Yet, there was nothing that Wu Batian could do. He was already committed. And his son was the most powerful among his disciples present. So he could only hold his tongue and hold his temper. And hoped that what he saw was really the truth:That Lin Liushui didn"t really have a plan, and was using everything that he had, to avoid clashing physically with Wu Zhenyang.
But if that was the case, why was he still smiling? And why was he moving with such grace, with such ease? Why did he look as though he was simply waiting, waiting for an opportunity?
Qin Feng couldn"t understand it either. But that was the impression that he got, when he looked at Wu Batian"s expression. And if he could see that, it should be obvious to the rest of the people present thereabouts. Even those who were supposed to be on his side!
However, as one of Lin Liushui"s allies, he should have a better idea of what he was waiting for, shouldn"t he? What sort of opportunity did he need, to turn the tables on this Wu Zhenyang?
And what could he do, what could Qin Feng do, to help him?
Then there was a bit of ruckus, on the opposite side of the Arena stands. And Qin Feng scowled as he watched two women step into the same. One of them was dressed in dull, grey robes, cut in a fashion that would look fetching on a woman of sixty or seventy. But she looked no more than forty to fifty years old, and did not have even a single strand of grey in her hair.
Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.
As for the young girl at her side, she was dressed in a beautiful gown of pale green, that was adorned with a belt of deep green silk, embroidered with narrow golden leaves, reminiscent of bamboo. And her hair was tied up in a simple bun on top of her head, similar to the way that the older woman at her side had her hair restrained. But while the latter was using a simple wooden stick, the younger woman had a jade one, similarly carved to resemble a twig of bamboo.
Between her dressing and her smooth complexion, she drew every eye as she walked into the place. All of which confirmed that her beauty was matched by her fairy-like grace as she moved. Even Qin Feng"s.
But all it took was a single look, for him to recognize her at once!
She was one of the two women that he had met, in the woods outside, to the North, of Changqing City! One of the pair that had decimated all of the barbarians there, together with the martial pract.i.tioner that had accompanied them! She was from the Snow Swallow Mountain Palace!
Then he calmed down. Hadn"t he already known that they would be present? Didn"t Lin Liushui tell him that they were part of the group that was forcing Du Yan to give up his suit? Since he already knew that they were there to make trouble for the Du Family, and for the Yuan Family, why should he be so surprised?
Still, he had not expected her to be one of their representatives.
Qin Feng found his lips curling in a smile, as he saw how the younger of the pair was scanning her surroundings, and giving a derisive look at all the men on her side of the Arena. Men who were clearly l.u.s.ting for her beauty. Then her eyes flicked over to the opposite side, and lit on Qin Feng and his companions.
There was a certain lighting up of her gaze, and her lips seemed to twitch slightly. That was all the indication that she gave, but he had caught it. So she had seen him, and recognized him. Just as he had recognized her, as the younger of the two women that he had met:
This was the one who had poked fun at him, and was disgruntled because her senior sister wished to learn the White Jade Hands from him. The same one who had mocked the inadequacy of his martial arts back then!
How strange the ways of Heaven. To think that they would have a chance to meet again like this. As enemies on different sides. It was a great joke, to tell the truth. He knew that Lin Liushui had been utterly correct.
She could even kill him with one strike, if she was serious! It was impossible for him to be able to fend off even one of her casual blows!
But strangely, he felt a burning desire to try! This was the best opponent that he could hope for! This was his one chance to find out, just how far he had managed to come, in the half-year that since he last met her!
Then Qin Feng heard a roaring, and jerked his eyes away from the young woman. And turned his attention back to the Arena at once. Had something taken place on the same? Had Lin Liushui finally failed to dodge his opponent"s a.s.sault? After all, the roars had all originated from his side of the stage!
Du Yan was on his feet, and Li Changhai was shaking with excitement. And it was obvious from their fixed gazes that they were all staring at the stage itself. And the fight that was taking place on the same. Had something happened to Lin Liushui?
But why did it look as though both of them were excited and pleased, rather than anxious? Qin Feng could not understand it, until he turned his eyes to the stage as well:
Only to see a pale-looking Lin Liushui standing over the fallen Wu Zhenyang, who was clutching at his left leg as though he was in terrible pain. And Qin Feng didn"t need a physician to tell him that the position of the limb was all wrong. How could a person"s leg bend like that, unless he had two knees?
Or, unless both bones of his lower leg had been broken, and bent out of shape!
That was when he saw Lin Liushui raise both his hands, and clasp them in a very formal, very polite gesture at the man who he had just beaten. Who was writhing in pain on the stage, clutching at his leg had just been mangled!
Which made Lin Liushui"s next words, and the way that he delivered them, all the more painful to the ears of the Black Eagle Mountain"s Wu Batian!
"Ah! Young Master Wu Zhenyang. Thank you for letting me win."
* * *