Chapter 154: Delivering Medicine (Two Chapters Combined, Requesting Comments)

Li Banfeng set out from the Tie Xian River in the new land of Lan Yang Village, Green Water Bay, took a ride on a Tie Xian worm, and after several transfers arrived at the new land of Jiang Yue Village in Yao Wang Gou.

This process had never crossed Li Banfeng's mind.

Not only had Li Banfeng not anticipated it, even Yu Nan, a native, likely knew nothing of its origins.

There were passages between new lands, but Li Banfeng did not know their source; he only knew that after walking through one such passage, his cultivation base as a second-tier traveler increased by nearly a year.

Especially within the thorn thickets, walking one li felt like running a full day.

If I just stroll along this path regularly, will my cultivation keep soaring?

Would high-level travelers know this secret and come here to cultivate often?

How high must a cultivator's level be to defeat the heads in the thorn thickets?

Just one glance at that head could set you on fire.

Moreover, the cultivation conditions for high-level cultivators are far more arduous than those for second-tier cultivators.

Regardless of whether high-level cultivators possess such ability, under current circumstances, Li Banfeng had no intention of walking this path again.

Better to just take Jin Yuandan.

Thinking of this, Li Banfeng felt pity for Lu Dongliang.

Dongliang, you were once a mighty warlord, and now you're dead.

How wonderful it would be if you could come back to life just once.

The elixirs you produced aren't nearly enough to last!

"Boil some hot water—I'll take a bath."

Yu Nan froze. After such a long separation, the first thing he wanted was a bath?

Was this some kind of hint?

Yu Nan quickly ordered someone to boil water for Li Qi, then returned to her room and dressed herself meticulously.

She had imagined too much—Li Banfeng simply wanted to bathe.

Soaking completely in the hot water, Li Banfeng felt utterly comfortable, nearly falling asleep in the tub.

But after that comfort, Li Banfeng had to face a practical problem.

How would he return to Green Water Bay?

He clearly couldn't stay to live in Yao Wang Gou—Green Water Bay held the foundation he had painstakingly built.

Should he re-enter the new land and continue searching for the Tie Xian River's flow?

Li Banfeng had no desire to do so—this path was too dangerous.

Should he try to obtain a travel permit and return to Green Water Bay through official channels?

That was a good option.

But he couldn't count on Yu Nan—she dared not even leave Yu Jia Zhai.

To get a travel permit, he'd have to go to Li Gou.

After bathing and eating something, Li Banfeng quietly returned to his personal dwelling and slept soundly.

His wife hadn't awakened; the Copper Lotus was still refining elixirs; everything at home remained unchanged.

After waking, Li Banfeng found Yu Nan and asked about the situation in Yao Wang Gou.

Previously, Yao Wang Gou had launched widespread searches for Li Banfeng, causing a great uproar; Yu Nan feared Li Banfeng might be connected to Li Qi—first, she worried it might endanger Li Qi, and second, she feared it might bring trouble upon herself—so for a long time, she had stayed within the new land and dared not venture out.

After Lu Dongliang's incident, Li Banfeng's storm had passed, and Yao Wang Gou returned to its usual calm, yet Yu Nan still dared not return to Li Gou.

She had been terrified by Geng Zhiwei and even considered spending the rest of her life in the new land.

Li Banfeng's advice was: "Madam Yu, if you truly have the patience, cultivating diligently in the new land isn't a bad idea—but if you can't bear the stillness, return to Li Gou and resume your business."

Yu Nan sighed softly: "I fear Jiang Xiang's faction won't leave me alone—I'm not like Master Qin; I have no one watching over me…"

Li Banfeng didn't know what to say—Yu Nan was blind to the truth.

She had protection—indeed, the strongest protection in Yao Wang Gou.

She knew how to contact Master Yao, yet in her eyes, Master Yao was merely a healer and medicine seller.

This couldn't be spoken aloud—it would be disrespectful to Master Yao.

Moreover, Li Banfeng had seen through Yu Nan's thoughts: "You want San Ying Men to protect you?"

Yu Nan looked at Li Banfeng with hopeful expectation: "My relationship with Master Qin isn't strong enough…"

Li Banfeng was planning to go to Li Gou anyway; from Yu Nan's description, it was now safe enough to go: "I can inform Qin Tianjiu for you, but if I'm not mistaken, San Ying Men won't offer their protection cheaply."

If you truly wish to keep your business going, you must rely on your own true ability—San Ying Men may lend you their name, but remember Geng Zhiwei's example: when real trouble comes, you'll still have to bear it yourself."

In Pu Luo Zhou, unless there was a special relationship, protection from the strong toward the weak was always an equal exchange.

With only her fabric shop's meager profits, how many red packets could she offer San Ying Men? How much effort could San Ying Men truly spare for her?

Instead of begging various factions about Jianghu rules, she'd be better off carefully considering how to do business with Master Yao.

Yu Nan thanked Li Banfeng profusely; Li Banfeng restocked his water supplies and left Yu Jia Zhai that same day.

That's it? He's leaving?

Yu Nan had longed every day to see Li Banfeng again, yet after just one meeting, he was gone.

Standing at the gate of Yu Jia Zhai, Yu Nan's heart brimmed with hope—hoping Li Qi would connect her to San Ying Men.

But as she watched Li Banfeng's retreating back, she felt a pang of disappointment.

Would she ever see him again?

…

Late at night, Qin Xiaopang, full and satisfied, returned to his small courtyard to sleep; as soon as he entered his room, he saw Li Banfeng sitting on a chair, pouring himself tea.

"Seventh Brother, when did you get back? Last time you vanished without a word—I was frantic!"

"Nothing important—just took a little trip," Li Banfeng replied casually, avoiding mention of Green Water Bay; once the Lu family stabilized, they might again investigate the Crimson Lotus's whereabouts—better not to burden Xiaopang with too many details.

Li Banfeng told Xiaopang about Yu Nan's situation; Xiaopang nodded: "Easy enough—I'll take care of it. Let Madam Yu decide the red packet amount, just don't make me look bad. When Sixth Brother returns, I'll just tell him."

"Where's Zhang Liuze?"

"Sixth Brother went to Hai Chi Ling—it's suffering a famine, many have died. Hai Chi Ling is our food cultivators' base. I wanted to go too, but Sixth Brother only got one travel permit, and he's made me temporarily act as Iron Seal while forbidding me to leave Yao Wang Gou."

Li Banfeng had heard of the insect plague in Hai Chi Ling, but he didn't understand why Xiaopang wanted to join: "What are you going to Hai Chi Ling for? Can you farm or kill insects? There's nothing to eat there—do you plan to go starve?"

Xiaopang's eyes gleamed: "To seize territory, to claim land! With the famine, many factions' businesses have collapsed. Once the plague ends, whoever picks up those businesses will profit. If I go to Hai Chi Ling, I'll surely earn an Iron Seal."

No wonder Lu Dongjun cared so much about Hai Chi Ling—he intended to use the insect control as an opportunity to establish his own base there.

It truly was a good opportunity: Hai Chi Ling was due for a major reshuffle; if Lu Dongjun could quell the plague, no one would challenge his dominance there for a long time.

But seizing territory requires real ability.

"What level have you reached?"

Xiaopang said: "First tier—I was right there when you saw me ascend!"

"How much time have you accumulated?"

Xiaopang scratched his head: "I haven't accumulated any time—just daily cultivation is hard enough."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "Then don't go to Hai Chi Ling. I suspect Sixth Brother went there to risk his life."

"Of course he's risking his life—our boss ordered us: no matter what tricks Lu Dongjun pulls, San Ying Men's own business must not fall into his hands."

The major clans and factions would still fight fiercely over Hai Chi Ling.

Because Zhang Liuze was absent, Qin Xiaopang temporarily held the Iron Seal position and had received many internal updates.

"The Lu family has always been on good terms with San Ying Men. A few days ago, Old Master Lu Maoxian came specially to Yao Wang Gou and dined with our Silver Seal shopkeeper—I even attended one meal, but my rank was too low to sit at the same table as Old Master Lu."

"Two days later, Lu's eldest son, Lu Yuanshan, came too—he invited our shopkeeper to dinner again. I wanted to toast him, but our Copper Seal elder stopped me."

"He said we should stay out of Lu family affairs—no one knows who'll ultimately take charge. I heard from our Copper Seal that our three Gold Seals are already at odds over this."

"The Second Boss thinks Old Master Lu can still decide things; the Third Boss believes the Lu family will still follow the eldest son; our First Boss keeps his distance from both—no one knows what he truly thinks…"

This was the advantage of joining a major faction—Li Banfeng heard news he could never have uncovered in Green Water City.

From San Ying Men's attitude, they all believed Lu Dongliang was dead, yet no one supported Lu Dongjun—other factions likely held the same stance.

Li Banfeng gave Xiaopang two Xuan Chi Dan and told him to cultivate diligently and stay far from these conflicts.

Leaving Xiaopang's courtyard, Li Banfeng went to Feng's General Store.

Seeing Li Banfeng, Feng the shopkeeper was delighted, invited him inside, asked no other questions, and immediately paid him for the elixirs.

The Xuan Chi Dan had already been sold at a high price; after deducting Feng's commission, Li Banfeng received over a million.

Li Banfeng asked about travel permits to outer provinces; Feng shook his head: "Outer province permits are difficult now—Hai Chi Ling is suffering an insect plague, and outer provinces fear the death-mosquitoes will spread. All permits to outer provinces have been suspended, even trains have stopped running."

Li Banfeng didn't press further—returning to the outer province wasn't urgent.

What was urgent now was returning to Lan Yang Village.

"How hard is it to get a permit to Green Water Bay?"

Feng shook his head: "Before, going to Green Water Bay wasn't hard, but during disasters, outer provinces tightly restrict permits. I can ask for you, but I doubt it'll work."

"Then don't bother—I won't stay long in Yao Wang Gou." Li Banfeng understood Feng's difficulties; he bought some canned food and biscuits, some oil and fuel, and two tailcoats, two suits, and a top hat.

Feng felt embarrassed: "Master Li, you're no longer short on money—my shop's clothes don't suit your status."

"I like your clothes."

Chunsheng arranged a carriage to deliver the goods; this time, Li Banfeng didn't have it unload en route—he had everything taken directly to Taoyuan Inn.

In Yao Wang Gou, Taoyuan Inn was a mid-tier establishment—not large, rooms weren't great, but it was unobtrusive.

Li Banfeng rented a room, stored the items in his personal dwelling, then took out a sheet of yellow paper.

He had bought two sheets from Master Yao—this was one of them.

This was the most important purpose of his journey.

When doing business with Master Yao, you must first have a proper reason—never make unreasonable demands.

The yellow paper burned, and Li Banfeng heard Yao Lao's voice.

"Want to be cured, or buy medicine?"

The voice was still as warm as ever, no unnecessary pleasantries—straight to business.

"I want to buy medicine, and I want to be cured."

"What medicine do you want?"

"I want your medicinal wine—buy a lot, enough to treat hundreds. Yao Lao's wine is excellent for fire and healing; I should stock up."

"Bottled or bulk?"

"Bottled."

"What illness do you want cured?"

"Homesickness."

"Homesickness? Where's your home?"

"Green Water Bay."

"You don't need me to get to Green Water Bay. Just get a travel permit and buy a ticket."

"I don't have a travel permit."

"Then how did you get to Medicine King Gully? Come the same way you went."

"I came from New Land—half-dazed when I arrived, and now I can't go back."

"From New Land…"

Yao Lao fell silent for a moment, as if he knew what Li Banfeng had endured.

"Young man, you came at a bad time—the bottled wine is sold out, but I still have one wine gourd."

"How much wine is in your gourd?"

"One jin."

"Isn't that a bit little?"

"Not little. One jin in the gourd—don't drink it all. Leave just a sip, and tomorrow you'll have another jin. But once poured out, you must drink it immediately, or it turns to plain water by tomorrow."

A magic treasure!

This is a magic treasure!

Is Yao Lao going to sell me a magic treasure?

And one of extremely high value!

What is his purpose in doing this?

"Young man, do you want to buy it?"

"Tell me the price first," Li Banfeng dared not speak rashly.

"Same as always—five hundred thousand."

Five hundred thousand? That price is absurdly low—did he not understand the currency?

"Are you talking about Huan State notes?"

"Yes, Huan State notes."

Li Banfeng found it hard to believe—how could a magic treasure of incalculable value be sold for only five hundred thousand?

He was clearly charging only symbolically, yet Li Banfeng still couldn't grasp Yao Lao's intent.

Yao Lao continued: "As for your illness, I won't charge you. I have a map here—it will lead you to Green Water Bay, Pantie Kan, Sea-Eating Ridge, Bitter Herb Village, Lowlife Hill, and Tiemenbao."

New Land changes every year; this map is from last year, so it's slightly off. But you're a traveling cultivator with a natural talent for navigation—this small error won't stop you."

"This map should still work for another year or two—I'm giving it to you."

Li Banfeng dared not accept it.

The map alone was worth far more than five hundred thousand.

"Yao Lao, are you asking me to do something for you?"

"Indeed, I need a favor. Anyone who crosses New Land has some skill—I trust you."

"If you agree, take this map, go to Sea-Eating Ridge, and deliver a prescription to Pan Dehai."

"Tell him this medicine can summon insects—and kill them. For the sake of the peddler, I'll help him once."

"If he dares lure insects into Medicine King Gully, I'll kill him again—even if I have to give my life for it!"

PS: Yao Lao is a good man. Should you take his deal?

(End of Chapter)