You Call This Exceptionally Clever?

"Ge Junma, a pureblood from the Inner States," Li Banfeng said to Qiu Luoye. "Are all people from the Inner States toads?" Qiu Luoye shook his head. "There are chickens, ducks, geese, and dogs. There are also ones that look like humans." "In that case, are they body cultivators?" Qiu Luoye shook his head again. "I don't know what pathway they belong to, nor what tier his cultivation is. Ge Junma can read books, and he has even used A Word Worth a Thousand Gold before. He might be a Literary Cultivator." "Which is to say, he was born a toad?" Qiu Luoye couldn't answer. He had seen people from the Inner States, but he didn't know much about them. Just as Meng Yuchun had said, in the Inner States they were merely beasts of burden, and no one cared to waste words on livestock. Using the technique of Treading Ten Thousand Rivers, Li Banfeng had stamped the cabbage toad into mush. Several clues had already sorted themselves out in his mind. Chu Shaoqiang would definitely come to Moxiangdian. Chu Shaoqiang had suffered a major defeat at Qiu Luoye's hands, which would surely be hard to account for once he returned to the Inner States. If he wanted to redeem himself with merit, he had to find a way to perform a meritorious service. And the best way to earn merit was to secure a piece of proper land. As long as he got his hands on proper land, past blunders would likely be forgiven. If he not only secured proper land but also rescued an Inner Stater, he wouldn't merely have his past errors forgiven—he might even receive a promotion. It was precisely for this reason that he had singled out Moxiangdian. He knew Ge Junma was in Moxiangdian. Yet why would an Inner Stater appear in Moxiangdian in the first place? "Brother Qiu, can people from the Inner States just come to Puluo Province whenever they please?" Qiu Luoye shook his head. "By the rules, they cannot." "Is it because there is a Boundary between the two regions? Then how did Chu Shaoqiang manage to come out?" "It's not just a matter of the Boundary." Qiu Luoye drew a circle on the ground and rubbed out an opening along its edge. "In the Inner States, there are several fixed passages. Each passage can only let out one or two people per year. But those people are all lackeys of the Inner States, or people ennobled and sent out to serve as local spirits. If a pureblood Inner Stater comes to Puluo Province, they will be killed." Li Banfeng was taken aback. "Who would kill them?" Qiu Luoye shook his head. "I don't know. Supposedly, it's some ruthless figures of Puluo Province. But the rule is real. Pureblood Inner Staters never dare venture into Puluo Province. Why Ge Junma came here is beyond me as well." If Chu Shaoqiang arrived in Moxiangdian, he would likely find the Wisdom-Karmic Scholar's dwelling in short order. If he joined forces with the toad, the Wisdom-Karmic Scholar was as good as dead. When that time came, Moxiangdian would become Inner States territory. "I have to kill Ge Junma before that happens." The stopover time was limited, so Li Banfeng had to hurry back to the companion dwelling. Qiu Luoye said, "Brother, I'll go with you! That bastard Ge Junma put me through hell; it's high time I got my revenge!" Li Banfeng looked over Qiu Luoye's condition—bandaged from head to toe, blood seeping through everywhere. "Brother Qiu, there will be plenty of chances for revenge. Nurse your body back to health first." Qiu Luoye said, "I'm in sorry shape right now, true enough. Take my junior brothers with you instead—they can fight!" Li Banfeng shook his head. He was referring to the three-headed people who had come out of Sinners' City. They certainly could fight, but on what grounds could he drag them to Moxiangdian? The last time they had staked their lives against Chu Shaoqiang, it had been for their own home. What would it be for this time? Li Banfeng returned to the companion dwelling and said to the Judge's Brush, "Ah Bi, we're going back to Murong Gui's dwelling in a bit. You need to explain things clearly to him. I'm here to help him, and he has to team up with me to get rid of that toad." "Hmph—" the Judge's Brush snorted listlessly. "Hmph!" the companion dwelling snorted as well, dripping with mockery. Li Banfeng glared at the Judge's Brush. "What are you hmph-ing about? We're conducting serious business here!" The Judge's Brush said slowly, "We can try." Leaving the companion dwelling, Li Banfeng arrived at Yanshazhai. Xiao Yeci was still inside the study reading, having stayed there the entire night without returning to the inn. Tan Fucheng was continuing his study of the Hundred Family Surnames. Supposedly, he had gained fresh insights again, weeping three times that morning alone. This wasn't his first time crying. He had wept last night as well—while reading, he had accidentally sneezed and sprayed a bit of spittle onto the book. Believing this showed grave disrespect toward the literature, he had slapped himself over a dozen times across the face and nearly chopped off one of his own fingers. Li Banfeng took his key and headed straight for the Willow Garden. As he walked, Li Banfeng turned a matter over and over in his mind. Even if they got rid of Ge Junma, could Murong Gui hold Moxiangdian? One-on-one, he might be able to defeat Chu Shaoqiang, but would Chu Shaoqiang fight him one-on-one? Against Qiu Luoye, Chu Shaoqiang had brought along two helpers. Now, aiming both to claim land and rescue someone, how many helpers would Chu Shaoqiang bring? According to what Qiu Luoye said, anyone coming out of the Inner States was constrained by the passages, so the number couldn't be very large. Yet even if only three to five arrived, even if I'm willing to lend Murong Gui a hand, we might still be no match for them. Kill Ge Junma first, and worry about the rest later? The trouble was that this matter could not afford delays. Li Banfeng had no idea when Chu Shaoqiang would arrive in Moxiangdian—perhaps tomorrow, or perhaps tonight. Defending Moxiangdian would not be easy. With the Inner States involved, he had to find an ally. Li Banfeng recalled Qiu Luoye's words. Pureblood Inner Staters dared not come to Puluo Province, or they would be killed by the ruthless figures of Puluo Province. Which ruthless figures were that formidable? Among the ruthless figures Li Banfeng knew of, there were none other than the Peddler, Grandpa Train, Sun Tiecheng, and Granny Ku. And also Old Xu, ancestor of the Gold Cultivators. Grandpa Train was trapped in the Inner States, so he was off the table for now. Granny Ku was in Kucaizhuang. If he asked for her help, would she even come? Second Aunt had a rather eccentric temperament. Getting thrashed by her wouldn't be much of a problem, but heaven forbid she send him off on another trial in Kucaizhuang—he didn't have time to squander. Old Xu looked like a good person through and through, but he had to guard Yaowanggou. He probably wouldn't meddle in Moxiangdian's affairs. The only one left he could think of was the Peddler. Would the Peddler bother with this? When Haichiling suffered an insect plague, he had intervened. With such a massive crisis looming over Moxiangdian, he would probably step in as well. Besides, among these people, the Peddler was relatively easy to locate. The New Year had just passed. Going by normal routine, the Peddler should be showing up in Haichiling or Kudaikan about now. Upon reaching the Willow Garden, Li Banfeng took out the portable telephone, connected the battery, extended the antenna, and got in touch with Luo Zhengnan. "Old Luo, make a trip to Kudaikan. Find the Peddler and tell him an Inner Stater has gone to Moxiangdian." At the mention of an Inner Stater, Old Luo took fright. He hurried to have someone arrange a travel permit and boarded a train that very day. Li Banfeng walked up to the willow tree. Making sure no one was around, he had the Judge's Brush write the character "Wisdom" on the ground. Leaves sprouted from the willow tree, catkins whirled in the air, and Li Banfeng stepped once more into Murong Gui's dwelling. On the frozen lake, Murong Gui was still writing at his desk. Having filled one scroll, he replaced it with a fresh one. Li Banfeng had the Judge's Brush step forward to negotiate. The brush flew beside Murong Gui and spoke: "It's me." Murong Gui's writing brush stopped. He lifted his head and silently watched the Judge's Brush. Seeing that the two seemed fairly harmonious, Li Banfeng strode over to Murong Gui's side. The words Murong Gui wrote today were somewhat different from last night. Aside from the characters for "Kill" and "War," and the phrases "The blind should feel shame" and "The literate should strive," there was also the line: "All people should study literature." Li Banfeng asked, "What do these three lines mean?" Murong Gui did not answer. Li Banfeng didn't dwell on those lines either. He quickly cut to the chase: "That toad is a pureblood Inner Stater. He came here to snatch your territory. I've come looking for you because I want to join forces and kill him. Do you know what time he usually shows up?" Murong Gui lifted his head and looked at Li Banfeng. In the ensuing silence, Murong Gui's pupils shrank, and a glint of cold light flashed within them. Sensing malice, Li Banfeng swiftly retreated from the lake. This time, the malice was exceptionally distinct—it emanated directly from Murong Gui. One by one, the written words stood upright from the paper and flew toward Li Banfeng at a speed so swift that even Li Banfeng, a tier-seven journey cultivator, could barely parry them. "Ah Bi, how did you communicate with your former master? Isn't he supposed to be exceptionally clever? In three sentences he can divine your intent, and in five he can read a person's heart? I came here with good intentions, and he can't divine that?" The Judge's Brush sighed. "He's not divining anymore. Beat him up." Murong Gui's state seemed completely off; apart from writing, he appeared incapable of any other response. Could this be some peculiar state of sleepwalking? As Li Banfeng dodged the siege of characters, trying to observe Murong Gui's condition more closely, a tremendous rumble sounded. The ice cracked, and Ge Junma burst out from beneath the lake. Engaged in tangled combat with Li Banfeng, Murong Gui hadn't conjured wings in time. Out on the ice, he relied on a sheet of characters to support his body and writing desk. Even then, the brush in his hand never ceased writing. To buy time for Murong Gui, Li Banfeng once again used Viewing Flowers on a Galloping Horse. This time, however, the giant toad was not fooled. He wrote over a dozen characters for "Eye" upon his body, and all of them transformed into actual eyes, snapping open across his cheeks, forelegs, hind legs, and back, watching Li Banfeng by turns. Ge Junma really was a Literary Cultivator! He knew Li Banfeng had arrived and had prepared a countermeasure. Faced with opponents who stared fixedly without blinking, Li Banfeng had an established routine. He drew Ling Miaoying's revolver from his coat and began shooting the eyes. Bang! Bang! Two of the six chambers fired. The pistol's power wouldn't inflict fatal wounds on Ge Junma, but as long as it forced him to blink even once, Li Banfeng's technique could find its mark. Sure enough, Ge Junma blinked, and Li Banfeng vanished briefly from sight—a hole detonating right on the toad's back. He thought this would create an opening for Murong Gui to strike back. Who would have guessed that instead of attacking Ge Junma, Murong Gui penned dozens of characters for "Forbid," which shot straight at Li Banfeng! Li Banfeng knew how formidable this "Forbid" character was. Back when Guo Jinshi had besieged him with twelve "Forbid" characters, none of his weapons or artifacts had worked. While he was dodging the characters with great care, Ge Junma charged forward and spat a glob of mucus toward Li Banfeng. Li Banfeng dodged aside. The mucus struck a tree as thick as two men embracing, and in the blink of an eye, it melted into a puddle of slush on the ground. Close call! If that mucus stuck to him, he would be finished. Li Banfeng had intended to team up with Murong Gui two-on-one, but now it had turned into a one-against-two. Just what was wrong with Murong Gui? Even if he couldn't discern Li Banfeng's intentions earlier, couldn't he tell friend from foe at a time like this? With the toad blocking him ahead and written characters swarming around him, Li Banfeng readied himself to pull out his key. Ge Junma thrust out his tongue, about to snap Li Banfeng up, when over a hundred characters pounced onto the toad's back, tearing away a chunk of flesh. Unable to endure the agonizing pain, the giant toad turned to strike back at Murong Gui. Li Banfeng seized the chance to launch a pincer attack, only to be driven back by another barrage of characters. To tell the truth, Li Banfeng felt a sudden urge to team up with Ge Junma, slaughter Murong Gui first, and then settle things between the two of them. At least the toad's actions weren't nearly as absurd as Murong Gui's. The ink in the inkstone was running dry. Murong Gui picked up an inkstick and ground it rapidly. Li Banfeng rushed close, wanting Ah Bi to make another attempt to see if they could awaken Murong Gui. Murong Gui swept his brush in swift strokes, filling the entire scroll in the blink of an eye. Across the entire scroll, there was only one word: "Kill." As the characters soared and spun through the air, they drove back Li Banfeng and forced back Ge Junma as well. Ge Junma leapt back into the lake, and before long, the surface froze over once more. Murong Gui returned to the ice and continued writing. The fighting just now had been somewhat intense, leaving Murong Gui visibly tense. Now, he wrote only three characters: "Kill," "War," and "Forbid." Li Banfeng stood nearby, watching Murong Gui with utter helplessness. He had no idea how to communicate with him, but he knew that taking one step closer would trigger another attack. Under these circumstances, killing Ge Junma was entirely out of the question. Li Banfeng had no choice but to leave the Willow Garden. Chu Shaoqiang could arrive at any moment. What was he supposed to do now? Where else could he find help?