Chapter 73: New Land Covenant

On the wasteland, private detective Daboyens was sprinting wildly.

The lower hem of his tuxedo had been torn off, and his top hat was being chewed by Madam Capricorn Moth.

Madam Capricorn Moth found the hat’s taste unpleasant; after a few chews, she spat it onto the roadside.

She spat out a strand of silk, binding Daboyens’ feet, then leaned close and said, “Become my man—I’ll treat you well.”

“Madam, I may not be your type,” Daboyens said, his body rapidly swelling into a massive spider.

He snapped free of the silk, spat a strand of webbing, and hung himself from a tree.

Madam Capricorn Moth was delighted: “I love men like you—I love how you spin silk.”

Daboyens gazed at Madam Capricorn Moth with his eight eyes: “I don’t know what you’ve been through, Madam, but I have a wife of my own.”

Madam Capricorn Moth laughed: “Is your wife prettier than me? Does she treat you better?”

Daboyens tried to flee again; Madam Capricorn Moth prepared to pursue.

Could he escape?

Yes, he could.

Madam Capricorn Moth had not struck hard against either Li Banfeng or Daboyens.

She didn’t want to kill—she only wanted to play.

He couldn’t defeat her.

He couldn’t shake her off.

Should he just let her play?

But could he tolerate it?

Thinking this, Daboyens suddenly smiled—a smile full of the fearless abandon of a hero.

How much pain and hardship had I endured to reach this point?

What is this slight humiliation to me?

His eight eyes flickered briefly; Daboyens bowed: “Madam, could we talk first?”

“What’s there to talk about? Let’s consummate it now.” The giant green caterpillar crushed the spider.

This was exactly what Daboyens expected.

The giant Madam Capricorn Moth’s body trembled violently.

Daboyens closed his eight eyes, his eight legs gripping the webbing tightly.

…

Li Banfeng slid down from the rooftop of the wooden hut; Yu Nan didn’t know how he’d entered Yu Family Village, and Li Banfeng offered no explanation.

He was hungry and exhausted.

After eating something, bathing, and changing clothes, Li Banfeng regained some strength; Yu Nan spoke of the detective just now, and Li Banfeng fell into thought.

“Detective Daboyens—he’s a good man.”

Yu Nan asked: “What grudge do you have with him? Why did he attack you?”

Li Banfeng shook his head: “I don’t know. I don’t know him.”

Yu Nan couldn’t understand Li Banfeng’s thinking: “If you don’t know him, why say he’s a good man?”

Li Banfeng couldn’t understand Yu Nan’s thinking either: “Didn’t you just see? If he hadn’t saved me, how would I have shaken off that worm?”

“He… saved you…” Yu Nan refused to accept this claim.

Li Banfeng firmly agreed: “No matter his motive, he did a good deed—I’ll visit him tomorrow to thank him.”

“You’re going to visit him?” Yu Nan shook her head repeatedly. “Seventh Master, that private detective wanted to kill you—don’t go near him. I fear he might be connected to the Geng family.”

Here, Yu Nan brought up what she cared about most: “The Geng family’s pharmacy burned down, and Geng Zhiwei is dead—do you know about this?”

Li Banfeng nodded: “I know. I killed Geng Zhiwei. You can return to Ligu and reopen your textile shop.”

Yu Nan was stunned; she hadn’t expected such a blunt answer: “No, no—I don’t understand. Seventh Master, you alone burned down the Geng family’s pharmacy and killed Geng Zhiwei?”

Li Banfeng shook his head: “Not entirely alone—I had help.”

Who helped him?

Yu Nan was curious but dared not ask further.

Li Banfeng said: “Tomorrow I’ll give you sixty thousand in cash. Deliver it to Elder Yao—fifty thousand to repay a debt, ten thousand to buy something.”

“Buy what?” Yu Nan was baffled.

Li Banfeng said: “Two sheets of paper. I agreed on a price with Elder Yao.”

Yu Nan stared in shock.

Her father, before dying, gave her a spirit tablet bearing only the character “Yao,” meant for venerating Elder Yao.

According to her father, Elder Yao was a transcendent master; before such a master, one must never utter a single improper word—that was the rule.

Elder Yao had met Li Banfeng only once—why were they so familiar?

“Seventh Master, did you do something against the rules?”

Li Banfeng refused to explain.

It’s precisely because you cling to so many rules that Elder Yao keeps his distance from you.

Yu Nan’s thoughts grew chaotic; she set Elder Yao aside for now: “Seventh Master, what are your next plans?”

Li Banfeng had burned the Geng family’s pharmacy and killed Geng Zhiwei; the Geng family would not let him go, and Jiang Xiang Bang would not let him go either. Li Banfeng could no longer stay in Yaowang Gou—he might not even be safe across all Pulu Province.

Li Banfeng had already planned: “Madam Yu, find out where I can get a travel permit to leave the province.”

Leaving the province—it seemed the only way out.

“Seventh Master, I’m not lying—I’ve never done this before. I have no confidence I can manage it, and the cost is enormous—I’ll need time to raise the funds.”

“How much?” In matters of money, Li Banfeng was confident.

“I heard someone succeeded before. In Huan currency, it would cost about twenty million.”

“Twenty million?” Li Banfeng’s eyes nearly popped out.

“Seventh Master, don’t worry. You’ve done us great favors—I’ll find a way to raise this money.” Yu Nan spoke sincerely; Li Banfeng had avenged her, and no matter how hard obtaining the permit, she would spare no effort.

Li Banfeng blinked, puzzled by Yu Nan: “What favor have I done you?”

Killing Geng Zhiwei was Li Banfeng’s own business—he saw no connection to Yu Nan.

As for the permit, this was a transaction, not a favor—he would pay.

But twenty million was absurd—he needed someone to verify this.

Yu Nan sighed inwardly; Li Qi was a true hero who gave without expecting return: “Seventh Master, I’ll do everything I can for your request, but before it’s done, you must stay in New Land—you cannot go anywhere else.”

“Jiang Xiang Bang will send people after you soon. I suspect that private detective was hired by them.”

Hired by Jiang Xiang Bang?

That reminded Li Banfeng.

Would Jiang Xiang Bang need to hire a private detective?

Even if they did, how could they have traced me so quickly after I burned the Geng pharmacy? And how did they know my whereabouts?

That’s unlikely.

If Jiang Xiang Bang sent the detective, was it because of the Geng matter—or the copper lotus?

If it was about the copper lotus, things would be far more complicated.

Jiang Xiang Bang might surround Yu Family Village!

Li Banfeng murmured: “I can’t stay here—others might come looking for me.”

“They won’t dare,” Yu Nan said with confidence. “This is Yu Family Village—this land was won by my blood. As long as I bleed here, no one dares force entry.”

Yu Nan explained the reclamation rules to Li Banfeng.

This was a covenant she made with the spirits: this new land, once opened by her blood, would punish any intruder with divine retribution.

This covenant was lifelong—this land belonged to Yu Nan forever, unless she died or formally transferred Yu Family Village to another.

Yu Nan’s words matched Old Zhu’s exactly.

This gave Li Banfeng an idea.

Could I open my own land here too?

Recalling his past experiences, he quickly dismissed the thought.

What land would I open here?

I’ll return to Yuezhou eventually—this dangerous place isn’t for me.

Li Banfeng pulled out Geng Zhiwei’s pistol: “Do you recognize this gun?”

Yu Nan studied it briefly: “Glock 17, made in Oculi. Rare in Pulu Province. This is Geng Zhiwei’s gun.”

Seeing the gun, Yu Nan had no doubt—Li Banfeng had indeed killed Geng Zhiwei.

“How do you use this gun?” Li Banfeng couldn’t load it or pull the trigger.

Yu Nan flipped the safety, teaching Li Banfeng how to use the pistol.

“Seventh Master, this gun looks nice and is accurate, but it’s not very useful in Pulu Province.”

“What do you mean? If it’s accurate, why isn’t it useful?”

Yu Nan explained: “In Pulu Province, gunpowder is unreliable—ten rounds might fire only two or three.”

“If this pistol misfires, the casing won’t eject. If you want a gun for self-defense, I’ll give you mine.”

Yu Nan pulled out her revolver: “Eight-inch Colt Python, a revolver. If a round misfires, just fire another.”

Revolvers don’t need to eject casings until all rounds are fired—in Pulu Province, they’re far more reliable than other pistols.

This Colt Python was beautiful—it matched every fantasy Li Banfeng had ever held about revolvers.

An eight-inch barrel was long enough, the revolver’s cylinder was just the right size, and the silver finish gave Li Banfeng a Western film vibe.

It was a fine gun, but Li Banfeng had no intention of accepting something for free.

“Master Yu, how much for this gun?”

Yu Nan shook her head. “I won’t take money—it’s my gift to Seventh Master.”

Li Banfeng handed Yu Nan Geng Zhiwei’s pistol: “This is my gift to you—take it.”

They exchanged pistols; Yu Nan’s cheeks flushed slightly.

Li Banfeng didn’t think anything of it, tucked the pistol away, took some bullets from Yu Nan, and, overcome by fatigue, returned to his room to sleep.

At noon the next day, Li Banfeng ate a refreshing lunch, and Yu Nan summoned all the clerks and apprentices of the Yu Family Cloth Shop before him to thank him.

One clerk named Ling Xiu stepped forward, knelt on the ground, and said: “Seventh Master, you’ve avenged our brothers—I have nothing to say but this: I bow my head to you.”

“What are you doing?” Li Banfeng instantly stepped back from Ling Xiu and pulled him up.

Ling Xiu blinked in surprise: “Seventh Master, I’m bowing to you!”

Li Banfeng frowned: “Why are you doing this?”

Li Banfeng was an orphan; he had seen many desperate people kneel and kowtow, often just for a meal.

In Li Banfeng’s eyes, kneeling and kowtowing were the most degrading acts—without exception.

A person should not kneel—at least not to a living person.

Seeing Li Banfeng displeased, Ling Xiu didn’t know what to do.

Yu Nan, however, found this entirely expected: Li Banfeng was a straightforward man who wouldn’t value such insincere gestures.

She ordered two chests of gold bars brought over: “Seventh Master, I, Yu, am not ungrateful. Though the Yu family’s fortunes have declined, we will never fall short in showing our gratitude.”

Li Banfeng still didn’t understand: “Why are you giving me money?”

This caught Yu Nan off guard—Li Banfeng was blunt, and there was no need to be so hesitant about money.

It was a dilemma: Yu Nan couldn’t think of anything else to give him.

If she focused on securing his travel permit, and he got it, the debt would be repaid.

But the chance of obtaining a travel permit was minuscule.

Yu Nan had no idea how to repay him—until Wang Xuejiao stepped forward, her conscience swelling, and shouted loudly: “Seventh Master, are you trying to marry our shopkeeper?”

Hearing this, Yu Nan’s cheeks turned from pale to red.

That girl—she never picks her moment…

Wang Xuejiao snorted: “Seventh Master, give up that idea. Our shopkeeper is strong-willed—she’ll never marry you!”

Hearing this, Yu Nan’s cheeks turned from red to pale.

You little brat—don’t make decisions for me!

Wang Xuejiao continued: “If you want a woman, don’t trouble our shopkeeper—marry me instead!”

Li Banfeng stared in stunned silence: “Why would I do that?”

Wang Xuejiao declared solemnly: “Don’t worry—I’m sincere. Whatever conditions Geng Zhiwei set, I’ll meet them. I’ll bring the whip, take off my clothes, and let you whip me—just find a private room, away from everyone else.”

Whip you?

Why on earth?

Li Banfeng scanned the crowd: “Are you all mad?”

Wang Xuejiao’s eyes reddened: “Seventh Master, we truly want to repay your kindness—I’m repaying you, and also on behalf of my brother!”

“I can’t explain this to you…” Li Banfeng shook his head repeatedly. “Give me some dried rations—I’m going back to Li Gou.”

“Back to Li Gou?” Everyone gasped. Returning to Li Gou now meant certain death.

Someone suddenly shouted from outside the door: “Seventh Brother, I’ll go back with you!”

Turning to look, it was Qin Xiaopang.

(End of Chapter)