Chapter 216: Five Parts of the Truth

The next day, Tiemenbao sealed its gates, and Li Banfeng scouted the surrounding area.

Around Tiemenbao were many villages, inhabited by simple farmers; he encountered two Layer-One Farming Cultivators, and everyone else had no cultivation base.

Li Banfeng learned the location of Feiyingshan, over twenty li from Tiemenbao; the bandits there had a formidable reputation, even greater than that of Tieyangshan, and whether it was the chieftain He Zhenlei or the artillery chief Luo Dagui, both were figures who struck fear into the hearts of the locals.

This gang of bandits had many "achievements"; from the villagers' accounts, Li Banfeng picked up one key word: "cruel."

Every year they took more than half the grain from each village; any resistance often led to mass slaughter.

This differed from most mountain bandits in Puluozhou, who rarely killed nearby residents and sometimes even maintained good relations with neighboring villages, offering mutual aid in times of trouble.

Surely no wealthy clan has come to cleanse Feiyingshan of such evil bandits?

Yes.

The largest wealthy clan nearby is Tiemenbao, where three hundred Household Cultivators live together—a formidable force indeed.

Lord Zhou Anju once rode alone up Feiyingshan and fought He Zhenlei to a standstill.

Zhou Anju once led a dozen subordinates and clashed with He Zhenlei below the mountain, only to retreat in defeat.

According to local villagers, Lord Zhou lost because Household Cultivators cannot stay away from their homes for long.

That may be true, but Li Banfeng felt something was off.

He asked an old farmer: "Brother, did you personally witness Zhou Anju's battles with He Zhenlei?"

The old farmer shook his head: "That was a battle between immortals—I wouldn't dare watch."

"If you didn't see it, how do you know the details so clearly?"

"This has been common gossip around Tiemenbao for years—those two battles shook heaven and earth; no one here doesn't know them!"

"Lord Zhou is a hero, but the evil bandits are too ruthless—even Tiemenbao couldn't defeat them, let alone us common folk."

They spoke of battles that shook heaven and earth, yet none had actually seen them.

Li Banfeng truly felt the urge to go up to Feiyingshan and see for himself.

But if the chieftain were truly a Layer-Seven or -Eight Cultivator, going up there would be suicide.

I'll wait and watch.

I'll find someone who knows something.

The next day, Tiemenbao opened its gates; Li Banfeng entered the fortress again, and Ma Dingfu shouted at the gate: "Do business quick! Gates close in two hours!"

Li Banfeng asked Sui Donglan: "What time do you usually close?"

"Usually seven at night. Closing this early means Feiyingshan's matter hasn't been settled."

Those selling rice, oil, and vegetables went door to door; those selling cloth, sundries, and tobacco leaves had much harder sales.

Feiyingshan demanded ten thousand silver dollars; most in the fortress hadn't paid, but they had to prepare the money—if pressed too hard, they'd have to yield, since Household Cultivators couldn't easily relocate.

A cloth merchant went to Hu Lao's house to collect garments; Hu Lao was a tailor with decent skill, and she had long ordered from him.

Hu Lao hadn't locked his door today—it was slightly ajar.

The cloth merchant dared not enter; she knew Household Cultivators disliked strangers entering their homes. She called from outside: "Old Hu, are the two qipaos ready?"

A frail voice came from inside: "Who is it?"

Is that Old Hu?

The voice sounded wrong.

"It's me! Xiujun—I'm here for the clothes!"

"Who exactly?"

"It's me… I'm… " Xiujun stepped back two paces.

A cold wind blew, and thick mist swirled in the dark corridor.

From within the mist, Hu Lao's severed head slowly floated toward Xiujun.

"Oh my god!" Xiujun screamed, scrambling away from Hu Lao's door.

Several Household Cultivators who had come out to shop gathered around, seeing Hu Lao's head still hanging in midair.

The frail voice echoed from within the house: "Tell me—who killed him?"

Li Banfeng wanted to enter, but Wu Yongchao blocked him: "Don't go—the spirit may go berserk."

Without its master, a household spirit could turn into a malevolent one,

and this one was special.

"Old Hu lived in Tiemenbao for over fifty years—his spirit has been bound to this house even longer. Now that Old Hu is gone, this spirit may…"

"Who is it!" The spirit roared again, and the entire house trembled.

Fifty years.

The Household Cultivator who arrived before Lord Zhou yesterday—he was the one.

Ma Dingfu ran over and shouted to the merchants: "Go! All of you! We've had an incident—gates closing now!"

Closing again.

The merchants rushed toward the gate when suddenly a steam whistle blared.

Woooo—wooo~

Before anyone could escape, the steam gate slammed shut.

Not long after, a voice came from outside: "Lord Zhou, I'm back. I told you yesterday—if I don't get ten thousand silver dollars, I'll take one life per day. You received the head, didn't you?"

Lord Zhou barked: "Luo Dagui, don't push us too far!"

"I'm not pushing you—I laid out the rules clearly!"

As he spoke, a thunderous crash echoed—several stones tumbled into the valley.

Another Household Cultivator's house had been smashed; all merchants crouched silently.

They waited for Lord Zhou's response, but Lord Zhou said nothing.

Artillery Chief Luo Dagui shouted: "Gentlemen, I'll return tomorrow. If I still don't see ten thousand silver dollars, I'll bring you another gift!"

With that, Luo Dagui left.

Everyone waited a long time, still didn't dare to move.

Ma Dingfu scanned the crowd and roared: "Brave, are you? So brave! Go out and fight him! Now look—you've got a dead man!"

Several Household Cultivators glared at Wu Yongchao with resentment.

These were the ones who had paid.

Wu Yongchao looked ashamed, avoiding their gazes.

"Who killed him!" Old Hu's spirit still screamed.

Ma Dingfu glanced from afar, then turned to the crowd: "Who knew Old Hu well? Go check his house."

Wu Yongchao said: "I'll go—I recognize his household spirit."

Ma Dingfu looked at Wu Yongchao: "Calm it down. Remember—you owe Old Hu your life."

…

Two hours later, the steam gate opened.

Sui Donglan rushed toward the gate; Li Banfeng grabbed her and handed her a cup of wine: "Drink this. Come back to Tiemenbao tomorrow."

"Tiemenbao won't open tomorrow! That Ma guy just said so."

"If it's closed, wait outside for me."

"What if bandits come?"

"Can't you hide better?"

…

Late at night, Wu Yongchao rummaged through his cabinets, gathering every spare coin he had—twelve silver dollars total.

Each household owed thirty-six; his savings fell far short.

He took out several paintings he'd never dared sell, calculating their value, when an old man's voice whispered: "Boy, don't sell these paintings—they'll be needed when war comes."

"I need money now. Later, I'll…"

Knock knock knock~

As he spoke, someone knocked.

Wu Yongchao frowned—no outsiders should be here at this hour.

Could it be Ma Dingfu coming to demand payment again?

He went to the door, peered through the peephole—and saw not Ma Dingfu, but a man in a top hat.

The peddler!

Wu Yongchao opened the door, whispering: "How did you get in?"

Li Banfeng's voice dropped even lower: "I never left."

"Impossible—after every gate closure, they always…"

"Let me in first. This isn't the place to talk."

Wu Yongchao hesitated.

The old man's voice whispered again: "Let him in—he's a good man."

Wu Yongchao led Li Banfeng into the parlor, and before closing the door, he checked the surroundings repeatedly.

They sat down; Wu Yongchao asked again: "How did you dare stay hidden in the fortress? If Lord Zhou finds out…"

"Not now. Did you find out how Old Hu died?"

Wu Yongchao lowered his head, ashamed: "This morning, Old Hu went out to dump trash and didn't return for a long time,

the household spirit smelled blood outside, opened the door, and found Old Hu's severed head placed right at the threshold,

It's all my fault…

Li Banfeng interrupted Wu Yongchao: "How early this morning? Before the big iron gate opened, or after?"

"Around six, the iron gate hadn't opened yet."

"Then how did the killer get in?"

Wu Yongchao thought for a moment and said: "They could throw stones down from the cliff—probably slipped in from the cliffside."

Li Banfeng considered the height of that cliff.

Then he thought about the tools those people used.

Someone of that caliber climbed down from a cliff and killed a Zhai Xiu right at the front door?

"What level was Old Hu's cultivation base?"

"He said he was Level Three."

Only Level Three?

How is that possible?

"Didn't you say he cultivated for over fifty years? Even just by waiting it out, he shouldn't be stuck at Level Three."

Wu Yongchao thought for a moment and said: "I remember, once when he was drunk, he told me about his cultivation—

He said when he was young, he fought his Zhai Ling every day, life or death, and eventually fled to Tiemenbao to escape it.

For some reason, his Zhai Ling followed him to Tiemenbao, and they kept fighting for over thirty years—his cultivation never advanced, but he was left covered in wounds.

Later, when Old Hu grew old and couldn't fight anymore, the Zhai Ling gave him Level Three cultivation, and they kept fighting."

There are Zhai Lings like that?

Li Banfeng felt even more fortunate to have met his Niangzi.

"Why did you come to Tiemenbao?"

Wu Yongchao lowered his head—he didn't want to talk about his past, but the "Huo Lang" had asked, and he didn't know how to refuse.

"I used to live in Lüshuiban, not Lüshuicheng—a village outside the city.

Since childhood, I liked staying home. My family had decent means, got me some Jin Yuandan, accumulated Dao Yuan, and wanted me to become a Wu Xiu.

But I didn't want to train in martial arts, so I secretly became a Zhai Xiu through a Huo Lang. My family thought I was useless and scolded me daily, so I bought a house in Lanyang Village and moved out."

Lanyang Village?

Li Banfeng nodded: "You picked a good place."

Wu Yongchao gave a bitter laugh: "I didn't pick anything—I'd never have bought a house there if I'd known what Lanyang Village was like.

The only advantage of Lanyang Village was that Zhai Lings appeared quickly—I moved in and got one within less than a month."

Of course it was quick—there were corpses everywhere there.

Wu Yongchao continued: "I can paint and sew—I thought I could make a living with my skills, but in Lanyang Village, out of ten deals, I got cheated nine times!"

"Cheated nine times?" Li Banfeng was stunned. Lanyang Village had such a simple, honest folk—how could he get cheated nine times?

"Tell me in detail—how did they ever let you off once?"

Wu Yongchao smiled bitterly: "No need to talk about it—it's all past. Later, my Zhai Ling told me this place wasn't safe.

He said there was a better place, one that never bullied honest people—he'd lived there, and told me to go see it."

"He meant Tiemenbao?"

Wu Yongchao nodded: "My Zhai Ling wanted to come with me, but the house wouldn't let us leave—we fought it for a full day and night to escape, barely made it out alive.

My Zhai Ling treated me well—truly well. When I came to Tiemenbao and settled down, he guided my cultivation.

He said Tiemenbao had changed, wasn't like before, but it was still livable.

He said I had good talent, just too honest—I'd been cultivating for over ten years, and he brought me to Level Four."

The downside of being a Zhai Xiu was how unpredictable it was: with a compatible Zhai Ling, cultivation advanced rapidly; with an incompatible one, it could stagnate for decades.

Madam Han was one example. Old Hu was another.

"Who's the highest-level Zhai Xiu in Tiemenbao?"

Wu Yongchao answered without hesitation: "Level Four—that's the max. Beyond that, you can't stay in the fortress."

"Who set that rule?"

"It's Zhou Baozhu's rule. He said Tiemenbao provides a meal for Zhai Xius who lack ability, but those with ability must leave and find their own path—they can't live here forever."

Absurd.

Combat power above Level Four was so rare—this Baozhu didn't even want it.

Maybe high-level cultivators thought differently.

"Zhai Xius don't move easily—once they reach Level Five, can they be forced out?"

Wu Yongchao shook his head: "No need to force them. Zhai Xius are proud people—we never cause trouble. If someone tells us to leave, we leave. We just fight our own house again if we have to.

Last year, Old Wang, who lived across the way, reached Level Five. The Baozhu came to his door himself and urged him to leave. He agreed.

He fought his house and Zhai Ling for three full days, and died inside it. He told me: rules are rules—there's nothing to complain about."

Li Banfeng understood.

Zhai Xius weren't all unfit for life outside—but those who came here wanted to escape the chaos beyond. Among Zhai Xius, they were among the most innocent in character.

Though life was hard, there were far fewer unnecessary conflicts. Merchants might exploit these honest people, but it was still better than being bled dry outside.

And this Baozhu understood these Zhai Xius' hearts perfectly!

"Do you know what's up on that cliff?"

Wu Yongchao shook his head: "It's the mountaintop, what else could it be?"

No wonder they said he had talent—he didn't even know the environment of Tiemenbao.

"Do you usually go out?"

"You mean the front door, or the big iron gate? We usually don't go out through the big iron gate…"

According to Wu Yongchao's account, the other Zhai Xius were much the same—rarely left their homes, rarely moved around, rarely spoke to each other, and tried to keep as far away from the outside world as possible.

Mid-sentence, a knock came again.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Wu Yongchao looked at Li Banfeng.

Why are you looking at me? I'm right here—do you think I knocked?

Wu Yongchao moved to open the door, but Li Banfeng stopped him.

He signaled Wu Yongchao to stay silent.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Sleeping? It's Ma Dingfu—I came to talk about the money!"

Wu Yongchao moved to open the door again, but Li Banfeng stopped him once more.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Dead asleep, are you? Listen up—I'm telling you, don't play dumb. You owe Old Hu your life. I'll be back tomorrow!"

Ma Dingfu left.

Wu Yongchao was filled with shame.

"This is my fault—all my fault. I sold the house—I absolutely have to raise the money."

Li Banfeng stared into Wu Yongchao's eyes: "Brother, this isn't your fault—not at all.

Remember this: from now on, unless you hear me knock, you're not to leave this house—not a single step!"

PS: Some things Li Banfeng saw half of—the other half was hidden beneath his mask. He would uncover it himself!

(End of Chapter)