Chapter 393: Who Are They Really Targeting?

Li Banfeng arrived at Zhengjing Village and found Shui Yongquan and Qiu Luoye to discuss borrowing people.

Shui Yongquan fell silent for a moment, then said: "Li Qi, I haven't been to Zhengdi in many years—I may not understand some things anymore, but I still want to say this: trying to go head-to-head with the Border Warden won't work."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "The timing's right—we must go head-to-head with them this time."

Shui Yongquan sighed: "You've got your plan, but about borrowing people, let me think it over again—I'm still uneasy after sending Huo Ling and A Qin."

Qiu Luoye snorted beside him: "What are you uneasy about? Huo Ling and A Qin are my people!"

Shui Yongquan said: "They used my techniques to get to Zhengdi."

Qiu Luoye sneered: "So you're afraid they'll trace the techniques back to you?"

Shui Yongquan sighed: "Lüshuicheng is Lü Huazi's territory—we've been sending people there constantly. Aren't you worried he'll come after us?"

"Worried about what? Do you really think he can come here?" Qiu Luoye remained calm—he wasn't just talking big. "This is our doorstep. Let him try."

Shui Yongquan sighed: "You're always too reckless."

Qiu Luoye laughed: "Are you any more cautious? Are you more cautious than those local gods beside Lüshuichuan?"

They're truly cautious—every time Lü Huazi shows up, they cower. I heard one of them lost seventy percent of his territory, and the remaining thirty percent barely holds on.

Many people have been reclaiming land around Lüshuichuan, but none of those new plots ever became Zhengdi. Just as they near completion, Lü Huazi seizes them.

I'm bad at math—I don't know how big seventy percent is—but we've been lucky. Our territory's a bit farther from Lü Huazi. When he takes all the surrounding land and reaches for us, do you really think being cautious will spare you from getting beaten?"

Shui Yongquan shook his head: "He can't stretch that far. By the time he actually reaches us, our land will likely have become Zhengdi already. Then we can deal with him then."

Qiu Luoye scoffed: "With your courage, you expect this place to become Zhengdi? Don't you feel ashamed saying that?"

Shui Yongquan frowned: "Do you know how populous Lüshuicheng is? Do you know Lü Huazi's cultivation level? If he finds out you're sending strange beings into his territory, do you know what the consequences will be?"

Qiu Luoye turned his face, staring seriously at Shui Yongquan: "I know—Lü Huazi's cultivation far exceeds ours. If you're scared, stay hidden in your new land your whole life. If you're not scared, let's fight once.

Li Qi, I'll give you the people—every one of them's a fighter! Old Shui won't help you, so I'll find others. Isn't hiding identities something we've got plenty of ways for?"

First, tell me the price—how many people can you bring for reclamation?"

Regardless of past grievances, Li Banfeng still admired Qiu Luoye's straightforwardness.

Li Banfeng held up one hand: "Five hundred."

Businesses across regions were running smoothly; with Li Banfeng's current resources, gathering five hundred people for reclamation wasn't difficult.

Qiu Luoye slammed his fist into the ground—the earth trembled several times: "Fine! Let's pick the people!"

Shui Yongquan pursed his lips: "Five hundred… that's a lot…"

Of course it was.

Before Li Banfeng came, neither Shui Yongquan nor Qiu Luoye had ever succeeded in reclaiming land. They'd fought over a single reclamation worker.

They reached the second layer of Yunshang cultivation by accumulating spiritual energy from countless strange beings. They'd long given up hope on reclamation—until now.

Since they first met, Li Banfeng had gradually assigned workers to reclaim dozens of plots on both Shui Yongquan's and Qiu Luoye's territories—and now he wanted to go big.

Qiu Luoye grinned: "Old Shui, hungry? Such a big chunk of fat is right here—don't you want to eat it?"

If you want it, you've got to contribute! Li Qi came to us for help—do you even know what 'help' means?

Show some real substance! Stop just spouting old clichés!"

Shui Yongquan gritted his teeth: "Fine. Let's go."

Qiu Luoye didn't hesitate—he sent six fighters to Li Banfeng.

One was Wu Tou Ren Duan Wuchou—a woman, with a normal body and attire, but no head. She spoke through her navel and was a Level Six Yan Xiu.

Another was Shuang Tou Ren Liang Wucai—also a woman, with a normal body, but two heads. The two heads had distinct names: Liang Wu and Liang Cai, who often bickered.

Shui Yongquan glanced at Duan Wuchou and Liang Wucai, rubbing his forehead: "Can't you two even out your appearances? Qiu Daxiang, why pick people like this? How am I supposed to hide their identities?"

Besides them, there was Bai Shou Lian, a Level Six Ti Xiu—his name fit: he had over a hundred arms.

Guan Bafang, a Level Six Kui Xiu—this man had sixteen eyes.

Chi Liuhe, a Level Six Shi Xiu—she was even fatter than Qiu Luoye.

The last was Ma Jie Fu—a familiar face, no need to explain.

Shui Yongquan roared: "Qiu Daxiang, are you deliberately causing trouble?! How are we supposed to take these people to Lüshuicheng?!"

Aside from Ma Jie Fu, the other five posed serious technical challenges for Shui Yongquan.

Qiu Luoye said: "Old Shui, five hundred reclamation workers aren't easy to earn. Li Qi needs tough ones.

Tough ones don't look neat. Think of another way."

To secure more reclamation workers, Shui Yongquan pushed himself—he used the Hundred Streams, Hundred Changes technique to forcibly alter several people's appearances.

Using the Hundred Streams, Hundred Changes technique required time. As he cast it, he repeatedly warned: "If you sense the spell failing, drink water immediately—and wash your body with it. Enough water will restore the technique!"

Both had staked everything and taken great risks. Li Banfeng immediately returned to Lüshuicheng to gather reclamation workers.

The biggest concern now was time. According to Shan Baowen, Chu Huaijun would act within days. By the time reinforcements arrived from the new land, would they make it in time?

Once the six reinforcements from the new land arrived, Li Banfeng felt more at ease.

Liang Wucai, Chi Liuhe, and Bai Shou Lian were sent first to Lu Chunying's residence to set up defenses.

Ma Jie Fu, Guan Bafang, and Duan Wuchou were placed under Luo Zhengnan's command—they watched Chu's movements and handled intelligence transmission.

Shen Rongqing and Zhang Xiuling also prepared for immediate support.

Li Banfeng stayed at Xiaoyaowu, managing his business while continuing to gather more people.

He returned to his own territory to invite Zhang Wanlong—even if the Border Warden fully tore off the mask, he was ready to fight to the end.

But Zhang Wanlong declined: "Seventh Master, I truly want to help you, but I'm just a farmer. I'm useless in battle.

I've got two bags of good seeds and some medicinal waters—I'll give them all to you. That's all I can do. Don't pressure me further."

Zhang Wanlong doing this much already satisfied Li Banfeng—Geng Xiu simply weren't suited for frontline combat.

Besides, Zhang Wanlong wasn't a Lv Xiu; it would take considerable time to walk from Li Banfeng's territory to Lüshuicheng. By the time he arrived, Chu Huaijun would have already acted.

Li Banfeng didn't take Zhang Wanlong's seeds and medicinal waters for free—he had Zhang Wanlong name a price and paid him silver yuan on the spot.

Back in Lüshuicheng, Li Banfeng continued monitoring Chu Huaijun's movements.

But Chu Huaijun remained calm—no activity at all.

Had Shan Baowen's information been wrong?

Or was the target not among those three?

Li Banfeng feared this was Chu Huaijun's delaying tactic. If he slowed down, complacency would creep in—and any slip could undo all their preparations.

But the Chu family did nothing.

Late at night, Xiaoyaowu had just closed. Li Banfeng was pondering his strategy, wondering whether to strike directly at Chu's doorstep.

Then he reconsidered—this would be foolish.

He'd prepared thoroughly and held the initiative. Now he waited for the enemy to come—but he himself was losing patience.

My wife says I'm impulsive. She was right.

I'll find her tonight, get some oil, cool down, then think again.

As Li Banfeng was about to return to his personal quarters, Qin Xiaopang suddenly arrived at Xiaoyaowu.

Li Banfeng frowned: "Why come here directly? We agreed to meet at the teahouse. If your boss spots you, it'll be trouble."

Xiaopang shook his head: "Seventh Brother, no time for caution. Second Boss sent me to warn you—Boss has gathered over fifty fighters. They left Yangjiao Garden two hours ago."

Li Banfeng's brow twitched—he understood why Chu's family had stayed still.

Chu's family didn't plan to act themselves—they'd hired San Yingmen to do it.

San Yingmen actually moved. Was it really just for that pair of Judge's Pens?

Yangjiao Garden was remote, near Lu Chunying's residence. San Yingmen picked their spot well.

Fine. When they reach Lu Chunying's estate, not one of those fifty will escape.

Wait.

From Yangjiao Garden to Lu Chunying's residence takes less than two hours.

If they've already clashed at Lu Chunying's, I should've received word by now.

Why no signal?

"You brought the people, but didn't strike immediately?"

Qin Xiaopang shook his head: "We wouldn't do that. Once assembled, we strike—waiting would risk exposure."

Li Banfeng fell silent, drenched in cold sweat.

They weren't going to Lu Chunying's estate.

Their target wasn't He Yuxiu, wasn't Lu Chunying, wasn't Ma Wu.

Li Banfeng told Qin Xiaopang: "Lao Jiu, hurry to your Second Boss. Ask him if he wants to be Boss. If he does, tonight—he must seize the position."

Xiaopang froze: "Seventh Brother, you mean tonight?"

"Go now."

Xiaopang didn't dare delay—he turned and ran.

Li Banfeng shouted: "Don't use the front gate. Go out the back. Avoid everyone on the way. Don't speak to anyone. Find your Second Boss fast."

Xiaopang fled out the back. Li Banfeng called Cao Zhida: "How many people are left at Xiaoyaowu?"

Cao Zhida counted: "No guests stayed tonight—all are our own.

Seventeen staff, three singers live here, over thirty dancers and companions, ten musicians, plus accountants, cooks, and helpers—nearly a hundred."

"Take them all. Evacuate."

Cao Zhida glanced at the clock: "Now? It's past midnight."

"Go! Now!"

After sending everyone away, Li Banfeng prepared to retreat to his personal quarters.

Cao Zhida dared not ask more; he was just about to call for others when Li Banfeng stopped him.

He was calculating the distance from Yangjiao Garden to Xiaoyao Wharf.

It's too late.

These people can't leave.

By the time we gather all hundred of them and step outside, we'll run straight into San Ying Men.

San Ying Men has a fearsome reputation, but they're still just a Jianghu gang—they'll kill everyone, then burn down Xiaoyao Wharf.

And then?

Should I hide in Suishenju?

Li Banfeng murmured: "Since I've come anyway, where I come doesn't matter."

Cao Zhida stared in shock: "Who's come?"

Li Banfeng added: "We're not leaving."

"N-not leaving?"

"Not leaving," Li Banfeng rose and said. "Gather everyone in the Grand Dance Hall. Stay inside. Don't wander off."

Cao Zhida hurried off.

Li Banfeng pulled out a circuit board, installed the battery, connected the antenna, attached the dial, and contacted Luo Zhengnan.

"Tell Ma Wu that San Ying Men is almost at Xiaoyao Wharf."

Luo Zhengnan's head throbbed: "Seventh Master, this is aimed at you—go now."

"I'm not going. I'm staying to hold them off. Tell Ma Wu to bring his men here immediately—bring all our people."

"Tell Shen Rongqing and Zhang Xiuling that San Ying Men is changing its chief—have them come as witnesses."

"Leave someone watching Chu Huaijun's door. If he shows his face, alert me at once."

Cao Zhida reported: "Seventh Master, everyone's gathered in the Grand Dance Hall."

Li Banfeng nodded, picked up his dagger, and walked to the Grand Dance Hall.

Cao Zhida froze: "Seventh Master, what are you going to do?"

"Bleed them dry!" Li Banfeng raised his dagger, scanning every person in the dance hall.

PS: Seventh Master has gone mad—Jiang Mengting soiled her pants. He really means to bleed them dry.

(End of Chapter)