Chapter 187: A Thousand Gold, Ten Thousand Gold, a Hundred Million Gold

Madam awoke and asked about the source of the fragrance.

Li Banfeng offered no further explanation and opened the box.

"Madam, the elixir is finished."

Madam looked at the elixir, sniffed the fragrance, and exclaimed in succession: "This elixir, this elixir—it's Xuan Yun Dan!"

Xuan Yun Dan?

"What effect does this elixir have when consumed?" Since Madam already knew, he might as well ask outright.

"Oh, Husband, you'd gain no effect from eating it—you're a Zhai Xiu; your cultivation advancement depends on your humble wife." Her voice still trembled slightly.

She was too excited.

Li Banfeng said: "What effect would it have on an ordinary cultivator? I need to know clearly so I can sell it at a good price."

"Even ordinary cultivators gain no effect—those below the tenth layer gain nothing!"

Below the tenth layer, no effect at all.

Li Banfeng turned his gaze to the outer chamber, sensing something was wrong.

"Madam, then who should I sell this elixir to?"

"Such people are hard to find, Husband. Don't take this elixir outside—it might draw trouble."

Li Banfeng nodded: "I was afraid the fragrance would leak, so I wrapped it in so many layers."

"Not nearly enough, Husband. I'd just woken up and smelled it already. Outside, there are noses far keener than mine."

Li Banfeng fell silent.

The fragrance couldn't be contained—it would be discovered the moment it left, and by dangerous people too.

He couldn't understand Honglian's intentions.

"Oh, Husband, this elixir is wonderful!" Mist poured from Madam's speaker mouth.

"Hmph!" Li Banfeng suddenly laughed.

Changji asked: "Why are you laughing, Husband?"

Li Banfeng sighed: "In the end, only true husband and wife have real affection."

Dada da~ Daa~

"Husband, why are you saying such sweet words all of a sudden?"

"Madam, can you eat this elixir?"

"Your humble wife can eat it, but such a precious elixir shouldn't be wasted on me. If you ever face danger, you can use it as leverage…"

Did Changji really not want to eat it?

She very much did.

But she feared Li Banfeng wouldn't give it to her.

Should she take it by force?

No, she couldn't take it.

She couldn't let this madman suffer too much.

He risked his life to obtain the insect chief's head; its spiritual essence was consumed by me, and those vile women all got their share of the spoils—this elixir must be reserved for the madman.

This thing could buy a hundred li of land, enough to make him a local deity.

But if she ate this elixir, she could…

No, she still couldn't take it. Couldn't…

"Husband, keep this elixir safe. Wait until a better opportunity arises, then…"

Li Banfeng handed the elixir to Changji.

"Husband, are you giving this to me?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "Yes, for Madam!"

Huh-huh~ Huh-huh~

Changji fell silent for a long while.

"Husband, such a precious elixir should be kept for now. I'm grateful for your kindness, but your humble wife…"

Li Banfeng's expression was resolute: "If you have something good, you give it to your Madam. Your own wife must be cherished!"

Huh-huh~ Huh-huh~

Steam spewed, slightly trembling.

"Husband, do you know how valuable this elixir is? It's worth more than a thousand gold."

Li Banfeng smiled: "Whether it's a thousand gold, ten thousand gold, or a hundred million gold—I won't regret giving it to Madam."

Huh! Huh!

Steam spewed continuously, swirling around Li Banfeng.

"Husband, are you being sincere?"

"Madam, every word is true!"

Huh! Huh!

"If you're lying to me, I won't forgive you."

"If I lied just now, may I die a wretched death!" Li Banfeng placed the elixir beside the needle.

Changji lifted the elixir with two needles; the needles trembled continuously.

Is this madman sincere?

"Eat it quickly, Madam."

He was sincere.

Changji carefully placed the elixir into the water tank.

Steam rose, and Changji's entire body flushed red.

Was the elixir taking effect?

The record spun rapidly on the turntable, accompanied by pipa and guzheng, while the erhu played a gentle melody.

An old Yue Dong folk song echoed beside Li Banfeng's ears.

"My darling,

Suddenly before my eyes,

I gasp for breath,

Moved by you,

Hoping you'll notice,

I return a string of longing.

"My Darling."

"Husband~"

"Madam!" Li Banfeng thought his flushed Madam looked beautiful.

"Good Husband!" Madam called out, using a puff of steam to lift Li Banfeng and shove him into the large speaker mouth.

"What are you doing? No…"

What was she planning? Was she going to elevate him?

He couldn't elevate now!

As a Traveling Xiu, he was only at Layer Three—if his Zhai Xiu level rose to Layer Five, Li Banfeng would face backlash from cultivation imbalance.

After struggling, Li Banfeng pulled his head out of the large speaker.

"Husband~" Changji pouted, "I just wanted to be affectionate with you—why are you avoiding me?"

"Affection? Isn't this about elevation?"

"Oh, Husband, you've just reached Layer Four—if you elevated again so soon, your body couldn't handle it!"

So it wasn't about elevation.

Li Banfeng was startled.

"Madam, remove this fragrance from me first."

"Husband, you always think of everything~" Madam replied, releasing steam to cleanse his scent, then another puff of steam, embracing him for a long while.

Honglian, outside the outer chamber, trembled with her lotus leaves, as if gritting her teeth.

…

Li Banfeng arrived at Ma Wu's plot and saw Ma Wu standing before his wooden hut, looking extremely tense.

Three straw moths crouched nearby, silently watching Ma Wu's hut.

"Old Seven, we've got visitors."

Through years of tacit understanding, Li Banfeng instantly grasped Ma Wu's expression.

"Has the local deity come?"

Ma Wu nodded: "The visitor's name is Shui Yongquan. He wants to discuss war with us."

Shui Yongquan—what a fitting name.

Li Banfeng recalled how this local deity spat once and brought rain.

Inside the hut, Li Banfeng saw the local deity.

Not a cluster of ghostly flames—he had taken human form, a middle-aged man around fifty.

Of average height, slightly thin, hunched back, half-bald forehead, thick eyebrows, small eyes, a bulbous nose, and when he smiled, wrinkles piled up—he looked like a very amiable uncle.

This was completely different from Li Banfeng's image of a local deity.

"Two young talents, forgive the interruption. I've come specifically to apologize. Earlier, I ran into some trouble and just spoke with Brother Ma Wu. When Brother Li Qi called for aid, I failed to respond in time—please forgive me."

Speaking so politely?

Shui Yongquan bowed in apology, then turned to look at Ma Wu.

Ma Wu turned his face toward Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng rose and said, "It's a minor thing, don't dwell on it. Chuanzi, show our guest out."

Uh…

You're already sending him off?

Shui Yongquan felt awkward.

Chuanzi also thought Young Master Qi was being overly rude.

But Ma Wu understood clearly: Old Qi's response was correct—it wasn't him who was rude, it was Shui Yongquan.

Li Banfeng came to Ma Wu to discuss how to respond to the Local Horn, yet the local deity showed up uninvited without even giving them time to deliberate.

He's relying on his experience to catch the young ones off guard.

Li Banfeng refused to play along—he'd send the local deity away first, then discuss matters properly with Ma Wu.

Shui Yongquan refused to leave.

"Brother Li Qi, you're too hasty—I haven't finished speaking."

"Didn't you say you came solely to apologize? That matter is done—we brothers don't care. Chuanzi, show our guest out!" Li Banfeng insisted on seeing the local deity out.

Shui Yongquan let out a forced laugh. "Let's set aside what happened before. Right now, there's a major matter in our territory, and I'd like to discuss it with both of you."

Shui Yongquan, shameless as ever, went ahead and explained.

Shui Yongquan's territory was called Shuilin Forest; his neighbor Qiuluoye's territory was called Luoye Flatland. The two had been on good terms for years.

Last year, several pioneers arrived and set up offering tables, but, ignorant of the rules, placed them right on the border between the two territories.

Such incidents were rare. Shui Yongquan believed the first to arrive had the right, so he rushed over and claimed them.

This angered Qiuluoye, and the two began to feud.

At the start of this year, more pioneers arrived—again on the border—and Shui Yongquan got there first again.

Qiuluoye refused to accept it, seized the pioneers outright, and the two nearly came to blows.

Today, another group of pioneers arrived—again on the border—and Shui Yongquan acted quickly, seizing them once more.

But Qiuluoye acted faster, striking Shui Yongquan down and injuring him.

Shui Yongquan demanded an explanation from Qiuluoye, but Qiuluoye gave none—instead, he delivered a formal challenge and declared war.

After recounting the events, Shui Yongquan sighed: "These matters are usually known only to the leaders of the local territories. I truly admire you two young brothers, so I'm breaking protocol to tell you."

Li Banfeng frowned, glancing at Shui Yongquan.

You're breaking protocol? What a great favor?

I don't even want to hear about this mess.

But over something this trivial, two local deities would go to war?

Ma Wu listened attentively: "Senior Shui, may I ask—how many pioneers come to your territory?"

"How to put it?" Shui Yongquan looked embarrassed. "Blocked by the Ironwire River and the Little Yellow Spring, few come to me.

Since I took over Shuilin Forest, only two pioneers have succeeded."

Only two?

Li Banfeng looked at Shui Yongquan: "Senior, you're not referring to us two, are you?"

Shui Yongquan regarded them both with approval: "Precisely—you two talents!"

How shameless—he could speak so openly about such an embarrassing fact. Is he Brother Pan Dehai's junior?

Shui Yongquan himself felt embarrassed. He sipped his tea and continued: "Brothers, your pioneering methods are unusual. I'm a laid-back man, so I didn't hold it against you. But if this were another territory, things wouldn't be so easy."

Again, playing the benefactor.

It's only because no one wants to come here that you don't care about us.

Due to the scarcity of people, the two local deities quarreled over pioneers.

The quarrel was understandable, but not enough to justify war—there must be deeper grievances between them.

Li Banfeng was tired of his blathering: "Get to the point. Are you asking us to join the war?"

"Straightforward!" Shui Yongquan praised him, raising his eyebrows. "Brother Li Qi asked—that means you've agreed."

Who came up with this logic?

What does "asking" mean you've agreed?

Shui Yongquan was a rogue; Li Banfeng would match him rogue for rogue.

"Yes, we agree! We brothers will do our utmost to hold these two li of land."

That's fine—yes, we've agreed to join the war.

"Brother Li Qi means to defend the territory?" Shui Yongquan looked disappointed. "With your talents, defending would mean missing a great opportunity."

Ma Wu shook his head and smiled: "Senior, you flatter us. We have no talent—we've only been in the Dao Gate for less than a year."

"Why be modest?" Shui Yongquan smiled mysteriously, pulling out a map from his robe. "Here is the full layout of Shuilin Forest—please take a look.

Shuilin Forest and Luoye Flatland share thirty-seven li of border. Along this entire stretch lie high mountains and treacherous peaks, with only two passages vital for troop movement:

This valley is called Baiman Valley—a ten-li mountain ravine, narrow and winding, with steep, defensible slopes on both sides.

This cave is called Baizú Cave—its interior has countless side paths, but only one leads between the two territories. If you hold the key points inside, one man can hold it against ten thousand."

As he spoke, Shui Yongquan kept glancing at Ma Wu.

Why does he keep looking at Ma Wu?

Because Ma Wu has visible combat strength.

Three Shuai Mo Ladies are outside, crouching. Though far weaker than a local deity, they stand at the peak of power among strange beings.

Shui Yongquan continued: "If you can hold even one of these two passages, I'll grant you ten li of land. Two talents—do you have the courage to try?"

PS: Will they accept?

(End of Chapter)