Chapter 249: The Saint

Li Banfeng returned to his personal dwelling and told his wife about the meeting in ten days.

His wife paused for a long while, then said: "Husband, I think you shouldn't meet him."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "If I don't meet him, how do I leave?"

His wife spoke with solemnity: "My dear husband, let's find another way."

Honglian hissed softly, as if agreeing with the phonograph's words.

Hong Ying snorted: "You know what kind of man holds a cocoon in his hand, and you know your own worth—enough to have some sense of your limits. But the ten days they've given you? That's unusually generous."

Li Banfeng was also curious: why had the other side given him ten days?

Back at Engongzhai, Li Banfeng ordered heightened vigilance—he suspected the Saint might strike suddenly within these ten days, catching them off guard.

In truth, he had the same plan: to give the Saint a surprise.

The next day, the Saint didn't appear, nor did his disciples—but dozens came to join Engongzhai.

Their reasons were much like others': they could no longer bear the exploitation by Shengxianshan or the abuse from the Saint's disciples.

Among them, one woman had suffered the most.

She was a Geng Xiu, in her early twenties, named Dong Qiaoqin.

She was an outsider; at thirteen, she entered the Geng Xiu sect; at fifteen, she was kidnapped and sold into a household in Jingde Village as a bride.

At sixteen, she consummated her marriage and bore a son and daughter.

Though only a first-rank Geng Xiu, Dong Qiaoqin was skilled in farming, sericulture, and animal husbandry, and her life had been fairly happy.

At twenty, her husband insulted a Saint's disciple—and was beaten to death along with their two children in the village.

She had been away that day, traveling to a neighboring village to buy silkworm eggs, and narrowly escaped death.

When she returned and learned of her family's annihilation, Dong Qiaoqin nearly took her own life.

After that, the villagers' attitude toward her changed.

The reason wasn't her "near-suicide"—it was the "nearly."

To the villagers of Jingde Village, Dong Qiaoqin should have died—she should have died with her husband and children.

Her survival proved something was amiss.

Especially her husband's family, who insisted Dong Qiaoqin had conspired with the Saint's disciple to murder her husband.

They dared not confront the Saint's disciple, so they vented all their rage on Dong Qiaoqin.

For two full years, her property was looted, and she endured countless beatings and humiliations.

First her in-laws beat her, then the villagers of Jingde Village, then those from surrounding villages, and even the Saint's disciples came to beat her.

Why did the Saint's disciple beat her too?

Because he felt he hadn't gained enough, and his reputation had been tarnished—this grudge had to be avenged.

Just half a month ago, Dong Qiaoqin was surrounded and attacked by villagers; her last remaining grain was stolen, and she was beaten so badly she couldn't get out of bed for days.

Life had become unbearable—so she fled into the woods and sought refuge at Engongzhai.

Xiao Yeci felt deep sympathy for this unfortunate woman and cleared a bed in her own room for her to share.

Dong Qiaoqin was indeed capable; after settling in, she chose a patch of land at the forest's edge, sowed a bag of fast-seed, and began farming.

The plot was large, and though skilled, she couldn't manage it alone—so Xiao Yeci gathered many Zhai members to help her farm.

These people had all suffered in villages; their farming skills were unquestionable.

This bag of fast-seed was extraordinary—it grew far faster than seeds from Haichiling: sown one day, sprouted the next, harvested on the third, with excellent yields.

Xiao Yeci was delighted and awarded Dong Qiaoqin thirty silver dollars, believing it was her duty as a vital member of the Zhai.

Dong Qiaoqin took the thirty silver dollars and bought many poultry and livestock from nearby villages.

She raised chickens and ducks, herded cattle and sheep; three days later, coops, pens, and stables were all built.

She then bought more silkworm eggs from the village, gathered mulberry leaves, built a silkworm shed, and began raising silkworms with the Zhai 's women.

"This is good, this is good…" Xiao Yeci kept reminding herself it was good—but something felt off.

Dong Qiaoqin also felt wronged: "Sister Xiao, tell me—where did I go wrong?"

Xiao Yeci couldn't say. She went to Li Banfeng: "Master, I feel something's wrong with this Dong girl—but I can't say what."

Li Banfeng nodded: "I know she's off."

"Is she sent by the Saint? Are her sufferings fabricated to deceive us?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "I checked Jingde Village—her story is true."

Xiao Yeci stammered: "Then if it's true, I must have imagined things."

Li Banfeng shook his head again: "You didn't imagine it. She's very likely sent by the Saint."

Xiao Yeci looked baffled: "Then I don't understand."

Li Banfeng gave a bitter smile: "I don't understand either. She suffered so much—why would she still serve the Saint?"

Xiao Yeci said: "Let's drive her away, Master. You can't act—let me handle it."

Li Banfeng sighed: "How would you do it? If you drive Dong Qiaoqin away, what will you tell the others?"

"Tell them farming is wrong? That raiding is the right path?"

Li Banfeng looked at Xiao Ye Ci and said, "In the Shanzhai, everyone except me has suffered more than you mother and daughter, right?"

Li Banfeng looked at Xiao Yeci: "In this Zhai, everyone except me has suffered more than you and your daughter, correct?"

"Yes—they've been here longer than we have."

"Why are there so many villages here?"

"No… I don't know."

"Did the Saint come first—or did the villages come first?"

"They've suffered so much, yet as long as they can still get by, they forget all the suffering they endured—why is that?"

"They've suffered so much—but as long as life remains bearable, they forget their pain. Why?"

Xiao Ye Ci truly didn't know, but she knew Li Banfeng was right: the people in the Shanzhai now only wanted to live quietly, and they certainly wouldn't want to go raiding again.

Xiao Yeci truly didn't know—but she knew Li Banfeng was right: everyone in the Zhai now wanted only to live quietly; they'd never again agree to raid.

Li Banfeng lowered his hat and stood: "Tomorrow I'll meet the Saint. You and your daughter discuss it—if I find a way out, will you be willing to leave?"

Xiao Yeci remained silent.

Li Banfeng left the Zhai and found a secluded spot, entering his personal dwelling.

"Husband, tomorrow is the appointed day—will you truly meet the Saint?"

Li Banfeng fell silent for a moment, then asked something else: "Wife—is Hong Ying my zhai spirit?"

His wife was annoyed but held her temper: "You called her name to her face, and she answered—she is naturally your zhai spirit."

Li Banfeng asked again: "Does the Deep Mansion Technique work on her?"

Hong Ying's voice turned icy: "Unfaithful husband, wicked woman—what are you plotting? I'll tell you plainly: don't try to trick me. I won't fall for your tricks."

Li Banfeng said: "I'm not plotting against you. I only want to borrow something from you."

"What do you want to borrow? Technique?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "I don't want technique—not yet. Against the Saint, technique alone won't work."

"I want to borrow some presence."

The phonograph pondered: "You want to scare the Saint?"

Hong Ying sneered: "So you plan to use a fox's borrowed ferocity? Madman, think carefully—if the Saint sees through you, will you even live to return?"

Li Banfeng said: "Then lend me more presence—so he can't see through it."

"That's actually a good idea," the phonograph turned its horn toward Xiang Hongying. "Listen to your husband—bring out all the might you had on the battlefield."

"It's a viable plan," the phonograph turned its horn toward Hong Ying. "Listen to your husband. Give him all your battlefield presence."

"Wicked woman, if this madman's gone mad, why are you joining him? Do you know how dangerous this is? If he falters even slightly, he'll die!"

"Why not avoid him? That madman's no gentleman—just a verbal promise. Why take it so seriously?"

Li Banfeng asked: "Avoid him? Where to? For how long? This is his territory—I'll eventually fall into his hands anyway."

Li Banfeng was right: as long as he stayed in Jianren Gang, his life remained in the Saint's grip.

The phonograph made its decision, wrapping Hong Ying in steam: "It's settled."

Hong Ying snapped: "You decide it? Why should I agree to you?"

The phonograph said: "We've known each other many years—you know my nature. Help me, and I won't betray you.

As for our past… if you don't wish to speak of it, I'll never press you again—so long as you truly help my husband this one time."

The next day, sixty-four disciples from Sacred Sage Peak carried a palanquin down the mountain.

The next day, sixty-four disciples from Shengxian Peak descended, carrying a palanquin.

Along the way, every village they passed had all its villagers kneeling at the entrance an hour early—no one dared rise until the Saint departed, and they remained kneeling another hour to show reverence.

At ten at night, the palanquin arrived at Engongzhai.

Hearing the Saint had come in person, everyone in Engongzhai hid in the caves—only Xiao Yeci and her daughter dared remain.

Li Banfeng sat in his wooden hut, brewing tea.

A white-robed disciple entered first and said: "Master awaits you outside. He says you must come out to speak."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "No. Tell him to come in."

The disciple relayed the message. The Saint laughed, stepped down from the palanquin.

The moment his feet touched the ground, all his disciples knelt, foreheads pressed to the earth.

Had Li Banfeng not previously forbidden kneeling, half the Zhai would have collapsed into obeisance.

The Saint entered the hut and sat across from Li Banfeng.

【101】 Li Banfeng poured tea, lifted the cup, and drank it himself.

The Sage smiled.

Judging by his appearance, the man seemed to be in his forties, wearing a round cap, with a slender face, pale skin, and a pair of mustaches like a Bazi.

It was clear he was a person of great status, but utterly unlike the Sage Li Banfeng had imagined.

The Sage asked Li Banfeng: "Have I made myself clear?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "You haven't said anything yet."

"You're a clever man—you don't need me to spell it out. You should already see it."

Li Banfeng did not deny it: "I suppose I see it."

The Sage nodded slightly: "Since you see it, I'll ask you one question: do you want to leave?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "Yes."

The Sage picked up his teacup and poured himself another cup: "Then this is simple. Leave tonight. I'll let you go—never come back again."

Li Banfeng held his teacup and said: "Not enough."

"Not enough?" The Sage doubted his ears. "What do you want?"

"I want to take some people with me. Anyone who wants to come with me, I'm taking."

The Sage shook his head: "There's no precedent for this."

Li Banfeng replied calmly: "Then it's your duty to set one."

"You still don't understand." A wave of dominance surged from the Sage, and the wooden hut trembled slightly.

Lu Chunying, hiding at a distance, nearly wet herself.

Xiao Yeci had already wet herself, but she didn't dare say so.

The disciples kneeling outside shook like leaves in a storm.

Li Banfeng did not shake.

He wanted to shake—he held himself back.

He lifted his head slightly, his eyes fixed tightly on the Sage.

A force of authority surged forth, matching the Sage's dominance evenly.

Li Banfeng drank his tea calmly: "I think I understand perfectly."

The Sage frowned deeply; the remaining half-cup of tea trembled gently inside the cup.

PS: How many people can Banfeng take with him?

(End of Chapter)