The Ferry Gang

Rustle, rustle... A legless "horse" wriggled out of the undergrowth and slithered to a halt before Li Banfeng and Luo Zhengnan. This anomaly had the head of a horse and was covered in long horsehair. Once tamed, it could even serve as a mount, but it was not truly a horse. It was an anomalous creature of the newland known as a horse-head butterfly. Normal butterflies developed from caterpillars that formed chrysalises, but the horse-head butterfly was an exception. When it hatched from its egg, it was already a butterfly—a gigantic butterfly bearing a horse's head. After cultivating for a period, typically around a decade, the horse-head butterfly would spin a cocoon, pupate, and emerge as a caterpillar: the very horse-head caterpillar standing before them now. Horse-head caterpillars ate both meat and vegetation. Seeing two people by the lakeside, it decided to improve its diet. With a sudden flex of its torso, it closed the distance in the blink of an eye. Li Banfeng signaled Luo Zhengnan to stay put. Activating his Traceless Step, he circled behind the horse-head caterpillar in an instant, threw the steel wire rope Ling Miaoying had given him around its neck, and gave it a sharp pull. Under normal circumstances, this would have subdued it on the spot. In the newland, horse-head caterpillars were far more precious than donkey-head maggots. Though fiercer by nature, they possessed tremendous strength and ran fast. A fine specimen could fetch up to five hundred silver dollars. Li Banfeng intended to have a chat with this creature, focusing on where this newland had come from. Before he could speak, the caterpillar jerked its head. With a crisp snap, the steel wire rope around its neck snapped clean in two. Ling Miaoying's wire rope was capable of severely maiming an eighth-tier cultivator. Yet this caterpillar had broken it with a mere whip of its head? Enraged, the creature charged straight at Luo Zhengnan. Luo Zhengnan did not try to dodge; having encountered horse-head caterpillars in this newland before, he knew his speed could never match it. Just as he prepared to counter with a technique, a muffled explosion rang out. The caterpillar's body blew apart, leaving behind only the horse head, which went flying into the distance and splashed into the lake. Li Banfeng had struck the creature directly with Treading Ten Thousand Rivers, putting considerable force into the stomp. Whether his opponent was human or a worm, if it could snap Ling Miaoying's wire rope, it deserved his full effort. Li Banfeng fished the horse head out of the lake, slit its hide with his sickle, and tested its toughness. "This hide is much harder than armor. I've never seen a horse-head caterpillar like this in the newland." Luo Zhengnan said, "The anomalies in this territory are indeed far tougher than elsewhere. Seventh Master, do you still wish to head to Iron Gate Fort? I brought dry clothes. We can change and keep moving." Li Banfeng shook his head. "No rush on Iron Gate Fort. It's a good route, but when you're not around, I can't open the gate either." "Seventh Master, this trip to the Outer States gives me a chance to buy some equipment. I'll do my best to make you a key. I know this region well, so any key I craft will guarantee entry and exit." For a subordinate like Luo Zhengnan, Li Banfeng felt no reward could ever be too generous. The two slipped back into the lake and swam toward Flower Lake Park. Just moments before stepping ashore, Li Banfeng heard the crying once more. "Old Luo, whenever you pass through here, have you ever heard a woman weeping?" Luo Zhengnan replied, "I haven't heard any crying, but I've sensed shifts in the surroundings. It's not a departed soul, nor a living person. It feels more like some sort of mechanism meant to guard the entrance." "Who set it up?" Li Banfeng scanned the Western-style villas along the lake; the weeping had come from their vicinity. Luo Zhengnan said, "I haven't figured that out yet. Aside from us, someone else definitely knows about this newland." Back at their quarters, the two changed into dry clothes. Li Banfeng wrote a check and handed ten thousand silver dollars to Luo Zhengnan. Luo Zhengnan felt embarrassed to take it. "Seventh Master, you've handed me so many businesses, all of them lucrative. There's really no need to reward me with more cash." Li Banfeng smiled. "Take it. It isn't often you visit the Outer States. Enjoy yourself for a few days." Luo Zhengnan truly could not sit still. He decided to go shopping for equipment that very night. Li Banfeng checked his watch: four-thirty in the morning. "Where are you going to buy equipment at this hour?" "The ghost market at Dongxian Bridge is lively right now. Arrive too early and it's useless; arrive too late and the stalls pack up. Going now is just right. Seventh Master, I'll pass word about Qin Tianjiu to Fifth Master shortly. As for the key, expect news from me in a couple of days." Luo Zhengnan departed. Li Banfeng returned to his companion dwelling and slept through the entire day, skipping his duties at the Dark Star Bureau. When evening fell, Li Banfeng stepped out of the dwelling and walked over to the projector. The projector immediately produced his mobile phone and satellite phone. "Director Seven, you received two calls, both answered in accordance with your instructions. You also received a message, which was replied to per your instructions as well." The calls were from Tangyuan and Lightbulb; Li Banfeng's absence from work had left them worried. The message was from Zhong'er. He was also concerned about the newly appointed Director Li, but had felt too shy to call. Shen Jingye had neither called nor messaged. *His work attitude really has issues. I didn't show up for work, and he didn't even bother to ask?* Leaving the phone and satellite phone with the projector, Li Banfeng ate a bite, tidied himself up, and, seeing that the hour was right, headed to the Cultural Palace. A shoot-'em-up movie was screening inside. Tonight, the black market seemed largely populated by "silver tongues"—the brokers. When the snack vendor came by, Li Banfeng bought tissues as usual. The private room had changed this time to Box 202. Li Banfeng entered the box with his pack of tissues, and Fourth Mother Yin greeted him warmly. "Big Spender, back to patronize my business again?" Li Banfeng smiled and nodded. "You certainly know how to run a business." "How was that girl?" "Not bad at all." "What are you looking for this time? Someone for the bed, or someone for a fight?" "Can't I have both?" "My, Big Spender, you really like to live it up!" Fourth Mother Yin pulled back a curtain. Behind it stood a young woman wearing a dark blue qipao embroidered with mandarin ducks in a lotus pond. Her hair was styled in finger waves, and she had an intensely charming appearance. Fourth Mother Yin said, "This is a second-tier Sound Cultivator. Her looks are beyond reproach, but more importantly, she sings like an angel. Back in Puluo Province, she was a reigning singing diva." Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly. Fourth Mother Yin was not lying; this woman really had been a diva. She was Xu Qiulan. Her name had frequently graced the newspapers, alongside Jiang Mengting and Xiao Xiufei as the Three Great Divas. After rising to fame, Jiang Mengting had kept singing, Xiao Xiufei had transitioned into cinema, and Xu Qiulan had married the wealthy tycoon Rao Qijun—thirty-three years her senior—to become a pampered lady of leisure. How had she ended up as a ghost servant? Li Banfeng gave a slight shake of his head. "I'll pass on a diva. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to handle her." Fourth Mother Yin gave a playful grin. "It's not like you're taking a wife. What's there to handle? Buy her, and I'll throw in a bundle of rattan canes. Give her a daily lashing, and she's guaranteed to be as obedient as a lamb." Li Banfeng still shook his head. Fourth Mother Yin did not push. She pulled open another curtain. Behind it was another woman, dressed in a light blue long gown with a neat bob haircut. She had the unmistakable air of an educated intellectual, and was quite pretty. Fourth Mother Yin said, "This is a first-tier Literary Cultivator. Her looks can't match the last one, but she has genuine talent. She can compose verses and match couplets—a true soulmate for the refined gentleman." While Fourth Mother Yin spoke, the woman behind the curtain stared intently at Li Banfeng, as though desperate to say something. Fourth Mother Yin scowled, glaring at her. "Itching for a beating, are you? Looking for trouble?" The woman hastily dropped her head. She had wanted to speak because Li Banfeng looked familiar to her. Li Banfeng recognized her as well. Her name was Shan Zhumei, pen name Three Plum Branches. She had been a writer under Shen Rongqing and had once joined the Flying General Battalion, penning stories about Zhao Xiaowan. It was through her that Li Banfeng had uncovered clues about the Flying General and pieced together Xiao Zhenggong's true motives. After slaying Xiao Zhenggong, Li Banfeng had instructed Luo Zhengnan to purge the remnants of the Jiangxiang Gang. However, some members had only known they belonged to the Flying General Battalion, never realizing it was simply the Jiangxiang Gang in disguise. Luo Zhengnan had spared most people in that category. Shan Zhumei had been one of them. Yet despite Old Luo sparing her life, she had still ended up dead. Who had killed her? And who had brought her departed soul all the way to the Outer States? Fourth Mother Yin asked, "Big Spender, how about this one? Satisfied?" Li Banfeng shook his head again. "First-tier Literary Cultivator—the tier is far too low. And as a ghost, her combat strength isn't much better than a raw beginner's. She can't fight at all, can she?" Fourth Mother Yin sighed. "Big Spender, the one you took yesterday was a once-in-a-blue-moon find. To be gorgeous and able to fight—ghost servants of that caliber are extraordinarily hard to come by. If I dug up some two-hundred-pound battle maiden for you, could you stomach it?" Li Banfeng composed his expression. "I could! I'm not picky!" "Not picky! You said it!" Fourth Mother Yin turned and pulled back yet another curtain. Standing behind it was a delicate, handsome young man. Li Banfeng waved his hands frantically. "No, absolutely not. When I said I wasn't picky, I meant she at least had to be a woman." Fourth Mother Yin laughed. "Don't be in such a rush! He can turn into a woman." With that, she drew a rattan cane from a flower vase. At the sight of the cane, all three souls shuddered simultaneously. Fourth Mother Yin barked at the man, "Turn into a woman and show him." The man glanced at Li Banfeng. Li Banfeng felt he looked somewhat familiar, though he could not immediately place where he had seen him. The man wiped his hand across his face, rubbed his hands over his body for a few moments, and transformed into an exquisitely beautiful woman with a voluptuous figure. Once the transformation was complete, Li Banfeng recognized him. Drama Calling Wife! This was the Drama Calling Wife he had encountered back in Meng Yuchun's territory. Hired by Mountain Uplifting Master to seize Meng Yuchun's land, he had been captured alive and tried to pledge allegiance to Meng Yuchun. But Meng Yuchun had shown no mercy and snapped his neck on the spot. Because Meng Yuchun had moved too fast, Li Banfeng had been unable to feed him to his lady. And now, he too had ended up in the Outer States as a ghost servant. Li Banfeng fell silent. Of the three ghost servants Fourth Mother Yin had displayed, he knew every single one. Could this really be a coincidence? Li Banfeng looked back at Fourth Mother Yin. "I can take all three." Fourth Mother Yin was overjoyed. "For someone as decisive as you, I'll give you a massive discount! The singing diva was originally priced at seventy, but today I'll count her at fifty. "The literary talent was also originally seventy. Since you don't seem overly fond of her, I'll cut it in half to thirty-five. "As for the fellow, his cultivation isn't low—a sixth-tier Opera Cultivator, which is a rare pathway. Originally a hundred and twenty, so I can't discount too much, but I'll let him go for one hundred. How does that sound?" Li Banfeng nodded. "You're quite straightforward yourself. That's one point eight five million in total. I'll fetch the cash right now." Fourth Mother Yin said, "Don't worry about the one-eighty-five, just make it one point eight even—I'll drop the change!" "Deal. Wait right here!" Li Banfeng left the Cultural Palace, entered his companion dwelling, and collected the cash. Business was business; Li Banfeng would never shortchange what was owed. But once this deal was done, there were things he needed to get to the bottom of. Taking the three spirits back to his quarters, Li Banfeng began questioning them one by one. First was the diva, Xu Qiulan. "How did you end up in the Outer States?" With tears welling in her eyes, Xu Qiulan replied, "Is this the Outer States? I honestly have no idea." "Start from the beginning. How did you fall into Fourth Mother Yin's hands?" "Well... I..." Seeing Xu Qiulan hesitate, Shan Zhumei spoke up from the side: "This is Seventh Master. Just tell the truth." Xu Qiulan looked astonished. "You're Li Seven?" Li Banfeng frowned. "Answer my question first." Xu Qiulan lowered her head. "I don't know where to begin." Li Banfeng picked a starting point for her. "Start from the day you died." Xu Qiulan sighed. "After I married Rao Qijun, he was always brooding over one thing. Before our marriage, I had once had a fling with Ma the Fifth." This was hardly news. Among the Three Great Divas, Ma the Fifth had been with Xiao Xiufei and Xu Qiulan; only Jiang Mengting was someone he had kept his hands off. Xu Qiulan continued, "He would bring it up constantly. I told him the truth—that before him, there had only been Ma the Fifth. He refused to believe me, insisting that I'd slept with Li Seven as well. "Half a month ago, I got so sick of his badgering that I lied and told him that Li Seven and I really had been together." Li Banfeng scowled. "You lied to him and ruined my reputation in the process?" Xu Qiulan hung her head. "I never imagined he would fly into such a rage, screaming that I was damaged goods. We started fighting. I had cultivation, so I wasn't afraid of him, but then he called in his guards—one of them was a third-tier Martial Cultivator. I couldn't beat the guard, and they beat me to death." "Go on." "After I died, because I had cultivation, my soul retained its memories. I intended to walk the Yellow Springs to reincarnate, but I couldn't swallow my resentment. I lingered around the estate, looking for an opportunity to take revenge. "After two or three days near the house, a group suddenly appeared and captured me with a technique. "I couldn't see their faces. They all wore masks and large hats. They asked if I knew Li Seven. I said no, so they beat me. "I was terrified of the beatings, so I said I did. They asked what Li Seven looked like. Seventh Master, I'd heard of your name, but I truly had never seen you—not even a photograph! "So I just made things up on the spot. I said Li Seven was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, bursting with raw strength, and could go for three to five hours at a time. "They saw right through the lie and beat me again. Eventually, they realized beating me was pointless because I really didn't know anything. So they sealed me into a magical treasure and brought me to this place." Li Banfeng's brow furrowed tightly. Someone was indeed investigating him. He turned to Shan Zhumei. "How did you die?" Shan Zhumei said, "Ever since trouble struck the Jiangxiang Gang, all word from the Flying General Battalion ceased. Fearing I'd get dragged into it, I planned to leave Greenwater City and hide out at Moxiang Shop for a while. "But I missed Miss You so terribly. I just wanted to see her one last time. Two weeks ago, I went to Xiaoyaowu to find her, but on the way, I ran into Xie Mengjiao, a singer from the Paramount." Xie Mengjiao had also been part of the Flying General Battalion, responsible for relaying messages, effectively serving as Shan Zhumei's superior. Shan Zhumei continued, "I was actually looking for her at the time, wanting to know what on earth had happened to the battalion. Xie Mengjiao said the street was no place to talk and invited me to her home to discuss it properly. "So I went. But once there, she barely touched on serious matters, focusing entirely on... intimate talk. I... by nature, I prefer women. With her seducing me like that, my guard was completely down. I fell for her tricks and died in her bed." Li Banfeng raised an eyebrow. "And you couldn't let it go either, wanting to take revenge on Xie Mengjiao?" Shan Zhumei shook her head. "I didn't want revenge. I just wanted to see Miss You. I truly just wanted to see her one last time. "So I lingered near Xiaoyaowu, only to be captured. What I saw was identical to Xu Qiulan's experience: I couldn't see their faces. "They asked if I knew Li Seven. I said I knew of him, but we weren't close. They didn't believe me and beat me mercilessly. But it was useless; that was all I knew. Eventually, they stopped and brought me here." A pattern was gradually forming in Li Banfeng's mind. Next, he turned his gaze upon Drama Calling Wife. Drama Calling Wife said, "After Meng Yuchun killed me, I wanted revenge on her too. But her cultivation was too high, and I was no match for her, so I could only ask around for news of you. "Later, I heard people addressing you as Seventh Master, and learned you possessed a village in the newland called Zhengjing Village. "I traveled through the newland for quite some time before finally finding Zhengjing Village. I waited nearby for days on end, but instead of you, a Nightmare Cultivator showed up about a dozen days ago." "A dozen days ago?" "There is no day or night in the newland, so I can't be certain of the exact count. Probably fifteen or sixteen days." Li Banfeng asked, "What tier was that Nightmare Cultivator?" "I couldn't tell—probably fourth or fifth tier. We fought for a while, and I thought I had a chance to escape, but I walked right into his trap and was captured. "He took me away from Zhengjing Village and asked about my relationship with Li Seven. I said we were enemies, and recounted everything that happened in the past." Li Banfeng paused, startled. He had the pendulum usher the others out of the room and hand them over to the music box. The music box played a melody, sending them all to sleep. Li Banfeng asked Drama Calling Wife, "What exactly did you tell them?" Drama Calling Wife's situation was entirely different from Xu Qiulan's and Shan Zhumei's; he knew far too much. "I told them that you and Meng Yuchun joined forces to defeat Mountain Uplifting Master, and then burned your bridges and killed me." "You only said we defeated Mountain Uplifting Master?" Li Banfeng had personally killed Mountain Uplifting Master, a fact Drama Calling Wife knew. Drama Calling Wife nodded. "I only said you won. I didn't dare say anything beyond that, or they never would have spared me." This wandering anomaly of the newland was indeed clever. Had he disclosed more details, they never would have put him on the market shelf—they would likely still be interrogating and torturing him right now. All of these incidents had occurred within the past two to three weeks. A faction was investigating him across Puluo Province, though their origins remained unknown. Yet someone was bound to know. *** At 4:50 a.m., dawn was approaching. After screening three movies, tonight's black market was finally wrapping up. Fourth Mother Yin produced about a dozen ceramic jars, placing one ghost servant into each before packing them into leather suitcases. Aside from the ghost servants, there were two cases of cash and two cases of miscellaneous supplies. Being quite strong, she carried all four cases downstairs, loaded them into her truck, and hit the gas, pulling out onto the road. Rolling down her window, Fourth Mother Yin enjoyed the cool breeze, humming a tune in pure contentment. Having encountered such a lavish buyer who had purchased four ghost servants without bargaining a single cent, how could she not be pleased? "That south wind blows so cool, that south wind is truly cool, why is that south wind so cool..." Li Banfeng sighed. "Is that the only line you know?" Fourth Mother Yin jerked in shock, her hands wrenching the steering wheel so hard the truck nearly plunged into a ditch. She stared at the Big Spender in utter disbelief. "When did you get in the truck?!" Li Banfeng smiled. "Just now. I'd like to do more business with you." Fourth Mother Yin shook her head. "If you want to do business, find me tomorrow night at the Cultural Palace." "Why must it be at the black market? We're practically old friends by now." "That won't do!" Fourth Mother Yin said. "I abide by the rules. I never conduct private transactions with clients outside." "Whose rules are those?" "The black market's rules!" Li Banfeng chuckled. "We're not in the black market right now, so why follow their rules?" The logic was sound enough that Fourth Mother Yin found herself speechless. "Regardless, I'm not discussing business with you here." Her eyes darted toward the seatbelt buckle beside her seat. Concealed within that buckle was an iron bead—a spiritual artifact exceptionally adept at combat. Fourth Mother Yin had once used this bead to stall a seventh-tier cultivator, buying herself time to escape and successfully retrieving the bead afterward, which spoke volumes of its power. This time, however, she had no intention of retrieving it. This Big Spender had slipped into her truck without her sensing a thing, proving his strength was terrifying. To get away from him, she was ready to abandon the bead and even the truck, so long as she kept her life. Li Banfeng offered a word of advice: "You work through the dead of night, living in constant fear just to scrape together a bit of cash. It isn't easy. If we can reach an agreement, I can buy every ghost servant in your truck right now—and you won't even have to pay the black market's cut." "What kind of business do you actually want to discuss?" "I want to know where you bought the ghost servants in your truck." "Didn't I already tell you? They were brought over from Puluo Province!" "I'm not asking where they came from originally. I'm asking who you bought them from." "I brought them over from Puluo Province myself!" Fourth Mother Yin's hand crept toward the seatbelt buckle. "When did you last visit Puluo Province?" "I go all the time! I just got back from Puluo Province last week!" Li Banfeng sighed. "Doing business requires honesty above all else." "How am I being dishonest? Everything I said is the truth!" "What is the sign of Greenwater City?" Fourth Mother Yin thought for a moment. "It's... the sign hung above the city gate!" "Which street is the Lu family manor on?" "I've never been to the Lu family manor." "Aren't you Zuo Wugang's sworn sister? He never took you to see it?" "I... I just haven't been..." "Right, you haven't," Li Banfeng chuckled. "Not only have you never been to the Lu family manor, you've never set foot in Puluo Province in your life." Fourth Mother Yin slammed on the brakes, bringing the truck to a halt, and slammed her left palm onto the seatbelt buckle with practiced ease. The iron bead did not shoot out. Li Banfeng looked at her in surprise. "What are you doing?" She slammed it again, but still nothing happened. Li Banfeng glanced at the buckle. "Can't unfasten your seatbelt?" Gritting her teeth, Fourth Mother Yin hit it a third time, and the bead finally came out. It was resting in Li Banfeng's palm. "Looking for this?" Li Banfeng held up the iron bead. "How does this work? Do I just throw it?" As he spoke, he made a gesture as if about to fling it right into her face. Fourth Mother Yin ducked in terror, seizing the chance to snatch a stack of covenant deeds from beside the door. "Get him!" She intended to use the deeds to command the ghost servants to swarm Li Banfeng. *Thud, thud, thud!* A violent commotion erupted in the cargo bed behind them, something clawing and thrashing to burst out. "*Hoo-yah!*" Li Banfeng barked. The cargo bed fell dead silent in an instant. Fourth Mother Yin curled up in her seat, clutching her head, tears and snot streaming down her face. Li Banfeng looked down to find an unidentified pale yellow liquid soaking through the soles of his shoes. "These shoes... were..." These shoes had just been issued by the Dark Star Bureau, worn for only a few days, and now they were soaked in urine. He couldn't blame Fourth Mother Yin for this; he only had himself to blame. After advancing above the clouds, the Sprawling Compound technique was fundamentally different from his landlord days. That single shout of his had nearly snuffed out Fourth Mother Yin's life. Fourth Mother Yin wept, "Big Spender, I was wrong! I won't dare lie to you again! I'll answer whatever you ask! I'll give you all your money back, and I'll give you the truck, too! Everything inside is yours!" "I don't want your things. I just want to know where these ghost servants came from." "They came from the ferry." Li Banfeng grew slightly impatient. "I didn't ask about your mode of transport." "I'm not talking about a vehicle! That gang calls themselves the Ferry Gang! Their leader is called Boat Boss!" "What does the Ferry Gang do?" "Smuggling goods. Smuggling things in and out of Puluo Province." *Could this be the people Ma the Fifth mentioned who do business with the Outer States?* *Is this Ferry Gang a local powerhouse or an underworld syndicate?* "Have you seen Boat Boss?" "Yes, twice. Whenever high-value goods are involved, he handles the deal personally. This batch of ghost servants was sold to me by his own hands." "Can you see him again?" "In another week, I'm scheduled to pick up more stock from them. If I can meet him, I'll definitely let you know in advance." Li Banfeng produced a covenant sheet. "Then it's settled. Press your thumbprint here." Unable to find an inkpad, Fourth Mother Yin dabbed her finger in the wet puddle on the seat, preparing to press it down. Li Banfeng's face twisted in disgust. "Isn't that your own piss? Who stamps a covenant with piss? You need blood!" Fourth Mother Yin had indeed never been to Puluo Province and knew nothing of its customs. Since the Big Spender demanded blood, blood it would be. She stuck her finger into her mouth—the very same finger she had just dipped in the puddle—and bit the tip open. "Couldn't you have used a different finger..." Li Banfeng was at a loss for words. Still, he watched her press down a bloody print, took the covenant, and climbed out of the truck. Heading to the cargo bed, he collected every single ghost servant. "We'll settle the bill once the business is done. I'll await your word." While Fourth Mother Yin was still shivering inside the cab, Li Banfeng had already walked off into the distance. *Ferry Gang, just who are you people?* *Are you merely middlemen?* *Or are you the ones investigating me?* Returning to his quarters, Li Banfeng took a short nap. When he woke, the projector set his mobile phone before him. "Director Seven, a message arrived. The Dark Star Bureau announced an important meeting scheduled for this morning." The message had come from Shen Jingye. *Remembered me when it's time for a meeting, did you?* *This meeting must be quite important.*