Li Banfeng crushed a pebble.
Treading Ten Thousand Rivers?
The hardest technique of a journey cultivator?
He had learned it?
Just how had he pulled it off a moment ago?
Li Banfeng had no time to review what had just happened. The enraged millipede, crouching low to the ground, charged straight at him.
*It's easier now that you're flat on the ground—I don't even have to jump to hit you!*
Li Banfeng summoned his Tang dao and held it before him, bracing for a direct clash.
The liquor gourd acted first, spraying a mist of liquor over the millipede's head.
Just as its head was about to slam into the tip of the blade, the millipede halted abruptly.
Perhaps stimulated by the alcohol, its massive body began trembling violently.
A perfect chance!
Li Banfeng raised the Tang dao, ready to hack down at the millipede's skull.
The liquor gourd stopped him. "Little brother, don't be rash. That blade of yours can't cut through its shell. I've never seen this bug before, but it's exceptionally tough. Even with our forces combined, we might not be its match."
Li Banfeng's initial estimate had been correct: this millipede's combat prowess was in no way inferior to Madam Bagworm Moth's.
Yet if he didn't strike, what other choice was there?
Observing the millipede's drunken state, the liquor gourd said to Li Banfeng, "A person's character shows in how they drink, and this bug's drinking manners aren't bad. It must not be an evil creature."
*You can even tell that?*
The liquor gourd truly had not misread the situation.
Wiggling its antennae, the millipede first tried to push itself up, only to wobble and flop back flat against the dirt.
Had this millipede been made drunk?
It didn't quite look drunk. Its pair of antennae twirled around in an expression of sheer bliss, looking more as though it had been thoroughly conquered by the exquisite flavor of the liquor.
The liquor gourd said, "Brother, step aside and clear a path to let it pass."
Li Banfeng cleared the path, yet the millipede refused to leave. One antenna reached toward Li Banfeng, swaying unceasingly before him.
Why had it suddenly grown so docile?
In truth, this millipede had always been gentle; it had simply grown anxious upon encountering a stranger, and Li Banfeng's series of actions had provoked it.
Did this creature possess spiritual awareness?
Li Banfeng used the Discerning Spirit Voice technique to listen for a good while, barely catching a slurred voice:
"Delicious... want to drink... want to drink more..."
*Wants to drink more? Then give it another mouthful.*
Wait!
Why was this millipede moving so smoothly through the cave?
Li Banfeng recalled something and unfolded the map Old Yao had given him.
After studying it, Li Banfeng smiled.
This cave had no forks.
"You want to drink, don't you? Give me a ride, and I'll give you another mouthful of good liquor."
Li Banfeng began bargaining with the millipede.
Unsure whether the creature truly understood, it remained lying motionless on the ground.
Li Banfeng cautiously sat upon the millipede's back.
Its antennae twitched. Feeling unaccustomed to the burden, the millipede tossed Li Banfeng to the ground and scurried swiftly away.
"Unwilling to carry me? Then no liquor for you, either!" Li Banfeng muttered, annoyed.
This millipede was extraordinarily long. Its head had already moved far ahead of Li Banfeng, but its tail was still lingering outside the cave.
Li Banfeng had the liquor gourd spray another mouthful of liquor. The richly fragrant spirit splashed across the millipede's body.
The millipede shuddered once more. Pausing for a few moments, every leg along its length began moving in reverse.
It backed right up.
"Delicious... want to drink..."
"You agree to carry me?"
Its antennae bobbed up and down; the millipede appeared to be nodding.
Li Banfeng climbed onto the millipede's back a second time.
This time, the creature did not struggle, carrying Li Banfeng forward into the depths.
Li Banfeng had the liquor gourd release another mist of liquor, which the millipede relished with utter delight.
"Drink this sip first as a down payment. Once we reach our destination, there will be more."
Carrying Li Banfeng, the millipede traveled over five li before coming to a stop.
*I asked for a ride, and it only carried me this far?*
*Isn't this ride a bit too short?*
Just as Li Banfeng was about to complain, he faintly heard the millipede say, "Rest a bit."
Traveling through this cave was arduous even for the millipede; it relied entirely on its formidable physique to hold out longer than Li Banfeng could.
Resting for a bit was fine as well—it was still far faster than Li Banfeng walking on his own.
***
Inside the Portable Abode, the wife had sobered up and was washing Li Banfeng's clothes.
In the outer chamber, Red Lotus suddenly spoke: "Don't you find that woman a bit off?"
She was referring to the liquor gourd.
*Chichi~*
The gramophone replied, "She is indeed a bit off. She knows no fear; she must have seen a great deal of the world."
"You noticed it too. When that madman brought her back to this house, she only looked around without asking a single question. Later, when she saw me, she didn't ask, and now upon seeing you, she still didn't ask. Someone like that must be harboring secrets."
"There is no need to worry. We simply have to keep our guard up around her from now on." The gramophone washed a pair of trousers, dried them with steam, folded them neatly, and placed them into the wardrobe.
***
Haichiling, Toudaoling, Lu Dongjun's estate.
The head of the Ma family, Ma the Fifth's father, Ma Chunting, was currently discussing business with Lu Dongjun.
"Dongjun, we are old friends after all. As for the matter of the tannery, I've brought it up for two days straight. You ought to give me some kind of answer."
Lu Dongjun held his teacup, casually blowing on the surface, and said to Ma Chunting, "Brother Ma, didn't I tell you before? When it comes to business, just go to Old Wan. I'm busy with disaster relief and can't attend to these trivial details."
Ma Chunting said, "I've spoken to Steward Wan several times already, but he hasn't made a single move, so I had no choice but to come to you."
"Is that so? Surely not?" Lu Dongjun feigned surprise. "Could it be that the price isn't right?"
Ma Chunting spread his hands. "It's strictly according to the price you people quoted. I didn't haggle down a single coin."
Lu Dongjun smacked his lips. "That shouldn't be happening. Old Wan is just too narrow-minded. Leave this matter to me; I'll go speak to him."
Ma Chunting stood up. "Then I'll trouble you."
Lu Dongjun remained seated. "I have pressing matters to handle, so I won't keep you."
Ma Chunting gave a dry chuckle and departed from the Lu family mansion.
The tannery he spoke of was originally the Ma family's enterprise.
When famine struck Haichiling, the tannery went under and was abandoned unattended. Wan Jinxian had arrived in Haichiling and bought it up at a dirt-cheap price.
Now that the insects had been brought under control and the tannery had resumed operations, Ma Chunting wanted to buy it back, only to be told he could only purchase shares, and at triple the price.
Refusing to accept this, Ma Chunting had attempted to play hardball with Lu Dongjun.
Yet the various gangs throughout Haichiling threw their full support behind Lu Dongjun, handing the Ma family a crushing defeat.
Forced to relent, Ma Chunting brought up purchasing shares again, only for Wan Jinxian to hike the price from triple to fivefold.
Gritting his teeth, Ma Chunting agreed, yet to this day, Wan Jinxian had offered no response.
"Dammit!" Back at his quarters, Ma Chunting ground his teeth in fury. "I'm fucking handing Lu Dongjun money, and I still have to put up with his fucking attitude!"
Beside him, Ma Junjiang chimed in, "Well said. Lu Dongjun has grown far too arrogant."
Ma Chunting packed tobacco into his pipe, clamped it between his lips, and said, "Lu Dongjun has always been that fucking way. Talking big, fine, I'll swallow it. But what sort of mongrel is Wan Jinxian to dare bare his teeth at me?"
Ma Junjiang nodded. "Exactly. Wan Jinxian is merely a servant of the Lu family. What right does he have to put on airs before us?"
The more Ma Chunting thought about it, the angrier he became. "Who knows what Wan Jinxian is busy with all day! You can't even get an audience with him. He looks down on everyone!"
Ma Junjiang nodded repeatedly. "That's right..."
"Right, my ass!" Ma Chunting slammed his pipe against the floor. "All this time, you haven't managed to say a single thing other than 'that's right'! The tannery was originally our family's trade, and now it's come to this—don't you feel humiliated? If the Fifth were here, would I have suffered such a disgrace?"
Having suffered a loss in business, Ma Chunting found himself missing Ma the Fifth.
Such was the way of a great clan.
In truth, Wan Jinxian had indeed been busy of late; even Lu Dongjun had a hard time tracking him down.
After several rounds of summons, Wan Jinxian finally arrived at the estate late that night.
Lu Dongjun frowned. "Where have you been running off to? Not a glimpse of you all day!"
Wan Jinxian explained, "There are simply too many business affairs to oversee."
"I was just about to discuss business with you. The Ma family wants to buy shares in the tannery. Are you aware of this?"
Wan Jinxian nodded. "Ma Chunting mentioned it to me several times. I ignored him. Previously, when we offered it at triple the price, he refused and even brought men to cause trouble. Now that he's offering fivefold, I intend to leave him hanging for a couple of days."
Lu Dongjun nodded. "Leaving him hanging for a couple of days is reasonable, but don't take things too far. The Ma family still has their foundations intact."
"Everything as Master decrees." Wan Jinxian smiled and nodded.
"You must pay close attention to our business ventures, but do not neglect the matter of the insects either. It's time to make a move on Erdaoling."
"Master, rest assured, I have prepared everything. We will strike the day after tomorrow."
"Good!" Lu Dongjun nodded. "Go rest early. You've worked hard these past days; don't wear yourself out."
Wan Jinxian left the Lu family mansion. Foregoing a car, he made a wide loop through Toudaoling to ensure no one was trailing him, then proceeded to Shiweitian Restaurant and slipped into a Western-style townhouse nearby.
Inside the townhouse, the third of the Ling brothers, Ling Miaoying, had been waiting for quite some time.
"Brother Wan, everything on my end is ready."
"Thank you for your trouble, Third Master."
Ling Miaoying led a man into the room.
Wan Jinxian scrutinized the man for a few moments, then nodded slightly. "I can see no flaws. Let us carry it out tonight."
***
At the break of dawn, inside a modest home on Wonton Alley, Shaomai Street, Toudaoling.
The mistress of the household rose early to light the stove and cook porridge.
Ever since the insect plague struck Haichiling, no household had dared open their rice sacks. Whatever little grain they managed to save had to be kept locked inside sturdy chests; yet even with such vigilant defenses, they had been powerless against those mosquitoes.
Now, there was nothing left to fear. The Second Master of the Lu family had already brought the insects under control. They could finally open their rice sacks with complete peace of mind, rinse the rice, and toss it into the pot.
This rice had also been distributed by the Second Master of the Lu family; not a soul in Haichiling failed to remember Second Master Lu's benevolence.
"Drifting clouds disperse, the bright moon shines on us, reuniting in bliss, drunk today~"
Humming a light tune, the woman was rinsing the rice when a sharp whine suddenly pierced her ears.
*Bzzz~~*
With a loud clatter, her hands jerked, and the basin she had been holding crashed onto the floor.
That sound was the living nightmare of the entire Haichiling. Any resident of Haichiling who heard it would go entirely numb.
Was it mosquitoes?
No, certainly not...
The mosquitoes of Toudaoling had already been eradicated by Second Master Lu.
What on earth was that sound?
Had she misheard?
She must have misheard.
The woman lowered her head and saw the rice grains scattered across the floor.
She hurriedly knelt to gather them up.
*Bzzz~*
Right before her eyes, a mosquito descended, landing softly upon a grain of rice.
Chapter 159