BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 41 Reversal

Seeing Sun Dasheng looking completely at a loss, Che Qianzi cursed inwardly: Fatty, shut up! That bastard heard everything!

But at that moment, he was already tied up fighting “Xiong Wanyi.” Now that the revolver was no longer a threat, “Xiong Wanyi” ignored Sun Desheng entirely and focused on Che Qianzi. As long as he got rid of this brat, dealing with the fat man afterward would be as easy as lifting a hand.

However, “Xiong Wanyi” had underestimated the situation. The four consecutive gunshots earlier had nearly blasted his soul out of his borrowed body. Even now, his arms and legs still felt weak, and he had not fully recovered. Facing the mad-dog-like assault of Che Qianzi, he gradually fell into a disadvantage. Several times he narrowly escaped death, dodging the short sword by mere inches. Had the blade been just a little closer, his head would already have a hole in it.

Che Qianzi paid no attention to whether Xiong Wanyi’s body might be injured. He swung his short sword directly at “Xiong Wanyi’s” vital points. Watching from inside, Cui Yuandao broke into a cold sweat.

Does this brat care at all about his companion’s life? Do the two of them have some kind of grudge?

Every strike targeted either the head or the heart. It was the kind of attack one would use against a father’s murderer.

Previously, Che Qianzi’s opponents had only been fox spirits, weasels with a bit of cultivation, or at most wandering ghosts protected by spiritual energy. Although he had beaten up a high-ranking Underworld official yesterday, that man had been more of a bureaucrat than a fighter. Fighting someone whose body had been possessed by an evil sorcerer was completely new territory for him.

Gradually, after enduring the initial barrage, “Xiong Wanyi” began recovering. The pressure slowly shifted to Che Qianzi. His opponent’s movements became faster and faster. Earlier, Che Qianzi’s sword could still leave cuts on him. Now he could not even touch the edge of the man’s clothing. Worse still, “Xiong Wanyi” now had enough spare strength to counterattack while evading.

Smack!

Che Qianzi took a palm strike to the chest. Fortunately, “Xiong Wanyi” had been focused on avoiding the short sword and had not used his full strength. Otherwise, the blow could have torn his heart right out.

Realizing he had regained the initiative, “Xiong Wanyi” began talking to distract the young Taoist.

“Your leather armor isn’t bad. Later I’ll turn you into one too. Didn’t you say more people are coming? I’ll use your body to deal with them. Care to guess what will happen to them?”

As he spoke, he spotted an opening and slapped Che Qianzi across the face.

The slap landed with a loud crack, nearly knocking the young Taoist to the ground.

“So this is all you’ve got? Forget making you into armor. I’ll skin you and turn you into a lantern instead…”

Before he finished speaking, he dodged another sword thrust and slapped Che Qianzi across the other side of the face.

The two slaps caused Che Qianzi’s face to flush crimson, as if blood might seep through his skin. Seeing the young Taoist consumed by rage, “Xiong Wanyi” kicked him again.

In truth, he was deliberately holding back. He wanted to make Che Qianzi into another leather armor. Ever since first meeting the boy, he had sensed a strange power within him—though the boy clearly had no idea how to use it.

His plan was simple: enrage Che Qianzi completely, wait for him to expose a major weakness, then subdue him in one move. After killing the fat man, he could take his time figuring out how to make use of this remarkable body.

After five or six slaps, Che Qianzi was so furious that his hair practically stood on end.

With a roar, he suddenly threw away his only weapon—the short sword.

Then, barehanded, he lunged at “Xiong Wanyi,” looking as though he intended to tear the man apart with his own hands.

This was exactly what “Xiong Wanyi” had been waiting for.

As Che Qianzi charged forward, “Xiong Wanyi” instantly appeared behind him. Raising his palm, he struck toward the back of the boy’s head.

The attack carried a spell capable of knocking Che Qianzi’s soul from his body in an instant, allowing him to seize the body immediately.

The moment “Xiong Wanyi” vanished from sight, Che Qianzi reacted.

He spun around sharply and saw the man behind him, palm already descending.

Instead of dodging, Che Qianzi threw a punch at the man’s nose at the exact same moment.

In an instant, both attacks landed.

“Xiong Wanyi” took the punch head-on.

It felt as though a several-hundred-ton iron hammer had smashed into his face.

The blow launched him through the air. He crashed into a row of bookshelves before finally collapsing onto the floor.

The punch was even more powerful than the short sword.

As for Che Qianzi, he merely saw stars for a moment. After a brief pause, he recovered completely.

Seeing “Xiong Wanyi” struggling to rise, Che Qianzi immediately charged again before his opponent could catch his breath.

At that moment, “Xiong Wanyi” was completely disoriented, as though Sun Dasheng had fired another gunshot beside him. His soul was once again being violently shaken inside the borrowed body.

But Che Qianzi was not Sun Desheng.

He gave his enemy no chance to recover.

Charging forward, he kicked the man square in the face.

Then came a relentless barrage of kicks to the eyes, throat, temples, and groin.

The beating completely robbed “Xiong Wanyi” of any ability to fight back. He curled up, clutching his head and rolling on the ground.

Eventually, he lacked even the strength to roll.

He simply lay there and endured the punishment.

At this point, terror filled “Xiong Wanyi’s” heart.

Who exactly is this little Taoist?

Every blow seemed to carry an overwhelming force that crushed him from within. Even the gunshots that had shaken his soul earlier had not inflicted such severe damage.

Meanwhile, Che Qianzi had completely lost himself in rage.

He continued pummeling the helpless “Xiong Wanyi” without mercy.

Not only was Cui Yuandao horrified, but even Xiong Wanyi’s body had been beaten into a bloody mess. Half his teeth had been knocked out. The number of fractures throughout his body was not much better than Ximen Lian’s condition.

Then suddenly—

“Xiong Wanyi” opened his mouth.

A human-shaped cloud of smoke shot out.

Before Che Qianzi could react, the smoky figure had already fled into the hidden passageway.

The instant the smoke escaped, Xiong Wanyi slowly opened his blood-covered eyes.

His head was so swollen that even opening his eyes seemed difficult.

Spitting out broken teeth, he stared blankly at Che Qianzi and the approaching Sun Desheng.

“What happened to me…?” he muttered. “Everything hurts… Che Qianzi, is that you? Why are you beating me up?”

Hearing Xiong Wanyi speaking in his own voice again, Sun Desheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Not to brag, Old Xiong, but are you trying to scam somebody? My brother here nearly exhausted himself saving you, and you can’t even say thank you?”

“Forget this idiot!” Che Qianzi snapped. “That Cui bastard is getting away! He slapped me so many times and thinks he can just run? No way!”

His anger still far from spent, Che Qianzi ignored both Sun Desheng and Xiong Wanyi. Turning around, he rushed straight into the hidden passage after the smoky figure.

Sun Desheng failed to stop him.

Watching the boy disappear into the tunnel, he sighed helplessly and said to the recently awakened Xiong Wanyi:

“Old Xiong, I’ll leave things here to you. And keep an eye on that important gentleman over there too. I’ve got to go break up a fight. Neither of you move around too much.”

As he spoke, Sun Desheng hurried after Che Qianzi.

Fortunately, there were no traps inside the tunnel.

It was merely a long, narrow winding path.

At the end, the passage suddenly opened into a spacious chamber.

It was a burial room containing a coffin.

Che Qianzi stood before the coffin, staring at its tightly nailed lid.

Then he said:

“So you think hiding here settles everything? You still owe me five slaps… and don’t forget the interest.”