Chapter 848: Where is your body?

Li Li Banfeng took the Imperial Seal and arrived at Tianquan Huantu Island; he intended to block the passage from Tianquan Huantu Island to the Inner Continent.

Blocking a passage was not difficult; it only required a single official document.

The exit of the passage was on a reef less than ten *li* east of Tianquan Huantu Island. Li Li Banfeng wrote the document, stamped it with the Imperial Seal, and threw it into the passage; this counted as blocked.

But the problem was that there was more than one passage to block. As for exactly how many there were, even Li Li Banfeng himself could not say.

The passage at Sage Peak had to be blocked, the one at Year-Famine Plain certainly had to be blocked, and there were also passages near those thirteen pieces of new land. Where they were, Li Li Banfeng did not yet know.

These were just the passages the Inner Continent had already activated. There were still others Li Li Banfeng did not even know the locations of. Even if he held the Imperial Seal and probed the entire Star Fall Continent, Li Li Banfeng still could not figure out where these passages led.

"My precious wife, it really is just like that saying: one can be a thief for a thousand days, but one cannot guard against a thief for a thousand days."

He could not just keep plugging holes; he had to start with the passages themselves.

His wife had been studying the Imperial Seal for several days and always felt that this object was somewhat familiar.

"Husband, could you let me take the Imperial Seal to Gourd Village? I want to study it with Ayi for a few days."

Li Li Banfeng nodded. "Be careful when studying it. Don't break it. One of the two Imperial Seals belongs to Boss Lu, and it has to be returned to him."

Once they arrived at Gourd Village, Ayi studied it for a long time and also noticed some clues:

"This isn't just a simple seal. It should be a machine, but the craftsmanship is too exquisite; there are some parts I can't see clearly."

"Then find someone who can see clearly." Li Li Banfeng brought Ayu down. Ayu watched for an entire day, her eyes turning blood-red. "It's a machine!" Ayu was very certain. "I saw gears. This is the first time I've seen such a precise machine."

"Husband, go busy yourself with your affairs first. Once we sisters figure out some clues, we'll discuss it with you slowly." Zhao Zhao Xiao Wan was fascinated by this machine. Following Ayu's description, she had already drawn a rough sketch.

Looking at this sketch, Li Li Banfeng felt it was somewhat familiar.

Professional matters should be left to professional people. Li Li Banfeng did not get involved. He left Gourd Village and, following the contact method from back then, found Lady Zuo Anna.

Lady Zuo Anna lived in Green Water City and had rented a room near the Boundless Hospital.

The hospital was still operating, but because Cui Cui Tike was not there, the treatment methods here could not be considered advanced; they were no different from ordinary hospitals, and there were far fewer patients than before.

Lady Zuo Anna would stay in the hospital for a long time every day, so much so that when she saw Li Li Banfeng, she still carried the strong scent of disinfectant on her.

The makeup on her face was very exquisite, and every word she spoke was full of poise: "Mr. Li, I am currently executing a very important mission, and time is somewhat tight. Please speak directly if you have something to say."

Li Li Banfeng went straight to the point: "I want to know the whereabouts of the Crafting Cultivator Patriarch."

Lady Zuo Anna pondered for a moment: "Crafting Cultivator Patriarch Duan Duan Tielu, I have heard of this person. He has very high attainments in craftsmanship.

There are many rumors about his whereabouts. A relatively credible theory is that he is currently settled on the border between the Shang Kingdom and the Tu Fang Kingdom. This person has relatively close dealings with both countries."

The border between Shang and Tu Fang was vast. Li Li Banfeng asked: "Specifically, at what location?"

Lady Zuo Anna shook her head and said: "There is no way to determine his specific location. The boundary line between the Shang Kingdom and the Tu Fang Kingdom is changing at all times; this is a characteristic of the Inner Continent.

It is rumored that Duan Duan Tielu has a special method that can relatively solidify his own location. Do you understand what relative solidification is?"

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "I can understand it."

Lady Zuo Anna stared straight at Li Li Banfeng: "What do you mean by this? Is it that I didn't explain it clearly enough?"

Li Li Banfeng was stunned. He felt that what he said was also very clear: "You explained it very clearly, so I can understand it."

"Why do you have to comfort me? Why can't you speak more directly?" Lady Zuo Anna observed Li Li Banfeng's features carefully, as if she wanted to find some truth from the changes in his expression.

Li Li Banfeng's expression did not change. He stood up and said: "Thank you for the clue. If you need help, please contact me at any time."

Everything that should be asked had been asked, and everything that should be said had been said. It was time for Li Li Banfeng to go.

"Leaving just like this?" Lady Zuo Anna felt it was inconceivable. "Beating around the bush will seriously affect the efficiency of communication. Why can't you speak more directly?"

Li Li Banfeng said in a calm tone: "Every sentence I said was very direct. I want to find Duan Duan Tielu's whereabouts."

"Regarding Duan Duan Tielu's whereabouts, there are many theories, among which the more credible one is..."

"You have already said these."

"Who told you to beat around the bush!" Lady Zuo Anna said with red eyes. "Why can't you speak directly if you have something to say?"

"What do you want me to say?" Li Li Banfeng looked at Lady Zuo Anna in confusion. He did not know what kind of situation this woman was in.

"He's dead, right? I did a lot of investigations in the Shang Kingdom, and they all said he was dead." Lady Zuo Anna looked at Li Li Banfeng in despair. She wanted to find an answer from Li Qi, but she was also afraid that Li Qi would truly confirm her theory.

Only then did Li Li Banfeng understand: "You are talking about Cui Cui Tike?"

Lady Zuo Anna nodded slightly. She was afraid to know the result, yet she could not wait to know the result.

Li Li Banfeng looked at Lady Zuo Anna very seriously: "He is still alive."

Lady Zuo Anna's body trembled, and tears slid down her cheeks one by one.

"Where is he?"

This question really stumped Li Li Banfeng. He did not know where Cui Cui Tike was: "I cannot tell you yet."

He thought Lady Zuo Anna would keep asking, but he did not expect Lady Zuo Anna to quickly wipe away her tears, sit down in front of the dressing table, and carefully touch up her makeup.

"It doesn't matter. I can find him. As long as he is alive, it's fine. Once I find him, I will marry him."

Li Li Banfeng was stunned: "You want to marry him?"

Lady Zuo Anna picked up her eyebrow pencil: "I know I'm not good enough for him, and it doesn't matter if he doesn't want me. I'll stay with him, follow him, and follow him wherever he goes."

Li Li Banfeng knew that Lady Zuo Anna and Cui Cui Tike actually had no blood relationship, but he still could not help asking: "Haven't you always addressed each other as sister and brother?"

"I never wanted to be his sister, never even thought about it!" Lady Zuo Anna shook her head while doing her makeup. "I am not his sister. I just lived in the same village as him. I liked him when I was very young. At that time, I wanted to marry him."

"How young?"

"Fifteen. At that time, Cui Cui Tike was twelve. It should have been twelve; he couldn't even say his own age clearly."

Regarding the matter of not being able to say his age clearly, Li Li Banfeng was not unfamiliar with it: "Is he an orphan?"

"He had parents, but they died very early, both from illness. Cui Cui Tike and his younger brother Luo Luo Leide were both very prone to illness. My father told me that the two brothers were the sons of the devil, carrying the devil's curse on their bodies, and the curse on them killed their parents.

But even though my father said so, I still liked him. When he came to sell apples, I would secretly buy a few. When he came to do odd jobs, I would secretly give him some wages.

Cui Cui Tike would try every possible way to support his younger brother. Later on, his younger brother got sick and developed a rash. Although Cui Cui Tike explained to others that that kind of rash was not contagious, no one believed him.

No one bought his things, and no one hired him to work. He begged for food everywhere. At that time, he called me sister. I actually didn't like him calling me that.

Later on, Cui Cui Tike also got sick and developed a rash on his body. People in the village said it was an epidemic that would spread to others.

Some people wanted to burn them to death, but they didn't dare to take action. They were afraid that smoke and fire would trigger the devil's curse and even bring about the devil's revenge.

Some people wanted to drive them out of the village, but the villagers knew that Cui Cui Tike and Luo Luo Leide had never left this village, and the nearest village was a hundred *li* away. They were worried that this pair of brothers would come back to beg for food.

So someone thought of a way. They first lied to Cui Cui Tike, saying they had found him a logging job, and tricked Cui Cui Tike to the mountain. They broke his legs and threw his seriously ill younger brother onto the mountain as well.

Cui Cui Tike, with his broken legs, couldn't get down the mountain, and Luo Luo Leide, who was seriously ill, couldn't go anywhere. The two of them would be trapped to death on the mountain."

Li Li Banfeng didn't quite understand the thoughts of these villagers: "Doing this kind of thing, weren't they afraid that the devil would take revenge?"

Lady Zuo Anna shook her head: "People in the village said that they hadn't done anything wrong in this matter. They said they had just changed a place for the two children to live, and this wouldn't anger the devil.

Even if it angered the devil, they weren't afraid. Our village was under the protection of the gods. As long as they didn't kill those two children with their own hands, they could find excuses to absolve themselves, and the devil wouldn't harm them."

Li Li Banfeng had heard Cui Cui Tike recount some things about the past, and he roughly guessed the ending: "Cui Cui Tike couldn't move, and his younger brother starved to death."

Lady Zuo Anna put down the eyebrow pencil and was silent for a long time. She looked in the mirror and said: "This is my fault."

Li Li Banfeng was puzzled: "How could it be your fault?"

Lady Zuo Anna lowered her head and said: "I knew where they were. I went to the mountain to see them, and I brought him bread.

Cui Cui Tike was very strong. He had broken legs, but he still smiled at me. He held his younger brother and kept saying thank you to me.

I promised that I would come to visit them again tomorrow, and I would bring them bread to eat. I also said I would take some ham from home for them.

Cui Cui Tike kept saying thank you to me at that time. He kept saying thank you. When I went down the mountain, he was crawling on the ground. He wanted to see me off, and he kept watching me.

He trusted me so much, but I never went to that mountain again. After I returned home, I was locked up by my family."

When saying these words, Lady Zuo Anna's tone was very calm, but tears kept flowing.

"I knew he was waiting for me on the mountain, always waiting for me. He believed I would definitely come. I looked toward the mountain every day. I thought I would never see him again.

Until that night, my father was drinking, my mother was listening to the radio, and someone outside the door was shouting that the devil had returned, that he had crawled back.

I thought it might be Cui Cui Tike. I was very happy. I wanted to go out to see him, but my family wouldn't let me out.

By the next day, when I went out, Cui Cui Tike had already left.

From that day on, the villagers got a strange disease one after another. Their bodies were covered in rashes, painful and itchy, and no method could cure the rashes. Even praying to the gods was of no use.

My father took our family and left the village. Later, I heard that everyone in the village had died. Except for our family, no one else survived."

Li Li Banfeng had wanted to leave before, but hearing Lady Zuo Anna say this, he had some doubts.

"You said Cui Cui Tike had never left the village. He was just a teenager. Why did he master the ability of a Disease Cultivator?"

Lady Zuo Anna shook her head: "I don't know. I didn't hear any news about him for a long time.

By the time I saw him again, it was already a few years later. He had grown up.

My parents were killed by the Tu Fang people. For this reason, I joined the White Falcon Alliance. At that time, I was just a nobody, and I could lose my life in a mission at any time.

The White Collection Alliance really wanted to win over Cui Cui Tike. They knew about the special relationship between me and Cui Cui Tike. They began to reuse me and used me to develop some cooperation with Cui Cui Tike.

Although Cui Cui Tike kept refusing to join the White Collection Alliance, I used my status in the White Collection Alliance to provide him with a lot of help. I wanted to give him some compensation. I hoped he could..."

Lady Zuo Anna was still rambling about her past with Cui Cui Tike, but Li Li Banfeng's thoughts remained on one thing: how exactly did Cui Cui Tike become a Disease Cultivator?

Before being tricked to the mountain, he was just a child. If he had already become a Disease Cultivator at that time, he wouldn't have had his legs broken by others, and he wouldn't have watched his younger brother starve to death.

He wouldn't even have needed to stay in this village. He could have completely cured his younger brother first and then made a living by the means of a Disease Cultivator.

That proved he was just an ordinary child before going up the mountain.

But if he wasn't a Disease Cultivator before going up the mountain, then what exactly happened during the time on the mountain?

Who led him into the Daoist sect?

Did the Peddler go to the Inner Outer Amikan Kingdom?

Perhaps there was such a possibility. The Peddler might have run to Inner Outer Amikan to pay off his debts.

But the Disease Cultivators didn't have medicinal powder at that time. The inheritance of the Daoist sect was a true inheritance of flesh and blood. The next cultivator needed to eat their own master to enter the sect. The Peddler had no way to make Cui Cui Tike a Disease Cultivator.

Did the Peddler get a piece of meat and send it to him?

Why would the Peddler want to cultivate a Disease Cultivator for the Outer Amikan Kingdom? What good would doing this do for the Star Fall Continent?

Wait a moment.

Li Li Banfeng rubbed his forehead. His thinking couldn't be limited to the Peddler. Could this matter have been done by someone else?

Did Green Flower go to preach the Dao himself?

Or was it some Disease Cultivator disciple?

Regardless of who went to preach the Dao, why choose Cui Cui Tike? Why choose a miserable person from a remote mountain village?

Perhaps only Cui Cui Tike himself could explain this matter clearly.

"He is still alive, right?" Lady Zuo Anna confirmed with Li Li Banfeng again.

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "Alive. I believe you will be able to meet one day. I believe Cui Cui Tike doesn't hate you."

Lady Zuo Anna stared closely at Li Li Banfeng: "I believe you didn't lie to me. I will help you find Duan Duan Tielu's whereabouts. If I find him,

please promise me to let me see Cui Cui Tike once."

"I will try my best to arrange it." Li Li Banfeng didn't give a promise. He left Lady Zuo Anna's residence.

But Lady Zuo Anna was full of confidence. She touched up her makeup very seriously, as if in another hour, Cui Cui Tike would appear in front of her.

Less than an hour later, Li Li Banfeng returned.

"He came?" Lady Zuo Anna looked at Li Li Banfeng excitedly.

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "He didn't come. I have something I want to ask you. On the night Cui Cui Tike returned to the village, what was your mother doing?"

Lady Zuo Anna said: "She was listening to the radio."

"Your village can listen to the radio?"

Lady Zuo Anna nodded: "Inner Outer Amikan is the same as the Star Fall Continent; both have radio stations, but ordinary people can't hear them.

Our village was under the protection of the gods. As long as there was a radio at home, one could receive the radio station."

Li Li Banfeng nodded slightly. He had no other questions.

Leaving Lady Zuo Anna's residence, Li Li Banfeng returned to the Portable Residence.

He moved Yuan Yuan Miaoping to the main room and watched her quietly for a long time.

Yuan Yuan Miaoping lowered her head, her cheeks flushed red: "Leader, you're looking at me like this, I'm very embarrassed—"

Xiang Xiang Hongying was anxious: "Seventh Brother, you're stealing food when Zhao Xiao Wan isn't here! Even if you want to steal, it's not her turn; I'm still here!"

Li Li Banfeng touched the television's casing and laughed: "I just want to steal, but does she have a place for me to take action with this body?"

Xiang Xiang Hongying snorted: "That's not for sure. What can't you do?"

Yuan Yuan Miaoping was unhappy. She glared at Li Qi: "You're even looking down on me? Is my figure bad? Look carefully at where I'm lacking!"

A disco song played on the television, the screen kept changing angles, and Yuan Yuan Miaoping danced a hot dance in the television, her exquisite figure fully displayed.

The more Xiang Xiang Hongying watched, the angrier she got: "I knew this flirtatious hoof wasn't honest. If one day she crawls out of the television, won't she hook away Seventh Brother's soul!"

Li Li Banfeng was also curious about this matter: "Yes, why don't you crawl out of the television?"

Yuan Yuan Miaoping stopped the dance and laughed dryly: "I don't have a body, so I can only stay in the television."

"Where is your body?" Li Li Banfeng lifted his hat brim and looked at Yuan Yuan Miaoping.

Xiang Xiang Hongying didn't interrupt. She felt Li Li Banfeng's attitude wasn't quite right.

Yuan Yuan Miaoping smiled mischievously: "My body was eaten by Lai Lai Wuju!"

The girl from the Fifth Room looked at Yuan Yuan Miaoping, her eyes full of hatred.

Li Li Banfeng didn't look for the Fifth Room to verify. He felt this matter had nothing to do with the Fifth Room.

"Was it really eaten by Lai Lai Wuju?"

Yuan Yuan Miaoping stopped smiling: "Leader, what's wrong with you? I'm a little scared—"

"Don't be afraid, I just want to know where your body went?"

Yuan Yuan Miaoping pursed her lips and said: "My Daoist sect appeared late and had conflicts of interest with other Daoist sects.

Leader knows the atmosphere of the Star Fall Continent. Everyone has experienced some bloody storms. In a fierce battle back then, I lost my body and could never find it back.

As for who took my body, there's no trace to follow, and I don't have the ability to investigate."

Li Li Banfeng didn't believe it: "You have the ability to help Dan Bada steal human energy across the entire Outer Continent, but you don't have the ability to investigate the whereabouts of your own body? This is a bit far-fetched, isn't it?"

Yuan Yuan Miaoping looked aggrieved: "The key is that it's useless even if I find out. I'm already like this, can I still go and take revenge on them?

I'm broad-minded. Let the past be the past; I don't want to argue about it."

Li Li Banfeng said: "You don't want to argue not because you're broad-minded, right? It's because you didn't let outsiders take advantage, right?"

Yuan Yuan Miaoping blinked and followed his words: "That's really possible. After all, I'm a sect patriarch. If my body was eaten by my own Daoist sect disciple, it can be considered as passing on my cultivation."

Li Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly and also followed his words: "It was indeed passed on. Although it's not your Daoist sect, it is indeed your disciple!"

PS: Yuan Yuan Miaoping's background is not simple.

The word count for today's update is a bit low. Please forgive me, dear readers. ===== CHAPTER 849 =====