Chapter 700

"Master of Blade Cultivators?" Li Li Banfeng stared at the head of the Debt Knife Man, tears streaming down his face. "Senior, I didn't mean to kill you!"

The peddler frowned. "Why are you crying?"

Li Li Banfeng wiped his tears as he spoke. "I'm heartbroken seeing this Master die so brutally. What was his name?"

The peddler said, "He was called Chu Duafa."

"Master Chu, rest in peace. And what was the name of the Force Cultivation Grand Leader?"

The peddler said, "He was called Wan Kaishan."

"Master Wan, rest in peace too—"

"Stop wailing!" the peddler cut him off. The weeping was grating.

Li Li Banfeng wiped his eyes. "You don't understand. This crying is necessary."

The peddler flicked ash from his cigarette. "What's there not to understand? The evidence is clear. You're just afraid they didn't die cleanly enough."

Li Li Banfeng nodded. "If they didn't die cleanly, wouldn't their souls return to the Inner State's furnace? People of their caliber would definitely be reborn, wouldn't they?"

17

The peddler drew on his cigarette. "Their souls can't reach the furnace. I locked them inside their own skulls." Li Li Banfeng stared in shock. "What sect's technique is this?"

The peddler said, "It's a Lock Cultivator technique. Lock Cultivators are an extinct sect. I tried to find a disciple for them, but since their sect isn't strong in combat, no one ever wanted to join."

17

"If they can't fight well, they should at least be good at defense," Li Li Banfeng mused. "Someone who likes hiding things would suit this path."

The peddler nodded. "Yes. In the past, this sect loved to hide things. When fully cultivated, they could lock an entire territory."

"What do you mean, lock an entire territory?"

The peddler smiled. "You can't see it. You can't open it."

Li Li Banfeng thought. "Isn't that just an Unnameable Place?"

The peddler nodded. "There are many Unnameable Places in Prolo State—all created by Lock Cultivators. Back then, the Workshop Master crafted a key specifically to unlock these places. Later, the Green Water Bow took it away. No one knows where it is now."

The peddler nodded: "In Pulu Province, there are many nameless places, all locked away by the Lock Cultivators. Back then, the Founder of the Craft Cultivators made a special key to unlock the locks on these nameless places, but later the Green Water Bow took that key, and now no one knows where it's gone."

Li Li Banfeng took a drag from his cigarette and changed the subject. "What kind of person was the Workshop Master?"

The peddler recalled. "I remember—he was a man of fierce spirit. I suppose he's now fled to Tufang State to serve the Sage."

Li Li Banfeng looked at Chu Duafa and Wan Kaishan. "Both of them fled to the Sage. I just don't understand—what's so great about the Sage that they'd risk everything for him?"

The peddler sighed deeply. "When they fought alongside the Sage, they fought fiercely. After they won, I paid them. They took their rewards and went their separate ways. But after a while, they defected to the Inner State."

Li Li Banfeng was curious about that feud. "What did you pay them?"

"Money!" the peddler's answer was simple. "Rewards based on merit. The greater the contribution, the more money. At first, they thought it was fair—money could buy anything, do anything."

"But after a while, some spent all their money, and others realized some things couldn't be bought with money."

"Then they came back to me for more. I refused. So they went to the Inner State—and the Inner State gave it to them."

"But the Inner State's rewards were different. Someone like Shu Wanjuan was highly favored—he was given a wealthy territory and made a Marquis, just one step from becoming a Prince."

"Someone like Dan Chengjun wasn't favored. He was granted a marquisate too—but in a barren land. His career ended there."

Chu Duafa and Wan Kaishan were completely unfavored; in the Inner State, they couldn't even retain their rank of qing daifu. Poverty breeds change—they naturally sought a new master.

"For them, the most suitable master was the Sage of Shang State. When the Sage was still in Prolo State, they dared not come—because they'd signed contracts with me. Once they joined the Inner State, they were forbidden to return to Prolo State."

"Then the Sage returned to the Inner State, and they wanted to join him—but had no chance. The Shang State's cabinet would never let the Sage meet with outside ministers."

"Now that the Sage has fled Shang State, these disgruntled men see their chance. They've all rushed to Tufang State to pledge loyalty, hoping the Sage will one day rise again and make them Princes—after all, there's a clear example right before them."

Li Li Banfeng paused. "The example you're talking about—surely it's not me?"

"It's you," the peddler said, staring at Li Li Banfeng. "You installed a puppet emperor—and became a Prince."

"That's the path you showed them. They all want to follow it."

Li Li Banfeng looked at Chu Duafa and Wan Kaishan. "If they want to restore the Sage as emperor, why come to Suihuang Plain? Why not march on Shang State?"

The peddler said, "You should understand this: where they strike now isn't decided by the Sage. The Sage serves the Demon Lord. The Demon Lord tells them where to strike—and they obey."

In Li Li Banfeng's memory, the Demon Lord had been attacking the Sleeping Lands of Lafusha and Nei Outer Amikan. But that didn't mean they had no designs on Prolo State.

The peddler continued: "This time, the Demon Lord has set his sights on Suihuang Plain. They've reopened an old exit—and are searching for a new one. An exit without boundaries."

The peddler continued: "This time, the Demon Lord has set his sights on Suihuang Plain. They've opened the old exit from Suihuang Plain, and now they're also searching for a new exit—one without boundaries."

Li Li Banfeng asked, "How can such an exit exist? Where is this boundaryless exit?"

The peddler shook his head. "It's naturally formed. No one knew its location—not them, not me."

"But they have a spirit artifact made by the Demon Lord that can detect its position. This one." The peddler held out two pearls.

One pearl was pure white, coated in grease.

The other was white with a faint red glow, no grease.

"This white pearl was given to me by the Mud Cultivation Master Xing Baizhao. Its pure white color means he never found the exit."

"This red pearl was just given to me by Master Chu Duafa. Its red glow means he's found the exit."

When had Chu Duafa given the peddler the pearl?

Could the peddler use Theft Cultivation techniques?

Li Li Banfeng asked, "Is the exit Chu Duafa found this inn?"

The peddler nodded. He took the white pearl, washed off its grease with wine—and the pearl quickly began to glow faintly red.

Li Li Banfeng shivered—not from foreboding, but from dread. "Where is this Mud Cultivation Master?"

The peddler pointed outside. "On my cart. Asleep soundly."

Li Li Banfeng looked at the cart outside. "How many of them came?"

"Many. They scoured Suihuang Plain, turning it upside down—but found nothing. I found them."

"Only Chu Duafa found this inn. He found the exit. I didn't find him. If not for you, he'd have opened it soon."

Li Li Banfeng felt even more dread. "This exit has no boundaries—does that mean the Demon Lord's high-tier weapons can be brought out?"

The peddler nodded. "Yes. Tufang State's weapons aren't inferior to Shang State's. If they bring them into Suihuang Plain, all of Prolo State—and even the Outer States—will fall under the Demon Lord's control."

Li Li Banfeng asked, "Are there no boundaries around Suihuang Plain?"

The peddler nodded. "There are—but they're too weak to stop Tufang State. I have moles inside Tufang State. Their army waits just beyond the exit. They were this close to letting them in."

Li Li Banfeng looked again at Chu Duafa's head. "The more I look at him, the more I hate him."

The peddler agreed wholeheartedly. "That bastard. When he defected to the Inner State, he struck at Prolo State. Now, serving the Sage, he's striking again. He already killed twelve Earth Deities. I haven't settled that score—and now they've come to Suihuang Plain—"

"Brother, wait!" Li Li Banfeng turned to the peddler. "Did they kill those twelve Earth Deities?"

The peddler said, "Who else? They wanted to carve out territory for the Sage, so they killed the twelve Earth Deities. If they seized more lands, linked them together—they'd create another Jianren Gang."

Li Li Banfeng thought through the whole chain of events, then asked seriously: "Is this true?"

The peddler stared at Chu Duafa's head and roared: "Did you kill the twelve Earth Deities?"

Chu Duafa clenched his teeth, silent.

The peddler nodded. "No answer means confession."

Li Li Banfeng nodded. "Yes. I saw it with my own eyes."

The peddler looked at Wan Kaishan's head. "Were you Chu Duafa's accomplice?"

Wan Kaishan closed his eyes, silent.

Li Li Banfeng nodded. "That one too."

The peddler asked both heads: "Did you plan to slaughter every Earth Deity nearby and build another Jianren Gang for the Sage?"

Both remained silent.

Li Li Banfeng nodded. "Both confessed."

The peddler said, "You know what to do next, right?"

Li Li Banfeng nodded. "Since both seniors have confessed, the case is settled."

The peddler praised Li Li Banfeng's attitude. "Since it's settled, clean it up quickly. Their souls go to your wife. Their bodies go to Did Honglian. Keep their heads as evidence. We'll personally avenge the twelve Earth Deities—properly, with dignity. The matter will be clear."

Li Li Banfeng lowered his voice. "What about the real culprit?"

"Of course we handle it!" the peddler said, knowing full well. "That old dog Shu Wanjuan—I'm luring him out. When I do, I'll chop him too. Say he was the mastermind, that he defected to the Sage. Lan Qiao Yi loses a top fighter and must clear his own name. Since he installed the new emperor, he must sever ties with the Sage. Then I'll make him swallow a bitter pill."

Li Li Banfeng fell silent for a moment. "Brother, how did you come up with such a brilliant plan?"

The peddler replied calmly. "Because I'm evil."

"Of course!" the peddler knew better than anyone, "that old dog Shu Wanjuan—I'm trying to lure him out. Once I do, I'll chop him up too, and claim he defected to the Sage, that he was the mastermind behind all this."

The peddler said, "The Sage is evil. The Demon Lord is evil. Lan Qiao Yi is evil. The Outer States are evil. Many of my old friends are evil. If I weren't evil, how could I have survived this long?"

"Brother, you've earned the top merit in this battle. I have something for you."

The peddler gestured—and his cart entered the inn.

He opened the cargo cabinet, dragged out the corpse of Mud Cultivation Master Xing Baizhao, and handed it to Li Li Banfeng. "Soul to your wife. Body to Did Honglian. Don't keep the head."

Li Li Banfeng said, "Did Honglian doesn't share my mindset. She always skimps on ingredients when refining pills."

"Let her skimp. She won't lose out," the peddler said, pulling out twelve pairs of contracts. "These twelve pairs were reclaimed from Chu Duafa. Handle them as you wish."

Li Li Banfeng took the contracts and whispered, "Aren't these twelve pairs in He He Jiaqing's hands?"

The peddler said, "My original plan was to accuse He He Jiaqing of defecting to the Sage. I'd say he stole the contracts from Shang State to trade for territory, and teamed up with the Sage's men to kill the twelve Earth Deities. When we dealt with Shu Wanjuan, we'd eliminate him too—everything would flow naturally."

"The Old Nun wouldn't protect He He Jiaqing anymore—because she couldn't protect a Sage ally. Otherwise, many in Prolo State would turn against her. She'd have to swallow this bitter pill alone."

"Let her keep them—it won't hurt you," the peddler said, pulling out twelve pairs of contracts. "These twelve pairs were reclaimed from Chu Duanfa. Take them and do with them as you wish."

Li Li Banfeng took the contracts and asked softly, "Aren't these twelve pairs of contracts supposed to be in He He Jiaqing's hands?"

The peddler said, "My original plan was to assume He He Jiaqing had defected to the Sage, that he stole the contracts from Shangguo to trade for territory with the Sage, and that he and the Sage's subordinates killed twelve Earth Lords—then, when dealing with Shu Wanjuan, I'd eliminate him too, making the whole affair seem perfectly logical."

When the Old Woman of Sorrow arrived, she would no longer protect He He Jiaqing, because she couldn't shield an ally of the Sage—otherwise, many in Like Puluozhou would never tolerate her. She'd have to swallow this silent loss alone.

He He Jiaqing is a smart man; he came to me with twelve pairs of deeds to beg for forgiveness, and those twelve pairs of deeds saved his life—I let him go for now. I'm giving you the deeds now; what do you plan to do with them?

Li Li Banfeng took the deeds: "Find twelve suitable people to become Earth Deities."

The peddler asked: "Aren't you going to link these territories together and turn them into proper land? You have many Three-Headed Ones—you won't struggle to reclaim land. With such a vast area in hand, you could do so much more."

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "Pulu Province doesn't need an emperor."

The peddler opened his cart and pulled out six more deeds: "He He Jiaqing gave me the remaining six single deeds as well. Now they're all yours."

Li Li Banfeng accepted the deeds and looked up at the peddler: "Do you trust me?"

The peddler nodded: "I do."

Li Li Banfeng thought for a moment and asked: "What if some Earth Deities still refuse to submit? What then?"

The peddler shook his head: "No need to deal with them. Blame it all on me."

A clatter of hooves came from outside—the Suihuang Iron Cavalry arrived.

The peddler let out a whistle. Li Li Banfeng felt a chill; the hooves outside rapidly faded away.

They were all scared off by that whistle.

Li Li Banfeng asked: "What technique is that?"

The peddler blinked: "You don't even know this? It's a Sound Cultivator's technique—Wind Whistling, Crane Throat. Isn't your wife a Sound Cultivator? Haven't you ever borrowed this technique from your grand mansion?"

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "I've borrowed a few Sound Cultivator techniques occasionally, but most I haven't touched yet."

1

The peddler sighed wearily: "You've advanced too fast, your techniques are crude. You must polish them carefully from now on."

Li Li Banfeng listened with his Thread-Earring. Not only had the cavalry fled—the entire neighborhood around the inn had emptied. Within a li radius, not a soul remained.

The Thread-Earring carefully tracked the cavalry's retreat. The result left Li Li Banfeng speechless: "One whistle scared them off over three li. These Suihuang Iron Cavalry are pathetic. How can they possibly hold the Suihuang Steppe?"

The peddler sighed: "The people of the Suihuang Steppe have unique battle methods—they're strong fighters, but they've lost their bloodlust, forgotten their ways, and instead learned how to devour men."

I'll find someone to help them regain their bloodlust. If that person fails, you come to the Suihuang Steppe."

"And force their bloodlust out of them."

"If you can't do it either, take those who should be taken, leave those who shouldn't. I'll send Cui Ti here—I believe he can hold the Luo Steppe."

The peddler stood, tidied his cart, pulled out a wrench, and handed it to Li Li Banfeng: "The little steam train seems to have a problem. This is the wrench of the Master of Engineering Cultivators. Take it."

Li Li Banfeng looked at the peddler's cart: "Is the Master of Engineering Cultivators here too?"

The peddler nodded: "Yes. There are still many old friends here."

Li Li Banfeng wondered: What kind of battle had the peddler endured?

"Hurry and pack your things. I'm going to lock this place soon." The peddler pushed his cart to the inn's entrance.

Watching his slightly hunched gait, Li Li Banfeng asked: "Whose blood is this on you—yours or theirs?"

"Both," the peddler said lightly, yet he still struggled pushing the cart he knew so well.

Inside the Suiyuan, his wife stared at the three corpses, frozen for a long while.

"Blow-Cut Hair, Wrist-Mountain Splitter, Walk-Hundred-Bogs," Xiang Xiang Hongying recognized all three: "Seventh, did you mold these from clay or dough? How did you make them so lifelike?"

Li Li Banfeng said nothing, set down the Headmaster's badge, and hurried to leave.

Earlier, Li Li Banfeng had brought back a pile of tables and chairs; the phonograph hadn't had time to ask. Now she stopped him: "Husband, what happened? I see you're injured."

"You all eat first. Don't touch the heads of Blow-Cut Hair and Wrist-Mountain Splitter—I still need them."

"Wife, after you eat, study this wrench. I'll be back soon and tell you everything in detail."

Li Li Banfeng set down the wrench and pulled out a silver dollar: "And this—hold onto it for me for now."

Li Li Banfeng left. Xiang Xiang Hongying examined the corpses and told the phonograph: "These really are the three of them. Wrist-Mountain Splitter's head was twisted off—the fracture shows bone and flesh displaced."

The Ninth Girl watched, astonished: "I remember Wrist-Mountain Splitter loved twisting others' heads off—who had the strength to twist his own head off?"

Xiang Xiang Hongying studied Blow-Cut Hair's corpse: "His head was cut off by a blade—the cut is perfectly clean."

The Ninth Girl looked at Walk-Hundred-Bogs' corpse—his cause of death was hard to judge; there were no wounds on his body.

Xiang Xiang Hongying, experienced as she was, opened his mouth and saw a thick mass of mud inside.

The Ninth Girl said: "Don't tell me he was drowned in mud—he was a Mud Cultivation Grandmaster!"

Xiang Xiang Hongying was speechless. All three masters had died by their own most skilled methods.

The phonograph stepped closer: "No need to guess. It must have been the peddler and your husband working together to kill them."

Xiang Xiang Hongying pursed her lips and said nothing.

The Ninth Girl sighed: "Sister Yanwan, I'll say it plainly—don't take offense—but with Seventh's current strength, fighting these men would be difficult."

"What do you know?" the phonograph laughed, placing the silver dollar before them. "This was given to your husband by the peddler. Don't you recognize its value?"

The Ninth Girl examined the silver dollar for a long while, then gasped: "It's real!"

Xiang Xiang Hongying protested: "Why the Master of Mansion Cultivators? Seventh is also a Traveler Cultivator!"

The phonograph smiled smugly: "Mansion Cultivation is Seventh's true path. The rest are just auxiliary techniques."

Xiang Xiang Hongying grew angry: "What do you mean 'true path'? Seventh runs two businesses—what's not legitimate?"

"What's so special about this silver dollar? I have one too—I'll give mine to Seventh!"

The phonograph sneered: "What good is your gift? Will anyone recognize it?"

Xiang Xiang Hongying grew angrier. The Ninth Girl urged, "Sister Ying, why not give me your silver dollar? I'll become the Master of Traveler Cultivators—I guarantee it!"

"Pfft!" Xiang Xiang Hongying spat at the Ninth Girl. "You're not even worthy!"

The phonograph looked at the three corpses, wondering why they had gathered together.

"Your husband said he reached the Suihuang Steppe—could the exit have reopened?"

With everything packed, Li Li Banfeng stepped out of the inn. The peddler leaned against his cart, waiting. After checking the surroundings and confirming no one was nearby, he used a Lock Cultivation technique.

Li Li Banfeng saw no special movement from the peddler. The peddler had clearly said: "Lock Cultivation techniques are extremely subtle."

Subtle in method, but not in effect.

In an instant, the entire inn vanished, leaving only a barren patch of lifeless earth.

Li Li Banfeng asked: "Is that exit without boundaries still here?"

The peddler nodded: "It's still here. But the lock I placed won't be easily broken."

Li Li Banfeng asked again: "What if someone gets the key that opens it?"

The peddler looked at Li Li Banfeng: "That's why you must never let anyone get that key."

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "When will the person who can help them regain their bloodlust arrive?"

The peddler took out a pocket watch from his cart and checked it: "I expect him tomorrow. The Suihuang Steppe has never had an Earth Deity because I feared they'd surrender to Neizhou. So I found someone who won't surrender."

With that, the peddler pushed his cart to leave.

Li Li Banfeng asked: "If one day the Suihuang Steppe truly becomes the domain of the Dao-Lao Ghosts, how will you explain it to others?"

The peddler turned back: "No need to explain. Blame it all on me."

He pushed his cart, shook his rattle, tried to call out, but coughed twice—his voice wouldn't carry.

In Tufang Nation, Wuxian City, the battered Shan Chengjun staggered into his mansion.

Behind him trailed a dozen others, all severely wounded.

Shan Chengjun half-reclined in his chair, scanning them one by one, then suddenly laughed: "Master, Grandmaster, even Ancestor—you all carry such grand titles. Don't you feel ashamed? Taking this rabble into battle, you lose men, you get wounded, and you haven't even won. I'm embarrassed."

A man in a white robe entered the mansion and said to Shan Chengjun: "His Majesty sent me to inquire about the battle results."

Everyone bowed, but Shan Chengjun remained seated: "Please inform His Majesty we suffered defeat. We are gravely wounded. We'll pay our respects another day."

At dusk, Li Li Banfeng ate at a small tavern by the city wall. Chen Laoliu picked up food but couldn't eat; he raised his wine but couldn't drink.

"Let's go!" Chen Laoliu urged. "You've stirred up such a storm—how can you still sit here eating?"

"How else do I quell hunger?" Li Li Banfeng gnawed on a chicken leg when suddenly, a commotion erupted at the city gate.

"Who set this rule? Why charge to enter the city?"

Hearing the voice, Li Li Banfeng grinned. The wine gourd grinned too.

The gate guards grew angry: "This is the rule of Huangtu Town. The entry fee goes to the Suihuang Iron Cavalry—it's their blood money."

Li Li Banfeng looked at the guards and said to Chen Laoliu: "Yesterday's incident nearly scared them out of their wits. Just one day later, they're back collecting fees. Look at their courage."

Chen Laoliu didn't agree: "They're earning money—they'll be bold. What are you talking about?"

Li Li Banfeng smiled: "I'm here to watch the show."

At the gate, the man arguing with the guards was an old man.

He wore tattered clothes and a hat full of holes. His cheeks were flushed red.

His wine-soaked nose was redder than his cheeks.

"You talk about blood money?" the old man spat. "Who are you fighting for? Do you even deserve to call yourselves soldiers?"

The guards flew into rage, grabbed him: "Are you looking to die?"

The old man burped—a thick reek of alcohol spread out. The guards reeled, dizzy, and collapsed to the ground.

The Suihuang Iron Cavalry on patrol heard the disturbance and rushed over. At the gate,

a cloud of alcohol mist hit them. The riders lost their balance and tumbled off their horses.

"Can't even handle a sip of wine? What kind of Iron Cavalry are you?" The old man grabbed one rider. "How are you supposed to fight like this?"

The rider glared at the old man: "If you're so strong, don't run!"

The old man laughed: "I won't run. First, run two laps for me."

The old man chuckled: "I won't run—why don't you run two laps for me first?"

The old man struck a match.

The old man struck a match.

The fallen cavalrymen burst into flames, screaming and racing wildly across the wasteland.

"Run faster!" the old man laughed. "I've got potent medicine—let's see if it can cure all your ailments!"

PS: He's finally woken up.