Ancient Banyan Descends

Zhang Mo's hand had been healing for three days. He could move it now.

Ning Rongrong changed his bandages every day, and her face grew redder each time. Yang Wudi watched from the side, grinning to himself. Chen Xin occasionally came by to sit with them. He said nothing, just watched.

On the morning of the fourth day, the system's warning came.

Zhang Mo was eating breakfast when a sudden pain stabbed through his right eye. A purple screen popped up, turning even the bowl of porridge purple.

[Warning--]

[Detected an imminent fifth "Crisis Summon"--]

[Target: Ancient Banyan]

[Identity: Bone Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, wielder of the Bone Dragon Martial Soul]

[Soul Power Level: Titled Douluo, level 95]

[Spirit Rings: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black]

[Characteristics: Extremely powerful defense; nearly immortal in Bone Dragon True Form]

[Arrival time: 12 hours]

[Arrival location: SH City District, approximately 15 kilometers from current location]

[Mission: Kill Ancient Banyan]

[Reward: World Origin Points ×1000, random Spirit Bone ×1]

[Failure penalty: Dual World Collision accelerated by 110 days]

The chopsticks slipped from Ning Rongrong's hand.

She stared at the lines, her face pale.

"Grandpa Bone..."

Yang Wudi set down his bowl and whistled.

"Another one," he said. "Is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect coming as a group?"

Chen Xin stood up and walked to the window, looking outside.

"Old Bone," he said quietly. "That old bastard's here too."

Ning Rongrong turned to look at him.

"Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone, he—"

Chen Xin waved a hand, stopping her before she could finish.

"I know," he said. "He's here for you."

He turned around and looked at Zhang Mo.

"Old Bone will be harder to deal with than I was."

Zhang Mo said nothing, waiting.

Chen Xin said, "I can still be reasoned with. Old Bone can't."

Yang Wudi cut in from the side. "Just how unreasonable is he?"

Chen Xin thought for a moment, then said:

"Once, a Soul Douluo offended Rongrong. She said, 'Grandpa Bone, help me get even.' Old Bone chased that man for three days and three nights, all the way to his sect. Then he beat him up right in front of the sect master."

Yang Wudi blinked.

Chen Xin continued, "That man later got down on his knees and begged for mercy, but Old Bone ignored him. He only stopped when Rongrong said to let it go."

He looked at Ning Rongrong.

"He listens to this girl. He doesn't listen to anyone else."

Ning Rongrong lowered her head and said nothing.

Zhang Mo fell silent for a few seconds, then asked:

"What will he do when he gets here?"

Chen Xin said, "He'll look for me first. He'll think I failed to protect Rongrong, and fight me. Then he'll look for you."

He looked at Zhang Mo.

"When he comes for you, you'd better have Rongrong stand in front."

Ning Rongrong lifted her head.

Chen Xin said, "When he sees Rongrong, half his anger will fade. When he sees her protecting you, another half will fade. As for the last half—"

He paused.

"It'll depend on whether you can take one of his punches."

Yang Wudi laughed.

"Take another one?" He looked at Zhang Mo's right hand. "That hand of yours still hasn't healed properly."

Zhang Mo said nothing.

Ning Rongrong suddenly stood up.

"I'll take it."

The three of them stared at her in surprise.

She looked at Chen Xin, her eyes shining.

"Grandpa Bone loves me most. I'll talk to him."

Chen Xin looked at her in silence for a few seconds, then shook his head.

"It won't work."

"Why not?"

"Because he'll ask me," Chen Xin said. "He'll ask why I let you stay here. If I tell the truth, he'll think you're being used and get even angrier. If I lie, he'll know."

Ning Rongrong's face paled again.

Yang Wudi coughed from the side.

"Old man," he said, "can't you try to hold him back?"

Chen Xin glanced at him.

"I can't stop him."

Yang Wudi blinked.

Chen Xin said, "We've fought all our lives. We're evenly matched."

The room fell quiet.

Zhang Mo suddenly stood up.

"I'll go."

Ning Rongrong grabbed him.

"Your hand—"

Zhang Mo looked down at his right hand, then raised his eyes to her.

"I still have my left."

Ning Rongrong's eyes reddened.

"You idiot..."

Yang Wudi rolled his eyes from the side.

"All right, all right," he said. "Quit acting. There are still twelve hours. Take your time thinking it over."

He stood up, walked to the window, and glanced outside.

Then he froze.

"Old man," he said. "Is that your old friend?"

Chen Xin walked to the window and followed his gaze.

In the distance, a figure stood on a rooftop.

He wore a gray-white robe, and his frame was gaunt. A mess of white hair covered his head.

He stood there, looking this way.

Though he was a kilometer away, his eyes shone with a frightening brightness.

Chen Xin furrowed his brow.

"He's early," he said.

Ning Rongrong ran to the window. The moment she saw the figure, her legs gave way, and she nearly fell.

Zhang Mo caught her.

She turned to look at him, tears welling in her eyes.

"Grandpa Bone..."

In the distance, the figure moved.

He jumped straight from the rooftop, landing on the ground with a crash that left a crater.

Then he walked this way.

He wasn't moving fast, but every step carried an indescribable pressure.

Yang Wudi tightened his grip on the newly repaired Soul Breaking Spear.

Chen Xin reached out and gripped his sword hilt.

Zhang Mo pulled Ning Rongrong behind him.

The figure stopped at the mouth of the alley.

He stood there, twenty meters away, looking at them.

Sunlight shone from behind him, shrouding his face in shadow.

But his eyes gleamed with astonishing brightness.

He spoke, his voice hoarse, like rusted metal scraping together:

"Chen Xin."

Chen Xin stepped forward.

"Old Bone."

Ancient Banyan stared at him for a few seconds, then looked past him at Ning Rongrong behind him.

His expression changed.

"Rongrong."

Ning Rongrong peeked out from behind Zhang Mo and called softly:

"Grandpa Bone..."

Ancient Banyan took a step forward.

Chen Xin blocked his path with his sword.

Ancient Banyan stopped and looked at him.

"Move."

Chen Xin shook his head.

"Listen to me—"

Ancient Banyan raised his hand and struck with his palm.

The force of the blow howled, wrapped in rippling black Soul Power.

Chen Xin swung his sword to block it.

Boom--

The ground between them exploded, leaving a crater.

Ancient Banyan looked at him, his gaze cold as ice.

"You failed to protect her."

Chen Xin said nothing.

Ancient Banyan said, "She was missing for so many days. You found her, but didn't take her back. What do you mean by that?"

Chen Xin said, "She chose for herself."

Ancient Banyan froze for a moment.

He looked at Ning Rongrong.

"Rongrong, is what he said true?"

Ning Rongrong nodded.

Ancient Banyan stared at her for a long time.

Then he suddenly laughed.

His smile looked worse than crying.

"Good," he said. "Good."

He turned and looked at Zhang Mo.

"You're the one?"

Zhang Mo nodded.

Ancient Banyan walked toward him.

Chen Xin tried to stop him again, but Ancient Banyan shoved him aside with one hand.

He walked up to Zhang Mo and stopped.

He was half a head taller than Zhang Mo. His gaunt figure was like an old bamboo stalk, yet the pressure he exuded weighed heavier than a mountain.

He looked down at Zhang Mo.

Zhang Mo looked back at him.

They stared at each other for a few seconds.

Ancient Banyan suddenly raised his hand and punched Zhang Mo in the chest.

Zhang Mo flew backward, slammed into the wall, and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Zhang Mo!" Ning Rongrong screamed as she ran toward him.

Watching this, Ancient Banyan's gaze turned even colder.

"That's it?" he said. "This is the man Rongrong chose?"

Ning Rongrong stood in front of Zhang Mo, looking up at him, tears streaming down her face.

"Grandpa Bone! You're not allowed to hit him!"

Ancient Banyan looked at her, his expression complicated.

"Rongrong, move aside."

Ning Rongrong shook her head.

Ancient Banyan reached out to pull her away, but Ning Rongrong clung tightly to his arm.

"No! I won't!"

Ancient Banyan froze.

He looked at Ning Rongrong's tear-streaked face and the way she was fiercely protecting that man, and suddenly remembered her as a little girl.

She'd been only three or four then. When she fell, she didn't cry; she picked herself up. He'd praised her for being brave, and she'd lifted her little face and said, "Because I'm a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Now she'd grown up and learned to protect others.

He slowly lowered his hand.

"Rongrong," he said, his voice hoarse. "Do you like him?"

Ning Rongrong bit her lip and nodded.

Ancient Banyan fell silent.

For a long, long time.

Then he sighed.

"Fine," he said. "If you like him, that's enough."

He turned and walked away.

After a few steps, he stopped and said without looking back:

"If this brat ever bullies you, tell me."

He left.

Ning Rongrong stood there, watching his back disappear at the end of the alley.

Suddenly, she crouched down and buried her face in her knees, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.

Footsteps sounded behind her.

Zhang Mo came over, crouched down, and gently patted the top of her head.

She looked up at him, her face covered in tears.

Blood still hung at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were calm.

"It's all right now," he said.

Ancient Banyan had left.

The alley fell quiet, with only Ning Rongrong's sobs breaking the silence.

Chen Xin stood where he was, gazing in the direction his old friend had disappeared. He remained silent for a long time.

Then he turned and looked at Ning Rongrong and Zhang Mo crouched on the ground.

"Get up," he said. "He'll be back."

Ning Rongrong lifted her head, tears streaking her cheeks.

"Grandpa Bone... he'll come back?"

Chen Xin nodded.

"With his temper, he won't stop until he's let all his anger out." He paused. "He's angry at me for not taking you home."

Yang Wudi came over from beside the wall and planted the broken half of his Soul Breaking Spear on the ground.

"So what now? We wait for him to come back and have another fight?"

Chen Xin glanced at him but said nothing.

He walked over to Zhang Mo and looked down at his chest—the spot Ancient Banyan had struck with that punch.

"How many ribs are broken?"

Zhang Mo shifted, wincing in pain.

"Two."

Chen Xin reached out and pressed the spot. Zhang Mo groaned.

"Three," Chen Xin said. "Stay in bed for two days."

Ning Rongrong hurriedly supported Zhang Mo.

"I'll help you upstairs."

Zhang Mo waved her off and pushed himself upright against the wall.

"No need."

He took two steps. A cold sweat broke out from the pain in his chest, but he clenched his teeth and didn't make a sound.

Ning Rongrong stayed beside him, her hand hovering at his side. She didn't dare press too hard, but she didn't dare let go, either.

Yang Wudi watched them go upstairs, then looked at Chen Xin.

"Old man, when do you think that old geezer will be back?"

Chen Xin thought for a moment.

"Tonight."

Yang Wudi paused, surprised.

Chen Xin said, "With his temper, he won't last half a day."

Yang Wudi grinned.

"Fine. Then we'll wait."

He picked up his spear and followed them upstairs.

Upstairs, Zhang Mo lay on the sofa while Ning Rongrong wiped the sweat from his brow.

Yang Wudi came in, took one look at him, and rolled his eyes.

"It's only three ribs. You won't die." He walked over, pulled a small porcelain bottle from his robes, and tossed it to Ning Rongrong. "Give him one."

Ning Rongrong caught it, poured out a pill, and fed it to Zhang Mo.

Zhang Mo swallowed it, and felt a warm current spread from his stomach, easing the pain in his chest a little.

"What kind of medicine is it?"

Yang Wudi said, "A Bone-Mending Pill. It's a secret remedy from our Breaking Clan."

Zhang Mo nodded, leaned back against the sofa, and closed his eyes.

Ning Rongrong sat beside him, watching him.

Outside the window, the sky slowly darkened.

At eight that evening, footsteps sounded in the alley.

Ning Rongrong ran to the window and looked down.

In the moonlight, a gaunt figure stood in the middle of the alley, looking up at the window.

Ancient Banyan.

She turned to look into the room.

Chen Xin was already standing, one hand gripping his sword hilt.

Yang Wudi picked up his Soul Breaking Spear.

Zhang Mo opened his eyes and started to get up, but Ning Rongrong held him down.

"Don't move," she said. "I'll go."

She pushed open the door and ran downstairs.

In the alley, Ancient Banyan saw her, and for a moment his eyes softened.

"Rongrong."

Ning Rongrong ran over and caught hold of his sleeve.

"Grandpa Bone, don't fight Grandpa Sword."

Ancient Banyan looked down at her and was silent for several seconds.

"I have no objection to him letting you stay here," he said. "But he failed to protect you. He has to answer for that."

"It wasn't his fault..."

Ancient Banyan waved a hand.

"Rongrong, go back," he said. "This is between the adults. Don't get involved."

Ning Rongrong shook her head and held on to his sleeve.

Ancient Banyan looked at her and suddenly sighed.

"Rongrong, when has Grandpa Bone ever hurt you?"

Ning Rongrong froze.

Ancient Banyan said, "Your father entrusted you to us so we could keep you safe. And what happened? You disappeared for so many days, and we didn't even know where you were. That old fellow Chen Xin found you, but instead of taking you home, he let you stay with someone whose background is unknown."

His voice darkened.

"If I don't settle this score with him, who should I settle it with?"

Ning Rongrong opened her mouth to say something, but Ancient Banyan didn't give her the chance.

He gently freed his sleeve from her grasp and stepped forward.

Chen Xin had already come downstairs.

The two men faced each other from ten paces away.

Moonlight fell over the alley, stretching their shadows long across the ground.

"Chen Xin," Ancient Banyan began, his voice hoarse. "Do you have anything to say?"

Chen Xin looked at him, fell silent for a few seconds, then said:

"Nothing. If you want to fight, then fight."

Ancient Banyan smiled.

It was a brief, cold smile.

"Good."

He raised his hand and struck with his palm.

Black Soul Power transformed into a Bone Dragon, roaring as it charged toward Chen Xin.

Chen Xin drew his sword.

The Seven Kill Sword left its sheath, its sword energy sweeping in every direction.

Boom—

The ground between them exploded, leaving a huge crater.

Ning Rongrong was swept off her feet by the shockwave and slammed to the ground.

She scrambled up and saw Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone already locked in combat.

Sword light and bone shadows crossed and clashed. Each collision made the ground tremble. Cracks spread across the walls on both sides of the alley like spiderwebs.

"Stop fighting!" she shouted.

Neither of them paid her any attention.

Ancient Banyan struck with his palm. Chen Xin dodged to the side, and the blow smashed into the wall, blasting a gaping hole through it.

Chen Xin slashed with his sword. Ancient Banyan blocked it with his arm. The blade tore his clothes and left a white mark on his skin.

Both men were fighting in earnest now.

Ning Rongrong was so anxious that tears welled in her eyes.

She rushed forward, trying to stop them, but before she could get close, the shockwave sent her flying.

This time she landed even harder, her head striking the wall. Her vision went black.

Through her daze, she saw someone rushing toward her.

Zhang Mo.

Clutching his chest, he ran over and crouched in front of her.

"Rongrong!"

Ning Rongrong shook her head, coming around a little.

"I'm fine..." she said. "Go stop them..."

Zhang Mo looked up.

Chen Xin and Ancient Banyan were fighting like men possessed, completely unaware of what was happening nearby.

He stood up and placed himself in front of Ning Rongrong.

A wave of sword energy swept toward them. Unable to dodge, he could only take the blow on his back.

The sword energy sliced through his clothes and left a deep, bloody gash across his back.

He groaned and dropped to one knee.

At the sight of the blood on his back, Ning Rongrong's mind went blank.

She stood up and rushed between the two men.

"Enough!!"

She poured every ounce of strength she had into that shout.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda appeared in her palm, its dazzling seven-colored light piercing the darkness.

Chen Xin and Ancient Banyan stopped at the same time.

They looked at Ning Rongrong.

She stood between them, trembling all over, tears streaming down her face.

"Are you done fighting?!"

Her voice was shrill, choked with sobs.

"If you're done, then stop!"

Chen Xin fell silent.

Ancient Banyan fell silent too.

Ning Rongrong pointed at Zhang Mo.

"He took a punch from Grandpa Bone to protect me and broke three ribs. Just now, he took a sword strike to protect me, too. His back is bleeding."

She looked at Ancient Banyan.

"Grandpa Bone, he was the one you wanted to hit. But when you hit him, I was standing right there watching. My heart was breaking."

Then she looked at Chen Xin.

"Grandpa Sword, you wanted to fight Grandpa Bone, and I couldn't stop you. But when you fought, I was standing right there watching. I was scared."

Her tears wouldn't stop flowing.

"I'm this scared, and you still want to fight?"

The alley fell quiet.

Only Ning Rongrong's sobs could be heard.

Ancient Banyan looked at her, his expression complicated.

Chen Xin looked at her too, silent.

After a long while, Ancient Banyan suddenly sighed.

He walked up to Ning Rongrong and reached out to wipe away her tears.

"Rongrong, Grandpa Bone was wrong."

Ning Rongrong froze for a moment.

Ancient Banyan said, "I shouldn't have fought in front of you."

He glanced at Zhang Mo, then at Chen Xin, and turned to leave.

When he reached the mouth of the alley, he stopped and said without looking back,

"If that brat dies, I'll take responsibility. If he doesn't, let's forget it."

Then he left.

Chen Xin stood where he was, watching Ancient Banyan's figure disappear. Then he slowly sheathed his sword.

He walked up to Ning Rongrong and looked down at her.

"Rongrong, Grandpa was wrong too."

Ning Rongrong looked up at him, her eyes red-rimmed.

"Grandpa Sword..."

Chen Xin reached out and patted the top of her head.

"We won't fight again."

Ning Rongrong nodded.

She turned and ran back to Zhang Mo.

He was still kneeling on the ground, the blood on his back having stained a large patch of his clothes red.

She supported him.

"Zhang Mo, how are you?"

Zhang Mo looked up at her. His face was pale, but he managed a smile.

"I'm fine."

Ning Rongrong's tears welled up again.

"You're lying..."

Zhang Mo reached out to wipe her tears, but halfway through lifting his hand, his vision went dark, and he collapsed into her arms.

"Zhang Mo!"

She held him and wept her heart out.

Chen Xin came over, crouched down, and checked Zhang Mo's breathing.

"He's passed out," he said. "We need to carry him upstairs."

Yang Wudi came downstairs and saw what had happened. He clicked his tongue.

"That kid's one tough bastard." He walked over and hoisted Zhang Mo onto his shoulder. "All right, stop crying. He's not going to die."

Ning Rongrong followed behind him, wiping away her tears as she walked.

Upstairs, Yang Wudi laid Zhang Mo on the sofa and unfastened his clothes, revealing the wound on his back.

A sword gash ran from his shoulder to his waist, the flesh torn open, the wound deep enough to expose bone.

Ning Rongrong took one look and her legs nearly gave way.

Yang Wudi, however, breathed a sigh of relief.

"Not bad. It didn't hit any internal organs." He pulled a bottle of medicine from his robes and sprinkled the powder over the wound. "He'll be fine after half a month in bed."

Ning Rongrong watched from beside him, tears never stopping.

After Yang Wudi finished bandaging the wound, he stood and looked at Chen Xin.

"Old man, that sword strike of yours was vicious."

Chen Xin said nothing.

He looked at Zhang Mo and remained silent for a long time.

Then he suddenly said,

"Rongrong, this kid is worthy."

Ning Rongrong looked up at him.

Chen Xin said, "When he rushed over just now and stood in front of you, he was putting his life on the line to protect you."

He paused.

"I approve of him now."

Ning Rongrong froze.

Then she lowered her head and looked at Zhang Mo's pale face. Tears streamed down her cheeks again.

But this time, the corners of her mouth were turned up.