Chapter 246: Senior Brother

Li Banfeng sat inside the Portable Dwelling, gazing at Hong Ying and said with concern, "Sister, you've suffered these past days."

"Pah!" Hong Ying spat. "Heartless man, who's your sister?"

"Keep your voice down, don't wake your wife."

The Phonograph was asleep; Li Banfeng seized the chance to flatter Hong Ying: "Sister, I can see there's still feeling between you and your wife—what's this feud you can't resolve? Tell me."

Hong Ying sneered. "We've got plenty of grievances—so many I've lost count. Which one do you want to hear?"

Li Banfeng sighed. "Let's not talk about hurtful things. I just want to hear about your fight—especially the part where you tried to kill each other."

He wanted to learn the Fifth-Level Technique. Hong Ying was a high-level Traveler; she knew the technique and its essentials. The only problem was how to make her speak without letting his wife find out.

Hong Ying sneered. "Did that wicked woman send you to pry? Heartless man, tell her to give up—she'll never get one true word from me."

Li Banfeng sighed. "Why must you be like this? You're like sisters—can't you clear up this misunderstanding?"

"Fine, I'll go along with you. I won't ask about the past—just tell me how you fought."

Hong Ying snorted. "I won't tell you. What are you going to do about it?"

Li Banfeng sighed again. "Why be angry? I'm only trying to help both of you."

As he spoke, Li Banfeng pulled out a jar of snow cream, dipped his fingers in the ointment, and smeared it on Hong Ying's skin.

Hong Ying shuddered and snapped, "What are you touching me for?"

Li Banfeng lowered his voice. "Quiet, don't let your wife hear—this is healing ointment, for pain."

He wasn't lying. It was a healing salve made from liquor-soaked herbs and snow cream, mixed by the Wine Gourd.

Hong Ying struggled. "I don't need your flattery. You and that wicked woman are the same—you've conspired to trick me. Stay away. Don't—there, not there—wait, that spot… you can put more on there."

Hong Ying had indeed suffered many injuries lately. Though her true body was gone, she still felt pain.

"I said put more on that spot—that one, not this place…"

"Which spot?" Li Banfeng grew impatient.

Hong Ying sneered. "Why the rush? It's not you who's in pain."

"I'm just… worried for you."

After applying the ointment, Li Banfeng rubbed his hands. "Sister, tell me first—how did you two fight?"

Hong Ying snorted. "Why do you keep asking this?"

"I'm trying to reconcile you two."

"Our grudge can't be resolved. Some things I don't want to speak of again."

Not speak of them?

If you won't tell me, have I wasted all this effort?

Li Banfeng lost patience and prepared to press harder.

Hssss~ hssss~ hssss~

The Phonograph exhaled several puffs of steam, yawned, and woke up.

"Hey! What's that smell? Snow cream? You wicked woman, why do you smell like snow cream?"

Hong Ying tensed. "What snow cream? You're dreaming!"

"No—it's definitely snow cream!" The Phonograph's loudspeaker turned toward Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng pulled out the snow cream jar and smeared a layer on his face. "Lately the air's been dry—I applied some."

Hssss~ hssss~

The Phonograph wrapped Li Banfeng in a cloud of steam. "Husband, you've never mentioned dryness before—why the sudden refinement?"

Li Banfeng explained, "Today's especially dry."

"Especially dry?" The steam surged hotter; the Phonograph snapped, "You madman! She's been here mere days and you've already taken to her? You smear this fine ointment on her—when did you ever treat me so kindly?"

Li Banfeng glared. "Wife, that's not fair—I've applied rouge, powder, snow cream to you plenty of times."

"Huuu~" The Phonograph grew angrier. "You dare compare me to this wicked wench!"

Hong Ying roared, "Who are you calling a wicked wench? Aren't you the wicked one?"

"Madman, I'll settle with you later!" The Phonograph released Li Banfeng and lunged at Hong Ying. Hong Ying couldn't fight back, but she refused to yield.

Li Banfeng slipped out of the Portable Dwelling, rubbing his forehead, troubled by the Fifth-Level Technique.

What exactly was the Fifth-Level Technique?

Was it the Path-Cutting Method his wife had mentioned before?

What were its essentials?

If Hong Ying won't speak, who else could he ask?

Go to Medicine King Gully and find the driver?

But he couldn't even leave this place—how could he return to Medicine King Gully?

Even if he returned, the driver might not help him.

At this level, techniques are known to so few—they can't be bought with money.

As he brooded, Lu Chunying rushed in, frantic: "Savior! Something's happened! Several people have arrived outside the mountain fortress—they're clearly sent by the Saint!"

"How many?"

"Four or five—I was in a hurry, didn't get a clear count."

Li Banfeng counted his magic treasures and hurried to the fortress gate.

Five men stood there. One he recognized: Ren Wenlie, who had barely escaped death at Li Banfeng's hands.

Three young men, all in their twenties, likely cultivators, had followed Ren Wenlie.

And one more.

This one was baffling.

His face showed great age—deep wrinkles carved into lifeless skin, speckled with patches of varying colors.

His body was bloated—not muscular, not fat, but loosely swollen, as if his flesh and bones weren't contained by his skin, but bound inside his clothes.

The bloated old man stared at Li Banfeng.

Ren Wenlie said to the elder, "Senior brother, this is the man we're looking for."

"Huh—"

The old man was Cong Shixiang, Ren Wenlie's senior brother. A low groan escaped his throat, and a stench of decay made Li Banfeng frown.

The other three youths were local villagers who, due to their sincerity, had just received the Saint's command and been taken as disciples.

The eldest was Jiang Shirong, the second was Pei Maojin, the youngest Gao Yangting. Li Banfeng had guessed wrong—they had no cultivation. Ren Wenlie had brought them along merely to assist Senior Brother.

Li Banfeng met each of the five men's gazes. Ren Wenlie wanted to speak first, but Li Banfeng shook his finger, signaling silence.

"You've cultivated both literature and martial arts, exploiting two Dao sects' advantages to escape death once. But this time, you won't escape. None of you will."

Li Banfeng smiled. Ren Wenlie tensed; his three junior brothers tensed too.

Only Senior Brother Cong Shixiang showed no expression—Li Banfeng saw no change in the bloated old man's demeanor.

Did empty threats not work on him?

How high was his cultivation?

Wasn't the Foolish Technique supposed to ignore cultivation levels?

As they stood in silence, Niu Guangda arrived at the gate, driving two oxen.

Recent raids had yielded many livestock—too much to eat at once, so they'd been kept at the fortress.

Niu Guangda had just returned from tending them and was stunned by the scene.

He froze. The oxen froze too.

Li Banfeng barked, "Go back!"

Niu Guangda pulled at the oxen, but they stood rooted.

Li Banfeng roared, "I told you to go back!"

Niu Guangda dropped the reins and sprinted back into the fortress.

Cong Shixiang suddenly appeared before Li Banfeng—his bloated body moved with no sluggishness.

Li Banfeng stepped back on his toes, then kicked Cong Shixiang's abdomen with his right foot.

He put all his strength into it—but it felt like kicking into mud.

Pfft! His foot sank into Cong Shixiang's belly. As he tried to pull it free, Cong Shixiang seized his calf and bit down.

No!

Li Banfeng sensed intense danger.

Though Cong Shixiang had no teeth, if he bit down, Li Banfeng's right leg would be ruined.

In desperation, Li Banfeng pushed off with his left foot, lifting his body into the air, then kicked Cong Shixiang's face with his toes—using the rebound to yank his leg free.

As soon as Li Banfeng landed, Cong Shixiang was upon him again, reaching to grab his clothes.

Li Banfeng used his Quick Step to circle behind Cong Shixiang and slammed a rusted pill into the back of his skull.

He hadn't used this move in ages. It had failed only once—against the Cloak Moth Lady. Otherwise, it never missed.

The rusted pill clung to Cong Shixiang's skull; rust spread rapidly across his skin.

Li Banfeng sighed in relief—then saw Cong Shixiang tear off a chunk of flesh from the back of his skull.

He tore deep—bone showed through.

Li Banfeng was stunned. What came next stunned him more.

Cong Shixiang shoved the chunk of flesh into his mouth.

He ate it.

He swallowed the rusted elixir along with the skin it clung to.

Good thing he ate it—he'll surely turn into rust dross.

Li Banfeng thought so, but Cong Shixiang did not turn into rust dross.

His body showed no abnormality; he launched a furious assault on Li Banfeng.

His speed was extremely fast, no less than Li Banfeng's.

His strength was immense, far beyond what Li Banfeng could match.

His physique was exceptional—not only could fists and kicks not harm him, but even when Li Banfeng slashed him with his sickle, leaving several gashes, it had no effect whatsoever.

He couldn't afford to get entangled with such a man; his power was too great—he had to find an opening and end him quickly.

Li Banfeng drew two short knives and hurled them at Cong Shixiang's face.

At the same time, Tang Dao circled behind Cong Shixiang.

The wine gourd sprayed a cloud of wine mist, engulfing Cong Shixiang.

Three-pronged assault—let's see how he handles this.

Even if Cong Shixiang deflected all these attacks, Li Banfeng's assault would not cease until he was utterly finished.

What followed utterly exceeded Li Banfeng's expectations.

Cong Shixiang did not dodge—he let the short knives plunge straight into his face.

The knives rapidly rusted, turning into rust dross in an instant.

Behind Cong Shixiang, Tang Dao, poised to "strike for the enemy's head," dared not strike.

If he had struck, he would have met the same fate as the two short knives—turning into rust dross.

What kind of Dao sect is this?

He ate the rusted elixir—how did he evolve the rusted elixir's own function?

As Li Banfeng reeled in shock, Cong Shixiang charged toward him.

PS: Why isn't this senior brother affected by the Foolish Cultivation techniques?

(End of Chapter)