Chapter 436: Come On, Let

The person coming for Qiuluoye is a Yunshang cultivator.

He will bring two assistants, who may also be Yunshang cultivators; even if not, they're likely at the eighth or ninth level.

Li Banfeng is going to stake everything he has; outside the Suishenju, he can hold his own against a Yunshang Level One, but to win, he must lure that Yunshang Level One inside the Suishenju.

According to Qiuluoye's description, the man sent by Neizhou is clearly not a Yunshang Level One—his cultivation base may even surpass Qiuluoye's; alone, Li Banfeng has almost no chance, and those two assistants are beyond his capacity to handle.

Doesn't Li Qi have any allies?

He Yuxiu counts as one—she's genuinely formidable and shares a natural rapport with Li Banfeng.

This is a matter of life and death; if He Yuxiu is willing to help, that's best; if not, Li Banfeng won't force her, and he won't let her help for free—in Qiqiu City, he must give her some property.

Huoling is at Level Seven, barely enough to hold out for a while.

Zuo Wugang, Aqin, the Shouting Woman, Duan Wuchou, Liang Wucai, Baishoulian, Kui Bafang, Chi Liuhex—these all have Level Six cultivation; if grouped together under He Yuxiu's command, they might just hold off one Yunshang.

Right now, we can barely handle two Yunshang—if there's a third on the other side, how do we respond?

Does Li Qi still have any combat strength left?

Tan Fu's cultivation level is unknown, but as a Daoist, he might be usable on the battlefield.

Lu Yuanxin is an Insect Cultivator, his Dao path is unusual, but he's only at Level Four.

Ma Wu is about to ascend, but even if he does, he'll still be only Level Four—sending him against a Yunshang is suicide.

These forces are insufficient.

Should we go back to Zhengjing Village and bring Shui Yongquan?

The place is too far—Shui Yongquan probably won't make it in time.

Can we use the Suishenju to transport him here?

The Eight-Tone Box alone probably won't take him down.

More importantly, Shui Yongquan is terrified of Neizhou—he might not even agree to help.

In his mind, suggestions kept coming and being rejected; Li Banfeng rubbed his forehead and shouted loudly: "Pay attention to speaking order!"

…

Juanzi had just boiled a pot of dumplings when several greedy ones ate half before they could be plated.

Before the New Year, Li Qi sent rice, flour, wine, meat, sugar, and tea; for this group of Three-Headed Ones, this was the happiest New Year of their lives.

Li Banfeng knocked on the door and entered Juanzi's house.

The Three-Headed Ones all rose and invited Li Banfeng to sit.

Someone poured wine, someone passed cigarettes, someone came over to offer New Year greetings.

Looking out the window at the lanterns and the paper cutouts on the glass, looking at this lavish table of food and drink.

On such a good day, Li Banfeng didn't know how to begin.

He took off his satchel and spilled out a bag of silver dollars.

Juanzi blinked: "Young Master Qi, what's this mean?"

Li Banfeng said: "It's the New Year—this is a red envelope for all of you. Also, I need to ask a favor."

"Young Master Qi, take this money back," Juanzi pushed the silver back. "Whatever you need, just tell us."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "It's not a command—I have no right to command. I'm asking: among you, who wants to earn some quick money?"

The words felt awkward, but Li Banfeng didn't know how else to phrase it.

Juanzi didn't understand: "Young Master Qi, are you telling us to rob someone?"

"Not robbery—I don't have much now, and I've never really done this before…"

"Tomorrow, several ruthless people are coming to seize this territory. I'm going to fight them—I want to hire some helpers."

"I won't shortchange you. Whoever wants to come, meet me by the woods tomorrow night."

Juanzi fell silent for a moment, then asked: "Young Master Qi, do you have weapons?"

"Yes—I can get a hundred or two hundred weapons. Just find me thirty to fifty people; even ten or twenty would help. If you can't find anyone, it's fine—those who come will be rewarded handsomely after the battle."

Li Banfeng pulled out a contract and handed it to Juanzi—this was a matter of life and death; every person's pay must be crystal clear.

Juanzi took the contract and nodded: "Young Master Qi, wait for my reply."

…

Back in the Suishenju, Li Banfeng said to his wife: "My darling, I'm about to fight three Yunshang—any good ideas?"

"Three Yunshang?" Hong Ying froze.

The phonograph hissed steam: "Beloved husband, it's the New Year—what are you planning?"

"Someone's come to my doorstep. If I don't drive them off, I can't celebrate the New Year."

"Three Yunshang came to your doorstep together? Who are they?"

"From Neizhou. They want to seize my newly claimed territory."

The room fell silent. Hong Ying said to the Suishenju: "Old thing, let me out—I'll fight alongside Qi Lang. How can he fight three Yunshang alone?"

The Suishenju said nothing, but Hong Ying, though blind, felt eyes scrutinizing her.

"Don't you trust me?"

"No. I don't." The Suishenju gave a simple reply.

The phonograph sneered: "Witch, you stabbed my master in the back—how could he trust you? Master, let me out to help my husband!"

"I don't trust you either."

The phonograph fell silent. Hong Ying laughed loudly: "Wicked woman, do you think you're any better?"

The Suishenju sighed deeply: "Qi, is this battle truly unavoidable?"

"Absolutely unavoidable!"

The Suishenju sighed: "Since you've made your decision, I can't stop you. At the critical moment, I'll find a way."

The phonograph said: "Beloved husband, don't be rigid in battle—if things turn bad, retreat. Tell me what weapons the enemy has—I'll advise you."

Weapons?

Li Banfeng only knew the enemy had a Gongxiu.

…

New Year's Day, nightfall.

In Qiuluoye's courtyard, the Shouqie Spirits were busy.

Yesterday, they had been tending to Qiuluoye and hadn't prepared for the New Year.

On the first day, they pasted couplets, hung lanterns, and changed into new clothes.

Qiuluoye tightened his bandages, picked up a pair of wolf-tooth clubs, stood in the courtyard, and smiled: "The New Year must look like the New Year—even if this is my last, it must be done properly."

A python lit the lanterns, hanging by its body, tongue flickering: "Master Qiu, don't speak of bad omens. Tonight we fight them—eat their flesh with wine, celebrate loudly!"

"Well said!" Stone shouted from the side. "A tiger dies standing—how much more so our Master Qiu, who's an elephant!"

This remark…

Qiuluoye and the tiger each kicked Stone.

Qiuluoye whispered to the tiger: "Watch closely—did Old Qi and his men really leave?"

The tiger nodded: "Clear as day—he took his people and went to Wuqinxiang as you ordered."

"Good. I feared this brat would be foolish and throw his life away." Qiuluoye clenched his teeth, tightened his bandages, and said to the tiger: "You should leave too."

"Master Qiu, we won't leave—we die together!" The tiger roared, rising to his full height.

"Nonsense! We share fortune, but death isn't glorious—why should you die with me? Go now!"

The tiger refused to leave.

There was something he dared not say.

Li Banfeng hadn't left either.

He was hiding in the woods before the courtyard—Qiuluoye's injuries were too severe to sense him.

He Yuxiu crouched on a tree: "Old Qi, you said you recruited the Three-Headed Ones—none showed up? You once saved them."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "Without them, this land would never have become legitimate. I've thought long and hard—they've absorbed nine-tenths of the land's qi. That debt is repaid."

"Xiu'er, you owe me nothing either—if things turn bad, take them and run."

"Nonsense!" He Yuxiu glared at Li Banfeng. "Let them run if they want—we've sworn oaths and exchanged vows—how can that be the same?"

…

On Junyang Avenue, Ma Wu had settled Lu Chunying and others, warning: "I've spoken with the Garrison Commander—if those bastards come, hide in the Garrison Hall—they won't dare cause trouble there."

Lu Chunying asked: "Brother Wu, where are you going?"

"Up the mountain."

"Old Qi told you not to go."

Ma Wu smiled: "Don't worry—I know my limits. If Old Qi comes back, I'll come back with him. If he doesn't come back, neither will I."

"Brother Wu…" Lu Chunying bit her lip. "I'm going with you."

"Take care of these people first. Where's Chu Er?"

"Huaiyuan said she wants to see your new restaurant."

"When can't she see it? Why now?" Ma Wu frowned. "Besides, the restaurant's just a foundation—what's there to see?"

Lu Chunying said: "Huaiyuan saw the blueprints. She said the restaurant isn't ordinary."

At the mention of blueprints, Ma Wu froze.

He'd almost forgotten—where was the person who drew those blueprints?

…

The cultivator of the Kui Xiu realm extended three fingers toward Li Banfeng.

Someone was coming from the opposite side—three people total.

Indeed three, and thankfully not more.

Chu Shaoyang possessed a Kui Xiu magic treasure and sensed the ambush; he slowly walked toward the encirclement.

Behind him followed two others: one wore a slanted-collar long robe, a round hat, and held a folding fan—a scholar's attire; this man was Guo Metropolitan Graduate.

The other wore a front-buttoned short jacket, seemingly plain and casual, yet made of lightweight, finely crafted fabric with no excess—superior attire for a Wu Xiu; this man was Wu Xiu, named Tian Dasong.

As Guo Metropolitan Graduate walked, he said: "In the past, we only knew of thieves on the rafters; now we meet thieves on the trees.

If you're truly gentlemen, be open and honest—who still has the courage left to come down and face us, speak a word?"

When his words ended, everyone in the trees considered jumping down.

The technique: Tong Wen Gong Gui.

Judging by the technique's strength, this literary cultivator was no lower than eighth-layer; whether he was Yunshang or not was debatable, but Li Banfeng and He Yuxiu could barely resist, while the others gritted their teeth and held on, their flesh and skin feeling as if being torn inch by inch.

Guo Metropolitan Graduate stood at the edge of the ambush, not stepping inside, seemingly making no defense—this was a blatant mockery of them all.

"Oh my, what kind of birds call themselves gentlemen? When did gentlemen become so cheap?" The street-shouter's voice eased the pressure on everyone.

The street-shouter continued: "What's this nonsense about being open and honest? Show me your honesty—let's see if you can even face me with that face!"

These curses were so fierce they dispersed the Tong Wen Gong Gui technique.

Guo Metropolitan Graduate smiled: "So you're a fellow cultivator."

Was the street-shouter a literary cultivator?

Li Banfeng had thought there was a specialized "curse cultivator."

"Pah!" the street-shouter spat. "Who the hell are you calling a fellow cultivator? You're shameless—what kind of sect is a thief? You, a daoist thief, dare call yourself my equal?"

Guo Metropolitan Graduate laughed: "You hide in the shadows, afraid to show your face, yet you dare call me a thief?"

The street-shouter shouted: "You broke into a civilian home—that's theft!"

"Which civilian home did I break into? Is this forest your property? You gather in the mountains—are you not mountain bandits?"

They hurled insults at each other, as if debating the definition of "thief," but it was far more complex than that.

The street-shouter was fighting desperately.

They were clashing techniques.

The street-shouter sought to provoke the literary cultivator into entering the ambush.

Guo Metropolitan Graduate sought to use his literary technique to force Li Banfeng and the others out of the ambush.

During the exchange, the street-shouter spat blood—her cultivation base was inferior.

Seizing the opportunity, Guo Metropolitan Graduate launched his assault to eliminate the street-shouter outright: "Vile, ferocious hag, near death, spewing filth, like a plucked old dog, barking with bared fangs,

Old dog, save your strength—you know your days are few. Down in the mountain's latrine, there's a bowl of hot broth—go eat your fill while it's warm, don't become a wicked ghost on the path to the netherworld.

Old dog, why don't you speak? Old dog, don't die just like this..."

"Huuu-yaa-yaa-yaa-yaa~"

Li Banfeng suddenly leapt from the tree, letting out a long howl, interrupting Guo Metropolitan Graduate.

Guo Metropolitan Graduate smiled upon seeing him: "Perfect—I'll see where you run now..."

Before he finished speaking, the literary cultivator suddenly felt his throat tighten.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A rapid drumbeat caused Guo Metropolitan Graduate to lose his voice.

It felt as if a knife was churning inside his skull; he staggered, nearly falling.

Chu Shaoyang and the Wu Xiu also felt chest tightness and shortness of breath—they didn't know what technique the other had used.

Guo Metropolitan Graduate was wounded, blood streaming from his eyes and ears; before he could recover, Li Banfeng was already astride him, swinging his sickle down onto his face.

Knowing full well the danger, he pressed forward relentlessly—Li Banfeng's speed was so great that Chu Shaoyang couldn't discern his realm; the sickle rained down like hail on Guo Metropolitan Graduate's face.

Chu Shaoyang and Tian Dasong rushed to help, but a sudden aura struck them, forcing them back; Guo Metropolitan Graduate's body stiffened, taking another heavy blow.

The drumming came from Niangzi; the aura came from Hongying.

Suishenju opened its door for an instant, then closed again—only this brief opening was possible, or Suishenju itself might be exposed.

Suishenju told Niangzi and Hongying: "I've adapted. The rest is up to you men."

In that moment of adaptation, Niangzi and Hongying unleashed their full strength—the damage inflicted fell mostly upon Guo Metropolitan Graduate alone.

Now Li Banfeng kept slashing at Guo Metropolitan Graduate's face; Guo Metropolitan Graduate had taken countless blows, unable to resist, yet unable to break free.

Is this a Lv Xiu?

Why does a Lv Xiu fight like this?

He uses no technique, makes no maneuvering—he fights like a madman?

This was a tactic devised jointly by Niangzi and Li Banfeng.

If the enemy enters the ambush, terrain favors us, distance is ideal—we can win through coordinated techniques.

If the enemy doesn't enter the ambush, terrain and positioning are unfavorable; techniques cannot coordinate, and a skilled Gong Xiu will dismantle them one by one.

In such a case, we cannot act conventionally; the best choice is to use Niangzi and Hongying's aid, leveraging the Lv Xiu's speed to eliminate one first.

Li Banfeng chose the literary cultivator, Guo Metropolitan Graduate—he would eliminate him first.

Guo Metropolitan Graduate was badly wounded, but his cultivation base was high; the injuries weren't yet fatal, and he still had strength to counterattack.

He dipped his finger in his own blood and wrote a "knife" character on Li Banfeng's body.

Literary cultivator sixth-layer technique: One character, worth a thousand gold!

The character "knife" truly transformed into a blade, stabbing into Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng didn't dodge, didn't block—he absorbed the blow outright, then hooked his sickle into Guo Metropolitan Graduate's left eye.

Guo Metropolitan Graduate wrote another "knife" character.

Li Banfeng took another blow, swung his sickle again, and hooked it into Guo Metropolitan Graduate's right eye.

Each strike exchanged blood—what kind of fighting style is this?

Tian Dasong rushed forward to grab Li Banfeng, but He Yuxiu kicked him away.

Tian Dasong knocked He Yuxiu down; Zuo Wu Gang and Bai Li Lian clung desperately to his back from behind; the others surged forward, surrounding him.

Guo Metropolitan Graduate wrote a "seize" character, snatching Li Banfeng's sickle; Li Banfeng pulled out his shovel and smashed it into Guo Metropolitan Graduate's skull.

Tang Dao seized the chance to stab Guo Metropolitan Graduate in the back; the pendulum slipped under his collar and sliced his neck.

Guo Metropolitan Graduate poured out his last strength and wrote twelve "forbid" characters at once—this technique was devastating; all magic treasures and weapons became unusable.

Li Banfeng bit down hard on Guo Metropolitan Graduate's neck, blood gushing forth.

Chu Shaoyang had remained calm; he quickly understood the enemy's tactic and prepared to use his magic treasure to eliminate the madman on Guo Metropolitan Graduate first.

Chu Huaiyuan appeared before Chu Shaoyang with a smile.

Chu Shaoyang said expressionlessly: "What are you doing here?"

Chu Huaiyuan smiled: "I came to fight you to the death."

Chu Shaoyang remained calm: "You don't know who I am, and you don't need to now—leave this place quickly."

"I know who you are," Chu Huaiyuan suddenly stopped smiling, her eyes rolling upward as she stared at Chu Shaoyang. "Dad—I really came to fight you to the death."

(End of Chapter)