Chapter 340: Sorrow Array

"Who is the Sorrow Star?"

Yao Lao said: "He's the local deity of Huangtu Bridge. No one remembers his name—only that he's a Sorrow Cultivator, possibly the head of a sect. Those who know him call him the Sorrow Star."

Mentioning the Sorrow Star, Yao Lao felt ill-omened and somewhat wary: "He's sent all his disciples here—he wants to destroy Yaowang Gou."

Li Banfeng asked: "Why does he want to destroy Yaowang Gou?"

Yao Lao sighed: "He used this very tactic before to seize Huangtu Bridge."

"Huangtu Bridge was originally under Old Train's domain. Since it fell into the Sorrow Star's hands, things have worsened day by day—never imagining it would sink to this state."

Old Train?

Train Eunuch?

Li Banfeng deliberately asked: "Who is Old Train?"

Yao Lao said: "Old Train is the Master of Travel Cultivators and Craft Cultivators."

"Is a Master the same as an Ancestor?"

Yao Lao shook his head: "A Master and an Ancestor are not the same. The one who founded a sect is the Ancestor. Neither the Travel nor the Craft sects were founded by Old Train."

"But he achieved the highest level in both—surpassing even their Ancestors—so he's called the Master of the Two Paths."

"Why is he called Old Train?"

Li Banfeng wanted to confirm how many people knew about the Portable Dwelling.

Yao Lao said: "He loved trains, constantly studied them, and pretended to be one, racing wildly along the rails."

"He was a madman, but immensely powerful. Huangtu Bridge, Heishi Slope, Qingyan City, Baiqiao Long, and Qishui Yao—all once fell under his domain."

"But this old bastard couldn't stay anywhere. He handed all these territories to his disciples. Huangtu Bridge's disciple was useless—he failed to stop the Sorrow Star and lost the territory."

"He's been searching everywhere for his master, trying to reclaim the land. No one knows where Old Train vanished to."

Li Banfeng knew Old Train had gone to Neizhou.

But Li Banfeng didn't understand: what use were the Sorrow Cultivators sent to Yaowang Gou?

Yao Lao sighed: "Fifteen Sorrow Cultivators came at once—he's sent all his disciples. He's here to drain my cultivation."

Li Banfeng still didn't understand.

Yao Lao didn't hide the truth: "I have third-layer cultivation—not tied to the land. The Sorrow Star also has third-layer cultivation."

"He sends Sorrow Cultivators to scatter the people's hearts and destroy the local qi. My cultivation will drop. When it falls to second layer, he'll strike."

Li Banfeng asked: "If Old Train gave up all his territories, why didn't his cultivation drop?"

"His cultivation has surpassed this level—he no longer needs human qi. Wait here a moment—I'll go prepare." Yao Lao went inside, doing something unknown.

According to Yao Lao, for a local deity, more human qi meant higher cultivation; less meant lower.

This matched exactly what Meng Yu had said.

Yet the logic here, though seemingly clear, had serious flaws.

Li Banfeng asked Qiu Zhiheng: "Huangtu Bridge is in ruins—how much human qi could still remain? How could the Sorrow Star still have third-layer cultivation?"

Qiu Zhiheng understood local deities far better than Li Banfeng. Since they were in Yao Lao's courtyard, anything he said would be heard, so he no longer held back: "Local deities cultivate differently. Yao Lao uses flowing water; the Sorrow Star uses stagnant water."

Flowing water? Stagnant water?

What did that mean?

Qiu Zhiheng looked at the wine flask: "Like Yao Lao's flask—we see only a flask, but it's connected to a wine vat."

"When the vat is full, the flask is full. When the vat is low, the flask is low."

"Human qi from Yaowang Gou boosts Yao Lao's cultivation; Yao Lao uses his cultivation to bring fortune to Yaowang Gou. Both benefit."

"When human qi rises, the local deity's cultivation rises. When it falls, so does cultivation. This is flowing-water cultivation—most local deities use this method."

"But a few use another method: they take human qi but give no fortune. When human qi rises, their cultivation rises. When it falls, their cultivation stays the same—unless the land becomes Old Soil, then they drop a layer."

"Huangtu Bridge is desolate, already turning into Old Soil. The Sorrow Star fears losing his layer, so he's scheming to take Yao Lao's territory."

Scheming against Yaowang Gou?

Li Banfeng said: "He takes human qi but gives no fortune. If he keeps this up, won't every territory under him become Old Soil?"

Qiu Zhiheng said nothing—he didn't know the Sorrow Star well.

"That damn Sorrow Star is exactly like this—he's ruined countless good territories!" Yao Lao stepped out wearing a three-pronged purple-gold crown, a red brocade floral robe, lotus-thread cloud-walking boots, and holding a three-pointed, double-edged blade.

Most strikingly, four flags were stuck behind his back.

In opera, these were called armor flags—or back-guard flags—symbols of a general's power and authority.

Yao Lao strode toward the gate with fierce momentum, singing as he went:

"First drumbeat: prepare the battle meal."

"Second drumbeat: don battle robes."

"Third drumbeat: draw the blades."

"Fourth drumbeat: deploy the troops."

"Advance—and be rewarded. Retreat—and face the blade!"

His singing rang strong, shaking mountains and rivers. Li Banfeng praised: "Brilliant! Yao Lao, where are you going?"

Yao Lao declaimed: "I'll slaughter every last damn Sorrow Cultivator! Waaahhhhh!"

"Why dress like that?"

Yao Lao said: "You don't understand. Killing Sorrow Cultivators brings ill fortune. My battle armor and weapon suppress it—so when I fight that old dog, I won't lose my fortune."

"You two come with me—no need to fight. Just point out those bastards. Waaahhhhh!"

Qiu Zhiheng wasn't sure if the outfit worked—or if Yao Lao was even sober.

But as Yao Lao reached the gate, Li Banfeng suddenly felt a sharp tremor in his heart.

It lasted only a moment—then vanished.

What was that?

Was it an omen of danger?

"Yao Lao, wait a moment."

Yao Lao acted as if he hadn't heard, pressing forward with his momentum.

"Yao Lao, wait."

He kept moving—the momentum couldn't be stopped.

Li Banfeng roared: "Stop right there!"

His battle spirit was high, his aura fierce—could he tolerate being shouted at?

Yao Lao spun around, furious: "What do you want?"

Qiu Zhiheng was terrified.

He didn't understand why Li Banfeng was yelling at Yao Lao.

Among local deities, Yao Lao was among the kindest—not someone to be openly defied.

The wine flask leapt from Li Banfeng's side, blocking the two: "Yao Lao, calm down. The young brother has something to say."

Li Banfeng really did have something to say.

Though lacking common knowledge, Li Banfeng had encountered many local deities.

Especially after witnessing two battles between them—this situation reminded him of Shuiyongquan.

"Yao Lao, could it be that the Sorrow Star is already here?"

Yao Lao froze: "What do you mean?"

"Yao Lao, if he sent his disciples to lure you out—what if he plans to come to your house while you're away?"

Yao Lao asked: "What would he do at my house?"

"Think about it."

After a moment of locked gazes, Yao Lao calmed.

He immediately returned to the courtyard, propped up his three-pointed blade, and looked at Li Banfeng: "That old dog wants to steal my contract?"

Li Banfeng gave a slight nod.

Qiu Zhiheng silently marveled—Li Banfeng had been in Puluo Province such a short time, yet grasped this so quickly.

He didn't know what Li Banfeng had experienced before.

Previously, Shuiyongquan and Qiuluye had used this exact tactic.

And just now, Li Banfeng had sensed danger.

With the Sorrow Star's cultivation, if he'd hidden his malice, Li Banfeng couldn't have sensed it.

But when Yao Lao stepped out, the Sorrow Star likely grew excited.

He must have been thrilled—once Yao Lao left this courtyard, he'd succeed!

That instant of excitement couldn't be concealed—it had been caught by Li Banfeng.

Yao Lao stood motionless in the courtyard, like a statue, silent for a long time.

He picked up the wine flask and drank deeply, gulping down what sounded like three or five jin.

After wiping his mouth, Yao Lao said: "Brothers, come—let's go down the mountain!"

Li Banfeng blinked: "Why go down? Didn't you say you can't leave this courtyard?"

"Hide here? Until Yaowang Gou's qi is gone and my cultivation drops—then wait for the Sorrow Star to finish me off?"

As he spoke, Yao Lao smiled, twirling his three-pointed blade, the four flags behind him flapping in the wind.

"Today, I'll give up being a local deity—even if I die, I won't let that old dog ruin Yaowang Gou!"

Qiu Zhiheng stepped forward to block Yao Lao: "You've helped me. The Sorrow Cultivators in town—I'll handle them."

Old Yao shook his head and said, "Little Qiu, you're a good kid—you shouldn't be cursed for life."

Li Qi, you don't need to say more—you're all good kids, and I won't drag you down with me."

I'll handle this myself. I'll leave a clone behind, plus a few magic treasures to guard the place. Even if the Death Star truly comes, it can hold off for a while."

Old Yao had a clone.

Then this problem is easily solved."

Li Banfeng said, "How about this: you stay here in your true body, and send the clone to kill the Death Cultivators. That way, you get the best of both worlds."

"No, that won't work. The clone can't suppress the bad luck. If I kill the Death Cultivators with the clone, I'll still catch the curse—then I'll still suffer at the hands of the Death Star!"

Old Yao spat out a puff of alcohol mist, which took the form of his clone, tasked with staying behind at home.

The clone looked exactly like Old Yao, dressed in a battle robe, adorned with flags, and wielding a three-pronged, double-edged blade.

Because he'd drunk a bit too much, the clone was disoriented upon emerging, unable to tell whether it was the clone or the true body—it shouted at the two, "Brothers, let's head down the mountain!"

Old Yao's true body grew angry and barked at the clone: "Where are you going down the mountain? I told you to stay here and guard!"

The clone also grew angry, swinging its long blade at the true body: "Who the hell are you? When did you get to make the calls?"

Li Banfeng and Qiu Zhiheng knew Old Yao was always playful, so they didn't take it seriously.

But the clone was deadly serious—it shoved and wrestled with Old Yao.

The true body easily overpowered the clone; Old Yao could have disposed of it effortlessly.

But just then, someone happened to be burning paper money in the Gully, sending a message to Old Yao.

This distracted him.

In that moment of distraction, the clone slashed Old Yao's true body—a three-pronged blade plunged into his skull and hung from his skullbone.

Qiu Zhiheng was stunned—he hadn't expected the clone to go for the kill.

Li Banfeng was stunned too, silently impressed by the clone's martial skill.

The clone stopped, realizing it had made a mistake.

Old Yao, the blade still stuck in his head, asked Li Banfeng and Qiu Zhiheng: "Does this count as attracting bad luck?"

Does it?

Shouldn't this be considered an accident?

Given this kind of accident, isn't it caused by bad luck?

Old Yao pulled out the long blade, looked at the two, and said: "Just now, Yu Nan told me—the previous Death Cultivator died at the train station."

Yu Heshun is dead?

Who did it?

Old Yao wiped the blood from his face and continued: "This Death Cultivator just died, and now I've been slashed by my own clone—"

Could the Death Star have already set up a Death Gate Array in Yaowang Gully?"

Does that mean, whenever a Death Cultivator dies in Yaowang Gully, I can't escape the bad luck?"

If so, does that mean these Death Cultivators can't be killed at all?"

PS: What if the Death Cultivators themselves don't want to live—wouldn't that be unsolvable?"

(End of Chapter)