Chapter 119: You Laugh So Foolishly!

Page (1/3)

Wu Jieyuan and Jin Chengying fiercely battled Huyan San Niang, the One-Inch Blue, with great urgency and valor. Swinging the Dragon Tongue Spear with relentless force, the spear's tip quivered like a dragon’s tail piercing through clouds, each strike aimed directly at Huyan San Niang’s vital points, showing no mercy or tenderness.

The chief general defending Puzhou, Lin Chong, known as Leopard Head, arrived with his troops. Witnessing Jin Chengying’s ruthless cruelty, he could no longer contain his fury. With a thunderous roar, he charged into the fray, spear in hand, to relieve Huyan San Niang and engage Jin Chengying in mortal combat.

This clash was vastly different from the previous male-female fight; it was like swords carving through mountains and rivers. Although Huyan San Niang was highly skilled, she was ultimately a woman, lacking in physical strength. Against Jin Chengying, she relied on cunning, entangling, and delaying tactics, using seventy percent of her strength defensively and only thirty percent offensively.

In contrast, the battle between Lin Chong and Jin Chengying was pure brute force. Both were unrivaled generals, fierce as tigers and wolves, wielding equally powerful moves with matching strength.

Their combat was a dazzling display of prowess, a tumultuous dance of rolling and charging, like two divine dragons whose heads and tails vanished from sight. Shadows flickered swiftly, spear and lance flashing in chaotic brilliance. Within moments, they exchanged more than fifty moves without a clear victor. The onlookers, including Huyan San Niang and her husband, quietly cheered.

On the surface, the two were evenly matched, each a worthy adversary; yet, Jin Chengying grew increasingly troubled. He noticed Lin Chong’s inexhaustible stamina and boundless internal energy, which only grew stronger as the fight prolonged, intensifying the pressure on Jin Chengying’s hands.

Leopard Head Lin Chong, like Lu Zhishen and Wu Song, was a naturally gifted master, possessing deeper internal strength and a more stable realm than Jin Chengying, who was a late-blooming peak talent.

Lin Chong feared nothing more than a protracted battle and favored exactly that. Patient in combat, even with ordinary foes, he could exchange dozens of moves without conceding defeat. To overcome him was out of the question.

Jin Chengying’s spear technique was fairly refined, making him a decent opponent. Lin Chong, a martial arts master of the imperial army’s eighty-thousand-strong elite troops, seized the rare opportunity to indulge fully in the fight.

Seeing neither side gaining an advantage, Huyan San Niang spurred her horse back to their camp and personally beat the war drums. The continuous “dong dong” sound stirred the spirits of the Liangshan outlaws, filling the air with renewed vigor.

Inspired by her encouragement, Lin Chong’s spear technique abruptly transformed. What had been delicate and hidden like gentle rain turned into a fierce torrent, like waves crashing against cliffs.

This was the legendary spear technique handed down from Zhang Fei of the Three Kingdoms era—“Soul Severing Canglang Tremor.”

Lin Chong, an expert in eighteen martial arts and a master of spear and lance, had learned his spear style—the great spear technique—from Zhou Tong, the foremost martial arts master of Song Dynasty. This technique was one of the three great northern spear arts, alongside Lu Junyi’s “Nine Absolute Qilin Flash” and Shi Wengong’s “Pen Tube Spear.” It was balanced in offense and defense, with a slight edge in defense, suitable for enduring long battles.

However, Lin Chong’s lance technique was inherited separately from his ancestors, following Zhang Huanhou’s style from the Three Kingdoms period. This method grew stronger in tandem with the user’s fighting spirit and fury.

Though powerful, this technique did not suit Lin Chong’s normally cautious personality and was rarely used under ordinary circumstances.

Yet now Leopard Head Lin Chong unleashed this skill, instantly transforming from a gentle gentleman into a fierce warrior on the battlefield, revealing his true nature as a small-scale Zhang Fei.

Jin Chengying, increasingly unable to fend off the assault, grew fearful and lost his will to fight. Seizing a gap, he spurred his horse to flee. Lin Chong, surging with power, swirled his lance with uncanny agility. With a flick, the spear tip pierced Jin Chengying’s calf.

Stricken by the wound, Jin Chengying howled in pain and tumbled from his horse. Lin Chong pressed forward, ready to deliver the final blow, when suddenly a silent cold arrow shot from the enemy ranks.

Leopard Head Lin Chong, ever vigilant with eyes and ears attuned to all directions, detected the faintest twang of a bowstring. With a swift dodge and a clever step into his stirrup, the arrow flew past harmlessly.

The archer was highly skilled. Missing once, he launched four more arrows in quick succession, forming a “Four Symbols” formation, each aimed at vital points on Lin Chong.

This volley was a specialized technique—the “Five Ghosts Pursuing Soul Arrows”—a signature move of the legendary archer Xie Yingdeng from the Wagang Army during the Sui and Tang dynasties.

Page (2/3)

Hearing the bowstring again, Lin Chong had no time to dodge into his stirrup. Pulling his horse’s reins, he unleashed a tightly woven spear technique to deflect all four arrows.

In a flash, the lance gleamed silver as Lin Chong simultaneously activated his invisible protective energy, shielding his entire body just in case.

With sharp “clacks,” the spear shaft successfully knocked aside two arrows; the protective aura shattered a third, while the shaft of the last arrow was caught between Lin Chong’s teeth in a perilous maneuver.

After enduring the five-arrow volley, Lin Chong broke into a cold sweat. The skillful archer’s precision rivaled that of the famed Hua Zhai strongholds.

Amid the arrow barrage, several hundreds of grappling hookmen charged from the imperial army, hurling ropes to snare the injured Jin Chengying, who was dazed and battered, and dragged him back to their lines.

Though Jin Chengying’s vanguard was nearly wiped out by Lin Chong’s ambush, the imperial army’s main force arrived swiftly, quickly deploying beyond the mouth of Sunset Valley to confront Lin Chong, Huyan San Niang, and their allies.

The five cold arrows had come from the imperial camp. Lin Chong, having dodged them, halted his horse and shouted fiercely, “Which scoundrel dares shoot arrows in the dark?”

A cannon blasted from the imperial ranks as two fierce generals emerged. The first, with a tiger-like face and piercing eyes, stood eight feet tall, wielding a bow and arrow, riding a spotted horse, and brandishing a massive broad cleaver. Behind him was another towering figure, also eight feet tall with a broad waist, sharp eyes, a ruddy face, holding a five-fingered three-edged iron spear, mounted on a hybrid Red Hare horse.

These were the newly forged valiant generals personally trained by the Bamboo Crown Immortal—Weiyang Yin, a shepherd, and Lizong Tang, a farmer. The latter had just fired the Five Ghosts Pursuing Soul Arrows.

Lizong Tang laughed heartily, “The one who shot you is none other than your old man Li. Lin Chong, you bandit, the imperial troops have arrived. Prepare to meet your death!”

Lin Chong bristled with anger, brandished his spear, and charged straight at the center, while Lizong Tang sheathed his bow, drew his great cleaver, and rode out to meet him. The two clashed immediately.

With the strength of a Yellow Turban warrior bestowed by the Bamboo Crown Immortal and the martial spirit of Xie Yingdeng, Lizong Tang’s skills slightly surpassed Jin Chengying’s. Despite Lin Chong’s exceptional prowess, victory was not easily won.

The two horses circled, blades and spears clashing. After twenty moves, the fight remained evenly matched.

Among the Liangshan supporters, Wang Ying and Huyan San Niang understood martial customs, but Weiyang Yin, the shepherd, did not.

Having tended sheep in the mountains days before, Weiyang Yin knew only the rules of sheep, not human customs.

Seeing Lizong Tang struggle against Lin Chong, Weiyang Yin urged his hybrid Red Hare forward without a word and charged in to assist.

Lin Chong, focused on Lizong Tang’s cleaver, nearly faltered as Weiyang Yin’s spear thrust beneath his ribs. A quick dodge barely saved him from a fatal wound.

Huyan San Niang, seeing Lin Chong in danger, paled in shock, then furrowed her brows and widened her eyes. With a coquettish cry and a flash of her horse and blade, she charged into the enemy ranks, joining forces with Lin Chong to fight the two generals.

Though her strength lagged behind Lizong Tang and Weiyang Yin, Huyan San Niang had become a formidable fighter under Lin Chong’s tutelage, able to hold her own in this deadly battle.

As the four generals fought fiercely, a female general appeared from the imperial ranks. Mounted on a white horse, wielding a double-hooked painted halberd, her hair styled in a young woman’s bun, her face like peach blossoms in March, eyebrows like willow leaves in early spring—graceful and beautiful, a vision of martial goddess splendor.

The banner before her read clearly: “Officially Appointed Pacification General’s Wife, Lady Jia.”

Wang Ying, the short-legged tiger of the Liangshan scouts, seeing the beautiful woman, whose charm rivaled even Huyan San Niang’s, grew bold. He spurred his horse forward, spear poised to strike.

Page (3/3)

The imperial ranks erupted in cheers as Lady Jia entered the fray. White Jie met Wang Ying’s charge, their spear and halberd clashing.

Within ten moves, Wang Ying’s restless and distracted mind betrayed him, and he faltered in his technique.

Experienced and worldly, White Jie saw through his thoughts but, noting his ugly appearance, felt no sympathy and muttered, “Vile scoundrel!”

Seizing a chance, she feigned defeat and fled. Wang Ying, intent on capturing her to claim glory, gave chase. The pursuit carried them past the center line between the two armies.

White Jie, delighted at her ruse, suddenly turned her horse, parted her cherry lips, and shouted:

“Wang, short-legged tiger, if you don’t dismount now, when will you?”

This was the secret side technique taught by the Bamboo Crown Immortal—the “Name Calling Dismount Technique,” which had shone brilliantly during the Shang-Zhou Fengshen War but had been lost for years.

Unlike martial arts like the Lion’s Roar, Dragon’s Eight Sounds, or the Nameless Divine Music, which use sound waves to attack the ears or mind, this technique strikes directly at the soul.

Upon hearing the call, Wang Ying felt as if his spirit had been struck by a heavy hammer, his three souls unable to unify, his seven spirits restless. His body weakened and swayed; his legs gave way, and he tumbled from his saddle.

The five hundred grappling hookmen who had just rescued Jin Chengying sprang into action again, their ropes flying as they seized the clumsy Wang Ying alive.

Huyan San Niang, seeing her husband captured, cursed, “Wicked woman, do not use sorcery to harm others!”

She spurred her horse out of the fray, blades flashing as she sought to rescue Wang Ying. But Lizong Tang, noticing her vulnerability, nocked an arrow, aimed at her back, and released it with deadly force.

Lin Chong’s eyes widened, and he shouted, “Sister-in-law, watch out!”

Seeing Huyan San Niang unable to avoid the arrow, Lin Chong grabbed his spear and hurled it like a javelin. With a sharp crack, it struck true, knocking down the arrow.

This inspired throw saved Huyan San Niang’s life but cost Lin Chong his weapon. Lizong Tang and Weiyang Yin grinned fiercely and pressed their attack like raging waves, seeking to reverse their fortunes by killing Lin Chong on the spot.

Huyan San Niang, turning her gaze, saw Lin Chong had lost his weapon to save her. Her heart softened deeply, and she cast all thoughts of Wang Ying aside.

She turned back, wielding twin blades, and charged into the melee once more, resolved to fight to the death to protect Lin Chong.

Seeing the imperial army’s overwhelming strength, the commander Cao Zheng ordered a retreat. Huyan San Niang covered Lin Chong as they fought while retreating back to their camp.

Lizong Tang and the others wished to pursue, but were met by two towering warriors—Song Wan, the Cloud Vajra, and Du Qian, Touching Heaven—who directed the Liangshan troops to hold their ground.