Chapter 192: I

Shui Yongquan hovered in midair, still in the form of a middle-aged man, gazing down at the autumn leaves in the gorge.

Qiu Luoye looked up at Shui Yongquan and roared, "If you've got balls, come down here and fight me!"

Shui Yongquan sneered, "You've already lost. What's the point of fighting?"

"I haven't lost—I'm still here!"

"What good is it that you're still here? I've taken over your stronghold. My men are sitting in your house. If they dig up your contract from beneath the floor, you'll become a wandering ghost."

Ma Wu gave Li Banfeng some healing medicine and listened to the exchange between the two local deities.

Li Banfeng was still alive; his hand kept fumbling inside his pant pocket, though no one knew what he was searching for.

In his hand he held a flower—deep purple petals, golden stamens, the petals spinning continuously around the center.

Ma Wu was frantic—he wanted to take Li Banfeng for treatment—but Yanzi warned him not to move; both local deities were nearby, and they could kill them at any moment.

How long would their negotiations last?

What exactly was this contract they kept mentioning?

Why couldn't the contract be dug up?

Qiu Luoye roared at Shui Yongquan, "You're full of shit. How dare you break into my home? Outside my gates stand thousands of soldiers!"

Shui Yongquan laughed, "Your home has twenty-two guards—all your loyalists. You fool, you used all your best men just to guard your front door."

"They're loyal, they're tough—but they're all dead. Twenty-two of them. I didn't exaggerate, did I?"

"And that rabble at the valley entrance—I barely swung my weapon and they all surrendered. Look at your worthless followers—not one of them is any use."

Qiu Luoye stood frozen, silent for a long while.

Shui Yongquan continued, "If you still won't accept it, I'll have my men dig up your contract right now and show it to you."

Qiu Luoye roared, "Then I'll storm your home and dig up your contract too! Let's both become wandering ghosts!"

Shui Yongquan's face darkened. "Are you playing the brute?"

"I am playing the brute—what are you gonna do about it?" Qiu Luoye lunged again toward Shui Yongquan's territory.

Could he reach Shui Yongquan's stronghold?

Impossible.

Aside from a dozen or so subordinates, Qiu Luoye had lost his entire army. Shui Yongquan couldn't beat him in single combat—but he no longer needed to.

Qiu Luoye's actions were pure recklessness.

But if he truly went mad, Shui Yongquan would struggle to handle him.

Qiu Luoye was too powerful—if he threw his life away, half the living beings in these two territories might die, and Shui Yongquan himself would be injured.

Wuuu~

Qiu Luoye let out a long cry and was about to charge out of the valley when Shui Yongquan relented: "Fine. You lost. Give me thirty li of land, and we're done. What do you say?"

This concession was enormous—technically, Shui Yongquan could have seized all of Qiu Luoye's territory.

But Qiu Luoye refused: "I won't accept it! I won't give you a single inch! I'll fight you to the death!"

Having been neighbors for so many years, Shui Yongquan understood Qiu Luoye's nature.

Qiu Luoye wasn't a stubborn liar who refused to admit defeat—he was acting this way purely out of wounded pride.

Shui Yongquan looked around at the crowd and said, "Everyone, return to your posts. Those who helped me today—I won't forget your favor, and your rewards will be certain."

Ma Wu was about to leave with Li Banfeng when Shui Yongquan called out, "Brother Ma Wu, wait a moment. These belong to Brother Li Qi."

He handed Ma Wu the Judge's Pen and the Calendar, then pulled out a pouch of healing medicine: "Take him back to your territory. Use your spring water to dissolve the medicine—he might still survive."

"These two Waterfall Gates also belong to Brother Li Qi. He's in no condition to carry them now—I'll deliver them to him another day."

"After I settle matters here, I'll also give you ten li of land."

Ma Wu took the medicine, mounted Yanzi, and carried Li Banfeng off toward their territory.

Li Banfeng was still moving.

His hand kept fumbling inside his pant pocket.

"Brother Qi, what are you looking for?"

"Brother Qi, what's in your hand?"

"Brother Qi, don't move…"

Li Banfeng was searching for a key—his arm bones were broken, his finger bones were broken—he couldn't reach it.

After walking for over ten minutes, Li Banfeng suddenly opened his eyes. With a violent gasp, he tumbled off Yanzi's back.

Zhai Xiu's Third Technique: Heart Longing for Home.

"Brother Qi!" Ma Wu gasped in horror and shouted for Yanzi to stop immediately.

Yanzi was sprinting at full speed—her massive body couldn't halt easily.

She slid for a long distance; by the time Ma Wu jumped off her back, Li Banfeng had vanished.

"Brother Qi!" Ma Wu and his men searched everywhere but found no trace.

…

Using the power of Heart Longing for Home, Li Banfeng finally pulled out the key and unlocked his personal dwelling.

The room was silent.

No sign of his wife's breathing.

Li Banfeng crawled on the ground, dragging his body toward the Red Lotus.

When he reached the Red Lotus, he patted it and pointed at the phonograph.

The Red Lotus stared at Li Banfeng's mangled, bloody form—and secretly rejoiced.

Good—he's back.

As long as he lives, I still have a chance to escape.

Without that wicked woman interfering, tricking this madman won't be so hard.

Poor madman—he's pushed himself to this point… and still didn't get…

What's he holding?

Li Banfeng placed the flower before the Red Lotus.

He had guarded it carefully—not a single petal or leaf was damaged.

The petals spun around the center—this was one of the most precious herbs: Xuan Qing Flower.

This madman actually got it!

Li Banfeng held up the flower, pointed at his wife, and stared at the Red Lotus.

The Red Lotus bloomed; a whirlwind rose from its heart and drew the Xuan Qing Flower inside.

A halo rippled outward as the Red Lotus pondered silently.

Not refining the pill—definitely not an option. I'll lose his trust completely.

I can refine the pill—but I must do it fast.

If I take longer, and that wicked woman dies, I won't be to blame. This madman is still reasonable—at least he still…

Li Banfeng was staring at the Red Lotus.

A pair of eyes caked in blood—seemingly piercing through her thoughts.

Why is he looking at me like that?

The Red Lotus glanced at the silent phonograph; her halo deepened further.

Enough.

I still need this madman to help me escape.

I must refine the pill quickly. If I still can't save that wicked woman, then I won't be to blame.

…

In the gorge, Qiu Luoye still roared: "Shui Yongquan, I'll fight you to the death! I won't accept it—I won't!"

Vines and mud flew as Qiu Luoye, like a madman, stomped back and forth through the valley.

Shui Yongquan sighed deeply. "Have you had your tantrum? Now let's talk seriously."

"I've got nothing to say to you!" Qiu Luoye turned to his dozen or so subordinates. "Brothers, tear this old bastard to pieces—I'll reward you handsomely!"

The dozen anomalies exchanged glances—none moved.

Qiu Luoye roared, "At this point, you're still afraid to fight?"

Shui Yongquan looked at the anomalies and cut straight to the point: "If Qiu Luoye is no longer a local deity, will you still follow him?"

No one spoke—except the Pine Man, who was blunt.

He straightened his back and said to Shui Yongquan, "Master Qiu gave me my chance. If he's no longer a local deity, I will no longer follow him…"

Bang!

Qiu Luoye slammed his nose into the Pine Man, knocking him to the ground. "I was blind to take you, a worthless scum! Go! All of you—go! I'll fight Shui Yongquan alone!"

The dozen anomalies honored Qiu Luoye's wish—they all fled.

Qiu Luoye screamed at Shui Yongquan, "Come on, old ghost! Fight me!"

"Fight your ass!" Shui Yongquan bellowed. "Everyone's gone—who are you throwing this tantrum for? If I'd dug up your contract just now, how would you live afterward?

Go work as a servant in Neizhou—fetch tea, carry water, make the bed—you're an old man, don't you feel ashamed?"

Qiu Luoye roared, "I'm done staying in this new land! I'm going out into the world—I've had enough of this place!"

Shui Yongquan sneered, "Stop boasting. Your stupid head only works here in the new land. Try leaving—within eight days, you'll be dead and your seventh-day rites will be over!"

Qiu Luoye sat on the ground, dismissive. "Talk all you want—I'm leaving tomorrow. I'll carve out a territory and show you."

Shui Yongquan nodded. "Go. Don't wait until tomorrow—go today. Don't go far—go to Green Water Bay and face Green Flower. Don't even talk about taking land—he'll let you live ten minutes in Green Water Bay and that'll be your luck!"

Qiu Daxiang, if you throw another tantrum, I'll tear up your contract. Think about it—how much suffering did you endure to earn this land today? Know when to stop!

Qiu Luoye grew slightly calmer and said to Shui Yongquan: "Thirty li is too much. Can you ask for less?"

"No!" Shui Yongquan said grimly. "If I lose this fight, will you spare me? I've already given you enough!"

Qiu Luoye curled his long trunk. "I only have a hundred li of land total, and now I have to give you three-tenths of it."

Shui Yongquan laughed bitterly. "Can you even count? A hundred li square is ten thousand one-li plots. Thirty li square is only nine hundred plots—I'm taking less than one-tenth of your territory. Why are you upset?"

Qiu Luoye curled a branch with his trunk and spent a long time calculating on the ground, but couldn't get the answer.

Shui Yongquan glanced at his method—it was the most basic addition.

Shui Yongquan shut his eyes and shook his head repeatedly. "How the hell did you ever accumulate so much cultivation base with a brain like this? Don't bother calculating. I'm not lying to you. Just mark out the land for me—I have other matters to discuss with you."

"What else?"

"We've been set up," Shui Yongquan floated to the valley entrance. "Three times now, people have tried to clear land right at our border—and each time, they failed."

"These people aren't here to clear land—they're here to provoke us."

"Not provocation," Qiu Luoye flicked his trunk. "I asked them—they're all hunters from Green Water Bay. They've never cleared land. They just wanted to try."

"Three times, all right on the border? What are the odds? No wonder your brain doesn't turn. They might be ordinary hunters, but someone's guiding them behind the scenes. We must be extra careful."

Qiu Luoye stood up, preparing to mark out the land for Shui Yongquan. As he walked, he suddenly asked: "Who is that young man guarding Baiman Valley?"

"I hired him."

"How much did you pay him? I'll hire him too. Let's fight again."

Shui Yongquan had no idea how to communicate with him. "Old elephant, are you joking—or serious?"

"I'm serious. I think he's impressive. I'm even thinking of making him one of my top generals!"

"Top general? More like top pancake!" Shui Yongquan weighed which patch of land suited best. "Listen to me—don't even think about him. He's not the type to serve anyone."

"Hmph. If he won't serve, what does he want? Even if he rises to power, he'll end up serving in Neizhou," Qiu Luoye glanced again at the gorge. "I wonder if that boy's still alive?"

…

Fragrant~

What's fragrant?

Li Banfeng suddenly woke up, trying to rise—but couldn't.

He was still lying on the ground, his blood dried into a large patch, sticking him to the earth.

He didn't know how many bones were broken; his limbs had no strength at all.

Li Banfeng struggled to lift his head and saw the red lotus before him.

Its petals were tightly closed—had the elixir not yet been forged?

Could his wife still hold on?

Why was there not a single glow on the red lotus?

Was she even forging the elixir?

Li Banfeng glared angrily at the red lotus.

The lotus petals unfurled—inside, no lotus seeds.

"You weren't forging the elixir? Where's my flower? Where's Xuanqing's flower?"

The red lotus didn't know how to explain—but she didn't need to.

"Fragrant~"

Li Banfeng painfully turned his head.

Huh~

He'd misheard—the sound wasn't "fragrant," it was "Xiang."

His breath was unsteady; slight distortion was inevitable.

Huh-huh~

"Husband~"

A wisp of steam wrapped around Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng whispered softly: "Wife, I've come back."

PS: Banfeng made it through. His wife made it through too.

What had the Landlord God endured?

(End of Chapter)