Staying together forever above the clouds...
"Have I become 'above the clouds' now?"
Li Banfeng flapped his arms, adjusting his flying posture in the biting wind.
Where was this?
Was he up among the clouds?
Why was everything pitch black?
The judge's brush said, "Quit thrashing around. Open your eyes, and it won't be dark."
Li Banfeng opened his eyes and realized he had already flown out of the companion dwelling and was hovering directly above the courtyard.
Xiao Yeci was hanging laundry in the yard. Although she had plenty of servants at her side, she was still accustomed to doing some chores herself.
*Miss Xiao, whatever you do, don't look up.*
If she looked up and spotted Li the Seventh soaring through the sky, there was no telling how she would react.
Li Banfeng flapped his arms with all his might, trying to climb higher.
The judge's brush snapped furiously, "Stop flailing! Thrash again and you can pay me back what you owe!"
Only then did Li Banfeng realize he was still dangling from the brush.
"I'm above the clouds now, shouldn't I know how to fly?"
"You have to learn that." The judge's brush gained a bit more altitude, carrying Li Banfeng in continuous circles over Yesong Bridge.
The advancement had succeeded.
Having undergone a tier-skipping breakthrough, Li Banfeng's physical body was severely overdrawn, pushed to the brink of life and death.
Yet he could not even recuperate inside the dwelling.
This was the price of forcing an ascension above the clouds. For now, he had to remain active within his own territory, relying on the land and his status to stabilize his soul.
To tell the truth, Li Banfeng found it difficult just to keep his eyes open.
The Qiansi earring murmured an urgent reminder. "Master, the mistress said just a moment ago that our wretched brush can only carry you for a brief spell. Most of the road, you must walk on your own feet."
He still had to walk...
An hour later, the judge's brush set Li Banfeng down.
Li Banfeng could hardly keep his balance. Two steps forward, his legs gave out, and he nearly tumbled into Misty Cloud Lake.
Never mind that he was now an above-the-clouds cultivator; in his present physical state, falling in would have certainly drowned him.
The liquor gourd prepared some warm wine. "Little brother, take a sip to steady your nerves."
The teapot hurriedly intervened. "Nonsense! Look what state he's in! How could he drink alcohol now? He should have some clear tea!"
"Don't drink anything," the Tang dao said, leaping from his waist. "My lord, hold on to me. Let us press forward."
Serving as Li Banfeng's walking stick, the Tang dao guided him ahead, inch by slow inch.
Fortunately, the innate presence-masking talent of a Homestead Cultivator remained active, making it easy for people to overlook him. Otherwise, shuffling along like a dying man would have frightened every passerby on the street.
After walking for an entire day, Li Banfeng's soul finally stabilized, but he still could not pick up any speed. His foundational Traveler Cultivator technique, Wind Rising from Still Earth, had yet to recover.
When he reached the Lu Family Bookstore, Sun Tiecheng stepped outside, supported Li Banfeng by the arm, and sat him down beside the tea table.
"You reached above the clouds already, kid?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "Didn't you say the sooner the better? Naturally, I listened to you."
Sun Tiecheng sighed. "Still a bit rushed. Looks like it'll take you quite a few extra days to recover."
As they spoke, Gui Jianchou, the Smiling Ghost King, brewed a pot of tea, poured a cup for each of them, and then picked up a hemp cloth to wipe down the bookshelves.
Li Banfeng asked, "And this is?"
Sun Tiecheng replied, "He's called Ah Gui. I hired him to help out. Ah Gui is hardworking and a man of few words. If I don't give him leave to speak, he won't utter a single syllable."
Li Banfeng smiled faintly. "Do you really plan to run a business here?"
Sun Tiecheng sighed. "If only that were possible. There's a whole heap of business waiting for me back in the city."
Li Banfeng suggested, "How about I come along with you to the City of Fools to recuperate? It's safe there."
Sun Tiecheng shook his head. "Not the right time. Your soul is still drifting loose. You must stay in your own territory until your soul has thoroughly settled. Besides, this bookstore has to stay open. So long as it stands, those old acquaintances of mine won't dare come knocking on a whim. Your body is weak right now, so you must be extra careful. We've weathered violent storms and high seas; don't go capsizing in a roadside ditch."
Sun Tiecheng departed. Leaning heavily on the Tang dao, Li Banfeng took quite an effort just to get to his feet, shuffling step by agonizing step back to the mansion.
When Xiao Yeci saw Li the Seventh return, she was overjoyed, but she had never expected him to be so weak he could barely stand.
"Benefactor, what happened to you?"
"Caught a chill in the newland..." Li Banfeng muttered, drenched in cold sweat. After resting a brief moment in the courtyard, he seized an opportunity to slip back into the companion dwelling.
"My husband has labored hard. Rest for a while, but in two hours, you must return to your territory."
Li Banfeng looked helpless. "I still have to keep walking on the land?"
The gramophone sang softly, "Your soul is reasonably steady now, Husband, so you don't necessarily have to walk, but you must remain on your territory. When a ground cultivator forces an ascension above the clouds, both flesh and soul undergo drastic transformations. It all relies on your territory and status to keep you anchored."
Cocooned in warm steam, Li Banfeng caught his breath. Lying flat on the bed for a moment, he asked, "Wife, do I count as first tier above the clouds now?"
"Husband, you count as being above the clouds, but you have not reached the first tier yet. It is just like when you first stepped onto a pathway in those days—you had entered, but had not yet attained a tier."
"Then what about my lifespan?"
"Your lifespan... remains the same as before..." The gramophone lowered her voice, not daring to speak too loudly. After all, her husband had suffered so much, yet had not even secured the threefold lifespan.
Li Banfeng, however, took it calmly. "How long until I reach the first tier above the clouds?"
"First, it depends on when your physical body recovers. Second, it depends on when your soul solidifies. Cultivators who ascend above the clouds in the Inner States graft a new physique directly onto their soul, so naturally they have no need to worry about recovery and stabilization. But since you chose to keep your original body, Husband, you must endure and cross this hurdle on your own. Some spend eight or ten years without crossing it, and some never cross it in their entire lives."
"A lifetime?" Li Banfeng started, struggling to sit up.
The gramophone enveloped him in a plume of steam, whispering tenderly, "Husband, do not be vexed. Rest well first. This hurdle is indeed hard to clear, but we prepared beforehand. Take half a pill first to nourish your constitution."
"Why only half? We have plenty of pills. Do we really need to be this stingy? Can't I just take a whole one?"
"You must not! Never mind a whole one—even half is too much." The gramophone fetched a Profound Accumulation Pill, intending to cut off a third, but after a moment's hesitation, used her stylus to slice off a fifth, delivering it into Li Banfeng's mouth.
Swallowing the fragment of the pill, Li Banfeng broke out in an even heavier cold sweat. The gramophone continuously nourished him with steam, helping him withstand the medicine's potency.
That potency was no easy thing to bear. Back then, when his wife took a Profound Accumulation Pill all at once, her frail body could not handle the supplement, nearly costing her her life.
Now Li Banfeng's constitution was equally frail; after taking the pill, he went so limp he could scarcely move.
Inside the companion dwelling, physical recovery was fastest. But after two hours, Li Banfeng's soul began to drift again.
The Tang dao supported him back to Xiao Yeci's mansion. Entering the bedroom, Li Banfeng collapsed onto the bed and fell sound asleep.
The glove voiced its worry. "If a formidable enemy shows up right now, how is our master supposed to fend them off?"
The liquor gourd said, "Let's stand guard. We'll watch by his side. If anyone comes, we'll hold them off first—at least give our little brother a chance to flee back into the house."
The treasures took their positions, and sure enough, someone came.
Just as the Tang dao was about to strike, it saw that the newcomer was Xiao Yeci.
"Benefactor, where did you go just now..." Xiao Yeci had been unable to put her mind at ease, having checked the bedroom several times earlier only to find it empty.
Seeing him fast asleep now, Xiao Yeci dared not speak aloud, staying quietly by the bedside to watch over him.
She wanted to feel whether Li the Seventh had a fever, but as she reached out her hand, she hesitated.
*One can't simply go touching him!*
*Yet without touching, how could I know if he's burning up?*
Xiao Yeci bit her lip. No one was watching anyway; what harm could there be in a single touch?
The moment the thought surfaced, she immediately quashed it.
*What an improper thought!*
*Does it matter whether anyone is watching?*
*Men and women must maintain propriety!*
While she wrestled with herself, Lu Chunying walked in and said to Xiao Yeci, "Sister Xiu is heading back to Greenwater City. Let's go see her off at the station."
"Nannan, you go ahead. Benefactor is ill, so I must stay and look after him."
Lu Chunying stepped forward and pressed a hand to Li Banfeng's forehead. "Not that hot, but he's sweating an awful lot."
Xiao Yeci glared at her. "How can you just touch him like that? A young maiden like you—don't you know any propriety?"
Lu Chunying scoffed. "And you're not a maiden? A man and an unmarried woman alone in the same room—is that proper?"
"I... I am attending to proper duties! I am caring for our benefactor! I am..."
Lu Chunying turned and walked away.
Flushing red, Xiao Yeci muttered to herself, "My conscience is entirely clear."
Li Banfeng drifted between sleep and wakefulness, with Xiao Yeci serving tea and fetching water by his side. "Benefactor, should we summon a physician to examine you?"
"No need for a physician. Just fetch me more water to drink, and tell me more about the customs of Yesong Bridge."
Xiao Yeci whispered into Li Banfeng's ear, stopping promptly whenever she saw him doze off, and resuming as soon as he woke.
After recounting tales for over two hours, Lu Chunying returned. "Mother, Sister Xiu couldn't leave."
"Why not?"
"The train station received orders. Starting today, all transit in and out of Yesong Bridge is strictly forbidden."
Xiao Yeci grew anxious. "What happened?"
Lu Chunying replied, "It seems something happened over at the General Garrison Office. Fifth Brother has already gone to dig up information."
By evening, Ma the Fifth returned to the residence. Catching Li Banfeng during a lucid spell, he explained the situation. "Xia Shumin is here. He came for the red lotus."
*The red lotus?*
*The one in my possession?*
Li Banfeng's mind was not entirely sharp. After a moment of tension, he realized Ma the Fifth was referring to the red lotus found in Yesong Bridge. "I heard Zheng Siyi say that the red lotus was already taken by Xia Shumin. What is he doing back here?"
Ma the Fifth said, "The red lotus went missing. Xia Shumin insists it was lost in Yesong Bridge. Zheng Siyi refused to accept the blame and produced video footage to confront him. Xia Shumin flew into a rage, declared that the matter must be thoroughly investigated, and put Yesong Bridge under full lockdown."
Li Banfeng frowned. "That trick again?"
In the past, Cheng Mingke had also severed transport to Black Rock Slope, only to end up cutting off his own supply lines.
Ma the Fifth shook his head. "His approach this time is different. Xia Shumin blocked all the newland entrances around Yesong Bridge as well."
"Blocked how? If I want to enter the newland, can he really stop me?" Li Banfeng tried to stand, only for a wave of dizziness to wash over him.
Ma the Fifth supported him. "Word is that Xia Shumin brought a great many experts with him. Let's wait for more news first. Now is not the time to clash with them head-on, or we'd essentially be admitting the red lotus affair has something to do with us."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "Even if we don't admit it, that bastard will pin it on me eventually."
Ma the Fifth suggested, "How about we find a way to lie low for now? If worst comes to worst, we can force our way into the newland."
Li Banfeng had no way to hide.
What he had just said was merely spoken in frustration. Until his soul was completely stabilized, he could not easily leave Yesong Bridge.
***
Greenwater City, the Chu Family Estate.
Chu the Second had been busy organizing ledgers deep into the night. Her steward, Yang Yanzheng, prepared a late-night snack. Chu the Second swallowed hard, then shook her head. "I won't eat. You all go ahead."
Granny Bitter had instructed her that even after leaving Kucaizhuang, she must not indulge herself, and that cultivation must never be neglected for even a single moment.
Chu the Second took a sip of cold water and noticed an unsettled account from her dealings with Li the Seventh.
"When will this debt be collected? Are you waiting for me to go fetch it in person?"
Yang Yanzheng nodded. "Yes, Young Miss. You gave instructions earlier saying this account wasn't to be collected—that you had to go settle it in person."
Chu the Second blinked. "Did I ever say such a thing?"
Wen Hongyan, the guard standing nearby, nodded. "You did. When Li the Seventh sent people with the money back then, you refused to accept it. You said the ledger wasn't clear, and that you insisted on settling it with Li the Seventh face to face."
Chu the Second looked at the ledger, nodding calmly. "It indeed needs to be settled face to face. Is Li the Seventh still in Yesong Bridge?"
Wen Hongyan did not answer, turning instead to Yang Yanzheng.
Yang Yanzheng nodded. "Still in Yesong Bridge. I imagine he'll be returning soon."
Chu the Second pondered for a moment. "This account can't wait any longer. I'll go to Yesong Bridge to find him."
Yang Yanzheng hurriedly dissuaded her. "Young Miss, there's no rush. Paramount brought in quite a profit this month; let me go over the numbers with you."
Chu the Second waved her hand. "I've already reviewed Paramount's books. Go buy me a train ticket. I'll head to Yesong Bridge tomorrow."
Yang Yanzheng picked up another ledger. "Qiqiu City is finally seeing returns as well. Let's tally them together."
"That little bit of money isn't urgent. Go take care of the ticket right away."
"Young Miss, about the business over at Huangtu Bridge, let's discuss it further..."
"What is going on?" Chu the Second's brow furrowed. "Why do you keep changing the subject? Are you hiding something from me?"
Yang Yanzheng hesitated for a moment before telling the truth. "Young Miss, Yesong Bridge has been sealed off by the Garrison Office. Trains are halted, and no one is allowed in or out."
Chu the Second was startled. "When did this happen?"
"Just the past couple of days. Word is it's over that red lotus matter."
Chu the Second had also heard about the red lotus, mainly because Xia Shumin had caused such a massive uproar.
"Wasn't the red lotus taken to the Outer States by that Xia fellow?"
Yang Yanzheng replied, "Word leaked from the Garrison Office that when they inspected the goods upon arriving in the Outer States, the item was missing. Having lost face, Xia Shumin led his men back to retrace his steps, starting from Yesong Bridge. Now he has put Yesong Bridge under lockdown."
"Liao Zihui just lets Xia Shumin run wild like this?"
"Liao Zihui is still in the Outer States seeking treatment, supposedly injured by the red lotus. Right now, the entire Garrison Office answers to Xia Shumin."
Chu the Second found it hard to comprehend. "Xia Shumin lost the red lotus, and he still gets to call the shots at the Garrison Office?"
Yang Yanzheng sighed. "This Xia Shumin has quite a background. This matter isn't going to end quietly."
Chu the Second fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Will this implicate Li the Seventh?"
Wen Hongyan remarked, "Li the Seventh went to Yesong Bridge for business, and right then all these incidents broke out in Yesong Bridge. If someone claimed he had nothing to do with it, I doubt anyone would believe them."
Yang Yanzheng hastily added, "Seventh Master is a clever man. If it has nothing to do with him, he'll surely be able to clear his name."
Chu the Second shook her head. "If Xia Shumin sinks his teeth into Li the Seventh, talking won't do any good. Besides, Li the Seventh certainly wouldn't bother explaining himself to them. When he went to Yesong Bridge, how many people did he bring?"
Yang Yanzheng said, "From what I know, practically no one. You know Li the Seventh's temperament—he's used to coming and going alone."
"What about Lu Chunying?"
"Lu Chunying was just accompanying Xiao Yeci to visit family, bringing only a few guards."
"I heard He Yuxiu went too."
"He Yuxiu went to discuss business. None of them went with the intention to fight, so none of them brought much muscle."
Chu the Second rubbed her temples. "I have a feeling something terrible is about to happen. I need to go to Yesong Bridge to take a look."
Wen Hongyan asked, "How are you going to get there? Yesong Bridge is sealed tight."
"I have my ways," Chu the Second said, rising to her feet. "Go gather our people."
***
Inside the Garrison Office, Xia Shumin was questioning Zheng Siyi.
In the days since Xia Shumin's arrival, he had summoned Zheng Siyi for questioning every single day; Zheng Siyi had grown accustomed to it.
"Director-General Xia, you've seen all the handover documents. The theft of the red lotus truly had nothing to do with our office."
Xia Shumin said, "Old Zheng, now is not the time to assign blame. I brought you here today to confirm three things. First, what was Director-General Liao's purpose in coming to Yesong Bridge?"
"Director-General Liao came to inspect our work. I wrote that in my report."
"If it was merely a routine inspection, why bring combat personnel?"
"That was the Director-General's arrangement. I don't know the exact reasons."
Xia Shumin continued, "Second, Director-General Liao previously clashed with the Boundless Battalion of the Light Chasing Society. What was the cause?"
"That was not a clash, but mediation." Liao Zihui had briefed him beforehand on this matter, and Zheng Siyi was well prepared. "Members of the Light Chasing Society had a conflict with two prominent local powers in Puluo Province. Director-General Liao stepped in to mediate and brought the situation under control."
"Which two prominent powers?"
"He Yuxiu and Li the Seventh. I trust I don't need to introduce them to you; you should know them very well."
Xia Shumin nodded. "In other words, this matter involved Li the Seventh."
Zheng Siyi could not say it had nothing to do with him, or he would walk right into a trap. His answer was: "What grudges Li the Seventh has with the Light Chasing Society, I do not know. We merely fulfilled our duty and prevented the situation from escalating further."
Xia Shumin frowned. "The Boundless Battalion was virtually wiped out. That wasn't an escalation?"
Zheng Siyi remained unruffled. "That was an unavoidable outcome. In that clash, not a single civilian was killed or injured. Our mediation efforts achieved excellent results."
Xia Shumin held a fountain pen imbued with spiritual sentience, which recorded Zheng Siyi's words verbatim onto paper.
"Third, after I left, you stationed men to guard the site where the red lotus was retrieved. As far as I know, one night, the guards on duty failed to report to the scene."
Zheng Siyi feigned surprise. "There was such a thing? I must verify this thoroughly. If true, the personnel on duty must be severely punished, and I bear a degree of responsibility as well."
No verification was needed; Zheng Siyi knew all about it. That night, Li the Seventh had wanted to inspect the local spirit's former residence, and Zheng Siyi had smoothed the way.
Evidently, Xia Shumin had seized upon this handle. "How is it that I heard this was also related to Li the Seventh?"
Zheng Siyi replied, "Director-General Xia, why have you been asking about Li the Seventh all day today? As for the guards abandoning their posts, that is my responsibility, and I will investigate it thoroughly. If you want to know about Li the Seventh, go ask him yourself. I know nothing at all."
Xia Shumin nodded. "You're right. I should ask him. Old Zheng, for the time being, I'd like you and your subordinates to remain here at the Garrison Office. I wouldn't want word leaking out prematurely."
Returning to his office, Zheng Siyi sat in his chair and stared blankly for a long while.
He dearly wanted to send word to Li the Seventh, but given the current state of affairs in the Garrison Office, it was difficult for him even to step out the front door.
Li the Seventh was a smart man; he ought to know that under these circumstances, he absolutely could not come to the Garrison Office. Once he fell into Xia Shumin's hands, any crime could be pinned on him.
Yet avoiding it would be just as difficult. Xia Shumin was playing for keeps this time.
***
Having recuperated for several days, Li Banfeng gradually regained his mobility, but his combat strength was far from restored. If he had to fight, he could manage a minor skirmish; techniques like Viewing Flowers from Horseback and Treading Ten Thousand Rivers could be strained into use, but his stamina would run out in under twenty seconds.
Ma the Fifth went to the Garrison Office every day to negotiate, hoping they would allow them to return to Greenwater City first.
The Garrison Office did not refuse outright, only saying that procedures were still underway and telling Ma the Fifth to go home and await word.
At dusk, Ma the Fifth emerged from the Garrison Office and chartered a ferry to return to the mansion. After traveling for ten-odd minutes, the boat reached the area but did not pull ashore. Instead, it continued downstream along the Qingtian River.
Ma the Fifth frowned. "Where are you taking us?"
The boatmaster replied, "Sending our honored guests on their final journey."
Zuo Wugang stepped forward and pinned the boatmaster down. Zhen Jincheng kept watch over the second boatman and two hands, while Cao Zhida grabbed the oars, rowing the small boat directly toward the riverbank.
The boatmaster did not panic in the slightest. Just as the boat reached the bank, it suddenly dissolved into nothingness, plunging everyone into the river.
The boatmaster and his crew dived into the water. Relying on their superior swimming skills, they quickly entangled Cao Zhida, Zhen Jincheng, and the others.
Zuo Wugang reacted swiftly. Grabbing Ma the Fifth, he pushed off the riverbed rocks and leaped onto the bank.
The moment their feet hit the ground, dozens of men charged out from the shoreline, surrounding Ma the Fifth and Zuo Wugang.
The leader wore a vest and a felt hat, dressed like a laborer. He smiled at Ma the Fifth. "Fifth Young Master, we haven't mistaken our man, have we?"
Ma the Fifth asked, "What guidance do you gentlemen have for me?"
The man replied, "Hardly guidance. We merely wish to climb the social ladder and make friends with Fifth Master. Up ahead is the Baixian Restaurant. We've set a table of wine and would like to invite Fifth Young Master for a drink, if you would do us the honor."
Ma the Fifth cupped his fists. "I thank you all for the kind regard, but I have pressing business today. Allow me to pay my respects another day."
The man sneered. "Fifth Young Master, since you won't do us the honor, don't blame us for getting rough!"
Zuo Wugang wasted no words. Grabbing a bamboo pole from the ground, he struck immediately.
Ma the Fifth unleashed his techniques, disrupting the enemy's formation while aiding Zuo Wugang in battle.
Back in the water, Zhen Jincheng exerted every ounce of strength to flip the boatmaster. Seeing this, Cao Zhida shouted, "Get out of here, fast!"
Zhen Jincheng shouted back, "We leave together!"
Cao Zhida held off the second boatman and yelled, "Go, quickly! Go back and deliver word!"
Zhen Jincheng scrambled up the bank. Bypassing the battle on the shore, he sprinted straight for Xiao Yeci's mansion.
Reaching the residence, Zhen Jincheng explained what had happened. Just as Li Banfeng was about to go see for himself, He Yuxiu spoke up. "Old Seventh, you haven't fully recovered from your illness. Stay home. I'll go take a look first and see who dares cause trouble for Old Fifth."
Who could the other side be?
Certainly not river bandits, nor could they be local gangs. Given Ma the Fifth's stature, who among ordinary figures would dare cross him?
Could it be people from the Garrison Office?
Were they using Ma the Fifth as bait to lure Li the Seventh out?
Li Banfeng urged He Yuxiu, "Just rescue Ma the Fifth. Don't get bogged down fighting them."
He Yuxiu nodded. "Don't worry, I know what to do."
Barely ten minutes after He Yuxiu left, the Qiansi earring suddenly alerted him. "Master, there's movement!"
Li Banfeng followed the sound toward the front gate, running straight into the guard at the entrance, who was rushing inside in panic. "Disaster! The Garrison Office has sent men to surround our mansion!"
Hearing this, Lu Yuanxin scattered a handful of bait into the courtyard, and swarms of insects converged around his feet.
Li Banfeng listened closely to the commotion outside; roughly five hundred men had gathered.
Xiao Yeci remained relatively calm, asking in a low voice, "What are they trying to do?"
Li Banfeng turned to Lu Yuanxin. "Yuanxin, take mother and daughter back to their room. Whatever happens, don't come out until you hear from me."
Lu Yuanxin nodded and escorted Xiao Yeci and Lu Chunying back to their room.
Moments later, flanked by dozens of guards, Xia Shumin strode into the courtyard.
"Li the Seventh, we meet again." Xia Shumin looked at Li Banfeng with a grim expression.
Li Banfeng tipped up the brim of his hat, glanced at Xia Shumin, and asked with utmost politeness, "What was your name again?"
Xia Shumin sneered. "Such arrogance. You actually dare provoke me even now. I suspect you are involved in the theft of the red lotus. Please accompany us back to the Garrison Office for an investigation."
Li Banfeng asked very calmly in return, "And what if I refuse to go?"
Xia Shumin ordered his men to set up steam machine guns. "If you resist arrest, I will shoot you dead on the spot."
"You want to shoot me dead too? Are you serious?" Li Banfeng pulled down the brim of his hat.
Chapter 497