Chapter 446: Troubled Waters Business

Cui Ti came to Li Li Banfeng to do business.

Li Li Banfeng found a teahouse, booked a private room, and discussed details with Cui Ti.

He asked first: "Why does Chu Shaoyiang want to seize the territory of Moxiang Shop?"

Cui Ti replied: "According to my sources, Chu Shaoyiang urgently needs a piece of proper land; under pressure from Neizhou, he's looking for an easy target."

Is Moxiang Shop an easy target?

Li Li Banfeng deeply doubted this: "The local deity of Moxiang Shop should be a Wen Xiu, right?"

Cui Ti nodded: "Since arriving here, I've been influenced by this place and developed a strong interest in Like Puluozhou's literature—this must be the effect of the local deity through some means."

Li Li Banfeng pulled out a map he bought on the street: "Moxiang Shop isn't a small place; a local deity capable of influencing an entire territory is rare.

Wen Xiu is one of the largest Dao sects in Like Puluozhou, with formidable strength themselves. If Chu Shaoyiang is seeking an easy target, he wouldn't choose this place."

Cui Ti said: "I had similar suspicions, but according to the information your friend gathered, the local deity here has encountered some incident and fallen into an extremely weakened state."

My friend.

He meant He He Jiaqing.

"Is this information reliable? What state has the local deity fallen into?"

Cui Ti said: "My ancestral master revealed no further details; as for the reliability of this information, he told me to verify it myself."

Li Li Banfeng was curious: "How do you verify it?"

"My ancestral master taught me this method: find a spot in Moxiang Shop, spread a plague, kill all the locals, and see if the local deity intervenes.

If the local deity doesn't appear, your friend's information is accurate, proving Chu Shaoyiang will soon arrive at Moxiang Shop.

Then my ancestral master has many options—he can wait for Chu Shaoyiang and reap the benefits, or seize Moxiang Shop first and lie in wait."

Li Li Banfeng asked: "You don't want to do this?"

"No."

"Because you're unwilling?"

Cui Ti shook his head: "I'm willing—but I'm afraid. If I cause a disaster in Moxiang Shop and the local deity isn't weakened, then the one in trouble will likely be me.

Even if the local deity doesn't punish me, as you said, Wen Xiu is the second-largest sect in Like Puluozhou; their power won't let me go unpunished.

Logically, if I do this, no matter the outcome, I'll be the one who dies.

I'd love to kill everyone on earth with a plague—but only if I truly had the power. Until then, I still want to live a little longer."

Li Li Banfeng understood Cui Ti's situation.

"Under these circumstances, what business could you possibly offer me?"

"I want to probe the local deity's condition in another way—something more normal, more gentle.

You know Like Puluozhou isn't friendly toward foreigners, and I'm not skilled in reconnaissance; when I hunted you, I still had to rely on Dabo Yins's resources.

I hope you'll help me gather information about the local deity. In exchange, I'll share some information about He He Jiaqing with you."

Li Li Banfeng asked: "What kind of information can you provide? If it's not valuable, I won't waste my time."

Cui Ti said: "The information I give you and the information you give me will be of equal value—we've done business before, and we'll agree on this. I know your abilities and methods; I won't risk my life in this matter."

Li Li Banfeng turned his teacup in his hand: "The local deity's condition isn't easy to probe. I might only uncover partial results."

Cui Ti nodded: "I understand. Out of our partnership, I'll tell you a truth: I don't plan to reveal everything to my ancestral master. But I need to fabricate a plausible lie.

The local deity's residence, cultivation base—even just a name—any single true piece of information makes the lie credible.

Of course, if you eventually uncover the local deity's true condition, our deal can be upgraded. I can selectively feed my ancestral master information to make him respond correctly—or incorrectly.

After Chu Shaoyiang, my ancestral master, your friend, and the local deity of Moxiang Shop clash, perhaps even greater surprises await us."

Li Li Banfeng smiled: "You want to fish in troubled waters?"

Cui Ti said: "I think leaving such a delicious fish in troubled waters is disrespectful to the fish."

"That depends on how troubled and how deep the waters are."

Cui Ti lifted his teacup and sipped: "No matter how troubled or deep the waters, I must enter them—I have no choice.

But you have a choice: you can refuse to enter. Even if you do enter, you can leave anytime. This deal won't cost you anything."

Li Li Banfeng looked out the window, where he could still see the former poetry society: "Will you go back to that poetry society?"

"Yes," Cui Ti nodded. "There aren't many places to gather information; it's a good spot. Even if the girls there dislike me, I can still collect folk tales and odd stories."

"If you see poetry I've left in the poetry ledger, that means I've found something. Wait for me at the society—I'll find a chance to contact you."

Li Li Banfeng left the teahouse, walked around Moxiang Shop, and returned to Yan Sha Zhai at nightfall.

Tan Fu was reading in the courtyard; he knew few characters and kept a dictionary beside him, struggling hard.

He pulled out a chair for Li Li Banfeng: "Seventh Master, sit."

Li Li Banfeng didn't sit. Tan Fu was a Feng Xiu; sitting in his chair might invite trouble—not because he distrusted Tan Fu, but because Tan Fu seemed off.

"Seventh Master, over the years my cultivation has grown, my business has expanded, I've bought over ten mansions, taken a dozen wives, and thought I'd enjoyed all earthly blessings. Now I realize I've wasted half my life.

All earthly truths are in these books. If I hadn't seen this today, I'd have lived my whole life in vain!"

What book had such an impact on Tan Fu?

The book was thin. Li Li Banfeng checked the cover—it was the "Hundred Family Surnames."

That was hard to understand.

"What earthly truths does this 'Hundred Family Surnames' teach?"

"Seventh Master, I can't explain it. I don't understand. I'm too stupid. Wait until I've fully absorbed this book, then I'll tell you!"

Several of Tan Fu's attendants were reading; Xiao Ye Ci was reading; Lu Lu Yuanxin was feeding insects inside the room.

Lu Lu Chunying saw Li Li Banfeng and beamed: "Seventh Brother, there's business in Moxiang Shop—vast farmlands outside the city, many Geng Xiu, tons of grain exported yearly. Doing grain trade here brings big profits.

But if you stay too long, you start acting strange. Tan Da and the others don't know what's wrong—they only read books, even forget to eat."

It seemed Lu Lu Chunying had been out all afternoon. Li Li Banfeng asked: "Don't you want to read?"

Lu Lu Chunying shook her head: "I've been reading with my mother every day—haven't I read enough? I hardly ever get to go out, so I need to accumulate some cultivation."

Moxiang Shop had no effect on Lu Lu Chunying or Lu Lu Yuanxin. Whether it affected Xiao Ye Ci remained unclear.

Back in his room, Li Li Banfeng took out the Judge's Pen and asked: "Is Moxiang Shop your home?"

The Judge's Pen didn't answer.

Li Li Banfeng asked again: "Who is the local deity of Moxiang Shop?"

The Judge's Pen remained silent for a long while. The phonograph spoke up: "I know this. The local deity of Moxiang Shop is a Huiye Wenren, one of the Wen Xiu's leaders, extremely powerful in combat, brilliantly intelligent. Many legends about him can be found in Moxiang Shop."

Li Li Banfeng pulled out the book he bought at Lu's Bookstore: "Wife, check this—do these records match?"

The phonograph skimmed through it: "Husband, I don't know much about Huiye Wenren, but legends everywhere are similar.

Huiye Wenren's name is Murong Gui. He can guess your intent in three sentences, perceive your heart in five. His Wen Xiu skills are peerless, his Wu Xiu foundation not to be underestimated.

He wields a Judge's Pen. Once wounded by it, one doesn't die—but instantly loses all combat ability."

Hong Ying said: "Isn't that exactly our own cheap pen?"

The phonograph asked: "How can you be so sure?"

Hong Ying froze: "Wicked woman, are you testing me? Do I even need to ask? If it were poison, the victim could struggle a while. If it's Lazy Xiu technique, the victim just won't bother fighting—of course they lose all combat ability!

Lazy Xiu technique plus Judge's Pen—that's our cheap pen, isn't it?

Seventh Husband, this cheap pen wants to return to its old master. Be careful."

Li Li Banfeng looked at the Judge's Pen: "Do you want to go home?"

"Hmph~" the Judge's Pen replied with one word.

"If you want to go home, I'll let you return."

Hong Ying hurriedly said: "Seventh Husband, don't let him go! He knows too much about us—if he tells his master, we're in danger!"

The Judge's Pen trembled with rage and spat out: "Then don't take me out!"

Exactly seven words!

Those seven words fully expressed the Judge's Pen's anger and resentment.

"Don't worry, I trust you," Li Li Banfeng said calmly. "Bi, if you truly want to go home, we'll sign a contract guaranteeing we never mention our past. I'll personally escort you back."

"Hmph~" the Judge's Pen turned away, ignoring Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng thought a moment: "Are you afraid I'll use you to find Huiye Wenren Murong Gui and bring him trouble?"

The Judge's Pen said nothing.

Li Li Banfeng said: "If I find Murong Gui, he'll be lucky. If Green Water Beggar or Chu Shaoyiang finds him, that's when disaster strikes.

Not just Murong Gui—he'll bring disaster to the entire Moxiang Shop. Think carefully."

Deep night. Li Li Banfeng slept soundly, hugging the phonograph. All magic treasures rested.

The Judge's Pen quietly rose from the table, making no sound.

It hovered midair, silently watching Li Li Banfeng.

The glove beneath the bed silently gripped the dagger.

He woke.

Even without a sound from the Judge's Pen, he could still awaken.

According to the glove's judgment, waking the phonograph now would let the Judge's Pen strike first.

But if he merely defended, the glove was certain it was faster—and the phonograph would wake at the noise.

The Judge's Pen hovered a moment, then woke Li Li Banfeng.

"Seven, let's discuss something."

PS: What exactly happened to Huiye Wenren?

(End of Chapter)