Chapter 785

Li Li Banfeng accepted the "Floating Cloud Inquiry Station," A Yi prepared a victory feast, and invited Li Li Banfeng and Tou Tou Youlu to eat together.

Tou Tou Youlu disliked crowded settings, so Li Li Banfeng had A Yi send over some wine and dishes, setting a table out in the woods.

The two enjoyed a cheerful meal.

After eating and drinking their fill, Tou Tou Youlu prepared to leave—he could never stay anywhere for long.

Li Li Banfeng handed him two crates of silver dollars: "This is a small token; you'll surely need money on the road."

Tou Tou Youlu normally refused to carry so much money, but seeing Li Li Banfeng's earnestness, he couldn't refuse—he opened his mouth and swallowed the silver dollars, storing them in his left cheek.

A Yun and Li Li Banfeng saw Tou Tou Youlu out of the village; Tou Tou Youlu didn't care where he went, as long as it was within Pulu Province—somewhere with fewer people was even better.

After bidding farewell, Tou Tou Youlu rolled forward, landing on his left cheek; the silver dollars clinked against his teeth. Once he was far enough away, he bit down on a branch, dug a hole, and buried the silver dollars inside.

After burying them, Tou Tou Youlu carefully studied his surroundings: "I must remember this place.

If I run out of money, I'll have to come back here to retrieve them."

After seeing off Tou Tou Youlu, Li Li Banfeng went to find Sun Sun Tiecheng and Qiu Qiu Luoye; Qiu Qiu Luoye planned to have Sun Sun Tiecheng fabricate an escape route—A Yi had said she'd spend the night with him, so Qiu Qiu Luoye had to flee Hulucun before dusk.

Li Li Banfeng said: "Brother Qiu, don't worry—Brother Sun knows what he's doing."

"He's not that confident," Qiu Qiu Luoye said, drenched in sweat. "I think he can't even get out himself."

Sun Sun Tiecheng indeed couldn't get out—A Yu and A Yi were pinning him down to swear brotherhood.

"You can fool around at home, but in front of so many people, you're still acting like fools!" Sun Sun Tiecheng struggled fiercely.

A Yu glared: "Look in the mirror—look at yourself. What's so worthy about you that you'd deserve us sisters?

Not to mention your looks, which are nowhere near as beautiful as flowers or jade, but even your inner virtue—tell me, how many people in the world can match our sisterhood?

We didn't reject you; out of fate in this life, we pulled you into this oath and made you our elder brother, yet you're ungrateful, picking faults with us."

After a brief quarrel, the three began fighting. Sun Sun Tiecheng was skilled, but A Yu and A Yi's fists and kicks were no slouches.

Two fists couldn't fight four hands; after a long struggle, Sun Sun Tiecheng gradually fell behind.

Jiu'er, watching, cried out through her pain: "How could you do this?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng shoved A Yu and A Yi away, tears in his eyes: "Little Jade, Father never raised you in vain!"

Jiu'er's eyes welled up: "If you're swearing brotherhood, why leave me out? Come, help me over!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng wiped his tears and glared at Jiu'er: "I see you're injured, so I'm ignoring you. Stay away—or I'll beat you too."

After more fighting, Sun Sun Tiecheng could no longer hold out—he suddenly shouted: "Didn't the Dangkou Camp still have one encampment left unbroken?"

At these words, A Yu and A Yi immediately stopped.

Before the battle, A Yu had indeed spotted three encampments, but after capturing two, everyone was exhausted—the third was never seriously considered.

Sun Sun Tiecheng was an absolute expert on the Dangkou Camp; after hearing A Yu's account of the battle, he immediately deduced the truth.

"The first encampment you destroyed was Qingrui Camp—full of raw recruits."

Xiang Xiang Hongying agreed: "They were total greenhorns—they needed markers just to form ranks."

Sun Sun Tiecheng continued: "The second one you destroyed was elite—called Difeng Camp. The third must be Cuihuo Camp—not recruits, but not elite either—a group of half-trained soldiers."

Xiang Xiang Hongying looked concerned: "If we wait longer, won't Cuihuo Camp eventually become Difeng Camp?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng thought: "Not exactly. Difeng Camp selects based on talent; those without talent will never become elite.

This battle killed so many imperial family members—it shattered Shang's backbone. They won't rebuild Difeng Camp for at least a decade."

A Yu stared at Sun Sun Tiecheng with disdain: "The Merchant gave you a task, and you took it seriously—even memorizing the encampment names."

Sun Sun Tiecheng clicked his tongue: "Why do you always twist things? The Dangkou Camp was always divided this way—I fought them before, so I already knew these details.

Besides, the Merchant isn't making us work for free—he said he got something good that can restore flesh and blood to Fool's City."

A Yu snorted: "Need him to restore it? Haven't you already brought back Fool's City's flesh and blood?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng shook his head: "Mine won't do—it's just craftsmanship, a technique of Mi Jiao Xiu. In plain terms, it's gluing flesh onto a soul—once stuck, the flesh isn't alive; without makeup, it looks lifeless."

A Yu was curious: "Then what's the Merchant planning? Can he make something alive?"

"Yes!" Sun Sun Tiecheng said seriously. "He promised me—every person in Fool's City will get a real body—not a puppet, not a skin—but a living, breathing, genuine body."

A Yu sneered: "You believe his lies? The Master of Fool's City has been fooled before—more than once. Isn't that ridiculous?"

Yet despite her words, A Yu was deeply intrigued by the Merchant's promise; A Yi listened with great excitement—everyone seemed to have forgotten the brotherhood oath.

Jiu'er whispered to Li Li Banfeng: "This guy Gu Zuoyan—watch his moves carefully."

Sun Sun Tiecheng said to A Yu: "Once Fool's City recovers its flesh and blood, do you want to go back and see it?"

A Yu lowered her eyes, her cheeks trembling, lips clenched—tears slipped down.

Seeing this, Sun Sun Tiecheng felt pained: "Why cry? Isn't this good news?"

A Yu wiped her tears: "I want to go back—but I'm not free now. Li Qi, can you promise me this?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng looked at Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng straightened his chest: "Easy. Just say the word—I'll take you back to Fool's City."

A Yu nodded: "Fool's City is like my natal home. All these years without seeing it, I've always longed for it—even in my dreams."

Jiu'er leaned in, whispering: "Mother, your natal home isn't in Fool's City—mine is."

A Yu kicked Jiu'er away, then wept: "Going back alone feels too lonely. Can I bring someone with me?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng glanced at Li Li Banfeng again; both men slipped their hands into their sleeves, squatted on the ground, and spoke in unison: "No way!"

A Yu snapped: "Why not?"

Li Li Banfeng looked up at A Yu: "When you say you want a companion—who do you mean?"

A Yi laughed: "Me!"

A Yu didn't smile.

A Yi grew awkward.

Sun Sun Tiecheng said: "You mean the Heavenly Maiden? You want to bring her into Fool's City? I won't allow it."

A Yu snapped: "Why not?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng grew angry: "Have you forgotten how you died? Have you forgotten how the Heavenly Maiden nearly drove A Yi to death?"

A Yu retorted: "Have you forgotten how Fool's City fell? Why do you still trust the Merchant?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng shook his head: "One thing at a time. The Merchant was powerless then. I hate him, but I understand some things.

The Heavenly Maiden used the boundary lines to slice Pulu Province into pieces—I still can't understand why."

A Yi added: "Honestly, I don't get it either. Whoever touches a boundary line, she kills them. Isn't she insane?"

Li Li Banfeng crouched nearby, listening intently—he too wanted to understand.

A Yu lifted her wine bowl and sipped: "What's hard to understand? Look at what Pulu Province was like back then.

The Merchant took the land, then walked away. Who could control his old subordinates?

Forget others—just look at Shiba Lun. How much territory did he seize alone? The others grabbed land, set up their own thrones, and turned Pulu Province into what? How many died every day—you know that?"

Others' situations were unclear, but Li Li Banfeng knew nothing of this past—he'd never found any record of it in any book.

Niangzi remained silent; she might have remembered something, but her state back then was unusual, and her memories were sparse.

Sun Sun Tiecheng said: "That time was chaotic, but using boundary lines to isolate every territory? Isn't that like turning Pulu Province into a pigeon coop?"

A Yu thought the Heavenly Maiden's actions were fine: "What's wrong with isolating them? If no one can cross between territories, they can't fight anymore—isn't that better?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng sneered: "Better? When Neizhou sends new land, attaching it to Pulu's edges, won't that just bypass the boundaries? Won't the territories still fight?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng sneered, "What's so good about it? When Huineizhou makes new land and sticks it piece by piece against the border of Like Puluozhou, isn't that just bypassing the boundary? Won't each territory still have to fight?"

Neizhou had been sending new land to Pulu for years—not just to appoint local gods, but to subtly infiltrate Pulu geographically.

Still, he should thank Neizhou—without this route, Pulu's transportation would've been entirely controlled by Waizhou, and its territories would've been even more fractured.

Sun Sun Tiecheng continued: "Once the Merchant returned and set rules—anyone above Yunshang Realm couldn't kill local gods—only then did the chaos end. In the end, the only one who could truly govern Pulu was the Merchant."

A Yu sneered: "If he's so capable, why didn't he act sooner? What was he doing in Wansheng Province?"

Li Li Banfeng had been wondering—where did the Merchant go after driving away the Saint?

Now he knew—he'd gone to Fangsheng Province.

A Yu asked a good question: Why did he go to Wansheng Province? Was it really that good? Why did so many want to go there?

Sun Sun Tiecheng said: "I don't know what he thought then, but I know what you think now.

Either way, you can't bring the Heavenly Maiden into Fool's City—I can't stand what she's done."

A Yu frowned: "Be specific. What exactly do you dislike?"

"Everything! She claims to act for Pulu, but really, it's all for herself.

She controls everything, too strictly—wants to draw boundary lines on every street, every alley, lock everyone indoors, just to make herself happy.

Pulu Province is a scattered mess, indifferent to the world—how can you say it's not her fault? Isn't this all about making Pulu obey her?"

A Yu poked Sun Sun Tiecheng's forehead: "You think too much. Who Pulu obeys isn't your business."

Sun Sun Tiecheng remained humble: "I can't control other places, but Fool's City won't let her set foot in it."

A Yu turned away: "Fine, don't let me go—who cares about your place?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng smiled: "You care a lot—I have Xiao Xuan Sheng Did Honglian. Do you want it?"

At these words, A Yi, Jiu'er, and Li Li Banfeng all stared at A Yu.

A Yu blinked, smiling sweetly: "I want it—but how do I know your Did Honglian is real?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng said: "It's real, no doubt. Do you want it?"

"I do! Then I definitely need to go to Fool's City." A Yu poured Sun Sun Tiecheng another bowl of wine—the earlier quarrel seemed over.

Li Li Banfeng wasn't a Kui Xiu, but Jin Qing Qiu Hao wasn't ordinary—it had reached such a level that even the most concealed things revealed subtle signs to him.

"Yes! Then I really have to go to Fool's City." Yu Yu poured Sun Sun Tiecheng a bowl of wine; the earlier argument seemed to have ended.

Li Li Banfeng was not a Peek Cultivator, but Jin Qing's Microscopic Vision was no ordinary technique; having cultivated it to this level, he could discern traces of things even if they were well concealed.

Yu Yu kept telling Sun Sun Tiecheng how much she wanted the Red Lotus, speaking with sincere, deliberate words.

But back in the Suishen Residence, Yu Yu had once risked her life to obtain the Red Lotus—this shift in attitude was strikingly extreme.

Yu Yi declared the victory feast would last three days and three nights, and tonight they would enter the bridal chamber; Qiu Qiu Luoye had vanished somewhere, and Yu Yi was now searching the mountains and fields with a tank.

Li Li Banfeng returned to the Suishen Residence with his wife and Xiang Xiang Hongying to recuperate; Jiang Linger had stayed too long in the Suishen Residence and felt utterly uneasy.

Zhao Xiao said gently: "Husband, take Linger back to Yucui Tower. Stay there a couple more days—it's your residence too; you can't leave it neglected forever."

Li Li Banfeng took Jiang Linger back to Yucui Tower; his wife agreed to stay with her for two days, while Xiang Xiang Hongying had to remain in the Suishen Residence to guard it—she was now the residence spirit and could not leave at will.

With these two days relatively quiet, Li Li Banfeng continued reading "Floating Clouds Inquiry at the Relay Station." This volume, which had no author's name, Li Li Banfeng called the Lower Volume; its style matched the Upper Volume perfectly—both recorded his journey in plain, straightforward language.

But when he flipped to the one-third mark of the book, Li Li Banfeng noticed something unusual: several pages bore peculiar handwriting.

The script still appeared to be written by Wu Tou Youlu, but it was messy, Liaocao, and brimming with intense anger:

"I've always had a broad mind. If someone bullied me, I'd kill them—never waste time quarreling over petty things.

But this person I met today is troublesome—he's strong, I can't kill him, and he keeps pestering me."

Li Li Banfeng was curious: who would dare to harass Wu Tou Youlu?

"He kept asking me where was interesting to go. I casually told him to head east; he said the east was good, but there were enemies there.

I told him then go west; he said the west had no enemies, but wasn't as good as the east.

I told him, then go east and west! But he still didn't understand."

This was indeed hard to grasp—what did "go east and west" even mean?

Li Li Banfeng kept reading:

"Since he didn't understand, I fought him. Look at this man—he's so skilled, yet he tripped and fell on the ground.

He can't even decide whether to go east or west; even he himself is confused. I'm leaving. Let him stay here and argue with himself."

After reading "Floating Clouds Inquiry at the Relay Station" for so long, this was the first time Li Li Banfeng encountered a description of combat. Though the narration remained plain, he could sense this was an extremely fierce battle—one that had threatened Wu Tou Youlu's life.

Li Li Banfeng calmed his mind and reread the passage repeatedly, trying to understand one concept: what exactly was "going east and west"?

"Seventh Brother!" Luo Luo Shaojun called from downstairs, "Lan Qiao Yi sent you a letter, asking us to deliver it to Puluo Province—he didn't know you're in Wubian City, so I'm bringing it to you directly."

Li Li Banfeng accepted the letter. Luo Luo Shaojun blushed and said, "Seventh Brother, there's a market in town today—why don't we go out and stroll?"

"Not today," Li Li Banfeng smiled. "I'll rest for two days, heal up, then go out with you."

Luo Luo Shaojun left, her face filled with disappointment.

In truth, Li Li Banfeng's injuries had long healed. With the Gao Zhen Wu You technique, resting in the residence for so long had quickly mended his external wounds—but he simply didn't want to go out.

He would return to the Suishen Residence to handle household matters, and he'd use Hong Lian Kuo's bridal chamber to visit the residence in Hulucun to check on Yu Yu and the Sky Maiden—but almost all his movements were confined within the residence.

Zhao Xiao noticed the signs: "Husband, this must be the residence cultivation turning against you."

The gap between Yun Three and Yun Four is immense; the gap between Yun Four and Yun Five is even greater.

Once a traveler reaches Yun Five, the problems of residence cultivation become apparent.

But that's not a problem—just wait a while longer, gather more popularity, and with Xiao Du as backup, it won't take long.

Residence cultivation will ascend to the fifth level.

Li Li Banfeng opened Lan Qiao Yi's letter. He assumed Lan Qiao Yi was preparing to formally launch war against Puluo Province; even if Lan Qiao Yi restrained himself, he'd at least vent his emotions.

But Li Li Banfeng was wrong. Lan Qiao Yi's tone in the letter was humble and sincere—he wished to invite Prince Prince Pingyuan to Chaoge to discuss state affairs.

What state affairs required discussion with Li Li Banfeng?

Lan Qiao Yi wrote very cryptically. Li Li Banfeng read it twice carefully and finally understood Lan Qiao Yi's meaning.

Excluding useless pleasantries, the core message was simple: Lan Qiao Yi's position was unstable—he needed someone to offer him support.

Li Li Banfeng wrote a reply, refusing Lan Qiao Yi's request. He would offer no form of aid and held no trust whatsoever toward Lan Qiao Yi.

When handing the letter to Luo Luo Shaojun, Luo Su Lijun was beside him; she desperately hoped Li Qi's relationship with Lan Qiao Yi could be mended.

But Li Li Banfeng gave her no hint; she dared not open his letter.

Watching Luo Su Lijun's retreating figure, Li Li Banfeng shifted his will.

He expended little physical strength, yet Luo Su Lijun stumbled over her own feet and fell to the ground.

Luo Luo Shaojun rushed to help her up: "Sister, what happened?"

Luo Su Lijun looked at the ground, then at her legs—she had no idea what had gone wrong.

Should she go east or west? Luo Su Lijun felt confused.

Lan Qiao Yi received Li Qi's reply and frowned deeply.

Lan Qiao Yi had desperately concealed the Great Furnace and Bozhou Altar incidents, but the Dangkou Camp affair was impossible to hide—over sixty thousand lives lay there, and the imperial court awaited his explanation.

Helpless, Lan Qiao Yi sent Nian Nian Shangyou to summon the Imperial Envoy.

"Summon him?" Nian Nian Shangyou didn't want to go. "Lord, this matter requires careful consideration."

"Do you think I'm not careful?" Lan Qiao Yi retorted. "Can you suggest a more careful course?"

Nian Nian Shangyou had no answer, so he fetched Cui Ti.

Lan Qiao Yi briefly explained his situation. Cui Ti immediately offered a solution: "Some imperial family members are blinded by hatred—they need to calm down. I can handle this for you."

As he spoke, Cui Ti's expression was almost excited.

Lan Qiao Yi had already made up his mind—but looking at Cui Ti, he reconsidered.

After weighing his options, he nodded to Cui Ti.

Cui Ti left. Nian Nian Shangyou also wished to depart—he knew Chaoge was about to be struck by plague. Even if he couldn't leave, he wanted to send his family away temporarily.

Lan Qiao Yi understood his thoughts: "Nian Shangyou, some things aren't urgent yet. Go check on the Great Furnace's repair progress, then inquire about the case's developments. I feel the thief who stole those two lotus leaves hasn't gone far."

He He Jiaqing sat quietly in the university library, reading.

Dream Xiao Qian Lodge contained sixteen universities, scattered across eleven cities. Beyond modern cities, He He Jiaqing had also seen several ancient cities, with vast rural lands and wilderness between them—even oceans and islands.

Dream Xiao Qian Lodge's space was immense, which gave He He Jiaqing a quiet unease—he feared he might never escape. He tried to do as little as possible within Dream Xiao Qian Lodge; the more he did, the more he exposed himself. Meng Xiao Qian was still a subject of Neizhou.

He He Jiaqing spent most of his time in the library, reading classic works to pass the hours.

More and more students filled the library. He He Jiaqing didn't know whether they were dream dominators or mere background figures.

Their expressions and gestures varied. In this woven dream world, He He Jiaqing felt his surroundings growing increasingly real.

Old Train took a newspaper from the shelf and sat beside He He Jiaqing: "Tonight, there's a chance to leave.

But the three of us can't take the same path. Where we end up after leaving is uncertain."

He He Jiaqing looked at Old Train, assessing his identity.

Old Train lowered his voice: "That thing was split into three parts. But I can't separate them yet, so I'm entrusting it to you for now—don't you dare break your word."

The thing he referred to was the lotus leaf. Only He He Jiaqing, Old Train, and Hong Lian Hong Lian Budai knew of this.

This proved Old Train was genuine.

He He Jiaqing nodded: "I'm willing to swear an oath—I'll follow your instructions."

Old Train left the library first. He He Jiaqing hurried after him.

The two exited the university and walked swiftly down the street. When they reached the city's edge, the bright colors faded, and the surroundings turned uniformly gray-white.

This was a sign of the dream thinning—Old Train had truly found an exit from Dream Xiao Qian Lodge.

"Master, won't the exit lead to Chaoge City?" He He Jiaqing knew well: Chaoge would not let this go. If they went to Chaoge now, it would be worse than staying in Dream Xiao Qian Lodge.

Old Train smiled at He He Jiaqing: "The exit won't lead to Chaoge City—but where it leads depends entirely on your fortune!"