Chapter 362: Can You Really Not See?

Li Banfeng told Luo Zhengnan to go first, but Luo Zhengnan refused.

He didn't know what Li Qi had endured, but avenging was Luo Zhengnan's own idea.

Now that Li Qi intended to wipe out the Black Stone Slope branch, how could Luo Zhengnan let Li Qi fight alone?

"Seventh Master, you're insulting me—Luo isn't any good man, but I'm no coward. As long as you're here, I won't leave."

Li Banfeng wasn't being polite to Luo Zhengnan; he was worried Luo couldn't keep up with his pace.

Luo Zhengnan excelled in reconnaissance and judgment, but his combat ability remained unknown to Li Banfeng.

Luo Zhengnan claimed he could fight too, and Li Banfeng didn't doubt that—but this situation couldn't be solved by brute force alone.

The Border Defense Commissioner had intervened in Jiang Xiang's affairs. Though Li Banfeng wasn't a native of Pulu Province and didn't fear the Commissioner deeply, he still needed to prepare for both advance and retreat.

Put plainly, this fight must be ready to strike at any moment—and ready to flee. Zhai Xiu excels at entering battle; Lv Xiu excels at withdrawing. Luo Zhengnan lacks this capability and can't match Li Banfeng's rhythm.

"Seventh Master, I won't hold you back. Let's split up—I'll gather intelligence, and when the time is right, you strike."

"For the next day or two, rest and conserve your strength. Try not to show yourself in public."

Li Banfeng said: "You mean there won't be a good opportunity in the next day or two?"

Luo Zhengnan smiled: "Seventh Master, Jiang Xiang is only a second-tier gang, but it's been around the underworld for years."

Given how heavily guarded the branch is now, I'd guess it can hold out for a day or two. To clash head-on within that window would be pointless."

We should handle this like we did with Pei Yikou—avoid fighting in their nest. Since they're in the business of snatching children, they'll have to move their goods eventually. Wait for my report, then act when the time is right."

Luo Zhengnan was truly clever—he always knew what Li Banfeng needed most.

They agreed to meet the day after tomorrow at noon. Li Banfeng found an inn, swallowed a Jin Yuandan, and neutralized seven or eight tenths of its poison before returning to Suishenju to rest.

With one Jin Yuandan, staying in Suishenju for two or three days posed no major risk—perfect timing to use the "Peaceful Living" technique to accumulate fortune.

Previously, after staying in Suishenju for thirteen hours, his fortune had risen noticeably.

The Black Stone Slope branch of Jiang Xiang was small. According to Li Banfeng's plan, he should've attacked immediately upon arrival—but Luo Zhengnan noticed anomalies near the branch, which was where the fortune lay.

What effect would staying one and a half days produce?

After one day, the phonograph asked casually: "Hey, husband, aren't you going out to buy groceries today?"

Li Banfeng stroked the loudspeaker and sang back: "Hey, wife, if your husband stays home, aren't you happy?"

The wife replied: "Hey, husband, having you stay home with your little servant makes me overjoyed—but I fear you'll grow lazy in comfort and abandon your grand ambitions."

"Hey, wife, is buying groceries a grand ambition?" Li Banfeng tickled the wife's armpits; she shook with laughter.

Their duet was sweet, but Hong Ying sensed something off.

She'd served as a Zhai Ling before—had any Zhai Ling ever pushed their master to leave home?

What did Zhao Xiao want?

Li Qi was also puzzled—he seemed to understand Zhao Xiao's thoughts.

After another half-day, Li Banfeng stepped outside. As he left, the phonograph warned: "I sense your fortune is strong today—act decisively."

Fortune is strong!

Thirty hours weren't wasted.

After stepping out, Li Banfeng's legs accelerated instantly. He soon found Luo Zhengnan.

Luo Zhengnan had indeed gathered intelligence: "Seventh Master, I spent yesterday tracking child snatchers but found nothing. Then I changed tactics—and learned something.

Recently, a traveling picture-showman has been leaving before dawn, heading deep into the suburbs, returning at unpredictable hours.

A friend of mine saw two fortune-tellers near his residence. Their methods confirmed they're from Jiang Xiang—they're guarding the showman.

Using picture-shows to kidnap children is Jiang Xiang's standard trick. Two hours ago, my friend reported the showman headed to the western suburbs."

Li Banfeng organized his thoughts and devised a plan: "I'll go to the western suburbs to find the showman. You check his residence—I suspect the children are hidden there.

Observe carefully, but don't alert them. Let both sides gather intelligence first, then net them all at once."

Luo Zhengnan nodded repeatedly—Li Qi's plan matched his own exactly.

…

Ding le gang dang! Ding le gang dang!

Western suburbs, Liu Tang Village.

A drumbeat reached the village entrance; several children followed the sound.

They thought a peddler had come, hoping for candy. But up close, they saw it was a traveling picture-showman.

The showman pushed a four-wheeled cart carrying a large wooden cabinet, bigger than a peddler's stockbox.

Eight magnifying glass panels adorned each end of the cabinet. Viewers pressed their faces against them to see the paintings inside.

What paintings were inside?

Landscapes, illustrated stories. The showman had storytelling skill—he pulled strings, beat the drum, flipped images one by one, and narrated each scene.

What was so interesting? Why not go to the city to watch shadow plays?

It depends on the place. Liu Tang Village lies deep in the suburbs; a round trip to Heishi City takes a full day. A shadow play ticket costs at least three coins, and with food and drink, the day runs ten to eight coins. Farmers won't spend that.

A picture show costs only one mao. Children in the village especially loved it.

Five children pressed against the glass panels, utterly absorbed. The showman beat his drum slowly, narrating his tale.

Today's story: Wu Song Beats the Tiger. Wu Song had just drunk eighteen bowls—before reaching Jingyang Ridge—the showman shooed them away: "That's enough for today. Go home."

The onlookers dispersed, but the five children didn't leave.

It looked like they hadn't had enough—but they couldn't leave.

No one knew what they'd seen. The pictures inside the cabinet used illusionist techniques.

The showman pushed his cart forward; the five children followed behind.

When they reached a deserted spot, the showman opened the cabinet door. The five children lined up and stepped inside.

He shut the door and pushed the cart away from Liu Tang Village.

Li Banfeng trailed behind him, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Meanwhile, Luo Zhengnan arrived at the showman's residence—but found no fortune-tellers.

Luo Zhengnan's heart sank—he realized something was wrong.

He slipped into the courtyard, searched all three tiled houses, and found no one inside.

Had they already moved the children?

If so, the situation wasn't too bad.

What truly worried Luo Zhengnan was that word might have leaked—the enemy was prepared.

If so, Li Banfeng was in danger.

Luo Zhengnan left the courtyard immediately, returned to his lodging, took out a dial from a box, attached it to his spine, mounted an antenna on his head, and urgently sent a message to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng carried a simple telephone, no antenna attached, signal uncertain.

The signal proved decent—the phone vibrated, though the message arrived late.

Li Banfeng had already walked into an ambush.

He'd been following the showman, waiting for a chance to extract information.

But the showman had prepared—he lured Li Banfeng into the trap.

Five men emerged, joining the showman—six total—surrounding Li Banfeng.

One middle-aged man, over fifty, dressed in a suit with a tie, asked: "Are you from the He family?"

Li Banfeng didn't answer. He studied the man carefully—his attire was unusual.

In Pulu Province, many wore suits, but theirs differed: tapered waists, long fronts, short collars—distinctly Pulu style.

Li Banfeng wore the typical Pulu suit, but this man wore a genuine Western suit—rare in Pulu Province.

Seeing Li Banfeng's silence, the man revealed his identity: "I'm a Special Commissioner of the Border Defense Bureau, ordered by the Commissioner to bring you in for questioning.

Don't worry—we'll give you a chance to clarify. We won't let a villain escape, nor will we wrong an innocent."

Indeed, he was from outside the province.

Li Banfeng smiled: "You want me to clarify? Isn't the truth right before your eyes?"

The middle-aged man frowned: "I don't know what truth you mean."

Li Banfeng suddenly crushed a stone underfoot—the shattered fragments exploded, smashing the showman's cart.

Inside the cabinet sat five children, dazed by illusion, shaken by the journey, their minds fogged, faces blank, mouths dripping with vomit.

Li Banfeng pointed at the cart: "Can't you see?"

The man fell silent, then shook his head: "I truly can't see. I only see you just attacked an honest, hardworking merchant."

Li Banfeng pointed at the showman: "You call him an honest merchant?"

The man nodded: "Who's honest, who's not—I know. Come with me to the Border Defense Bureau now, or I'll take extreme measures."

Li Banfeng said nothing—he was calculating his next move.

The showman was from Jiang Xiang, highly professional—no doubt.

The man in the suit was truly from the Border Defense Bureau—no doubt there either.

His four companions were his subordinates, their cultivation surely high—but how high?

Before entering the ambush, Li Banfeng sensed no danger, meaning these four could conceal malice.

Was it through cultivation disparity?

Li Banfeng was a Level Seven Lv Xiu. If they concealed malice solely through cultivation, they must be Level Nine.

Level Nine cultivators wouldn't demean themselves as hired thugs.

So they likely used artifacts or spiritual items to mask malice.

Of course, this was only Li Banfeng's speculation—perhaps these men were all specially trained tools from outside the province.

The wisest thing to do now is to flee immediately.

They outnumber us; fighting head-on is too risky. With a seventh-layer Traveler's speed, escaping would be far easier.

But from their demeanor, he seems utterly unconcerned that I might run.

These four subordinates clustered around the middle-aged man, their attention fixed entirely on him, paying me little mind.

They didn't look like thugs—they looked more like bodyguards.

One of them kept his hand in his pant pocket, as if ready to activate some mechanism.

If I chose to flee, would I walk into their trap?

What if I didn't run?

The moment the thought surfaced, a sharp sense of danger flooded his mind.

This was the warning of his Skill of Avoiding Misfortune and Seeking Fortune—their strength was considerable; charging forward would bring extreme peril.

As his thoughts raced, Li Banfeng heard the middle-aged man's warning again: "I believe you've merely been deceived by others; I even believe you had nothing to do with this.

Come with me. At the Border Control Office, everything can be clarified. I give you my word…"

Before he finished speaking, Li Banfeng's figure blurred—he activated Kuibu.

These four subordinates were experienced and reacted with lightning speed.

They recognized Li Banfeng had used Kuibu, realized he was a Traveler, and immediately two positioned themselves before the middle-aged man, one behind him.

They watched Li Banfeng closely, blocking his view of the middle-aged man—this was defense against Zouma Guan Hua.

They knew the fifth-layer technique of Travelers!

The fourth subordinate activated the mechanism in his pocket, and a ring of light flared around them.

Boundary!

Li Banfeng recognized this device!

Meng Yu had used a similar Boundary to fight Baishan Master; Baishan Master had crashed into it and nearly lost half his life.

Luckily Li Banfeng hadn't fled—otherwise he would've slammed into the Boundary, and even if he survived, he'd be gravely wounded.

The four guards watched Li Banfeng, waiting passively to see what move he'd make.

These four had responded with perfect coordination; fighting them head-on would indeed carry enormous risk.

Yet Li Banfeng charged straight at the middle-aged man.

It was a reckless move.

These four subordinates were indeed powerful—two seventh-layer, two sixth-layer.

In the instant Li Banfeng lunged, they adjusted their positions, leaving him no opening to strike.

Boom!

A thunderous crash!

Dust erupted from the ground.

The four subordinates and the middle-aged man were flung to the ground by the overwhelming shockwave of One Step Shatters Ten Thousand Rivers—their terror was indescribable.

What level of cultivation is this man?

Is this a seventh-layer Traveler technique?

All four guards were injured; they scrambled to their feet and surrounded Li Banfeng, but dared not attack.

Li Banfeng now gripped the middle-aged man's hair.

The middle-aged man's face was covered in blood, two front teeth missing; he mumbled: "Young man, don't act rashly. I admire your courage, and I admire your character.

You haven't killed me yet—that proves you still want to negotiate. I'll give you a chance to negotiate.

But this is my final offer: release me immediately, and I'll overlook everything that just happened!"

"You misunderstand," Li Banfeng said, pointing at the panorama cart. "I didn't kill you because I have questions. Tell me again: Can you really not see these five children?"

The middle-aged man replied: "Why are you fixated on this? Even if I can't see them, what difference does it make? Is it that important? You've injured me—that's a catastrophe for you. I'm offering you mercy…"

"If you can't see, what use are your eyes?" Li Banfeng raised his hand and gouged out the middle-aged man's eyes.

(End of Chapter)