Li Banfeng sat in the study reading, remaining there for an entire morning.
Yanshazhai did indeed have many fine books, but most were poetry collections, literary anthologies, and miscellaneous essays.
None of these were what Li Banfeng wanted. He wanted to get to the bottom of one thing: why was the Demonic Land Puluo Province? To find clues, he needed history books.
Li Banfeng paid handsomely and searched through all manner of collections, but the only works related to history were a few biographies of notable figures and travelogues.
The biographies focused primarily on bizarre anecdotes and oddities; Li Banfeng could discern neither a coherent timeline nor any historical context.
The travelogues, however, proved quite useful—at least they showed Li Banfeng the renowned mountains, great rivers, and local customs across many regions.
Puluo Province had never had a formalized history, so finding no history books in Yanshazhai was only to be expected.
What did not make sense, though, was Li Banfeng's physical state.
From his own perception, Li Banfeng felt he had advanced. Both his physical strength and his speed were a significant notch above what they had been before.
Yet he felt no desire to walk.
From his initiation until now, after every advancement, Li Banfeng had felt the urge to dash several hundred li. Constrained by his Dwelling Cultivator discipline, as long as he wasn't inside the companion dwelling, in the early stage of each advancement he was basically on the road, sprinting at full speed, until his cultivation stabilized and he could finally settle down.
This time, however, he had stabilized immediately. By day he sat in the study, and by night he lay in the companion dwelling. His body showed no discomfort whatsoever, and his cultivation seemed to be progressing in orderly steps.
Could it be that the Dwelling Cultivator pathway had completely suppressed the journey cultivator pathway?
Or perhaps before reaching above the clouds, the two pathways were gradually merging into one?
Ask Hong Ying?
Hong Ying was a pure journey cultivator who had only opened a single pathway; she probably wouldn't understand this.
Ask his wife directly?
His wife knew all about the two pathways being open, but discussing it face to face was always somewhat awkward.
Should I wait until I'm behind her to bring it up?
Having finished two travelogues, Li Banfeng returned the books to the shelf. He was just planning to grab lunch, but the moment he stepped outside, he saw Ma the Fifth rushing over in a frantic hurry.
He stared at Li Banfeng, looking him up and down several times, and asked, "Old Seven, what happened?"
Li Banfeng blinked in surprise. "I was about to ask you. What's gotten you so flustered?"
"Lu Chunying and the others all went back. Xiao Yeci looks like she suffered quite a bit—her eyes are swollen from crying. When I asked them what happened, they couldn't even explain clearly, so I hurried right over to find you."
Li Banfeng smiled. "It's all in the past now. Let's get some food first."
Once at an eatery, they chatted over their meal. Li Banfeng merely said that Moxiangdian's local spirit had been acting unusual, and worried that something might happen to Lu Chunying and the others, he had sent them back. He didn't elaborate beyond that.
Ma the Fifth said, "I knew this damned place wouldn't be peaceful. Old Seven, pack your things in a bit and leave with me at once."
Li Banfeng chuckled. "Do you despise Moxiangdian that much?"
"If I hadn't been worried something happened to you, I wouldn't have set foot here in my whole life."
After lunch, Ma the Fifth went to sit in the study for a short while. Influenced by the local rules of the territory, he picked up a book and flipped through a couple of pages.
Li Banfeng said, "I remember you're someone who likes to read."
Ma the Fifth was indeed fond of reading. He had read through all the books in the Ma family's library. His sharp business acumen was thirty percent talent, twenty percent practical honing, and the remaining half consisted of methods and lessons learned from books.
"Reading is a good thing. I despise Moxiangdian because it's terrible for cultivation."
Li Banfeng thought for a moment. "Moxiangdian has plenty of brothels. Did you just fail to find the right channels?"
Ma the Fifth laughed. "Old Seven, you underestimate me. I won't brag about other things, but how could I fail to find the way to places like that?
"It's just that I truly have no desire to visit the brothels here. First you have to drink tea, then drink wine, then compose poetry and match couplets.
"When it finally gets to the main event—if I'm on top, she complains of unbearable oppression; if I'm on the bottom, she complains of unbearable exhaustion; if I'm behind her, she says it's estranged and immoral; and if I just rush through casually, I get a whole barrage of reproaches and tears.
"In between, if a single word slips out wrong, you can forget about seeing a pleasant expression on the girl's face until the very end. I'm not someone who doesn't appreciate romance, but I really can't stomach that kind of pretentiousness."
Li Banfeng smiled, and then suddenly noticed Xiao Chuanzi beside them.
He had come along with Ma the Fifth and was currently reading as well, immersed in *Tales of Added Fragrance*, a somewhat classical erotic novel.
Li Banfeng had read this novel before. The writing was exquisite, but the plot was thoroughly vulgar and erotic.
The book had three volumes in total. Ma the Fifth had once said that finishing one volume was worth half a month's cultivation, and if someone could read through all three in a single breath while holding back their impulses, they could earn nearly half a year's worth of cultivation.
Li Banfeng had never lasted through three volumes. He couldn't even make it through one before having to find his wife to wash his trousers.
That wasn't the main point, however. The point was that a semi-classical novel required considerable reading ability. Could Xiao Chuanzi actually understand such a book?
When Chuanzi first entered a pathway, he had originally wanted to become a Literary Cultivator, but because he was illiterate, he had entered as a craft cultivator instead.
Later, Ma the Fifth hired a private tutor for him and Genzi. They studied for about a month and could barely recognize a handful of characters, after which they followed Li Banfeng and Ma the Fifth rushing all over the place, making their way in the world.
In Li Banfeng's memory, when they set up the newspaper office at Black Rock Slope, Chuanzi couldn't even fully recognize the three characters of "Night Fragrance," and he still struggled to read blueprints. Yet now he was reading this sort of novel so smoothly?
Something was off here.
Within the territory of Black Rock Slope, there might be rules that Li Banfeng did not yet understand.
Such a rule would be crucial. If Black Rock Slope also possessed laws that allowed people to quickly acquire literacy and cultural knowledge, then perhaps a second fountainhead of knowledge and culture could be found in Puluo Province. Even if something went wrong with Moxiangdian, the cultural heritage of Puluo Province wouldn't be severed.
Li Banfeng sat down beside Chuanzi and asked, "Brother, are you able to follow this book?"
Chuanzi scratched his head. "It's a little tough, but manageable. The guy in this book is truly formidable—starting from scratch to build such a family fortune, and marrying so many pretty wives. I admire him from the bottom of my heart."
Chuanzi wasn't just putting on a show; his summary of the plot was spot-on.
"Brother, who did you learn to read from?"
Chuanzi thought for a moment. "Oh, quite a few people. The schoolteacher in Lanyang Village taught me, but only for a few days. The real, proper learning happened at Black Rock Slope. I read the newspapers and magazines all the time, and with fellow workers giving pointers on the side, I slowly picked it up."
Pointers between fellow workers clearly did not constitute systematic education.
The key lay in the newspapers and magazines.
The fact that Black Rock Slope's publishing and journalism industry was so developed might stem from another reason. Within the periodicals of Black Rock Slope, perhaps some form of power was harbored.
Li Banfeng made a trip back to the companion dwelling. He had bought plenty of newspapers in Black Rock Slope, all stored in the cupboard in Room Six.
He rummaged through the cupboard for a long while. He found plenty of newspapers from other places, but not a single newspaper or magazine from Black Rock Slope.
Not only were the newspapers and magazines gone, but several short plays filmed by Bai Qiusheng were missing as well—the very shorts that had enabled Chuanzi's projectors to sell like hotcakes.
Where had everything gone?
How could anything go missing inside the companion dwelling?
Did I remember wrong and forget where I put them?
Now that there were more rooms, that was also a possibility.
As Li Banfeng was searching room by room, he suddenly heard the glove whisper in a hushed tone, "Master, are you missing something?"
"How did you know?"
The glove lowered its voice even further. "Something's off with the projector. This matter might be connected to him. Don't be in a rush to discipline him just yet—give me a few more days to keep an eye on him. With our Old Master around, nothing catastrophic should happen."
After suffering such a massive blow, the projector acting up was something Li Banfeng could understand.
But what kind of issue was it, exactly? Why would he hide things?
The companion dwelling certainly knew the truth, and his wife had probably taken note as well. He would find an opportunity to ask them later.
The key was to find some good items as soon as possible to make it up to the projector.
...
After staying in Moxiangdian for two days and confirming that the local spirit showed no further abnormalities, Li Banfeng decided to return to Qiqiu City first.
He was a journey cultivator; he shouldn't linger too long in one place, even though he still felt no urge to travel.
Ma the Fifth was actually a bit reluctant to leave. He couldn't bear to part with the books at Yanshazhai, nor could he bear to leave the inn's female clerk.
"After I leave, will you think of me every day?"
Tears welled in the clerk's eyes. "If longing for you brings only pain, do you truly want me to live in pain every single day?"
Ma the Fifth said, "I will think of you every day. No matter how much pain there is, my heart cannot be without you!"
The clerk embraced Ma the Fifth. "I would rather you forget me entirely than suffer even the slightest hurt on my account."
Li Banfeng said to the clerk, "How about this: quit your job and come with us to Qiqiu City."
The clerk shook her head. "I cannot leave Moxiangdian. This is my fated resting place, yet I do not want to leave you!"
Ma the Fifth held her tightly. "Then I won't leave you ever again!"
The clerk wept, "Hold me just like this. No one will ever be able to tear us apart!"
"I have a way!" Li Banfeng produced a centipede and placed it on Ma the Fifth.
The female clerk gasped in terror, shoved Ma the Fifth away, and ran for her life.
Ma the Fifth stood dumbfounded for a long moment, then asked, "Where did that bug come from?"
"Lu Yuanxin gave it to me. He said this bug works wonders against her."
...
Qiqiu City was right next door, just a single train stop away. Once back in the city, Ma the Fifth returned to his usual self and focused on managing business.
Xiao Yeci hadn't recovered her usual spirits yet; her mind was still lingering on Moxiangdian.
Unable to withstand her persistent pestering, Lu Chunying simply deflected by saying Li Seven wouldn't let her go: "This is Brother Seven's order. You won't even listen to Brother Seven? Aren't you his sweetheart? Aren't you afraid he'll enforce family discipline?"
"What nonsense! Who's his sweetheart?! I'll go talk to him right now—I *am* going to Moxiangdian!"
Xiao Yeci went to Li Seven, and Li Seven actually agreed.
Xiao Yeci was diligent and had decent talent; perhaps this would be an opportunity for her cultivation to break through.
However, if she went to Moxiangdian, she needed an escort by her side. Li Banfeng had Liang Wucai accompany her.
Liang Wu was willing to go, but Liang Cai had reservations.
"My heart belongs solely to Qiqiu City. But what if I fall in love with Moxiangdian? What should I do then?"
Li Banfeng nodded slightly. "Don't worry, you'll definitely fall in love with it. That place suits you too well."
Having Liang Wucai alone as an escort wasn't enough. Liang Wucai could fight, but having lived in the newland for years, she was somewhat unfamiliar with the ways of the world.
Lu Chunying asked Tan Fucheng to go along as well, but Tan Fucheng made repeated excuses. He truly didn't want to set foot in Moxiangdian again. Remembering how he had nearly chopped off his own hand, Tan Fucheng could barely lift his head in front of his subordinates.
Li Banfeng went to find Tan Fucheng in person. Tan Fucheng was at home losing his temper at his son: "If your dad had conditions as good as yours back then, I'd be counted among Puluo Province's great literary masters!
"Now I've hired a tutor for you, and you still won't study hard? How can you face me?!"
Hearing that the Seventh Master had arrived, Tan Fucheng hurried out to welcome him, unaware that Li Banfeng had heard everything he just said through the Qiansi earring.
"Brother Tan, young people nowadays don't know any better—don't hold it against him. You didn't have the conditions back then, but we have them now. I believe you can still become a great literary master of Puluo Province. Pack your things and get ready to head to Moxiangdian!"
Tan Fucheng shook his head repeatedly. "Seventh Master, have mercy on me! That was just me bluffing the boy. I really can't go to Moxiangdian."
"Is that up to you?" Li Banfeng produced the covenant deed. "Get moving at once, and bring the *Hundred Family Surnames* with you."
After running a few laps around Qiqiu City, Li Banfeng gradually regained his desire to travel.
He wanted to journey—not just within Qiqiu City, but out into the wider world. He could take this opportunity to make a trip to Black Rock Slope.
He had definitely advanced this time; Li Banfeng felt he couldn't stay idle for a single second.
Time to go back and ask Hong Ying what the eighth-tier journey cultivation technique was.
Returning to the companion dwelling, Li Banfeng clasped Hong Ying's hand and said affectionately, "Yingying, I bought you a gold chain."
Hong Ying let out a cold huff. "How tacky!"
Li Banfeng pressed the gold chain into her hand. "Feel the weight."
Hong Ying gripped it in her hand and weighed it a couple of times. It was roughly half a jin.
With utter composure, she tucked the gold chain into her bodice, tidied her hair and makeup, and said in a tender, delicate voice, "Qilang, why go to such great expense? If there is anything you need, just tell your humble concubine."
Sometimes Li Banfeng truly couldn't fathom Hong Ying's temperament. Born of nobility, why did she place such value on wealth?
"Yingying, what is the eighth-tier journey cultivator technique?"
The gramophone sneered from the side, "Well now, my good man, the eighth tier already?"
Li Banfeng chuckled. "I... I just came to borrow a technique from Yingying."
Hong Ying said to the gramophone, "Xiaowan, everyone knows what's going on in their hearts. When there's just a sheet of window paper between us, why not poke through it? Why give Qilang a hard time?"
*Smack!* The gramophone struck Hong Ying with her clapper. "Slut! He gave you a measly chain and you act this shameless? Look how pathetic you are!"
Having grown accustomed to getting beaten by the gramophone, Hong Ying merely rubbed her rear, not angry in the least. Linking her arm through Li Banfeng's, she said, "Qilang, come paint with me first."
"Paint?" Li Banfeng was somewhat flustered. The fourth-tier Dwelling Cultivator technique, Golden House for a Hidden Beauty, required painting. Because Li Banfeng's painting skills were clumsy, that technique had made no progress until he acquired Zhang Wanlong's seeds to bring out its effect.
And now the eighth-tier journey cultivator technique required painting as well?
It seemed this technique was not very friendly to him.
Hong Ying offered no explanation. She spread open a scroll and painted a landscape. "Ink-wash painting values freehand impression. This piece was done rather hurriedly, so make do with it for now, Qilang.
"First, look at these mountains, Qilang. Do you know what stands highest among mountains?"
Li Banfeng answered proudly, "A peak!"
His voice was so ringing and resonant that the glove gave a shudder beside them.
Hong Ying nodded. "Qilang is right. The highest among mountains is indeed a peak. Now look at this mountain path, running straight from the lakeside to the summit. How is the scenery along the way?"
Hong Ying's painting skill was superb. The scenery surrounding this mountain trail was half-hidden amidst dense mist. The rocks, withered trees, and wild grasses took on varied forms. In terms of lines, dimensions, and proportions, none matched reality, possessing the exaggeration and distortion unique to ink-wash paintings. Yet once Li Banfeng gazed upon it, he felt a reality that stirred his soul and senses.
"The scenery is beautiful," Li Banfeng marveled.
Hong Ying asked again, "Qilang, has your cultivation advanced?"
Li Banfeng carefully sensed the condition of his body. The urge to travel had suddenly dropped considerably.
Hong Ying set down her paintbrush and said, "Congratulations, Qilang. The eighth-tier technique, Mind Traversing a Thousand Mountains—you have already mastered it."
Chapter 456