Chapter 846: Two Debts Settled

Li Banfeng led over twenty thousand Dao Laogui in fierce combat against Qiao Yi’s fifty thousand Dangkou Army.

In individual combat, the totem soldiers of the Dangkou Army held the advantage.

In overall strength, with the Thousand-Man Power Array, the Dangkou Army’s advantage was even greater.

Even in troop numbers, the Dangkou Army held absolute superiority.

No matter how the battle was fought, the Dao Laogui seemed to have no chance of victory.

Yet the situation had now stalled, because any Dangkou soldier wounded by the Dao Laogui who came into contact with Lühuazi’s pus would rapidly transform into a Dao Laogui.

The first to transform into Dao Laogui were the Dangkou Army’s vanguard.

More than ten thousand vanguard soldiers, following Qiao Yi’s orders, had burrowed underground to kill the Dao Laogui.

Now that the Dao Laogui had emerged, they too had to emerge—but these soldiers were all wounded, even a single scratch counted as injury, and any wound meant infection by the Dao Laogui’s poison.

Lühuazi, being clever, clearly saw the battlefield’s dynamics; he first poured pus over the vanguard. Once even a speck of pus touched them, the lesion immediately reacted with the Dao Laogui poison, and soon, over ten thousand soldiers became three-headed Dao Laogui.

The physique of three-headed Dao Laogui was far stronger than ordinary Dao Laogui; initially, they killed indiscriminately, friend or foe, but after some time, they began to respond to Li Banfeng’s roars and could barely coordinate with other Dao Laogui in battle.

The situation had now changed drastically: Dao Laogui numbers surged, Dangkou Army numbers plummeted, and both sides were now evenly matched.

The Dangkou Army still held advantages in individual strength and formation tactics, but every time a Dangkou soldier fell, he instantly became a Dao Laogui—fighting like this, the Dangkou Army faced unimaginable casualties.

Qiao Yi stared blankly for a long time, not only at the battle before him, but also at the plague on his own body.

His body grew hotter by the moment, his snot flowed thicker, his vision blurred, and a foul taste of pus and blood filled his throat.

He Jiaqing whispered beside him: “My lord, we must march at once—no more fighting!”

Qiao Yi snapped back to his senses; He Jiaqing was right—if they continued fighting here, the Dangkou Army might be annihilated.

He swiftly ordered the march, but marching was no easy task: the former vanguard had become a horde of three-headed Dao Laogui, blocking the front. The road was narrow, with no way around, and Qiao Yi could not devise a viable route.

Prince Anshun reminded him: “Commander Qiao, don’t hesitate—just charge through!”

Qiao Yi issued the charge order.

In this desperate moment, the Dangkou Army’s superior discipline saved them—they reformed their formation and forced a breakout.

The newly transformed Dao Laogui were still half-conscious; they understood no tactics, could not use any techniques, and could not even summon their former cultivation talent—they fought purely by instinct, roaring and biting.

After prolonged combat, the thirty thousand Dangkou soldiers were reduced to over twenty thousand, and they finally broke free of the Dao Laogui, rushing toward Sanlipu.

Of the twenty thousand who survived, nearly half had already contracted the plague.

Qiao Yi did not drive these soldiers away—they had crawled out of piles of corpses, risking their lives to secure this breakout. To send them away now would be to force them into mutiny.

Moreover, Qiao Yi could not think of a reason to expel them: yes, they were infected, but so was he—what right did he have to drive them away?

Should he stay behind in Tushi to die with them?

Qiao Yi could not do it.

Watching the Dangkou Army retreat farther and farther, Lühuazi grew frantic, shouting to all the Dao Laogui: “Charge! All of you, charge! Those in front will be richly rewarded!”

His pus had depleted too much—he had shrunk slightly, his voice weakened—and fearing the Dao Laogui might lose him, he leapt onto Li Banfeng’s arm, screaming incessantly: “Charge! This is war! You useless fools, what are you waiting for? Military orders are as firm as mountains—do you understand?”

Li Banfeng glanced at Lühuazi on his arm.

He was now less than a foot tall, weighing less than a catty.

Yuan Miaoping stood afar, sending a telepathic message: “He’s shouting so hard—why not just slap him dead?”

Hong Ying thought the same: “Slap him dead—the debt is settled.”

Li Banfeng ignored Hong Ying and Yuan Miaoping; he had a pact with the Green Water Bow. Even without a written contract, merely a verbal pact, he could never betray it.

The most urgent task now was to organize the Dao Laogui for immediate pursuit: once Qiao Yi reached Sanlipu, he would use the tunnel beneath the well to evacuate the Dangkou Army from Tushi.

Preventing them from escaping entirely was impossible—Li Banfeng had sealed the well, but Qiao Yi could use the Jade Seal to reopen the path.

Before they all escaped, inflicting as many casualties as possible was Li Banfeng’s primary goal.

But organizing this horde of Dao Laogui was no easy task: the Dao Laogui brought from Dao Guiling had suffered heavy losses, and the newly transformed ones from the Dangkou Army barely understood Li Banfeng’s commands.

Even if they understood, they had no concept of the Dao Laogui War God—many of the newly transformed watched Li Banfeng dancing on the battlefield, sitting in a circle in silent awe, some even excitedly clapping along.

Tian Nü sat with the Dao Laogui, clapping to the rhythm, admiring Li Banfeng’s movements, and even pulled two silver dollars from her pocket.

A Yu warned: “Clap twice—Li Qi might tolerate it. But if you give him money, he’ll go mad.”

Li Banfeng danced faster and faster. Zhao Xiao came to his side: “Husband, don’t bother with them—we’ve already won. Even if Qiao Yi takes the remaining twenty thousand, we’ve still won decisively.”

Li Banfeng did not want them to escape. He called Tian Nü: “Figure out a boundary around that well. Power doesn’t matter, precision doesn’t matter—just delay them as much as you can.”

Tian Nü had already considered creating a boundary, but it wasn’t simple.

“An unnamed force blocks the area around the well—no boundary can be formed here. It’s harder than creating one at Wuyouping.”

According to Li Banfeng’s reconnaissance, there were two routes to the outside: one beneath the well, the other in a long-abandoned civilian home.

No wonder Qiao Yi chose the well—he knew there was an extra safeguard here.

A Yu used his Kuixiu technique to probe around the well several times, then shook his head: “This unnamed force is too strong. If we forcibly encircle the well with a boundary, Tian Nü might be injured.”

Tian Nü was unwilling to let Qiao Yi escape. She gritted her teeth and tried once more—then suddenly smiled: “It’s done!”

Li Banfeng rejoiced: “The boundary is formed?”

Tian Nü shook her head: “Not a boundary—a messenger. The messenger I sent has replied!”

Li Banfeng’s face lit up: “The totem army’s battalions have arrived?”

Tian Nü shook her head: “Not all—only two battalions.”

“That’s enough!” Li Banfeng told his wife to organize the troops, then took a group of shadows and headed for Sanlipu to delay Qiao Yi.

The longer he delayed, the more soldiers would be infected—the fewer Qiao Yi could take with him.

Sanlipu was now bustling: two totem army battalions, having received the messenger’s message, arrived ahead of time and stood ready.

The messenger was unfamiliar—the battalion commanders had initially been wary.

But after a moment’s concern, they could no longer afford caution: the plague had urgent cases—many soldiers had already died.

The surviving soldiers didn’t have acute symptoms, but the slow-burning illness caused unbearable suffering.

Now, as long as there was a path to survival, nothing else mattered.

The dead were left behind; the living were taken along—a group of soldiers, oozing pus, vomiting blood, followed their commander into Sanlipu.

Qiao Yi gritted his teeth: “Who let them come? Bring the battalion commander to me!”

As he spoke, Qiao Yi spat out a mouthful of pus and blood.

Prince Anshun kept his distance—Qiao Yi’s condition was no better than the soldiers’:

“Commander Qiao, listen to me—deal with other matters later. Right now, we must leave Sanli Crossroads as soon as possible.”

Qiao Yi nodded at Prince Anshun, then turned toward the well, observing for a moment—he sensed something strange about it.

He ordered soldiers to descend into the well. They returned shortly: the path beneath the well was blocked.

Qiao Yi fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

He scanned the surroundings, searching for Li Qi’s whereabouts.

Unfortunately, half his Kuitanzhe were gone—he could no longer use the Kuitanshu .

He was certain Li Qi had done this—he suspected Li Qi was nearby.

“You think blocking the path can stop me?” Qiao Yi smiled, scanning those around him.

Seeing Qiao Yi’s face covered in sores, his grin twisted, his speech nonsensical, everyone felt a chill.

No one dared speak—Prince Anshun summoned courage and asked: “Commander Qiao, what’s happened?”

Qiao Yi did not answer. He ordered He Jiaqing to drive the onlookers away from the well.

He Jiaqing swiftly cleared the crowd—only Qiao Yi remained on the street beside the well.

Qiao Yi took out paper and ink from his satchel, wrote a decree: its content was simple—the imperial court was requisitioning this route; previous orders were nullified; passage must be restored immediately.

After drafting the decree, he pulled a brocade box from his satchel, preparing to stamp it with the Jade Seal.

When he opened the box, his face turned deathly pale.

The box was empty—no Jade Seal.

Where was the Jade Seal?

Qiao Yi called out: “General He!”

No response.

Qiao Yi summoned Prince Anshun: “Where is He Jiaqing?”

Prince Anshun looked bewildered: “Commander Qiao, didn’t you just assign him a task?”

The noise grew louder—shouts mixed with moans and wails; the air reeked of pus and blood; more infected soldiers flooded into Sanlipu.

Qiao Yi sat beside the well, then smiled faintly. He looked up at Prince Anshun: “Your Excellency, this is the capable man you recommended—He Jiaqing came here solely for the Jade Seal.”

Prince Anshun was stunned, shaking his head: “Commander Qiao, this requires further investigation.”

“No need,” Qiao Yi smiled. “He’s a thief—a thief who knows nothing of loyalty.

You forced him to kneel not because of your wisdom or bravery, but because you held the Jade Seal.

Without your endless supply of troops, do you really think you could have outmaneuvered He Jiaqing?”

Prince Anshun remained speechless.

Qiao Yi sighed deeply: “He Jiaqing is smarter than Xiao Qianshou. Xiao Qianshou gets beaten, forgets it instantly—so long as he draws breath, he’ll rise again to steal.

He Jiaqing gets beaten—he knows why. He knows exactly which stick hurt him.

He risks his reputation, his fortune, just to steal back that stick. Such a thief is rare indeed.”

Prince Anshun gritted his teeth: “Commander Qiao, rest assured—I’ll lead men to chase him down now.”

Whether they could recover the Jade Seal was uncertain.

But Prince Anshun wanted to put distance between himself and Qiao Yi—he noticed Qiao Yi’s eyes were now oozing pus.

“Go after him. The Jade Seal carries a curse—He Jiaqing won’t get far.” With that, Qiao Yi leaned against the well and closed his eyes.

He was exhausted, because he still had to think about so many things.

Why did the Dao-Lao Ghost come to Tushi?

Why did Lüshui Kui appear in Tushi?

Just now in the army, who was the woman who tried to kill him?

That woman must be Yu Zhaixiu—she could appear beside him without a sound.

What kind of being is Yu Zhaixiu?

Do they only get ignored when seen, or are they never valued at all, under any circumstances?

It must be the latter.

Qiao Yi closed his eyes and let out a series of bitter laughs.

After so many clashes, after fighting for so long, he had never once grasped Li Qi’s movements.

Previously, when the peddler was alive, all his attention was on the peddler.

Now that the peddler is gone, he still ignored Li Qi.

Is this Yu Zhaixiu’s innate talent?

If I ever get another chance, I really should study the Daoist sects of Pulu Province.

The Daoist sects of Pulu Province are entirely different from the dark abilities of the Outer Provinces; Daoist sects are Daoist sects—born of nature, guided by cultivation, shaped by destiny, utterly unlike the various arts of the Inner Provinces, and nothing like the Ten Thousand Methods of Wansheng Province.

Will I ever get another chance to study? The noise around him grew louder, yet Qiao Yi felt the sounds receding farther away.

His eyelids grew heavier; he was about to fall asleep.

Would he wake up after sleeping?

Whether he woke or not didn’t matter—his soul would eventually return to the Great Totem.

Pulu Province, I truly cannot let you go!

Let’s fight again—if the Great Totem hasn’t erased my memories.

Qiao Yi lay beside the well, lifeless.

Out-of-control soldiers flooded the streets, leaping into the wells—but it was useless; the road beneath the wells was blocked.

Li Banfeng watched the Dangkou Army and Totem Army struggling desperately in the plague, and couldn’t help shedding tears.

This scene was too horrific.

Li Banfeng never imagined He Jiaqing would steal the Jade Seal—now not a single enemy soldier could escape.

Tens of thousands of living souls faded before his eyes; Li Banfeng felt one person’s tears weren’t enough—he called out Jiuer to cry with him.

He called Chu Er, telling him to find Sun Tiecheng and have Sun Tiecheng bring the Fool Cultivators of Yu Ren City to cry together.

Ashes rained from the sky; Li Banfeng wept first for Qiao Yi, watching how many pieces his soul might split into.

For everyone else, Li Banfeng didn’t know their names—he could only find ways to weep for them twice.

Li Banfeng walked while crying; Zhao Xiao walked beside him, swallowing souls.

The Fifth Lady swallowed every soul and corpse without discrimination, making Lü Huazi tremble in fear.

Even plague-ridden corpses were devoured by the Fifth Lady—and after swallowing them, she remained perfectly unharmed!

Lü Huazi was terrified she’d grow too greedy and swallow him too.

He tried to keep his distance from the Fifth Lady, but saw Li Banfeng’s various magic treasures gathering around her, joining her in devouring corpses.

The projector’s lens flickered, as if finding Lü Huazi’s physique artistically compelling.

Lü Huazi glanced at Li Banfeng: “The world calls me a demon, but compared to you, I’m a truly good man.”

Li Banfeng tossed Lü Huazi beside the Fifth Lady, sending him scrambling in panic.

This was protection for Lü Huazi—Li Banfeng had just heard a voice, and that person was Lü Huazi’s enemy.

“Banfeng, I’ve got something good here—don’t you want to come take a look?”

Li Banfeng followed the voice into a field of sorghum, where He Jiaqing lay in the center, multiple wounds gushing blood.

He struggled to lift his head and handed the Jade Seal to Li Banfeng.

“You’re giving this to me?” Li Banfeng didn’t immediately take the Jade Seal.

He Jiaqing shook his head: “I don’t want to give it to you—but I had to take it from Qiao Yi. As long as the Jade Seal remains in Qiao Yi’s hands, [145] we can’t win this battle—you can’t win, I can’t win.”

We can’t win this battle—you can’t, and I can’t.

Li Banfeng stared at the Jade Seal: “Will taking the Jade Seal guarantee victory? The Master of Gongxiu is still in the Inner Province—he surely knows how to make a Jade Seal.”

“It’s not that simple,” He Jiaqing said, having investigated the Jade Seal deeply. “Crafting it isn’t easy—it can’t be accomplished merely by high cultivation. [148] Qiao Yi spent a long time preparing to make this Jade Seal. Even if the Master of Gongxiu were more skilled, he’d need to find new materials and reforge tools—it would take years to make a new one. You still have time—you can improve the existing Jade Seal. [149] I never intended to give you this Jade Seal. I meant to steal it back for my own use—but I didn’t expect I could steal it but not carry it away; this Jade Seal bears powerful curses.”

Qiao Yi spent a long time preparing to craft this jade seal; no matter how skilled the Artisan Ancestor’s methods were, he’d need to find new materials and reequip his tools—without several years, he couldn’t make a new seal. But you have time; you can improve the existing one.

I never intended to give you this jade seal—I planned to steal it back for my own use. But I didn’t expect that while I could steal it, I couldn’t take it away; strong spellcraft binds it.

“You have special methods—some of your techniques have always puzzled me. This object—you should know how to handle it.”

Li Banfeng nodded and took the Jade Seal.

He felt no harm from the curse, yet He Jiaqing now bore another wound—apparently, the Jade Seal’s curse wouldn’t transfer to others.

He Jiaqing let out a bitter laugh: “That’s fine—at least you can take it away.”

Li Banfeng took the Jade Seal and asked He Jiaqing: “Anything else to say?”

He Jiaqing thought carefully, then looked up at Li Banfeng: “If I could choose again, I wouldn’t use your face to plant that fake Honglian in the campus supermarket—I’d find someone else.”

Li Banfeng looked down at He Jiaqing: “And then?”

He Jiaqing thought: “Then, I’d find a way to escape this chaos and stay longer in the Outer Provinces. [158] Then, I’d find the right moment to tell you about some things from Pulu Province—and about my dreams. [159] Then, I’d guide you into the Daoist sects, help you cultivate, get you into the Brotherhood of Hands, and bring you to Pulu Province. We’d be such good brothers—you’d surely help me.”

Then, I’ll find the right moment to tell you about some things in Pulu Province, and about my dreams too.

Then, I’ll guide you into the Dao, help you cultivate, get you into the Brotherhood of Hands and Feet, and bring you to Pulu Province. We’re such good brothers—you’ll surely help me.

Li Banfeng shook his head: “Maybe not.”

“That’s hurtful,” He Jiaqing smiled. “You’re right—you might not help me. Our thoughts differ. [162] In your eyes, right is right, wrong is wrong, good is good, bad is bad. [163] You see things as pure and clear-cut; it’d be hard to convince you. But the peddler’s nature made it easier to earn your trust.”

In your eyes, right is right, wrong is wrong, good is good, and bad is bad.

You see things as pure and clear-cut; under these circumstances, I may find it hard to convince you. But the peddler understands your nature better and can more easily earn your trust.

Li Banfeng gave a slight shake of his head: “Who I trust—does it matter? I’m just an ordinary person, more ordinary than dust.”

“It matters,” He Jiaqing said, pressing his bleeding chest. “I only realized later how much it mattered. You did trust me once—I gave you money to treat your illness, lied and said I earned it working on a construction site. You believed me, deeply moved.”

Li Banfeng smiled: “Have you ever spoken a true word?”

He Jiaqing thought long and hard: “Once—when I took the exam, the answers I passed you were real!”

Li Banfeng nodded: “The answers were real. Anything else?”

He Jiaqing thought: “There’s more—but not much. I’ve lied to people, almost every day. I never considered lying a sin, nor did I feel I owed anything to those I deceived. [170] I don’t even feel I owe anyone—not Lu Xiaolan, not Shen Rongqing, not He Haiqin, not Ku Po—but there’s one exception. Just one.”

I don’t even feel I owe anyone—not Lu Xiaocheng, not Shen Rongqing, not He Haiqin, not Old Ku—but there’s one exception. Just one.

“Who?”

“I’m sorry, Banfeng.”

A cold wind blew; Li Banfeng’s face was expressionless, silent.

He pulled a vial of Wuwang from his pocket—made by Yang Xiangjun—and placed it beside He Jiaqing.

He Jiaqing stared at the porcelain bottle for a long while, then asked Li Banfeng: “Is this medicine that can cure curses?”

All high-level curses come from the Wanxu Yuan Can; Wuwang is its natural enemy.

Li Banfeng looked at the Jade Seal in his hand—he never asked anyone to do anything for free, but rules must be clear: “While this Jade Seal was in your hands, [178] if anyone asks, say it was always in your hands. You bear this burden, just as I bore the burden of Honglian.”

Whoever asks, say it was in your hands. You’ll take this blame, just as I took the blame for the Red Lotus.

He Jiaqing nodded.

Li Banfeng added: “You know the situation in Tushi well. How you survive is none of my concern—just as when I was in Pulu Province.”

He Jiaqing nodded again.

Li Banfeng looked at the Wuwang vial: “Whether this medicine works depends on your fate. Once you leave this land, if you meet me again, you may die. Do you understand?”

“Understood.” He Jiaqing nodded again.

“Profit and loss, no debts left.” Li Banfeng lowered his hat brim and turned away from the sorghum field.

He Jiaqing held the vial, sitting silently for a long time.

Distant cries of the Dao-Lao Ghost echoed; He Jiaqing struggled to his feet.

Everywhere in Tushi, plague and Dao-Lao Ghosts raged—he didn’t know if he could survive.

He’d never heard of Wuwang, but he trusted Li Banfeng.

He drank the medicine, gritted his teeth, and plunged deep into the fields—he needed to buy time, to recover from the curse’s damage.

The medicine truly worked. After sitting quietly for a moment, no new wounds appeared on He Jiaqing.

A puddle lay in the sorghum field; He Jiaqing glanced into it and saw his reflection.

At first, he felt only disgust. After staring longer, anger flared in his chest.

What did he look like? Mud and blood caked his face—filthy beyond words!

He quickly washed his face, still worrying: “No soap—this blood won’t wash off. How can I show my face like this?”

Jiuer was still crying; Zhao Xiao used a Transmission Technique to spread Jiuer’s sobs across all of Tushi.

Ashes rained from the sky; the Fifth Lady sighed: “This wicked woman—she’s full, yet wasted so many fine souls.”

Xiang Hongying roared: “Didn’t you just secretly insult Zhao Xiao? Who are you calling a wicked woman?”

The Fifth Lady smiled humbly: “I didn’t say anyone in particular. General Hong must have misunderstood.”

Xiang Hongying still had questions for the Fifth Lady: “I saw you devour both soul and body—yet why do all say Honglian doesn’t eat the living?”

?

Fifth Lady sighed helplessly: “Honglian was made by the Heavenly Maiden and the peddler, not by me—I can’t explain the reason behind it.”

Hong Ying said: “Wasn’t Honglian made from your body? Logically, it should share your traits!”

Fifth Lady looked at Hong Ying and said: “General Hong, you really know how to speak!”

Hong Ying laughed: “Which word offended you? Let me think about it again.”

As the two bickered, the glove and Lü Huazi were chatting enthusiastically.

Originally, Lü Huazi couldn’t hear the glove’s voice, but after consulting with the mistress, Zhao Xiao specially used a technique to help him.

“I say, Huazi, I think you’re a decent fellow—let’s swear brotherhood!”

Lü Huazi stared in surprise at the glove: “What’s your status? Why should I swear brotherhood with you?”

The glove shook his index finger: “I’m a disciple of Xiao Qianshou—aren’t I your senior in Beifen ?”

Lü Huazi sneered: “I’m the founding ancestor of a sect—how dare a disciple of Xiao Qianshou speak of Beifen with me?”

The glove spoke calmly: “Huazi, becoming my brother won’t cost you anything—ask our mistress, everyone in the household says I’m loyal and righteous.”

Lü Huazi dismissed him: “I’m not one of your household—your righteousness has nothing to do with me.”

“You refuse the cup of wine, then?” The glove called out to Fifth Lady: “He won’t swear brotherhood with me!”

Fifth Lady, eager to escape Hong Ying’s Jiuchan , turned and smiled at the glove: “Aotao, who wouldn’t swear brotherhood with you? This man’s being unreasonable—I’ll talk to him.”

“Wait!” Lü Huazi leapt aside, staring at the glove: “What’s your real intention?”

“Good intentions!” The glove clapped Lü Huazi on the shoulder. “Huazi, once we’re brothers, we’ll share fortune and hardship, trust each other with our lives, and stand together till death!”

Lü Huazi shoved the glove away: “Don’t spout empty flattery—just say plainly what you want!”

“How’s that empty flattery? I’m telling you the truth!” The glove spat out paper and brush. “We’ll sign a contract—all I just said will be written in it!”

Lü Huazi was startled—nothing else mattered; the four words “share life and death” were crucial.

He turned to Li Banfeng: “Li Qi, are you coercing me?”

Li Banfeng said nothing.

Hong Ying stepped closer: “Seven, what exactly did you agree on with Lü Huazi?”

Li Banfeng’s expression turned grave as he scanned the surroundings repeatedly.

All of Qiao Yi’s men—those who died in battle or from illness—will become Dao Laogui, extraordinarily powerful Dao Laogui.

Hong Ying stared in shock: “Seven, are all these Dao Laogui meant to become Lü Shuihuan?”