The injury wasn’t serious, but it was quite painful. Li Banfeng wiped the bloodstains from his face and silently observed the walls and main door of the grand dance hall.
Before long, Yang Xingbo arrived with his men before the main door of the grand dance hall. Separated by the door, he was unaware of the situation inside.
Among his subordinates were those skilled in Peeping Cultivation. Having heard the noises from within, they could almost confirm that Li Qi was in the grand dance hall.
Yang Xingbo didn’t act rashly, awaiting Bao Yingchen’s instructions.
Bao Yingchen came to the door, stood for a moment, then shouted into the room, "Brother Li Qi, come out. Our business ends here."
"Ends here?" Li Banfeng laughed. "If it were so easy to end, why would you have mobilized so many people to find me?"
Bao Yingchen replied, "The Chu Family hired us for a job, and naturally, we have to complete it. That’s the rule of the Gang. However, how far we take the job is our decision. Tonight, both sides have suffered casualties, so we consider the job done. The Chu Family can’t find fault with us for that. Brother, you should understand what I mean."
These words did sound reasonable. When the Three Heroes Gang had sent Qin Xiaopang to Ma Wu’s territory to cause trouble, they had also known where to draw the line. This seemed very much in keeping with the Three Heroes Gang’s usual style.
But Li Banfeng didn’t believe Bao Yingchen. The current situation was clearly different from before.
Bao Yingchen continued, "I sincerely want to befriend you. To be honest, since clashing with the Lu Family three years ago, I haven’t encountered an opponent as formidable as you. I lost that battle against the Lu Family, but we became friends. Today’s fight, let’s call it a draw. I want to befriend you too."
Bao Yingchen was trying to distract Li Banfeng.
Li Banfeng, however, was actually happy to engage him in conversation, as he also wanted to buy time.
"Head of the family, how did you lose? Was it to Lu Dongliang? Tell me in detail."
Bao Yingchen smiled. "Actually, it wasn’t Lu Dongliang who defeated me. To be frank, my cultivation level is no less than his. I lost to Lu Dongjun. People say he’s simple-minded, but on the battlefield, his cunning and tactics are formidable. I was completely convinced by my defeat. Brother Li Qi, after our clash today, I’m equally impressed by you. Our friendship is settled!"
Li Banfeng remained silent, seemingly moved.
According to Bao Yingchen’s plan, if he could persuade Li Banfeng, he would lure him out and kill him. His men were all elites of the Three Heroes Gang, and Bao Yingchen didn’t want to suffer significant losses.
However, if he couldn’t persuade Li Banfeng, he wouldn’t care about the losses. Bao Yingchen would order his men to charge in, absorb the initial assault, and then find an opportunity to kill Li Banfeng.
Now that Li Banfeng seemed to hesitate, this wasn’t the moment for his men to get involved. It was the perfect opportunity to strike quickly and decisively.
Seizing this chance, Bao Yingchen used the Unobstructed Technique to enter the grand dance hall directly.
Actually, Li Banfeng hadn’t hesitated at all. He knew Bao Yingchen had no intention of making peace.
With danger suddenly so close, Li Banfeng didn’t reach for his key, abandoning the idea of returning to his Portable Residence.
If he retreated to the Portable Residence, the more than one hundred people from Xiaoyao Lodge would surely die, and his key might not remain hidden.
Fully aware of the danger, he stubbornly went his own way.
Li Banfeng decided to fight it out.
He prepared his Trample Over Thousands of Rivers, using the Stubbornly Going One’s Own Way Technique to elevate his level, striving to kill Bao Yingchen in a single strike.
But Bao Yingchen was, after all, a wily veteran.
He charged through the wall and saw the Steel Wire Rope before him.
He activated the Unobstructed Technique again, passed through the Steel Wire Rope, and sustained only a minor injury.
After passing through the Steel Wire Rope, Bao Yingchen didn’t charge directly at Li Banfeng. He knew Li Banfeng was ready to strike. Relying on his superior speed, he circled around to Li Banfeng’s back.
Li Banfeng spun around, trying to use the Benevolent and Righteous Technique to withstand another blow.
But the Benevolent and Righteous Technique could only be used once a day. Having used it already, could he use it again?
Li Banfeng visualized his Portable Residence, imagining himself to be as solid and unyielding as it.
As he thought this, the Benevolent and Righteous Technique failed. Li Banfeng suddenly felt a searing pain rack his body, and his movements slowed.
Seeing Li Banfeng slow down, Bao Yingchen was overjoyed. He took a step forward, passed through a Light Halo, and arrived right in front of Li Banfeng.
Bao Yingchen shuddered. A layer of his flesh and blood was stripped away, leaving him grievously injured on the spot.
He glanced back at the Light Halo, and in his shock, he thought of the nemesis of the Taoist Sect.
PS: Li Banfeng was wracked with intense pain, completely unaware of what had just transpired.