Chapter 181: The Bitter Old Woman

Li Banfeng and Chu Er sat across from each other at the table, before them a dish of bitter greens and two coarse corn buns.

"The bitter greens have salt—tastes good. Try some."

Li Banfeng had no appetite for the bitter greens, and this little food wasn't enough to fill him.

Chu Er's rations were issued monthly by Bitter Greens Village—each meal only this much, and even though Chu Er was a woman, she still went hungry.

"Where's my key?" That was what Li Banfeng cared about most.

Chu Er's face darkened: "You came all this way—are you here for me, or just for the key?"

Li Banfeng offered a faint smile: "Foolish girl, what nonsense are you talking? What do you take me for? I came all this way precisely to find the key."

Chu Er's face turned pale with anger: "You don't have to be so blunt!"

"Give me the key!"

"No!"

"You won't give it, huh?"

"I won't give it. What are you going to do about it?"

"I couldn't do much anyway."

Li Banfeng truly couldn't do anything to Chu Er.

Ma Wu had told him Chu Er had all sorts of ways to torment herself—torture and interrogation were useless.

After a moment's thought, Li Banfeng changed tactics, his gaze softening as he looked at Chu Er: "Saying I came for the key was just an excuse I made up. I truly came to find you."

Chu Er lifted her eyes to him: "Are you telling the truth?"

Li Banfeng gritted his teeth: "True."

"Swear an oath for me to hear."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "I'm not superstitious."

Chu Er smiled faintly: "Fine, I'll believe you're sincere. First, tell me how you got to Bitter Greens Village?"

"It's a long story," Li Banfeng began fabricating, "I found my key missing, so I searched everywhere—I went to Ma Wu."

"Did Ma Wu tell you I went to your room?"

"Yes, he told me!"

"Did he tell you I came to Bitter Greens Village?"

"Yes, that's what he said."

Chu Er thought it over—it made sense. "Then what?"

Then what?

This man asked too many questions.

Li Banfeng continued fabricating: "When I heard you'd come to Bitter Greens Village, I panicked—I couldn't rest easy, so I found a way to get a train ticket here."

"This is my first time here—I can't tell east from west, and I barely found your place…"

Chu Er widened her eyes: "You just got here?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "Just now."

"Then when I was bathing just now—did you see me?"

"Didn't see a thing. I missed such a good opportunity," Li Banfeng sighed deeply, shaking his head. "When's your next bath?"

"Six months from now."

Li Banfeng blinked: "You bathe once every six months?"

Chu Er nodded seriously: "Too much or too little?"

Li Banfeng blinked again: "Are you insane?"

Chu Er answered seriously: "I'm not insane. My father took me to the hospital—the doctors all said I'm not insane."

"I went to the hospital too! The doctor said the same thing!"

Chu Er burst into laughter, doubling over: "No wonder we're destined for each other."

As she laughed, Li Banfeng noticed a rope tied around her neck.

"Yes, destined!" Li Banfeng laughed loudly, then lunged at Chu Er.

Chu Er startled: "Destined doesn't mean this fast—wait a minute, not now…"

After a struggle, Li Banfeng tore the key from around Chu Er's neck.

Chu Er clutched her throat, gasping for breath.

Li Banfeng had struck too hard—he nearly choked her to death.

"I knew you didn't come for me!" Chu Er's eyes reddened. "You heartless man—why did you lie to me?"

"I feel terrible too—I'm ashamed of myself!" Li Banfeng stood, adjusted his hat, and walked to the door. "I can never face you again. We'll never meet again."

For a moment, Li Banfeng truly wanted to kill Chu Er.

Though she didn't know what the key was for, he feared she'd pursue it again.

But at the moment he moved to strike, his Fortune-Seeking Skill warned him of grave danger—though the reason was unknown.

This was Bitter Greens Village—the heartland of the Bitter Cultivators.

Here, killing a high-born Bitter Cultivator might trigger consequences Li Banfeng couldn't predict.

Li Banfeng left. Chu Er didn't follow. She took a bite of bitter greens and sneered: "Let's see how far you get!"

Bitter Greens Village was sparsely populated, its land barren.

Li Banfeng walked straight ahead along the dirt road for over two miles, seeing only one mud hut—worse than Chu Er's—and nothing else.

A lifeless place—even the locust-plagued Haichiling was better than this.

He checked his pocket watch and the sun's position, quickly determining direction.

He was heading south.

Li Banfeng's goal was Xin Di.

Once he reached Xin Di, he could cross-reference Yao Lao's map and return to Lan Yang Village.

But could he reach Xin Di by going south?

"Sister Hu, have you ever been to Bitter Greens Village?"

"Why come here? To suffer? Ask Big Sister—she's seen everything."

Ask the phonograph in Suishenju?

This place was nothing but yellow earth—empty, with nowhere to hide the key.

What if someone else found it?

Besides, asking would be pointless—he didn't even know his location, there were no landmarks, and the phonograph couldn't guide him.

Ahead, a figure in a gray cotton robe was fully wrapped up, gender indistinguishable.

Li Banfeng approached: "Excuse me, sir—I'd like to know how to get to Xin Di?"

The figure lifted her head, face covered by a scarf, and replied: "Why are you going to Xin Di?"

Hearing the voice—a middle-aged woman—Li Banfeng quickly corrected himself: "Miss, I'm new to Bitter Greens Village, lost my way. I'm heading to Xin Di to hunt."

The woman shook her head: "Young man, do you know why you got lost?"

"Probably… by accident…"

The question was too profound—he didn't know how to answer.

"Not by accident. You haven't thought clearly. You haven't awakened. You don't know why you came here, just as you don't know where you're headed.

Don't let desire blind you. Don't let comfort cloud your heart. Don't let indulgence erode your will. Don't let laziness corrupt your character."

Li Banfeng stood frozen: "I just wanted directions…"

On his person, a magic treasure trembled, straining to speak two words: "Shut up!"

Look how the Judge's Pen was enraged—it actually spoke two words!

How could laziness corrupt character?

This woman was plainly spouting nonsense.

The woman sighed: "Young man, since you've come, calm your heart. Only when calm can you settle. Only then can you understand where you're truly going—and the meaning of your life."

"You're right," Li Banfeng nodded, then walked away.

No point arguing with someone like this—she was mad.

"Stop!" The woman blocked his path. "Where are you going?"

"Where I must go," Li Banfeng replied with an obscure answer.

"Your heart is restless," the woman reached out and grabbed his coat. "You don't even know where you're going. Listen to me—stay here."

Li Banfeng shook off the woman, straightened his clothes: "I know where I'm going. No need for your concern."

The woman looked disappointed: "You won't stay? After all you've been through, haven't you awakened yet?"

"Whether I've awakened is my own business. No need for your concern," Li Banfeng's tone hardened—he was angry now.

The woman lifted her head, her bloodshot eyes fixed on Li Banfeng: "Why won't you stay? Why leave? If you go, won't all your past struggles be wasted?

You still haven't awakened. You don't know why you're here. But I do—I knew the moment I first saw you."

First saw me?

Isn't this our first meeting?

Why does this woman speak without logic?

Li Banfeng didn't want to argue—he turned and ran.

The woman followed behind as if strolling, calling out: "You really must leave?"

How can this woman run so fast?

I'm a third-layer Traveling Cultivator, and I still can't outrun her?

Is her cultivation base really that high?

Li Banfeng stopped running—he knew he couldn't escape: "Sister, I really just stumbled into Kucai Village by accident. I don't know anyone or anything here. Please let me go."

"Once I leave Kucai Village, I won't forget your kindness. One day I'll buy something nice in Lüshui City and come visit you."

The woman paused, stunned: "You're going to Lüshui City? You just want to leave Kucai Village?"

Li Banfeng blinked in surprise: "What else? Where else did I think I was going?"

The woman nodded and said: "Leaving Kucai Village isn't impossible—but you must follow my rules. If you can beat me, I'll let you go."

Li Banfeng rubbed his forehead, utterly exasperated: "Sister, you're joking, right? We've never met. Why would I hit you?"

The woman stretched her limbs: "I won't use any techniques or weapons—that'd be cheating. We'll just test our fists and feet. If you beat me, I won't just let you go—I'll even escort you."

"That's a fine thing to say," Li Banfeng sighed, shaking his head. "I'm a man, you're a woman. How could I possibly hit a woman?"

The woman laughed: "That's a noble thing to say…."

Big Sister laughed and said, "That remark sounds surprisingly noble…"

Li Banfeng punched the woman right in the face.

The woman fell silent.

Li Banfeng said seriously: "Sister, I landed the first hit. That means I won. We agreed on this."

The woman sighed deeply: "Fine. I'll let you go."

Li Banfeng beamed: "Then I'll just—"

Thud! The woman suddenly kicked out, slamming her foot into Li Banfeng's ribs.

The kick was brutal—Li Banfeng nearly fell over.

"Sister, you're ruthless!"

"You weren't prepared because your cultivation isn't refined enough. When you're ready, I'll let you go."

"You're unprepared because your training isn't complete; I won't let you go until it is."

The sun sank lower. Chu Er was lighting a fire to cook dinner in the courtyard when Li Banfeng staggered back, bruised and swollen.

"Seven Master, what happened?" Chu Er brushed the dust off his palms. "Didn't you say you were leaving? Why are you back?"

Li Banfeng forced a laugh: "I ran into a woman on the road. She's so kind—she insisted I stay a few more days. I told her I couldn't, so she said I had to beat her to leave. I tried—and lost. I told her I wouldn't fight anymore, but she said my cultivation wasn't refined enough, so she kept pounding me… until now."

Chu Er smiled faintly: "Seven Master, you met the Kǔ Popo."

"Who's the Kǔ Popo?"

"The Kǔ Popo is just the Kǔ Popo. Entering Kucai Village is easy. Leaving? You need her permission."

Li Banfeng stared at Chu Er: "You can't leave either?"

"No," Chu Er shook his head. "I can only leave after the Kǔ Popo leaves."

"When does she leave?"

"She comes in the second lunar month and leaves in the fifth. She usually stays three months—lunar months, that is."

"I can't leave," Chu Er shook his head. "I can only depart from Bitter Cabbage Village after Old Ku leaves."

It wasn't even lunar March yet—so he'd have to stay over two months?

"Just who is this Kǔ Popo?"

"I don't know her origins. Just stay here quietly. If you don't, she'll beat you every time she sees you."

Dinner was still bitter greens and steamed buns.

Chu Er gazed at Li Banfeng with deep affection: "Seven Master, eat. I didn't dare touch mine—I saved it all for you."

Li Banfeng chewed the bitter greens and buns, feeling as if he'd returned to his days wandering the outer provinces.

Seeing Li Banfeng eat well, Chu Er sighed softly: "When you and Ma Wu were down on your luck, you suffered like this too, didn't you?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "After I met him, Ma Wu never suffered. He's my brother. If I could find any way, I'd never let my brother endure hardship."

Chu Er snorted: "Suffering isn't all bad."

"There are too many downsides to suffering. I don't see any upside."

"Can you even speak? I'm a Wu Xiu. You're telling me suffering has no benefits?"

"Keep your suffering for yourself! You've got one bed—where am I supposed to sleep tonight?"

Chu Er smiled warmly: "Don't be so formal. We can share."

Li Banfeng sneered: "Really?"

"Not really," Chu Er shook his head. "Not yet. The Kǔ Popo 's here—we can't sleep together. She'd kill us both."

"She even controls that?"

"She does! Anything that smacks of comfort, she forbids. Not just sleeping—she bans bathing too. Everyone in Kucai Village is forbidden to bathe. Do you really think I only wash myself once every six months? I avoid her. Today I was so filthy I couldn't stand it—I sneaked a quick wipe. If she saw me, she'd beat me to death!"

Two more months… how could he endure this?

No—he had to find a way to escape.

Deep in the night, Li Banfeng slipped out of Chu Er's house. Using his innate talent for avoiding misfortune and seeking fortune, he chose a direction.

"I'm hiding from her—today I was so filthy I couldn't stand it, so I sneaked to wipe myself with water. If she saw, she'd beat me to death!"

Li Banfeng sprinted twenty li without encountering the Kǔ Popo.

Indeed, his talent for avoiding misfortune was the most useful thing he had!

In his joy, he tripped over a stone and dropped his Judge's Pen.

"How careless," the Kǔ Popo said, picking up the Judge's Pen for him.

"I'll be more careful next time," Li Banfeng said, taking it back.

The Kǔ Popo shook her head: "I see you still haven't understood."

Li Banfeng nodded: "Then I'll go back and reflect some more."

"You can't just rely on your own reflection. You need someone to refine you."

Li Banfeng clutched his head: "Can't we get someone else to refine me?"

PS: Who exactly is the Kǔ Popo?

(End of Chapter)

You can't rely solely on yourself to gain insight; you need someone to forge you.

Li Banfeng hugged his head and said, "Can we find someone else to forge me?"

PS: Who exactly is Old Woman Ku?

(End of Chapter)