The most melodramatic rebirth in history

Chapter 29 The Death of Xu Banxian

"puff!"

A sound of vomiting blood broke the stunned silence of the crowd. In mid-air, a giant black and gold hand slowly opened and gradually shrank.

Once it returned to the size of a normal palm, the old Taoist priest with the ox-nose fell headfirst from a height of 100 meters.

If this happens, Xu Banxian will be smashed to pieces and die on the spot!
"Master!" A figure, his voice trembling, leaped up and caught Xu Banxian, who was barely breathing.

"Put your master aside! Your master's lifespan is coming to an end, and you must go first! I will pass on this Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Curse to you, and you shall guard the Taoist temple..."

After landing safely, Xu Banxian trembled violently, leaning on Zhang Dan's arm as he entrusted his son to Zhang Dan.

At this moment, Xu Banxian's face was as black as charcoal, and his whole body was shrouded in deathly aura. Although he was not very old, he looked like he was in his twilight years and could die at any moment.

"What's wrong with him?" Upon seeing the old Taoist priest's terrifying face, the villagers who had gathered around were horrified, their eyes flashing as they looked at each other.

Severely injured, the poison attacked his heart!
Feng Ling immediately saw the problem and sighed inwardly: It's all fate!
"No, no, sob... Master, you won't die! Tell me you're lying to me, right?"

Zhang Dan broke down in tears, on the verge of collapse. He never imagined that Xu Banxian would one day suddenly leave him and pass away.

"Senior, you must have a way to save my master, right? As long as you're willing to save him, I, Zhang Dan, will do anything for you!" Zhang Dan's eyes were bloodshot. As if he had thought of something, he suddenly looked up excitedly and cast a hopeful glance at Ling Weiyun's clone, as if he had grasped at the last straw!
"The poison has already reached the heart; even a god couldn't save me! Forgive me... I am powerless to help!"

The clone paused for a moment, looked at the dying Xu Banxian with a strange expression, and sighed.

"Disciple, it's no use. No one can save my life!" Xu Banxian spat out black blood, which stained Zhang Dan's sleeves red as he looked haggard and barely survived.

Immediately afterward, Xu Banxian looked pained and weakly said, "At the foot of my bed, I still have... two gold bars... ten taels of silver... and over ten thousand copper coins... I now... entrust them all to you!"

Xu Banxian was out of breath, his voice trembling and broken, but as soon as he said this, everyone, including Zhang Dan, was stunned.

You're a Taoist priest, shouldn't you be celibate and have few desires? You're far too wealthy!

Many villagers even cursed inwardly, "That heartless old charlatan, using his name to swindle and cheat people everywhere, has managed to amass so much wealth from the people over the years. It's good that he's dead, so he won't be able to harm anyone anymore! What a waste of all the tears my mother shed for him!"

Zhang Dan snapped out of her daze, a wave of sorrow washing over her: "Master, please stop, please stop! You'll be alright..."

Zhang Dan was in tears, his emotions in turmoil. Listening to Xu Banxian's tone as he explained the inheritance, he felt as if his heart was being torn apart, and he was in unbearable pain.

Of the four people, one died earlier, another has died now, and now even the master is about to die...

Zhang Dan was struggling with inner turmoil and confusion. The three of them had come together proudly, but in the end, he returned alone in despair, and had to guard the cold and desolate Banxian Temple all by himself!
“Silly apprentice…” Xu Banxian’s voice was extremely weak. He hesitated, but finally decided to tell the last “unfunny” joke of his life, just to help Zhang Dan cheer up quickly.

"You must... be careful with that money... for your teacher!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned and stood there for a few seconds. When they came to their senses, their expressions were all strange. These words were truly both funny and exasperating.

"Pfft!" Suddenly, a mouthful of blood spurted out, shooting skyward. Xu Banxian's body trembled violently upward, and he breathed his last.

The head of the temple died with resentment in his heart, passing away peacefully.
"Ah! Farewell, Master!"

Zhang Dan's eyes were bloodshot as he held Xu Banxian's corpse and wept bitterly, his body trembling uncontrollably.

"Alas, how pitiful!" Dozens of villagers were deeply moved by the scene, their eyes involuntarily welling up with tears, and many of them burst into tears.

Perhaps Xu Banxian committed many evils in his life, but his sudden repentance before his death is commendable. Moreover, the dead should be respected, and once a person is gone, all grudges and affections should naturally fade away.

The villagers are fond of natural farming and have a simple and honest heart. Otherwise, they would not be so fixated on Xu Banxian's past. Instead, they feel sorry for the master and disciple who are now separated by death. A sense of sadness and desolation sweeps over them like a tide.

The entire audience...felt a pang of sorrow!

"People only truly understand things when they are about to die, and when they look back on what they did in their lives, they find it all so absurd and laughable." Touched by this, Feng Ling couldn't help but shake his head and sigh with deep emotion.

That night, it's unknown how long Zhang Dan cried in the Wang family compound, or whether the dozens of villagers in the thatched huts outside the village went to sleep with tear stains on their faces. In any case, all the villagers didn't go back until dawn.

Surprisingly, after a night of weeping, Zhang Dan proposed burying Xu Banxian's remains in Gujing Village, and even more unbelievably, all the villagers in Gujing Village agreed!
As a new day dawned, everyone seemed exhausted upon returning, lacking their usual vibrancy.

The villagers would sleep until noon in their own homes or their neighbors' homes, and then struggle to get up, just to attend Xu Banxian's funeral!
Behind Gujing Village, on a small hillside stood over a hundred people, their eyes smeared with dark circles, each one appearing visibly somber. Some had eyes that were even reddish-black, and drops of clear tears fell, landing on handfuls of yellow earth…

"Alas! Young Taoist Zhang, please accept our condolences!" Old Wang, the village elder and representative of the entire village of Gujing, and the Li family stepped forward to offer their advice.

Seeing Zhang Dan kneeling on a pile of small mounds, heartbroken and weeping bitterly, everyone felt a pang of pity, and an indescribable feeling filled the air.

No matter how much everyone tried to persuade him, Zhang Dan wouldn't listen and continued to kneel before Xu Banxian's earthen grave, weeping bitterly.

It is said that a person's life is as fleeting as a blade of grass, vanishing with the wind! Zhang Dan didn't believe it before, but now, looking at the barren land before him where countless old and young corpses are buried, he lowered his head unwillingly... and believed it!
"The dead cannot be brought back to life, and Fellow Daoist Xu would not want to see you like this!" An old voice entered his ears, and Zhang Dan was stunned. Then, in his tearful eyes, an unusually firm look appeared.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior!" He kowtowed three times before Xu Banxian's grave, then shakily stood up and respectfully bowed to Ling Weiyun's clone in thanks.

The clone smiled kindly, knowing that Zhang Dan had come to a realization and would turn his grief into motivation to cultivate diligently, eventually becoming a worthy leader!
"Ruzi can be taught!"

Thinking this, Feng Ling felt a sudden thought. Perhaps it was time to fulfill his promise and leave something for Gujing Village before leaving. The previously vague concept of "what" was now gradually becoming clearer.

"Senior, this is your Body Strengthening Pill. My master is stubborn and has not used it, so I am returning it to you!"

"What's given away can't be taken back. Keep it for yourself for other uses!"

Looking at the respectful figure presenting the black pills with both hands, Feng Ling's eyes flashed with surprise, revealing undisguised admiration. He couldn't help but think more highly of Zhang Dan.

"Senior, this..."

"Alright, no need to say anything more!"

Feng Ling spoke calmly, yet with an undeniable air, stopping Zhang Dan who was about to speak. Then, he smiled and said, "Would you be willing to learn the art from this old man?"

As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the audience was shocked.

Zhang Dan, who had just taken back the pill with a wry smile, trembled slightly, his heart filled with overwhelming excitement.

If this master in front of me is willing to teach me even a move, I can revitalize the entire Banxian Temple all by myself... It's just around the corner!
Then Master's last wish can be considered fulfilled, and he can rest in peace in the afterlife!

"Disciple is willing!"

Thinking this, Zhang Dan quickly knelt down. In the Ghost Spirit Continent, as long as someone is willing to pass on their cultivation techniques, the person receiving the techniques will refer to themselves as a "disciple" in front of the person transmitting them, but will not directly call them "master".

After all, the name is not right and the words are not proper! Let's just consider it a legacy and a good connection.

"Very good! However, before that, you must agree to a few conditions of this old man!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dan was slightly stunned when the aged voice rang in his ears again...

"First: The laws I learn can only be used to punish evil and promote good, and to eliminate harm for the people!"

"Second: Never utter my name; consider myself self-taught!"

"Third: You must repent and vow to protect the villagers of Gujing Village for the rest of your life!"

Feng Ling stated the conditions one by one, his voice solemn and dignified, like a resounding bell.

"Old lady..."

When the third point was mentioned, everyone in Gujing Village, young and old, trembled and their eyes glistened with tears!

First, I was moved; second, I was reluctant to part!

The villagers weren't stupid; seeing that Feng Ling had said this, they understood that he was about to leave...

So easy?

Zhang Dan was puzzled. He had thought that since the other party was so solemn and respectful, he would surely ask to go through fire and water before he would be willing to pass on his skills.

"Senior! This disciple can do it!"

Just as Feng Ling unleashed his supernatural power to drag the crowd who were about to kneel, Zhang Dan's eyes were firm, and he agreed to Feng Ling's request.

"Very well! Remember your promise today. If I ever discover that you have disobeyed me in the slightest, I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth!"

Feng Ling feigned a fierce demeanor, unaware that his last words would soon be spoken back to him in kind!

Zhang Dan trembled violently, clearly terrified. His promise was not an empty boast to deceive Feng Ling, but seeing the old man's warning and the subsequent killing, he still couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

Ha ha!

Seeing this, Feng Ling nodded in satisfaction, then called Zhang Dan and they headed out of Gujing Village together.

"Sigh!" The villagers sighed as they glanced at the mound of earth and dispersed.

(End of this chapter)