Chapter 157: He Is Not a Good Man

Li Banfeng calmly regarded the hunter: "Speak. Are you Linli?"

The hunter could not answer.

On Bloodfang Mountain, lying brings punishment.

With so many stones on the ground, if the hunter claimed he was not Linli, he would likely be severely injured by flying shards.

Even if he escaped injury from the shards, he would give Li Banfeng an opening for an ambush.

After a long silence, the hunter asked Li Banfeng: "How did you figure it out?"

Li Banfeng did not answer. He had no intention of explaining so much to the other.

Linli Bloodfang Monster—what a tongue-twisting name.

How tongue-twisting?

Say it twice, and Li Banfeng's tongue would curl.

If even Li Banfeng's tongue curled, how hard must it be for the hunter, whose speech was already unclear?

Shortening Linli Bloodfang Monster to Bloodfang Monster was perfectly normal.

Li Banfeng had always called it Bloodfang Monster.

But the hunter did not. Though his speech was unclear and the name hard to say, sometimes he said Bloodfang Monster, sometimes he insisted on Linli Bloodfang Monster.

When speaking of what monsters were on the mountain, he said only Linli Bloodfang Monster.

When speaking of the monster's range of movement, he said Bloodfang Monster could not leave the mountain—but he never said Linli couldn't.

He spoke nothing but truth, yet he distinguished Linli from Bloodfang Monster.

Traveling cultivators wandered far and wide, crossing thousands of mountains and rivers; every step demanded extreme caution. Li Banfeng would never overlook such an anomaly.

Seeing Li Banfeng refuse to answer, the Linli monster asked again: "We've met by chance. It's bound to be kill or be killed. Before we fight, can you tell me one truth? You know I'm Linli—why did you let me be your guide?"

Li Banfeng still did not answer.

At that time, he had not confirmed the other's identity—only suspected ill intent.

The basis for suspicion: when the hunter appeared beside him, Li Banfeng had barely sensed him.

From this, he deduced the hunter was highly skilled at ambushes—likely an outsider from the New Lands.

If Li Banfeng's guess was wrong and the hunter meant no harm, it was even more reason to pay him. A guide was never a bad thing.

If the hunter was a monster, better to keep him in sight than wait for an ambush.

Of course, if the hunter had refused, Li Banfeng could not force him—but he believed the hunter could not resist the lure of money, and outsiders could not resist the lure of food. Having spent long in the New Lands, Li Banfeng knew both kinds of beings well.

Linli asked again: "You know I intend to kill you—why are you still following me?"

This time Li Banfeng answered: "If I don't follow you, how will I avoid Bloodfang Monster?"

Linli wanted to avoid Bloodfang Monster—that was what Linli himself had said, and it was true.

Along this journey, he had indeed avoided Bloodfang Monster.

Why Linli avoided Bloodfang Monster was unclear, but Li Banfeng had a rough hypothesis.

Whether his guess was right—he'd verify it soon.

Linli laughed: "You think avoiding Bloodfang Monster means you'll survive? Do you know why I brought you here?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "I know. Because this place is hard to escape from."

Around them: nothing but wild grass. Beneath their feet: nothing but mountain stones. This rare terrain was indeed hard to flee.

Linli looked at Li Banfeng: "I know you're a traveling cultivator. Do you think your footwork is so superior? Try running."

Li Banfeng did not run. He stared at Linli and asked: "Why do you avoid Bloodfang Monster?"

Is it because he always steals your food, and you can't beat him?

You called yourself a hunter at the foot of Bloodfang Mountain—that wasn't a lie. You are a hunter. Your prey is me.

But why did you warn me not to climb the mountain? Were you waiting for me to leave Bloodfang Mountain before striking? Afraid your prey would be taken?

Are you really that afraid of Bloodfang Monster? He's at the fifth level. You're certainly weaker—maybe fourth level, or even less?"

Linli's eyes flashed with cold light. That struck a nerve.

Li Banfeng was right. He had never intended to fight on the mountain.

He truly feared Bloodfang Monster.

His range was larger than Bloodfang Monster's, but he could not defeat him.

Li Banfeng pressed on: "Bloodfang Mountain is your and his territory. Why does Bloodfang Monster always bully you?"

Linli clenched his teeth, enraged by Li Banfeng: "Don't try your divide-and-conquer trick—it won't work."

"Won't it? I think it's working. You're not much weaker than Bloodfang Monster. Find an ally—you could kill him."

Linli gritted his teeth: "Shut up!"

Li Banfeng continued: "Don't you want to kill him? You must! Do you think we could kill him together?"

"Shut up!" Enraged beyond control, Linli prepared to kill Li Banfeng immediately.

No matter how much he hated Bloodfang Monster, he would not believe a stranger's manipulation.

Even though everything the other said was true.

Li Banfeng went on: "Kill Bloodfang Monster, and Bloodfang Mountain becomes yours alone!"

"Shut up!"

"Finding an ally isn't easy. You must seize this chance."

"Shut up!"

"An ally is right here. I want to kill Bloodfang Monster too."

"I told you to shut up!"

"I'm a good man. I can help you!"

"I told you—"

Boom!

As Linli lunged at Li Banfeng, a rock suddenly exploded, slicing multiple wounds into him.

He had not fallen for Li Banfeng's divide-and-conquer trick.

He had been patiently waiting for his opening.

But he never expected Li Banfeng wasn't using divide-and-conquer at all.

He never expected Li Banfeng would suddenly lie.

"I can help you." That was a lie.

This was tactic one: lie.

After speaking a long string of truths, Li Banfeng suddenly dropped a lie—catching Linli completely off guard.

"I truly want to help you. I never meant to kill you!" Li Banfeng added another lie.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

This lie so violently contradicted Li Banfeng's true thoughts that the rocks exploded fiercely—both Linli and Li Banfeng were injured.

"I truly want to be your friend. I've never had ill intent toward you!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Dust flew. Shards of rock kept exploding.

Linli curled up on the ground, clutching his head.

This man was insane!

This was the mountain!

Rock explosions here were far more violent than below.

And he'd told such shameless lies.

Linli could not understand Li Banfeng's thinking—he assumed Li Banfeng wanted mutual destruction.

The madman had delusions!

Bloodfang Mountain was Linli's territory. Linli knew how to dodge exploding rocks, so his injuries were light.

But through the dust, he saw Li Banfeng was also not badly hurt.

Below the mountain, Li Banfeng had kept triggering rock explosions with lies—Linli had thought him mad.

Li Banfeng was not mad. He was testing the explosion points and trajectories of flying shards.

He was less familiar with Bloodfang Mountain than Linli, but his traveling cultivator footwork kept him from taking too much damage.

So what was he doing?

Just to trap Linli?

Linli was already trapped—why wasn't Li Banfeng running?

Linli, furious and rising, suddenly caught a rich, intoxicating scent of alcohol.

Where was the scent coming from?

It seemed to come from himself.

This was tactic two: spill wine.

While the rocks exploded, spill wine onto Linli.

But this tactic was hard to execute—Li Banfeng had to dodge rocks too, leaving no chance to spill wine.

But he didn't need to do it himself. The wine gourd had high sentience—it knew exactly when to act.

While Li Banfeng dodged the shards, the wine had already been spilled.

The wine gourd chimed: "Little brother, light the fire!"

Li Banfeng struck a match against his pants and tossed it onto Lin Li's body.

Flames erupted around him; Lin Li screamed in agony.

He rolled on the ground, trying to extinguish the fire, but to no avail.

This is the Medicine King's medicinal wine—how easily could it be put out?

Before he could find a chance to douse the flames, Tang Dao drew his blade and stabbed Lin Li through the chest.

Lin Li, enduring the agony, pulled his longbow from behind, nocked an arrow, and aimed to kill Li Banfeng.

Zhongbai stepped forward, severed the bowstring, then slashed across Lin Li's neck, greedily sucking blood.

Tactical step three: bring out the tools.

Bring out every tool you can grab!

Li Banfeng hurled his sickle, hooking it onto Lin Li's skull; he reached for his shovel, about to throw it, when he felt something wrap around his wrist.

It was wild grass.

A single stalk of wild grass, taller than a man, extended its stem and tightly coiled around Li Banfeng's wrist.

Li Banfeng switched the shovel to his left hand, severed the grass—only for two more stalks to wrap around his legs.

Around him, countless wild grasses were growing wildly toward Li Banfeng.

Lin Li was fighting back.

"Grass cultivator!" the wine gourd cried, spraying wine over the grass entangling Li Banfeng.

"Set it on fire!" the wine gourd warned again.

Li Banfeng feared he might burn himself, but the wine gourd knew its limits—the flames only scorched the grass off his body, leaving him unharmed.

Meanwhile, a thick mass of green grass wrapped around Lin Li's body, finally extinguishing the flames on him.

A vine of grass seized Tang Dao and yanked it free.

Lin Li no longer wished to fight—he wanted to flee.

The sickle was pulled free; Zhongbai was yanked free too.

Though he had lost vast amounts of blood, taken a blade to the chest, had a hole carved into his skull, and was covered in burns, the mortally wounded Lin Li could still wield his techniques.

Thick patches of wild grass wrapped him like a mummy, carrying him swiftly through the undergrowth.

He needed to find the Blood Fang Monster.

He feared the Blood Fang Monster—and hated it.

But now, the Blood Fang Monster was the only one who could save him.

Where was the Blood Fang Monster?

Probably at the summit, in his den.

He'll save me—he must…

Ssssshhhh—the grass leaves clinging to Lin Li slowly loosened.

He could no longer sustain his magic power.

The burns and blade wounds he could endure—but the sickle was poisoned, and he could not withstand it.

It was the deadly Blueleaf Poplar, refined with Bronze Lotus flowers; that Lin Li had lasted this long was already miraculous.

Tang Dao rushed forward and slashed Lin Li's throat.

Zhongbai seized the chance and drained the last of his blood.

The wine gourd chuckled in praise: "Fine wine, fine wine indeed!"

The magic treasure Yao Lao gave me is truly excellent—this battle, the wine gourd proved invaluable!

Li Banfeng stared at the wine gourd, lost in thought.

As a local deity, Yao Lao was among the best of good people.

He knew I'd face danger on the road; he told me how to avoid it, and gave me tools to escape it.

But there was one man who also knew I'd face great danger—far greater than this—when I knew nothing at all.

He told me to make a phone call.

He suddenly appeared before me.

He dragged me into a life-or-death game.

But he told me nothing.

Before this, he never even mentioned Pulu Province.

As for the things he gave me—I don't even know if he gave them, what his purpose was, or whether I can keep them at all.

The wine gourd grew warm under Li Banfeng's prolonged stare.

"Little brother, don't stare at your sister like that."

Li Banfeng smiled: "Sister's so beautiful—can't a man look?"

"How old are you, to dare flirt with me?" The wine gourd spat a mist of wine into Li Banfeng's face, sounding slightly annoyed.

Li Banfeng patted the wine gourd: "By Blood Fang Mountain, I truly admire you, sister."

The rocks remained silent—proof Li Banfeng spoke truth.

The gourd chuckled several times.

Blood Fang Mountain was indeed an interesting place.

Li Banfeng carried Lin Li's corpse back to his portable dwelling. The battle had been loud; before the Blood Fang Monster came chasing, he hurried down the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, Li Banfeng whispered: "I didn't kill Lin Li."

Boom!

A rock shattered instantly.

Even whispering isn't enough?

Then I'll shout louder!

Li Banfeng shouted toward Blood Fang Mountain: "I'm a good man!"

Blood Fang Mountain gave no response.

Li Banfeng shouted again: "My wife is a good woman too!"

Blood Fang Mountain remained silent.

Li Banfeng shouted once more: "My whole family are good people!"

No rocks exploded.

What about him?

Is he good?

Li Banfeng shouted again: "I think he's not a good man!"

A breeze stirred; the mountainside fell utterly still.

Li Banfeng was deeply satisfied with this result.

He removed his top hat, brushing off bits of rock and dust.

He put the hat back on, turned, and vanished into the night.

PS: Who exactly is that man? Why isn't he good?

(End of Chapter)