Chapter 350: Ancestor of Jin Xiu

Li Banfeng sat upright in the main chamber.

On the floor lay Lin Dexing's corpse.

The main chamber was utterly silent; after a long wait, the phonograph spoke: "Brothers and sisters, since the master has brought back the food, let's all pick up our chopsticks."

The phonograph's voice was muffled, as if its nose were pinched shut.

No one in the room responded; the phonograph turned to the pendulum: "Hanxue, little sister, take a bite."

Hanxue bowed low: "The lady hasn't eaten yet; we can't break the household rules."

"We're all family—why so many rules? Hongying, why don't you try first?"

Hongying was fixing her hair before the mirror; upon hearing the phonograph's question, she quickly replied: "I think Hanxue is right—household rules mustn't be broken. Let the elder sister eat first."

"I told you we don't have so many rules—just eat."

"That won't do. Even if household rules don't apply, camp discipline mustn't be ignored.

You're the commander, I'm your subordinate officer—I won't touch my chopsticks until you've put food in your mouth."

The phonograph sighed: "Why say all this? This isn't a military camp."

"I've fought my whole life—I'm used to it. I say, let the glove eat first. He earned the top merit in this battle." Hongying's voice trembled; her comb shook in her hand.

The phonograph agreed: "That makes sense. Where's the glove?"

The glove lay sprawled beside Tang Dao, pretending to be a rag.

Tang Dao stood propped in the corner, pretending to be asleep.

"Hulu, little sister, are you hungry?"

The wine gourd burped: "I drank a few too many cups—my head's spinning. I'll nap first."

The phonograph turned to the projector: "You missed the last meal—this one's yours."

The projector was an honest soul: "Lady, if I eat this, art will perish utterly."

Li Banfeng's face turned ashen: "Eat! Why won't anyone eat? This man had cultivation beyond the clouds—you'd never get a chance like this normally!"

The phonograph pinned all hope on Honglian: "Honglian, little sister, the master's heart is in this—please, just eat."

Honglian told the phonograph: "I don't eat living things. This man is still alive."

The phonograph let out a long sigh, playing a slow rhythm, moaning: "What are we to do now~"

Li Banfeng didn't find the stench overwhelming—perhaps he'd grown used to it in Yao Lao's mansion: "Wife, you consume souls—different from what they eat. What taste could a soul possibly have?"

The phonograph wept: "Oh, master, who cast this technique? This man's stench has seeped into his soul!"

Who cast this technique?

This truly needed asking.

Li Banfeng left the Sui Shen Ju, leaving behind a room full of sighs.

You say eat—it's impossible to swallow.

You say don't eat—it's sitting right here in the house.

…

At Yao Lao's compound, Pan Dehai had already left, leaving a sugar figure beside Yao Lao's bed.

The Jin Xiu elder had not departed; Xiao Genzi stood beside him.

"Seventh Master, this is our Daoist patriarch," Xiao Genzi hurried forward to introduce him.

Li Banfeng adjusted his hat and bowed to the elder.

The elder waved his hand: "Don't call me patriarch. I'm Xu Han. I've spent two extra years in the Daoist path and am a few years older than you—call me Brother Xu."

This Daoist patriarch was surprisingly approachable.

Li Banfeng clasped his fists: "Brother Xu, what brings you to Yaowang Gou?"

The elder glanced at Yao Lao: "I came to watch over his home."

At this, Li Banfeng fell silent for a long while.

Xiao Genzi looked nervous: "Seventh Master, the patriarch wouldn't lie to you…"

It wasn't that he doubted the elder, nor Xiao Genzi.

With this elder's strength, if he truly wanted to seize Yao Lao's territory, he wouldn't need to deceive Li Banfeng—Li Banfeng was nothing before him.

But this concerned Yao Lao's life and land—handing it over to a stranger made Li Banfeng uneasy.

"Are you a friend of Yao Lao's?"

Xu Han shook his head: "Yao Xin doesn't make friends."

"Then a relative?"

Xu Han shook his head again.

This made no sense—no blood tie, no connection—why would he come to help Yao Lao?

Xu Han reached into his basket and pulled out a feather duster.

Li Banfeng recognized it—too well.

It was the peddler's feather duster; in Tiemenbao, Li Banfeng had once been brutally beaten by this very duster.

Xu Han said: "I never intended to get involved. I assumed many would come to fight over Yaowang Gou—chaos would follow. But I owe the peddler a favor—he asked, so I couldn't refuse."

Using the feather duster as a token was a private understanding between Li Banfeng and the peddler—this gave him eight-tenths confidence; the remaining two-tenths needed verification.

But one question burned in Li Banfeng's mind: "Did the Sanguang Star come to Yaowang Gou because of Neizhou? Were Lüshuigai, Pan Dehai, and Lin Dexing sent by Neizhou?"

"I can't say why Pan Dehai came, but Lüshuigai and Lin Dexing were surely dispatched by Neizhou.

Yao Xin isn't a local god from Neizhou—Neizhou has long wanted him gone. Yaowang Gou is a special place, and Neizhou has always wanted to control it."

"What makes Yaowang Gou special?" Li Banfeng didn't understand.

In the peculiar environment of Puluo Zhou, Yaowang Gou was perfectly ordinary compared to other places.

"It's the Kufu Mountain," Old Xu smiled. "Young brother, don't ask further, and absolutely don't investigate—knowing too much brings harm, no benefit.

I promised the peddler I'd stay here three years, and I'll also discipline my unworthy disciple. Within three years, whether Yao Xin wakes up depends entirely on his own fate."

What if Yao Lao doesn't wake up in three years?

Even Lüshuigai had entered the fray—Li Banfeng didn't know how to handle this situation.

He glanced at Genzi and asked Xu Han: "You said your unworthy disciple—is that my brother?"

Xu Han shook his head and smiled: "Genzi is a good boy—he'll surely amount to something. The disciple I mean isn't under Jin Xiu—he's under Geng Xiu."

Geng Xiu?

He was under this man's tutelage too?

What was this elder's true identity?

Xu Han didn't wish to speak of his identity; he sighed: "Geng Xiu struggled to rise to prominence—five layers, he became a warlord.

Over the years, my disciple's cultivation has grown—he's clearly developed ambitions to become a warlord. He's been planting all sorts of nonsense. Two years ago, he grew watermelons and sold them everywhere—they've become a scourge."

Li Banfeng said: "Are you talking about those watermelons that fight? I've encountered one."

Xu Han smiled: "He has talent. If I can persuade him to turn back, he might yet achieve something. If I can't, I can't keep him.

Genzi, go back with Li Qi."

Xiao Genzi looked at Li Qi—he wanted to continue training under the patriarch, but feared Li Qi would refuse.

Such a rare opportunity—Li Banfeng wouldn't block it: "Brother Xu, let Genzi continue training with you."

Old Xu shook his head, looking at Genzi: "Cultivation isn't taught—it's learned. I've given you what guidance I could. You have ambition and perseverance—you'll achieve great things. Listen to me: go out into the world."

With that said, no further persuasion was possible. Li Banfeng took Genzi down the mountain, found an inn, and settled him in—his cultivation traits weren't suited to living at Qiu's Pharmacy.

Li Banfeng also rented himself a room and entered the Sui Shen Ju.

The wife had just finished consuming Lin Dexing's soul and was now forcing the others to eat.

"What are you staring at? I've eaten it—what are you waiting for? Eat! None of you are exempt!"

Hongying gritted her teeth: "Even if you kill me today, I won't eat this!"

"Then I'll kill you, you worthless slut!"

As they were about to fight, Li Banfeng intervened: "If you really can't eat it, give it all to Honglian."

The wife's voice trembled.

She'd eaten it—yet others refused—what kind of household was this?

"Oh, master, you can't favor them like this—what becomes of family discipline?"

"Wife, have you ever heard of Xu Han?"

"No."

Li Banfeng's heart tightened.

"Do you know who founded the Jin Xiu Daoist lineage?"

"I do—he's Xu Jinkui."

Xu Jinkui?

Same surname, but not the same person.

This is a trick!

Li Banfeng was about to leave when Hongying called out: "Seventh Husband, I have something urgent to tell you—tell that wicked woman to stop forcing me to eat this!"

"What is it?"

"Xu Han is Xu Jinkui—they're the same person."

"Truly?"

"I know Xu Han—he founded the Jin Xiu sect. He's an elder among cultivators. Xu Jinkui is a misremembered name—this is absolutely correct. Seventh Husband, don't torment me anymore."

Even Hong Ying calls him Senior, so his status is indeed high.

Li Banfeng still felt uneasy: "What connection does he have with Geng Xiu?"

"He is a Grandmaster of Geng Xiu; though he did not found the school, his achievements are extraordinary."

Hong Ying's description matched Xu Lao's, and now Li Banfeng finally felt at ease. He looked at Lin Dexing's corpse and said to Hong Ying, "This man's life carries Senior's goodwill—you must not betray it!"

Hong Ying wept: "I cannot accept such goodwill, Seventh Lang —spare me this time. From now on, I'll do whatever you say."

Li Banfeng gave a deep smile.

First press hard, then offer mercy—later, obtaining the Seventh-Level Skill will naturally follow.

…

Jiang Xiang's faction, Yaowang Hall, Luo Zhengnan sat heavily on the rooftop, lost in thought.

Mo Jiansheng had not returned in ten days; his son, following his father's instructions, had already informed Luo Zhengnan.

The Earth God has been compromised.

Such a major matter had somehow reached Mo Jiansheng by sheer accident.

Now he has gone to Yuezhou with Han Jinwei—can he even return alive?

Luo Zhengnan believed he would not return.

Could Yaowang Gou still be safely stayed in?

As he pondered, Sun Xingbing, the Stick-Lord, reported: "Master Pei from Qingyan City has arrived."

"You mean Pei Yikou has come?" Luo Zhengnan froze for a moment, then his face lit up with delight. "Quickly show him to the main hall."

Sun Xingbing went downstairs to greet Master Pei. Luo Zhengnan's smile vanished; he muttered to himself: "Pei Yikou—leaves not a single ash. A Fifth-Level Fire Cultivator who kills without leaving corpses. What does he want here?"

Luo Zhengnan did not go straight to the main hall. He returned to his bedroom.

A few minutes later, Luo Zhengnan stepped out of his bedroom, his face wearing an expression of feigned astonishment.

PS: Luo Zhengnan is likely in trouble.

Thank you to our patron YaphetFan for your tremendous support of Shala and this novel.

(End of Chapter)