Li Banfeng sat inside his Portable Residence, looking at Long Spear Hong Ying with concern. "Girl, you’ve suffered a lot these days."
"Pah!" Hong Ying spat. "Faithless man! Who’s your girl?"
"Keep your voice down; don’t wake up my wife."
The Phonograph was sleeping. Li Banfeng took the opportunity to offer some solicitude to Hong Ying. "Girl, I see there’s still affection between you and my wife. What unresolved grievances do you have? Just tell me."
Hong Ying sneered. "There are so many grievances between us, too many for even me to count. Which part do you want to hear?"
Li Banfeng sighed. "Let’s not talk about things that stir up bad feelings. I just want to hear about when you two fought, especially when it was life or death."
Hong Ying sneered, "Did that wicked woman send you to probe me? Heartbreaker, tell that wicked woman to give up. She’ll never get a word of truth from me in this lifetime."
Li Banfeng sighed, "Why must you be like this? You’re sisters, as close as hands and feet. Is there any misunderstanding we can’t talk through? Alright, I’ll play along. I won’t ask about the causes or consequences; just tell me how you two fought."
Hong Ying snorted, "I just won’t tell you. What can you do about it?"
Li Banfeng sighed again. "Why be so stubborn? I’m only trying to help both of you."
As he spoke, Li Banfeng took out a bottle of Snow Cream, dipped out some ointment, and spread it on Hong Ying.
Hong Ying shivered and rebuked sharply, "What do you think you’re doing, touching me?"
Li Banfeng lowered his voice. "Quieter, don’t let my wife hear. This is medicinal ointment for injuries; it relieves pain."
This was no lie; it was a healing ointment concocted from the Wine Gourd’s Medicinal Liquor and Snow Cream.
Hong Ying struggled. "I don’t need your fawning! You and that wicked woman are cut from the same cloth. You must have colluded to plot against me! Stay away from me! Don’t—not there... you can apply a little more over there."
Hong Ying truly had suffered significant injuries recently. Although her true body was gone, she could still feel pain.
"I told you to apply a little more *there*, not that spot..."
"Exactly where?" Li Banfeng grew a bit anxious.
Hong Ying huffed, "Why are you in such a hurry? It’s not you who’s in pain."
"Isn’t it... because I’m worried about you?"
After applying the ointment, Li Banfeng rubbed his hands. "Girl, first tell me, how did you two fight back then?"
Hong Ying snorted, "Why do you keep asking about this?"
"Isn’t it to help you resolve your grudge?"
"The grudge between her and me cannot be resolved, and there are some things I don’t want to bring up again."
Li Banfeng’s patience wore thin, and he prepared to press her.
HISS. HISS. HISS.
The Phonograph exhaled several puffs of Steam, yawned, and woke up.
"Hey, what’s that smell? Snow Cream? Bitch, why do you smell of Snow Cream?"
Hong Ying tensed. "What Snow Cream? You must be dreaming!"
"No, it’s definitely the fragrance of Snow Cream!" The Phonograph’s Big Horn turned toward Li Banfeng.
Li Banfeng took out the Snow Cream bottle and smeared a layer on his face. "It’s been a bit dry these past two days. I applied some Snow Cream."
HISS. HISS.
The Phonograph enveloped Li Banfeng with a cloud of Steam. "Husband, you’ve never mentioned dry weather before. Why have you suddenly become so refined today?"
Li Banfeng explained, "Because today is exceptionally dry."
"Exceptionally dry, huh?" The Steam fiercely heated up, and the Phonograph roared angrily, "You madman! This slut only arrived a few days ago, and you’re already fawning over her, smearing such fine things on her. When have you ever been so considerate to me?"
Li Banfeng’s eyes widened. "Wife, that’s not how it is. Rouge, Face Powder, Snow Cream—I’ve applied plenty for you."
"Hmph!" His wife was even more infuriated. "You really dare compare me to this hussy!"
Hong Ying shouted angrily, "Who are you calling a hussy? Aren’t you, you wicked woman, just as vile?"
"Madman, I’ll deal with you in a moment!" The Phonograph released Li Banfeng and resumed her attack on Hong Ying. Hong Ying didn’t fight back, but she didn’t yield either.
Li Banfeng seized the moment to escape from the Portable Residence, massaging his forehead, vexed about the Fifth Layer Technique.
Just as he was agonizing over this, Lu Chunying ran in, flustered. "Benefactor! Something’s happened! Several people have arrived outside the stronghold. From the looks of it, they were sent by a Saint."
"Exactly how many people?"
"Four or five. I left in a hurry, so I didn’t see clearly."
Li Banfeng quickly checked his Magical Treasures and hurried to the stronghold gate.
Five people stood at the gate. Li Banfeng recognized one of them: Ren Wenlie, who had just narrowly escaped death at his hands.
There were also three young men, all in their twenties. Daring to accompany Ren Wenlie, they presumably had some cultivation.
One person remained.
This individual was somewhat perplexing.
Judging by his face, the man was old. Deep wrinkles were etched into his inelastic skin, which was mottled with age spots of various sizes and colors.
His body was extremely swollen—not muscular, nor fat, but rather a flabby bloat, as if his flesh and bones weren’t contained by his skin but merely constrained by his clothes.
The swollen old man also looked towards Li Banfeng.
Ren Wenlie said to the old man, "Senior brother, he’s the one we’re looking for."
"Heh—"
This old man was none other than Ren Wenlie’s eldest senior brother, Cong Shixiang. He emitted a low sound from his throat, and a stench of decay caused Li Banfeng to frown.
The other three youths were originally local villagers. Thanks to their sincerity, they had received the Saint’s directives and been accepted as disciples just today. The eldest was named Jiang Shirong, the second Pei Maojin, and the youngest Gao Yangting. Li Banfeng’s initial assessment was incorrect—these three had no cultivation level. Ren Wenlie had brought them along, saying they were to assist his eldest senior brother.
Li Banfeng met the gazes of the five men one by one. Ren Wenlie started to speak to Li Banfeng, but Li Banfeng raised a finger, signaling him to be silent.
"Cultivating both virtue and martial prowess, and relying on the favor of two Taoist Sects, you managed to escape death once," Li Banfeng said. "But you won’t be leaving this time. None of you will."
Li Banfeng smiled. Ren Wenlie grew very tense, as did the three junior brothers beside him.
Only the eldest senior brother, Cong Shixiang, remained expressionless. At least, Li Banfeng couldn’t detect any change in the swollen old man.
As they stood in a standoff, Niu Guangda arrived at the stronghold entrance, herding two oxen. They had recently captured a surplus of livestock, too much to eat at once, so they were keeping them in the stockade for the time being. Niu Guangda had just herded the oxen back and hadn’t expected to walk into this scene.
He was dumbfounded, and so were the oxen.
Li Banfeng shouted, "Go back!"
Niu Guangda pulled on the oxen, trying to lead them away, but the oxen stood their ground.
Li Banfeng yelled angrily, "I told you to go back!"
Niu Guangda abandoned the oxen and quickly ran back into the stronghold.
Cong Shixiang suddenly appeared before Li Banfeng, his swollen body surprisingly agile.
Li Banfeng retreated a step on the balls of his feet, his right foot lashing out at Cong Shixiang’s belly.
He kicked with all his might, but it felt like stepping into a quagmire.
SQUELCH! Li Banfeng’s foot sank into Cong Shixiang’s belly. As he tried to pull it free, Cong Shixiang abruptly grabbed his calf and bit down.
Li Banfeng sensed intense danger.
Although Cong Shixiang had no teeth, if that bite landed, his right leg would undoubtedly be crippled.
In desperation, Li Banfeng pushed off with his left foot, launching himself into the air. His toes struck Cong Shixiang’s face, and he used the impact to wrench his right foot free.
No sooner had Li Banfeng landed than Cong Shixiang was upon him again, reaching to grab his clothes.
Li Banfeng used Short Step to circle behind Cong Shixiang and struck the back of his head with a Rust Pill.
He hadn’t used this move in a long time. Apart from when it failed against the Straw Moth Lady, it had never missed.
The Rust Pill stuck to the back of Cong Shixiang’s head, and a patch of rust rapidly spread.
Li Banfeng had just breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Cong Shixiang reach back and tear off a chunk of flesh from his own head.
He dug in deep, exposing the skull beneath.
Li Banfeng was deeply shocked, but what came next was even more astounding.
Cong Shixiang stuffed the ball of flesh directly into his mouth.
He actually ate it! He devoured it, Rust Pill and all.
Li Banfeng thought. But Cong Shixiang did not turn into rust.
His body showed no unusual signs as he resumed his fierce assault on Li Banfeng.
He was extremely quick, his speed no less than Li Banfeng’s.
His strength was enormous, far surpassing Li Banfeng’s.
His physique was incredible. Not only were punches and kicks ineffective, but even several slashes from Li Banfeng’s sickle had no visible effect.
He couldn’t afford to get entangled with such a man. Cong Shixiang was too strong; Li Banfeng had to find an opportunity to finish him quickly.
Li Banfeng drew two Short Knives and threw them at Cong Shixiang’s face.
Simultaneously, the Tang Sword circled to Cong Shixiang’s back.
The Wine Gourd sprayed a cloud of alcohol mist, enveloping Cong Shixiang.
A three-pronged attack.
Even if Cong Shixiang managed to neutralize these attacks, Li Banfeng wouldn’t stop his offensive until he had completely subdued him.
The next moment completely defied Li Banfeng’s expectations.
Cong Shixiang didn’t dodge, allowing the Short Knives to lodge in his face.
The knives rapidly rusted, crumbling into fragments in an instant.
Behind Cong Shixiang, the Tang Sword, poised for "Beheading with Every Blow," hesitated to strike.
If it had struck, the result would have been the same as those two Short Knives—it too would have turned to rust.
While Li Banfeng was still in shock, Cong Shixiang charged at him.
PS: Why isn’t the eldest senior brother afraid of the Foolish Cultivation Technique?