people and leave. The good aura of this place has already been sullied by your presence.”

“You’ve done well, Yun Zhen. But do you know my true identity? I think you already have the answer. Yes, I was once of the Poison Sect. After all these years, I thought I could leave the old conflicts behind, but I finally understand—no matter how I try to escape, it’s impossible. Since I can never run, I must face it now.”

“But at least, I once bore it alone—now, with you by my side, I have nothing to fear. One thing, though—I am sorry. You came here to learn, but because of me, you ended up in danger.”

“In danger? That’s not right. From the day I set foot on the martial path, peaceful days were already behind me. Battle is part of the way—I’ve long known this. Foster father, you’re wrong. The reason I’ve regained my former power is thanks to you. I can never repay that debt, so there’s no need for such words.”

“Good child. I never trusted my own judgment. All these years, I saw no one as worthy—most only wanted my skills for themselves, not to do any good. But now, I finally met you. As my only disciple, I trust my own judgment.”

“Lord Mandala, are we just to leave like this? I can’t bear such an outcome. If we return now, how will the sect leader treat us? You all know his temper—he said the Poison Sect cannot tolerate the weak. If we slink back in defeat, are we not the same as trash?”

Of course, Mandala knew the sect leader’s disposition. But in that battle, neither Su Wen nor Zhuang Yun Zhen had fought in earnest—otherwise, how could they have survived? “Hmph. Yue Yuan, enough. Look at yourself now. If you’re dissatisfied, just go back and fight them again. What happens next, I cannot say.”

Was Yue Yuan really capable of that now? He wasn’t. Another fight with Zhuang Yun Zhen, and he might not survive. “Indeed, we’ve all felt Zhuang Yun Zhen’s power. If he fought us at full strength, we’d all be doomed. Better not to fight.”

“If you want to fight, Yue Yuan, do it yourself. We won’t. We value our lives.”

Having spoken thus, Yue Yuan could only swallow his pride. “Brothers, I owe all I have to your help. If you won’t fight, I won’t force you. But if word gets out that we feared a traitor, it won’t sound good.”

“Hmph. If you’re so capable, you handle it. You started this fight—now you clean up the mess. Lord, Yue Yuan seeks only to make the rest of us his foils.”

“Enough. We came as one, and that’s that. I know what you’re all thinking. Let me tell you—our Poison Sect lacks not for experts. What you suffered today can be paid back tenfold in time. For now, we must be patient. After waiting so long, what’s a little more?”

“You’re all my disciples. To quarrel over an outsider—is it right? Think about what you should be doing now. Know what’s most important? That you all returned safely. With that accomplished, nothing else matters.”