Won Half the Battle

The sage held a teacup and gently swirled it in his hand.

Li Banfeng's imposing aura swept over the sage, making him feel both surprised and familiar.

"Have you been to the battlefield?" the sage asked.

"I suppose so," Li Banfeng replied vaguely, and there was no need for him to be too specific.

And this is also a truth; whether or not one has been on the battlefield depends on the specific definition of a battlefield.

The battle between the Qiu Luoye and the Shui Yongquan was, in theory, a proper battlefield.

The sage then asked, "How old are you this year?"

Li Banfeng thought for a moment, "I can't remember, maybe it's similar to yours."

This is only part of the truth. Li Banfeng's age could not possibly be the same as this saint's, but he truly cannot remember his own age; he is an orphan.

The sage's domineering aura was still clashing with Li Banfeng's imposing presence. One disciple couldn't help but be curious; he wanted to know what kind of person could stand on equal footing with his master.

He glanced into the room, and the sage noticed this small movement.

With a flick of his sleeve, the disciple outside the door, who had raised his eyes, contorted his face, and the veins on his head suddenly bulged and burst. As blood spurted out, the disciple died.

The sage looked at Li Banfeng and asked, "Do you understand now?"

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "I don't understand."

"I told him to kneel here, so he has to kneel properly. That's my rule."

He knelt improperly, he didn't follow my rules, he deserves to die, do you understand now?

Li Banfeng glanced outside the door, pointed at a disciple and said, "His kneeling posture is also not good. Look at his posture, it's loose and sloppy, obviously he has no sincerity. Kill another one and let me see. Maybe I will understand after watching a few more times."

The tea sloshed again, and the sage was furious, but he had to restrain himself.

Li Banfeng took a sip of tea. He was very nervous, but he couldn't show it on his face.

The sage placed the teacup on the table, looked at Li Banfeng, and said, "Do you know who I am?"

Li Banfeng countered with, "What do you think?"

"Do you know that Peddler dare not easily come to my territory?" The sage was not lying; Peddler indeed rarely came.

Li Banfeng continued, "That's why I came here. As the senior brother, I have to save face for my junior brother."

Even if it's nonsense, it has to be convincing. Although he has Hong Ying's imposing presence, if he can't intimidate her, Li Banfeng's situation will be dangerous.

The sage suddenly laughed, his ferocious expression softening. "Do you think you can bring this situation back?"

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "I can't get it back. I've lost half of it, but I haven't lost to you!"

We've lost half of our investment.

The sage remained silent for a moment, then burst into laughter, clearly agreeing with the statement:

"You're right, you didn't actually lose to me."

I can agree to your conditions. Tomorrow night, at the same time, you will take your people and leave. Within this mountain stronghold, you can take as many people as are willing to go with you.

You must set off before 10 o'clock, heading south, and keep going until you see a way out.

"Once you leave, this matter will be over. If you can find a way to get back at me later, I'll be waiting for you here!"

Li Banfeng nodded and said, "It's a deal."

"It is fate that we have met. I have something to give you." With a wave of his hand, the sage sent a White Clothes disciple carrying a book box, crawling on his knees, to Li Banfeng's side.

Li Banfeng took the book box, looked at the White Clothes youth, and said, "You can walk on your knees, and you're quite skilled at it. It seems you've practiced before."

But you weren't paying attention just now; your steps were noticeably uneven on both knees. I think that shows a lack of respect. Walk back and forth a few more times and let me see your sincerity.

As he spoke, the White Clothes youth broke out in a cold sweat. He was truly afraid that his master would believe Li Banfeng's words and take his life.

The sage did not make things difficult for the disciple in White Clothes; with a wave of his hand, he dismissed him from the wooden hut.

Li Banfeng took the box of books but did not open it rashly. He pointed out the weight and estimated that there were four or five books inside.

The sage said to Li Banfeng, "This is historical material, genuine historical material. Don't you want to open it and take a look?"

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "There's no rush to read books. What if I don't recognize some of the words and you laugh at me again?"

These historical records must never be opened in front of sages.

Li Banfeng claimed to be the same age as this sage, but if he was not familiar with the historical materials or even unable to determine the authenticity of these historical books, it would mean that Li Banfeng would inevitably expose his ignorance, and the price of doing so would be obvious.

The sage laughed and said, "Even if you don't like reading, you should know the price of historical materials from Pro State. These few volumes alone are enough for you to acquire a fortune. This gift is not stingy."

Li Banfeng thanked him and casually placed the book box aside.

The sage stood up and said, "I have shown you enough sincerity. I hope you will keep your promise. I will come to see you tomorrow night at ten o'clock. If you lie to me, I will leave you here forever. Then we'll see who regrets it."

After saying this, the sage left.

Li Banfeng asked the sage's retreating figure, "Won't you leave a written contract?"

The sage laughed and said, "A gentleman's agreement has no need for that thing."

The domineering aura surged again, and Li Banfeng forcibly restrained himself from trembling.

Is Li Banfeng really afraid of him?

Afraid!

But is there really no way to deal with him?

No, not really.

He could continue robbing and fighting, turning the entire Bastard Slope upside down, and thereby gain more benefits.

Even if the sage were to take drastic measures, Li Banfeng could escape back to his Portable Abode for a while.

But Li Banfeng decided to leave.

As he said, he didn't lose to the saint, but in this battle, he had already lost half the battle; there were some things he couldn't change.

He also understood one thing: why Peddler rarely came to the Bastard Slope.

After seeing the saint off, Li Banfeng called Xiao Yeci over, "Have you made up your mind? Do you want to come with me, or stay here?"

Xiao Yeci straightened her chest and said, "I am going to follow my Benefactor; I will not stay here."

Li Banfeng confirmed again. "You mean, 'just go, no questions asked'?"

Xiao Yeci replied sincerely, "Benefactor said to leave, I left without the slightest hesitation."

Lu Chunying chimed in, "Letting my mom change her pants first isn't considered hesitating, is it?"

Li Banfeng replied seriously, "Changing your pants doesn't count. After you change your pants, go to the mountain stronghold and ask me how many people want to stay and how many want to leave. You must tell me by 8 p. m. tomorrow night."

Xiao Yeci naturally dared not neglect the task assigned by Li Banfeng.

She asked each and every household.

She knew that this group of people didn't want to rob anymore, nor did they want to take any more risks.

But she believed that if they could leave this place, these people would definitely agree without hesitation.

But she was wrong.

She asked around, but no one immediately agreed to go with her Benefactor, and their answers were vague.

"Sister Xiao, I hurt my foot while pushing the cart, and I need to rest for two more days."

"Madam Xiao, we can't leave these next two days. As the saying goes, 'an army marches on its stomach.' If we're going to leave, we'll have to wait until the next harvest is done."

They didn't want to leave, and they tried every possible way to delay their departure.

However, upon closer inquiry, there are three main reasons for this.

Firstly, those who were abducted have nowhere to go even if they leave this place.

Secondly, those who were sent by their families, even if they return home, will likely be sent back again.

Thirdly, there are those who do not believe in Li Banfeng. They believe that Li Banfeng could not possibly be a match for the saint, nor could he possibly take them out alive.

In Xiao Yeci's view, all three reasons make some sense.

But in Li Banfeng's view, none of these three reasons are the main point.

The important thing is that they can get by again now.

As long as they can make a living, they are willing to continue living like this.

This was within Li Banfeng's expectations.

This place is different from Medicine King Gully, Green Water City, and Iron Gate Fort. People who stay here for a long time are completely different from those in other places.

At 8 p. m. the following day, Li Banfeng set off immediately without the slightest hesitation or delay.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the mountain stronghold, Niu Guangda tied the ox to the side, carried his bundle on his back, and walked behind Li Banfeng: "My Benefactor, I went to herd the ox to avoid attracting attention. I'm sticking with you. Wherever you go, I'll go. I don't want to stay here and suffer."

Li Banfeng smiled; there was still hope for this kid.

After walking for a while, more than twenty people followed.

They were all young, and they believed that Li Banfeng could lead them out of poverty.

Those who remained stayed in the mountain stronghold and continued to live peaceful lives.

Unfortunately, life was not peaceful. Not long after Li Banfeng left, the Sage's disciple arrived.

He made a demand that 70% of the harvest from Benefactor Stronghold be handed over to Sage Peak, whether it be grain, livestock, or silk.

70%?

Is it too high?

The villagers of the mountain stronghold initially did not intend to agree, but this disciple possessed cultivation, and after killing several people in succession, he patiently explained the situation to the crowd:

"Your Benefactor is gone, and now no one is protecting you. The saint's patience is almost exhausted. If you don't repent, you will really be doomed."

Our Benefactor has passed away, and apart from him, no one dares to challenge the sage.

Why did our Benefactor leave like this? Why couldn't he stay with us?

70% handed over...

That works too.

The remaining 30% is barely enough to make ends meet. Back in the village, sometimes we couldn't even keep 30% of our harvest. Life is much better now.

Outside the mountain stronghold, the sage watched everything that was happening inside.

He witnessed firsthand how the residents of the mountain village went from trying to resist, to daring to be angry but not daring to speak out, and finally not even daring to be angry.

Soon another village will be built here, a scene that has happened before.

They will forget the origins of this village, they will hand over more of their harvest, the saint's disciples will soon come to teach, and before long, the saint will become the most important person in their lives.

As for that Benefactor, the people here will not easily mention him again.

A young man had just mentioned it, his tone full of disdain. "He just left without looking back. He never intended to take us with him."

The sage looked south and asked the White Clothes disciple, "Do you think he will come again?"

The disciple in White Clothes respectfully replied, "He has already lost to Master, and he will never dare to come again."

The sage shook his head and said, "I think he will come back, and he hasn't lost; he's won half the battle. Besides the Peddler, only he could escape from my territory so quickly. Based on that alone, he should be considered the winner."

As for the other half, he did lose, but not to me, he lost to this bunch of bastards, hopeless bastards.

The sage continued to observe everything happening in Benefactor Stronghold, and he found the place Bastard Slope, to be so endearing.

He turned to look south and said to the disciple in White Clothes, "Tell your second senior brother that this person's identity must be investigated."

P. S.: No updates on Chinese New Year's Day, all monthly votes go to Salad!