Where Did He Come From?

Li Banfeng was in Xiaoyaowu drawing a map—a map of Jianrengang. Wan Jinxian knew Li Banfeng had used the Parting by Ten Thousand Li technique, which meant he knew Li Banfeng possessed ninth-layer cultivation. This matter weighed heavily on Li Banfeng's mind. He had to find Wan Jinxian and eliminate him. Li Banfeng had kicked Wan Jinxian to Daogui Ridge, which was currently located in Jianrengang. Previously, under the influence of the Sage's Layered Peaks and Ranges technique, the entrances to Jianrengang had been difficult to find, its exits impossible to locate, directions hopelessly scrambled, and terrains folded over one another. There had never been a complete map of Jianrengang in all of Puluo Province. Now that the Sage was gone, the effects of Layered Peaks and Ranges had vanished with him. But Jianrengang had become the territory of Daolao ghosts. Ordinary people dared not take a single step inside, making a map seem all the more out of reach. Fortunately, Li Banfeng had previously visited every single village in Jianrengang. Drawing upon a journey cultivator's natural gift for direction and distance, the framework of the map quickly took shape. He was still mentally reviewing a few finer details when Ma the Fifth suddenly pushed the door open and barged in. "Old Seventh, we've landed a huge piece of business!" "What kind of business?" Managing Qiqiu City and Huangtu Bridge had run Ma the Fifth ragged lately. Li Banfeng had no idea what had happened today to send him rushing back to Xiaoyaowu in such a frantic hurry. Ma the Fifth said, "A merchant surnamed Chen approached me on his own initiative, wanting to do business with us. Old Seventh, our business has reached all the way to the outer states!" Li Banfeng found this puzzling. He had heard before that the major families engaged in trade with the outer states, but what kind of business could there possibly be between the outer states and Puluo Province? Ma the Fifth explained, "The outer states refer to cultivation as 'dark energy,' and they call magical treasures, numinous items, and elixirs 'dark-energy carriers.' All of their dark-energy carriers are bought from our side, and this merchant Chen specializes in that trade." Li Banfeng frowned. "Isn't that just sending weapons to the outer states?" Ma the Fifth raised his eyebrows. "Old Seventh, we're businessmen. That's not our place to manage, and even if we wanted to, we couldn't. If we don't sell to them, other families will." Li Banfeng rolled up the map. "Tomorrow I'll summon all the major families. From this day forward, this business stops. Anyone who keeps doing it is crossing me." Ma the Fifth held him back. "Even if you stop the families, it won't do any good. The Garrison Office is still here. They have their own channels to procure treasures and elixirs, and sometimes they even hire hunters to go on excursions into the newland." Logically, that made sense, yet something felt even more off. "If the Garrison Office has its own channels, why would they go through this merchant Chen to deal with us? Why hire a middleman to skim a profit off both sides? What do the outer states gain from that?" Ma the Fifth explained, "This merchant is rather unusual. He isn't from Huan Country; he comes from Amikan Country. Huan Country opens up Puluo Province's business to him, and in return, Amikan Country opens up business on their end for Huan Country. It's the result of political maneuvering among several factions." Maneuvering? In Huan Country, very few people even knew Puluo Province existed. Before Li Banfeng came here, he had never heard of it. Puluo Province, dark energy, dark-energy users—in Huan Country, these were top-secret matters. For something of this magnitude, they were using a foreign merchant as a pawn in their game? Li Banfeng could not shake the feeling that something was deeply amiss. "Fifth Brother, this merchant Chen might have an angle." Ma the Fifth nodded. "I suspect foul play too. But he's holding an official letter from the Garrison Office, and the letter is genuine. I checked with my inside man at the office, and the deal is real. Old Seventh, a deal this big isn't something we can just let slip through our fingers." As he spoke, Ma the Fifth glanced around, silently checking if there were any hooks in the room. Li Banfeng shook his head. He had cleansed the room several times using Madam's techniques; there were definitely no listening devices here. Ma the Fifth lowered his voice. "You're from the outer states, so you understand their ways better than I do. We need to negotiate this business together." Meeting with him wasn't out of the question. Li Banfeng had no intention of doing business, but he needed to know what this merchant Chen was truly after. *** Two days later, Ma the Fifth hosted a banquet at Xiaoyaowu specifically to receive the merchant Chen. Once the guests were assembled, Ma the Fifth made the introductions. "Old Seventh, this is Mr. Dick Chen, hailing from Amikan Country." Judging by his appearance, the man called Dick Chen was a typical Easterner. He looked young, around twenty-five or twenty-six, with delicate facial features that bore obvious signs of cosmetic surgery. His face carried a persistent, faint smile—one tinged with a slight condescension and mockery. When introducing Li Banfeng, Ma the Fifth placed special emphasis: "This is the President of our Qiqiu Group. When it comes to this deal, our President calls the shots." President? Li Banfeng glanced at Ma the Fifth, having no idea why he had suddenly acquired such a corporate title. Ma the Fifth was the scion of a wealthy family. Though he had never been to the outer states for various reasons, he was not entirely ignorant of their ways. He was deliberately adopting a persona and communication style Dick Chen would feel comfortable with. Dick Chen looked at Li Banfeng and gave a slight nod, making no move to shake hands. That suited Li Banfeng just fine; shaking hands wasn't his habit anyway. Li Banfeng didn't even nod. He simply watched Dick Chen in silence. After a few pleasantries, Ma the Fifth cut straight to the chase. "We have already calculated the list of goods Mr. Chen requested, and we have prepared a proposal regarding our pricing. Naturally, if our cooperation goes smoothly, we are willing to offer certain concessions." Ma the Fifth was a merchant, but this was hardly the style of business he was accustomed to. He had put considerable effort into adapting for Dick Chen's benefit. Dick Chen glanced over Ma the Fifth's proposal and casually tossed it aside onto the edge of the table. The mocking, superior smile never left his lips. "This is my first time visiting... visiting... what was this place called again?" His secretary chimed in from beside him, "It is called Puluo Province." The secretary was quite attractive, with fair, full cheeks, a chin-length bob, and rimless glasses. The plump peach of her backside rested only one-third of the way on the chair, exuding the crisp competence and icy allure unique to a career woman. "Puluo... Province," Dick Chen enunciated with exaggerated difficulty. "The name is rather a mouthful. For our purposes, I'll just shorten it to 'Puzhou.' I assume no one has any objections?" Hearing this, Ma the Fifth's cheek twitched. During their last meeting, Dick Chen had claimed he couldn't remember the name 'Puluo Province.' Now, he claimed the same thing again. Not only had he failed to remember it, he had arbitrarily changed it. The bookkeeper seated off to the side trembled so hard the tip of his brush shook; even he could barely contain his anger. Yet Dick Chen seemed completely oblivious to anything being amiss. He continued, "I know that Puzhou is an extremely isolated place, but I never expected it to be backward to this degree. Mr. Ma, by laying out a price list right away, are you hoping to finalize this entire transaction in a single negotiation?" That was indeed what Ma the Fifth had intended, and there was nothing wrong with that line of thinking. Dick Chen was the one who had sought him out in the first place, and that was how business was done here. Dick Chen, however, saw it differently. "We live in an age of information and data. I need to cross-examine and verify different data points before determining whether you possess any cooperative value in a business context." Ma the Fifth asked, "If you didn't think I had value, why did you come to me in the first place?" Dick Chen spread his hands. "Because Puzhou offers so few options. To put it bluntly, not a single person here possesses modern commercial literacy. I could only pick someone slightly less ignorant out of a crowd of ignorant fools. Mr. Ma, if you truly wish to see a breakthrough in your enterprise, to break out of this closed-off backwater of Puzhou, I suggest you step outside and see the wider world. You should at least understand the basic concepts of data and information." To Ma the Fifth, the concepts of data and information were exceedingly vague—just as they were to every native of Puluo Province. Yet it was precisely those two abstract terms that had been used to belittle him, making the veins on his forehead pulse with suppressed fury, leaving him momentarily speechless. Li Banfeng remained unbothered. He looked at Dick Chen and asked, "How do you usually obtain your data and information?" Dick Chen gave an amused smirk. "Let's start with the basics. You probably don't even know what the internet is. On the internet, I can access most of the information I need." Li Banfeng said, "We have our own channels of information too. We have newspapers." Dick Chen shook his head. "That's entirely too obsolete. It's a media format from the previous century, long overdue for a museum shelf. Besides, I've seen your newspapers. The information in them is bloated with fluff and holds very little credibility." Li Banfeng nodded. "The newspapers in Puluo Province aren't particularly credible, that's true. Out of ten reports, maybe only three are genuine. But on this internet of yours, out of a hundred pieces of information, not even one might be true. If that's what you rely on for your information, what is there to be so proud of?" Dick Chen's brow furrowed slightly. "What is the basis for that claim? Have you ever even accessed the internet?" Li Banfeng chuckled. "In Puluo Province, not just anyone has the standing to speak in the papers. But out in the outer states, any random fool can talk nonsense on the internet. How much credibility do you think that has?" Dick Chen shook his head. "You seem to possess some passing familiarity with the internet, but your way of thinking appalls me. To actually compare newspapers to the internet demonstrates just how antiquated and backward your mindset is. My manner of speaking may be direct, but I mean no offense; I am simply voicing my genuine perspective. Mr. Li, the backwardness and isolation of your Puzhou dictate my attitude toward you. This is an objective reflection of reality, not subjective prejudice. Do you understand what I mean?" Li Banfeng shook his head. "Hey, what's-your-face, I still don't quite get what you're saying." Dick Chen frowned. "I have a proper name. Please do not address me as 'what's-your-face.' That is the bare minimum of courtesy." Li Banfeng asked in all seriousness, "What was your name again?" Dick Chen's cheek twitched, though he forced his faint smile to remain. "My name is Dick Chen. I expect you to remember it." "Your surname is Dick?" Dick Chen's cheek twitched once more. "Mr. Li, perhaps you are unfamiliar with foreign languages. In my language, the surname is customarily placed after the given name." "Oh, so your surname is Chen?" Li Banfeng shook his head. "That's an awful name. Neither traditional nor foreign—completely unseemly. Since you're so desperate to play the foreigner, let me give you a better-sounding foreign name. How about I call you Suck Dick? You don't have any objections, do you?" Dick Chen's smile vanished. 'Suck Dick' was an outright insult. "Mr. Li, I wonder if that remark was intentional or a slip of the tongue?" "Intentional," Li Banfeng answered candidly. "I wasn't trying to offend you; I am actively humiliating you. Can't you tell, Sucker?" Dick Chen clenched his fists, about to slam them onto the table. Li Banfeng warned calmly, "If you break that table, I'll chop your hand off." Dick Chen's fists tightened even harder. Li Banfeng smiled. "Point a fist at me again, and I'll chop your hand off too. Nothing personal—that's just how directly we do things in Puluo Province." Dick Chen unclenched his fists, collected his secretary, and strode out of the room. *** Ma the Fifth took a private room for himself and downed cup after cup of liquor in sullen silence. He wasn't upset about the business deal; he was furious with his own performance earlier. "Old Seventh, I really ought to go see the outer states for myself. I realized today that once I step outside Puluo Province, I know nothing at all. All those terms Dick Chen threw around today—data, information, the internet—I've heard the words, but I've never seen the real things. I originally planned to study in the outer states, but my father wouldn't allow it. Later, when I heard that men out there were only allowed to marry one wife, I lost interest in going. Dick Chen has a venomous tongue, but he wasn't wrong. I have to go out and see it. I need to bring back some real skills." Li Banfeng took a sip of his wine and nodded. "Going to the outer states to learn something useful is a good idea. But that fellow Dick isn't from the outer states. He's a native of Puluo Province." Ma the Fifth blinked in shock. "Where is this coming from?" Li Banfeng said, "It starts with you. You're the Fifth Young Master of the Ma family, hardly an ordinary man. The reason he was able to disgust you so thoroughly is that he knows exactly where a Puluo native's sorest spot lies. And the moment I threatened to chop off his hand, he backed down instantly. All that arrogance and condescension evaporated on the spot. He cowered because he knows full well how things are handled in Puluo Province." Ma the Fifth sat stunned for a long while before asking, "Then what was his purpose in seeking us out? Wasn't it to do business?" "That's what we need to find out," Li Banfeng said, draining his cup. "And we have to get to the bottom of it." *** Inside a secret chamber of the Garrison Office, Dick Chen was flipping through Li Seven's file. "Li Seven's real name is Song Zhuowen. He was educated in the outer states. He does possess some understanding of the outside world, which aligns logically. As for the rest of his background, leave it to Tangyuan to investigate." With that, Dick Chen handed the file to Tangyuan. Tangyuan, like Lightbulb, was a trainee dispatched by the Dark Star Bureau. Her primary assignment was to assist Dick Chen with his work. Earlier at Xiaoyaowu, she had posed as Dick Chen's secretary. Tangyuan was eager to take on the investigation into Li Seven. Unlike Lightbulb, she hadn't come to Puluo Province just to coast by. She genuinely wanted to make an impression and learn real skills. Liao Zihui, however, had no intention of giving Tangyuan that opportunity. He said to Dick Chen, "Little Chen, someone like Li Seven isn't suitable for You Xuehan to investigate alone." Dick Chen chuckled, shaking his head. "In my eyes, Li Seven hardly qualifies as someone of note. He acts without composure, lacking depth and patience. At our very first meeting, over a trivial clash of words, he threatened to sever my hand. A person who wears his temper on his sleeve simply isn't worth my time and energy." Seeing Dick Chen dismiss Li Seven so casually, Liao Zihui looked displeased. "You don't understand him well enough yet. I hope you will invest a little more time—" "My time cannot be wasted on people of that caliber," Dick Chen interrupted curtly. "You have served in Puluo Province for so long; you ought to understand the concept and value of a balancer. As a balancer, my duty is to balance the interests of all factions. The tasks on my plate could easily fill a list meters long, but Li Seven is not on it. He simply isn't worthy." Liao Zihui said no more and left the chamber. Dick Chen glanced at Tangyuan. "Miss You, you won't be required to assist my work going forward either." Tangyuan froze. "This assignment was personally given to me by the Chief Envoy. Until I receive orders from him, I must—" "You will receive the Chief Envoy's orders soon enough. Perhaps today, or by tomorrow morning at the latest. Until then, consider yourself on leave. You may do whatever you like—go shopping, buy clothes, whatever suits you best." Tangyuan frowned. "I don't understand what you mean." "Was I not direct enough? What I mean is that you are unfit for this mission," Dick Chen said. "Your competence is clearly deficient. At the dining table today, you displayed visible nervousness and fear. That could easily put me at a disadvantage. I have no idea why the Dark Star Bureau and the Garrison Office sent you here, but I have no obligation to help you develop your skills, nor do I wish to be dragged down by you in my work. Miss You, stick to what you do best. In the Dark Star Bureau, incompetent people often land better postings. I'm sure you will find a path suited to you." Tangyuan bit her lip and turned to leave. Dick Chen picked up a stack of documents from the desk. "Take Li Seven's materials with you. From now on, that is your job. I don't care to waste a single second on either of you." *** Tangyuan returned to her office fuming with rage. *Wham!* She slammed the file onto her desk. Lightbulb jumped in fright. "What's got into you? Did you swallow gunpowder?" Tangyuan shared an office with Big Head and Lightbulb. Big Head was out on fieldwork, while Lightbulb spent his days whiling away the hours at his desk. Sitting before her desk, Tangyuan pressed a hand to her forehead, remaining silent for a long time. She couldn't fathom what purpose her coming to Puluo Province served. She felt as though she tried her hardest every single day, yet the outcome was no different from Lightbulb's—amounting to nothing more than idling her days away. "What happened, really?" Lightbulb stepped forward to offer some comfort. "Nothing." Tangyuan sighed and began sorting through the documents. *Handing Li Seven over to me is a good thing.* *I'll show them what I'm capable of.* Standing beside her, Lightbulb looked over the materials, observing them with great care. He spotted Li Seven's dossier, as well as a business proposal—the very quotation proposal drafted by Ma the Fifth. *** "How did that price proposal end up in her hands?" Li Banfeng pondered for a moment. "Describe what Tangyuan looks like." "No need to describe her; I've got her picture." Lightbulb pulled a group photo of their team from his wallet. "The one with the round face and glasses—that's Tangyuan." Even though her styling had changed, Li Banfeng recognized her at a glance. She was Dick Chen's female secretary. Why would a senior agent from the Dark Star Bureau, sent to the Garrison Office for field training, disguise herself as a merchant's secretary? What was Dick Chen's true identity? *** Night fell, and Dick Chen arrived at Fuwang Restaurant, stepping into a private dining room. Chu Shaoqiang was drinking alone in the room, brooding in silence. Upon seeing Dick Chen, Chu Shaoqiang set down his cup and gently tapped its rim. It was a warning. Dick Chen remained standing by the doorway, making no move to approach Chu Shaoqiang. He knew that numerous magical treasures and numinous items in the room were already trained on him. Chu Shaoqiang asked, "Did the Inner States send you to find me?" Dick Chen shook his head. "If the Inner States had sent me for you, I wouldn't be walking through that door. I would have set an ambush for you somewhere. Brother Chu, you've become a criminal in the eyes of the Inner States. I am here to help you." Chu Shaoqiang smirked. "Help me? How?" "The matter of Ge Junma should not be yours to shoulder alone, nor was the fall of Sage Peak your fault. You have endured far too many baseless accusations. Someone needs to see justice done for you." Chu Shaoqiang chuckled. "That fake-foreign-devil accent of yours actually sounds rather pleasant to the ear. You claim you want to give me justice? What do you have to offer?" "An important item—one that can help you secure a far higher standing." "What important item?" Dick Chen said, "Once you agree to cooperate with me, I will give you your answer." *** Three days later, Dick Chen arrived at Qishuiyao. He bought a bottle of orange-flavored soda from a street stall, didn't drink any, popped the cap, and carried the bottle into an alley. He knocked on the door of a residence. The artificial orange scent drifted through the gap in the door and wafted into the courtyard. The door swung open, and strands of spider silk lining the ground retracted back into the house one by one. Dick Chen crossed the courtyard and entered the house, smiling. "Daboynes, my good friend, I've come to pay you a visit." The Great Detective Daboynes removed his hat and bowed deeply. "My mentor, my guide, I have been awaiting your arrival here." Dick Chen clapped Daboynes on the shoulder. "We are like-minded comrades now. There is no need for such formality with me. How is the former balancer doing?" Daboynes glanced toward the inner chamber and lowered his voice. "His mental state has largely recovered, but certain memories appear to be completely lost." Dick Chen entered the room and saw Xiao Zhenggong chained to the railing. A cold glint flickered in Xiao Zhenggong's eyes. He sneered, "Another fake foreign devil. Do you fake foreign devils form your own gang now? What exactly are you after?" Dick Chen squatted down. "We are going to help you finish something—something you failed to complete while you were alive." Xiao Zhenggong frowned. "You think I'm dead?" Dick Chen smiled. "You may consider yourself alive, and you may continue living—on the condition that you share some vital secrets with me. Secrets regarding the Boundary." Xiao Zhenggong shook his head. "When I was with the Dark Star Bureau, I did indeed conduct some research into the Boundary. But the outer states kept things hidden too deeply, and the files were nearly impossible to find. In the end, I never achieved any results." Dick Chen explained earnestly, "You did achieve results; you simply aren't aware of it yourself. You hid away some vital materials. You don't need to name the exact location. You only need to provide a few clues."