Chapter 850

Yuan Miaoping, tears welling in her eyes, looked at Li Banfeng and said, “Boss, it’s not how you think—I could never turn just anyone into a Disease Cultivator. Cui Ti is truly a special case; I chose him because he possessed the conditions to become one.”

Li Banfeng carefully wiped the fluorescent screen: “‘Possessed the conditions’—you mean he had Dao affinity, right?”

Yuan Miaoping looked impressed: “Boss, how do you know everything? Boss, you’re truly a divine being!”

“Is that hard to figure out? Inner Amikan doesn’t even have the concept of Dao. People with Dao affinity must be vanishingly rare. Tell me how Cui Ti got his Dao affinity.”

Yuan Miaoping sensed the shift in tone and immediately explained: “His Dao affinity has nothing to do with me. Since childhood, he was frail and sickly. While his parents were alive, they sought out countless shamans and healers to treat him. The herbs he consumed and the shamanic rituals he endured had long accumulated enough Dao affinity for him.”

“So I can’t turn ordinary people into Disease Cultivators—I must find those who’ve already accumulated Dao affinity but haven’t entered any Dao gate. Such people are rare even in Pulu Province, and nonexistent elsewhere.”

“Besides, the person must be willing. Cui Ti watched TV for days—no plot, no characters, just endless looping patterns. How could someone unwilling even sit through that?”

“So you poured so much effort into cultivating Cui Ti purely out of sympathy?” Li Banfeng wiped the casing after cleaning the screen.

Yuan Miaoping nodded: “Yes, it was pure sympathy. I’m a person with a sense of justice. Boss, you know what Cui Ti endured as a child—it breaks the heart and brings tears to the eyes! He was pitiful enough already—what other motive could I possibly have toward him?”

Li Banfeng sprayed cleaner on the casing: “How’s your relationship with Bai Jiameng?”

Yuan Miaoping licked her lips: “Not bad—”

Every time her weak point was exposed, Yuan Miaoping instinctively licked her lips.

“What exactly do you mean by ‘not bad’? What level of connection is that?”

Yuan Miaoping lowered her head: “In this world, it never hurts to have more connections. But those are all past matters—I’m now wholly loyal to you, Boss.”

Li Banfeng asked: “Are you trying to cultivate a Disease Cultivator for Bai Jiameng?”

Yuan Miaoping whispered: “Boss, I never thought that way at all. I truly pitied Cui Ti—how could I possibly exploit such a young child? Boss, what do you think of me?”

“I think of you as a normal person,” Li Banfeng wiped the casing clean, then moved to the back panel. “Normal people act with some self-interest, but they still uphold righteousness.”

Yuan Miaoping’s eyes reddened, and she began to sob softly: “Boss, I knew I followed the right person. I knew you’re the wisest, most considerate, most worthy leader in this world!”

“I helped Cui Ti out of pure goodwill. As for Bai Jiameng wanting to cultivate a Disease Cultivator—that was pure coincidence.”

Indeed, Bai Jiameng had orchestrated this. No wonder they’d always tried to recruit Cui Ti—they’d invested heavily in this.

But that doesn’t mean Yuan Miaoping’s motives were entirely false. After making Cui Ti a Disease Cultivator, she still helped him seek revenge—there was sympathy and pity in that too.

“You sacrificed your own body solely to preserve the Disease Cultivator Dao?” Li Banfeng meticulously cleaned the back panel, even wiping dust from every crevice.

“Boss, you’re not going to wash me clean and execute me on the spot, are you?” Yuan Miaoping cried even more pitifully. “Helping preserve the Dao is true—I did have my reasons. Electric Cultivators got ahead of Disease Cultivators, and the Dao’s backlash was nearly too much for me to bear.”

Self-interest and righteousness entangled—that was Yuan Miaoping’s nature.

After thoroughly cleaning Yuan Miaoping, Li Banfeng sat quietly before the screen, while Yuan Miaoping trembled nervously behind it.

“Qi” in the Body Dwelling wanted to speak, but held back.

He believed Yuan Miaoping was a menace and should be eliminated immediately. For Li Banfeng, eliminating her posed no difficulty. Though strong, her solo combat power was negligible within the Body Dwelling—he could end her life anytime.

But Li Banfeng didn’t do it.

Pulu Province faced many threats. If you killed every threat you saw, many Dao gates would have been wiped out long ago.

Like Lü Huazi—everyone thought he was Pulu’s curse, yet who could’ve guessed he’d just saved Pulu?

“What’s your rank in Bai Jiameng?”

Yuan Miaoping shook her head: “I have no rank—just occasional cooperation with them.”

“Don’t lie!” Li Banfeng threw the cloth onto the screen, squarely hitting Yuan Miaoping’s face. “Electric Cultivator powder is in the peddler’s hands. Electric Cultivator disciples are mostly from Pulu. Pulu people look distinctly different from Inner Amikan nationals. Without Bai Jiameng’s help, how could you possibly install dozens of TVs across Amikan?”

Yuan Miaoping began licking her lips again—this hit her weak point.

One or two TVs might be explainable, but Yuan Miaoping had installed dozens across Inner Amikan. Without another organization’s aid, Electric Cultivators alone could never have accomplished such a massive project.

Relying solely on Electric Cultivators won't complete such a massive project.

“I’m not hunting for a mole, nor do I intend to make things hard for you. I need to investigate some matters through Bai Jiameng. If you can act as a bridge, things will go smoother.”

Yuan Miaoping said: “May I ask, Boss—are you looking for Duan Tielu’s whereabouts?”

Li Banfeng nodded. Yuan Miaoping was indeed sharp in this regard.

“Boss, Duan Tielu is an extremely cautious man. I suspect Bai Jiameng has few leads. Rather than team up with them to investigate, [41] it’d be better if I first gather information. Once we have a general direction, you can go personally. After all, Boss, you’re a person of status in Shang Country—you may have more tools at your disposal than Bai Jiameng.”

Boss, Duan Tielu is an extremely cautious man; I suspect the Baiji Alliance doesn’t have much information either, so it’s better not to team up with them to investigate,

Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly—this approach was sound. He picked up Yuan Miaoping to leave, when the Body Dwelling called out: “Qi, be careful.”

Li Banfeng understood the old man’s concern, but this wasn’t the first time he’d taken Yuan Miaoping out.

He’d been cautious before—he must remain cautious now.

He’d trusted her before—he must continue trusting her.

Li Banfeng brought Yuan Miaoping to Xiaoyao Wharf. She stood in the room as the screen’s images flickered.

First snow-capped mountains, then a lone island in the sea, then clouds, then a cave on a cliff. “According to previous clues, Duan Tielu should be along the border between Shang Country and Tufang Country,” Li Banfeng said, not wanting her to search aimlessly.

A picture-in-picture appeared in the lower-left corner of the TV. Yuan Miaoping shook her head: “Boss, I’ve heard this rumor too. I’ve already surveyed the Shang-Tufang border. Based on current observations, I haven’t found Duan Tielu’s residence or any trace of him.”

A picture-in-picture appeared in the lower-left corner of the television; Yuan Miaoping shook her head and said, “I’ve also heard this rumor the Boss mentioned; I just investigated the border between Shang and Tufang.”

This man was so shrewd—he likely heard of Shang’s defeat and went into hiding.

Where could he hide?

“You just said you didn’t see Duan Tielu’s house. What did his house look like?”

The main screen kept switching. Yuan Miaoping opened another picture-in-picture: “Boss, this is Duan Tielu’s house on the border between the two countries.”

Li Banfeng saw a hill—no house.

Yuan Miaoping showed another photo: the same hill, nearly identical to the previous one.

Only when he overlaid the two photos did Li Banfeng spot the difference.

The first photo’s hill had an extra feature—a patch of terrain in the lower-left area.

This patch was perfectly rounded. Its addition didn’t disrupt the hill’s smooth curve—it was invisible, a testament to the extraordinary skill of the Gongxiu Ancestor.

Yuan Miaoping showed more images: offshore rocks, desert dunes, snow on high peaks, ponds on grasslands.

All had once been Duan Tielu’s residences, yet Li Banfeng saw no flaw in any of these photos.

Among the Hundred Pulu Dao Gates, many Ancestors were weak, but some represented the pinnacle of Dao. Duan Tielu might be the pinnacle of Gongxiu—though Old Train might disagree.

Yuan Miaoping continued searching for Duan Tielu. Li Banfeng first contacted Ba Suan and Pineapple.

The two had been aboard Tianyi City, probing for news from Chaoge. Strangely, since the war ended, Chaoge had been completely silent.

Li Banfeng then contacted the Luo sisters. According to Luo Lijun’s current intelligence, Shang’s cabinet remained under Qiao Yi’s control, but the court had issued a ban: no regional lords were permitted to travel to Chaoge. Thus, the Luo sisters had yet to meet Qiao Yi.

The two of them piloted Tianyi City, continuously probing for news from Chaoge; strangely, since the war ended, Chaoge has been completely silent.

Li Banfeng contacted the Luo sisters again; according to Luo Lijun’s current information, Shang’s cabinet remains under Qiao Yi’s control, but the imperial court issued a ban prohibiting all regional lords from traveling to Chaoge, so the Luo sisters have yet to meet Qiao Yi.

This was interesting.

Li Banfeng took Yuan Miaoping to Qishui Kiln, boarded Tianyi City, and headed first to Xiaodu.

Xiaodu had just restored order. Because Shang and Pulu had gone to war, Xiaodu—being the fief of Prince Pingyuan—was in a precarious position. Figures like Tie Baisheng and Ban Chiling, closely tied to Li Qi, could be executed at any moment for treason. Many in Shang Country severed business ties with Xiaodu.

Other nations also feared instability in Xiaodu and delayed previously agreed deals.

Now that the war was over and Xiaodu remained unharmed, foreign merchants resumed trade, but domestic commerce had yet to restart—merchants from all regions waited to see the court’s next move.

Tie Baisheng was extremely cautious, tightening security around his mansion and keeping ships ready at the harbor for immediate departure.

Li Banfeng simply appeared before Tie Baisheng: “Who’s running the court now?”

Tie Baisheng nearly fainted: “Your Highness, when did you arrive?”

Li Banfeng said: “I just got here. Your business in Xiaodu seems quite lively.”

Tie Baisheng looked grim: “Your Highness, I have no ambitions for business—I only hope the court won’t punish us. I sent people to Chaoge to inquire. Though we lost the war, the court is still under Minister Qiao’s control. I fear we won’t be spared.”

As he spoke, Tie Baisheng carefully observed Li Banfeng’s expression.

Yesterday, he’d received another piece of news: Prince Pingyuan had become the new leader of Pulu Province.

Be extremely careful with words—avoid mentioning the war, never offend the Prince.

Li Banfeng paid no mind to Tie Baisheng’s tone—he doubted the Chaoge news. Even someone as powerful as Lian Budai couldn’t split a man into three parts. Qiao Yi had died twice; Li Banfeng had wept twice. He believed Qiao Yi was truly dead.

“Has Ban Chiling gone to Chaoge to investigate?”

“I don’t know,” Tie Baisheng shook his head. “That old ox ran off a few days ago. I have no idea where she is now.”

“She ran that fast?” Li Banfeng had a poor impression of Ban Chiling. “Did the court send someone to warn you? Or to question you?”

Tie Baisheng said: “Your Highness, if the court had made any move, we wouldn’t fear. We fear the silence—the uncertainty of when they’ll strike.”

That was exactly Qiao Yi’s style—he never warned his enemies before striking.

Tie Baisheng said, “Your Highness, if the imperial court makes any move, we wouldn’t fear it—it’s the silence that terrifies us, when they do nothing at all yet might strike at any moment.”

This must be seen firsthand.

Li Banfeng arrived in Chaoge. From the First City to the Ninth City, Chaoge was heavily fortified.

Especially beyond the Fifth City, the ramparts were stacked with first- and second-tier weapons, nearly overflowing. Even with his high cultivation, walking the streets, Li Banfeng felt waves of cold dread.

Was this Qiao Yi’s defense?

Especially after reaching Wucheng, the city gate towers were piled high with first- and second-tier weapons, stacked so thickly they could barely hold more; even with Li Banfeng’s high cultivation, walking through the city streets, he still felt waves of cold.

Li Banfeng activated his Zhaixiu talent to its full extent and entered Qiao Yi’s mansion.

This was extremely risky. Around the mansion were multiple Kuixiu weapons. If they activated simultaneously, they’d detect Li Banfeng.

Fortunately, each weapon had its own duty. Li Banfeng walked from the front courtyard to the rear garden without triggering any alarm.

He searched every room—found no trace of Qiao Yi.

In the study, Li Banfeng found documents. Most bore pre-war dates. One batch arrived after the war—still unopened.

Meaning, since the war began, Qiao Yi had never returned to the mansion.

He could even be certain: Qiao Yi had never returned to Chaoge.

That is to say, since the war began, Qiaoyi never returned to the mansion,

It can even be concluded that Qiaoyi never returned to Chaoge,

Of course, it’s also possible that Qiao Yi moved away after returning.

But if he moved, why is this mansion so heavily guarded?

Who exactly is it guarding against?

After leaving Qiao Yi’s mansion, Li Banfeng used his ability to avoid misfortune and wandered deeper into dangerous parts of Chaoge City, assuming no place could be more perilous than Qiao Yi’s residence—only to realize he had misjudged.

The mansion of the Anshun Commandery Prince was lined with even more first-class weapons, making it more dangerous than Qiao Yi’s.

Li Banfeng had entered Chaoge City multiple times but had never seen such a display; staring at the Commandery Prince’s mansion, he knew with absolute certainty: if he stepped through that gate even once, his presence would be exposed—were so many weapons really just to protect one Commandery Prince?

There were plenty of imperial clan members in Chaoge City; the number of Princes was not small.

Li Banfeng still had some memory of this Anshun Commandery Prince—he had marched with Qiao Yi, and when Li Banfeng left, the Prince was already afflicted by plague; his only possible fates were becoming a Dao-Lao Ghost or dying outright.

How could he have returned to Chaoge?

Is this truly him inside this mansion?

Li Banfeng returned to his mansion to seek Tian Nü’s help; she used the projector’s images to examine the Commandery Prince’s defenses.

Tian Nü shook her head repeatedly: “This place is inaccessible—even I can’t get in. Even if you brought the other half of Yuncai’s body, it still wouldn’t work.”

Li Banfeng said: “I only want to see if the Anshun Commandery Prince is inside. A Yu should be able to manage that, right?”

Tian Nü still lacked confidence: “A Yu might manage it, but it’s extremely risky. You and I must take A Yu out, protect her carefully, keep her far from the mansion, let her glance once, then bring her back immediately.”

Tian Nü’s caution revealed just how deeply the Commandery Prince’s mansion had been fortified.

Li Banfeng fetched A Yu from Hulucun, projected the Anshun Commandery Prince’s image, and together they guarded A Yu as they approached the mansion. A Yu had barely looked for two seconds when Tian Nü gave a glance—Li Banfeng immediately opened the door and dragged both Tian Nü and A Yu back.

A Yu snapped: “What’s the rush? I hadn’t even caught my breath, and you dragged me back!”

Tian Nü said: “When else are you going to breathe? Must you breathe there? Did you see the Anshun Commandery Prince?”

A Yu closed her eyes, recalled for a moment: “I didn’t fully grasp the mansion’s layout, but I barely made out a few figures—I can’t confirm if any were the Anshun Commandery Prince. Show me his appearance again.”

The projector leaned close and flashed its lens: “Beautiful lady, I am at your service.”

A Yu shot the projector a disdainful glance, her face filled with revulsion.

The projector displayed the Anshun Commandery Prince’s image again—taken on the battlefield, he wore armor, clearly different from the clothing A Yu had seen; combined with the haste, many details were missed, making final identification extremely difficult.

After careful comparison, A Yu told Li Banfeng: “The Anshun Commandery Prince is almost certainly inside. I’m at least sixty percent certain. His appearance has changed significantly, but certain habitual mannerisms remain distinct.”

His appearance had changed, yet his habitual mannerisms remained.

Li Banfeng deduced: “The soul is real, but the body is new?”

A Yu thought for a moment: “I can’t be certain, but it’s certainly possible.”

Did the Great Totem bring him back to life?

Li Banfeng frowned: “If this bastard is truly alive, I must see him again.”

Tian Nü shook her head: “You shouldn’t go. If you go, you have almost no chance of coming out alive.”

A Yu agreed with Tian Nü’s judgment: “I only glanced once, but the mansion’s defenses are formidable. The Anshun Commandery Prince is currently in the Main Garden—each of the four directions around it has two layers of courtyards, each with over a hundred first-class weapons. Trying to sneak in would be nine deaths and one life.”

Xiang Hongying couldn’t help speaking up: “I hate negotiating with you, Zhai Xiu. It’s just a five-courtyard mansion—it’s not a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair. What’s there to be afraid of?”

Seventh, since they’re too scared to go, let’s go ourselves—we’ll fight our way in and drag that prince back!”

Tian Nü shook her head: “That’s absolutely out of the question.”

Xiang Hongying had already prepared her armor: “Seventh, just tell me when to move!”

“Move for what?” Li Banfeng looked at Hongying. “Am I planning a robbery or a kidnapping? Am I that kind of person? Could I ever do such a thing?”

Xiang Hongying didn’t think robbery was bad, but since Seventh had gone straight, she wouldn’t do it anymore.

Li Banfeng asked Yuan Miaoping: “Can A Yu guide you to the Anshun Commandery Prince’s location? Can you contact him?”

“Why would I contact him?” Yuan Miaoping looked terrified. “Boss, you’re not suspecting me of treason, are you? I’ve had no dealings with this Prince.”

“Who said you’re a traitor?” Li Banfeng opened a map. “Find a suitable place to meet him. I’ll meet him there and discuss serious matters.”

“A suitable place?” Yuan Miaoping had seen Chaoge City’s current state through the carriage window. “Is there even a suitable place left in Chaoge? I feel we’d be at a disadvantage no matter where we negotiate.”

Tian Nü offered a suggestion: “Make him go to Xiaodu. There, we’d feel more secure.”

“Xiaodu?” Li Banfeng laughed. “Why not tell him to go to Lüshuicheng? If he goes to Xiaoyao Weng, I’d feel even more at ease!”

Tian Nü nodded: “Going to Xiaoyao Weng is fine too—it’s our home as well.”

Li Banfeng shook his head: “This Prince will never leave Chaoge. He’s deployed so many weapons not just to guard against Puzhou. Have him come to Qiao Yi’s mansion—tell him I’ll meet him in Qiao Yi’s study.”

The Anshun Commandery Prince sat in his bedroom, staring blankly at the food on the table.

A eunuch stepped forward: “Your Highness, the food has grown cold. Shall I reheat it for you?”

The Anshun Commandery Prince shook his head: “No need. Take it away. I’m not hungry.”

The eunuch urged: “Your Highness, you haven’t eaten all day. Please, just eat a little—”

The Anshun Commandery Prince looked up at the eunuch: “You talk too much.”

The eunuch immediately clamped his mouth shut and ordered the entire meal removed.

The Prince had hot water brought in, preparing to bathe and sleep. As he sank into the water, he closed his eyes—and amid the rising steam, Li Qi’s figure appeared before him.

The Prince was startled, opened his eyes—but Li Qi was gone.

An illusion?

The Prince took up two weapons and examined them carefully for a long time. He saw no sign of Li Qi again.

Several servants and maids stood nearby, none having seen anyone else enter the room.

None of the first-class weapons in the courtyard reacted. The Prince closed his eyes again—and soon, Li Qi’s figure reappeared.

The Prince was about to call for help when Li Banfeng spoke: “Shunzi, don’t rush. I have urgent matters to discuss with you.”

What kind of situation is this? Has Li Qi broken into his home?

Are all these defenses around the mansion just for show?

Li Qi added: “I didn’t come in person—this is just an image. It can’t harm you. I’m here to help you. Is there still room for negotiation?”

The Anshun Commandery Prince looked around, ordered the servants to leave temporarily, and claimed he wished to rest briefly.

Once they were gone, the Prince closed his eyes and whispered: “What’s there to discuss with you?”

Li Banfeng said: “Qiao Yi hasn’t returned, has he?”

The Anshun Commandery Prince replied: “Who told you that?”

“I’m inside Qiao Yi’s house—I saw no one!”

“Why should you get to see him? Must Qiao Yi wait at home for you?”

Li Banfeng smiled: “Quarreling is pointless. I’m genuinely here to help you. You were deeply entangled with the former Emperor and even more so with the former Chief Minister. Whether the Sage or Qiao Yi, they’ve made many enemies. Now they’re gone—shouldn’t this debt fall on you?”

The Anshun Commandery Prince sneered: “Do you think I’m afraid? I’ve walked through blood and storm my whole life—when have I ever cowered?”

“If you truly aren’t afraid, why build so many defenses?”

The Anshun Commandery Prince replied calmly: “We just suffered a defeat. We’re tightening security in the capital to prevent chaos—is that unreasonable?”

Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly: “I almost forgot—you’re also to blame for the defeat.”

The Anshun Commandery Prince pressed his lips shut, saying nothing.

Li Banfeng said: “Stop pretending. I’m truly concerned for you. If you can’t become Emperor, you won’t survive. I hope you can ascend—but I need to know what resources you have.”

The Anshun Commandery Prince remained silent for a long while, then asked: “If we’re to talk, do it soon. Where are you?”