Chapter 130: Offense and Defense

In the world of martial arts, techniques that balance both offense and defense are rare. Just like "form" and "intent," these two concepts are inherently difficult to harmonize perfectly. Yet, the "Bagua Howling Heaven" technique displayed by Shen Wansan felt fundamentally different. It achieved a subtle equilibrium between striking and shielding, leaving an opponent unsure of how to respond. To attack with full force would mean exposing oneself to his counter-assault—a flawed strategy. To adopt a purely defensive stance would be to tether oneself to inevitable defeat. Neither option seemed viable.

All martial arts, being human inventions, possess inherent weaknesses; the challenge lies in identifying them. Though Flower Butterfly had no time for careful deliberation, she was no novice. She had recognized the name of the technique the moment Shen Wansan assumed his stance, and her body instinctively adopted the most effective countermeasure. With a powerful sweep of her leaf-wings, she soared into the air. Retreat was out of the question—that would be tantamount to surrender—but skirmishing from a distance was a different matter. While the Bagua Howling Heaven was formidable in both offense and defense, it had a fatal flaw: its effective range. To maintain such a perfect balance, the combat zone had to be kept compact.

This was the opening she needed. While the "Flying Flower Hands" could not match the legendary Bagua Howling Heaven in raw power, it possessed the advantage of long-range reach. Having practiced her art to the "Profound Absolute" realm, Flower Butterfly could strike with ease from ten meters away. If she played her cards right, her opponent would be unable to touch her within ten moves. With her strategy set, she didn't hesitate. She used the momentum of her wings to lift her body, and in the blink of an eye, she was hovering in mid-air, gazing down at Shen Wansan with a trace of triumph.

Whether he had failed to anticipate this or not, Shen Wansan’s expression darkened. He had mastered this art for years and understood its strengths and weaknesses, but he had never displayed it before others. How could she know its limitations? Yet, his grim look vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a chilling calmness that was far more unsettling. "I hadn't expected you to be smarter than your master, little girl. Lady Wuji only knew how to meet force with force. Had she possessed your knack for finesse, she wouldn't have lasted less than ten moves against me."

The words were backhanded—a compliment wrapped in a mockery. The implication was clear: even if Flower Butterfly were slightly more clever than her master, she, too, would fall within ten moves. It was a foregone conclusion. By insulting Lady Wuji, he aimed to provoke her, knowing that a disciple could not stand by while their mentor was belittled. Even the most composed person would struggle to maintain focus under such taunts. This was precisely Shen Wansan’s intention. Despite his arrogance, the current situation was slipping from his control, and his boast of "ten moves" was beginning to feel like a liability. But a man of his standing, a figure of renown in the Jianghu, could not retract his words. His reputation was everything—the very thing he had spent his life chasing, even if the title of Martial Arts Alliance Leader had ultimately eluded him.

"That was her own folly," Flower Butterfly replied, her expression unshaken. She realized that a man only resorts to petty provocation when he is unsure of his footing. "Regardless of your true capability, Shen, your reputation alone should have commanded respect. She created the Flying Flower Hands, and I am its sole inheritor. The bond between master and disciple is unbreakable. Today, I shall use this very technique to prove that it is not the art that is flawed, but that she simply lacked the talent."

Her calm response caught Shen Wansan off guard. His attempts to rattle her had failed, and her bold dismissal of her own master meant that wordplay was now meaningless. He decided to act. With a heavy stomp, the giant blades of energy surrounding him began to orbit faster. This was a variation of his technique; while the giant blades were powerful, they lacked reach. This new, accelerated state was the true fundamental form of the Bagua Howling Heaven.

Flower Butterfly, intent on maintaining the initiative, flapped her wings. Beyond the energy required to stay aloft, she manifested her remaining energy into razor-sharp leaf-blades, firing them toward Shen Wansan. It was not a finishing move, but it forced his hand, compelling him to defend and whittling away at his energy.

Shen Wansan let out a sharp cry, and the dead leaves around him surged, expanding into a massive, imposing humanoid construct. Even in the dead of night, the figure was gargantuan, blocking out the moonlight. Within the center of this construct, the old man sat cross-legged, eyes closed, as if in deep slumber.

"Directing spirit with the heart, controlling energy with spirit," she murmured, her confidence wavering as she watched the construct move with the agility of a living man. "This old ghost is a master indeed. If he combines his spirit with the Bagua Howling Heaven, he might just bridge this distance. If he does, my only advantage is gone." She glanced toward the foot of the mountain, searching for the reinforcements the Eastern Moon had promised. Her leaf-blades were deflected by the construct’s massive palms with mechanical precision, and between his defenses, the giant retaliated with strikes of its own. Keeping herself aloft while parrying these blows was an immense drain on her spirit.

After only a few exchanges, exhaustion began to set in, as if her inner energy were being drained away. Yet, she had to persist. Falling to the ground would mean certain defeat against his close-range mastery. She gritted her teeth, praying for the ten moves to pass or for help to arrive, while a new, nagging doubt began to stir in her mind.