Chapter 468: Flying General Camp

Sun Sun Tiecheng used some technique to spread the news of Gu Gu Rusong's death throughout the entire city.

Throughout Fool's City, wailing never ceased.

Sun Sun Tiecheng said to Tang Tang Changfa: "Fa, go outside and check—see who isn't crying."

Tang Tang Changfa walked toward the back courtyard, but Yan Qing'er grabbed him by the arm: "Fa-ge, the door's over there."

Tang Tang Changfa turned toward the main gate, but Li Qi pulled him back: "You've gouged out your own eyes—what's there to see? Let me go check."

Li Qi walked around Fool's City: the breakfast vendors were crying, the cloth sellers were crying, the teahouse owners were crying, even the street performers were crying.

Amid the wailing, a cloud of dust hovered above Fool's City, trying to gather again, yet constantly dispersing until it dissolved entirely into ash.

Back at Changsan Changsan Shuyu, Li Li Banfeng said to Sun Sun Tiecheng: "Everyone in the city is crying!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng nodded: "Good—they're all crying. If they're all crying, it means he's truly dead. We must guard against Neizhou holding back."

Neizhou holding back?

What does that have to do with crying?

"Everyone crying means he's truly dead?" Li Li Banfeng asked.

Sun Sun Tiecheng said: "If the whole city is crying, with so many witnesses, isn't that ironclad proof?"

Can "ironclad proof" even be used like this?

Gu Gu Rusong, Sun Sun Tiecheng's senior disciple, brought Li Qi to Fool's City for safety's sake.

In his view, Fool's City was his domain; once Li Qi arrived, he couldn't live, and he couldn't escape.

Gu Gu Rusong thought he had victory in hand—yet ended up with this outcome.

Sun Sun Tiecheng was still grieving when Tang Tang Changfa crouched beside Li Qi and urged: "Lord, the eldest son is gone. Please grieve less—we still have our shopkeeper!"

Li Qi said to Tang Tang Changfa: "You called me too soon—I'm not lord yet. Wait until our Sun Lord is gone, then call me lord!"

Tang Tang Changfa was terrified and rushed to Yan Hong'er to apologize: "Lord, listen to me—I've lost my eyes, I truly can't see clearly..."

Yan Hong'er shoved Tang Tang Changfa: "Don't say that to me..."

Sun Sun Tiecheng stepped forward and kicked Tang Tang Changfa: "Why did you gouge your own eyes so hard? Now they're completely ruined—you can't fix them!"

Tang Tang Changfa sighed: "I never meant to harm the eldest son. I went all out only to drive him away—I never expected him to push further!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng said to Li Li Banfeng: "You too—you killed your senior brother, fine, but at least leave the corpse for Tang Changfa to recover from. Why did you turn him to ash?"

Li Qi protested: "Why blame me? The ash was your doing!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng roared: "How dare you talk back? Where's my knife?"

Yan Hong'er wept beside them: "Lord, let's not talk about knives now—the eldest son is gone. From now on, our shopkeeper must shoulder the burden for our sect."

Sun Sun Tiecheng glanced at Li Qi and snorted.

Two things truly troubled Li Li Banfeng.

First: He He Jiaqing wasn't Sun Sun Tiecheng's disciple—why did he know Fool's Technique?

"Big Brother Sun, isn't it true that a thief cultivator can steal others' techniques?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng nodded: "That technique is called 'Empty Hands Steal.'"

"Once stolen, does the technique belong to him permanently?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng waved his hand: "Is there such a powerful technique? 'Empty Hands Steal' is a Cloud-Top Level technique—Cloud-Top Level can steal only one technique. Each time you ascend a level, you can steal one more.

A technique used a few times fades away—the higher the technique's level, the fewer times it can be used.

A Level-One technique stolen might be used nine times; a Level-Nine technique stolen might be used only once. To use it again, you must steal it anew."

Li Li Banfeng was stunned.

Cloud-Top Level can steal only one technique; each ascent grants one more.

In his battle with Chu Duan Shaohong, He He Jiaqing used Water Cultivation, Fire Cultivation, and Offering Cultivation techniques in sequence—not Li Li Banfeng's guess, but what Chu Duan Shaohong confirmed on the spot.

Stealing three techniques at once proves He He Jiaqing is at least Cloud-Top Three!

Does he really have such high cultivation?

Li Li Banfeng said to Sun Sun Tiecheng: "He He Jiaqing stole Fool's Technique from Gu Gu Rusong. I don't know how much he knows about Fool's City."

Sun Sun Tiecheng stayed silent. Li Li Banfeng grew more worried: "Gu Gu Rusong defected to Neizhou—how much of Fool's City's secrets did Neizhou learn?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng also realized this: "I suspect Gu Gu Rusong told Neizhou everything he knew. We may need to change Fool's City's entrance.

Gu Gu Rusong learned two techniques from me: 'Words as Proof' and 'Grasping Others' Weaknesses.' 'A Thousand Foolish Thoughts' was self-taught—half-baked. I don't know which technique He He Jiaqing stole from him."

Li Qi sighed: "That half-baked technique seems useless. If we're going to learn, learn it fully. Halfway up, halfway down—when danger strikes, you won't even know if you can use it.

Take 'Sliding Down the Slope'—I still don't understand what 'slope' means, let alone the 'donkey.'"

"That donkey... you little brat, you come here and steal one of my techniques?" Sun Sun Tiecheng sighed. "Fine, I'll teach you—but not for free.

Neizhou may come knocking soon—I must prepare. I give you one year. Find yourself a junior brother.

Don't just pick anyone—he must pass my examination to qualify."

Li Qi frowned: "That's not easy. Your examination is too hard—lower the bar!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng snorted: "The bar can't be lowered. I'd rather have no one than take a waste.

What do you think of that thief cultivator—He He Jiaqing?"

Li Li Banfeng said: "He's good—capable. I think you'd like him. But one thing's bad."

"What's bad?"

Li Li Banfeng answered honestly: "I really want to kill him."

"Then forget it. You're too ruthless," Sun Sun Tiecheng waved off. "If you can't stand him, I won't either. Let's find someone else.

Our sect was once the number one sect in the world—not just anyone can enter. Aside from He He Jiaqing, isn't there anyone else around you who's suitable?"

Li Li Banfeng thought a moment: "Ma Wu—he helped me build my foundation. You know him—he's clever and cultivates hard."

Sun Sun Tiecheng shook his head: "His reputation's terrible. If he comes, all the good girls in my city will be ruined.

I'm speaking seriously—our sect is a proper sect. You must pick a proper person."

Li Li Banfeng thought again: "He He Yuxiu, head of the He family—proper, high cultivation, high status. She could elevate our sect."

Sun Sun Tiecheng looked at Li Li Banfeng: "Is she your lover?"

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "We're pure siblings—just sworn brother and sister."

"Pure?" Sun Sun Tiecheng sneered. "There's no such thing as sworn siblings—all of them sleep in the same bed.

That brute of a woman, He He Yuxiu—would she suit me? She might learn nothing and just drive me to death. Pick someone more reliable!"

Li Li Banfeng thought long and hard: "There's another... a foreigner named Cui Ti—disciple of the Green Water Beggars. Would he do?"

"Foreigners aren't taught. Green Flower Beggars? Even less so," Sun Sun Tiecheng shook his head. "Old Seven, this is a major sect matter—you must take it seriously!"

Li Li Banfeng thought: "There's another..."

Li Banfeng Jia—can't say it!

A voice suddenly interrupted Li Li Banfeng's thoughts.

Li Li Banfeng had many people in mind: Qiu Qiu Zhiheng, Xiao Ye Ci, Lu Lu Chunying, Chu Chu Huaiyuan, Zuo Zuo Wugang, Xiao Xiao Chuanzi...

And others he couldn't name: Luo Zhengnan, Wu Wu Yongchao, Zhang Wanlong, Xiao Xiao Genzi, Bai Bai Qiusheng, Liang Liang Wucai...

All of them carried Li Li Banfeng's hidden marks. Had Li Banfeng Yi not fiercely blocked him, Li Li Banfeng would have spoken their names aloud.

What's going on?

Why is my urge to speak so strong today?

Li Qi looked at Sun Sun Tiecheng, who had a faint smile: "Go on—why stop?"

Li Qi said: "Don't use techniques to trick me—we're family. I truly want to do great things for the sect."

Sun Sun Tiecheng nodded: "That's why I held back—if I hadn't, you'd still be talking till tomorrow morning.

Have you learned how to build this slope?"

Li Qi thought a moment, then turned to Yan Cui'er: "Cui'er, let's go back and practice!"

Yan Cui'er beamed and pulled Li Qi toward the room. Sun Sun Tiecheng frowned: "Don't always drag Yan Cui'er around. Tang Changfa's like that—don't you care?"

Li Li Banfeng helped Tang Tang Changfa up: "Come, Fa—let's go back and practice!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng barked: "Why practice with your own people? If you've got skill, go out and show it! Bring back some flesh and blood! Can't you even feed your own Changsan Shuyu?"

Feed?

How could it be that easy?

I've got a whole family waiting to eat.

And your ingredients are all so peculiar.

Sun Sun Tiecheng taught Li Qi the key points of "Sliding Down the Slope," then took a stick and drew a map on the ground: "Fool's City used to open its southern gate. Now it opens west. The path goes like this—memorize it..."

Li Li Banfeng memorized the entrance and went out to find food for the Changsan Shuyu.

He returned to his personal quarters and handed his bloodstained clothes to the phonograph: "My dear wife, wash these clothes—collect the bloodstains."

The wife asked: "What use is this blood?"

"For fishing. As bait."

The wife understood at once: "Oh, husband, you're trying to catch the shrimp under the Drama Cultivator's command? No need to fish—this kind of trash isn't worth my attention."

Li Li Banfeng hugged her from behind: "Oh, wife, you haven't gained weight, but your aura's grown mighty. Even the street-level ingredients aren't good enough for you?"

"If they were Level Seven or Eight, they'd make a decent snack!"

A Level Seven or Eight snack...

How many Level Seven or Eight are there in Like Puluozhou?

Then again, Did Honglian ate Ge Ge Junma and He He Caiyuan a while back—shouldn't she be ready to cook now?

He went to Room Nine and smiled: "Jiu Hua, are the pills ready?"

Did Honglian snorted. "Can you stop calling me Jiu Hua? Why don't you call me sesame paste instead?"

Li Li Banfeng thought for a moment. "Then call me Hua Jiu. Now, about the pills."

Did Honglian actually finished refining the pills. Li Li Banfeng peeled off the lotus seeds and examined them closely.

One seed produced two Xiao Xuan Yun Pills; the other produced one.

"Who produced the two?"

"A pure-blooded Neizhou native."

"Why do Neizhou natives produce an extra pill? Is their cultivation base higher than He He Caiyuan's?"

"Not because of higher cultivation. Their bloodline is special—their flesh yields more pills, and they're purer."

Li Li Banfeng gently stroked the lotus heart and grinned. "Hua Jiu, I'm almost out of Jin Jin Yuandan, and I still haven't reached the ninth level. You've got seven holes—don't force me to take action!"

Li Li Banfeng's hand never left the lotus heart. Did Honglian trembled slightly. "I'm doing this for your own good, truly—"

"Ordinary flesh can't produce Xiao Xuan Yun Pills. When you reach Yunshang, you'll understand how precious they are."

This was already the seventh Xiao Xuan Yun Pill Li Li Banfeng had stored.

Li Li Banfeng gently touched each hole on the lotus heart. "No matter how good something is, I have to be able to use it. I'll go find some ordinary ingredients—you must make me suitable pills!"

…

The phonograph took the bloodstain from Li Li Banfeng's clothes and dripped it onto the cabbage seed.

When the cabbage grew, Li Li Banfeng smiled.

This bait doesn't work.

The cabbage sprouted Gu Gu Rusong himself. Li Li Banfeng wanted him to impersonate Lu Lu Dongliang—but the cabbage man couldn't do that.

That's where the wife comes in—she must turn him into Lu Lu Dongliang.

The wife was tidying up the cabbage man's appearance when the projector reached the fifth room and imagined a new film.

On a twilight grassland, a pure young girl in a plain blue long robe ran ahead.

A young man in a black Zhongshan suit chased after her closely.

The young man caught up and placed a pearl hairpin on her head.

The girl looked odd—she had a bob, also called a mushroom cut, which didn't suit pearl ornaments well.

Never mind the details; the sentiment matters.

The man in the Zhongshan suit took her hand. "I'll spend my whole life with you."

The girl shook her head. "That's not enough. I want you with me through all lifetimes."

"Fine!" the young man agreed, embracing her as they silently watched the sunset. "Let's stay here and slowly recall our past lives."

The girl nodded, blushing as she nestled into his arms.

The projector was nervous.

Seventh Director, I did my best.

If I got anything out of her, consider it luck.

If I didn't, it's up to you.

…

At the entrance of Zhengjing Village stood a poplar tree with a vast canopy, where Madame Suoe swallows often rested.

Today, another woman stood beneath it. Yanzi sized her up. "You're waiting for someone?"

Lu Miss Dongchun nodded. "Waiting for my husband."

Yanzi laughed. "What a coincidence—I wait for my man here too. Could we be waiting for the same one? Does yours treat you well?"

Lu Miss Dongchun paused, then answered: "He treats me well. He's the only person in this world who does."

Yanzi flicked her antennae dismissively. "That's nonsense. Women don't live for men. I don't believe no one else treats you well!"

Lu Miss Dongchun looked at Yanzi. "Does your man treat you well?"

Yanzi snorted. "He treats me well when he's in my bed. When he's with other women, he treats them well too. I can't stop him. So why live for men? Next time I see him, I won't give him a good face."

Lu Miss Dongchun lowered her head. "My man isn't like that. He treats me well normally, but when it comes to that… he doesn't understand anything."

Yanzi chuckled. "Doesn't understand anything? Do you have to teach him? Is your husband a virgin?"

Lu Miss Dongchun shook her head. "He wasn't always like that. Before, he knew everything—and those things terrified me."

"But suddenly, he doesn't know anything anymore. I don't know why."

Yanzi frowned. "Sister, is he even still your husband? Did you get possessed?"

"I don't know," Lu Miss Dongchun sighed. Her delicate face had no color, no expression—like a porcelain doll.

Yanzi kept her distance. Though a highly cultivated wandering monster, she felt uneasy seeing Lu Miss Dongchun's eerie demeanor.

Down the distant path, a group slowly approached.

Yanzi's eyes lit up. She rushed forward. "Wu Lang, you're back!"

Ma Wu had returned.

He planned to transport rare treasures from Zhengjing Village to Huangtu Bridge, drawing merchants to boost the bridge's vitality.

Seeing Yanzi rush over, Ma Wu embraced her and kissed her plump cheek hard.

Yanzi turned back toward the tree. "There's a woman under the tree—strange, eerie. She's waiting for her man too. Is it you?"

Ma Wu glanced at the tree. "What woman?"

Yanzi frowned. "She was just here—vanished in an instant. Her cultivation isn't low!"

Ma Wu patted Yanzi, his eyes fixed on the giant poplar.

Among the tangled grass beside the tree, Lu Miss Dongchun was watching Ma Wu.

Lu Lu Dongliang had been silent for two full days. She feared he was in trouble.

She feared he'd fallen into Li Qi's hands. If so, her only option was to kidnap Ma Wu and force Li Qi to return Lu Lu Dongliang.

Ma Wu had two women with him—they were likely skilled.

The Madame Suoe Lady was even harder to deal with.

But no matter how hard, she had to try. There was nothing left in this world worth caring about.

Lu Miss Dongchun was about to burst from the grass when a strand of spider silk wrapped her arm.

The silk trembled, shaking her clothes along with it.

Sound is vibration. Her clothes vibrated—and thus, she heard the voice: "Don't go. Don't be reckless. Going now is suicide."

Lu Miss Dongchun responded with vibration: "Who are you?"

"I'm here to help you. Whether you admit it or not, Li Qi and Ma Wu are Xiaoxiong of Pulu Province—no different from the old Four Great Clans.

Facing either one alone is suicide. If you accept my help, you still have a chance to survive."

The speaker's tone was odd—he spoke with a Pulu accent but carried a foreigner's cadence.

Ma Wu walked toward the bushes. Lu Miss Dongchun had to either attack or flee—staying hidden meant death.

The spider silk vibrated again: "Come with me. I know you're here for Lu Lu Dongliang. I want to help him too—but first, we must find where he is."

Hearing this, Lu Miss Dongchun hesitated no longer. She followed the silk out of the bushes.

…

Ma Wu, along with Aqin and Huoling, searched the bushes for hours but found no trace of the woman Yanzi described. Back in the village, as Ma Wu listened to Yanzi's description, he spotted Shui Shui Yongquan drinking at a small tavern.

He hurried over. "Shui Ge, Yanzi saw a woman at the village entrance—looks like a porcelain doll. Have you noticed her?"

Shui Shui Yongquan silently formed a water curtain around them, blocking all sound without leaving a single drop. "You mean Lu Miss Dongchun?"

Ma Wu nodded. "She's our enemy. Do you know her?"

"I don't know her. Old Seven told me. She's a Yi Xiu—her aura is faint, leaves no trace. Hard to track.

There are sixteen others hiding deep in the small forest east of the village. They're well concealed. Last night, they ambushed and killed several hunters, stealing their dried rations.

I found the hunters' bodies. Following that trail, I located those sixteen bastards. Old Seven plans to strike tonight—take them all, including Lu Miss Dongchun."

Ma Wu exclaimed in delight. "Old Seven is in the village?"

"Don't rush. Don't go find him yet. Wait until after tonight."

…

Lu Lu Dongliang entered the forest east of Zhengjing Village and lit a cigarette.

Halfway through, a man in his thirties approached, bowing respectfully. "Master!"

Lu Lu Dongliang waved his hand. "Summon everyone."

The man asked no questions and turned to gather them.

Good thing he didn't ask—the cabbage man was inferior to the melon man and couldn't produce many responses.

Soon, all sixteen of Lu Lu Dongliang's men arrived—but Lu Miss Dongchun was missing.

Shui Shui Yongquan frowned, signaling Li Qi to deal with them in the forest first, while he went to find Lu Miss Dongchun.

Li Qi nodded. Once Shui Shui Yongquan was far enough, he quietly opened the door of his Sui Shen Ju.

Sensing the Jin Wu Cang Mi Jiao technique, the cabbage Lu Lu Dongliang walked toward the Sui Shen Ju.

The followers, unsure where their master was going, lowered their heads and followed.

They followed him all the way into the Sui Shen Ju.

Li Li Banfeng closed the door from outside.

The sixteen men didn't understand how they'd gone from the forest into such a tiny room.

They looked at Lu Lu Dongliang—and saw him standing respectfully against the wall.

Opposite Lu Lu Dongliang stood a phonograph.

Beside the phonograph stood a woman in red, her long, jet-black hair smooth and flowing, her back to the others as she dressed her hair.

The room was extremely dim, and the misty vapor obscured their view of the mirror before Hong Ying; they could not make out her face, only felt that her figure was impossibly beautiful.

Is this the reward sent by Master Lu?

To be honest, these dozen or so subordinates were truly desperate—since arriving in this new land, they had not touched a woman.

The phonograph spewed mist, the record spun rapidly on its tray, and a woman's voice issued from the horn: "Xue Yingying, my husband brought back some snacks—I'll share some with you."

Hong Ying slowly rose from the corner and whispered softly: "Zhao Xiao Wan, I knew you cared for me."

With that, Hong Ying turned her face toward them.

They saw a glinting spearpoint, dripping with thick black hair, rooted at the center of the woman's shoulders.

Sixteen men, most trembling, some dizzy, some wanting to scream.

Dizziness and trembling were fine, but no screaming—it was already late, and the old master had fallen asleep.

Anyone who tried to scream had their throat slit; those who didn't could watch how this family ate their midnight snack.

…

Ten li away, Detective Daboyens pressed his hand against a silk thread, silently sensing every vibration.

Lu Miss Dongchun asked: "What's the situation?"

Daboyens replied: "One man appeared in the woods; sixteen others surrounded him."

"It's Lu Dongliang! He brought sixteen subordinates." Lu Miss Dongchun was excited—she knew Lu Dongliang's men were all in the woods, and only Lu Dongliang could summon them all at once.

She was about to head into the forest when Daboyens stopped her.

"That man vanished. The others vanished too."

Lu Miss Dongchun asked anxiously: "What happened?"

Daboyens shook his head: "My spider friends can only give simple descriptions—they don't understand or can't explain the details."

"I'll go see for myself!"

"Don't rush—wait a bit…" After several minutes, Daboyens felt the silk tremble again: "That man reappeared—but the others did not."

Lu Miss Dongchun didn't understand the logic.

Daboyens retracted the silk and said to Lu Miss Dongchun: "I've been a private detective for decades—I can confidently tell you, the man in the woods isn't Lu Lu Dongliang."

Lu Miss Dongchun shook her head: "Impossible. His men obey only him."

Daboyens replied: "This is someone who looks very much like Lu Lu Dongliang—or is impersonating him by other means."

"How do you know?" Lu Miss Dongchun didn't believe him. "Didn't you say those spiders couldn't see the details?"

"Madam, this is my deduction. Lu Lu Dongliang arriving alone in a small forest at midnight, gathering all his men—that's an extremely dangerous act. It risks exposing his location.

If he must gather them all, it means he intends to lead them in some action they alone can accomplish.

But he took them away, then returned alone. Such behavior has no value—it only endangers himself.

So my reasonable conclusion is: he's already handed those sixteen men over to the enemy. He returned to the same spot to act as bait, hoping to lure you out."

Lu Miss Dongchun's face was expressionless: "Lu Dongliang won't betray me."

Daboyens nodded: "I believe he wouldn't betray you—which is why I say this man isn't Lu Lu Dongliang. This is a trap set by someone else.

If you go into the woods now, you'll fall into the same trap as the others. By then, if you still want to escape alive, the odds will be far worse."

Lu Miss Dongchun hesitated.

Daboyens said: "If you want to walk to your death, I won't stop you. But if you choose to trust us, we can help you find Lu Lu Dongliang."

"You?" Lu Miss Dongchun looked at Daboyens, her clear eyes gleaming like glass beads—bright, yet dull. "Who are you?"

"We are members of the Flying General Camp—all subordinates of the Flying General."

"Who is the Flying General?"

Daboyens spoke solemnly: "Everyone in Puzhou knows her name—the Flying General, Zhao Xiao Wan, whose long spear secures the realm."

Lu Miss Dongchun was skeptical—Zhao Xiao Wan was a legendary figure.

Drip.

A sound came from the grass.

Both turned toward it and saw dew sliding off a blade of grass.

"The humidity is heavy!" Daboyens said grimly. "The Water Spring is coming. Ms. Lu Miss Dongchun, this is your final chance—if you wish to join us, we leave together. If not, we part ways."

Lu Miss Dongchun nodded. She agreed.

A silk thread descended from above. Daboyens took Lu Miss Dongchun's hand, and they vanished into the night.

Click-clack~

The blade of grass from which the dew had fallen uprooted itself and scurried across the ground on its roots.

It reached a man's side, swiftly climbed his spine, and when it reached the back of his skull, it first pierced his skin, then curled into a jade-green sphere and burrowed into his skull.

The man's cheek twitched—this time, it hurt.

The green sphere moved back and forth on the back of his skull, like a jade-green eye.

Kui Xiu, Kui Guan Bafang.

A trusted agent gifted to Li Li Banfeng by Qiu Qiu Luoye.

Many parts of him can detach and act independently—his occipital eye is one of them.

This eye had good fortune. His post was far from the village; he hadn't expected much. Yet he uncovered crucial information.

Kui Guan Bafang immediately relayed the news to Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng was surprised upon receiving the message.

Daboyens is still alive.

"They have an organization called the Flying General Camp. Lu Miss Dongchun followed him to join the Flying General, Zhao Xiao Wan."

His wife laughed aloud.

"Hey, husband, tell them—if they want to join me, they must come and speak with me face to face!"

(End of Chapter)