Castle of Black Iron

After knowing the reason why Tang Mei came to Tigerback Mountain, Zhang Tie returned to Tideviewing Courtyard and settled down there, waiting for the first medical treatment.

To be honest, Zhang Tie didn’t have a crush on Tang Mei; however, he felt that it was predestined for him to meet Tang Mei; now that he came to Tigerback Town with Tang Mei, he didn’t feel anything wrong about giving favor to her. In many cases, even commoners would do that. Zhang Tie didn’t feel noble doing that at all; of course, he didn’t feel selfish or distant either.

After living in Tideviewing Courtyard for 2 days, on the noon of the third day, when Zhang Tie was in cultivation in his backroom, Bian Heng arrived as scheduled.

As the gate of Tideviewing Courtyard was closed from inside. After hearing Bian Heng’s voice, Zhang Tie came out of the backroom and helped Bian Heng open the door.

Even after three days, Bian Heng was as unkempt as before. He didn’t even change his clothes; instead, his clothes carried the smell of herbs. Additionally, he was carrying a wooden case.

“You’re in cultivation?” Bian Heng asked as he glanced over Zhang Tie from head to toe.

“Would I just wait here if not cultivate?” Zhang Tie replied as he let Bian Heng come in and closed the door. After taking look at that wooden case in Bian Heng’s hand, Zhang Tie asked, “Can I receive medical treatment today?”

“Of course!” Bian Heng raised his head at once as he entered the room.

“Where do we do that?”

“Backroom!”

After entering the backroom, Bian Heng opened his wooden case and took out of a longan-sized fiery pill which smelt spicy and pungent from the first layer of the case before giving it to Zhang Tie, saying, “Take it…”

After taking a look at the pill, Zhang Tie instantly took it before asking Bian Heng, “What’s this…”

“It’s fiery-dragon qi-gathering pill that I’ve made. Its effect is over 100 times greater than that of ordinary qi-gathering pills. Ordinary people would feel as if their guts being burned like committing suicide; however, it’s the best aiding medicament for you!” Bian Heng then squinted at Zhang Tie, adding, “You took it without demur. Aren’t you afraid of being poisoned?”

“Hahaha, senior, if you’re that kind of person, I must be blind!” Zhang Tie burst out into laughter as he continued, “The others said you’re Yama; but after traveling around Tigerback Town for 2 days, I realized that you’re merciful and kind but a bit weird in temperament. Senior, your arrangement around Tigerback Mountain is really saving people invisibly. You’re really a life-giving spring breeze and rain. Even ordinary people could notice that…”

“Humph…” Bian Heng replied with a cold harrumph.

Bian Heng didn’t care that Zhang Tie called him senior.

After taking the fiery-dragon qi-gathering pill, Zhang Tie instantly felt his lower abdomen burning. Gradually, Zhang Tie’s skin started to turn red.

“Take off your pants and clothes and lie on the bed, face up…”

After hearing Bian Heng’s words, Zhang Tie took off his clothes rapidly, only in a pair of short pants. Then he lay on the stone bed in the cultivation room, face up. Bian Heng then took out a bundle of cloth from the second layer of the wooden case. When Bian Heng spread over the bundle of cloth, Zhang Tie saw hundreds of dense fine needles in different colors and shapes.

Bian Heng took out a 20-cm long needle which was as thin as cattle’s hair. After that, he lightly shook it, uttering a ‘hum’. Like how a sharp sword came out of its sheath, the tip of the fine needle became intense and straight at once. Additionally, a bizarre light started to flow on it.

Closely after that, Bian Heng dabbed it into the Shrine surging point as fast as a lightning bolt. Although being a fine needle, Zhang Tie felt being stabbed by a dagger from his lower abdomen. Therefore, his face slightly turned pale.

“The process would be very painful. If you cannot stand it, just bite this…” Bian Heng suggested as he took out a piece of wood for biting and gave it to Zhang Tie.

“No need, I could stand it. Just do it at your will, senior…” Zhang Tie replied with a smile.

Bian Heng revealed a smile. “Let’s see it. I’ve seen a lot of tough men in Motian Realm. My acupuncture skill was called heavens-fixing immortal needles. Less than one in a million people could stand 10 needles without a cry. Additionally, your injury was caused by Versatile Demon Emperor. If not suffered a lot, you could never recover. The process of setting needles is more painful than the strike. I thought you would have wailed just now…”

“I will show you how many needles could I stand…”

“Humph, I will see how long could you stand…” Bian Heng said before putting the piece of wood for biting to the head of the bed so that Zhang Tie could reach it by hand. Almost at the same time, he stabbed another needle into a surging point at Zhang Tie’s chest.

It felt like a hot and red spike.

However, as Zhang Tie was ready for it, he didn’t even change his face at all; instead, he just slightly frowned before recovering…

Bian Heng didn’t know that this pain was not a big deal for Zhang Tie at all. Long ago, Zhang Tie had already experienced all kinds of unimaginable, overwhelming pains in his trouble-reappearance situations. Therefore, Zhang Tie’s nerves, pains-resistant ability and physique had long been much greater than that of commoners.

As for Zhang Tie, this process was not more painful than being gulped down alive by a pack of wolves in trouble-reappearance situations.

In the beginning, Bian Heng thought that Zhang Tie just pretended to be something as he wanted to see how long could Zhang Tie’s stand. However, as he set more and more needles, Bian Heng gradually changed his face. Bian Heng was aware of the sharp pain that each needle would bring to Zhang Tie. Some needles felt like being stabbed by saber; some felt scorching; some felt like being nibbled by tens of thousands of ants; some felt like being bone-broken and pulled out of tendons. He said that less than one of one million people could stand 10 needles without wail. He was not bragging…

However, after being stabbed 30 times, Zhang Tie still looked as normal as before even though he would frown a bit each time.

Watching Zhang Tie being covered with needles, even Bian Heng started to appreciate him as he said, “I finally know how you were able to survive the fatal strike of Versatile Demon Emperor. You have more lives than ordinary people…”

If Zhang Tie knew that Bian Heng had not spoken highly of anyone for dozens of years, Zhang Tie would be proud of being acclaimed by Bian Heng.

“Srrr…” With another stab, Zhang Tie felt numb and itchy across his upper half body as if numerous ants were climbing over there. Zhang Tie took in a deep breath. However, he soon recovered as he revealed a bitter smile. “My parents hope me to have more lives. How could I let them down…”

“Tell me about the world where you came from? Is it bizarre…” Bian Heng asked as he took a look at Zhang Tie. Closely after that, he set another needle.

Zhang Tie knew that Bian Heng wanted to transfer his attention and make him feel better through talking to him. Therefore Zhang Tie just asked Bian Heng straightforwardly, “Senior, what do you want to know?”

“What’s the name of your country?”

“Taixia Country…”

“Taixia Country. Hmm… you must be special in your world!”

“Actually I was born in an average family. Previously, we lived in a small town. My dad worked in a factory. My mom made and sold rice brew. I did odd jobs in a grocery. The boss of the grocery was an iron cock…”

“What? Iron cock? Is that a legendary monster?” Bian Heng asked out of curiosity as he stopped his hands.

‘Monster?’ Zhang Tie almost burst into laughter. However, he frowned again unconsciously due to the splitting pains. Not until then did Zhang Tie realize that the term “Iron Cock” might be unknown to people in Motian Realm as he explained, “Iron cock is not a monster; it means that man is mean. I worked for him for a few years; however, that guy didn’t pay me anything; he even made me a punching bag for others, I mean, a training partner of rich kids… srrr…”

“Iron cock, interesting, interesting. What an interesting term…” Bian Heng smacked his lip as he smirked. Closely after that, he set another needle. Zhang Tie’s experience appeared arousing his resonance. Therefore, his eyes looked a bit tender…

“Senior, how did you become a doctor…” Zhang Tie asked Bian Heng.

“I don’t know. All I remember is that I was adopted by an old guy. He said he picked me up. When I was 5 years old, he started to teach me. If I couldn’t remember anything, I would be forbidden to eat. I was almost starved to death by that old guy for a few times…”

Bian Heng said with complaint. However, Zhang Tie could see that he was missing that period of time…

“Ah? I’ve not heard that you have a master, senior…”

Bian Heng sighed with emotion, “When I was in my 20’s, the old guy gave me 2 books. Then he told me that he was going to look for Nine Heavens Immortal Spring in Mountain Ruins. However, he didn’t come back since then…”

“Sigh, my master also behaved like that. Generally, my master and I only stayed together for a few days. When he appeared last time, he saved my life and taught me a secret method. Then, he said he was going to a dangerous place. From then on, I didn’t receive his message anymore…”

As they chatted, Zhang Tie was gradually covered with over 100 needles like a hedgehog…