Bartering Cultivator

The sedan chair bearers looked at Li Banfeng with smiles. "You've come to see me? Do you want me to help you carry your sedan chair?"

Li Banfeng didn't answer, but instead asked, "Are you the Local Earth God of Ye Song Bridge?"

The sedan bearer nodded and said, "I am. Your opportunity has arrived. Come to my sedan chair, and I will carry you for a while. The first thing I will do is to lift your cultivation level."

Li Banfeng looked around; it was the dead of night, and there wasn't a single pedestrian in sight.

The sedan bearers laughed, "Stop looking! It's just you and me. I've been waiting for you here. What, you still don't believe me? Hurry up and get in the sedan!"

Can I go?

Just as he was speaking, the sedan chair carriers were lifting the poles. After they had lifted the poles three times, Li Banfeng sensed a strong sense of danger.

Just now, Li Banfeng asked him if he was a sedan chair carrier, and he said he was a palanquin bearer.

Now that the danger is gone, the sedan chair carriers' faces have become much kinder.

But Li Banfeng could clearly sense that the danger he had just felt was not an illusion, but a cold wind emanating from his spine.

Li Banfeng lowered his hat brim and said, "I am very satisfied to have met you, senior. Farewell."

The sedan bearer took off the white towel from his neck and wiped his sweat. "What? Scared?"

Li Banfeng turned and left, but the sedan chair bearers caught up with him in two steps.

He caught up with Li Banfeng, Ninth Layer Travel Cultivator.

"So that's why you're walking so fast, you're a Travel Cultivator." The sedan chair carrier suddenly threw the towel at Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng dodged the towel with a quick movement.

The towel hit a nearby stone, turning it into a cloud of dust, a cloud of dust so fine that no fragments were visible.

Li Banfeng ran wildly along the stone-paved road by the river.

The sedan bearers followed beside him, saying, "Hey young man, didn't you come to see me? Why are you running away? Don't you want such a great opportunity?"

Li Banfeng jumped directly from the riverbank to the other side.

The sedan chair carriers caught up to the other side of the river and laughed, "Auspiciousness and Avoiding Calamity? Your skill is far superior to that of other Travel Cultivator."

How could it not be amazing? This is a skill taught to me personally by the Carriage Driver is a master of Auspiciousness and Avoiding Calamity and seeking good fortune. "Young man, don't rush off, let me finish what I have to say." The sedan chair carrier tossed the coins at Li Banfeng again.

Li Banfeng stopped dodging. It wasn't a good idea to let himself be chased and beaten like this. He used his Benevolent Dwelling Heart to withstand the blow. Before the sedan chair carrier could stop, he Trample Ten Thousand Rivers and stepped out.

Bang!

The sedan chair carrier hit him hard with the towel; Li Banfeng pushed his technique to the limit, yet he was still knocked off balance.

This footstep, capable of Trample Ten Thousand Rivers, was powerful enough to send the thick bluestone slabs flying in all directions.

As the dust settled, the sedan chair carrier wiped the bloodstains from his face. There was a small cut on his cheekbone, barely noticeable unless you looked closely. This was all the result of Li Banfeng's move.

What kind of sect is this? They're so good at fighting and so resilient!

The sedan chair carrier nodded in admiration, saying, "Your journey Trample Ten Thousand Rivers is quite different. I've seen Travel Cultivator from the clouds, but none of them have been as ruthless as you."

Li Banfeng struggled to his feet and took over the sedan chair, but the sedan chair bearers followed behind him effortlessly.

He threw his felt hat at Li Banfeng, and the hat spun rapidly, about to fall onto Li Banfeng's head.

If he manages to put this in his hand, Li Banfeng will definitely be dead.

When the projector turned on the light, it tried to use Withering Skill to remove the hat, but the focus couldn't keep up.

I picked out a spot for the gloves and was about to put the hat away, but I was too slow and missed.

The Tang Blade and sickle blocked the hat from the left and right, respectively. The hat spun around on the Tang Blade, and the Tang Blade used its tip to hold it back with the help of the sickle. With great difficulty, they managed to push the hat away.

The sedan chair carrier used this one magical item, without even knowing if the hat was a magical item. He just threw it out casually and beat Li Banfeng into such a sorry state.

There was a dead end ahead. Li Banfeng ran towards it. Dead ends were advantageous to him. Whether Unimpeded Travel or Cut Path Opening Road, he had a way to escape.

"Where are you going?" The sedan bearers suddenly appeared and blocked Li Banfeng's way.

Could it be that he can't even match her speed?

Li Banfeng could take a detour and keep running. As long as he found a suitable direction, Li Banfeng could continue to deal with the sedan chair carriers.

But he didn't want to continue the fight. The difference in strength between the two sides was too great, and the longer the battle dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng shouted, "Whoosh!"

The piercing shout made the sedan chair carriers hesitate slightly.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Li Banfeng rushed directly towards the sedan chair bearers.

Li Banfeng's Willful and Determined Technique allowed him to reach a new level of speed.

The sedan bearer didn't dodge; he was about to confront Li Banfeng head-on when he saw Li Banfeng charging towards him. Suddenly, the sedan bearer felt his heels go weak.

Looking down, he saw a cliff below. Li Banfeng Intent Travels a Thousand Mountains technique to move the cliff of Iron Gate Fort over there.

Is the cliff at Iron Gate Fort the best option?

No, that's not true. Li Banfeng has seen many dangerous places, but in such a tense battle, he still has to Borrowing Technique from his Wife using the Deep Mansion Technique, and he also has to use the Willful and Determined Technique to charge forward. The skill of traveling thousands of the Intent Travels a Thousand Mountains cannot take up too much energy. Li Banfeng is familiar enough with the valley of Iron Gate Fort, so he immediately brought it over.

The sedan bearer, seeing himself standing on the edge of a cliff, was not careless. He recognized the skill of the Intent Travels a Thousand Mountains and suspected that Li Banfeng might have other methods, so he wanted to dodge Li Banfeng's attack.

But this attack was not so easy to dodge. Li Banfeng used all his hidden skills and stepped forward, kicking the sedan bearer in the chest.

The sedan bearers shuddered as they carried the sedan chair, but they didn't fall off the cliff.

Li Banfeng took off from the spot and flew into the distance.

A Farewell of Ten Thousand Miles.

Is it wise to part ways with A Farewell of Ten Thousand Miles when no one can determine the direction?

Knowing who your opponent is, encountering this sedan chair carrier is a very wise move; escape is the priority.

Li Banfeng kept staring at the sedan bearers from the air, and the sedan bearers trembled slightly in place, but he did not fly away.

They were separated for A Farewell of Ten Thousand Miles and he still didn't fly away; the sedan chair carrier's strength is terrifying.

Li Banfeng flew very far, but because he couldn't sense the direction, he didn't know where he would fly to. When the technique dissipated, Li Banfeng fell into the Smoke Cloud Lake with a splash.

It wasn't a problem in the lake. Li Banfeng swimming; with a stroke of his hand and a push of his feet, he was about to float to the surface.

A chill ran through him, Li Banfeng couldn't help but shiver.

Danger is imminent!

There may be an ambush on the lake.

Who would ambush me here? The Boundless Camp of the Chasing Light Group?

Possibly.

Having just escaped from the old sedan chair carriers, if they were to fall into the hands of these birdmen again, things would get really complicated.

Li Banfeng dived back to the bottom of the water and opened the Portable Abode.

Whoosh~

As soon as Li Banfeng opened the door, lake water instantly flooded into the main room.

He was quick and closed the door immediately; thankfully, not much water got in.

The record player asked in surprise, "My dear husband, where have you been?"

Li Banfeng said, "They went to the bottom of the lake."

"Come quickly, my husband, change your clothes so you don't catch a cold."

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "It's pointless to change it. I'll still be underwater when we get out."

Portable Abode said, "Don't rush out yet, the sedan chair bearers are coming after us."

They've caught up?

How did they catch up with them?

Li Banfeng flew over using the A Farewell of Ten Thousand Miles Technique, flying in a straight line the entire way, ignoring all obstacles, and so fast that he couldn't see the scenery on either side.

It would have been one thing if the sedan chair carriers had stood still, but how could they have chased after us?

"Where is he?" Li Banfeng was worried that the sedan chair carriers had discovered the key.

Portable Abode sighed, "I can't keep staring out the window; I have to keep an eye on the road."

That's too abstract. You can't just stare at the outside; you also have to keep an eye on the road.

Isn't the road right outside?

Li Banfeng was extremely anxious and wanted to go out to investigate, but the projector spoke up, "Seventh Director, this opponent is too formidable. We'd better not be reckless."

We have another way to see what's happening outside.

The projector did have a solution; he went to the Fifth Chamber.

A chilling murderous aura filled the Fifth Chamber. The projector seemed a little nervous, but quickly calmed down and started playing "Unchanging Heart" on a hand-cranked phonograph. "You are my soul, you are my life, we are as affectionate as mandarin ducks, as harmonious as phoenixes—"

As the music reached its climax, the projector said affectionately, "My dear girl, I think of you every moment."

The Fifth Chamber daughter's opening question was a soul-searching one, "So, where have you been all this time?"

The projector answered decisively, "I am in pursuit of art."

"Then keep searching. Why are you still looking for me?"

"I encountered danger on my path of pursuing art."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"The danger is outside, and only you can see it."

Why should I help you?

"Only with your help can I survive."

Why should I let you live?

The projector replied affectionately, "Because my art was created for you."

Li Banfeng thought the way the projector was used to express his feelings was too corny, but unexpectedly, a halo appeared on the wall of the Fifth Chamber.

The Fifth Chamber daughter loves this!

Some blurry lines appeared on the halo, the lines slightly less clear, as if seen through a layer of white gauze.

They are watching the view at the bottom of the lake.

There are fish, crabs, all kinds of insects and aquatic plants in Smoke Cloud Lake, as well as a sedan chair carrier swimming around.

He really did catch up with me, and he even knew I had jumped into the lake.

This proves that he kept chasing me after I flew away.

Just how skilled is this sedan chair carrier?

Judging solely from the size of the territory, Ye Song Bridge and Medicine King Gully are roughly the same. The cultivation level of the Local Earth God comes from the popularity of people, so this sedan chair carrier's cultivation level should be similar to that of Yao Lao.

Yao Lao Third Layer Above the Clouds, and this fellow is also Third Layer Above the Clouds?

Li Banfeng possessed a cultivation level of nine plus eight, yet he was powerless to fight back or parry against this sedan chair carrier, and even the chance to escape was extremely rare.

The sedan chair carrier didn't seem to be using his full strength; there was even a hint of mockery in the fight. This was the crushing of the top-tier land by the Third Layer Above the Clouds.

The overwhelming force was too intense. The sedan bearers did not make the first move or launch a sneak attack. They had the upper hand in both offense and defense, and even had the advantage in speed. Li Banfeng had fought against Cloud Above Cultivator before, but this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

As I was pondering this, the sedan chair carriers surfaced and disappeared.

Li Banfeng was wondering whether he should go out, but the projector suggested that he observe a little longer. However, the Fifth Chamber daughter was getting tired. "Let me rest for a while and listen to you talk about art."

The projector displayed his imagined film, combined with his recent observations, scene by scene on the wall.

He hadn't visited the Fifth Chamber for so many days, and the Fifth Chamber girl was filled with resentment towards him.

But when she saw the film on the projector, the chilling murderous aura that had filled the room dissipated considerably.

The projector lowered its voice and said, "Seventh Director, the following scene goes beyond the realm of realism. Please step aside for a moment."

Li Banfeng instructed, "Be extremely careful, and call me immediately if anything happens."

The projector seemed quite confident about the current situation. Li Banfeng left the Fifth Chamber and returned to the main room, where his Wife asked, "Husband, what kind of adversary have you encountered?"

Li Banfeng didn't know how to describe it. He couldn't discern the other party's Daoist aura. "I've encountered an opponent who is faster than me, more ruthless than me, more resilient than me, and stronger than me in every way. I suspect he's Ye Song Bridge's Local Earth God."

The record player said, "Faster than my husband? Is this Local Earth God Travel Cultivator?"

Why do you say that?

The record player wanted to explain, but seemed somewhat reluctant.

Hong Ying chimed in, "Seventh Son, once Travel Cultivator reach the Ninth Layer of the Earthly Realm, your speed far surpasses that of other Daoist sects. Even if your opponent is Cloud Above Cultivator, unless their level is too high, it will be difficult for them to outrun you, Seventh Son."

That's the good thing about our Travel Cultivator; as long as we're not ambushed, we can always find a chance to escape..."

"What's so great about running away!" The record player grabbed a paddle and started hitting Hong Ying.

Hong Ying slowly rubbed the peach, hissed deeply, and then quickly exhaled, feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

After replaying the scene in her mind several times, Hong Ying returned to the mirror and continued doing her makeup.

Wine Gourd couldn't understand how Hong Ying, with her speed, could have dodged it.

She didn't hide before because she was blind, but now that she can see, why doesn't she hide?

While his Wife was still angry, Li Banfeng was thinking about something else.

After thinking for a moment, he said to the record player, "My dear Wife, that Local Earth God is probably not Travel Cultivator. If he had used Travel Cultivator techniques, I would probably be dead already."

The sedan chair carriers' attack methods were very monotonous: they used towels and felt hats, but Li Banfeng couldn't defend against either of these.

If he were Travel Cultivator, he could easily Trample Ten Thousand Rivers with a single move, Li Banfeng would definitely not be able to return.

The record player murmured, "Not Travel Cultivator, and even faster than my husband, that must be someone on the high-level cloud. Did my husband know him before?"

Li Banfeng thought for a moment, "I wouldn't say I know him. I met him once before, but we didn't speak. Could it be that this is something that caused us to have a grudge?"

"Just because he didn't speak, she's going to kill him? Is this Yun Shang so petty?"

The person with the gloves standing nearby said, "He certainly doesn't have a big temper, and he loves to argue."

"Loves to argue?" the record player asked the gloves. "You think he's a Bartering Cultivator? How many years has it been since anyone's seen through this door?"

The glove said, "There are actually quite a few people at this door because the powder for entering is very cheap."

"Cheap is useless; very few of them survive Bartering Cultivator."

Li Banfeng asked, "What exactly is the Bartering Cultivator' sect?"

The record player said, "The Daoist sect relies on Bartering Cultivator, to fight battles, and to accomplish nothing without arguing."

Fighting a war by arguing?

Li Banfeng thought for a moment and said, "You're talking about moral cultivation, right?"

The gloved man shook his fingers and said, "Master, these two schools are quite different. The Virtue Cultivator bullies others by preaching, while the Bartering Cultivator improves himself by arguing. I don't know much about the specifics of how he improves."

Do you improve yourself by arguing?

The sedan chair carrier kept arguing with me, was it to increase his own strength?

"Wife, why did you just say that too few of the Bartering Cultivator of cultivator) would survive?"

"Because of their sharp tongues, especially in Pro State, most of these kinds of people are beaten to death before they even reach a certain level, even when they've just entered the sect."

Even after reaching a higher level, the Bartering Cultivator" is still significantly weaker than other cultivators at the same level, and is destined to be beaten.

"What went wrong with the Bartering Cultivator?"

"The problem is that the technique is complicated to use. The 'Bartering Cultivator' technique is like a Daoist path, with only one method called 'Flourishing on the Barter'," Li Banfeng blinked and said, "Is this something you'd say at the mahjong table?"

"My lord, this has nothing to do with mahjong. This technique is the lifeblood of Bartering Cultivator, a type of mahjong player). In ordinary days..."

The Bartering Cultivator never lifted a bar had no special combat abilities and was practically the same as an ordinary person.

Just like ordinary people?

What's the point of building this door?

"Is this only the case for the lower-level Bartering Cultivator?"

"That's not true, my lord. Even a cloud-based Bartering Cultivator is like that. If you want to fight someone, you at least have to lift a bar first."

Li Banfeng recalled the scene when he first met the sedan chair carriers. The carriers first asked him if he wanted to ride in the sedan chair, and Li Banfeng shook his head.

The sedan chair carriers started picking a fight, asking Li Banfeng why he wasn't speaking. Li Banfeng didn't respond and was about to take action when the sedan chair carriers left first.

"My Wife, if I don't respond, does that mean the argument wasn't even started?"

"Yes, my husband. It's not enough for one person to talk; Bartering Cultivator's wants to fight you, there must be some back and forth, some 'bargain,' in order to get half of the fighting power he deserves."

"Only half?"

"No wonder this sect doesn't have many members. They're easy targets when arguing with others, and their combat strength is also much weaker than others."

However, if the opponent and the Bartering Cultivator lift two bars in a row, the Bartering Cultivator will have obtained ten times his fighting power.

Bartering Cultivator at full strength—fast, powerful, and physically robust—would not be at a disadvantage when fighting against cultivators of the same level.

Li Banfeng asked, "What if you lift three bars in a row?"

"With three bars raised, the strength of the Bartering Cultivator doubles. At this point, there are no rivals at the same level, and even those below can fight for several rounds against those above."

This time it can be confirmed that the sedan chair carrier is indeed the Bartering Cultivator.

On their first meeting, he couldn't win an argument and didn't dare to make a move because he lacked the fighting ability. Seeing Li Banfeng get angry, he quickly ran away.

On their second meeting, Li Banfeng took the initiative to approach him, and he raised three bars in a row, doubling his combat power, thus presenting a crushing defeat that Li Banfeng had no way to deal with.

The Bartering Cultivator sect is very unique; whether or not an argument is successful directly determines the outcome of the battle.

"My Wife, a Bartering Cultivator wants to fight me. Could he find someone else to challenge first, and then..."

"You want to fight me again?"

"No, he has to argue with the same person he's fighting against. If he argues with someone else, he still won't be able to fight when he's fighting against my husband."

Li Banfeng came up with a good plan. "Tomorrow I'll invite He Yuxiu over and have Bartering Cultivator with me. I'll have He Yuxiu teach him a lesson."

~

The record player laughed, "That makes sense, but Bartering Cultivator isn't stupid. You brought help; how could he possibly show himself so easily?"

"My Wife is right," Li Banfeng sighed. "Next time we encounter those sedan chair carriers, we'll just not argue with them."

"It's too late, my husband."

"Why is it so late?"

"The technique of 'Flourishing on the Barter' has been around for a very long time."

How long is it?

"That depends on how long this Bartering Cultivator's life is."

Li Banfeng was startled; "Does he have to carry this for the rest of his life?"

"Yes, my husband, once Bartering Cultivator lifts the pole, he'll be lifting it for the rest of his life. From now on, when he and my husband fight, it will always be twice as strong."

What kind of gate is this?

Is the combat power specifically targeted at one person?

Just because he argued three times, does that mean I've been marked as a target for life?

The key question is, why does this person specifically target Li Banfeng?

Is he really the Local Earth God of Ye Song Bridge?

The record player gave Li Banfeng some advice. "When Xiang Bartering Cultivator is cultivating, he always argues with people, which makes it difficult for them to hide their malice. As long as you use the methods of seeking good Auspiciousness and Avoiding Calamity and avoiding misfortune well, you can avoid Bartering Cultivator."

Hiding indefinitely isn't a solution.

Li Banfeng was gathering his thoughts when the projector returned from the Fifth Chamber: "Seventh Director, the Fifth Chamber girl has shown the outside scene again; the sedan chair carrier has indeed left."

The record player said, "She can see outside our house. This woman's cultivation level is not low. She probably won't do things for us for nothing."

The projector said, "What Madam says is true. The Fifth Chamber daughter said she would help us this time, and next time she wants to receive a reward. She hasn't decided what the reward will be yet."

The record player reminded Li Banfeng: "Be extremely careful when dealing with her."

Li Banfeng left Portable Abode, swam ashore from the bottom of the lake, and returned to Xiao Yeci's residence.

After changing into dry clothes and taking a nap, Li Banfeng found He Yuxiu the next morning and inquired about the rumors surrounding Ye Song Bridge.

He Haiqin has occupied Ye Song Bridge for so many years, even if He Yuxiu doesn't know the specific reasons, she must have heard some of the legends and strange tales.

He Yuxiu thought for a long time and said to Li Banfeng, "I did hear Hai Qin talk about it, but I've forgotten what he said in detail."

"Xiu Er, you're just such a straightforward person." Li Banfeng didn't know how to describe his feelings at that moment.

He Yuxiu also felt a little ashamed. "This is not my fault. Those are all baseless rumors. I was just listening for fun, how could I remember them?"

At this point, He Yuxiu remembered someone. "Xiao Yeci liked this kind of thing, and she would tell You Tao about it whenever she had free time. You Tao was willing to listen, and she was also willing to tell me about it."

"But You Tao's explanation wasn't good, and I'm too lazy to listen. Go ask Xiao Yeci; she's originally one of Ye Song Bridge's people, so she should know quite a bit."

Li Banfeng found Xiao Yeci, and as soon as the matter was mentioned, Xiao Yeci immediately perked up.

"My Benefactor, do you really want to hear this, or do you want to laugh at me?"

Li Qi said, "Why would I laugh at you? You're telling me a story, and I want to listen carefully!"

If you speak well, I'll give you a tip!

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yeci was delighted. "Then I'll gladly offer my humble suggestion!"

She had a Striking Wood, and sitting behind the table, she would strike it with a "snap" and begin telling the story of the talented Ye Song Bridge and Liu Yuansheng in a very serious manner.

"Liu Yuansheng from a poor family, but he was diligent and eager to learn. By his early twenties, he was already a well-known talent in Ye Song Bridge! Not only was he a skilled writer, but he was also proficient in the four arts: music, chess, calligraphy, and painting!"

With his intelligence and wisdom, Liu Yuansheng did many good deeds for the people of Ye Song Bridge. Later, he was appreciated by the Local Earth God of Ye Song Bridge and gained a cultivation.

Xiao Yeci sighed, "This is what they mean by 'good and evil will eventually be rewarded, it's just a matter of sooner or later.' A good person like Liu Yuansheng deserves this good fortune!"

"And then?"

Xiao Yeci said, "Having gained Liu Yuansheng left Ye Song Bridge to travel and study, continuing to do good deeds!"

"What good deeds have you done?"

Xiao Yeci scratched his head and said, "I don't know about that. That's the end of the story!"

"Well said, here's a reward!" Li Banfeng placed two silver dollars on the table. Xiao Yeci was certainly not short of money, but she still happily accepted the reward.

"There are more good stories, my Benefactor, would you like to hear them?"

"Of course we're willing! We'll listen to as many as you can."

"Then let me tell you another story about the heroine Wang Saihong. Wang Saihong wasn't originally from Ye Song Bridge. She came to Ye Song Bridge when she was seventeen and performed martial arts on the streets. At that time, a group of hooligans saw that the girl was pretty and had evil intentions—"

Unlike Liu Yuansheng's story, Wang Saihong is a chivalrous swordsman. The plot has less intellectual battles and more action scenes. Whenever the story reaches a climax, Xiao Yeci would strike a pose. Li Banfeng really liked Xiao Yeci's stage presence and kept cheering.

These two stories, with completely different styles, surprisingly have the same ending.

Because of her good deeds in fighting evil and upholding justice, the heroine Wang Saihong was appreciated by the Local Earth God and gained great cultivation. In the end, she left Ye Song Bridge and went elsewhere to practice chivalry.

Li Banfeng pulled out another silver dollar. "This story is good, are there any more?"

Seeing how much Li Qi liked it, Xiao Yeci was very happy. She told stories from morning till night, about ten stories in total. Each story had a different style, but the ending was the same: the protagonist was appreciated by the Local Earth God, gained a set of cultivation skills, and then left Ye Song Bridge.

These stories weren't made up by Xiao Yeci; they were collected by him from various sources.

Such endings are indeed common in folk tales, but when a dozen or so stories all have the same ending, the situation becomes somewhat special.

As Li Banfeng pondered the connections within the story, a messenger came to report that Zheng Siyi, the Guanfang Envoy, had come to invite Seventh Master.

Zheng Siyi and Li Banfeng didn't have much of a relationship. His visit to Li Banfeng was most likely at Liao Zihui's behest.

As expected, Zheng Siyi invited Li Banfeng for tea, but when they arrived at the teahouse, Liao Zihui was waiting in the private room.

Upon seeing Li Qi, Liao Zihui smiled and said, "Brother Li, you saw my statement, didn't you?"

Li Banfeng nodded and said, "General Envoy Liao is truly decisive in his work."

"Only by cleaning up the mole can we get things done," Liao Zihui said, pulling out a map.

"Have you ever been to Stone Tower Mountain, brother?"

Li Banfeng looked at the map and said, "I've passed by once, but I've never gone up the mountain."

"I just found out that the Boundless Camp the Chasing Light Group is hiding in this mountain. Tomorrow at noon, I'm leading men up the mountain to wipe them out. We'll treat them as mountain bandits and take them all out."

But since I've brought troops there, there's bound to be some commotion. Those scoundrels will definitely try to escape, and if even one of them gets away and spreads the word, I'll be in a difficult position to handle.

"I'd like to trouble you, brother, to secretly provide backup. Make sure to catch any who slip through the net; leave no survivors."

Li Banfeng looked at the map and said, "I'll go up the mountain first and scout out the route."

"Scouting the way is fine, brother, but this is between the two of us. You can't alert them."

"Don't worry." Li Banfeng put away the map and left the teahouse.

He had only taken two steps when Li Banfeng suddenly sensed danger approaching. Someone asked in his ear, "Sir, would you like to take a sedan chair?"

Li Banfeng's head was buzzing, and he took a step and left.

The sedan chair carriers wiped the sweat from their faces with towels and then gave chase.

Hearing the commotion, Liao Zihui glanced out from the teahouse and saw chaos below, but couldn't make out what was happening.

One of his underlings, a spy, reported, "General Envoy, someone has attacked Li Qi."

Liao Zihui was startled. "Who is it?"

Ye Song Bridge, the Guanfang Envoy, said to Zheng Siyi, "It must be the Chasing Light Group again."

Liao Zihui gritted his teeth. "These bastards dare to openly attack me! Tell the brothers to grab their weapons, protect Li Qi, and take down the members of the Chasing Light Group!"

P. S.: Xiao Yeci listening to storytelling; see chapter 115 for details.