Chapter 381: The Unpaired Back

The Mountain Lord once lost to Bei Wushuang, surrendering ten li of land in the southeast.

Li Banfeng knew Bei Wushuang's territory lay somewhere in the southeast, but he never expected to encounter him the moment he crossed into his domain.

Is he here for me?

Judging by the traveling merchant's attitude just now, he truly intended to kill me.

If Li Banfeng fought him head-on, he had no chance of winning, but if he only wanted to escape, there might still be an opportunity.

If all else failed, he could enter the Suishenju—ideally lure Bei Wushuang inside too; if not, at least hide from him temporarily.

The key issue was he didn't know what sect Bei Wushuang belonged to, or whether he'd even get a chance to pull out his key.

This fight was too dangerous—he should avoid direct confrontation.

The land belonged to the other man, who had come prepared, while Li Banfeng knew almost nothing about Bei Wushuang; had he not seen him with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed he was a camel.

The fight was difficult, but Li Banfeng remained calm—and that calmness made Bei Wushuang uneasy.

The man was straightforward, cutting straight to the point: "You came from Meng Yuchun's territory. Someone told me you're his lover."

No need to guess—it was Asha who told him.

Asha probably never imagined that the claim Li Banfeng was Meng Yuchun's lover was known only to her and Xiao Feng.

The camel continued: "Meng Yuchun's lover suddenly appears on my land—it troubles me deeply."

"By my nature, no matter your purpose, I should kill you to eliminate future trouble—but now it seems killing you won't be easy."

"I've seen a ninth-layer Traveling Cultivator before; his 'Hasty Glimpse' wasn't as ruthless as yours."

"I don't know your cultivation level, so I'd rather not fight you. I'll ask you a few questions—if you answer truthfully, we'll call this matter settled."

Li Banfeng nodded. "Go ahead."

"First: Did you come from Haichiling?"

Li Banfeng shook his head.

Bei Wushuang said: "Old Pan from Haichiling is my friend. If you know him well, we can turn this page right now."

Do I know Pan Dehai well?

Is this man really Pan Dehai's friend?

Under these circumstances, it was best not to fabricate connections. Li Banfeng shook his head: "I know Pan Dehai, but we're not close."

He used Pan Dehai's full name—this made Bei Wushuang even more cautious.

"I'll ask you one more thing: What are you doing on my land?"

Li Banfeng answered honestly: "To find Tianquan Huantu."

"Why do you want Tianquan Huantu?"

Li Banfeng lied convincingly: "For Meng Yuchun."

Bei Wushuang stuck out his tongue at Li Banfeng, as if smiling: "You're so young—already unable to hold up?"

This camel always stuck out his tongue—no one knew if it was mockery or just his habit.

Li Banfeng smiled back: "Age doesn't matter—everyone has their limits."

Bei Wushuang asked again: "How did you know I had Tianquan Huantu here?"

"I learned it from the Sanhuan Chong." This was true.

"You can understand the Sanhuan Chong?" Bei Wushuang was deeply skeptical—he himself couldn't understand them.

"I can't understand them fully, but I catch a few words here and there—I followed the Sanhuan Chong," Li Banfeng pointed to the distance. "You saw that one just now—it ran off when you scared it."

At this point, the logic held perfectly.

Bei Wushuang nodded his camel head. "I believe you. I'll take you to the Tianquan Huantu—take as much as you can carry."

Li Banfeng thanked him and followed Bei Wushuang deeper into the territory.

After walking more than twenty li, they reached a cave; the camel led Li Banfeng inside, winding through twists and turns, passing over a dozen side paths, until they approached an underground chamber.

Bei Wushuang snorted: "Tianquan Huantu lies below. Go get it yourself."

Li Banfeng looked at the cave entrance, then at the camel.

Bei Wushuang stuck out his tongue at Li Banfeng: "What? Afraid? You're a Traveling Cultivator—you have ways to sense fortune and avoid misfortune. If I meant to harm you, wouldn't you know?"

Li Banfeng truly sensed no malice—but Bei Wushuang's level towered far above his own; not sensing his malice was only natural.

Yet if Li Banfeng refused to descend now, he'd almost certainly reveal his cultivation was far inferior—and possibly make Bei Wushuang suspect his motives.

If he went down now, worst case, he'd fall into Bei Wushuang's trap—but he could retreat into the Suishenju and use it to escape the territory. As for retrieving the key, he'd discuss it with his wife later.

After weighing his options, Li Banfeng descended. The cave wasn't deep—only three or five meters. He pulled a sack from his waist, scooped half a sack of soil with a shovel, then turned back toward the cave mouth.

Bei Wushuang glanced at the sack. "Is this enough? Take more if you need."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Thank you, but it's sufficient."

For repairing the station, this amount was far too little.

But as medicine, according to his wife's description, this quantity was adequate.

Li Banfeng took only this much precisely to avoid arousing Bei Wushuang's suspicion.

As for the soil needed to repair the platform—he didn't need to take it himself; he'd learned this from his experience at Youhu.

Li Banfeng thanked Bei Wushuang again. The matter seemed settled—until Bei Wushuang added another request: "It's already this late—Meng Yuchun must be waiting for you to return to bed."

"Now that you've got the Tianquan Huantu, why not take one pill right now? By the time you return, the medicine will have taken effect—you can impress Meng Yuchun."

Li Banfeng held the half-sack of soil. "Just eat it now?"

"How else would you eat it? Tianquan Huantu is taken raw—do you plan to boil it into soup? Or does it have some other use for you?"

Bei Wushuang was indeed suspicious.

Li Banfeng smiled. "Fine. I'll take it here."

He pinched a pinch of soil, rolled it into a pill, and swallowed it.

Bei Wushuang snorted again: "If you ever need more Huantu, come to me—but give me a heads-up first."

"This matter is settled. We'll meet again. I won't see you off."

Li Banfeng bowed, slung the half-sack over his shoulder, and left Bei Wushuang's territory.

He had killed one of Bei Wushuang's men right before his eyes—he'd expected a brutal fight, yet somehow, it had passed without incident.

Just past the border, Meng Yuchun came forward: "Li Qi, I've been looking for you. The cook uncovered some news—Asha and Bei Wushuang may be colluding."

Li Banfeng's expression tightened. "So that's how it is."

"He also found something else—Bei Wushuang may be in conflict with Old Pan of Haichiling. They might go to war."

Li Banfeng breathed heavily. "This is possible?"

Meng Yuchun sighed. "I didn't expect this either. Let's go to my place—we'll discuss a strategy."

"I won't go to yours. I have urgent business." Li Banfeng quickened his pace, leaving Meng Yuchun behind—his instinct warned him not to go to Meng Yuchun's residence.

He found a safe spot to hide the key, then hurried back to the Suishenju.

Something was wrong.

Shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, waves of numbness coursing through his body—he'd been poisoned.

What exactly had he just eaten?

No matter—once back home, he could detox.

As soon as he entered the house, his wife exclaimed happily: "Husband, it's done! We have enough Tianquan Huantu."

"Enough?" Li Banfeng opened Room Three—the oil he'd stolen from Lianbudabu was stored there.

He opened the door—Room Three was completely filled with soil.

The Glove marveled: "When it comes to speed, no one compares to our Master. Even I'm outdone."

"Don't speak nonsense," the Suishenju trembled sharply. "I'm not like you!"

When it wanted something, the Suishenju moved fast—not only Room Three, but Rooms Six, Seven, and Eight were also packed full; Honglian had been squeezed into Room Five.

The soil's quality matched exactly what was in Li Banfeng's sack.

Bei Wushuang hadn't lied—Li Banfeng had eaten real Tianquan Huantu.

He felt a burning heat spreading through his body, his head growing dizzy—he lay on the bed, gasping.

His wife touched his forehead and gasped: "Husband, why are you burning so hot?"

Li Banfeng said: "I ate the Huantu."

"Why did you eat it?"

"I met Bei Wushuang. I had to eat it to escape."

"How much?"

Li Banfeng gestured the size of the pill—the Phonograph sucked back a wisp of steam.

"Husband, just lie down and sleep. Sleep now." Under the gentle caress of steam, Li Banfeng drifted into slumber.

But the Phonograph knew he wouldn't sleep long.

That single pill's dosage was too large—something terrible was coming.

Not only would Li Banfeng face disaster—so would she. If Li Banfeng kept acting like this, the house would fall apart tonight.

"Yingying," the Phonograph called warmly, "bring your husband some water—he's burning up."

The water was stored in Room Two. Hong Ying was used to being ordered around—she put down her eyebrow pencil and lipstick and went to Room Two to fetch water in a bucket.

The Phonograph used steam to lift herself off the ground, slipping silently behind Hong Ying.

Hong Ying sensed danger and spun around—but it was too late.

She hadn't expected the Phonograph to attack so suddenly—two needles pierced her flesh. As they vibrated, steam flooded her body—and she froze.

"Wicked woman, what are you doing?"

The machine didn't respond; it folded Hong Ying's body—knees and palms down, head forward, buttocks backward—and shoved her into the wooden cabinet.

She removed three speakers from other machines and mounted them on the cabinet, adjusting the dimensions slightly.

Then she applied lacquer to coat the cabinet, finishing a fake machine that looked ninety percent like her.

"Yingying, you're a young lady with doors in front and back—today, I'll grant you this favor."

"What favor are you granting me?"

Two streams of steam poured into Hong Ying's body; she could no longer speak.

Though the machine had the advantage of surprise, Hong Ying never imagined its strength had recovered to this level.

Once everything was settled, the machine carried the "fake machine" to the main chamber and secretly hid itself in the second room.

Not long after, Li Banfeng opened his eyes, face flushed, staring at the "machine" beside the bed.

Hong Ying inside the cabinet heard the commotion but couldn't move.

What is this madman planning?

Why is he behind me?

How did he open the cabinet?

What's this smell?

Machine oil?

Slippery and greasy—is this machine oil?

Why is he smearing it here?

There's only one door and one entrance—how could he get the place wrong?

He, he, he—this place—he actually got it wrong…

Applying machine oil is excruciating!

Hong Ying trembled in pain but couldn't scream.

The machine sighed silently in the second room.

Hong Ying, you wretch—I'm letting you off easy this time. Of course I'm angry, but my husband consumed so much Joy Soil—I can't hold out. You've got doors and entrances—you take the burden first…

The main chamber suddenly fell silent.

The machine heard Li Banfeng muttering to himself: "The taste is wrong."

The machine shuddered—then saw Li Banfeng open the door to the second room.

"Wife, I told you that wasn't you!" Li Banfeng strode forward, oil jug in hand, face twisted with fury.

The machine tried to flee, but Li Banfeng grabbed it from behind.

Amid the clanging gongs and drums, a shrill song rang out: "Husband! Bear with it! Just take her for now! Husband, my husband~"

PS: Banfeng once said, "On the bed, you must know your wife; off the bed, you must know your shoes—this is basic cultivation for a household cultivator."

(End of Chapter)