Chapter 306: Steal or Rob?

Li Banfeng asked, "How did Green Water Beggar manage to defeat Yuan Thin Donkey?"

Meng Yuchun shook her head and said, "I don't know that. I only heard about it. Even now I can't figure out how someone on the ninth layer could beat a local god on the second layer of Cloud."

Green Water Beggar snatched the local god's cultivation and station.

This was a good path — no need to go to the Inner Province as a slave or servant, and you could keep your own body intact.

The other path is stealing.

"How does the stealing path work?"

"Stealing comes in two kinds: one is covert seizure, the other is covert passage."

Covert seizure is similar to robbing — you steal the station from the local god's hands, but cultivation isn't easy to steal. You first have to use a lower-layer cultivation to occupy a higher-layer station, then find a way to advance quickly.

The greatest danger of this method isn't in stealing the station, but in the fact that a lower-layer cultivation occupying a higher-layer station will bring about station backlash.

The other kind is more like deception — stealing popularity from someone else's territory to leap straight over Tribulation Crossing and ascend directly to the first layer of Cloud."

Li Banfeng hadn't quite followed: "You can skip over Tribulation Crossing?"

"Put plainly, while on the ninth layer, by stealing popularity, you deceive the heavens and use Cloud-level cultivation methods to get through the tenth layer."

"How do you steal popularity?"

"I don't know that," Meng Yuchun shook her head. "Whether stealing or robbing, it's not something an ordinary person can do. If I really had that kind of ability, I wouldn't have to go suffer in the Inner Province."

"Everything I can say, I've said. You can't go back on your word — you have to find more people to come clear land!"

"People I'll find, but the rules here have to change!"

Meng Yuchun was displeased: "Now you're laying down conditions with me? These are my rules, and I absolutely won't change them. If you dare go back on your word, don't expect to take a single step out of here!"

Li Banfeng looked at the boundary of the land parcel and asked, "Your boundary here is almost as long as the border line of a proper territory."

"Do proper territories have border lines?" Meng Yuchun looked blank.

"Of course — border lines set by the Border Defense Commissioner."

Meng Yuchun looked at Li Banfeng and asked, "What is a Border Defense Commissioner?"

Li Banfeng stared at Meng Yuchun in astonishment: "Sister, how many years did you spend in the Inner Province?"

Meng Yuchun frowned and said, "Didn't I already tell you? I can't remember. Let's settle the land-clearing business first!"

"That's exactly what I'm talking about — how big a land parcel to clear can't be decided by you alone. The person clearing the land should choose for themselves."

Meng Yuchun shook her head: "That won't do. You bring in a bunch of people and they only clear a parcel one li square — I've got ten thousand parcels here. How many years would that take?"

"Even a three-li parcel feels too slow. By the calculation, it'd take over a thousand clearings!"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "Not just anyone has the ability to clear a three-li parcel."

Meng Yuchun smiled and said, "Don't worry about that. You've seen how many people I've sent these past few days. Anyone without the ability would definitely die here."

Li Banfeng didn't know what to say.

This sister had been in the Inner Province so long, she seemed to have gone a bit dim.

"You want people to come clear land, yet you set the bar this high. The land-clearers lose their lives, and your popularity won't rise either. In the end nobody gains an advantage — both sides lose for nothing."

"You think it's a peach? 'Both sides白白'?" Meng Yuchun wasn't quite convinced, but she understood Li Banfeng's meaning. "How about this — you pick capable people to come, and we'll discuss how big a parcel to clear."

That was a proper plan.

The two drew up a contract. With a wave of Meng Yuchun's hand, the boundary around the land parcel vanished.

Li Banfeng asked, "Is that your technique?"

Meng Yuchun glared: "You're a Travel Cultivator — why are you asking about my technique?"

Sure enough, it was a Home Cultivator technique.

Li Banfeng took a stroll around his own land parcel and was fairly satisfied with the place overall: "When I'm not here, someone needs to look after the household for me. Hey, Toad Brother — how about being my steward?"

The toad, who cultivated the Literary Cultivation path, had suffered some minor injuries and still held a grudge against Li Banfeng. Its two cheeks puffed out round as balls as it said to Li Banfeng, "Ribbit! Why should I be your steward?"

Li Banfeng pulled out two Mysterious Crimson Pills and stuffed them into the toad's hands: "I certainly won't let you work for nothing."

The toad lowered its head to look at the pills in its hands, then proudly raised its head and shouted at a group of strange creatures: "All of you, stay away from here! This is Seventh Master's territory — don't you know that?"

The strange creatures exchanged glances. A gray-furred wolf stepped forward and said, "Seventh Master, having just one steward won't do. Don't you think you also need a lookout?"

A golden eagle flew over: "Seventh Master, I'm good at being a lookout — I've got sharp eyes."

The gray-furred wolf got angry: "What's the use of sharp eyes? My nose is sharp too!"

The golden eagle snorted: "So what if your nose is sharp? Are you going to guard the house with your nose?"

The two began to argue. Li Banfeng gave each of them two pills and hired them both.

Besides the steward and the lookout, Li Banfeng also hired a nest of earth pigs as workers to help him build two rooms. Once everything was arranged, Li Banfeng confirmed the direction and set off immediately for Green Water City.

Meng Yuchun's place was remote. Given Li Banfeng's cultivation, running from dawn until night only got him to Blue Poplar Village — even farther than the distance from Black Stone Slope to Green Water Bay.

On the road, Li Banfeng was calculating the time.

Three days spent at Oil Lake.

Three days spent clearing new land.

One day on the road.

A full seven days without going home.

Would the随身居 get angry?

Let it be angry — if not for it, would I have ended up running off to Oil Lake?

The随身居 wasn't the urgent matter — the urgent matter was his wife.

His wife was surely angry. He'd have to explain things to her properly.

Explaining with just words wouldn't be enough. Maybe he should apply some machine oil.

Oil he had plenty of, but the key was this machine couldn't hold out for long.

Applying machine oil wasn't a long-term solution. Better bring his wife some gifts.

What should I bring back? The things my wife likes to eat aren't easy to find.

Once I reach the ninth layer, how do I get to the tenth?

Should I steal it or take it by force?

Taking it by force is too difficult.

The process of stealing it is too abstract.

Maybe the operation itself isn't that abstract — it's just that she described it in a very abstract way.

I need to gather more information and plan ahead. I have to lay out my strategy before reaching the ninth layer.

But the urgent task at hand is still to reach the ninth layer as soon as possible.

While thinking, Li Banfeng entered Lanyang Village and noticed the village was unusually quiet today.

An old woman was stitching a shoe sole at the door of her house. Li Banfeng went up and greeted her: "Granny, where did everyone in the village go?"

The old woman showed a kindly smile and said to Li Banfeng: "Child, sit down, have a bowl of water first."

Li Banfeng was actually a bit thirsty. He took the bowl of water, and heard the old woman ask: "Are you from out of town?"

Li Banfeng nodded.

The old woman laughed and said: "You've had a hard journey. Asking directions is five yuan, asking about matters is ten, this bowl of water is twenty-five."

The folkways of Lanyang Village are still this honest and simple.

Li Banfeng doesn't let people work for nothing, but this price is way too outrageous.

He lowered the brim of his hat and gave the old woman a slight smile.

The old woman felt a chill. To have lived to her age in Lanyang Village, she had to have some discernment. She quickly apologized: "I was just joking with you, how could such a small thing cost money,

The eldest son of the Song family has come back. He said he's going to take the village back. Grandpa Gen and them are fighting it out at Dream Spring Garden. The whole village went to watch the excitement."

No wonder the village is so quiet.

Li Banfeng stuffed ten yuan into the old woman's hand and walked away with a grin.

My wife's meal is settled.

In front of Dream Spring Garden, the eldest son of the Song family, Song Zhigang, with two Wu Xiu, was confronting Xiao Genzi at the gate of Dream Spring Garden.

In Song Zhigang's memory, Xiao Genzi was just a road-repairing worker at the village entrance. He hadn't expected him to have such nerve today, daring to use violence in front of him.

"You little bastard, you still dare to lay a hand on me when you see me?" Song Zhigang spat on the ground. "You clear the road for me right now. This is Song family territory. Today whoever blocks me dies!"

Xiao Genzi had scars on his face, and his ladle had been broken.

But he held onto the bucket and didn't back down: "I'm standing right here. Let's see which of you dares to come up!"

Song Zhigang pinched his nose and sneered: "Trying to disgust me, huh? Let me tell you, that trick doesn't work on me." He turned to the two Wu Xiu and said, "Would you two trouble yourselves to clean up this piece of trash."

The two Wu Xiu were a bit hesitant. They were both at the fourth layer, their cultivation above Genzi's.

But having fought Genzi before, they knew what was in the bucket, and right now they didn't want to get close to Genzi. That was also the reason Genzi had been able to hold out until now.

But Song Zhigang didn't want to drag this out. Since the two Wu Xiu refused to step forward, he had a few other subordinates make the first move.

Genzi was ready to fight to the death. Li Banfeng walked over from the crowd and first persuaded Xiao Genzi to stop:

"Genzi, put the bucket down first.

Master Song, what has put you in such a foul mood?"

Song Zhigang stared at Li Banfeng for a long time. He couldn't see his face, only the hat brim pressed very low.

This is the madman who tore down his house!

"You're Li Qi, aren't you?" Song Zhigang clenched his fists and said. "You're exactly the one I've been looking for. Let me tell you now, I'm back. Lanyang Village is still Song family territory.

You and Ma Wu pack your things up right now. Within ten minutes, you get the hell out of here."

Back then, Li Banfeng had given Song Zhigang ten minutes to move out. Song Zhigang still remembered that grudge.

Li Banfeng pressed his palm down and said: "Master Song, calm down. The past grievances are all behind us. Whatever the matter is now, we can discuss it nicely."

Song Zhigang shook his head: "There's nothing to discuss between us! Are you leaving or not? If you don't leave, I'll take your life today.

Don't say we bullied you. I'll give you two choices. If you want to settle it right here and now, we fight on the spot. If you want to go out to the wilds to compare notes, tonight we decide life and death. Either way, we follow Lanyang Village's rules."

The onlookers all stared with wide eyes, some whispering among themselves.

"The eldest son of the Song family is back. Is Lanyang Village going to be surnamed Song again?"

"Now that they're back, they'll take half the bride-price. Our days are going to be hard."

"How can they come back just because they want to? Seventh Master and Fifth Master aren't people to be trifled with."

"Song Zhigang dares to come back, which proves he has new backing. Look at those two behind him — they're no ordinary folk."

Li Banfeng also noticed the two Wu Xiu behind Song Zhigang.

These past days, Li Banfeng and Ma Wu's business had grown bigger and bigger. Even if Song Zhigang's information was slow, he should at least know that Lanyang Village was still under the Lu family's protection.

The fact that he dared to come proves he's willing to charge forward against the Lu family. As for who his backers actually are, we'll find out in a moment.

Li Banfeng said with a smile: "Master Song, how long has it been since we last met? Coming at me with all this right off the bat — that hurts the harmony. Come inside with me, let's sit down, have a couple of drinks first, and talk things over slowly."

Seeing Li Qi soften, Song Zhigang ordered his men to follow Li Banfeng into Dream Spring Garden.

Li Banfeng had someone tidy up a private room, served some wine and dishes, then sent all the unrelated people away.

Li Banfeng warmly urged everyone: "Don't stand on ceremony, please, eat and drink first."

Song Zhigang slammed the table: "Stop wasting my damn time. Make things clear first. When are you getting the hell out?"

"Master Song, don't be so impatient. Didn't I say it? Let's eat first." Li Banfeng turned and locked the private room door.

Song Zhigang shouted: "Let me tell you, these two behind me are the great attendants by Old Master Lu's side. My return to Lanyang Village is at Old Master Lu's instruction. Whatever else you say is useless."

Li Banfeng nodded and said: "Yes, this is your last meal. If you don't eat properly, what's the point of saying so much?"

The two Wu Xiu frowned. One of them looked at Li Banfeng and said: "Damn you, won't even take the face we're giving you?"

Before the words faded, Li Banfeng suddenly appeared behind him and patted that Wu Xiu's face: "Inviting you to a meal is giving you face. If you won't eat properly, then you really won't take the face you're given."

Wu Xiu tried to rise, but suddenly felt his breath blocked and his body drained of strength.

Li Banfeng's scythe had already slashed across his throat.

Blood gushed out. Wu Xiu clutched his neck, wanting to fight Li Banfeng to the death, yet he couldn't even see Li Banfeng's shadow.

Once that Wu Xiu stopped struggling, Li Banfeng took out a roll of tape, tore off a strip, and stuck it to his neck, temporarily maintaining his half-dead, half-alive state.

The other Wu Xiu, trembling, got up and tried to leap out the window to escape, but Li Banfeng grabbed him by the hair at the window and slammed him onto the ground.

With tears in his eyes, he said to Li Banfeng: "Seventh Master, we never meant to offend you. It was the Old Master who sent us. We really never meant to offend you..."

"I don't want to offend you either," Li Banfeng said with a smile. "My brother's ladle was broken—that's his treasure. How do you reckon this?"

"I'll pay for it!"

"Good, you'll pay." Li Banfeng swung his scythe and severed his spine.

Wu Xiu collapsed limply onto the ground.

Song Zhigang knelt on the ground and said to Li Banfeng: "Seventh Master, I'll leave right away. I swear I'll never set foot in Blue Poplar Village again."

Li Banfeng said with a smile: "Uncle Song, that's too distant a thing to say. Blue Poplar Village is your home—just settle down here properly from now on."

PS: The first step to growing stronger is to fatten up the wife.

(End of this chapter)