Chapter 748: Heart-wrenching

Old Train rescued Sun Tiecheng, who was unable to recover quickly and rested on the side. Old Train engaged Dancheng Jun alone.

"Hey, Old Dan, come fight if you've got the guts! Don't just stand there watching," Old Train shouted as he circled Dancheng Jun. Dancheng Jun kept his eyes fixed on Old Train, never letting him out of his sight.

After Old Train circled a few times, Dancheng Jun suddenly charged at him, grabbing a wheel and smashing it towards him. Old Train used his "Carefree and At Ease" technique, making his upper body fly up to dodge the wheel.

Sun Tiecheng felt a little worried. Old Train's speed was slower than before, while Dancheng Jun's agility was much greater. As Dancheng Jun charged forward again, Old Train used "Pathbreaking" to raise an earth wall from the ground, blocking Dancheng Jun. He then turned around and snatched Dancheng Jun's wheel.

Old Train recognized the item. He examined the wheel and said, "Isn't this the Peddler's wheel? How did you get it?"

With a crash, Dancheng Jun broke through the earth wall. The flying dust cut a gash across Old Train's face. Dancheng Jun lunged forward, appearing in front of Old Train in an instant. His speed was such that anyone would believe he was a Journey Cultivator.

Old Train spun around and landed a "Treading Through Ten Thousand Rivers" kick squarely on Dancheng Jun.

Dancheng Jun stumbled back a few steps, stretched, and then continued forward.

"No way! You took such a heavy kick and didn't even cry out?" Old Train prepared to land another kick, but Dancheng Jun didn't give him the chance, swiftly closing the distance with agile footwork.

If the fight turned into close combat, Old Train would be at a significant disadvantage. However, creating distance wasn't easy either. The moment Old Train moved, Dancheng Jun turned to look for Sun Tiecheng.

Sun Tiecheng didn't want to be a hindrance and tried his best to hide where Dancheng Jun couldn't see him.

But Dancheng Jun didn't need to see; he took one step forward, engaging Old Train fiercely, then two steps back and grabbed Sun Tiecheng.

Old Train lunged forward, snatched Sun Tiecheng away, and threw him aside. Dancheng Jun closed in again, but Old Train was quick, grabbing Dancheng Jun's hair first.

Dancheng Jun shook his head, and a large handful of hair was pulled out by Old Train.

Dancheng Jun touched his scalp, seemingly a little pained.

"Two more pulls and you'll be bald! Save you the trouble of shaving later!" Old Train chuckled. The hair in his hand suddenly coiled, twisting and constricting around Old Train's hand, almost severing his fingers.

Old Train shook off the hair, looking at the wound on his hand with a surprised expression.

Dancheng Jun picked up the hair with his left hand and placed it back on his head. With his right hand, he held his cotton bow and continued to fight Old Train.

Old Train used his "Consecutive Steps" technique, opening up a distance of over a hundred paces from Dancheng Jun. Dancheng Jun uprooted a tree, complete with soil, branches, and leaves, and hurled it towards Old Train.

There was indeed such a tactic among martial cultivators, called "Act as You Please." It wasn't a specific technique but a fighting style, also known as "using whatever you pick up." He Yuxiu was particularly skilled at this style.

The current Dancheng Jun had almost no capacity for thought, so this simple tactic suited him well.

However, using it against Old Train seemed a bit childish.

Old Train easily dodged the dirt and sand using his footwork, then laughed at Dancheng Jun, who was shrouded in dust. "Are you really sparring with me? You're gravely underestimating your grandpa!"

As the dust slightly dispersed, Old Train didn't see Dancheng Jun. The figure he had seen earlier was just half a tree stump.

Old Train knew something was wrong and quickly dodged. Dancheng Jun had anticipated him and struck the back of Old Train's head with the cotton bow.

Old Train swayed slightly but wasn't injured, though the blow forced him to use his "Boundless Wanderer" technique.

While the technique was still active, Old Train turned and first landed a "Treading Through Ten Thousand Rivers" kick on Dancheng Jun.

Dancheng Jun's chest bled, but he only stumbled back a few steps, still appearing largely unharmed.

Old Train stepped forward and landed another kick on Dancheng Jun.

*Crack!*

Dancheng Jun's sternum cracked, and his steps faltered as if he were kneeling, but he didn't fall.

Old Train landed a third kick. This time, it wasn't "Treading Through Ten Thousand Rivers"; he used "Parting Ways for Ten Thousand Li," intending to send Dancheng Jun flying away.

Dancheng Jun slid backward for a distance, then charged forward again. "Parting Ways for Ten Thousand Li" couldn't push him away!

Whether he was pushed or not, the technique had been used. Dancheng Jun stepped forward, snatched the wheel, and struck Old Train's chest.

Old Train couldn't distinguish the direction and failed to dodge, taking a direct hit from the wheel. Several bloody gashes appeared on his chest.

Old Train gritted his teeth in pain. Having been in the furnace for so long and only recently emerged, he hadn't fully recovered. His physical condition was far inferior to Dancheng Jun's.

Dancheng Jun pressed his advantage, picking up the cotton bow and snapping it against Old Train's leg.

Old Train's right leg was injured, making him even slower.

Banfengzi scurried away close to the ground. He had to quickly inform Li Banfeng; even if it meant offending both of these elder brothers, Li Banfeng had to intervene now.

Old Train was showing more and more weaknesses, and the injuries on his body were accumulating.

Seeing Dancheng Jun approach, Old Train stomped a rock into the ground with one foot. Dancheng Jun continued to pursue, and Old Train retreated a hundred paces, then stomped another rock into the soil.

Dancheng Jun threw a punch at Old Train, but it grazed his cheek without connecting.

"Hundred-Pace Traverse" was successful!

Dancheng Jun, unable to adapt, relentlessly pursued Old Train. Old Train evaded him within the hundred-pace range. When "Hundred-Pace Traverse" wore off, Old Train increased the distance, and Dancheng Jun, resorting to his old trick, immediately headed towards Sun Tiecheng.

Sun Tiecheng touched the bloody flesh on his body and murmured, "It's all fake anyway, just like putting on clothes."

He was deceiving himself.

Having recovered two or three tenths of his mobility, Sun Tiecheng wanted to go and fight Dancheng Jun, but Old Train pushed him away. "What are you fighting for? Go back to Fool's City and defend it!"

Sun Tiecheng glanced at Old Train. "You go. You don't need to worry about Fool's City."

He picked up a pile of firewood sticks from the ground and began to set up a formation.

Fool Cultivator formations were indeed powerful, but Old Train felt that what a Fool Cultivator had wouldn't be useful against the current Dancheng Jun.

Sun Tiecheng set up a "Dazzling Flower Maze" formation in the tangled grass. Old Train looked over and saw that Sun Tiecheng had vanished. With the formation complete, Sun Tiecheng crouched within it, intending to ambush Dancheng Jun.

Dancheng Jun somehow sensed Sun Tiecheng. He first threw out his cotton bow to block Old Train, then turned back to the tangled grass, directly picked up Sun Tiecheng, and slammed him onto the ground with a loud thud.

A pit formed in the ground, and Sun Tiecheng lay in it.

Dancheng Jun stepped towards him, but Old Train was quicker, digging Sun Tiecheng out of the pit and tossing him aside.

This time, Sun Tiecheng completely lost his mobility. Dancheng Jun rushed over, intending to finish him off. Old Train activated "Go It Alone" and charged forward to fight head-on.

Old Train took a hit from a wheel, and Dancheng Jun took a kick.

Old Train fell to the ground, while Dancheng Jun stood firm.

Sun Tiecheng gritted his teeth, knowing Old Train couldn't hold on much longer.

"Run, you old good-for-nothing!" Sun Tiecheng shouted. "If you weren't in the way, I would have dealt with him long ago!"

Old Train got up. He didn't run; he just waved at Dancheng Jun. "Come here!"

Dancheng Jun charged forward, and Old Train also rushed towards him.

The two confronted each other in battle again. Just as they were about to clash, a large group of black shadows embraced Dancheng Jun from behind.

Compared to Dancheng Jun, the strength of each shadow wasn't significant, but their sheer numbers overwhelmed him, preventing him from breaking free. Old Train wildly swung his right arm, transforming it from shoulder to fingertip into a train wheel, and powerfully hammered Dancheng Jun's chest.

*Thump!*

This time, Dancheng Jun couldn't withstand it. Covered in shadows, he finally collapsed to the ground.

"Chop him!" Li Banfeng commanded. Leading a group of shadows, he grabbed their weapons and started hacking at Dancheng Jun.

Banfeng Bing chopped at his neck, Banfeng Wu chopped at his hands, Banfeng Yin gouged out his eyes, and Banfeng Chou used a chisel to crack his skull. In the blink of an eye, Dancheng Jun was a bloody mess.

Banfeng Yin had gouged out one of Dancheng Jun's eyeballs and was about to crush it in front of him, when the eyeball suddenly slipped from his grasp and *thwack!* hit Li Banfeng directly in the eye.

Li Banfeng's eye bled, and Dancheng Jun's eyeball bounced back, landing precisely in its socket.

"He can fight like that?" Li Banfeng covered his eye, his jaw nearly dropping.

Dancheng Jun used all four limbs, punching and kicking, sending Li Banfeng and the group of shadows flying.

Li Banfeng didn't fly far. He and the group of shadows ran back and pinned Dancheng Jun down again. Dancheng Jun was still struggling, so Li Banfeng used his "Mad Cultivator" technique, "Five Horses Tearing."

This technique was vicious. Old Train had already cracked Dancheng Jun's sternum, and Li Banfeng used that crack to tear him apart.

As blood gushed, Dancheng Jun's chest split open. Through the fissure, his internal organs were clearly visible.

The shadows pulled hard, following the technique's force, but Dancheng Jun's wound didn't expand further.

"Haven't you eaten? Put more effort into it!"

Dancheng Jun's chest wound grew slightly larger, and a slithering 'snake' suddenly sprang out, tightly coiling around Li Banfeng's neck.

How could there be a snake in his body?

Wait, that's not a snake, it's intestines!

Why would intestines come out of his chest?

Dancheng Jun's intestines could fight too?

Li Banfeng and Banfeng Yin ripped the intestines apart together, and the gloves seized the opportunity to collect them.

"Boss, if you can make him cough out his heart too, I'll collect whatever comes out!"

Dancheng Jun tried to get up, but Li Banfeng used his "Regret of Meeting Late" technique, forcing Dancheng Jun into a struggle with him.

Unexpectedly, Dancheng Jun was unaffected by Mad Cultivator techniques. He broke free one hand, picked up the wheel, and sliced a large group of shadows in half.

The iron wheel slashed Li Banfeng. In his desperation, Li Banfeng couldn't use "Boundless Wanderer" and instead endured the blow with his "Benevolent Heart" technique.

"Benevolent Heart" was far inferior to "Boundless Wanderer." The wheel struck his ribs, opening a gash beneath Li Banfeng's ribcage.

Tang Dao spotted a chance: "My lord, can your intestines fight? If they can, I'll pull them out!"

Dancheng Jun struck again with the cotton bow. Li Banfeng first parried with Tang Dao, but after parrying, Tang Dao went soft. Dancheng Jun attacked again. Li Banfeng swapped places with Banfeng Wu, who took the hit and his body went limp. While Li Banfeng fought desperately, Old Train seized the opportunity, clapped his hands together, then pulled them apart. "Open up!"

He was still aiming for Dancheng Jun's chest, intending to use "Pathbreaking" to tear Dancheng Jun completely open.

Dancheng Jun twisted his body, found a gap within the technique, and slipped through.

"Where are you going?!" Old Train raised both hands, and waves of earth rolled across the ground, forming layers of earth walls that encircled Dancheng Jun.

Dancheng Jun broke through one earth wall, and Old Train immediately erected another.

Other shadows took this opportunity to rush forward and continue fighting Dancheng Jun. However, Dancheng Jun had gained experience in dealing with them. He twisted and contorted his body back and forth from head to toe, becoming unrecognizable, leaving the shadows nowhere to strike.

Banfeng Bing, in a hurry, lunged forward, determined to grab Dancheng Jun.

Dancheng Jun's body, like a spring, suddenly unfurled. With immense force, the earth walls shattered, and flying gravel tore Banfeng Bing and Banfeng Ding to shreds.

They couldn't compare their agility with Dancheng Jun; fighting like this put them at too great a disadvantage.

Li Banfeng activated his Mad Cultivator technique, still trying to force Dancheng Jun back into a struggle, but several attempts failed.

Why were Mad Cultivator techniques useless against Dancheng Jun?

Banfengzi whispered in his ear, "His move is called 'Dead Heart and Severed Thoughts.' This person has no mind left, so Fool Cultivator techniques won't work, and Mad Cultivator techniques probably won't either."

As they spoke, Dancheng Jun fought with increasing ferocity. The wheel in his left hand spun and stopped, constantly changing, while his right-hand cotton bow rattled, its attacks relentless. The shadows who came close were scattered and annihilated.

"Didn't you say he had no mind left? How come he's using more and more tricks the longer he fights?"

Banfengzi also couldn't understand it and, wanting to launch a sneak attack, couldn't find an opportunity.

Banfeng Yi, who had stayed at a distance and avoided injury from Dancheng Jun, clearly assessed the situation. He handed the dynamite from his pocket to Li Banfeng. "If he's not mad, we'll be mad!"

Li Banfeng, clutching the dynamite, used his "Manic and Overbearing" technique. As Dancheng Jun walked towards Sun Tiecheng, Li Banfeng threw the dynamite at Dancheng Jun's feet.

*Boom!*

Although he was five meters away, Li Banfeng didn't miss.

Two pounds of dynamite exploded beneath Dancheng Jun's feet, and the surrounding area trembled.

Dust rose everywhere. Li Banfeng steadied himself, about to charge forward and fight, but found Dancheng Jun's figure had disappeared.

Where did he go?

"He escaped. Old Xu told me that the 'Dead Heart and Severed Thoughts' technique has a contingency plan: when Dancheng Jun is injured to a certain extent, he'll use a means of escape." Old Train sat on the ground, clutching his chest wound and breathing with difficulty.

Sun Tiecheng lay on the ground, still unable to stand.

Both looked at Li Banfeng and said in unison, "Didn't we tell you not to come?"

Li Banfeng, injured by the wheel, was in so much pain he could barely breathe. "Who wants to come? Dancheng Jun attacked Zhengjing Village; could I just stand by and do nothing?"

There was nothing wrong with his words; Zhengjing Village was Li Qi's territory.

Old Train and Sun Tiecheng continued to look at Li Banfeng. Li Banfeng waved his hand and said, "You two keep fighting, however you like. Do you really think I want to bother with you?"

With that, Li Banfeng turned and walked away.

The other shadows grew complete bodies and followed Li Banfeng. Banfeng Yi saw Li Banfeng's unsteady steps and wanted to help him, but Li Banfeng pushed him away.

Dancheng Jun's attacks were truly fierce.

Li Banfeng was almost unable to stand.

But he couldn't let others help him. He could still walk anyway. Whatever problems there were, he would deal with them once he returned to his Portable Residence.

When he had walked some distance, Li Banfeng took out his key to go home. As soon as he entered the house, he collapsed onto the floor.

The Phonograph was startled. "My lord, who injured you?"

Li Banfeng gritted his teeth. "That villain Dancheng Jun!"

Hong Ying was surprised. "You met him? Why didn't you call us out? Where is he? I'll kill him right now!"

Li Banfeng waved his hand. "He escaped, I don't know how."

Zhao Xiaowan was heartbroken and quickly treated Li Banfeng's injuries.

Li Banfeng lay in bed, vaguely hearing a sigh by his ear: "I told you not to save him, but you insisted. You almost caused a big problem."

This was the Portable Residence speaking, and only Li Banfeng could hear it.

"Old man, isn't that unfair?"

"You can't blame Old Train for this. Dancheng Jun came looking for trouble himself."

These were Li Banfeng's thoughts, and the old man couldn't hear them either.

But Dancheng Jun's combat power truly startled Li Banfeng.

"Martial Cultivators have techniques now."

His wife was surprised. "What techniques?"

"'Dead Heart and Severed Thoughts.' At first, he was like a living corpse, with no mind, but the more he fought, the more refined his martial arts became."

"No mind?" The Phonograph hissed steam, turning its speaker towards Hong Ying. "Someone without a mind is truly difficult to deal with."

Old Train sat on the ground, murmuring, "What Old Seven used just now didn't seem like a Shadow Cultivator technique. Shadow Cultivator shadows are used differently from his."

Sun Tiecheng was still lying in the tangled grass. He turned to look at Old Train and shouted, "Why isn't it a Shadow Cultivator technique? That's how all Shadow Cultivators use them. What's different? You're old, your eyes are blurry, and you can't see anything clearly anymore."

Old Train ignored Sun Tiecheng, still pondering the technique. He found the cracks on Dancheng Jun's body strange as well.

"I'm very familiar with Shadow Cultivators; they truly don't fight like that!" Old Train couldn't figure it out.

Sun Tiecheng, worried that the topic couldn't be avoided, shouted again, "Eighteen Wheels, you're not dead, are you? If not, it's our turn to fight."

Old Train looked back at Sun Tiecheng. "What are you fighting for when you're in this state? I came to you not for a fight, but to clarify what happened before. The Peddler shouldn't have had to bear that alone."

Sun Tiecheng tried to sit up but failed twice. "I know who should bear it, and your share certainly won't be small. I saw you weren't using your full strength just now, right?"

Old Train sneered, "What big deal is worth me using my full strength?"

"Is it that you don't want to, or that you can't?" Sun Tiecheng's tone was laced with sarcasm. "Are you not whole?"

"Nonsense!" Old Train stood up. "Show me what part of me isn't whole?"

Sun Tiecheng said, "I didn't see you use any Craftsman Cultivator techniques just now. Even if you could have used one or two moves, you wouldn't have been so miserable in the fight."

"And you weren't miserable?" Old Train walked up to Sun Tiecheng. "I can still stand. Can you stand up and show me?"

Sun Tiecheng shook his head. "No need to stand. I can still kill you lying down. Go ahead and make your move. Let's see who dies first!"

Old Train sat back on the ground. "Did you understand what I just said? There was a witness to that incident back then, your Xiao Yu—"

"Don't mention Xiao Yu!" Sun Tiecheng grew angry. "It's not enough that you seduced our Aiyi, now you're after Xiao Yu too?"

"Who seduced your Aiyi?"

"If you didn't seduce her, would she be thinking every day about marrying an old geezer like you?"

Old Train chuckled. "That girl is just foolish herself. How old is she? I'd think she's too young to be my granddaughter!"

Sun Tiecheng was furious. "Nonsense! Who'd be your granddaughter?!"

The two argued more and more intensely when suddenly, the sound of suona horns drifted from a distance.

Aiyi lifted the sedan curtain. "This is it! This is where the explosion was just now!"

Old Train's expression changed upon hearing the sound, and he took off running.

Sun Tiecheng shouted, "Don't go yet, take me with you—"

Old Train had already vanished.

Sun Tiecheng and Aiyi hadn't seen each other for many years and didn't know what to say upon meeting.

Before long, Aiyi walked over. She wasn't awkward at all. She squatted next to Sun Tiecheng and looked at him, as if she had just pulled someone off the street and casually asked, "Have you seen my wife?"

Sun Tiecheng rolled his eyes. "Ran east."

"East?" Aiyi glanced east, then turned back to Sun Tiecheng. "Then what are you doing lying here?"

Sun Tiecheng said, "I'm lying here to rest for a bit."

"You rest well then!" Aiyi got into the sedan chair, and with music playing, they continued to pursue Old Train.

Watching Aiyi leave, Sun Tiecheng breathed a sigh of relief.

A moment later, Aiyi returned, patting Sun Tiecheng's face. "You got beaten, didn't you? Can't move anymore?"

"No, I'm fine," Sun Tiecheng turned his face away.

Aiyi circled Sun Tiecheng, then squatted in front of him again. "How about this: we become sworn siblings? I'll be the older sister, you'll be the younger brother, and I'll take you back to Fool's City!"

"How dare you!" Sun Tiecheng raged. "And make me your younger brother!"

Aiyi quickly corrected herself, "Or you can be the older brother!"

"I'm not being the older brother either!"

Aiyi sighed. "Since you don't appreciate the offer, I won't bother with you anymore!"

Even after she was long gone, Sun Tiecheng still couldn't move.

Banfengzi emerged from the shadows and carried Sun Tiecheng on his back. "Brother, I'll take you back to the city."

From his physique, it was clear this was Li Qi's shadow.

Walking back to the city, Sun Tiecheng whispered, "This really wasn't a Shadow Cultivator technique; it seemed more like a Residence Cultivator technique."

Banfengzi said, "Brother, don't joke. Residence and Journey cultivators cannot cultivate simultaneously."

"That's right, they can't cultivate simultaneously!" Sun Tiecheng repeated several times, specifically admonishing Banfengzi, "Make sure to remind Old Seven, no matter who asks, even if they put a knife to his throat, it's still a Shadow Cultivator technique!"

Banfengzi nodded repeatedly. "As you say, Senior Brother, it's a Shadow Cultivator technique!"

Back in the city, Sun Tiecheng still had to hastily set up defenses. "Agui, bring out all the gear. Dancheng Jun might still sneak in."

Gui Jianchou arranged the ghost servants and also two medical cultivator spirits to treat Sun Tiecheng's injuries.

Seeing Sun Tiecheng slightly improved, Gui Jianchou said, "How about I go out and fight Dancheng Jun?"

Sun Tiecheng chuckled, "Aren't you afraid of death?"

"Who isn't afraid of death?" Gui Jianchou shook his head repeatedly. "If I risk my life, it'll be for revenge for you, and our past grievances will be wiped clean."

Sun Tiecheng said, "If you're afraid of dying, you can leave. Revenge isn't your concern."

The severely injured Dancheng Jun, clutching his wheel, was resting in a cave in Bloodfang Mountain.

The Bloodfang Monster brought wound medicine and carefully applied it to Dancheng Jun. "My lord, how did you get so badly injured?"

"Indeed, how did I get so injured? Did those three attack me together?" Dancheng Jun couldn't figure it out either.

The Bloodfang Monster asked, "Which three people?"

Dancheng Jun said, "I went to find Sun Tiecheng, and it's right that he hit me. But why did Old Train appear? Why could he team up with Sun Tiecheng? Was he also here for Honglian?"

"And that Li Qi, he was there too. To what extent has his cultivation reached—"

Dancheng Jun tried to recall the previous battle, but he couldn't remember anything.

"If you can't remember, don't think about it, my lord. Rest for a moment." Seeing the wounds on Dancheng Jun's body, the Bloodfang Monster felt even more distressed.

She dared not use force when applying the medicine, but a sharp pain still interrupted Dancheng Jun's thoughts.

Dancheng Jun's vision wasn't very good; he felt as if one eye couldn't see clearly.

He touched the jagged edges of his wounds, truly unable to comprehend what weapons his opponents had used.

These didn't look like knife cuts; they looked more like tears.

"My lord, perhaps you should refrain from using the 'Dead Heart and Severed Thoughts' technique from now on!"

Dancheng Jun shook his head repeatedly. "Indeed, I can't use it lightly again. It's too harmful!"

After resting for a moment, Dancheng Jun thought of Honglian again. "Fool's City should be in that area. Should I try to discuss it with Sun Tiecheng again? I remember explaining everything clearly to him, so there shouldn't be any enmity anymore."

The Bloodfang Monster was stunned. "Just discussing it will clear all enmity?"

Dancheng Jun thought his idea was fine. "I think everything has been explained!"

The Bloodfang Monster thought for a moment and said, "Then, my lord, will you also discuss it with the Peddler?"

"There's no discussing with him," Dancheng Jun shook his head repeatedly. "When you mentioned the Peddler, I realized I'd better not go looking for Honglian for now. If this matter escalates, it might really summon him."

The Bloodfang Monster let out a coy sigh. "My lord, with me here, why do you need Honglian? Once my cultivation improves, what good elixirs can't I refine? This elixir can heal injuries. My lord, please take it first."

The Bloodfang Monster held an elixir in her mouth and fed it to Dancheng Jun. Dancheng Jun tasted it, found the medicinal properties good, and swallowed it.

After a moment, Dancheng Jun rubbed his stomach, feeling something was wrong. "The elixir you just gave me, it wasn't poisoned, was it?"

The Bloodfang Monster said, "All elixirs have a little toxicity. After taking this one, your intestines might experience some cramping."

"Intestine cramping—" Dancheng Jun seriously pondered a question. "My intestines seem to be missing."