Chapter 443: Qiu Daxiang, Rest in Peace (This Chapter

Qi Luoye stood in the bathhouse, shivering in waves.

He was cold—good, that's right; Guogua's body was icy and crisp, surely feeling the chill.

Qi Luoye stretched his shoulders and neck: "What kind of poison is this? I feel like this body isn't even mine."

Li Banfeng also began shivering: "I'm cold too—this poison generates freezing energy. Eat one of the antidote pills first, then soak in hot water."

Li Banfeng handed Qi Luoye the pill refined by Honglian; Qi Luoye shook his head: "I don't need this. You two brothers take it."

"We've got our own." Li Banfeng took two throat-soothing pills, gave one to Ma Wu, and swallowed one himself.

Seeing this, Qi Luoye swallowed the pill and stared at the bloody flesh on the ground for a long time.

These were his own fallen flesh and blood—some parts would surely look familiar.

Li Banfeng had wanted to cover it with lime, but the source of the lime was hard to explain.

Now it's covered with human ash and mud—plausible, flawless. Qi Luoye kicked the bloody sludge again: "So the bath attendant really died?"

Li Banfeng said: "The corpse is right here—how could it be fake?"

Ma Wu added: "I saw it with my own eyes—Old Seven blew him to pieces!"

Qi Luoye looked at Li Banfeng and suddenly felt no need to doubt—seeing the corpse, the man was definitely dead.

"Could the bath attendant have accomplices?"

Li Qi was waiting for this: "I'll go check."

Qi Luoye said: "I'll go with you."

Ma Wu grabbed Qi Luoye: "Big Brother, you're injured—come soak in hot water first."

Qi Luoye stepped into the hot water; the chill in his body lessened considerably, yet his body still felt strange.

His flesh was still stiff, and smoother than before.

What kind of poison had the bath attendant used? How powerful was it?

…

Li Banfeng ran to Qi Luoye's territory, returned to the Sui Shen Ju, and spoke to the jukebox: "My dear wife, the first trial is passed—the pill's been taken. The second trial won't take long."

The wife picked up the covenant scroll. She had three tasks.

First, use steam to wash off the bloodstains on the scroll—these were Qi Luoye's blood, but the scroll still held a misty illusion, making the bloodstains appear intact.

This illusion must deceive Neizhou.

Since the bloodstains are gone, is the scroll now completely unrelated to Qi Luoye?

No.

Second, the wife flipped the scroll to its backside, where Qi Luoye's life achievements were densely recorded.

The scroll still had ties to Qi Luoye—any tie, even just a name, made this unsafe.

The wife carefully erased every instance of Qi Luoye's name and replaced it with Qiu Daxiang.

Third, the Sui Shen Ju still held one Guogua Qi Luoye—the wife used the jukebox to pierce Guogua Qi Luoye's hand and smeared Guogua juice onto the iron covenant scroll.

Thus, the scroll was now utterly unrelated to Qi Luoye.

…

Chuanzi, stationed beside the boundary line, noticed something wrong—the pebbles and fallen leaves near the border instantly turned to ash.

Wuqinxiang and Qi Luoye's territories were now divided by the boundary line.

One of his comrades asked: "Brother Chuanzi, what's going on?"

Chuanzi didn't understand either: "Don't ask questions—guard the road. Let no one pass!"

Only Li Banfeng's family knew the truth.

Qiqiu City was now split in two: Wuqinxiang's territory belonged to Qi Luoye; Qi Luoye's territory belonged to Qiu Daxiang.

Then who was Qiu Daxiang?

For the covenant scroll, whoever shed blood became Qiu Daxiang.

Guogua had spilled juice—Guogua was Qiu Daxiang.

…

The jukebox told Guogua Qi Luoye: "You are Qiu Daxiang."

Guogua Qi Luoye stared at the jukebox, expressionless.

Could Guogua Qi Luoye sense the covenant scroll?

Guogua juice had been applied—whether he sensed it depended on whether Guogua Qi Luoye knew he had the nickname Qiu Daxiang.

Seeing Guogua's blank face, Li Banfeng felt uncertain.

The jukebox said: "Husband, proceed. This Guogua was grown from Qi Luoye's blood—if the nickname works, he will sense it.

Move quickly, husband—the scroll's illusion will last only two minutes after leaving the Sui Shen Ju. If the deed isn't done in two minutes, bring the scroll back immediately, or Neizhou will spot the flaw."

Li Banfeng nodded, took the iron covenant scroll and the prepared paper covenant, along with the remaining Guogua Qi Luoye, and left the Sui Shen Ju.

Standing on Qi Luoye's territory, Li Banfeng unfurled the paper covenant, which bore one line: "Qi Luoye defeats Qiu Daxiang; Qiu Daxiang cedes all one hundred li of land to Qi Luoye."

Li Banfeng glanced at Guogua Qi Luoye and asked: "Qiu Daxiang, do you agree?"

Guogua Qi Luoye nodded, agreeing.

Li Banfeng handed the paper covenant to Guogua Qiu Daxiang, who took it and dripped Guogua juice onto the scroll.

Li Banfeng pulled out a small vial and sprinkled the remaining blood of Qi Luoye onto the paper covenant.

With both Qi Luoye's and Qiu Daxiang's blood on the same scroll, whether it would activate depended on whether the iron covenant scroll reacted.

He flipped the iron covenant scroll—no reaction.

Not working?

No connection formed between Guogua and the scroll?

What now?

Though the scroll was now unrelated to Qi Luoye, Qi Luoye was merely the local deity of Wuqinxiang.

But Qi Luoye didn't know Wuqinxiang well, and its land was too small—he couldn't stabilize his position or cultivation base through it. He couldn't pass the third trial.

Li Banfeng was tense—the two minutes were almost up. Why hadn't the scroll changed?

Wait!

He'd almost forgotten—the scroll still had the illusion!

Li Banfeng used the Golden Eye Autumn Hair technique to look again at the scroll.

He saw a line of text appear at the very bottom.

"Qi Luoye defeats Qiu Daxiang; Qiu Daxiang cedes all one hundred li of land to Qi Luoye."

It worked!

The deed was done!

Li Banfeng looked at Guogua and burst into laughter: "It's done, Qiu Daxiang—farewell."

As his words ended, Li Banfeng stomped, shattering ten thousand rivers—Guogua Qiu Daxiang exploded instantly.

Li Banfeng immediately opened the Sui Shen Ju and handed the scroll to the jukebox: "Wife, it's done."

The jukebox said: "Quickly give the scroll to Old Master!"

Li Banfeng took the scroll to the Third Wing, dropped it on the floor.

"Old Master, destroy this scroll."

"Is this scroll truly unrelated to Qi Luoye?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "Unrelated."

"Then I'll act!"

The scroll on the floor still carried residual steam—a cold wind blew through the Third Wing, dispersing the steam and revealing the scroll's true form.

"What are you doing?"

"Hehehe, let's play with them!" The Sui Shen Ju laughed coldly.

The scroll on the ground faintly glowed—Li Banfeng didn't understand the Sui Shen Ju's intent.

Hiss—a wisp of green smoke rose from the scroll.

Li Banfeng didn't know where the smoke came from; the Sui Shen Ju said: "Use your Insight into Spiritual Sound—listen with me. Hear their sounds—they're delightful!"

With the Sui Shen Ju's aid, Li Banfeng used the Insight into Spiritual Sound technique and heard a scream from the scroll.

The voice was deep and resonant—a man's.

Li Banfeng asked: "Who is this?"

"The Neizhou guard who watches the scroll—he touched my fire, hehehe~" The Sui Shen Ju laughed more sinisterly. "Listen—another one's coming!"

Another scream came from the scroll—also a man's voice, far more hoarse than the first.

"Good! Let him be careless—he had to come touch it. Touch my fire, and you die. Burn these bastards to ash!

Ah Qi, you don't know—the scroll guards aren't lackeys—they're pure-blooded Neizhou people.

Old Fire Train loved killing these pure-blooded Neizhou people. These bastards are the worst—killing them is the most satisfying!"

Pure-blooded!

Li Banfeng became excited: "Pure-blooded Neizhou people—Master of Chu Shaoqiang?"

"Yes—those lackeys' masters!"

"Where are they from?"

"Old Fire Train has been investigating, but never found out—they're not from our world!"

Li Banfeng gritted his teeth: "I wish I could kill one of them myself!"

Suishenju chuckled: "Ah Qi, these two were killed by your own hands, the plan was yours, the deed was yours—at least seventy percent of the credit belongs to you!"

"Good! I love hearing that!" Li Banfeng was delighted when another scream suddenly echoed from the contract.

"Another one! Hohohoho!"

The old man and Li Banfeng both laughed, their laughter echoing through Suishenju.

The old man sighed: "Too bad this contract won't hold much longer—if it could, we could lure in a few more."

As they spoke, Qiu Daxiang's contract had melted into molten iron and rapidly evaporated away.

Li Banfeng said: "Don't rush—we've got plenty of chances left. We'll kill these bastards until they dare not reach toward Pulu Province again!"

"Good lad!"

"Hohohoho!" Two more laughs rang out from Suishenju.

Xiang Hongying shivered: "These two laugh so chillingly!"

Saying this, Xiang Hongying shivered again.

No—this is avoiding misfortune and seeking fortune.

Something's about to happen!

Xiang Hongying couldn't see it, but she felt a faint glimmer of cold light along her spine.

Changji was right behind her; while she wasn't paying attention, it injected a stream of steam into her body.

Xiang Hongying couldn't move anymore.

Changji sent her into the second room.

Xiang Hongying gritted her teeth: "What are you going to do?"

Changji pulled out a wooden box: "That madman was so happy—I'm surely doomed tonight.

We've spent our whole lives fighting each other—tonight, don't let me suffer alone!"

Xiang Hongying wanted to scream: "Damned wicked woman…"

Changji clamped her mouth shut, shoved her into the box, and made a fake Changji.

Changji looked around—she still had to hide Huan Tu, or this worthless woman wouldn't last long.

…

Li Banfeng left Suishenju and hurried toward the bathhouse. Halfway there, he was blocked by Chuanzi's men.

"Seventh Master, you can't go further—this boundary has reappeared."

Li Banfeng picked up a stone from the ground and threw it across the boundary.

The stone flew over untouched.

Everyone stared in shock—just moments ago, the boundary had clearly appeared, yet now it was gone.

Li Banfeng lowered his hat brim and smiled: "No more boundaries from now on. From now on, there's only one piece of land—this is Qiuqiucheng!"

…

In the bathhouse, Qiu Luoye felt increasingly strange about his flesh: "Wu, why do I feel like I'm wearing clothes?"

Ma Wu shook his head: "No clothes—you don't wear clothes while bathing."

"Something's clearly wrong with me—I'm unbearable," Qiu Luoye scratched at his skin relentlessly.

Ma Wu urged: "Brother Qiu, you're poisoned—don't scratch! Just endure a little longer—it'll pass."

Qiu Luoye couldn't hold back: "This isn't my body—it's definitely not my body! Wu, what's going on? Are you hiding something from me?"

Li Banfeng wasn't here, and the Iron Evidence Technique had failed—Qiu Luoye slowly regained clarity.

He pounded his flesh repeatedly; it began swelling slowly.

"Brother Qiu, don't—listen to me, wait a moment…"

Boom!

Qiu Luoye exploded, splattering Ma Wu with melon pulp.

"Brother Qiu… Brother Qiu…" Ma Wu wiped off the pulp and saw a gaunt man standing before him—no skin, all his flesh exposed.

The man turned his face toward Ma Wu.

Ma Wu stared for a long time, then tentatively called out: "Brother Qiu… is that you?"

Qiu Luoye touched his own flesh, still confused: "Is this me? Where's my skin?"

Did I pass the second trial?

He grew his own flesh!

Ma Wu was thrilled—but then noticed Qiu Luoye's condition was dire.

His thoughts grew chaotic; his body swayed and collapsed into the water.

Ma Wu pulled Qiu Luoye up—this was a sign of unstable soul.

Ma Wu carried Qiu Luoye out of the water and laid him on a reclining chair. He didn't know what to do now—only wait for Li Qi to return.

Minutes later, Li Banfeng rushed into the bathhouse and saw Qiu Luoye, skinless and barely alive.

"Brother Qiu, think of your own territory—stabilize your soul!"

"Territory? You mean Wuqinxiang?" Qiu Luoye was dazed—he couldn't recall anything.

"Don't think of Wuqinxiang—think of your own territory! The land you guarded for so many years!"

"My own territory…" Qiu Luoye didn't understand.

"The land you know best—think hard!"

After a moment, Qiu Luoye's eyes widened—his territory slowly reappeared in his mind.

From mountain to stream, from grass to tree—he knew it intimately.

The more he thought, the clearer his mind became; strength slowly returned to his body.

Qiu Luoye sat up—his soul stabilized.

Third trial—passed.

PS: Dear readers, such a fine novel as "Lord of Pulu" is ranked thirty-something on the monthly vote chart.

Dear readers, Shala is so heartbroken—give Shala some comfort.

(End of Chapter)