"Yesterday, after Taihiap left me in that forest."
She began to speak, her voice trembling.
"I could not restrain my heart which felt pity and admiration for Taihiap. I was disappointed that Taihiap was unwilling to accept my invitation; we truly need the guidance of a powerful person like Taihiap. I did not despair and tried to chase after Taihiap who was riding his horse."
She paused briefly to observe and await Kwee Seng's reaction, but the young man remained silent, so she continued her story.
"After leaving that forest, Bayisan suddenly appeared. He stated his intention, which was to persuade my *sute* to ally with the Khitan people. Naturally, I became angry and cursed him, and then we fought, resulting in my defeat and capture. That damned Khitan man is incredibly formidable. Thus, in a helpless state, I was taken to that inn. Fortunately, Heaven protected me so that I could meet Taihiap. Kwee-taihiap, I repeat my request: please be willing to visit the fortress, meet my *Suteku*, and we beg for your guidance in this chaotic situation. We feel as if we are almost losing our footing, Taihiap, with so many kings emerging and establishing small kingdoms, making it difficult for us to determine what is good and what is bad."
In his heart, Kwee Seng praised her. This young woman, just like Kam Si Ek, was someone who deeply loved her country, a person with a patriotic soul who would willingly sacrifice body and soul for the nation and people. It felt wrong to keep refusing.
"Very well, Miss Lai. After I finish my business here, I will stop by General Kam's fortress."
"Thank you, Taihiap, thank you...!"
With a voice full of joy, Kui Lan bowed repeatedly.
"Shhh, there is someone on the peak. Miss Lai, since you are already here, I instruct you to hide and never come out, never show yourself, no matter what happens. Will you grant this request of mine?"
Lai Kui Lan understood Kwee Seng's intention; with a sad face, she nodded. However, because her face was covered in shadow, Kwee Seng did not see this sadness. Kwee Seng then rose and left Kui Lan, climbing the peak. His suspicion was correct; when he arrived at the summit, Liu Lu Sian was already standing there. This girl was incredibly beautiful. Under the unobstructed moonlight, she was like a goddess from the heavens. The moonlight enveloped her, her hair emitted a glow, and her eyes were like stars.
"It seems you have not forgotten your promise. Kwee Seng, I am here, ready to receive the skill you promised me before."
Said Liu Lu Sian, but her voice was extremely unpleasant, sounding cold, a stark contrast to her persona which seemed to create warmth and intimacy. He knew that the girl not only did not return his affection but also held a grudge against him. Therefore, he did not want to use the address *moi-moi* (younger sister/darling), fearing that it would increase the Girl's anger and invite ridicule toward himself, who was clearly infatuated with Lu Sian.
"Lu Sian, actually, the skill I used to contend with you before was just the ordinary *Pat-sian-kun* Martial Art."
"No need for many excuses, Kwee Seng. If there is a skill you intend to pass down to me as you promised, quickly give me the instruction!"
Kwee Seng bit his lip, then said,
"Watch carefully. This is the martial art."
He then performed the martial art with slow movements, and indeed he executed the *Pat-sian-kun-hwat* Martial Art bare-handed, but it was clear that these movements were intended for a sword weapon. Originally, this martial art had sixty stances. However, when Kwee Seng received instruction from Bukek Siansu the Divine Man, he condensed it to only a quarter, resulting in just sixteen core stances that encompassed the entirety and covered all flourishing moves or feints, attack moves, or defensive moves. After performing the sixteen stances, Kwee Seng stopped and looked at Lu Sian while saying.
"Well, this is the martial art I intend to teach you, Lu Sian. Have you paid attention to the movements? Please try to practice it; I will provide explanations for anything unclear."
"Ah, you are lying to me!"
Lu Sian cried out angrily.
"A martial art like that, judging by its movements, is far less formidable than the *Pat-mo Kiam-hoat* created by Father! How could you defeat me with that skill? Kwee Seng, I know that since you couldn't win my love, you intend to retaliate by presenting me with a common martial art to insult me!"
Kwee Seng felt exasperated, and his feelings were hurt. This girl was too cruel to someone who was not her chosen love.
"Lu Sian, who is lying to you? When I faced you before, I used no other skill but this!"
"I don't believe it! Try to defeat me now using that skill!"
"Very well. Let me use this as a sword."
Kwee Seng picked up a tree branch lying nearby.
"You start and watch carefully, I will only use *Pat-sian-kun*!"
Lu Sian drew her sword, then lunged with lightning speed, executing a dangerous stance from her father's sword technique, namely *Pat-mo Kiam-hoat* (Eight Devils Sword Technique), which was indeed created to counter *Pat-sian-kun* (Eight Immortals Martial Art). Seeing the young woman's sword flash, stabbing toward his chest with extraordinary speed, Kwee Seng shifted his foot to the left, then the branch in his right hand swung from the side, sticking to the sword from above and pressing the opponent's sword downward, accompanied by *sin-kang* energy. Lu Sian's sword was pressed down and stuck, as if rooted to the branch! No matter how hard Lu Sian tried to release the sword, it was all in vain.
"Now, this parry is from the fourth stance, which is *pat-sian-khat-bun* (Eight Immortals Open the Door) and can be followed by the eighth stance attack, *Pat-sian-hian-hwa* (Eight Immortals Present the Flower). The sword strikes wherever desired, one may choose the target, but for this example, I will only attack the shoulder."
Suddenly, the pressing force on the branch vanished, and as Lu Sian's sword, released from the pressure, shot upward, the branch quickly darted out and struck Lu Sian's right shoulder! Lu Sian winced; it didn't hurt, but she was extremely frustrated.
"Try to face this!"
She shouted, and her sword created wide circles; from within those circles, the sword tip flashed like a garuda bird hunting prey, threatening the opponent's upper body.
"I counter your attack with the fifth stance called *Pat-sian-hut-si* (Eight Immortals Brush the Fan) to protect myself."
Said Kwee Seng, and suddenly the branch in his hand spun rapidly, forming a round mound of light protecting his upper body, and followed by the fourteenth stance attack called "Eight Immortals Dance the Umbrella!"
Suddenly, the rolling ball of light widened like an umbrella, and unexpectedly from below, the branch shot out and struck Lu Sian's thigh, producing a loud
"thwack!"
If that branch had been a sword, the girl's thigh would surely have been severed!
"Ouch ...!"
Lu Sian shrieked because her struck thigh felt stinging and painful.
"Kwee Seng, you are insolent...!"
"My apologies, I did not intend to hurt you. Do you believe me