Chapter 45: Your surname is Song?

*Gulp.*

Zhu Yiqun swallowed hard, muttering with a dazed expression, "This is too intense. Compared to him, the old man is simply too mild."

Song Changsheng was also stunned. A late-stage Foundation Establishment Blood Demon had just been utterly annihilated, soul and body? Even if his own grandfather had stepped in, it wouldn't have been much different.

"Second Senior Brother, don't let those Blood Demons escape!" Zhuang Yuechan, however, was already used to this. She shouted loudly toward the burly man.

"Hahaha, don't worry, Little Junior Sister! Since they dared to lay a hand on you, your brother will twist their heads off right now and give them to you to use as soccer balls!" Having received his orders, the burly man let out a sinister grin and lunged toward the fleeing demonic cultivators.

His methods were simple and brutal: he would chase them down, slam his massive hand onto their heads, and twist with force, severing head from body.

He did this to every single one of them, as if he truly intended to leave these heads for Zhuang Yuechan to kick around.

Zhuang Yuechan's beautiful face instantly darkened. Her eccentric senior brother was actually capable of such a thing.

"Uh... Fellow Daoist Zhuang, your senior brother is truly..." Looking at the burly man who was simultaneously twisting heads and shouting profanities, Zhu Yiqun found himself momentarily speechless.

Song Changsheng was also at a loss for words. This was likely the most undignified Foundation Establishment cultivator he had ever seen. Not only was his combat style brutal, but his mouth was full of vulgarities; he bore no resemblance to a righteous cultivator whatsoever.

...

After about fifteen minutes, the burly man arrived before the group, covered in blood and carrying over twenty dripping heads, walking with an arrogant, swaggering gait.

He tossed the heads at Zhuang Yuechan's feet, opened his mouth to reveal two rows of large, yellow teeth, and said with a chuckle, "Junior Sister, they're all here. Tell me, which ones would be most satisfying to kick?"

Looking at the pile of heads, Zhuang Yuechan couldn't help but want to press her hand to her forehead. What kind of karma had she accumulated to end up with such an eccentric senior brother?

"Why did you bring these back? It's disgusting," Zhuang Yuechan said through gritted teeth, taking a deep breath.

Hearing the tone of his junior sister, the burly man immediately knew he had messed up. He grabbed the heads and tossed them aside, scratching his head with a sheepish grin. "Brother will be more careful next time. Next time, I promise."

Zhuang Yuechan gave him a frustrated glare and turned to the others. "This is my second senior brother, Niu Dazhuang."

"Niu Dazhuang... a... very simple name." Zhu Yiqun suddenly felt that his own name wasn't so hard to accept after all.

Unlike Zhu Yiqun, Song Changsheng found the name strangely familiar. After a moment of deep recollection, he blurted out, "Niu Dazhuang? The head disciple under the Second City Lord of Sunset City?"

"Heh, this little brother is quite well-informed! To think you've heard Old Niu's name," Niu Dazhuang said with a wide, cheerful grin, showing no pretension of being a senior.

"Sunset City? You mean the Sunset City where all three City Lords are Purple Mansion Great Cultivators?" Xu Yunhe's eyes widened. That place was a paradise for rogue cultivators.

"Mm, you've got good eyes, kid. It's a pity about your missing arm, but it doesn't matter; there's still hope for Foundation Establishment," Niu Dazhuang said, glancing at Xu Yunhe and nodding approvingly.

"If Senior Niu's master is City Lord Zhan Tianxia, then Fellow Daoist Zhuang, your master must be..." Zhu Yiqun realized belatedly, looking at Zhuang Yuechan with eyes full of astonishment.

Zhuang Yuechan nodded. "My master is the Great City Lord, Mu Guibai."

Upon receiving the confirmation, Zhu Yiqun gasped. Mu Guibai—the most formidable man in the Qi State cultivation world below the Golden Core stage. Legend had it that even Golden Core True Immortals had to show him some respect.

"Fellow Daoist Zhuang is truly a hidden expert," Zhu Yiqun said with a bitter smile. Compared to her, both his grandfather and the Song Clan had to take a backseat.

"Aiya, enough with the 'hidden expert' talk. Junior Sister, you haven't introduced them to me yet!" Niu Dazhuang waved his hand impatiently.

Zhuang Yuechan nodded. "This is Fellow Daoist Xu Yunhe. His swordsmanship is exquisite and very rare among rogue cultivators. This is Fellow Daoist Zhu Yiqun; he is a medicinal chef and has taken great care of me during this time."

Hearing this, Niu Dazhuang reached out with his fan-like palms and began thumping Zhu Yiqun's shoulders with heavy *thuds*. "I originally thought you looked shifty and like no good sort, but it seems I judged you by your appearance. You're quite good; thank you for looking after my junior sister."

Zhu Yiqun felt as though his very bones were being shaken apart by the blows, but he still forced a smile—though it looked more like a grimace of pain.

"Junior Sister, what's his name? I think this little brother is quite decent," Niu Dazhuang said, pointing a finger as thick as a radish at Song Changsheng.

Zhuang Yuechan's gaze became complicated. "This is Fellow Daoist Song Changsheng. He..."

"Wait." For the first time, Niu Dazhuang interrupted his junior sister. His eyes narrowed into slits as he stared at Song Changsheng. "Your surname is Song? What is your relation to the Song Clan in the Moon-Watching Mountains?"

His tone turned unfriendly, causing Song Changsheng to startle. Could this man be an enemy of his family? He hadn't heard his grandfather mention any grievances with Sunset City.

He wanted to avoid answering, but his identity was out in the open. If they were truly enemies, there was no use hiding. He braced himself and said, "I am indeed a member of the Song Clan."

"What?" Niu Dazhuang's eyes bulged, and a fierce aura erupted from his body. The heavy pressure made Song Changsheng's chest feel tight.

"Senior Brother, what are you doing?" Zhuang Yuechan stepped forward to shield Song Changsheng, staring directly at Niu Dazhuang.

"Junior Sister, you're protecting him? You said you wanted to go out for experience, and our masters and I had no objections, but you're actually getting involved with the Song Clan? If I had known, I would never have let you leave home!"

Niu Dazhuang's eyes glared, speaking harshly to Zhuang Yuechan for the first time.

Zhu Yiqun and Xu Yunhe were stunned by the scene. Everything had been fine just a moment ago; why did it suddenly feel like an encounter between enemies?

"Senior Brother, I know what you want to say, but Fellow Daoist Song saved my life. I won't allow you to touch him. Besides, our masters said that we and the Song Clan do not interfere with one another. Do you intend to defy the masters' orders?"

Zhuang Yuechan looked up at the ferocious Niu Dazhuang and spoke with unwavering determination.

"You! Fine, I won't touch him, but you must come back with me today! You are not allowed to associate with the Song Clan anymore!" Two puffs of white mist escaped Niu Dazhuang's nostrils as he grabbed Zhuang Yuechan's hand, intending to leave.

Zhuang Yuechan was no match for his strength and could only be passively taken onto a flying sword, which streaked away like a rainbow...

A long while later, Zhu Yiqun sighed and patted Song Changsheng on the shoulder. "Stop watching, they're long gone. Doesn't your Song Clan always have trade relations with Sunset City? How is it that you 'don't interfere with one another' now? I'm a bit confused."

Facing Zhu Yiqun's question, Song Changsheng shook his head in confusion. "I don't know either."

"Sigh, don't think about it. Let's hurry and clean up the battlefield. They didn't take anything, so it's all ours." Zhu Yiqun rubbed his hands together and began to scavenge.

...

(End of Chapter)