Cui Tiq’s sudden appearance caught Da Boyins completely off guard.
He had a strong impression of this Foreigner from their first encounter in front of the grocery store. The Foreigner’s body was covered in strange blisters that terrified Da Boyins, making him check his own body repeatedly for fear of contagion.
The Foreigner’s way of asking for directions was also peculiar. He had come to Medicine King Valley yet didn’t know where to buy medicine, which made Da Boyins suspect his motives.
But there was one thing Da Boyins hadn’t considered: The Foreigner was also here for Li Banfeng.
Moreover, he hadn’t started his own investigation into Li Banfeng’s whereabouts but directly took advantage of Da Boyins’s research, waiting for Da Boyins to find Li Banfeng before swooping in to intercept.
Da Boyins chuckled. "Alright, I’ll let you have him. He’s right here. Come and take him away."
Li Banfeng was surrounded by webbing, and Da Boyins wanted to see what skills Cui Tiq possessed to reach Li Banfeng.
Cui Tiq blinked his emerald-green eyes and directly requested of Da Boyins, "Could you please remove the spider silk? That would make it convenient for me to pass."
Da Boyins was stunned for a moment before scoffing, "Do you think that’s a reasonable request?"
Cui Tiq shrugged. "Isn’t it? If you don’t remove the spider silk, how can I take him away?"
Da Boyins laughed. "I refuse to remove the spider silk. If you’re capable, come and get him. If not, get lost!"
Cui Tiq nodded. "Remember what you just said. Don’t ever remove the spider silk, because if you do, you’re not a man!"
As soon as his words landed, Cui Tiq unbuttoned his shirt and used his fingernails to slice open a patch of blisters on his chest.
The fluid from the blisters splashed out. Each drop was lush and crystalline, like an emerald dewdrop, hanging from the threads of spider silk.
Da Boyins was stunned.
He had never seen such a method of attack before.
What followed was even more incredible: every green dewdrop on the spider silk started to move on its own.
This fluid from the blisters seemed to have a life of its own and could move along the spider silk.
This meant that every thread of spider silk Da Boyins had set had now become a special conduit for the blister fluid, allowing it to launch an all-out offensive against him.
Da Boyins didn’t dare to find out.
He immediately destroyed some of the spider silk, carving out an escape route for himself, and stepped out of the predicament posed by the blister fluid.
At the same time, Li Banfeng pulled the Tang Sword from his pocket and shouted, "Attack!"
The Tang Sword immediately reverted to its full size of over a meter. It unsheathed with a CLANG, slicing through the web, and Li Banfeng rushed out through the gap.
Da Boyins grasped the spider silk, leaping up and suspending himself in front of Li Banfeng, his arms suddenly stretching out in an attempt to capture Li Banfeng.
If Li Banfeng were caught, Da Boyins would use the spider silk to carry him away over the surrounding houses, and then a dose of venom would render Li Banfeng unconscious.
If Da Boyins were to succeed, Li Banfeng wouldn’t be able to escape, and Cui Tiq wouldn’t be able to catch up.
Unfortunately for Da Boyins, he didn’t succeed.
The Tang Sword blocked in front of Li Banfeng, slashing out and severing one of Da Boyins’s arms, sending Da Boyins crashing to the ground.
Li Banfeng couldn’t afford a prolonged fight, especially with Cui Tiq, who was emitting green fluid, right behind him. One glance was enough to know this man was too dangerous to approach.
Li Banfeng threw a Rust Pill that struck Da Boyins on the cheek, then he turned and fled for his life.
Da Boyins pursued relentlessly, the rust spreading rapidly over his body.
Cui Tiq, following behind, was surprised. "What kind of disease is this? I’ve never seen it before."
"You’re that curious? I’ll let you have a closer look!" Da Boyins quivered from head to toe and shed a layer.
Cui Tiq didn’t know what it was. It included clothes, hair, a top hat, a face, hands, feet, and shoes.
Da Boyins had molted!
The rust-covered skin almost stuck to Cui Tiq.
The Da Boyins that emerged after molting was even more astounding.
He still wore clothes and shoes, and the top hat was still on his head.
"Your clothes are your skin! No, that’s not right. Your skin has your clothes on it! No, that’s not right either. To be precise... you’re not wearing any clothes at all! It’s all your skin!"
Cui Tiq’s comment displeased Da Boyins, especially since he had spoken so loudly.
The private detective turned, cast a web, and said to Cui Tiq, "Can you stop following me?"
Cui Tiq dodged the web, unconcerned. "This street isn’t your family’s property. If you can walk here, why can’t I?"
Da Boyins snorted coldly. "This is the land of Puluo State, and you’re not from Puluo State."
Cui Tiq retorted, "I love Puluo State. I even have a Puluo State tattoo. If you’d like, I can show you."
Neither of these two were Traveling Cultivators, so why could they keep up with Li Banfeng?
It was because of the difference in cultivation level.
Da Boyins had Fifth Layer Cultivation. Although not as fast as Traveling Cultivators of the same level, he could keep up with a First Layer Traveling Cultivator.
Cui Tiq’s cultivation level was unknown, but it was above Da Boyins’s.
If any one of them went all out to capture him, Li Banfeng would have no chance of escape.
Luckily for Li Banfeng, the two were keeping each other in check, which gave him a slight chance.
Li Banfeng ran with all his might, yet couldn’t shake off the two men. Seeing Cui Tiq closing in, Li Banfeng suddenly threw a pair of blood-stained scissors.
The scissors flew towards Cui Tiq, aiming straight for his throat. Cui Tiq scrambled to catch them, and Li Banfeng seized the opportunity to detour around him.
Da Boyins immediately caught up, extending his two long arms, and was about to entrap Li Banfeng.
The Tang Sword unsheathed again, flew behind Li Banfeng, and stabbed straight for Da Boyins’s chest.
The strike was swift as lightning. It forced Da Boyins to dodge with difficulty, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Overjoyed, Li Banfeng commanded the Tang Sword, "Kill him!"
The Tang Sword quickly shrank and slipped back into Li Banfeng’s pocket.
Li Banfeng had no time for further thought and continued to sprint like mad.
Thanks to these two interruptions, Li Banfeng bought himself some time and dashed into a deep alley.
By the time Da Boyins and Cui Tiq chased into the alley, Li Banfeng had already vanished.
Da Boyins searched the ground for footprints, but the tracks suddenly vanished near the alley entrance.
Da Boyins searched the walls on both sides but found no signs of climbing.
"Where did he go?" Da Boyins was truly puzzled.
Cui Tiq nodded. "Indeed. Where could he have gone?"
Da Boyins suddenly spun around, glared at Cui Tiq, and shouted, "Stop following me!"
Cui Tiq sighed. "Sir, how many times must I say it? This street isn’t yours, and Medicine King Valley certainly isn’t yours either."
Da Boyins’s body swelled, suddenly transforming into a huge spider. He leaped in front of Cui Tiq, trapping him with his spider legs, and aimed his two Chelate Teeth at Cui Tiq’s throat. "You’re that eager to die?"
Cui Tiq laughed. "You dare approach me? It’s hard to say which of us is more eager to die."
Blisters erupted on Cui Tiq’s face, oozing fluid.
Da Boyins, his eight eyes twinkling, mocked, "Go on, infect me with your germs! I’ll just shed another layer of skin!"
Cui Tiq shook his head. "The infection doesn’t necessarily have to spread to your skin."
"They can also spread through the air, right? I can just stop breathing," Da Boyins laughed. "I can kill you first."
"That’s not very nice," Cui Tiq coughed twice. "I have a fever. It’s very ungentlemanly of you to treat a sick person this way."
"A fever? That must be awful. If I kill you, you won’t be in pain anymore," Da Boyins extended his Chelate Teeth, preparing to bite Cui Tiq’s throat.
"Don’t be so rough. I really do have a fever." Cui Tiq’s body suddenly turned scorching red, so hot that Da Boyins was enveloped in wisps of green smoke.
He indeed had a fever; his body temperature surpassed that of red-hot iron.
This was a special Technique of Disease Cultivation.
Da Boyins, who had never encountered Disease Cultivation, was forced to molt again by the searing heat. He extricated himself from his old skin and retreated to the wall.
His shed skin turned to ash, and Da Boyins realized the formidable strength of his adversary.
He took an Insect Cocoon from his coat. It was roughly the size of a ping-pong ball. He dangled it from his hand by a strand of spider silk, swaying it gently.
This was a warning to Cui Tiq.
Cui Tiq glanced at the cocoon and took a step back. "Is this from the Straw Moth Lady?"
Da Boyins nodded. "You know your stuff."
Cui Tiq indeed knew his stuff. He was aware of the Straw Moth Lady’s level and the great power of this cocoon.
"To obtain this cocoon, you must have sacrificed a lot."
Da Boyins gritted his teeth. "So you should understand the power of this cocoon."
But Cui Tiq wasn’t planning to back down. He kept his gaze on Da Boyins and asked, "Are we still fighting?"
Da Boyins shook his head. "Actually, we don’t need to fight. Why should we? Don’t we both want to capture Li Banfeng? But he’s not here right now. To catch Li Banfeng, we first need to find him."
Cui Tiq nodded. "So, I’m confident you can find Li Banfeng. And in the coming days, I’ll continue to follow you."
Cui Tiq still had no intention of investigating on his own.
He trusted Da Boyins’s abilities and planned to continue freeloading off the famous detective’s investigative results.
Da Boyins’s body hair quivered. His seven remaining legs (one had been severed by the Tang Sword) stroked the surrounding silk. "Don’t push me, you damn Foreign Devil."
Cui Tiq smiled faintly. "I am pushing you, you fake Foreign Devil."
After exchanging disdainful glances and spitting at each other, they left the alley one after the other, continuing their search for Li Banfeng.
Two hours later, Li Banfeng stepped out of his Portable Residence and fled from Li Gou.
This time, Li Banfeng was certain he couldn’t win.
But without a Guide Token, how could he escape from Medicine King Valley?
Li Banfeng’s gaze shifted towards the train station.
Li Banfeng was about to move but then stopped in his tracks.
PS: Hey, dear readers! Shala updated eleven thousand words today! Shower Shala with praise, quick!
A horde of readers arrived, swords drawn, roaring, "Is there no more?!"
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