Sage

Li Banfeng returned to Portable Abode and told his Wife about their meeting in ten days.

After a long pause, the Wife said, "Little Slave, I think you shouldn't see him."

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "How can I leave without seeing him?"

The Wife said solemnly, "My dear husband, let's think of another way."

Red Lotus hissed, seemingly agreeing with the record player's statement.

Hong Ying snorted coldly and said, "You should know what kind of person someone who Broken Cocoon Chrysalis is. As for your own abilities, you should have some idea of what you're capable of. But these ten days are indeed quite a long time."

Li Banfeng was also curious as to why the other party gave him ten days.

Back at Benefactor Stronghold, Li Banfeng ordered his men to tighten security, suspecting that the saint might take advantage of the ten days to strike suddenly and catch them off guard.

In fact, he had the same plan, wanting to give this saint a surprise.

The next day, neither the sage nor his disciples appeared, but several dozen people came to seek refuge at Benefactor Stronghold.

Their origins were similar to those of others; they could no longer endure the exploitation by Sage Mountain and the bullying by the Sage Disciple.

One woman suffered the most.

This man was a Farming Cultivator in his early twenties, named Dong Qiaoqin.

She was from out of town. At the age of thirteen, she entered the Daoist sect of Farming Cultivator. At the age of fifteen, she was abducted to Jingde Village and sold to a family as a wife.

She consummated her marriage at the age of sixteen, and the couple had a son and a daughter.

Although it was only a single- Farming Cultivator, Dong Qiaoqin was proficient in various skills such as farming, silkworm breeding, and animal husbandry, and her life was quite happy.

When she turned twenty, her husband offended Sage Disciple, and he, along with their two children, were beaten to death in the village.

She happened to be on her way to buy silkworm seedlings in the next village that day, and luckily escaped with her life.

Upon returning to the village and receiving the devastating news of her family's destruction, Dong Qiaoqin nearly committed suicide.

From then on, the villagers' attitude towards her changed.

The problem wasn't "shortsightedness," but rather "almost."

The villagers of Jingde Village believe that Dong Qiaoqin should die, and should die with her husband and children.

The fact that she didn't die proves that something is going on.

In particular, Dong Qiaoqin's husband's family insisted that Dong Qiaoqin had colluded with the disciples of the sage and deliberately killed her husband.

They dared not argue with the Sage Disciple, and instead vented their anger on Dong Qiaoqin.

For two whole years, Dong Qiaoqin's family property was robbed, and she suffered countless bullying and beatings.

First her husband's family beat her, then the villagers of Jingde Village beat her, then the villagers from the surrounding villages beat her, and even the Sage Disciple came to beat her.

Why did even the Sage Disciple beat her?

He felt he hadn't gained any advantage, but his reputation had been ruined by her, and he felt he had to get revenge.

Just half a month ago, Dong Qiaoqin was attacked by a group of villagers. The little food her family had was stolen, and she was beaten so badly that she couldn't get out of bed for several days. Unable to bear it any longer, Dong Qiaoqin went into the mountains and sought refuge in Benefactor Stronghold.

Xiao Yeci felt great sympathy for this unfortunate woman and even prepared a bed in his own room to live with her.

Dong Qiaoqin was indeed a capable woman. After settling in, she chose a piece of land on the edge of the forest, sowed a bag of Fast Crop Seeds, and began to cultivate the land.

The land was quite large, and although Dong Qiaoqin had the skills, she couldn't manage it all by herself. Xiao Yeci called on many members of the mountain stronghold to farm the land with her.

These people have all suffered in the village, so their farming skills are second to none.

This bag of Fast Crop Seeds is also very special. It grows much faster than the seeds grown in Sea Eat Ridge. The seeds are sown on the same day, sprout on the next day, and are harvested on the third day. Moreover, the harvest is quite good.

Xiao Yeci was overjoyed and rewarded Dong Qiaoqin with thirty silver dollars. As an important member of the mountain stronghold, Xiao Yeci felt that this was what she should do.

Dong Qiaoqin took thirty silver dollars and went to other villages to buy a lot of poultry and livestock.

They raised chickens and ducks, herded cattle and sheep, and after three more days, the chicken coops, duck nests, and livestock sheds were all built.

Dong Qiaoqin went to the village to buy some silkworm seedlings, picked mulberry leaves, built a silkworm house, and led the women in the mountain village to raise silkworms together.

"This is a good thing, this is a good thing..." Xiao Yeci repeatedly reminded herself that this was a good thing, but she also felt that something seemed wrong.

Dong Qiaoqin also felt wronged. "Sister Xiao, tell me, what exactly did I do wrong?"

Xiao Yeci couldn't quite put her finger on it, so she went to Li Banfeng and said, "My Benefactor, I just feel like something's off about this Miss Dong, but I can't quite put my finger on it."

Li Banfeng nodded and said, "I know something's wrong with her."

"Was she sent by that saint? Were all those experiences she went through fabricated to deceive us?"

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "I went to Jingde Village to investigate, and her experience is true."

Xiao Yeci hesitated for a while before saying, "If it's true, then it proves that I was just overthinking it."

Li Banfeng shook his head again. "You're not overthinking it, she might very well have been sent by that saint."

Xiao Yeci looked puzzled. "Then I don't understand."

Li Banfeng gave a bitter smile, "I don't understand either. She's suffered so much, why does she still want to work for the emperor?"

Xiao Yeci said, "Let's send her away. My Benefactor, if it's inconvenient for you to take action, leave this to me."

Li Banfeng sighed, "What can you do? You've driven Dong Qiaoqin away, what are you going to say to the others?"

Should we tell them that growing food is wrong? Or should we tell them that seizing food is the right thing to do?

Xiao Yeci was speechless.

Li Banfeng looked at Xiao Yeci and said, "In the mountain stronghold, everyone except me has suffered more than you and your daughter, right?"

"Yes, they've stayed here longer than we have."

"Why do you think there are so many villages in this area?"

"No, I don't know..."

"Which came first, the saint or these villages?"

"I don't know..."

"They suffered so much, but as long as they could get by, they could forget all the suffering they endured. Why do you think that is?"

"I still don't know..."

Xiao Yeci didn't know, but she knew Li Banfeng was right. The people in the mountain stronghold were now thinking about living a peaceful life, and they definitely wouldn't want to go out and rob again.

Li Banfeng lowered the brim of his hat, stood up and said, "I need to see the Emperor tomorrow. You and your daughter should discuss it first. If I find a way out, are you willing to leave?"

Xiao Yeci remained silent.

Li Banfeng left the mountain stronghold, found a secluded place, and entered Portable Abode.

"My lord, tomorrow is the appointed day. Are you really going to see that sage?"

Li Banfeng remained silent for a moment, then asked another question, "Wife, is Hong Ying considered my Home Spirit?"

The Wife was a little angry, but she couldn't act rashly at this time. "My husband called her name to my face, and this wretched woman responded to my face as well, so she is naturally my husband's Home Spirit."

Li Banfeng then asked, "Would the Deep Mansion Technique be of any use to her?"

Hong Ying said in a cold tone, "You heartless man and Wicked Woman, what exactly are you plotting? Let me tell you clearly, don't try to scheme against me, I won't fall for your tricks."

Li Banfeng said, "I didn't mean to scheme against you. I just wanted to borrow something from you."

"What do you want to borrow? Do you want to Borrowing Technique?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "I haven't considered Borrowing Technique, not yet. Techniques alone won't be enough to deal with that sage."

I want to borrow some of your power.

After a moment's thought, the record player said, "Does my lord intend to frighten that saint?"

Hong Ying sneered, "So you were planning to use the tactic of borrowing the tiger's power, you madman. You'd better think carefully. If that saint exposes your scheme, do you think you'll come back alive?"

Li Banfeng said, "Then lend me more power so he can't expose me."

Sizzle~

"That's one way," the record player turned the speaker towards Hong Ying, "Listen to your husband, bring out all the power you have on the battlefield."

"Wicked Woman, that madman is insane, and you're going crazy too? Do you know how much risk you're taking? If that madman shows the slightest sign of weakness, he'll lose his life!"

The best course of action now is to avoid seeing him. That madman is no gentleman to begin with; it was just a verbal agreement, why make such a fuss?

"Hiding from him?" Li Banfeng asked. "Hide where? How long? This is his territory. Sooner or later, I'll still fall into his hands, won't I?"

Li Banfeng was right. As long as he didn't leave the Bastard Slope, his life would always be in the hands of the saint.

The record player made up its mind and enveloped Hong Ying in steam. "It's settled then."

Hong Ying retorted angrily, "You think you can just decide it like that? Why should I agree to that?"

The record player said, "We've known each other for so many years, you should know my character. You've helped me, so naturally I won't treat you unfairly."

"As for the things between us, if you don't want to talk about them, I won't press you anymore, as long as you sincerely help my husband this time."

The next day, sixty-four disciples from Sage Peak carried a palanquin down the mountain.

Along the way, at each village they passed, all the villagers would kneel at the village entrance an hour in advance to welcome the sage. No one dared to get up until the sage left, and they would kneel for another hour to express their respect for the sage.

At 10 p. m., the carriage arrived at Benefactor Stronghold.

Hearing that the sage was coming in person, everyone in Benefactor Stronghold hid in the caves, leaving only Xiao Yeci daughter who bravely stayed behind.

Li Banfeng was sitting in the wooden house, making tea.

The disciple in White Clothes entered the room first and said to Li Banfeng, "Master is waiting for you outside. He wants you to come out and talk to him."

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "That won't do. Let him come in and give us his answer."

The White Clothes disciple relayed the message truthfully, and the sage chuckled and stepped down from the carriage.

The moment his feet touched the ground, all the disciples accompanying him knelt down, their foreheads pressed tightly against the ground.

If Li Banfeng hadn't previously issued an order forbidding kneeling, a large number of people in Benefactor Stronghold would probably have knelt down as well.

The sage entered the wooden house and sat down opposite Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng poured himself a cup of tea and drank it.

The sage smiled.

Judging from his appearance, this man seemed to be in his forties. He was also wearing a round hat, with a thin face, fair complexion, and a mustache.

It's clear that this is a person of high status, but he is completely different from the saintly figure that Li Banfeng imagined.

The sage asked Li Banfeng, "Have I made myself clear?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "You haven't told me yet."

"You're a smart person; you should understand without me having to explain."

Li Banfeng did not deny it. "I think I've figured it out."

The sage nodded slightly and said, "Now that you understand, I'll only ask you one question: Do you want to leave?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "I'd like to."

The sage took a teacup and poured himself a cup. "This matter is easy to discuss. You can leave tonight, and I'll let you go, but never come back."

Li Banfeng, holding his teacup, said, "Not enough."

"Not enough?" The sage wondered if he had misheard. "What do you want?"

"I'm going to take some people with me; those who want to come with me, I'll take them all."

The sage shook his head. "There is no precedent for this."

Li Banfeng calmly replied, "Then I'll trouble you to set a precedent."

"You still don't understand." A domineering aura emanated from the sage, causing the entire wooden house to shake a few times.

Lu Chunying, who was hiding in the distance, almost peed her pants.

Xiao Yeci had already urinated, but she was too embarrassed to say so.

The disciples kneeling outside trembled like leaves.

Li Banfeng didn't shake.

He wanted to tremble, but he restrained himself.

He raised his head slightly, his eyes fixed intently on the saint.

A powerful aura swept over, rivaling the sage's domineering presence.

Li Banfeng calmly took a sip of tea. "I think I understand it very well."

The sage frowned, and gently swirled the remaining half-cup of tea in the cup.

PS: How many people can Ban Feng take away?