Chapter 348: Today, I

Li Banfeng sat in Yao Lao's courtyard, watching a group of stone men, each just over a meter tall, hauling bricks and mixing mud to build a wall.

Outside the courtyard, a kiln had been erected, where several stone men were firing bricks.

When Qiu Zhiheng climbed the mountain, he brought up only one sack of stones.

After dousing that sack with two buckets of clear water, the stones transformed into craftsmen—masons, plasterers, carpenters—all skilled in various trades.

"Big Brother Qiu, where did you get this thing?"

Qiu Zhiheng said: "I bought it from a high-level Gong Xiu. I've always liked Gong Xiu artifacts—if I hadn't been forced into Huan Xiu, I'd have chosen to be a Gong Xiu myself."

Forced?

By Lu Dongliang?

Li Banfeng didn't press further.

"Brother, from now on I'll guard Yao Lao here. As long as the news doesn't leak, outsiders won't know Yao Lao's in trouble, and they won't dare trouble Yaowang Gou."

"Don't worry about the medicine trade—it's far enough away that business can still be managed."

Li Banfeng asked: "What about your wife? Will you bring her over too?"

Qiu Zhiheng sighed softly; this was indeed a difficult matter.

He didn't want his wife to suffer alongside him, but as a Huan Xiu, she had to remain by his side.

"I'll go back and discuss it with her."

Li Banfeng nodded: "Tell your wife to wait a while before moving over. Then we'll take turns guarding the mountain."

"You want to guard here? No way—you're a Lv Xiu, you have to travel. You can't stay in one place forever."

"I've got a way."

For the past few days, Li Banfeng had been pondering this very question: who should guard Yaowang Gou?

In the end, he reached a conclusion: no local deity was suitable to guard Yaowang Gou.

Yaowang Gou's population was never large, nowhere near as bustling as Lüshui Wan.

But it's a proper land—a true third of Pulu Province's legitimate territory. Which new land deity wouldn't covet it? Even if I brought Feng Daiku, I couldn't be sure she wouldn't have ulterior motives.

Just guard it—wait until Yao Lao wakes up.

I'll guard here for a month first. I'll wander the nearby mountains, never going far. If I absolutely must, I'll use elixirs to sustain myself. Next month, Qiu Zhiheng will take over.

A few days later, the house was finished, and Li Banfeng had gained a thorough understanding of the surrounding terrain.

The mountain topography was extremely complex, with intersecting paths that easily confused travelers.

Yao Lao's courtyard sat in a location that was both easily accessible and defensible—a rare find, the vision of a legendary general.

Moreover, the place was extremely remote. Li Banfeng couldn't help but wonder how the Death Star had ever found it.

As long as the news didn't leak, Li Banfeng believed no one would find this place for years.

But that noon, as he wandered the mountains, he spotted an old man approaching.

The old man wore coarse cloth, his head wrapped in a towel, a bamboo basket on his back, a sickle in hand—clearly a herb collector.

Why come here of all places?

He followed a narrow path uphill; if he kept walking like this, he'd soon discover Yao Lao's small courtyard.

Li Banfeng wanted to stop him, but doing so would only draw suspicion.

Better to scare him off with the Paper Girl.

Li Banfeng returned to his Personal Dwelling, fetched the Paper Girl, then stepped outside—only to see the old man taking a different mountain path.

Li Banfeng exhaled in relief and turned back toward Yao Lao's courtyard.

Just an old man—it wasn't worth being this tense. Even if he saw Yao Lao's courtyard, what could he do? In Pulu Province, there were countless wild mountains and desolate ridges; stumbling upon a lone household wasn't unusual…

Wait.

As Li Banfeng neared the courtyard, his Thread Earrings picked up movement.

It wasn't just one old man.

Another old man had already entered Yao Lao's house.

At the sound of that voice, Li Banfeng broke into a cold sweat.

He recognized the old man.

"Old Yao, stop pretending. Do you think I don't know? You just don't want to see me, right?

If you won't get up, don't blame me for being uncivil. I'm taking everything in this house—

That flag, that blade—where else would you find such fine things?"

Pan Dehai!

That was Pan Dehai's voice!

How did he get here?

"Where did you hide your contract?" Pan Dehai grinned at Yao Lao. "Won't tell? Fine. I'll dig. I'll turn this house upside down—I refuse to believe I won't find it!"

Li Banfeng clenched his teeth.

He was currently a Level Seven Lv Xiu, plus Level Six Zhai Xiu.

Could he defeat Pan Dehai?

A direct fight was impossible—but if he could lure Pan Dehai into his Personal Dwelling, he'd have a chance.

His wife alone could handle Ba Shan Zhu. With Hong Ying's help, they could manage Pan Dehai.

I'll assist from the sidelines, and my magic treasures can help too—the key is how to lure him inside.

As Li Banfeng pondered his strategy, he suddenly heard voices from the courtyard again.

"Looks like we're late."

"Not late. Perfect timing."

A sharp sense of danger surged—Li Banfeng instinctively reached for his key.

Not yet. Don't act rashly, or I might lose even the chance to hide the key.

He was a Level Six Zhai Xiu; with his Zhai Xiu talent, he shouldn't attract attention.

But what level were these two men in the courtyard?

They knew Pan Dehai was inside—and yet they remained calm.

Had they already spotted me?

Relying on his familiarity with the terrain, Li Banfeng hid in a concealed spot with decent visibility—enough to barely see the courtyard.

As luck would have it, the herb collector headed straight for the courtyard.

Why does this old man always show up at the worst moment?

Why must you come here of all places?

"Anyone home? I'm just passing through—can I have a drink of water?" The old man stood at the courtyard gate, peering inside.

In the courtyard stood a beggar and a finely dressed man.

The man, in his fifties, glanced at the old man at the gate and said to the beggar: "Here comes a corpse."

The beggar shook his head: "Ignore him for now—he can't see us anyway."

Ordinary people truly couldn't see either of them. Only Li Banfeng, with his Level Seven plus Level Six cultivation, could perceive them thanks to his Jin Jing Qiu Hao technique.

The beggar called toward the house: "De Zhi Da Zhe, come out. It's been a long time."

Pan Dehai stepped out of the house, eyeing the two men in the courtyard: "Gentlemen, long time no see. What wind blew you here?"

The middle-aged man replied: "Don't act like this is your home. I was about to ask you—what are you doing here?"

Pan Dehai smiled: "I came to visit an old friend."

"Friend? You? When did Old Yao ever consider you a friend?"

Pan Dehai raised an eyebrow: "We grew up together—we're childhood friends. Old Yao has no children, so his belongings naturally belong to me.

Lin Dexing, you're no friend of Old Yao's. You know exactly what you are."

Lin Dexing!

Li Banfeng gritted his teeth.

That bastard!

Lin Dexing had ruined Yao Lao's entire life.

And he's still alive.

His cultivation had reached Yun Shang.

I must find a way to kill him.

Lin Dexing stared at Pan Dehai: "Enough of this useless nonsense. I can't even bear to look at you. While I'm still in a good mood, get the hell out."

Pan Dehai straightened his expression: "That's not how it works. I got here first."

"So what? If you want to die, just say so!"

The beggar spoke up: "Let's talk reasonably. Don't ruin the peace. Since Old Pan arrived first, let him have his time with his old friend."

The beggar's voice sounded familiar—Li Banfeng felt he'd heard it before.

But due to his limited angle of view, he couldn't make out the beggar's figure.

Pan Dehai glanced at the beggar, his tone now much more respectful: "Green Brother, you're a founding master of your sect—you're nothing like this scum, Lin Dexing."

Green Brother?

Lüshui Beggar?

A shiver ran down Li Banfeng's spine.

This is trouble.

What can you even use to fight the Green Water Beggar?

The man who arrived was indeed the Green Water Beggar; he smiled warmly at Pan Dehai and said, "Tell me, what's different between me and Brother Lin?"

Pan Dehai replied, "You have status and position—how could you lower yourself to be mentioned in the same breath as such scum?"

The Green Water Beggar laughed. "I'm a beggar. You still hold me in such high regard?"

Pan Dehai waved his hand. "Heroes don't ask about origins. I admire you as a true hero."

The Green Water Beggar's face broke out in pus-filled sores as he laughed. "You call me a hero?"

Pan Dehai nodded. "I've always respected you as a hero. But if you're a hero, we must speak by reason."

"By age, I am your elder; by cultivation, I am your senior. In matters of righteousness, should we not honor the old and respect the worthy? In matters of etiquette, should there not be order of arrival? In courtesy, I show you a foot of respect—you return a zhang. Is that not reasonable?"

The Green Water Beggar looked at Lin Dexing. "You know what? He's right."

"This Pan is the most shameless. Let's not waste words with him!" Lin Dexing charged straight at Pan Dehai.

His movements were precise, his steps clean, not a single unnecessary motion—his technique was refined, clearly a Wu Xiu.

Pan Dehai frowned. "Young Master Lin, that's unfair. Why attack one with many?"

Lin Dexing suddenly felt as if he'd stepped on cotton—his legs turned weak, his steps unsteady. Just as he neared Pan Dehai, he realized he couldn't use his martial arts, couldn't gain advantage, and retreated.

Virtue cultivates technique; see virtue, strive to match it.

Lin Dexing turned to the Green Water Beggar, waiting for him to join the attack.

The Green Water Beggar looked at Pan Dehai. "I didn't move a finger. Is that still 'many against one'?"

Pan Dehai said, "Don't put on shoes in a melon patch, don't adjust your hat under a plum tree. Standing there watching—doesn't that invite suspicion?"

The Green Water Beggar's vision blurred—Pan Dehai's technique had affected him.

The Green Water Beggar smiled and nodded. "So I shouldn't watch?"

He closed his eyes.

Lin Dexing was startled—he sensed something odd about the Green Flower Kid's attitude. He seemed unwilling to lift a finger.

If the Green Flower Kid wouldn't act, Lin Dexing had to act himself. Yao's Gully was vital to him—he needed its qi to preserve his cultivation base.

He advanced again toward Pan Dehai, who spoke slowly: "Ritual is the root of virtue. To strike without declaration is a breach of propriety—it forfeits one virtue. One virtue's weight outweighs a thousand jūn."

Lin Dexing's steps grew heavier, as if a mountain pressed upon him.

Virtue cultivates technique; virtue bears all things.

Lin Dexing roared, "You dog! What virtue? How many vile deeds have you committed these past years? Can you even count them?"

"Insolent speech—another virtue lost."

Lin Dexing's back bent; he nearly collapsed to the ground.

He turned to the Green Flower Kid for help.

The Green Flower Kid kept his eyes shut, unmoved.

Pan Dehai said, "You're too weak to fight, yet you seek aid—this is contemptible. Another virtue lost."

Lin Dexing lunged forward to fight Pan Dehai. Pan Dehai said, "Overestimating oneself is a loss of virtue."

Lin Dexing could no longer hold himself up—he tried to retreat. Pan Dehai said again, "Fleeing from battle is a loss of virtue."

…

Each loss of virtue added a thousand jūn of weight to Lin Dexing. Before he could even strike, he was crushed flat on the ground before Pan Dehai.

Pan Dehai looked at Lin Dexing. "I've spent considerable effort to claim this advantage from Old Yao. Yao's Gully is close to Hai Chi Ridge. As the old saying goes: 'Close to water, you get the moon first.' This place belongs to me. I advise you to stop fighting me."

The Green Flower Kid spoke from the side. "If proximity matters, Green Water Bay is closer to Yao's Gully."

Pan Dehai said, "If you're close, you shouldn't strike at all. As the old saying goes: 'A rabbit doesn't eat the grass by its burrow.' Find another place."

As he spoke, Pan Dehai secretly intensified his technique—Lin Dexing spat blood.

The Green Flower Kid frowned. "The old saying goes: 'When you beat a dog, look at the master.'"

Pan Dehai laughed. "The old saying also says: 'Kill the chicken to scare the monkey.'"

As he spoke, Pan Dehai intensified his technique further—he intended to kill Lin Dexing first, then deal with the Green Flower Kid.

The Green Flower Kid sighed. "Old Pan, you really want Yao's Gully?"

"Young Brother Green, I'm taking Yao's Gully."

"You're right here in front of me, and you're still so bold—who gave you the nerve?" The Green Water Beggar wiped sweat from his brow and flung it at Pan Dehai.

Pan Dehai dodged hastily—his technique lost control.

Freed from the crushing weight, Lin Dexing dashed straight toward Yao Lao's house. His plan: let the Green Flower Kid handle Pan Dehai while he stole Yao Lao's contract.

Li Banfeng prepared to act, but Pan Dehai suddenly blocked the door and clashed with Lin Dexing.

If the two were separated by more than two zhang, the De Xiu held advantage.

Now they stood only three or five chi apart—how could a De Xiu possibly beat a Wu Xiu?

After three exchanges, Pan Dehai was covered in blood, his round spectacles shattered. Only his many magic treasures—a long sword—briefly repelled Lin Dexing.

"I'm taking this place today—no one can take it from me!" Pan Dehai wiped blood from his lips and spat on the ground.

Li Banfeng stared, stunned—he didn't understand why Pan Dehai was so bold today.

Why did he want Yao's Gully so badly?

Had something happened at Hai Chi Ridge?

The Green Flower Kid opened his eyes and took two steps forward. "You want it? Pingshenme do you get to want it? I'm going to dig up his contract right now—see if you dare touch me."

Pan Dehai was terrified—he truly dared not touch the Green Flower Kid. To touch him meant ruin.

Yet he didn't move. He still stood at the door.

Li Banfeng prepared himself—he would ambush the Green Flower Kid.

The Green Flower Kid vanished and reappeared before Pan Dehai. "Try touching me!"

"How arrogant you are! Are you the only one who can't be touched?"

A voice came from outside the courtyard. Everyone turned—and saw the old man who had asked for water hadn't left.

Could he see the three men inside the courtyard?

How could he see them?

The old man entered the courtyard. The Green Flower Kid asked, "Who are you?"

"You don't need to know who I am." The old man waved his hand—and a young man suddenly appeared beside him.

Li Banfeng was shocked—he recognized the young man.

The old man said to the young man, "Genzi, give me the bucket."

Little Genzi handed the bucket to the old man.

The old man lifted the bucket toward the Green Flower Kid. "Today, I'm going to touch you."

PS: Who is this old man?

(End of Chapter)