Chapter 61: The Delicate Flavors of Baixiang, the Golden Eyes That See Yin and Yang

Qin Xiaopang burst into flames and rolled frantically on the ground in terror.

Yet everyone present, except Xiaopang, remained utterly unmoved.

Yu Nan and her fabric shop’s clerks knew Master Yao was a man of real ability.

Li Banfeng trusted Master Yao completely; the fact that Qin Xiaopang could now roll on the ground proved his legs had fully straightened.

Less than two minutes later, Xiaopang’s clothes were burned to ash, his hair and all other body hair gone, lying on the ground groaning in pain.

Master Yao asked Xiaopang with concern: “Young man, what’s wrong? Are you hungry?”

Yu Nan looked embarrassed; she knew Master Yao had a habit of humor, but this was no time for such a joke.

Li Banfeng felt no embarrassment—he thought Master Yao’s question made perfect sense!

Xiaopang was annoyed, but after careful sensing, he realized he was indeed a bit hungry.

The clerk went to prepare food; this had nothing to do with Master Yao, who picked up his money bag and staggered out of the courtyard, Li Banfeng following behind.

Yu Nan blocked Li Banfeng: “Young Master Qi, no need to see him off.”

Li Banfeng sidestepped Yu Nan: “I’m not one who ignores propriety.”

“It’s not about propriety—it’s that we can’t…” Yu Nan couldn’t stop Li Banfeng; the Wu Xiu’s pace far outstripped that of a typical Lv Xiu at the same level.

Master Yao walked quickly; soon his figure vanished beyond the gate.

But Li Banfeng was no slower—he broke into a run and disappeared into the night.

Yu Nan couldn’t catch up; she frowned: “This man has no sense of propriety at all!”

…

Master Yao and Li Banfeng walked, one behind the other, for nearly an hour.

At a patch of forest, Master Yao turned and looked at Li Banfeng: “Why are you following me? Trying to rob me?”

“The patient is cured—how could I touch your money? I only wanted to see you off,” Li Banfeng said respectfully, gazing at Master Yao.

“See me off?” Master Yao took a sip of wine. “Do you even know where I live?”

Li Banfeng thought a moment: “I guess it’s somewhere remote—almost there?”

“Farther than you think. Where I live isn’t just remote—it’s so isolated, even if you’ve got good legs, you won’t find your way out.” Master Yao was making it clear: stop following, or he might kill Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng kept smiling: “Master, you’re a man of real ability. I’d like to be your friend.”

Master Yao chuckled: “Hehehe, I’ve made plenty of friends in my life.

One friend I made at eight—he stole my sugar figurine and ate it.

Another I made at eighteen—he stole my wife and slept with her.

Another I made at eighty—he took everything he could from me.

I’m a man with poor eyesight—I can’t make friends, and I don’t want to anymore.”

Li Banfeng said: “Then let’s not talk friendship—let’s talk business. I want to do business with Master Yao. What price should I offer?”

Master Yao took another sip of wine: “Who are you talking to? Do you know who I am? Who gave you the nerve to do business with me?”

Li Banfeng wasn’t afraid; his expression turned serious: “You’re a good man, an upright man, a man of ability.”

Master Yao laughed: “How do you know I’m a good man?”

“Because you saved Qin Xiaopang.”

“I didn’t save him for free—I was paid.”

Li Banfeng said earnestly: “That’s why I’m here to do business—with real gold and silver, not empty words to trouble you.”

Huh~

A cold wind blew through; both men fell silent for a long while.

“Hohohoho!” the old man suddenly laughed. “You’re actually quite my type. Speak up—what business do you want? Healing or medicine? Don’t bother me with anything else.”

Li Banfeng asked: “I haven’t decided yet. When I do, where can I find you?”

Master Yao glanced back at Yu Nan’s house: “Don’t they know? When you get to Baixiang Village, have them send for me.”

Li Banfeng nodded: “Master, if I come to Baixiang Village, I’ll come to you in person. But if I’m not there, how do I find you to discuss business?”

Master Yao opened his wine gourd and took another big sip: “If you’re not in Baixiang Village, it depends on distance. If you’re beyond Yao Wang Gou, I can’t help. If you’re inside Yao Wang Gou, I still can.

How much help I give depends on your sincerity. Before we talk business, you must pay a deposit.”

Li Banfeng agreed on the spot: “Master speaks wisely. But tell me—should I deliver the deposit, or burn it?”

Huh!

Another cold wind swept through the forest, leaves rustling loudly.

Master Yao paused, then chuckled: “Young, but sharp-eyed.

If time permits, bring the money.

If it’s urgent, burn it—but don’t burn yang money. Burn yin money.”

“Where do I buy yin money?” Li Banfeng knew it wasn’t ordinary yin money.

“I have one here—fifty thousand. Will you buy it?” The old man fumbled for a long while in his tattered clothes and pulled out a crumpled yellow sheet of paper.

Li Banfeng had prepared in advance—he took fifty thousand in cash from his waist pouch and handed it to Master Yao.

Master Yao liked Li Banfeng’s straightforwardness and gave a slight nod: “Let me be clear—once this spirit note is burned, whether the deal succeeds or not, no refunds.

Don’t come to me for business beneath my station. As for what my station is—figure it out yourself. If you’re clever, you’ll understand after the deal is done.”

Master Yao turned and vanished into the mist.

Li Banfeng tucked the spirit note away and returned to Yu Nan’s residence.

Seeing Li Banfeng return safely, Yu Nan drew a puff from her pipe, her expression slightly displeased: “Young Master Qi, next time, no matter what you do, give us a heads-up. You came back alive this time—but next time, who knows?”

Yu Nan was complaining about what had just happened; Li Banfeng seemed not to understand.

The clerk translated for him: “Master Li, Master Yao isn’t ordinary—he’s a transcendent hermit of Baixiang Village.

Since you don’t know him well, keep your distance. If you anger this elder, the consequences could be anything.”

Li Banfeng asked the clerk: “How do you normally contact this elder?”

The clerk lowered his head and said nothing.

Yu Nan told Li Banfeng: “Since he’s a transcendent hermit, he naturally doesn’t want to be disturbed. Without Master Yao’s permission, we dare not reveal the secrets of this place to you.”

Li Banfeng thought about how long it took the clerk to summon Master Yao.

Half an hour, round trip—the clerk clearly hadn’t gone to Master Yao’s home; Master Yao’s home was far too distant—even Li Banfeng couldn’t reach it in an hour.

Thinking of the smoky aura clinging to Master Yao, Li Banfeng had his answer.

Li Banfeng looked at the clerk: “You lit incense and candles to summon Master Yao?”

The Ba Wei Ling Long’s tip concealed the truth—ordinary scents couldn’t fool Li Banfeng.

The clerk stared at Li Banfeng in shock, then glanced at Yu Nan.

Yu Nan’s index and middle fingers rubbed up and down her pipe.

Li Banfeng had seen this gesture before—when she was deciding whether to kill Rong Jin’an.

It was her nervous habit.

Yu Nan carried the demeanor of a seasoned veteran, but now she didn’t seem as ruthless as she appeared.

As for Master Yao, perhaps Yu Nan herself didn’t know his origins.

Her description was accurate: a transcendent hermit.

Master Yao had been dead for a long time.

The Jin Jing Qiu Hao discerned yin and yang—Li Banfeng had first thought moss grew on Master Yao’s robe, but closer inspection revealed he was wrong.

It wasn’t moss—it was clusters of greenish-blue flames, identical to the ghost fires of graveyards.

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(End of Chapter)