Chapter 428: Wuqin Township

Wuqin Township was a town, smaller than Yaowang Gou and even smaller than Kudai Kan; among all the towns Li Banfeng had visited, Wuqin Township was the smallest.

The town had few people, and those few spoke little to one another; what it had in abundance were swamps. Li Banfeng walked through it all day and found swamps near the wastelands, forests, farmlands, and country paths—even between the cottages there were mud pits.

At dusk, Li Banfeng ate a bowl of braised pork noodles at a restaurant, and the owner charged him thirty yuan.

The price was clearly high, but Li Banfeng didn't argue—the shopkeeper was a kind old woman who had clearly posted her prices and already stated the noodles cost thirty.

As he left, Li Banfeng gave her another twenty yuan and asked which way to Xin Di.

The old woman was warm and said: "Child, walk along the wall to the east; when you reach the second alleyway, keep going south. Beyond the alley is a mountain path—cross the mountain and you'll see Xin Di."

In Wuqin Township, few people gave such careful directions.

Li Banfeng thanked her repeatedly, but one thing puzzled him: "Auntie, why must I walk along the wall?"

The old woman lowered her voice: "Child, this road is full of unclean things. I fear you might stumble upon one. We're not kin or acquaintances, so I can't say more—but trust me, it's the right way."

What a good person!

Li Banfeng gave her another twenty yuan. As soon as he stepped outside, he sensed danger.

What exactly was on this road?

Li Banfeng walked along the wall, activating his Golden Eyes' Microscopic Skill, observing the center of the path.

Occasional pedestrians passed by; he saw no ghosts or spirits—could there be some trap or mechanism…?

Plop!

Li Banfeng stepped into a mud pit.

There was a swamp right beside the wall.

The pit was bottomless, with no markings around it. The old woman had spread a thin layer of loose soil over it to hide it from passersby—it looked exactly like ordinary ground.

As Li Banfeng tried to climb out, the old woman approached with a wooden pole: "Child, don't struggle—the more you struggle, the faster you sink. Don't panic—I'll pull you out."

What a good person!

Li Banfeng didn't need her help; with his skills, he could have escaped effortlessly without any technique.

But the old woman was so eager—she held out the bamboo pole and said: "Child, we're not kin or acquaintances, so I can't help you for free. Here's the deal: pay me two thousand, and I'll pull you out."

Li Banfeng blinked. "Two thousand is reasonable?"

"Too expensive?" the old woman frowned. "I'll tell you, many people have drowned in this mud. We're not kin or acquaintances—if you were anyone else, who'd bother with you? If you think it's too much, it'll be five thousand."

Li Banfeng stared. "Five thousand is reasonable?"

"Ask again and it'll be ten thousand!" The old woman's smile remained gentle.

Li Banfeng nodded. "Ten thousand is fine."

He spoke, then leapt out of the mud, grabbed the old woman, and threw her into the pit.

The old woman gasped, twisted her toes, curled her body, rolled, and escaped the mud.

No wonder she dared set this trap—she had cultivation, excellent skill, and wasn't afraid of retaliation.

Out of the mud, she sprang up, pulled a handful of lime from her sleeve, and flung it at Li Banfeng's face.

Li Banfeng dodged, snatched the bamboo pole, and jabbed it down—sending her back into the mud.

She tried to roll out again; each time she emerged, he shoved her back in. He repeated this several times until she grew too weak to move, sinking motionless in the mud.

Li Banfeng stood beside the pit, bamboo pole in hand, watching her slowly sink. Calmly, he asked: "You told me to walk along the wall just to set this trap for me?"

The old woman shouted: "Who set a trap for you? Who told you to walk along the wall? Ask anyone if they heard it!"

No need to ask—in this place, among strangers, no one would hear.

Li Banfeng said nothing, simply watched silently.

The mud rose higher; she cried out: "I give up! Spare my life!"

"Ten thousand," Li Banfeng said.

The old woman snarled: "You still want money?"

Li Banfeng replied: "Isn't that the price we agreed on? We're not kin or acquaintances—if you don't pay, why should I spare you?"

The old woman shouted to the crowd: "Someone help me! I'll pay two thousand!"

Two thousand was no small sum—but no one dared step forward.

Everyone saw Li Banfeng wasn't a man to be trifled with. Among strangers, who would risk their life? Even the shop's servants watched from the sidelines.

The old woman gritted her teeth: "Ten thousand—I accept it! First, get me out!"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Pay first."

The old woman shouted to the servants: "Bring me ten thousand yuan!"

One servant brought ten thousand yuan and handed it to Li Banfeng. He put it in his pocket and asked: "I'm heading to Xin Di—was the route you gave me correct?"

"Correct!" the old woman answered sharply.

Li Banfeng stood still. As the mud reached her waist, she finally spoke the truth: "It's the third alley—follow the third alley to the mountain path, cross the mountain, and you'll reach it."

"How many entrances to Xin Di are there here?"

"Only one!"

Li Banfeng left. The old woman struggled for a long time before finally dragging herself out.

"Wait—I'll make you pay!" she hissed. "The Lady won't forgive you!"

…

Li Banfeng didn't trust the old woman. He asked others along the way about Xin Di's entrance.

In Wuqin Township, asking directions was nearly impossible. Li Banfeng never asked for favors without payment—but even after paying seven or eight people, each gave him a different location.

How had this culture formed? Lan Yang Village wasn't this cruel.

Night fell. Li Banfeng found a quiet spot to hide his key, planning to return to his portable dwelling for rest—when he sensed danger drawing near.

He secured the key and saw a woman approaching with a lantern.

She was around fifty, wearing a dark-blue qipao with tiny floral patterns, her hair tightly pinned atop her head, her temples slicked with some oily substance.

Such an old-fashioned style was rare even in Pulu Province. She stepped forward and said: "I'm Qiao Shaofen. By our Lady's command, I've come to invite you to our home for a meeting."

"Who is your Lady?"

"The Lady of Wuqin. Mistress of Wuqin Township."

From her description, she was clearly a local deity.

Li Banfeng asked: "We're not kin or acquaintances—why meet me?"

Qiao Shaofen replied: "Our Lady admires your skill and wishes to befriend you."

Li Banfeng frowned. "Has your Lady seen me?"

Qiao Shaofen nodded. "Earlier today, you clashed with our Lady's maid, Lü Dehua."

"Lü Dehua has high cultivation, yet she couldn't defend herself against you. A young talent like you is greatly valued by our Lady."

"The Lü Dehua you mean—the one who ran the noodle shop?"

Qiao Shaofen nodded.

Li Banfeng bowed. "Thank the Lady for her kindness. It's late now; it wouldn't be proper for a man to visit her alone. I'll prepare gifts and call on her another day."

He turned to leave, saying farewell—but Qiao Shaofen called out: "You're here looking for a way, aren't you?"

Li Banfeng turned back. "How do you know?"

"East of Wuqin Township used to border Ink Fragrance Shop. Something happened—suddenly, an unknown land appeared.

The people trapped inside can't escape. Our Lady saw right away—you're here to rescue them."

She had misjudged his origin—he wasn't from elsewhere.

But the outcome remained unchanged: Li Banfeng was indeed searching for a way.

Qiao Shaofen continued: "Our Lady can guide you—but if you refuse even to meet her, you're disrespecting her."

"That's fair," Li Banfeng thought a moment. "Could your Lady come here to meet me?"

Qiao Shaofen frowned. "What nonsense! Our Lady coming to meet you at night? How improper!"

Li Banfeng said: "It's improper for me to go to her home too. If she won't come, then give me a map—I'll repay you handsomely."

Qiao Shaofen's face darkened. "Wait here. I'll report to our Lady."

She left, glancing back repeatedly—as if afraid he'd follow.

Li Banfeng had no intention of tracking Qiao Shaofen.

Tracking requires timing and skill. If the target is fully alert, even the best technique risks exposure.

Li Banfeng returned to his portable dwelling and asked the phonograph: "Wife, have you heard of the Lady of Wuqin?"

The phonograph replied: "I've heard of her—the local deity of Wuqin Township. But I know nothing of her. She rarely interacts with others."

"If she rarely interacts with others, why approach me?"

Chit-chit~

The phonograph laughed. "Perhaps she thinks my husband is handsome!"

Li Banfeng nodded. "Yesterday, when I urinated, I looked into the puddle—you're right, I am quite handsome."

The couple joked briefly. Then Li Banfeng cut his palm with a knife and dripped blood onto the seed.

…

Qiao Shaofen returned and found Li Banfeng waiting by the roadside.

"Our Lady says it's too late to meet now. I'm to guide you instead. Since we're neighbors, it's better to keep things convenient."

Li Banfeng nodded. "Thank you."

"It's dark and the road is treacherous—stay close."

Li Banfeng bowed slightly. "I'm in your hands."

The two of them, one ahead and one behind, crossed a small hill along the mountain path; ahead lay thick, heavy mist. Qiao Shaofen said, "We've reached new ground."

Li Banfeng nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

After walking along the narrow trail for more than ten li, Qiao Shaofen pointed to an ancient tree stump ahead and said, "Let's rest here."

Li Banfeng nodded: "Thank you."

Before Li Banfeng could sit down, Qiao Shaofen suddenly spat directly at his feet.

Li Banfeng froze—he felt his feet sink into wet, sticky, soft earth; the once-hard ground had turned to quicksand, and his body began sinking rapidly.

What kind of Dao sect is this?

He tried to break free, but Qiao Shaofen spat again.

The quicksand grew stickier and softer; Li Banfeng could not escape, and in moments the mud had submerged him to his chest.

He stared at Qiao Shaofen in shock; she regarded him with icy coldness: "We're not kin, not even acquaintances. You expect me to guide you? What are you?"

Watching Li Banfeng vanish completely beneath the sludge, Qiao Shaofen drew a breath and sucked the two spits back into her mouth—the quicksand vanished, leaving only hard, cold earth once more.

Qiao Shaofen turned and walked away. After a few steps, she concealed her form and moved swiftly through the night.

Li Banfeng activated the Golden Eye's Microscopic Vision technique and silently followed behind Qiao Shaofen.

PS: Qiao Shaofen first appeared in Chapter 418; Juanzi knows her.

(End of Chapter)