Chapter 607

Song Laoshi, the white-clothed man, and the white crane followed a man forward together.

To be precise, they weren't sure if this person in front of them was a man. The other party's figure, face, and clothing were all very blurry. Even the white crane, with its extremely strong perception, could only distinguish a general outline, and based on the voice that had called out to Qin Qin Tianjiu earlier, guessed that the other party should be a man.

This was the effect produced by a Residential Cultivator at the third layer above the clouds, pushing the talent of being easily overlooked to the limit.

The white crane's perception was too powerful; to achieve this effect, Li Li Banfeng had consumed a great deal of physical strength, and he didn't know how long he could hold on.

Walking out of the wormhole, the four of them stood in the swamp together.

The white-clothed man looked around; he didn't see Qin Qin Tianjiu.

Qin Qin Tianjiu had long since left; he wasn't on this side of the boundary, he was on the other side of the boundary, in the territory of the Pant-Belt Ridge.

The first time the phonograph fired the Dark Bridge Cannon, Li Li Banfeng walked from Green Water Bay to Pant-Belt Ridge; the second time the phonograph fired the Dark Bridge Cannon, Li Li Banfeng walked back from Pant-Belt Ridge to Green Water Bay.

The phonograph had long since returned to the Leaving Suishenju with the Dark Bridge Cannon. Li Li Banfeng took out three contracts and placed them one by one in front of the three people.

The content of the contracts was very simple: it required the three people present not to reveal what had happened tonight.

The three of them pressed their blood handprints on the contracts one after another. Li Li Banfeng waved his hand at the crowd, signaling that they could leave.

The white crane held his wings against his chest and bowed to Li Li Banfeng: "Benefactor, would you be willing to leave your name?"

Li Li Banfeng shook his head slightly.

The white crane bowed again: "The kindness of saving my life will never be forgotten in this life. I, Bai, will temporarily entrust this life of mine here. In the future, if Benefactor has any need, just come to the Bai He Sect and find me, Bai Bai Wusong. I will go through fire and water without hesitation."

After saying this, the white crane pecked a feather from his own wing. This peck was ruthless, and the root of the feather was stained with blood.

He handed this feather to Li Li Banfeng; the meaning was very clear.

This was a token for their reunion in the future. As long as Li Li Banfeng produced this feather, the white crane, Bai Bai Wusong, would be willing to hand this life over to Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng accepted the feather, and his blurry figure bowed back to the white crane.

The white crane flew away with the white-clothed man. Song Mei looked at Li Li Banfeng, wanting to speak but hesitating.

When Li Li Banfeng called out to Qin Qin Tianjiu, Song Shu had heard the voice. She suspected it was Li Li Banfeng, but didn't dare to speak.

Song Shu was still hesitating when she suddenly saw the figure opposite her nod slightly at her.

It was him! It really was him!

Song Laoshi's eyes filled with tears; there was both the joy of surviving a disaster and the excitement of a long-awaited reunion.

She didn't know how to express her feelings to Li Li Banfeng at this moment. Unfortunately, the reunion was so brief; Li Li Banfeng waved his hand again, signaling her to leave as soon as possible.

"Thank you, thank you..." Song Laoshi knew now wasn't the time for reminiscing. She thanked him repeatedly, slowly turned around, and walked into the night.

After walking a few steps, she turned her head, wanting to take one more look at Li Li Banfeng, but Li Li Banfeng's figure had already vanished.

Song Shu bit her lip, and the tears could no longer be controlled, flowing down her cheeks.

Li Li Banfeng, you didn't even say a word to me?

You saved my life; how can I repay you?

And you...

You haven't even told me where this is!

Where am I supposed to go?

Song Shu wasn't that familiar with Puluo Continent; there were many places she hadn't been to, and she hadn't been to this swamp. The weather was somewhat gloomy, and the sky full of dark clouds obscured the stars.

In the middle of the night, there were no buildings around.

Song Shu sensed the surrounding magnetic field and discovered that the magnetic field was in chaos.

This wasn't strange; half of the territory in Puluo Continent had chaotic magnetic fields.

Song Laoshi used her right hand to grasp the index finger of her left hand, pulled it outward, turned it clockwise twice, and counter-clockwise one and a half times; she wanted to make a call to seek help from the radio station. But just as the call was about to connect, she pressed her index finger back in.

She couldn't reveal this location; doing so would definitely be disadvantageous to Li Banfeng.

Keep walking; there was a forest vaguely ahead. Once she entered the forest, perhaps she could find her direction.

After walking for two hours, Song Shu entered the forest. Passing through a few rows of trees, the accumulated snow was already over her knees.

The swamp outside the forest didn't freeze, but the snow in the forest was over a foot deep; the territory of Puluo Continent couldn't be judged by common sense at all.

Logically speaking, with her cultivation, walking in the snow was nothing, but she had been trapped in the wormhole for too many days, and unlike Little Pang who could eat anything, her body was now weak beyond measure.

Walking deep into the forest, Song Shu couldn't bear the fatigue and leaned against a tree to rest for a while, grabbing a handful of snow and stuffing it into her mouth to quench her thirst. "Miss, why are you eating snow?"

Song Shu had just eaten a mouthful of snow when she suddenly heard someone speaking. The mouthful of snow water choked her into a fit of coughing. She looked around and saw a woman dressed in black walking slowly from afar.

Seeing her light footsteps, not sinking at all as she stepped on the snow, Song Mei knew this person had extraordinary skills and immediately became alert. "Are you lost? Are you hungry? I have some pastries here." As she spoke, the woman had already walked up close. "Are you..." Song Shu stared at the woman for a moment and suddenly became a bit dazed.

Why is this woman so beautiful?

This skin is so white, white just right; a bit whiter and it would lack blood, a bit less white and it would lose its brilliance. Yet she was white at the most beautiful scale.

This figure is so slender; an inch taller and it would appear too heroic, a bit thinner and it would appear too delicate. Yet this figure wasn't off by a single bit, possessing both beauty and softness.

It wasn't just the figure; from the forehead to the eyebrows and eyes, from the mouth and nose to the shoulders and neck, looking over and over again dozens of times, one couldn't see a single flaw. Moving the gaze inch by inch, every part looked so exquisite.

Even if one found the number one painter in Puluo Continent—Mu Yuejuan of the Baihua Baihua Danqing—and let her paint for ten or eight years, she couldn't paint such a beauty. Song Shu was stunned, and the woman also carefully sized up Song Shu: "Miss, your appearance is haggard, your face covered in dust; did you encounter a villain?"

"No, no." Song Mei's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head. Having been trapped in the wormhole for so long, she knew her appearance definitely wasn't good—disheveled, and even somewhat shabby.

The woman said: "My home is nearby. Go to my home to wash up, eat something, drink a bowl of hot soup, and have a good sleep." "This..."

How could this be?

Not to mention this was Puluo Continent, even in the outer states, in the middle of nowhere, encountering a woman of unknown origin who urges you to go to her home—would you dare to go? Song Shu took a deep breath of cold air, trying her best to stay awake: "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm in a hurry to get on my way."

"What hurry? The wind is strong and the snow is heavy; can you still find the road? Go to my home." The woman's gaze flashed, and Song Mei's heart trembled.

Song Mei buried her head deeper. She didn't dare to look into the woman's eyes and tried to lower her voice as much as possible: "My home isn't far either, just ahead. My father is waiting for me to go home." "Girl, who are you lying to? I know everyone in the villages and towns within ten miles of here. Where is your village or stronghold? Tell me."

"It really is just ahead, not far..." "Come home with me." "I, I can't..." "Come home with me."

"I don't..." Although she said she wouldn't, Song Shu's footsteps followed the woman forward uncontrollably.

She didn't dare to look at this woman, but not looking was useless; this woman's voice could hook a person's soul.

Song Mei followed the woman all the way out of the forest, the woman's voice lingering in her ears: "Come home with me."

She walked faster and faster, as if she had lost her soul. As she walked, the woman's voice suddenly vanished. Song Mei looked up again and saw nothing—not a single shadow. Had she encountered a fox spirit, or a mountain ghost?

Song Shu slapped herself in the face.

I am a cultivator above the clouds, I am a university lecturer, I have received higher education; how could I believe in such things, how could I be deceived by a mountain ghost? Walking out of the forest, Song Shu vaguely saw a road with frozen footprints and ruts. Following this road, she should be able to find a household.

Just now in the forest, it must have been a hallucination. Having been trapped in the wormhole for so long, plus the cold and hunger, having hallucinations was normal. But why was that voice so vivid?

"Come home with me."

Song Shu walked a long way, but the voice still echoed in her mind...

In the forest, Li Li Banfeng carried Zhao Zhao Xiaowan and ran all the way.

If Li Li Banfeng had arrived any later, Zhao Zhao Xiaowan would have led Song Mei home—perhaps she would have been on the dinner table by now! "Husband, it's freezing cold; just bring her home!"

"Lady, don't say such angry words. If I really brought her home, could she still come out alive?"

"Why come out? Staying at home to serve Husband is so good! And give birth to a few fat babies for Husband; I'll watch the children for Husband!" "Lady, don't be angry anymore."

Who's angry! I'm not angry at all! I turned back into human form, and Husband doesn't even say he likes it, just knows how to hold that phonograph all day!

Look at how pretty that little slut is; bring her home! I'll get along well with her; I definitely won't kill her!"

Li Li Banfeng carried his Lady back to the Leaving Suishenju. Song Laoshi had already walked out of the forest, and Little Pang Qin had people looking after him in Pant-Belt Ridge. He just didn't know where the white crane and his follower had gone. Let them be; the white crane's cultivation was high, so he shouldn't have any trouble.

The white-clothed man rode on the white crane and flew all the way to Green Water City.

"My Lord, that woman didn't follow us, and I don't know where she went." "Her cultivation isn't low, so you don't need to worry."

"I'm not worried, I just feel a bit reluctant; that woman was quite nice."

The white crane laughed: "She is quite pretty, but don't you go thinking about her. She knows our savior, and perhaps the two of them are a pair." "My Lord, how did you see that they knew each other? Our benefactor didn't even show his face."

"There are some things you don't understand yet; learn slowly."

The next morning, the white crane flew near Green Water City, landed on the ground, and with a light wave of his wings, turned into a man in his early forties. He held a folding fan, wore white clothes, and had a vertical flute tucked into his waist. He was handsome and had an extraordinary bearing.

It was just that in terms of clothing, he and his follower were slightly matching.

The follower's name was Bai Xinsheng. Seeing people coming and going in the city, he felt a bit nervous and kept hiding behind the white crane.

Since he was young, he had been practicing cultivation in seclusion with the white crane, and not long after they came out of seclusion, the two were trapped in the wormhole. Bai Xinsheng had never seen so many people since he was a child. "My Lord, let's hurry to the sect."

The white crane, Bai Bai Wusong, was the senior brother of the Bai He Sect leader, Bai Bai Wuchuan. He had originally come to Green Water Bay to inherit the position of sect leader. "No need to go yet; let's find out the situation of the sect first."

Bai Xinsheng was stunned: "My Lord, why don't we go to the sect to find out? Could it be that you don't want to be the sect leader?"

Bai Bai Wusong shook his head and said: "I didn't want to be the sect leader to begin with. With my cultivation today, it's not suitable for me to be the sect leader anymore.

Back then, the sect was in a transition period, and they forced me out of seclusion, so I had no choice. But now, if Bai Wuchuan can manage the sect well, let him continue to be the sect leader."

"Why! Why should that kid get the benefit!" Bai Xinsheng didn't agree. "We were trapped for so many years, and he didn't even send anyone to help us. Now you're letting him pick up a cheap sect leadership; how can there be such a reason!"

The white crane frowned: "Do you know how many sects in Puluo Continent were destroyed by internal strife? If I return to the sect and cause a struggle, do you know how many sect disciples will lose their lives because of it?"

Bai Xinsheng lowered his head: "If he's the sect leader, then what are we going to do?" "Stay away from the mortal world, practice cultivation with a focused heart; what's wrong with living a quiet life?"

Bai Xinsheng looked at the person selling sesame cakes on the street and swallowed his saliva: "I can't be quiet here; my stomach is growling constantly, it's so uncomfortable!" He was hungry.

Having eaten moss for two years in the wormhole, finally seeing the fireworks of the human world, could he not be hungry?

The white crane had brought quite a bit of money when he came out of seclusion; it was enough not just to buy a sesame cake, but even to set up a family business. But that money was lost in the wormhole, and now the master and servant didn't have a single cent on them.

A person of this level being stumped by the price of a sesame cake sounded absurd, but the white crane didn't want to steal or rob; he wanted to earn money with his own skills. How to earn this money? With his status, he couldn't go and work for others.

The white crane had an idea. He took Bai Xinsheng to the overpass, stood by the side of the road, took out his vertical flute, and started playing a tune.

There were many performers on the overpass—storytellers, opera singers, martial artists, magicians, plate spinners, jar balancers—all relying on real skills to eat. The white crane played three tunes, and not a single person gave him money.

Bai Xinsheng asked his master to rest for a while. He took his flute and played a few tunes too. From time to time, people would stand by the street to listen for a while, then turn and leave, still not giving money.

Bai Xinsheng felt embarrassed and lowered his head. He knew this was performing for money, but he didn't understand why the people passing by listening to the music didn't give money. Was it because they played badly?

It really wasn't that they played badly; it was just that they chose the wrong tunes. Highbrow music wasn't suitable for a place like the overpass.

Seeing that an hour was almost up and they hadn't earned a single cent, the two were worrying when they saw a man standing by the road, taking out a silver dollar and handing it to Bai Xinsheng. Bai Xinsheng quickly took the money and looked at the man.

This person was wearing a tuxedo, a bow tie, and had a handlebar mustache—a civilized, gentlemanly appearance.

Giving a reward on the overpass, even a Da Huan currency note was considered too much, but this person gave a silver dollar, and the white crane didn't dare to take it.

The man smiled: "The two of you are people who truly understand music, but the overpass isn't a place that matches your skills. If you two are willing to do me the honor, why not stay at my place for a few days? I'll record a few records for you and try selling them first."

The white crane bowed: "Sir, how should I address you?"

The man introduced himself: "My name is Ling Ling Miaosheng. I opened a business called the Ling Miaosheng Phonograph Shop. I went out for a few days a while ago and just got back today, having just stepped off the train." The white crane saw that this person was quite sincere. He didn't have a cent to his name now, so he wasn't afraid of being cheated out of money. As for others wanting to cheat him out of something else, with his cultivation, it was impossible.

He agreed to Ling Ling Miaosheng's offer. The master and servant followed Ling Ling Miaosheng to the phonograph shop, where Ling Ling Miaosheng specifically tidied up a room to listen to the two play tunes. The two played another piece, and Ling Ling Miaosheng was so fascinated that he immediately called someone to engrave a record and gave them a hundred silver dollars as a reward.

The white crane refused to take it: "How can I take so much?"

Ling Ling Miaosheng shook his head: "This isn't much. These records will definitely sell well. Once we make money, we'll calculate it slowly."

That night, Ling Ling Miaosheng kept the two for dinner at the phonograph shop. When it was time for dinner, Li Li Banfeng arrived with gifts.

After Ling Ling Miaosheng returned, he immediately sent someone to invite Li Qi. Li Qi happened to be in Xiaoyao Wu, and since Ling Ling Miaosheng had been gone for so long, Li Qi definitely had to come over to take a look. Seeing the white crane and Bai Xinsheng, Ling Ling Miaosheng quickly stepped forward to introduce them: "These are two artists, Mr. Yang Rao Shaofeng and Mr. Cai Cai Weiming."

These two names were made up on the spot by the white crane. Li Li Banfeng didn't recognize the white crane, and the white crane didn't recognize Li Li Banfeng.

But Li Li Banfeng recognized Bai Xinsheng, and from Bai Xinsheng's attitude, he deduced that the other man was the white crane, Bai Bai Wusong. Why did this senior brother run to Green Water City and, instead of being the sect leader of the Bai He Sect, end up performing for money at the Ling Miaosheng Phonograph Shop?

Li Li Banfeng didn't ask too many questions. During the meal, they exchanged toasts, and the conversation was quite harmonious.

After dinner, Ling Ling Miaosheng settled the master and servant in their accommodations, and he and Li Qi chatted alone in the phonograph shop. Li Li Banfeng asked: "Did you go to the Inner Outer Amikan Kingdom this time?"

"I did. They have changed a lot. In the past, they didn't treat wizards as human beings, but now they are a bit friendlier toward wizards. Wizards are the cultivators on their side, but they are different from the cultivators on our side."

Li Li Banfeng was clear about the concept of wizards—no sects, no layers, but they had certain dark abilities. Cui Ti had introduced them to him. "Why did the Outer Amikan Kingdom become friendlier toward wizards?"

"I initially thought their perception had changed, but later I found out they had received intelligence that there might be a war soon. According to the Inner Outer Amikan Kingdom, the Demon King is about to bring the flames of hell to ignite the land of the Outer Amikan Kingdom."

Li Li Banfeng thought for a moment: "Does hell refer to the Inner State?"

Ling Ling Miaosheng nodded: "That's my deduction, but I've had many memories stolen. The Outer Amikan Kingdom still follows this routine, and they still hide most of the things about the Inner Outer Amikan Kingdom very deeply.

I recorded some memories through the records, using some techniques here that should be able to evade the Outer Amikan Kingdom's censorship. Once these records are mailed back after a period of time, I will recover most of my memories, and by then, I should be able to unlock many secrets."

Li Li Banfeng and Ling Ling Miaosheng had always been very compatible. They were chatting happily when the simple telephone rang. It was Luo Zhengnan calling to say that Liao Liao Zihui had gone to Xiaoyao Wu and had urgent business to find Li Qi. Li Li Banfeng instructed Ling Ling Miaosheng: "The two musicians you found are not simple characters; you must treat them well."

"I will treat every artist well." Ling Ling Miaosheng sent Li Li Banfeng out of the phonograph shop and bowed deeply. Over at Xiaoyao Wu, Liao Liao Zihui had been waiting for a long time, not even having time to drink a sip of wine, sweating profusely from anxiety.

"Liao Zihui, what matter has made you so anxious?" "Brother Li, Shen Shen Jingye is missing!"

"Who?"

"The Director of the Dark Star Bureau, Shen Shen Jingye. He went to investigate Gourd Village yesterday, and once he went, he never came back!" "He entered Gourd Village?"

Liao Liao Zihui shook his head: "It can't be determined yet. At the very least, this matter can't be defined. Once it's defined, Shen Shen Jingye is finished..."

"What kind of friendship do you have? Since when did you care about him so much?" In Li Li Banfeng's impression, there had been no shortage of mutual bickering between Shen Shen Jingye and Liao Liao Zihui in the past.

"It's different now. The bumps and bruises, the mutual bickering—none of that was a big deal. This time it's a big deal. If he entered Gourd Village, he might not be able to come out. Even if he does come out, he won't be able to explain himself clearly."

"He went to Gourd Village himself; what can I do about it?" Li Li Banfeng didn't seem to care about this.

Liao Liao Zihui pleaded: "The matter hasn't been settled yet; he might not have gone to Gourd Village. He isn't exactly a good person, but he can do some human things. You've been with him, and whatever you do together goes quite smoothly. If someone else comes over, you'll definitely feel uncomfortable, and the entire Dark Star Bureau won't be easy to deal with either."

Li Li Banfeng smiled: "Whether it's easy to deal with or not, what can be done?"

To tell the truth, Li Li Banfeng felt that he had done enough as this balancer. The boundary issue had been basically resolved, and the outer states' attitude toward Puluo Continent had also become basically upright.

What needed to be done now was to wait for the Lady to make improvements to the Dark Bridge, so that the Dark Bridge Cannon would have a larger range and a longer duration, ensuring that more people could pass through the boundary. Having completed this task, Li Li Banfeng felt that his mission in the outer states could be considered complete.

Of course, the Three-Headed People issue still needed to be resolved, but this wasn't a problem the Dark Star Bureau could solve. Every time the Three-Headed People were released, it required an exchange of interests between the two sides.

Han Han Yaomen was dumbfounded, and Ban Yue Ban Yue Hongliang didn't expect it either.

Before, they thought that if they couldn't afford to provoke, they could afford to hide, but now they found that they couldn't hide even if they wanted to.

The next night, Han Han Yaomen received a wooden box again, and two more halls were destroyed.

He He Jiaqing didn't seem to come for the silk store; he came for the Qingyun Society!

Han Han Yaomen panicked and gathered several key members of the gang to come up with ideas.

Everyone's idea was to fight He He Jiaqing to the end, but the old man Ban Yue Ban Yue Hongliang proposed another suggestion: "Ask the eldest sister of the He family to come forward and mediate between the two sides. Whatever grievances there are, put them on the table and make them clear. If we can calm the matter down, we will admit it even if we suffer a little loss."

Han Han Yaomen was unconvinced: "Have we suffered few losses?"

Ban Yue Ban Yue Hongliang stopped talking. The level of means was all on the surface. If you are unconvinced, what can you do?

Hesitating for two days and losing two more halls, Han Han Yaomen went to New Land, brought heavy gifts, found He He Yuxiu, and asked her to come forward to mediate.

He He Yuxiu looked at her own territory, her expression a bit embarrassed: "Old Han, you have also seen that I have my own territory, and I can't take care of things at home.

He Jiaqing is also an adult, it's impossible for him to listen to me in everything. I will find a time to persuade him, but whether he listens to me or not, that's another matter."

Han Han Yaomen felt that He He Yuxiu might not be able to handle this matter firmly.

He thought wrong. It wasn't that it couldn't be handled firmly; it was that He He Yuxiu didn't handle it at all.

The silk store was originally He He Jiaqing's own business, and He He Yuxiu shouldn't have interfered.

Han Han Yaomen provoked first, and He He Jiaqing retaliated. He He Yuxiu couldn't possibly turn her elbow outward; she definitely stood on He He Jiaqing's side.

As for whether this retaliation was too ruthless, no one could define it. When Han Han Yaomen turned around and retaliated against He He Jiaqing, he definitely wouldn't show mercy.

The accountant Sheng Sheng Shanzhou felt that He He Jiaqing did nothing wrong: "Young Master's approach has more courage than the old master back then. Either we don't make a move, or once we make a move, we must clean it up."

He He Yuxiu and Han Han Yaomen didn't have a very deep friendship originally, and He He Yuxiu didn't take to heart where the Qingyun Society would go in the future.

She just didn't quite understand He He Jiaqing's approach: "What's wrong with He Jiaqing? Usually, he is secretive, afraid of revealing traces. Why is he so high-profile this time?"

Casualties in various halls of the Qingyun Society continued, and Han Han Yaomen knew that He He Yuxiu didn't help.

Helpless, he could only use the last move.

"I have to invite the grandmaster out!"

Ban Yue Ban Yue Hongliang was a bit worried: "The old master hasn't managed the gang's affairs for a long time. When the old master had an accident, we begged him so much, but the old master didn't make a move."

The old master refers to the previous Dragon Head Master of the Qingyun Society, who was also Han Han Yaomen's master. The "accident" Ban Yue Ban Yue Hongliang mentioned refers to the internal struggle of the Qingyun Society. The old master begged for help to no avail and eventually died in this internal struggle.

"This matter is different from the last time. Last time it was our gang's internal struggle, this time it is a disaster of extinction. The grandmaster won't just watch and do nothing!"

Han Han Yaomen ordered to set up an incense hall. The incense candles were set up, and the grandmaster's hanging portrait was also set up.

Ordinary people couldn't tell that this was the grandmaster's portrait, because this painting depicted a camel.

Under the portrait, there was also the grandmaster's name. This grandmaster's name was a bit special; he was called Bei Bei Wushuang.

Han Han Yaomen prayed in the incense hall for three days and three nights without receiving any response. Ban Yue Ban Yue Hongliang was worried that the situation was not good,

and persuaded Han Han Yaomen to look for another way out.

"Where is the way out?" Han Han Yaomen couldn't think of a way out anymore.

"Go find Seventh Brother, we can also be considered Seventh Brother's friends."

Han Han Yaomen thought carefully about his relationship with Li Qi. Are they friends?