Tears couldn't cease their flow, a river of snot accompanied them, and vision grew dim, both consciousness and sight becoming unfocused. Li Banfeng never fathomed that a simple sneeze could escalate into such a dire predicament.
Tang Sword instructed, "Gourd, offer the master a draught of wine to clear his airways; perhaps it will aid him!"
The Wine Gourd complied, giving Li Banfeng a sip, yet the symptoms showed no improvement after imbibing.
"This is the Greenwater Beggar's affliction; Elder Yao's wine proves ineffective," even the Wine Gourd found itself without a viable remedy.
To continue this endless circling was no solution. The Greenwater Beggar was employing this disease to restrict Li Banfeng's movements, and furthermore, he possessed Martial Cultivation techniques that could extinguish Li Banfeng's life.
The Gloves chimed in with counsel, "Master, it's prudent to withdraw for now; let us return home and lie low for a time."
Escaping the Greenwater Beggar was not a simple feat; his gaze remained locked upon Li Banfeng without a moment's respite. Should Li Banfeng attempt to retrieve his keys at this instant, he likely wouldn't even have the opportunity to unlock the door. Even if, by some miracle, he managed to open it and return to his residence, the keys would undoubtedly be confiscated by Green Flower.
Setting aside the pressing matter of the keys for a moment, even if he reached his Portable Residence, the affliction plaguing Green Flower could not be resolved within its confines.
Amidst their evasive maneuvers, Green Flower suddenly leaped before Li Banfeng, unfurling his garments and once again aiming for Li Banfeng's head.
This time, direct confrontation was not an option; Li Banfeng could not repeatedly employ Benevolent and Righteous within such a short timeframe. He sidestepped to evade the blow, only to suddenly perceive a threat materializing from behind him.
What lurked behind him?
The Begging Bowl!
The Begging Bowl, previously in Green Flower's grasp, was now nowhere to be seen. This very Begging Bowl, usually held firmly in Green Flower's hand, had inexplicably maneuvered behind Li Banfeng.
While the precise function of the Begging Bowl remained unknown, it was undeniably a supreme Magical Treasure. Li Banfeng found himself trapped in a precarious situation, unable to advance or retreat, all while suppressing the overwhelming urge to sneeze.
The Begging Bowl was on the verge of striking the back of his head when it abruptly vanished.
Green Flower's brow furrowed in anger.
While the loss of flesh he could endure with a measure of composure, the disappearance of the Bowl eroded his rationality.
He surged towards Li Banfeng, intent on swiftly ending his life.
This was a miscalculation; how could a Traveling Cultivator allow such a direct approach to succeed?
Li Banfeng easily evaded Green Flower's charge.
Thud! Green Flower's feet plunged into a sudden mire, rendering him unable to extricate himself.
From whence did this mire originate?
Seizing the opportune moment, Li Banfeng activated Passing Glance. With Green Flower's feet ensnared and his vision compromised, he could not keep pace with Li Banfeng's agile movements. Half of his cheek then exploded.
The ruptured flesh was immediately seared by the Wine Gourd and the Gloves. Li Banfeng sought to capitalize on this advantage, launching a follow-up attack to press his gains further.
Green Flower expelled two streams of viscous snot; utilizing their adhesive properties, he broke free from the mire's grasp and bellowed, "He Jiaqing, you scoundrel, still haven't finished with that stolen Mud Cultivation Technique!"
He ascended into the air, evading Li Banfeng's assault, and coiled his body, appearing to writhe in nauseating spasms.
"Wuwah~" Green Flower regurgitated a substantial quantity of greenish fluid, which rapidly coalesced into a swarm of green-headed flies in the sky.
The flies circled briefly before converging on a pile of debris.
He Jiaqing, concealed within the rubble, was compelled to reveal himself, attempting to ward off the incessant biting of the flies.
Moments earlier, he had employed Thief Cultivation techniques to pilfer Green Flower's Begging Bowl.
Subsequently, he had utilized the purloined Mud Cultivation Technique to conjure the mire beneath Green Flower's feet.
Li Banfeng ascended rapidly, employing Short Step to close the distance with Green Flower, intending to execute the Close Doors and Shut Windows technique once more.
Green Flower seized the largest pustules adorning his body, squeezing them with considerable force. A spray of white-green pus erupted, mimicking flower-skinned mosquitoes, their wings beating as they advanced upon Li Banfeng.
With both Li Banfeng and He Jiaqing ensnared in combat, the Greenwater Beggar coughed up a lump of flesh, which he then kneaded into his hair. The flesh began to grow at an accelerated rate within the hair oil, transforming his locks into a vibrant red hue.
He was in the process of cultivating a new locus for his disease, a significantly more potent one.
Having lost the Begging Bowl, Green Flower grew increasingly restless; unwilling to endure prolonged combat, he sought a swift conclusion to the battle.
Now, by utilizing his hair as nourishment for the disease locus, Green Flower needed only to shake his head to disseminate the affliction.
The inherent danger of Disease Cultivation lies in its insidious nature.
These newly formed disease loci were far more refined than those Green Flower typically deployed, capable of infiltrating the respiratory system and subsequently the skin. Li Banfeng and He Jiaqing found themselves utterly defenseless, and in a short span, both could meet their demise.
Green Flower was on the cusp of shaking his head when his gaze suddenly fell upon He Jiaqing, now returning, swarmed by flies.
Was he deliberately seeking death?
The flies were manifestations of disease loci; had he willingly allowed himself to be bitten?
He Jiaqing, in truth, had resigned himself to the inevitable.
Given his already compromised state, what further harm could another disease locus inflict?
Greenwater Beggar flicked his ragged clothes toward He Jiaqing's face.
He Jiaqing possessed the ability to evade, yet a cluster of fleshy growths unexpectedly sprouted across his bandaged visage.
This was Green Flower's signature and most vexing combat skill: activating disease hotspots during a battle, causing afflicted adversaries to abruptly succumb to illness.
Given He Jiaqing's cultivation level, had this affliction manifested earlier, he could have forcefully subdued it through his physical resilience.
However, confronted with a sudden outbreak in a critical life-or-death struggle, He Jiaqing lacked the temporal capacity to suppress it. The undulating flesh clusters obscured his vision, and Green Flower's tattered garments connected with him.
A dull impact resonated as He Jiaqing's skull fractured, and he plummeted to the earth.
The ragged clothing enshrouded He Jiaqing, binding him like a Zongzi.
Green Flower seized He Jiaqing and hurled him against the ground, forging a substantial crater.
A dagger materialized from He Jiaqing's form, carving an aperture in the tattered wrapping.
Greenwater Beggar advanced, wrested the dagger free, and proceeded to stomp on He Jiaqing more than a dozen times.
He Jiaqing recoiled, shielding his vital areas. Green Flower elevated the dagger, plunging it into He Jiaqing repeatedly. Just as he prepared to sever He Jiaqing's head, the Begging Bowl unexpectedly tumbled out from within the ensnaring rags.