The rapids surged, the current growing faster and fiercer, forcing the two on the shore to quicken their pace just to keep up. Amidst the crashing waves and countless whirlpools, a single log drifted upright with the flow. Like a wobbling roly-poly, it rocked back and forth in the turbulent waters, yet stubbornly refused to topple, defying gravity itself.
At the exposed end of the log, Jill Young and Bobby Tong were locked in a heated battle. From a distance, their hands and feet blurred into phantom shadows, dazzling and impossible to follow. One moment it looked like a dance, the next like rock-paper-scissors, then suddenly they’d fling arms and legs in wild, absurd moves—like the most ridiculous postmodern freestyle partner dance ever.
Honestly, if you’re not here, you just can’t appreciate the magic.
Every ounce of strength was used in just the right way—otherwise, that log wouldn’t have stayed upright for a second. Jill’s punches were fierce, Bobby’s palm strikes were impressive, but none of that really mattered. If you misjudged the tiniest shift in force, you’d be swimming in no time. Their hands moved like shadows, but most of their flurries were feints—actual blows were few and far between.
Bobby Tong unleashed the seventy-two moves of Void Fist—a style that uses softness to counter strength, illusion to defeat reality. Before Taiji came along, this was the ultimate technique. Real and fake moves aren’t strictly better or worse, but if Grandmaster Gold himself were here, he’d be flat on his face in no time. Brawling on solid ground is one thing; fighting on a raging river atop a log is something else entirely. And in this arena, Queen Jill could shame Grandmaster Gold into hiding.
Truth be told, Professor Jill was even better at this kind of contest. When it came to micro-movements and reaction speed, she was confident she could take on anyone. Plus, her inner energy was so unique that, if she wanted to cheat, she could freeze every water droplet that got close—solid ice versus liquid water, so her clothes stayed dry. Talk about an unbeatable loophole.
Of course, even Queen Jill, with her full-on Second Stage Extrasensory boost, showed off some jaw-dropping skills.
Her technique would make most martial arts masters sweat, and Bobby Tong—locked in close combat—couldn’t stop yelling, “Awesome! Awesome!”
Rumble! The water roared, the rapids sped up, and a terrifying crash echoed from up ahead.
"Hey! Up ahead, up ahead!" Aunt Crystal suddenly spotted something—the rushing water cut off and vanished, and she urgently called out, "There’s a waterfall ahead!"