Chapter 467: Why Aren

The Cui Cui Tike before him was an advanced Drama Cultivator in disguise.

Facing an advanced Drama Cultivator alone, Li Li Banfeng was genuinely nervous, his expressions and tone perfectly convincing.

But what puzzled Li Li Banfeng most was why this Drama Cultivator had lured him to Fool's City.

How did he even know where Fool's City was?

Could it be that he was…

The Drama Cultivator's gaze sharpened, ready to strike Li Li Banfeng, when Li Li Banfeng said: "Don't rush. A good play demands a proper finale. We've come this far—let's clear the air. Was the woman who entered my room your accomplice?"

"You mean that woman?" The Drama Cultivator wiped his face, instantly transforming into the woman who had entered the wooden hut.

The woman was his disguise. Cui Cui Tike was his disguise too.

Li Li Banfeng marveled: "Excellent technique. But when I heard Cui Cui Tike's voice, you were right in front of me—yet his voice came from outside the house."

"A few minor tricks from the theater. You'd know if you went to plays often." As he spoke, the Drama Cultivator's lips didn't move, yet his voice echoed from afar.

"What's your real goal in Pulu Province? Seize the Yellow Earth Bridge? Take over Qiūqiū City? Or is any patch of land enough?"

The Drama Cultivator was happy to answer questions about theater, but had little patience for anything else.

"What good is knowing so much? Planning to come back in your next life for revenge?"

Li Li Banfeng smiled: "The play's almost over—can't I at least see the script?"

The Drama Cultivator shook his head: "In this grand play, you're just a background extra. Your part's done. No need to read the script."

"But if you tell the truth, I might add a few lines for you. First, who revealed my arrival in Pulu Province?"

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "Who needs someone to tell me? You've gone too far—right before the child's mother, you ruined the child's father. Could you really do that?"

The Drama Cultivator saw nothing wrong: "Everyone has their tastes. Want me to add a thrilling scene? I'll give you something memorable."

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "That scene won't happen. I don't want to end this so soon. We'll meet again."

Saying this, Li Li Banfeng turned and ran.

The Drama Cultivator laughed loudly: "You can't escape. In this city, you'll never leave—and no matter where you go, I'll find you!"

Li Li Banfeng sprinted back to Chang San Changsan Shuyu. Yan Hong was practicing her song. Seeing him, she beamed: "Sisters, come quick! Our shopkeeper's back!"

The girls surged forward, escorting Li Li Banfeng into the back hall.

Yan Hong said: "Seventh Master, where's the rouge you promised me last time?"

"I came in a hurry and forgot. I'll make it up next time."

Yan Hong pouted and walked off.

Yan Qing'er stepped forward: "Seventh Master, what about the hairpin you promised me last time?"

"I forgot that too. I'll make it up next time."

Yan Qing'er snorted and left.

Yan Cui'er stepped forward: "Seventh Master, what about the flesh you promised me last time?"

"I brought it!" Li Li Banfeng grinned. "Right behind me. It'll be here soon."

Yan Cui'er froze: "Soon… is this person alive?"

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "Alive, of course!"

Yan Qing'er cheered: "Seventh Master brought us fresh meat?"

Yan Cui'er grew angry: "Did he bring it for you? That's for me!"

Yan Hong snapped: "A whole live person—you're not trying to hoard it all, are you?"

Tang Tang Changfa burst out of the inner room, wielding a rolling pin: "What's all this shouting? Shopkeeper, you're back? Did you meet the city lord?"

Li Li Banfeng glared: "Foolish! A live person's coming soon—do you think we should tell the city lord?"

"A live person…" Tang Tang Changfa stared at his rolling pin. "Then… do we still eat noodles for lunch?"

Yan Hong poked Tang Tang Changfa's finger: "Look at your pitiful self—why bother with noodles? The shopkeeper brought us meat!"

Yan Cui'er still complained: "The meat is mine!"

Li Li Banfeng told them: "This meat's hard to handle. Be careful."

Tang Tang Changfa marched into the kitchen, swapped his rolling pin for a cleaver, and shouted:

"Yan Hong, greet guests at the door—smile even sweeter!"

"Yan Qing'er, sing inside—raise your voice higher!"

"Yan Cui'er, lead the girls in dance—twist your waist harder!"

"Shopkeeper, sit here and drink tea. The first slice of prime meat is yours!"

Li Li Banfeng didn't drink tea. He wasn't relaxed. He slipped back to his Personal Dwelling to warn his wife and Hong Ying to prepare their techniques for battle, and to consult with the old man about adapting their plans.

Tang Tang Changfa waited in the main hall for meat. A woman, around twenty, arrived at the Changsan Shuyu's entrance and asked: "Was there a man here just now?"

Yan Hong blinked: "You came here looking for a man?"

The woman snorted: "Can't I look for one here?"

Yan Hong frowned: "Does that seem appropriate?"

"I saw that man enter your Changsan Shuyu!"

Yan Hong sniffed the air, paused—there was a stench of blood on her.

Is this the live person the shopkeeper brought back?

She returned to the hall and told Yan Cui'er: "Stop dancing—the peaches are about to fall off!"

"Tang Tang Changfa, the shopkeeper brought back a woman—she won't fall for our act."

Tang Tang Changfa spat twice into his palms, fixed his hair, tucked the cleaver behind his waist, and grinned with determination: "I'll go."

He walked out. The girls were uneasy:

"Will he manage?"

"I heard he cultivates—he must have some real skill!"

"What real skill?"

He reached the door and asked the woman: "You're here for a man?"

The woman nodded.

"No preference on duration?"

The woman sneered: "If you can't even manage time, why bother running this business?"

Tang Tang Changfa lowered his head, embarrassed but defiant: "If you're that picky, I can't help it. This Changsan Shuyu has only one man—me."

"Liar," the woman stepped forward, hooked his chin. "There's another man here—the one who came from outside the city. I'm here for him."

Tang Tang Changfa blinked: "There's no other man here—only me!"

The woman's smile vanished. Her face darkened: "Why are you hiding him? Want his flesh and blood?"

"Easy. Hand him over. I'll kill him. His flesh and blood are yours."

Tang Tang Changfa grinned foolishly: "You speak as if we run a black shop."

Yan Qing'er watched from behind the screen, anxious: "Why wait? Get her inside!"

Yan Hong whispered: "This woman seems powerful."

Yan Cui'er wanted to help: "Who cares how powerful? It's meat the shopkeeper brought!"

The woman wiped her face—suddenly, she became a man. It was the Drama Cultivator who had been tracking Li Li Banfeng.

Yan Cui'er peeked out—and recoiled in terror.

Yan Hong asked: "What happened?"

Yan Cui'er trembled: "It's the Eldest Master!"

Eldest Master Gu Gu Rusong—the top disciple of Fool's City's Lord Sun Sun Tiecheng!

Yan Qing'er gasped: "Why is the Eldest Master here? What do we do?"

Yan Hong said: "It sounds like he's after the shopkeeper!"

Yan Qing'er: "Where's the shopkeeper? I'll go find him!"

Yan Cui'er snapped: "You dare! If you betray the shopkeeper, I'll kill you!"

Yan Qing'er panicked: "Why are you threatening me? I didn't provoke the Eldest Master!"

Tang Tang Changfa called back: "Stop yelling! This is a male guest—clean up and come out to receive him!"

Gu Gu Rusong frowned: "Tang Tang Changfa, don't play dumb. You don't know who I am?"

Tang Tang Changfa shook his head: "It's so dark—I truly can't see who you are."

Gu Gu Rusong smiled: "I'm this close, and you still claim you can't see? Then you don't need those eyes."

"Fine, as you wish." Tang Tang Changfa dug out his own eyes and dropped them on the table, leaving only two deep hollows on his face.

"Master, I'm truly blind now—eyes are gone, proof is clear," Tang Tang Changfa said calmly. "If you respect our Changsan Shuyu, pick a girl. If you don't, please leave."

Gu Gu Rusong sighed: "Why do this to yourself? Don't you feel pain?"

Tang Tang Changfa grinned: "It hurts, sure. But what can I do? You say no eyes—so I remove them. Isn't that giving you face?"

Losing his eyes came at a heavy cost.

His eyes were fake—but he believed they were real, just as he believed he was alive.

Without them, he saw nothing.

He paid this price to use a technique to drive Gu Gu Rusong away.

Gu Gu Rusong felt a chill—he knew he'd been caught in a technique.

Yet he had Cloud-Upper Level cultivation and was a Drama Cultivator. His fear showed no trace on his face. He smiled easily: "You didn't give enough face. Prove your worth—dig out your heart and liver and show me!"

"Easy!" Tang Tang Changfa grabbed his knife, slashed open his belly, and pulled out his steaming heart and liver, placing them before Gu Gu Rusong.

"What else do you need? Just say it!"

"You're using a technique on me again! First it was ironclad evidence, then it was challenging me to strike—" Gu Gu Rusong pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it to his nose. "But your technique stinks. I find it repulsive."

Tang Tang Changfa stammered, "W-what kind of smell?"

"The smell of the dead. Do I have to spell it out?" Gu Gu Rusong fanned the air with his handkerchief. "How disgusting is this odor? How do you endure it daily? Don't you find it nauseating yourself?"

Tang Tang Changfa shuddered. Some things, in their world, must not be touched.

Yan Hong'er gasped: "He's holding someone's weakness—Old Tang is backing down."

Gu Gu Rusong kept the handkerchief over his nose as he continued: "How many years have you been dead? Don't you despise yourself at all? Still running a brothel here, still doing business here—when have you ever had real business? Who would ever come to you? Look at yourself—don't you feel like vomiting? It's tolerable now with the cold weather, but when it gets hot, aren't you afraid you'll start crawling with maggots?"

After these words, Tang Tang Changfa trembled all over, unable to speak or move.

He had previously used the Foolish Cultivator's "Challenge to Strike" technique on Young Master Gu Gu Rusong. The core of the technique is self-harm: "Challenge to Strike" means "I invite you to strike me—if you won't, I'll strike myself."

Tang Tang Changfa gouged out his own eyes, ripped out his own heart and liver, inflicting severe psychological shock upon his opponent.

Though Gu Gu Rusong was a Cloud-Top cultivator, the Foolish Cultivator technique still affected him—his combat power and fighting spirit were now greatly weakened.

But Gu Gu Rusong also knew Foolish Cultivator techniques—he used the "Hold the Weakness" technique.

Tang Tang Changfa's prior actions were all about endurance and humility, merely trying to drive Gu Gu Rusong away. Logically, he had paid a heavy price without any provocation—his actions were not wrong.

But Gu Gu Rusong ignored all that. The core of the "Hold the Weakness" technique is to seize and never release the target's weakness and pain.

He seized Tang Tang Changfa's most painful wound and slowly tore it open.

Tang Tang Changfa instantly lost his ability to resist. Gu Gu Rusong seized the chance, entered the brothel's main hall, shoved Tang Tang Changfa aside, and walked straight in, saying: "You three living corpses, listen well—get out of here right now, don't make me sick.

You know my status. If I see you again, I'll tear apart your rotten bones and throw them all into the latrine, then obliterate your souls until you vanish into dust!"

Three girls behind the screen bit their silver teeth and clenched their fists.

Yan Hong'er leapt out from behind the screen, pointing at Gu Gu Rusong's back: "There! Young Master, behind you!"

Gu Gu Rusong froze. What was behind him?

Yan Cui'er stepped out: "Don't listen to her nonsense—there's no one behind you!"

Yan Qing'er also stepped out: "What are you talking about behind? There's nothing behind!"

Gu Gu Rusong frowned. What are they trying to do?

Is this clumsy acting meant to trick me into turning around?

Are they trying to ambush me when I turn?

Do they have the nerve to ambush me?

Have they forgotten who I am, forgotten my status?

Could there really be someone behind me?

In his hesitation, Gu Gu Rusong sensed a sound behind him—he spun around sharply and saw Li Li Banfeng standing right there.

With his Cloud-Top Top Xixiu techniques, he could have launched an instant ambush—standing still, striking swiftly. The Top Xixiu are fast and stealthy, no less so than Traveler cultivators.

The opponent would find it nearly impossible to dodge or parry—even Li Li Banfeng's current "Kind-Heartedness" technique couldn't block it.

But Gu Gu Rusong was still hesitating.

The three women behind him kept talking.

Should he kill Li Qi outright, or stay alert for the three living corpses behind him?

This hesitation made his strike noticeably slower.

His movement slowed—and Li Li Banfeng dodged.

In an instant, Li Li Banfeng's figure vanished.

"Horse-Gazing at Flowers!"

Gu Gu Rusong's eyes darted, instantly searching for Li Li Banfeng's whereabouts.

Several women behind him shouted: "Young Master, he's on the left!"

"Young Master, he's behind you again!"

"Young Master, he's above—look up!"

A fool's thousand thoughts!

All three women are using techniques!

CRASH!

While Gu Gu Rusong hesitated, his attention scattered—"Horse-Gazing at Flowers" struck true. His chest exploded; blood seeped through his robes.

Top Xixiu have no high defense. Taking a direct hit from "Horse-Gazing at Flowers," even if not fatal, left him severely wounded.

Strange—why are these three women helping Li Qi?

Why has Tang Tang Changfa been protecting Li Qi all along?

At first I thought they just coveted his flesh and blood—but now I see there's some deeper connection between them.

I can't fight here in this brothel—it's too disadvantageous!

Gu Gu Rusong took one step toward the brothel's entrance, but the three women behind him kept shouting.

Yan Hong'er cried: "Don't go out! Young Master, he's a Traveler cultivator—you'll die the moment you step outside!"

She had a point—outside, the Traveler cultivator gains the advantage.

Yan Cui'er shouted: "You must escape! Young Master, if your Top Xixiu identity is exposed, you must flee immediately—stay here and you're dead!"

More girls emerged from behind the screen, shouting loudly: "Young Master, reason with him properly—this is our territory, nothing can't be settled!"

"Young Master, be extremely cautious—he's coming again!"

Foolish Cultivators—the most difficult sect to deal with in the world.

A Cloud-Top Top Xixiu struggling against a single ground-level Foolish Cultivator must tread carefully. Now, with a whole crowd of Foolish Cultivators causing chaos around him—how could he possibly fight?

Ignore their nonsense—just walk out.

Gu Gu Rusong took one step outside—and found himself standing again in the main hall of the Changsan Brothel.

He had walked out of the hall—and now he was back inside it.

How could a single threshold separate two grand halls?

Li Li Banfeng had used the "Mind-Travel a Thousand Mountains" technique.

He wasn't skilled enough to bring over complex things—but he could move simple, tangible objects.

He had directly copied the main hall of the Changsan Brothel.

Gu Gu Rusong, as a Cloud-Top Top Xixiu, was well-traveled and knew the "Mind-Travel a Thousand Mountains" technique—but he never imagined Li Li Banfeng would use it like this.

One group of women talking became two groups surrounding him—Gu Gu Rusong's ears buzzed; he couldn't tell which voices were real Foolish Cultivators and which were illusions summoned by Li Li Banfeng.

Should he break out of the illusions first?

Or stay put and wait for the technique to fade?

The "Mind-Travel a Thousand Mountains" technique lasts only a short time—endure a moment and it'll pass.

But Traveler cultivators strike fast—this moment might be too dangerous to endure.

While hesitating, he sensed deadly intent descending from above.

Yan Hong'er shouted: "Look up quickly—he's coming!"

Yan Qing'er shouted: "Don't look up—he's behind you!"

This time, Gu Gu Rusong had a response—he flicked a beaded hairpin from his sleeve, sending it flying upward.

Top Xixiu rarely use magic treasures, for using them makes them memorable—making future identity concealment harder.

But this hairpin was clever: when Gu Gu Rusong disguised himself as a woman, it became a perfectly normal, exquisite ornament—no one could detect its anomaly.

When battle came, this hairpin could match the power of an entire arm, holding its own against enemies for several exchanges.

The hairpin soared upward, saw the Tang Dao descending—and its beads swayed, advancing to meet the attack.

Though the Tang Dao was far larger and heavier, the hairpin wasn't intimidated. She'd faced many large weapons before—when it came to actual combat, the hairpin had ways to overcome size with finesse.

Just from the downward strike, the hairpin spotted a flaw—and darted toward the hilt.

But that flaw was a trick—the Tang Dao had baited her. At that moment, the projector's lens locked onto the hilt. The hairpin entered the lens's range—the projector flashed, and the hairpin vanished.

"All flowers in the world wither—but flowers recorded on film bloom forever. Seventh Director, this is art. This is my unique technique: Withering."

The hairpin vanished—the Tang Dao came down.

Gu Gu Rusong dodged desperately—but still took a deep slash to his left shoulder.

The "Mind-Travel a Thousand Mountains" technique faded. Gu Gu Rusong tried to flee the brothel—but amid the Foolish Cultivators' assault, he hesitated again.

"Don't go out! On the street, you won't stand a chance against him!"

"Young Master, stay here—we're still on your side!"

Gu Gu Rusong knew Foolish Cultivator techniques himself—but that didn't protect him from their damage.

Not even Sun Sun Tiecheng could escape being wounded by Foolish Cultivator techniques.

Dozens of girls used the "Fool's Thousand Thoughts" technique without pause.

Gu Gu Rusong, continuously wounded by the "Fool's Thousand Thoughts," staggered to the entrance of the Changsan Brothel.

One step forward—he was struck by "Horse-Gazing at Flowers."

Another step—he was hit by "Crush Ten Thousand Rivers."

Another step—he was hooked by a scythe on the skull.

Another step—he was pierced through the back by the Tang Dao, and half his body was scorched by a wine gourd.

Though grievously wounded, Gu Gu Rusong didn't die—Cloud-Top cultivation base was that resilient.

At the doorway, the three women still chattered behind him. Gu Gu Rusong sprinted forward, slipped into a deep alley, and left the girls far behind.

Getting rid of them wasn't hard—but getting rid of Li Qi? Impossible.

Gu Gu Rusong slowed his pace in the narrow alley, waiting for Li Qi to draw near, ready to launch a surprise attack.

The alley was tight; though Traveling Cultivators had techniques to clear paths and bypass obstacles, they still faced restrictions in such confined spaces compared to open ground—increasing the chance of a successful ambush.

If he landed the ambush, he was certain he could kill Li Qi—but he'd pay a heavy price himself, depending on how ruthless Li Qi was.

A serious wound didn't matter; as long as he took Li Qi's life, everything else would be easy to resolve.

He'd surely secure Huangtu Bridge, and Qiuqiu City was within reach; as long as he kept impersonating Lu Lu Dongliang and winning over the major clans of Lüshui City, taking over Lüshui Beggar Clan was just a matter of time.

If he handed all three cities over to Neizhou, what status would Neizhou grant him? What cultivation base?

Even if he lost most of his life in this, Gu Gu Rusong felt it was worth it!

He sensed Li Qi approaching, waiting for the perfect distance to strike back.

But they were still far apart when Li Qi suddenly stopped.

What's this mean?

Li Qi raised his hands and said, "I don't want to kill you. I'm not armed."

That's physical evidence.

"I didn't try to kill you in the Changsan Shuyu either—I held back. People there can testify."

That's witness testimony.

Did Li Qi really hold back?

That's nonsense.

Gu Gu Rusong had been on Cloud Level One, only losing ground after being bombarded by a mob of Foolish Cultivators; Li Li Banfeng wouldn't dare hold back under such circumstances—every strike aimed to kill.

Yet Gu Gu Rusong did believe him, just a little—he thought Li Qi might have another agenda, and he might still get his chance to ambush.

Li Qi asked, "Tell me one thing: how did you get my blood? Tell me, and I'll let you go."

Gu Gu Rusong said, "This isn't something for others to hear. Come closer—I'll tell you."

Li Qi slowly approached; Gu Gu Rusong prepared himself.

A halo suddenly flashed beneath his feet; Gu Gu Rusong shuddered, his flesh and skin ruptured, and he collapsed to the ground.

What happened?

How did he get this injured?

What technique did he use?

Gu Gu Rusong looked bewildered. Li Qi looked down at him and asked, "Won't tell the truth? I'll give you one more chance—where exactly did you get my blood?"

Gu Gu Rusong stayed silent. Li Qi stepped back, and the halo passed through Gu Gu Rusong's body again.

Flesh and muscle peeled off in chunks; Gu Gu Rusong fell silent.

Dead?

Is Cloud Level One really this fragile?

Of course not!

Gu Gu Rusong staked his entire life's acting skills on a fake death, waiting for Li Qi to come close.

As long as Li Qi came to check, he still had the chance to kill him.

They were less than ten steps apart—if Li Qi took two more steps…

Li Qi advanced two steps—the halo passed through Gu Gu Rusong again.

Li Li Banfeng stepped back two steps—the halo passed through once more.

Li Li Banfeng advanced two steps again…

It passed back and forth seven or eight times; the Closed Door Technique drained too much stamina. Li Li Banfeng couldn't hold on—the halo vanished.

Gu Gu Rusong stopped moving.

Fine actor—he acted until death. This time, he was truly dead.

But Li Li Banfeng wasn't sure—he was still pondering how to verify it.

A middle-aged man ran up to the alley entrance, shouting, "What's going on here?!"

Li Qi raised an eyebrow, saying nothing—Sun Sun Tiecheng had arrived.

…

In the Changsan Changsan Shuyu, Gu Gu Rusong's corpse lay on the floor.

Sun Sun Tiecheng glared at Li Li Banfeng: "You come back and immediately cause trouble! Tell me clearly—why did you kill your senior brother?"

Li Qi looked innocent: "How was I supposed to know he was my senior brother? You told me I only had one senior brother."

Sun Sun Tiecheng pointed at Gu Gu Rusong: "Isn't this the only one? You killed him!"

Li Qi shook his head: "Don't blame me—you told me my senior brother was He He Jiaqing."

"When did I say He He Jiaqing? I don't even know who He He Jiaqing is!"

Li Qi frowned: "You can't deny what you said—that's pointless. Back in the Changsan Shuyu, you said you had another disciple—I asked if you meant He He Jiaqing, and you admitted it—wasn't that right?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng said, "When did I admit it? I asked you how you knew it was him!"

Li Qi blinked: "Well, uh… that's… that's kind of an admission, right…"

"That's not an admission! That's our Daoist technique—'Sliding Down the Slope'! I just went along with what you said!"

Li Li Banfeng crouched, hands clasped: "Don't blame me—you used a technique on me."

Besides, I didn't even realize I'd been affected. You only told me about 'Sliding Down the Slope' afterward—that's deception!"

"Who deceived you? 'Sliding Down the Slope' relies on 'going with the flow.' If you noticed it, how could the technique work?"

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "I still don't get it—what's this 'flow' you're talking about?"

"How can you not get it? 'Sliding Down the Slope' needs a slope first—you have to create it, not too gentle, not too steep. Too gentle, it won't slide; too steep, it breaks."

Li Qi asked, "How do you find the right balance?"

"The balance…" Sun Sun Tiecheng took the blade from Tang Chang's hands, "You little brat—you think you can trick me out

Everyone rushed forward to hold back Sun Sun Tiecheng, Tang Tang Changfa, now blind, embraced him and cried, "City Lord, this isn't the shopkeeper's fault—Big Young Master was utterly despicable, salt in our wounds!"

Seeing Tang Tang Changfa's pitiful state, Sun Sun Tiecheng softened slightly: "I know Ruisong was always mouthy, but you didn't need to go this far!"

Li Qi added from the side: "This isn't just about being mouthy—he defected to Neizhou, became their dog, and tried to steal Huangtu Bridge from me to hand over to them."

"Nonsense!" Sun Sun Tiecheng refused to believe it. "Don't think just because he's dead, you can smear him with any lie."

Li Li Banfeng had no proof, but Sun Sun Tiecheng had his own way to verify.

He patted Gu Gu Rusong's back, murmuring slowly: "Alive, alive, you're still alive—you can move, you can eat—I say you're alive, so you're alive…"

After repeating this over a dozen times, Gu Gu Rusong's throat stirred.

Li Qi was startled—was this resurrection?

This was not resurrection.

This was Sun Sun Tiecheng's method—he seized Gu Gu Rusong's soul before it fully left the body, made Gu Gu Rusong believe he was still alive, and turned him into a living corpse.

Gu Gu Rusong gripped Sun Sun Tiecheng's hand, struggling to speak: "Save me, Master, save me…"

Sun Sun Tiecheng's face darkened: "You defected to Neizhou? You planned to hand Huangtu Bridge over to them?"

Gu Gu Rusong opened his mouth to answer, but Sun Sun Tiecheng added sharply: "Tell me the truth!"

As he spoke, Sun Sun Tiecheng used some method to seize Gu Gu Rusong's soul.

Any tremor in the soul would reduce Gu Gu Rusong to ash.

Gu Gu Rusong dared not lie—he spoke plainly: "I had no choice—I reached the tenth level of cultivation, I had to go to Neizhou. They ordered me to act—I had to…"

Sun Sun Tiecheng's palm slid slowly over Gu Gu Rusong's soul: "Dead—you're dead. Your soul turned to dust, your corpse buried in earth—I say you're buried, you're buried!"

Boom!

Gu Gu Rusong's soul and corpse both turned to dust.

Watching the flying dust, Li Li Banfeng was stunned; Sun Sun Tiecheng was heartbroken.

His eyes reddened, he sniffled twice, then wept aloud: "Gone—my eldest disciple is gone!"

After two sobs, he sensed something was off—he turned to Li Qi: "Why aren't you crying?"

Li Qi crouched beside Sun Sun Tiecheng, sniffled twice, then wailed with an open mouth: "Gone—Big Brother is gone!"

The two wept together—one long, one short—deeply mournful.

After a long while, Sun Sun Tiecheng still felt the mood was wrong—he turned to the others in the study and roared: "Why aren't you crying?!"

Tang Tang Changfa sobbed toward the group of girls: "Gone…"

He had no eyes—he cried in the wrong direction.

"Over there!" Yan Hong pushed Tang Tang Changfa.

Tang Tang Changfa turned, joined by the girls, wailing: "Gone—Big Young Master is gone!"

PS: Throughout Fool's City, wailing filled the air.

Such a good story must be told in one breath!

Gratitude to patron Tianji Weiba Miao, gratitude to patron Xiao Fengchao, thanks to both patrons for their tremendous support.

(End of Chapter)