Chapter 128: The Pure Love Warrior’s Victory

"Distant cousin, so why are you here?"

Outside the palanquin, having accepted the premise that Wang Peng was his distant cousin, Fang Can couldn't help but ask. 'How did this guy cross over too?'

"I'm here because I have to eat this afternoon." Wang Peng blurted out a random excuse. This perfunctory lie was even less effective, lasting only two and a half days.

"I see. But what's your superpower? You must have one, right?" Fang Can asked.

"Superpower?" Wang Peng was taken aback.

"Yeah. This feeling you give off, like you're forcing people to eat shit—that must be your superpower."

Given the man's nauseating presence, Fang Can guessed his ability must be something like a 'Calamitous Lone Star Sacred Body' or 'Dung Beetle Possession'—something that made people feel an uncontrollable revulsion toward him.

Furthermore, every word the man spoke only made Fang Can despise him more.

He worried that if Wang Peng kept talking, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from attacking.

Wang Peng had no idea what superpower Fang Can was talking about, so he just went along with it. "Yeah, yeah, that's my superpower."

Because Fang Can already believed this was his superpower, the statement didn't cause a strong rejection in his mind. The lie would be effective for ten days.

'Something's off about this guy.' Wang Peng couldn't help but frown.

He realized that with every lie he told, Fang Can's hostility only intensified.

If it weren't for the "distant cousin" identity, Fang Can seemed on the verge of being unable to suppress his killing intent.

'Fuck me, did I kill your father or sleep with your mother? Do you really have to be like this?' Wang Peng was utterly speechless, his anger flaring. In all his time on the Heaven-Ascending Road, this was the first time he'd ever met an opponent like this.

"I'm warning you, stop talking," Fang Can said, his expression full of loathing. "I'm afraid I'll end up killing you, so just shut your mouth."

'I'll endure it.' A vein throbbed on Wang Peng's forehead.

'Fine, I won't talk. I'll just subtly get him to accept my presence, then flip his entire perspective with a single sentence. I've got nothing but time.'

As Fang Can and Wang Peng were talking, the surrounding Heart Image Martial Artists, drawn by the commotion from the earlier punch, started to close in.

"God, why did you use force? Did this traveler anger you?" one of the Martial Artists asked.

"It's nothing, just warming up," Fang Can said, shaking his head. Seeing the surrounding Martial Artists, however, Wang Peng had a bad feeling.

He hadn't fully "converted" Fang Can yet, which meant...

"God, please allow us to insult you," a Heart Image Martial Artist said, looking up in anticipation.

"Huh? Do you have any idea what you're saying?" Fang Can turned his head, his face a mask of astonishment. He hadn't been subjected to this particular "premise" by Wang Peng, so of course he found it bizarre.

"To insult you viciously, of course! This Lord Wang Peng told us that only by viciously insulting our God can we prove our devotion to you. He also said you like to be passive, and the more we force you, the more you get into i—"

Before the Heart Image Martial Artist could finish, Wang Peng clamped a hand over his mouth and said awkwardly,

"Cousin, I was just joking around with them earlier! I didn't mean any harm by it, don't take it seriously."

As he spoke and the new lie took effect for thirteen days, Wang Peng breathed an inward sigh of relief. At least Fang Can bought it.

'Damn it, am I having the worst fucking luck today? Why is nothing going right?' Wang Peng cursed silently, but his expression froze in the next instant.

All around him, his explanation that it was "just a joke" conflicted with his previous command to insult Fang Can. The new rule immediately overwrote the old one.

In the next moment, the mental conditioning forcing the Martial Artists to insult their god was instantly broken.

As they recalled the profane thoughts that had just filled their minds, a furious anger surged within them.

This scumbag in front of them actually dared to make them profane their God!!!

'I'm screwed. I tried to fix one problem and ended up boxed in from both sides.'

Feeling the wrathful glares of the Heart Image Martial Artists around him, Wang Peng felt suffocated with frustration.

He had just managed to fool Fang Can, only for the hypnosis on the Martial Artists to be dispelled. Now he had to choose: either risk Fang Can's suspicion or face the wrath of these Martial Artists.

'Goddammit, it's like I'm bad luck incarnate today.' Wang Peng's fists clenched tightly.

In less than half a minute, his luck had hit rock bottom. It seemed anything involving Fang Can was destined to be a disaster.

"God, this man dared to corrupt our faith! I demand a duel to the death with him!" one Heart Image Martial Artist exclaimed, seething with rage.

"Same here! Please allow us to vanquish this profane man who would delude your followers."

"Let me fight him alone."

...

Every Martial Artist who had been freed from the hypnosis was visibly enraged.

To them, worshipping their god was integral to their Martial Dao. A man who would trifle with their faith was committing an offense as grievous as blocking their path to enlightenment or murdering their parents. Death by a thousand cuts would be too lenient.

Looking at his followers, Fang Can scratched his head in resignation.

Since he believed his "cousin" had meant no real harm with his trick, he didn't want a conflict to break out and intended to mediate.

"Everyone, don't get worked up. This guy meant no harm. I hope you'll do me a favor and stand down. Just be like me and..."

Just as he was speaking, a delicate voice came from behind him. "Hey, Ah Can, what are you doing standing in front of the palanquin for so—"

As Ye Qingshi's voice rang out, it was as if a switch had been flipped inside Fang Can's body.

At that moment, the "pure love radar" in his mind switched on.

It was the feeling of being possessed by a War God of Pure Love.

He didn't know he'd been hypnotized. He didn't know Wang Peng's true nature. And he didn't want to attack his own "cousin."

But his intuition, amplified by hundreds of times, was screaming at him.

'Do not let this piece of shit see or touch Ye Qingshi.'

This pile of shit in front of him was the archetypal home-wrecker, and he had to be stopped at all costs.

This was a victory for the War God of Pure Love!

At the sound of Ye Qingshi's voice, Fang Can could no longer contain his animosity toward Wang Peng.

At that moment, Wang Peng had chosen to focus his hypnosis on Fang Can, believing he could rely on him to placate the enraged Martial Artists.

He watched as Fang Can, looking resigned, said, "This guy meant no harm. I hope you'll do me a favor and stand down. Just be like me and..."

Before Fang Can could even finish his sentence, goosebumps erupted all over Wang Peng's skin as a wave of insane killing intent radiated from Fang Can.

One second he was playing peacemaker, the next his right fist shot out like a cannonball.

Caught completely off guard, Wang Peng didn't even have time to react before the punch smashed viciously into his cheek.

Fang Can's massive right fist sank deep into Wang Peng's cheek, the terrifying impact of hundreds of tons of force sending him flying.

BOOM!!!

With a tremendous roar, the palanquin at his feet shattered and collapsed, while Fang Can's own legs sank deep into the earth.

His eyes were blank for a moment. He realized that when he'd subconsciously thrown the punch, he had already entered his strongest attack state: the Heaven-Supporting Skill combined with Fierce Tiger Devouring Body.

From the distance, a furious roar echoed. "I FUCKING CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!!"