BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 40 Sun Desheng’s Moment of Glory

After Sun Desheng finished speaking, the hidden passage fell silent for a moment.

Then the metallic voice rang out again:

“You want to save one bullet for me? That depends on whether you’re willing to part with it.”

As the voice spoke, footsteps echoed from within the tunnel.

A moment later, “Xiong Wanyi” slowly walked out.

He raised both hands to show that he wasn’t carrying any weapons.

Looking at the revolver in Sun’s hand, he said with obvious envy:

“That’s a fine firearm.”

“Back in my day, I had short muskets similar to that.”

“But their range was poor, and they were nowhere near as powerful as yours.”

“Jealous?”

Che Qianzi glared at him.

“Fatty, put a bullet through his forehead and give him a third eye.”

The sight of the smug, fearless “Xiong Wanyi” made Che’s teeth itch with anger.

After spitting on the ground, he continued:

“Grandson, if you’ve got any guts, come out of Xiong’s body.”

“You and me, one-on-one.”

“Fatty stays out of it.”

The fake Xiong burst into laughter as though he had heard the funniest joke imaginable.

Only after laughing for a while did he point at his own chest.

“Why would I abandon such excellent armor?”

“Do you know how difficult it was to put this armor on?”

“He actually has some cultivation.”

“Even after I confused his mind, he fought desperately to keep me out.”

“I was afraid of damaging the body, so I had to seep in little by little.”

“I worked so hard to wear this skin.”

“And now you want me to take it off?”

“What a joke.”

At that, he looked provocatively at the two men.

Then his gaze settled on Sun Desheng.

“He doesn’t understand.”

“But you should.”

“Even if you kill this body, it doesn’t matter.”

“If he dies, I can simply leave.”

“If this suit of armor is ruined, there are still three more standing here.”

“No matter what happens, I don’t lose.”

Sun appeared completely unconcerned.

Smiling casually, he suddenly recited a name.

“Cui Yuandao.”

“Born in the third year of the Yongle Emperor’s reign.”

“A Taoist from Changshan County, Zhending Prefecture.”

“You cultivated at Zhenji Temple, Chongming Temple, and later at Taihe Zhenren Peak.”

“At the age of one hundred and three, you announced to the world that you had attained the Dao and ascended as an immortal.”

Sun’s smile widened.

“Immortal Cui…”

“So you never actually became an immortal.”

“You died here instead.”

The effect was immediate.

“Xiong Wanyi” froze as though struck by lightning.

He stood there in a daze.

After a long moment, he muttered:

“Cui Yuandao…”

“No one has called me that in so many years…”

“You shouldn’t know that name…”

“In this world there can only be Immortal Cui…”

“Not Cui Yuandao the evil ghost…”

As he spoke the final words, his face turned deathly pale.

Without warning, he lunged at Sun Desheng.

It was obvious he intended to silence him forever.

But Sun seemed to have anticipated the attack.

Almost simultaneously, he raised the revolver and fired straight upward.

BANG!

The instant the shot rang out, the charging “Xiong Wanyi” staggered backward.

Clutching his ears, his entire body trembled violently.

Seeing the effect, Sun grinned.

“Not that I’m bragging, but your soul seems to resonate with the vibration of the gunshot.”

“Let me put it in terms you’ll understand.”

“These bullets suppress souls.”

“Am I right?”

After a long while, “Xiong Wanyi” finally recovered.

During that time, Che had wanted to rush over and beat him senseless.

But Sun stopped him.

“Brother, no rush.”

“It might actually be a good thing that Immortal Cui is inside Old Xiong’s body.”

“If he comes out, these special bullets won’t work nearly as well.”

Che hesitated but obeyed.

Still, he couldn’t suppress his curiosity.

How did Sun know about Cui Yuandao?

They had been together almost the entire time.

When had Sun found time to investigate?

Finally, he asked:

“The three directors from the Second Division couldn’t figure out what was going on here.”

“How did you know?”

Sun chuckled.

“Your brother here was once the Director of the Bureau.”

“I know a little about the important people.”

Then he looked back toward “Xiong Wanyi.”

“Oh? Feeling better now, Immortal Cui?”

“If you’re still uncomfortable, hurry up and leave that skin suit.”

“Not that I’m bragging, but Old Xiong has terrible body odor.”

“Take a sniff. Doesn’t it get more disgusting the longer you stay?”

Seeing Sun chatter endlessly, Cui assumed he had spotted an opening.

He suddenly lunged again.

Unfortunately for him, Sun had predicted that as well.

The instant he moved, Sun fired another shot into the ceiling.

BANG!

“Xiong Wanyi” was forced backward again.

This time he retreated all the way to a corner.

Then he opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of white foam.

His originally dark complexion had turned deathly pale.

“What’s the hurry?”

Sun laughed.

“I’ve still got things to say.”

“Not that I’m bragging, but you thought I hadn’t figured out that the bullets suppress souls?”

“Otherwise you wouldn’t have dared show yourself.”

“Here’s your way out.”

“Leave Old Xiong’s body.”

“We won’t make things difficult for you.”

“Otherwise—”

Before finishing the sentence, Sun fired a third shot into the air.

BANG!

This time “Xiong Wanyi” began trembling uncontrollably.

Sweat the size of soybeans poured down his face.

White foam streamed continuously from his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth.

Clearly, Cui Yuandao was reaching his limit.

Seeing the miserable state of his opponent, Sun smiled again.

“You don’t have much time left.”

“Don’t understand?”

“That means your time is running out.”

“You can barely handle blank shots.”

“If I were to give Old Xiong a little scratch…”

“Just enough for a bullet to break the skin…”

“Wouldn’t that hurt your soul too?”

As he spoke, Sun closed one eye and carefully aimed at Xiong’s arm.

But in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to shoot Xiong’s body.

Instead, he fired upward again.

BANG!

This time “Xiong Wanyi” collapsed onto the ground.

His eyes rolled back.

It looked as though he would be forced out of the body at any moment.

Seeing victory within reach, Sun pressed the advantage.

For the fifth time, he pulled the trigger.

Click.

No gunshot followed.

Only the sound of the firing pin striking an empty chamber.

The moment he heard that sound, Sun’s face turned white.

He suddenly remembered.

He had already fired two shots outside earlier.

In his excitement, he had forgotten to reload.

Panicking, he swung open the cylinder and hurriedly tried to replace the bullets.

At that exact moment, the seemingly defeated “Xiong Wanyi” opened his eyes.

Then he sprang up and charged straight at Sun.

“Brother, stop him!”

Sun stumbled backward and fell to the floor.

Just as “Xiong Wanyi” was about to reach him, Che Qianzi—who had already started watching the show, convinced the fight was over—rushed forward with his short sword.

At the last possible instant, he stabbed into Xiong’s thigh.

Che’s sword was no ordinary weapon.

The moment the blade pierced flesh, “Xiong Wanyi” screamed in agony.

Instead of continuing after Sun, he turned and attacked Che.

When it came to fighting, Che Qianzi had only ever lost to one person in his life: Wu Renyi.

The two immediately became entangled in a fierce struggle.

While fighting, Che shouted:

“Fatty! What are you staring at?”

“Reload and kill him already!”

Che had assumed he was buying time.

All Sun had to do was reload and finish off the ghost inside Xiong.

Instead, Sun grimaced miserably and spoke in a voice that sounded close to tears:

“There aren’t any bullets…”

“I left in such a hurry…”

“Brother…”

“I forgot to bring extra ammunition.”