Chapter 245: Master Senior Brother

Li Banfeng sat in the Portable Dwelling, looking at the long spear Hong Ying, and said with concern, "Sister, you've suffered a lot these past few days."

"Pah!" Hong Ying spat. "Heartless man, who are you calling your sister!"

"Keep your voice down, don't wake the Madam."

The Gramophone was asleep. Li Banfeng took the opportunity to ingratiate himself with Hong Ying. "Sister, I believe there's still some affection between you and the Madam. What's this unresolved grudge between you? Why don't you tell me?"

Hong Ying sneered, "We have so many conflicts, more than I can even count. Which part do you want to hear?"

Li Banfeng sighed, "Let's not talk about things that hurt feelings. I just want to hear about the part where you fought, especially the part where you fought to the death."

He wanted to know about the Wanderer Cultivation's Fifth-Tier Skill. Hong Ying was a high-tier Wanderer Cultivator; she knew the skill and its essentials. The only problem was how to get her to reveal the skill without the Madam knowing.

Hong Ying sneered, "Did that wicked woman send you to snoop? Heartless man, tell that wicked woman to dismiss that thought. She'll never get a single truth out of my mouth in this lifetime."

Li Banfeng sighed, "Why are you being like this? You're like sisters, close as family. Can't we talk through any misunderstandings? All right, I'll go along with you. I won't ask about the causes and effects. 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 hold a grudge? Aren't I doing this for both your sakes?"

As he spoke, Li Banfeng took out a jar of vanishing cream, dipped some ointment, and applied it to Hong Ying's body.

Hong Ying shivered and angrily rebuked him, "What are you touching me for?"

Li Banfeng lowered his voice, "Keep your voice down, don't let the Madam hear. This is medicine for injuries, for pain relief."

This wasn't a lie. It was a wound medicine concocted by the Wine Gourd using medicated wine and vanishing cream.

Hong Ying struggled for a bit. "I don't need you to ingratiate yourself. You and that wicked woman are cut from the same cloth. You must have conspired to scheme against me. Stay away from me. Don't, not there, that spot... you can put more there."

Hong Ying had indeed suffered many injuries recently. Although her true body was no longer present, it wasn't as if she didn't feel pain.

"I told you to put more on that spot, that spot, not this place..."

"Which spot exactly?" Li Banfeng was a bit anxious.

Hong Ying snorted coldly, "Why are you rushing? You're not the one in pain."

"Isn't this... me worrying for you?"

After applying the medicine, Li Banfeng rubbed his hands together and said, "Sister, first tell me how you two fought back then."

Hong Ying snorted coldly, "Why do you keep asking about this?"

"Aren't I helping you resolve your grievances?"

"Her and my grievances cannot be resolved. There are some things I don't want to mention anymore."

Not mention it?

If you don't tell me, won't all my efforts be in vain?

Li Banfeng lost his patience and was about to press her for answers.

*Hiss, hiss, hiss*

The Madam let out a few puffs of steam, yawned, and woke up.

"Oh, what's this smell? Vanishing cream? You wretch, why do you smell of vanishing cream?"

Hong Ying was very nervous. "What vanishing cream? Are you confused from sleep?"

"No, it's the scent of vanishing cream!" The Gramophone's large horn turned towards Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng took out the vanishing cream jar and applied a layer to his face. "It's been a bit dry these past couple of days, so I put on some vanishing cream."

The Gramophone enveloped Li Banfeng in a cloud of steam. "Husband, I've never heard you complain about dry weather before. Why are you suddenly so fastidious today?"

Li Banfeng explained, "Because it's exceptionally dry today."

"Exceptionally dry, you say?" The steam suddenly intensified in heat. The Gramophone angrily said, "Oh, you crazy man, this hussy has only been here a few days and you've already taken up with her! You're putting such good stuff on her! When have you ever been so considerate to me?"

Li Banfeng widened his eyes and said, "Madam, that's not how it is. Rouge, face powder, vanishing cream – I've applied plenty to you."

"Hmph!" The Madam was even more enraged. "You're actually comparing me to this wretched hussy!"

Hong Ying angrily retorted, "Who are you calling a wretched hussy? Aren't you, you wicked woman, a wretch yourself?"

"Crazy man, I'll settle scores with you later!" The Gramophone released Li Banfeng, then started fighting with Hong Ying. Hong Ying couldn't fight back, but she didn't yield either.

Li Banfeng seized the opportunity to escape the Portable Dwelling, rubbing his forehead, troubled by the matter of the Fifth-Tier Skill.

What exactly was the Fifth-Tier Skill?

Was it the 'clearing paths' technique that the Madam had mentioned earlier?

What were the essentials of the skill?

If Hong Ying wouldn't say, who else could he ask?

Go to Yaowang Ditch to find the coachman?

Now he couldn't even leave this godforsaken place. How could he return to Yaowang Ditch?

Even if he returned to Yaowang Ditch, the coachman might not be willing to help him.

Skills at this level were known to very few people. It wasn't something that could be bought with money.

Just as he was distressed, he suddenly saw Lu Chunying rush in, anxious and flustered. "Benefactor! Something's happened! There are a few people outside the stronghold. From their demeanor, they seem to be sent by the Saint."

"How many people exactly?"

"Four or five. I left in a hurry and didn't see clearly."

Li Banfeng checked the magic artifacts he had with him and quickly made his way to the stronghold's entrance.

Five people stood at the entrance. One of them, Li Banfeng recognized. It was Ren Wenlie, who had just narrowly escaped death at Li Banfeng's hands.

There were also three young people, all in their twenties. Since they dared to come with Ren Wenlie, they should all possess cultivation.

One more person remained.

This person was a bit hard to figure out.

From his appearance, the person was quite old. Deep wrinkles were etched into his inelastic skin, which was covered with spots of various sizes and colors.

From his physique, the person was very bloated, not muscular, nor fat, but a loose, puffy kind of bloat, as if his bones and flesh weren't contained within his skin, but merely bound by his clothes.

This bloated old man also looked at Li Banfeng.

Ren Wenlie said to the old man, "Senior Brother, he's the one we're looking for."

"Heh—"

This old man was indeed Ren Wenlie's Senior Disciple Brother, Cong Shixiang. He let out a low groan from his throat, and a wave of putrid air made Li Banfeng frown.

The other three young people were originally local villagers. Having shown sufficient sincerity, they had just received instructions from the Saint today and were accepted as disciples.

The oldest among them was named Jiang Shirong, the second, Pei Maojin, and the youngest, Gao Yangting. Li Banfeng's earlier guess was wrong; these three individuals did not possess cultivation. Ren Wenlie had called them over, saying they were to assist their Senior Brother.

Li Banfeng made eye contact with each of the five individuals. Ren Wenlie wanted to say a few words to Li Banfeng first, but Li Banfeng wagged his finger, signaling him to be silent.

"With your dual cultivation of literary and martial arts, and taking advantage of two Daoist sects, you escaped one disaster. This time, you won't escape. None of you will."

Li Banfeng smiled. Ren Wenlie was very nervous, and his three junior brothers beside him were also nervous.

Only Senior Brother Cong Shixiang remained expressionless. At least Li Banfeng couldn't detect any change in the bloated old man.

Did truthful speech have no effect on him?

How high was this person's cultivation?

Didn't the Foolish Cultivation technique disregard cultivation levels?

As they faced off, Niu Guangda arrived at the stronghold's entrance, herding two cows.

They had recently captured quite a few livestock, too many to eat all at once, so they were keeping them in the stronghold for now.

Niu Guangda had just returned after letting the cows graze and hadn't expected to encounter this scene.

He was stunned, and so were the cows.

Li Banfeng shouted, "Go back!"

Niu Guangda pulled the cows back, but the cows stood still.

Li Banfeng angrily said, "I told you to go back!"

Niu Guangda abandoned the cows and quickly ran back into the stronghold.

Cong Shixiang suddenly appeared before Li Banfeng. His bloated body showed no signs of clumsiness.

Li Banfeng tapped his toes and stepped back, then kicked Cong Shixiang in the stomach with his right foot.

The kick was delivered with full force, but it felt like stepping into a bog.

With a squelch, Li Banfeng's foot sank into Cong Shixiang's stomach. Just as he tried to pull it out, Cong Shixiang suddenly grabbed Li Banfeng's calf and bit down.

Oh no!

Li Banfeng perceived an intense danger.

Although Cong Shixiang had no teeth, if he managed to bite him, his right leg would surely be ruined.

In desperation, Li Banfeng pushed off the ground with his left foot, his body directly suspended in the air, and kicked Cong Shixiang in the face with his toes. Using that slight leverage, he pulled his right foot out.

The moment Li Banfeng landed, Cong Shixiang was already close again, reaching out to grab Li Banfeng's clothes.

Li Banfeng used the Kubu (Stride) technique to circle behind Cong Shixiang and struck a Rust Pellet onto the back of his head.

He hadn't used this move in a long time. Except for when it failed against Madam Suoga, it had never missed otherwise.

The Rust Pellet stuck to the back of Cong Shixiang's head, and a patch of rust quickly spread.

Li Banfeng had just breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Cong Shixiang tear off a piece of flesh from the back of his own head.

He tore deeply, exposing the skull at the back of his head.

Li Banfeng was deeply surprised. But what surprised him even more was yet to come.

Cong Shixiang directly shoved this chunk of flesh into his mouth.

He ate it!

Along with the Rust Pellet on the skin, he ate it all.

That's good, he's bound to turn to rust.

That's what Li Banfeng thought, but Cong Shixiang didn't turn into rust.

His body showed no abnormalities, and he continued his fierce assault on Li Banfeng.

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

His strength was immense, incomparable to Li Banfeng's.

His physique was excellent. Not only did his punches and kicks fail to harm him, but even when Li Banfeng used a sickle to open several cuts on his body, they had no effect whatsoever.

He couldn't get entangled in a fight with someone like this. His strength was too great. He had to find an opportunity to finish him off quickly.

Li Banfeng drew two short blades and threw them towards Cong Shixiang's face.

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

The Wine Gourd sprayed a cloud of alcohol mist, enveloping Cong Shixiang.

An attack from three sides. Let's see how he responds.

Even if Cong Shixiang nullified all subsequent attacks, Li Banfeng's assault wouldn't stop until he was completely subdued.

The next scene completely exceeded Li Banfeng's expectations.

Cong Shixiang didn't dodge, directly allowing the short blades to embed themselves in his face.

The short blades quickly rusted and, in the blink of an eye, turned into rust particles.

Behind Cong Shixiang, the Tang Blade, which was poised to strike the enemy's head with every blow, dared not attack.

If it had truly attacked, the result would have been the same as the two short blades: it too would have turned into rust.

What kind of Daoist sect was this?

He ate the Rust Pellet. How did he then acquire the Rust Pellet's abilities?

As Li Banfeng was filled with horror, Cong Shixiang charged towards him.