Steal or Rob?

Li Banfeng asked, "How did Lüshui Beggar beat Yuan Shoulu?" Meng Yuchun shook her head. "I don't know that. It's just what I heard. Even now, I can't wrap my head around how someone at tier nine could beat a Cloud Second Tier local spirit." Lüshui Beggar had seized the local spirit's cultivation and divine mantle. It was a great path—no need to go to the Inner States to serve as a slave, and one got to keep one's physical body. The other path was stealing. "How does one go about stealing?" "Stealing comes in two forms: one is covert seizure, and the other is covert crossing. "Covert seizure is similar to outright robbery—you steal the divine mantle from the local spirit. Cultivation, however, isn't easy to steal. You have to use a lower-tier cultivation to occupy a higher-tier mantle first, then find a way to advance rapidly. "With this method, the greatest danger doesn't lie in stealing the mantle, but rather in a lower-tier cultivation occupying a higher-tier mantle, which brings a backlash from the mantle itself. "The other form is more like trickery—stealing mortal vitality from someone else's territory so you can bypass the tribulation and advance straight to Cloud First Tier." Li Banfeng didn't quite understand. "You can bypass the tribulation?" "Simply put, while at tier nine, you steal mortal vitality to deceive heaven, then use Cloud-tier cultivation methods to pass tier ten." "How do you steal mortal vitality?" "That, I wouldn't know," Meng Yuchun shook her head. "Whether stealing or robbing, neither is something an ordinary person can pull off. If I truly had that kind of capability, I wouldn't have gone to the Inner States to suffer. I've told you everything I can tell you. You'd better not go back on your word—you have to find more people to pioneer this land!" "I'll find people, but the rules here have to change!" Meng Yuchun grew displeased. "Now you're negotiating terms with me? These are my rules, and I won't change them for anything. If you dare back out, don't even dream of taking a single step out of here!" Li Banfeng looked at the border of the parcel and asked, "This boundary of yours is practically like the border of the proper land." "The proper land has borders?" Meng Yuchun asked, looking blank. "Of course. The borders set by the Garrison Commissioner." Meng Yuchun looked at Li Banfeng. "What is a Garrison Commissioner?" Li Banfeng stared at her in astonishment. "Elder Sister, how many years were you in the Inner States?" Meng Yuchun frowned. "Didn't I tell you already? I don't remember clearly. Let's get this business about pioneering straight first!" "This is about pioneering. How large a parcel to break ground on can't be decided by you alone—the land reclaimers have to choose for themselves." Meng Yuchun shook her head. "That won't do. If you bring a group over and they only clear a one-li parcel, I've got ten thousand parcels here—how many ages will that take? Even three-li parcels feel too slow to me; by my count, that's still over a thousand attempts!" Li Banfeng shook his head. "Not just anyone has the ability to pioneer a three-li parcel." Meng Yuchun smiled. "Don't you worry about that. You saw how many helpers I sent over these past few days. If someone lacks the skill, they'll just die here." Li Banfeng was at a loss for words. Staying in the Inner States so long seemed to have addled this woman's brain. "You want people to open up land, yet you set the threshold so high. If the land reclaimers lose their lives, you won't build up any mortal vitality either. In the end, nobody gains anything, and both sides suffer for nothing." "You think this is peaches or something, talking about 'both sides'?" Meng Yuchun retorted, unconvinced, but she understood his point. "How about this: you pick capable people, and as for how large a parcel to open, we can discuss it then." That was a sensible proposition. The two established a covenant deed. With a wave of Meng Yuchun's hand, the boundary line around the parcel vanished. Li Banfeng asked, "Is that a technique of yours?" Meng Yuchun glared at him. "You're a journey cultivator—why are you asking about my techniques?" It really was a Dwelling Cultivator technique. Li Banfeng strolled around his parcel, fairly satisfied with the place overall. "While I'm away, someone needs to look after the household. Toad brother over there, why don't you be my steward?" The Literary Cultivator toad, slightly injured and still nursing a grudge against Li Banfeng, puffed out its cheeks into round spheres and croaked, "Croak! Why should I be your steward?" Li Banfeng took out two Xuanchi Pills and stuffed them into the toad's hands. "I certainly won't have you work for nothing." The toad looked down at the pills, then proudly lifted its head and shouted to the crowd of anomalies, "Stay back, all of you! This is Seventh Master's territory, don't you know?!" The anomalies looked at one another. A gray-furred wolf stepped forward. "Seventh Master, having just a steward isn't enough. Don't you think you need a guard as well?" A golden eagle flew down. "Seventh Master, guarding is my specialty. I have sharp eyes." The gray wolf grew angry. "What good are sharp eyes? My nose is even keener!" The golden eagle scoffed. "What good is a keen nose? Do you watch the house with your snout?" As the two bickered, Li Banfeng gave each of them two pills and hired them both. Besides the steward and guards, Li Banfeng also hired a den of aardvarks as laborers to help build two houses. With everything in order, he asked for directions and set off immediately toward Lüshui City. Meng Yuchun's place was truly desolate. Even with Li Banfeng's cultivation, he ran from dawn till dusk just to reach Lanyang Village—farther than the distance from Heishipo to Lüshuiwan. On the road, Li Banfeng calculated the time. Three days at the oil lake. Three days opening up the newland. One day traveling. A full seven days without returning home. Would the Portable Abode be furious? Furious, my foot! If not for it, would I have ended up at that oil lake in the first place? The Portable Abode wasn't the main issue; what mattered was his wife. His lady wife was bound to be angry, and he needed to explain things to her properly. Just using his mouth to explain wouldn't be enough. Maybe he should apply some motor oil? There was plenty of oil, but the problem was that this particular machine couldn't hold out for very long. Lubricating her wasn't a long-term solution. Better to bring his wife some gifts. The trouble was, what should he bring? The things she liked to eat weren't easy to find. When the day comes that I reach tier nine, how should I get to tier ten? Steal or rob? Robbing was far too difficult. The process of stealing was too abstract. Or perhaps executing it wasn't that abstract; it was just that her description was vague. He needed to gather more information and plan ahead, setting things in motion before he reached tier nine. For now, though, the urgent priority was to get to tier nine as soon as possible. Mulling this over, Li Banfeng entered Lanyang Village and noticed that the village was unusually quiet today. An old woman was sitting by her doorway, stitching the sole of a shoe. Li Banfeng stepped forward and greeted her: "Auntie, where did everyone in the village go?" The old woman gave a kindly smile. "Child, sit down and have a bowl of water first." Li Banfeng was indeed a bit thirsty. He took the bowl of water, then heard her ask, "From out of town, are you?" Li Banfeng nodded. The old woman smiled. "Must have been a hard journey. Asking for directions is five yuan, asking about business is ten yuan, and this bowl of water is twenty-five." The customs of Lanyang Village were as simple and honest as ever. Li Banfeng never expected people to do things for free, but this price was ridiculous. He tilted his hat brim down and smiled faintly at the old woman. A chill ran through her. To survive to her age in Lanyang Village, she had some discernment. She hurriedly apologized: "I was only joking with you! Why would I charge for something like that? The eldest son of the Song family came back, saying he's going to take the village back. Master Gen and his people are clashing with them at Mengchun Garden, and the whole village went to watch the excitement." No wonder the village was so deserted. Li Banfeng pressed ten yuan into the old woman's hand and walked off with a chuckle. His wife's next meal was settled. In front of Mengchun Garden, Song Zhigang, the eldest of the Song family, was facing off against Xiao Genzi alongside two Martial Cultivators. In Song Zhigang's memory, Xiao Genzi was merely a laborer repairing roads at the village entrance; he hadn't expected the lad to have the nerve to resort to force before him today. "Little bastard, you see me and you still fucking dare raise a hand?" Song Zhigang spat. "Get out of the way right now! This is the Song family's territory. Today, whoever gets in my way dies!" Xiao Genzi had cuts on his face, and his ladle was broken. Yet he clutched his bucket and didn't back down. "I'm standing right here. Let's see which of you dares step forward!" Song Zhigang covered his nose and sneered. "Trying to play disgusting, are you? Let me tell you, I don't buy that crap." He turned back to the two Martial Cultivators. "Trouble you two to clean up this piece of trash." The two Martial Cultivators hesitated. Both were tier four, their cultivation higher than Genzi's. However, having crossed hands with Genzi earlier, they knew what was inside that bucket and had no desire to get close to him, which was the only reason Genzi had managed to hold out until now. But Song Zhigang didn't want to waste time here. Seeing the two Martial Cultivators reluctant to step forward, he ordered several other subordinates to strike first. As Genzi prepared to fight for his life, Li Banfeng walked out from the crowd and first calmed Xiao Genzi down. "Genzi, put the bucket down first. "Eldest Master Song, why such a fiery temper?" Song Zhigang stared at Li Banfeng for a long while. He couldn't see his face, only the low-pulled brim of his hat. This was the madman who had demolished his house! "You're called Li Qi, aren't you?" Song Zhigang clenched his fists. "You're the fucking one I was looking for! Let me tell you right now, I'm back, and Lanyang Village still belongs to my Song family! You and Ma the Fifth pack your shit right now. Within ten minutes, get the hell out of here!" Back then, Li Banfeng had given Song Zhigang ten minutes to pack up and leave. Song Zhigang still remembered that humiliation. Li Banfeng pressed down with his hands. "Eldest Master Song, cool your temper. Past grievances are in the past. If there's something to settle, we can talk it over." Song Zhigang shook his head. "I've got nothing to discuss with you! Are you leaving or not? If you don't, today's the day you die! Don't say we're bullying you—I'll give you two choices. If you want to settle who's superior right here and now, we fight on the spot. If you want to duel in the vacant lot, we decide life and death tonight. Either way, we follow Lanyang Village rules." The onlookers watched with wide eyes, muttering in hushed voices among themselves. "The eldest son of the Song family is back. Is Lanyang Village going to bear the name Song again?" "If they're back, they'll demand half the dividend. Our days will be rough." "Can they just come back whenever they please? Seventh Master and Fifth Master aren't folks to be trifled with." "For Song Zhigang to dare return means he found a new backer. Those two behind him don't look ordinary." Li Banfeng had also noticed the two Martial Cultivators behind Song Zhigang. Lately, his and Ma the Fifth's business had grown bigger and bigger. Even if Song Zhigang was utterly out of the loop, he should at least know that Lanyang Village was still under the Lu family's protection. His daring to come proved he was willing to push forward even in defiance of the Lu family. As for who his backer was, Li Banfeng would find out soon enough. Li Banfeng said with a chuckle, "Eldest Master Song, how long has it been since we last met? Coming right out with talk like this hurts the harmony between us. Why don't you come inside with me and have a seat? We'll share a couple of drinks first, and take our time talking it over." Seeing Li Qi back down, Song Zhigang instructed his men and followed Li Banfeng into Mengchun Garden. Li Banfeng had a private parlor tidied up and served with wine and dishes, then dismissed all uninvolved persons. Li Banfeng warmly welcomed everyone: "Make yourselves at home, gentlemen. Go ahead and eat and drink." Song Zhigang slammed the table. "Don't fucking waste time! Make it clear right now—when are you getting the hell out?" "Eldest Master Song, don't be so impatient. Didn't I say we should eat first?" Li Banfeng turned and locked the private room's door. Song Zhigang barked, "Let me tell you, the two behind me are head guards who serve Old Master Lu himself! My return to Lanyang Village was ordered by Old Master Lu! Anything else you say is useless!" Li Banfeng nodded. "Indeed. It's your last meal, yet you won't eat properly. What's the point of talking so much?" The two Martial Cultivators frowned. One glared at Li Banfeng. "Damn it, refuse face when it's given?" Before the words had finished leaving his mouth, Li Banfeng suddenly appeared behind him and patted the cultivator's cheek. "Treating you to a meal was giving you face. Since you won't eat properly, you truly are refusing face when it's given." The Martial Cultivator tried to stand, but suddenly felt his breath catch and his body go limp. Li Banfeng's scythe had already sliced across his throat. Blood surged out. Clutching his neck, the Martial Cultivator tried to fight Li Banfeng for his life, but he couldn't even catch a glimpse of Li Banfeng's shadow. Once the cultivator stopped struggling, Li Banfeng produced a roll of tape, tore off a strip, and taped it over the man's neck, temporarily keeping him in a half-dead state. The other Martial Cultivator shakily got up and tried to leap out the window, but Li Banfeng seized him by the hair and slammed him to the floor. Tears welled in the man's eyes as he pleaded, "Seventh Master, we never intended to cross you! The old master sent us here! We really didn't mean to cross you..." "I didn't want to cross you either," Li Banfeng said with a smile. "My brother's ladle was broken. That was his treasured possession. How do we settle this?" "I'll pay for it!" "Good, you pay." Li Banfeng swung his scythe, severing the man's spine. The Martial Cultivator went limp on the floor. Song Zhigang fell to his knees before Li Banfeng. "Seventh Master, I'll leave right now! I swear I'll never take another step into Lanyang Village!" Li Banfeng smiled. "Eldest Master Song, you're being too formal. Lanyang Village is your home. From now on, you can settle down and stay right here."