"Alas, this world feels increasingly chaotic lately."
In the evening, bored at home, Dundun invited Liu Nanfeng for barbecue.
"Who could say otherwise? Are you going on this trip to the Heavenly Palace as well?"
"Of course, if you're going, how could I not?"
"Skewers are here." Zhang Xinwu brought over a large platter of grilled skewers.
"Thank you," Liu Nanfeng replied casually.
"You're welcome. But when will you bring the Dragon Girl and that little girl called Gugu over? My treat."
Speaking of this, Liu Nanfeng also remembered.
"Where is your daughter?"
"Her mother took her back?"
"What? Have you reconciled?" Liu Nanfeng raised an eyebrow and asked.
He had always felt that Jin Jiaoxing had ill intentions, likely planning to tie Zhang Xinwu down using their child.
However, this was Zhang Xinwu's private affair, and he couldn't say much.
"Ah, Youyou is a girl after all, and it's somewhat inconvenient for her to be with me, so I've temporarily let her mother take her back."
"But if you bring the Dragon Girl and Gugu, I can find her anytime. This girl is pitiful with her mother; she doesn't have many friends."
"Alright, I'll think about bringing them next time," Liu Nanfeng said casually.
But Zhang Xinwu took it seriously and excitedly said, "Tonight is on me. Eat and drink well."
With that, he turned and left.
Liu Nanfeng watched his broad back, unable to quite understand why, with Zhang Xinwu's cultivation, he needed to work so hard selling barbecue at a stall.
"Refining the heart in the mortal world," Zhan Dundun remarked.
"Get out of here. Selling things can refine the heart? If that were the case, wouldn't the cultivation of the common folk in Great Xia skyrocket if they practiced?"
It wasn't that Liu Nanfeng didn't believe in refining the heart, but it couldn't be forced, nor did experiencing hardship necessarily equate to refining the heart.
Some people could break through mental barriers through gambling, whoring, drinking, and smoking.
Some people could refine their hearts while simply eating and drinking, leading to a surge in cultivation, like Su Jinxiu.
Some people even had breakthroughs in cultivation while squatting to relieve themselves.
In short, anything that was subjective was unreasonable.
The two chatted idly while eating. By the time they finished, it was past ten in the evening.
After leaving the barbecue stall, they didn't rush back. They strolled along the riverbank, partly to sober up, as they had both drunk quite a bit that night.
"I originally wanted to invite my dad to meet your dad, but I didn't expect him to leave so hastily."
"There's no helping it. My great-grandfather is alright, but there are several other elders in the clan whose time is short, so they dare not delay even a moment." Zhan Dundun also expressed his helplessness.
Just then, the two suddenly turned their heads to look at a dark spot behind them.
Soon, they saw Hu Mengyao fleeing in disarray.
Upon seeing Liu Nanfeng, the flustered Hu Mengyao showed a hint of relief.
"What's wrong with you?" Liu Nanfeng asked in surprise.
At the same time, he felt a sense of vigilance. Seeing her state, she was likely being pursued. Was this intentional, or a mere coincidence?
"It's good that I saw you. Ruoyun is missing. I've been searching for her these past few days, but I didn't expect some other people..." Hu Mengyao spoke quickly, repeatedly glancing behind her.
Liu Nanfeng's expression became thoughtful; he roughly understood what was happening.
It was likely people from the Tide Association still searching for Yang Ruoyun's whereabouts.
"We can talk about it later. We have guests," Zhan Dundun interrupted Hu Mengyao.
At this moment, the streetlights along the riverbank dimmed. People who had been strolling by the river began to leave in twos and threes, as if they hadn't noticed the subtle anomaly.
However, Liu Nanfeng and Zhan Dundun could feel an invisible wave spreading outwards, and then these ordinary people, as if hypnotized, left one by one.
Liu Nanfeng was about to step forward when Zhan Dundun stopped him.
"Let me handle this one."
Liu Nanfeng had shown his might several times. This time, he decided to act himself. Although he was a panda, he carried the 'bear' character, possessing a naturally belligerent gene.
Zhan Dundun clenched his fists, and a faint golden light flashed on them. This was the 'Kirin Hands' weapon previously gifted to him by Su Jinxiu—very effective and greatly favored by him.
They were as thin as cicada wings. When worn on his hands, they didn't interfere with his daily life, feeling almost imperceptible.
"Do you want me to invite you out?" Zhan Dundun asked.
As he spoke, a person emerged from the darkness.
The newcomer was thin and frail, walking silently, like a phantom. His head was disproportionately large, and he wore a helmet with four horn-like devices pointing in different directions, giving him a rather comical appearance.
"Hand the person over to me," the newcomer said.
His voice was peculiar, not human-like, but like a machine's.
"Be careful, he's very strange. He can not only manipulate objects but also control minds."
Hu Mengyao peeked out from behind Liu Nanfeng and whispered a reminder.
"Control minds?"
Zhan Dundun clenched his fists and struck them together. The golden tiger heads on his gloves immediately let out tiger roars, and a ripple spread outwards, immediately producing sounds like shattering glass.
"Interesting?"
Seeing Zhan Dundun so easily nullify his subtle move, the opponent appeared surprised but not flustered. He reached out and waved towards the river.
Countless water dragons surged from the river, spinning rapidly in the air like innumerable drills, targeting the three of them.
Zhan Dundun stomped his foot on the ground and leaped into the air, swinging his fists. The water dragons were all shattered by him. He continued his momentum, heading directly towards the opponent.
The opponent clearly hadn't expected Zhan Dundun to be so fierce. He pushed his right hand forward, and an invisible wave rippled through the air, directly repelling Dundun, who had no footing in mid-air.
Then, he yanked a streetlight with his left hand. A lamp post tore free from the ground, like a javelin, whistling as it pierced towards Zhan Dundun, who was still airborne.
"Do you need my help?"
Liu Nanfeng placed a hand on Zhan Dundun's back, steadying him.
"No need," Zhan Dundun replied, his voice laced with anger.
Of course, this anger was not directed at Liu Nanfeng but at himself. He had wanted to showcase his strength but was immediately put in his place. How could he tolerate that?
Seeing the whistling lamppost hurtling towards him, Zhan Dundun neither dodged nor avoided it, directly confronting it with a punch.
But there was no sound of impact; the lamppost had silently turned into iron filings.
Before the filings could fall, Dundun swept his hand, then swung his palm again. The countless iron filings, like a barrage of bullets, shot towards the opponent.
The opponent's expression tightened. He pushed his hands forward, barely blocking this wave of attacks.
However, Zhan Dundun's attack didn't end there. As he swung his palm, he charged forward.
This time, a massive impact sound erupted. A huge breach appeared in the riverbank embankment, and river water began to pour in.
The 'big-headed' child was directly sent flying, but instead of falling, he floated in mid-air.
"You've angered me."
The big-headed child touched a trace of blood on his lip, his face filled with anger.
Although he had blocked the collision just now, the immense impact force had still caused some damage to his frail body.
"Such pointless talk," Zhan Dundun leaped forward, pressing his advantage.
But the big-headed child extended his arm and clenched the air.
...