Carefree Plains

Li Banfeng led a group of twenty-seven people, including Xiao Yeci, southwards.

The mountain path became narrower and more rugged as they walked. By 2 a. m., most people were too tired to walk any further, and even Xiao Yeci was staggering.

Li Banfeng instructed Xiao Yeci and Lu Chunying to lead everyone to set up camp on the spot. He used the excuse of scouting the way to leave the camp and instead went back to his Portable Abode.

Although others had a difficult journey, this distance was nothing to Li Banfeng. He wasn't sleepy at all and took the opportunity to open the history book given to him by the sage and take a good look.

Li Banfeng got sleepy while reading.

It wasn't because he was averse to learning; he could tolerate the vertical, right-opening format of ancient books, and he could tolerate the convoluted and obscure ancient grammar.

He couldn't stand annalistic history books.

Chronological histories narrate the course of history along a timeline. For historians, chronological histories are very suitable for researching historical events and their historical context. However, for Li Banfeng, it was just a mere chronicle of events.

This book recounts the history of a dynasty called Da Huan, and the first sentence in the book is about time.

In the third month of the sixth year of the Xiankang era, Dongping suffered a severe drought, and the emperor dispatched the Grand Tutor to provide relief.

This is about disaster relief.

In April, Emperor Xiankang gave birth to a son.

In May, Emperor Xiankang went hunting outside the city.

Li Banfeng searched until the end of the year but found no further information related to disaster relief.

Reading annalistic histories is already heart-wrenching enough, but these histories are incomplete, not starting with the founding emperor, but rather with an emperor in the middle of the dynasty.

The story was disjointed and lacked any connection between its beginning and end, making Li Banfeng's eyelids heavy, and he soon fell asleep.

The next day, Li Banfeng woke up to the sound of Dream Virtue announcing the time.

"Sir, on this beautiful morning, please allow me to sing you a song called 'I Want You'."

I Want You

Be by my side

Staying by the night

Until tomorrow

I Want You

..."

Snap!

Li Banfeng threw the history book at Dream Virtue's face, put on his clothes, and left Portable Abode.

Alarm clocks, regardless of their form, are always unpopular objects.

Xiao Yeci and the others had an unharmed night. They packed their bags and continued their journey with Li Banfeng.

The mountain path became increasingly difficult to traverse, and by noon, there was no path left.

It's good that there's no road anymore; it proves that everyone isn't just going around in circles.

The road ahead was full of thorns, the ground was covered with weeds, mosquitoes were biting all around, and their faces were covered with cobwebs. By dusk, everyone was exhausted.

Only two people didn't feel tired: Li Banfeng and Lu Chunying. If it weren't for taking care of everyone's pace, Lu Chunying alone could have walked several times the distance.

As darkness fell, Xiao Yeci wanted to set up camp, but dared not tell Li Banfeng. Fortunately, they found a water source, and Li Banfeng instructed everyone to fetch water so they could rest for the night.

Today we set up camp early, Li Banfeng has more time to peruse history books.

He glanced at the parts he could understand and skipped the parts he couldn't. Li Banfeng forced himself to read through all five volumes of history given to him by the sage and finally found some useful information at the end of the volumes.

In the sixth year of the Yuanxi, the Demon Land rebelled. The Emperor sent Swift Cavalry General Zhao Xiaowan of the Valiant Cavalry to quell the rebellion. However, the Valiant Cavalry was arrogant and the Emperor reprimanded them.

My wife.

This is my wife.

Li Banfeng finally saw his Wife's name in the history books.

This passage only mentions that the Wife was sent to fight against the demonic land, and because of her unruly nature, Wife was reprimanded by the emperor.

As for the specifics of the reprimands, the arrogance, and whether the battle was won or lost, the book doesn't mention any of that.

This is consistent with the style of this history book.

The five-volume history is written entirely around the emperor.

For example, if the emperor ate something wrong and got diarrhea, the cause and effect of this incident must be recorded in detail, including how the emperor ate it, how he defecated, and how much he defecated, without missing a single detail.

Everything else was glossed over.

Turning to the end of the history book, Li Banfeng did not see his Wife's name again, but he did see another familiar face.

In the eighth year of the Yuanxi, the Demon Lords rose in rebellion, and the Recruit General Hong Ying and Across-the-Waves General Cong Shixiang to quell the rebellion.

Who is Cong Shixiang?

Have no idea.

Hong Ying also served as the commander-in-chief in the campaign against the Demon Land. What exactly is the relationship between her and the Wife?

Li Banfeng looked at the record player and the long gun, and seemed to have found some clues.

The next day, Li Banfeng led the group to continue their journey.

They had been traveling for twelve days, and their food supplies had long since run out. The group had managed to survive by hunting.

On the afternoon of the thirteenth day, a torrential downpour began, and everyone laughed instead.

There were no mountains ahead, only a plain.

Since arriving at Bastard Slope, the view of the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see has never been so expansive to anyone present.

Finding a plain meant they had left the territory of the Bastard Slope.

But where is this place?

Li Banfeng has never been here before.

He never came, but someone else did.

Xiao Yeci spoke for the first time, "My Benefactor, I know this place. My NanNan and I passed through here when we came!"

Lu Chunying nodded and said, "I have indeed been to this place."

Many people present said they had been to this place before, but no one could tell them its name.

Now Li Banfeng has to make an important decision: where should these people go?

Everyone's idea was to go home, and most people said they knew the way they came.

But how will they get back?

"When you came, you all had Travel Permit, right? Do you still have Travel Permit to go back?"

The group looked at each other, and apart from Li Banfeng, it seemed that none of the others had Travel Permit.

Li Banfeng's Travel Permit could only guarantee his passage. His plan was to settle everyone down here first, then he would return to Green Water Bay and have Ma Wu bring back a batch of Travel Permit to send everyone home.

It seemed that this was the only feasible method, but Xiao Yeci told Li Banfeng something important:

"My Benefactor, I don't know about other places, but you don't need Travel Permit to come here from Green Water Bay."

Li Banfeng was taken aback. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, you really don't need Travel Permit."

Lu Chunying can testify to this. Unlike other people who were abducted, Xiao Yeci and Lu Chunying were tricked into coming here.

When they arrived at this wasteland, they were not restricted in their freedom, and the friend who brought them there did not show any Travel Permit.

This makes things easier.

No Travel Permit is needed to get to Green Water Bay. Li Banfeng can take everyone there and then make further plans.

Now that they had left Bastard Slope, Xiao Yeci remembered the way they came, and Lu Chunying was still a Travel Cultivator, so Li Banfeng felt at ease letting the mother and daughter lead the way.

From dawn till dusk, the heavy rain never stopped.

Xiao Yeci encouraged everyone along the way. "Keep going! There's a village ahead. Once we get there, we'll find a place to stay."

Li Banfeng walked until late at night, but still couldn't see the village.

Xiao Yeci panicked a little. "I didn't go the wrong way, this is the road, where did that village go?"

There was a grove of trees just now, and I was walking east around it, right? Am I remembering wrong?

Lu Chunying said, "Mom, if I remember correctly, this is how we left when we came."

Click!

A bolt of lightning streaked across the night sky, and a cluster of buildings could be vaguely seen ahead.

Li Banfeng asked, "Is that a village?"

"Yes, yes, if there are houses, it must be a village!"

Xiao Yeci was very certain, Lu Chunying didn't say anything. The group walked towards the building.

Upon getting closer, Li Banfeng had a sudden realization and saw the scene he least wanted to see.

The so-called "building complex" is actually just a large mansion.

The courtyard walls were earthen red, the gate was vermilion, there were rusted nails on the door panels, and a pair of huge door knockers.

This is the iconic building on Sage Peak!

Li Banfeng looked at Xiao Yeci and said, "So we've come full circle?"

Xiao Yeci shook her head repeatedly, saying, "That's impossible, impossible! I remember taking this route. I'm not mistaken..."

Lu Chunying was also surprised. "I do know how I got here, but I don't remember there being such a house."

This can't be blamed on the mother and daughter. They've been walking for almost half a month. If they still haven't gotten out of the Bastard Slope, it can only prove that the saint broke his promise.

Is this bastard playing me for a fool?

If you're messing with me, I'll fight you to the bitter end, and you'll never have a peaceful day again.

Li Banfeng approached the courtyard and, using the last rays of lightning, carefully examined it.

First of all, it can be confirmed that this is not the residence of that saint.

The saint's residence was on a mountain, while this area was still a plain.

Location aside, this house is also different from the house of a saint.

The walls were mottled, the doors were peeling, and the stone slabs on the ground were full of cracks, with various weeds growing in between.

Although the saint's residence was lifeless, it was not as dilapidated as this house.

Li Banfeng looked back at the crowd. After traveling all day in the heavy rain, most of them were exhausted and would likely fall ill if they continued on their way.

Entering this house might be dangerous.

But sleeping outside this house is not necessarily safe.

First, check the background of the homeowner. If they are not a bad person, you can stay here for the night.

If they encounter bad people, the Wife hasn't eaten in a long time, so she'll assess the situation and then decide what to do.

Li Banfeng pulled the door knocker and knocked a few times.

There was no response from inside the door for a long time.

Li Banfeng pushed the door panel. The door wasn't locked. With a clatter, the rusty hinges made a piercing noise, and the door opened.

Looking through the porch, Li Banfeng saw the overgrown front yard and the moss-covered brick walls.

Is this an abandoned house?

P. S.: I've been visiting relatives and friends during the day and staying up late to update, Salad exhausted. Dear readers, Happy New Year! Please give Salad some encouragement.