Creatures from the Sun

Li Banfeng dragged Han Xiaoxuan into the companion dwelling. Just being able to drag him was no small feat. Once separated from his external equipment, Han Xiaoxuan's technique ceased functioning, and most of the powder had returned into his body. He had single-handedly formed an entire factory; one could only imagine how heavy he was. Li Banfeng was coated in quite a lot of powder as well. Sitting by the bed, he took a deep breath and activated his skill of Sound Sleep. Before long, he broke out in a heavy sweat, followed by violent retching, coughing up thick phlegm, and shedding streaks of tears. His lady heated water and ran Li Banfeng a bath, washing away all the dust trapped between his pores, inside his respiratory tract, in his mouth, stomach, and eyes. This powder slowly wriggled toward Han Xiaoxuan, swiftly melding back into his body. Hong Ying watched with slight disgust. "Brother Qi, what kind of person is this?" "An Inner Stater. Made of powder." Li Banfeng held the compact and slowly approached Han Xiaoxuan. Sensing the compact draw near, Han Xiaoxuan regained consciousness. The powder that had been absorbed into his body began dispersing outward again, rippling across him layer by layer. His condition was extremely unstable, on the verge of detonating at any moment, yet he was in surprisingly good spirits, showing no trace of panic. Catching sight of Li Banfeng, he did not forget to tease, "Little handsome, we meet again. I thought I'd never see you again in this lifetime." The gramophone helped stabilize Han Xiaoxuan's soul for the time being, then asked in all seriousness, "Are you truly so fond of my husband?" Han Xiaoxuan glanced at the gramophone without looking the least bit alarmed. "Oh my, turns out this handsome guy is already taken! Don't worry, I won't fight you for him. I'm almost finished anyway. As long as he keeps me in his heart, that's enough for me." Li Banfeng shook his head. "There's no room for you in my heart, but there might be room for you in my wife's stomach. Are you an Inner Stater?" "Why ask that?" Han Xiaoxuan chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't have much time left. Can't we share a few sweet nothings?" The Old Teapot chuckled. "Why don't you take a good look at your own mug? Which of our Young Master's eyes would ever take a fancy to you? How about whispering those sweet nothings to me? An old codger like me won't mind." A kettle of boiling water poured over Han Xiaoxuan, and a wince of agony surfaced on this formidable Inner Stater's face. During the fierce battle earlier, Li Banfeng had truly overlooked the teapot; the teapot's hot water clearly held a strong counter against this Inner Stater. Yet despite enduring immense agony, Han Xiaoxuan still refused to talk. The teapot moved to pour more water, but the gramophone stopped it. "Sister, you're tough to the bone. I know this won't work on you." Han Xiaoxuan froze, asking the gramophone, "Looking like this, you call me 'sister'?" The gramophone entered the puppet body and took the form of a woman, sitting down beside Han Xiaoxuan. "No matter what you look like now, I can tell that you were originally a woman." Han Xiaoxuan looked down with a soft smile. "Elder Sister, you're so lovely. I've never seen such a gorgeous woman. Were you speaking from the heart just now?" "We are both women. Whether it came from the heart, you can surely tell." Han Xiaoxuan smiled. "All right. For those words alone, I'll be your little sister this once. What do you want to ask?" The gramophone inquired, "Are you a pureblood Inner Stater?" Han Xiaoxuan nodded. "I am, yet not entirely." "You were melted down and recast in the furnace?" "Yes. A whole group of us was recast in the furnace. I ended up looking like this, but my soul remained." The soul was pure, but the body was not. What special substance was inside her body? Zhao Xiaowan asked, "Did you ever have dealings with the Feng Yunting of old?" Han Xiaoxuan pondered for a moment. "When you say 'of old,' I don't know how long ago you mean, but I actually saw her not long ago." The gramophone was startled. "She is still alive?" Han Xiaoxuan nodded. "Yes, alive. My techniques were learned from her." Li Banfeng asked, "Who is Feng Yunting?" Zhao Xiaowan said, "Feng Yunting is the founder of the Powder Cultivator pathway. Her pathway was wiped out, and she was said to have died many years ago. I will explain the details to Husband in a moment. If Husband has questions, ask her quickly." Li Banfeng asked Han Xiaoxuan, "What is your purpose in making that face cream?" "War! We have already gone to war with the Outer States, only the Outer States don't know it yet—just like back then, when we went to war with Puluo Province, and Puluo Province didn't know it either. Neither the Outer States nor Puluo Province are clever; you know nothing, yet you always manage to win. Your luck is truly far too good. Who knows if you can win this time." Hong Ying turned around and asked, "A war? Who's fighting whom? How are they fighting?" The gramophone snapped at her, "Don't cause trouble!" Li Banfeng pressed on, "What are the consequences of using your face cream?" "They become beautiful. Their skin is no longer oily, and all the excess grease on their bodies is eaten clean by them." "Who are 'they'?" "Mushrooms. The Outer States also call them fungi. I discovered this fungus. That day, the sun suddenly shone bright, and I quickly hid away. Once the sun went dim, I found this fungus on the mountain. It grew wonderfully. It is a creature from the sun and was bound to be of great use. I hurried to report it to the elders. The First Elder said we should hand it over to the Imperial Court. The Second Elder said not to let word spread outside. The Third Elder said we should keep it for ourselves, as it would surely be of great use in the future. Each of the three elders clung to their own views, but the First Elder grew in the middle, so everyone had to listen to the First Elder." "What do you mean, 'grew in the middle'?" "Because the elder has three heads." Li Banfeng thought of the three-headed people. "People with three heads can become elders in the Inner States?" "What's so strange about being an elder? They are imperial royalty." "Then what about the three-headed people in Puluo Province?" "They have imperial blood too." Li Banfeng chuckled, shaking his head. "Now you're talking nonsense." Many of the three-headed people in Puluo Province were Body Cultivators who had failed their initiation. What connection could they possibly have to the Inner States' imperial family? Han Xiaoxuan said, "I know you don't believe me. We aren't the same kind of people. We live in different places, separated by immense distances. What we call bloodline isn't the same thing as what you call descendants, just as what we call war isn't the same as the war you understand." Were the environments of the Inner States and Puluo Province so different? Even their concept of bloodline was completely different? Was she bluffing him? Li Banfeng moved straight to the next question. "What did you mean when you said the sun shone bright? Is there a time when it isn't bright?" Han Xiaoxuan laughed. "Do you actually think the Inner States and the Outer States share the same sun?" Li Banfeng was struck speechless for a long time. Could even the sun be different? Was the Inner States not in the solar system? Han Xiaoxuan said, "I'll tell you straight: the suns in these two places are not the same. If you want me to explain the sun clearly, it will take a very long time. I could tell you, but I might not finish before I go. If you have more important questions, ask them quickly. I won't last much longer." There was indeed a pressing question right now. "Does using your face cream leave any aftereffects?" Han Xiaoxuan fell silent for a moment. She did not want to say. Li Banfeng said, "I'm already arranging for people to study the face cream. Even if you don't say, I'll still find out the results." Zhao Xiaowan chimed in, "Sister, things have already come to this. Speak the truth. Elder Sister will give you a swift end in a moment." "Fine, for the sake of calling me 'sister,' I'll tell you." Han Xiaoxuan knew she couldn't survive. Tough as she was, no one wanted to suffer; she truly wanted a quick death. "Anyone who uses the face cream will have their brain taken over by the fungus within two months, ultimately evolving into our soldiers." "You mean they can become Inner Staters?" "Not Inner Staters. They will become the living dead—living dead who know no fear in battle and feel no pain when struck. When the living dead's strength is exhausted, they will seek out their final resting place. They will find a quiet, peaceful spot to complete the final journey of their lives. They will stand there, standing ramrod straight. Their feet will take root below, and their hands will pin to the sides of their torso until they gradually fuse into the body. Their skulls will regrow, expanding larger and flatter until they form a fungal cap. Beneath that cap, a vast multitude of spores will gestate. Carrying their flesh and blood, these spores will scatter abroad like the face cream, seeking out their next hosts. Continuing in such an endless cycle, the Outer States will slowly march toward extinction..." Li Banfeng interrupted Han Xiaoxuan. "How can this fungus be dispelled?" "There is no way to dispel it," Han Xiaoxuan said, shaking her head. "At least none that I know of. You can go look at those infected people, including the sales personnel in this factory. Anyone infected by the fungus will gradually have their consciousness hijacked by it. The earliest symptom is that they like to stand. They no longer like to sit or lie down to rest. They prefer standing ramrod straight in dark, damp corners to rest. Starting from that moment, they are about to become the living dead..." Han Xiaoxuan spoke haltingly, each word requiring more effort than the last. Li Banfeng asked, "You use this kind of thing as a weapon? Can you control this fungus yourselves?" "We can. We can communicate with the fungus. It obeys us. Even if our people were infected one day, there's no need to worry—our form of life is different from that of Outer Staters. The Outer States are wonderful, truly wonderful. Sunshine can be seen here every day. I was willing to sacrifice myself to conquer the Outer States... I just never expected to end up like this. I so badly want... to be a woman again. Elder Sister, back when I was a woman, everyone in my village said I was pretty..." Han Xiaoxuan was on the verge of exploding. Keeping her promise, his lady returned to the gramophone and sucked out Han Xiaoxuan's soul, granting her a swift end. Han Xiaoxuan's body remained in the room. The glove stepped forward and touched it lightly; Han Xiaoxuan's skin indented, then began cracking as fine powder drifted out from the fractures. His lady puffed out a plume of steam, forming a film of water that held Han Xiaoxuan's body under control. "Husband, a portion of a Powder Cultivator's cultivation was melded into Han Xiaoxuan's body. Defeating him was truly no easy feat." "What kind of pathway is the Powder Cultivator? Does the Peddler recognize it?" "The Peddler recognizes it. What's more, this pathway flourished immensely in its prime. Later, because its power grew too great and threatened many people's interests, a Grandmaster Water Cultivator led a mob to wipe the pathway out. Who would have thought their founder, Feng Yunting, was still alive?" "Ah," Li Banfeng acknowledged, his gaze slightly vacant. "Husband, do you have something on your mind?" "It's nothing." Li Banfeng shook his head. "Husband, you must listen to this humble servant. Leave the people infected by the fungus be. You managed to hold off this military operation from the Inner States and already saved the Outer States' life. Such an immense favor is more than they could ever repay. Don't worry yourself over other matters on their behalf." "True enough..." Li Banfeng got up and donned his jacket. "You all eat first. I'm going out for a walk." The glove accompanied him. "Master, I'll go with you." "You stay home too. There's a hole torn in you; let my lady sew it up properly for you." The glove insisted on going. "A minor injury like this is nothing. If you go out alone, I can't put my mind at ease either." The glove followed Li Banfeng out. The gramophone sighed. "He claims he doesn't care, but Husband can't let it go in his heart after all." Hong Ying poked Han Xiaoxuan. "This person is entirely powder, how can we eat her? She smells quite fragrant though. Why not gather her into the compact so us sisters can powder our faces?" The Tang dao crowded in close. "General, don't forget about your brothers!" Hong Ying kicked the Tang dao. "Look at your pitiful ambitions! What kind of man wears powder?" Li Banfeng exited the companion dwelling, used Unimpeded Passage to slip out of the Phlegm Cultivator's sealed dome, and ordered Chen Changrui to inject the grout. The yellowish-green slurry blanketed the entire factory, absorbing all the residual powder. Chen Changrui asked about the outcome of the battle. Li Banfeng said, "The factory's manager was an Inner Stater. Because he revealed critical secrets, triggering an Inner States curse, he detonated and died. He was a Powder Cultivator who blew up completely into dust, leaving no remains behind." "Powder Cultivator... Aren't they extinct?" Chen Changrui was knowledgeable, but his concern wasn't Powder Cultivators. "Did he say anything about the fungus?" "He did." Li Banfeng looked at Chen Changrui, his expression grave. "This is a military strategy from the Inner States. The war has already begun, only we haven't realized it yet. Contact all major platforms and immediately stop the sale of this face cream. Every jar sold must be recalled in full, and all people who have used the cream must be quarantined and treated." Chen Changrui looked horrified. "Can it be cured...?" Li Banfeng did not answer. "Handle the urgent tasks first, then arrange people to report to higher-ups." Upon returning to the Dark Star Bureau, Li Banfeng headed straight to the laboratory. Lightbulb, Mijian, and Haitangguo were all quarantined there. Li Banfeng asked a lab technician, "Is there currently any method to kill the fungus?" "Yes!" The technician nodded. Glimpsing hope, Li Banfeng asked excitedly, "What method?" "Autoclaving with high-pressure steam for sixty minutes will kill all fungi, including spores..." Mid-sentence, the technician shivered, a nameless dread making it hard to breathe. Li Banfeng nearly struck him. High-pressure steam sterilization for sixty minutes—by the time the fungus was dead, the person would be boiled thoroughly! Fortunately, Li Banfeng regained his composure. This was never a problem a lab technician could solve in the first place. He went to the isolation room and saw Mijian and Haitangguo. Neither realized the gravity of the situation; they were still casually chatting inside the room. Seeing Li Banfeng arrive, Mijian asked, "Did you find the manufacturer? Is their factory getting shut down?" Haitangguo listened intently beside her, both looking like bystanders enjoying gossip. "Yes, it's shut down. Where's Lightbulb? Where did he go?" "Standing in the corner." "Why is he standing?" Mijian pointed toward the corner. "We don't know what's wrong with him either. He keeps saying his lower back hurts when he sits." Lightbulb stood in the corner and smiled at Li Banfeng. A ringing sounded in Li Banfeng's ears, and veins throbbed on his forehead. Lightbulb was an Oil Cultivator. The fungus on his face was several times greater in quantity than on the others, so the symptoms had manifested on him first. "Director Li," Haitangguo asked, "how much longer do we need to stay in quarantine?" "Not long..." Li Banfeng murmured. Mijian asked, "Tomorrow should be about enough, right?" "Ah, about that..." Seeing that Li Qi wasn't inclined to talk, Mijian didn't pry further. Haitangguo chimed in from the side, "Mijian's too shy to ask, so I'll ask for her: did Zhong'er render a meritorious service today?" "He did. He definitely did..." Li Banfeng turned and left the isolation room. Through the glass partition, watching Li Qi's retreating figure, Mijian felt that something wasn't quite right. Li Banfeng sat in his office from nightfall until daybreak. Approaching nine o'clock, Tangyuan entered the office, closed the door, and spoke softly, "Seventh Master, Director Gao is here." "Which Director Gao?" "Director Gao Yina, the one who took over for Guan Zhengyang..." "I'm not seeing her!" "Seventh Master, it's best you meet with her. She's here to discuss yesterday's operation with you." "Whatever it is, have Chen Changrui speak to her." "Seventh Master, are Mijian and the others...?" Li Banfeng said nothing. "Seventh Master," Tangyuan's voice trembled slightly, "please see Director Gao. She might be able to help." Li Banfeng gave a slight nod, and Tangyuan ushered Director Gao into Li Qi's office. "Director Li, I won't waste time on pleasantries. You made a tremendous contribution in this incident. While expressing our profound gratitude, I solemnly promise you that the conditions you raised will be promptly implemented. The relevant residents of Santoucha will be sent to Green Water City within a week." "Implemented so quickly?" Li Banfeng looked at Gao Yina. "Is there something else?" Gao Yina nodded. "Just as Director Li stated, this incident has escalated to the level of war. Our objective has always been to resolve issues through peaceful means. We hope Director Li can mediate with the Inner States to balance the interests of both sides and avoid further escalation." "Mediate?" Li Banfeng laughed. "You think mediation is still possible?" Gao Yina sighed. "War is an outcome none of us wish to see." "You are already seeing it. This isn't an incident escalating to the level of war—this is war." Gao Yina remained silent, awaiting Li Banfeng's reply. "How are the follow-up matters being handled?" Gao Yina said, "Sales of the face cream have been halted across all major platforms, and creams already sold are being recalled with full effort. We plan to conduct a screening of all residents to ensure every infected person is identified." "Is there a treatment plan?" "A treatment plan is still in the research phase. There are no similar cases in our known medical history for this type of fungus, and treatment cannot be accomplished overnight. Therefore, we hope you can focus your efforts on..." The ringing in Li Banfeng's ears started up again, and Gao Yina's voice gradually faded out. In truth, certain things had been made abundantly clear. Saying it could not be accomplished overnight proved that actual treatment was still a long way off. Under the current circumstances, Lightbulb was essentially beyond saving, and hopes for Mijian and Haitangguo were exceedingly slim. "Director Li? Director Li!" Gao Yina pulled Li Banfeng's thoughts back. "Regarding the next phase of mediation, we'd like to hear your thoughts. Do you have any other requests?" Li Banfeng was silent for a moment before saying, "Provide me a special chartered train bound for Puluo Province." Gao Yina nodded. "Naturally. We will certainly guarantee the treatment you deserve." As long as Li Banfeng agreed to mediate, the perks shot up immediately, and she even switched to the honorific form of address. Yet perks were the last thing Li Banfeng cared about right now. "I need a chartered train with medical personnel, fully equipped with professional medical devices." "You are planning to...?" "Don't ask why. Just follow my arrangements!" After seeing Gao Yina off, Li Banfeng picked up the landline and dialed Zhong'er's number. "Zhong'er, come to my office!" "Director Li, it's me," Mijian's voice came over the line. "Zhong'er is still lying in the hospital." "How is his condition?" "The doctor just called to say the detoxification is complete, but he's still in a coma." "Tangyuan, come to my office first." Tangyuan stepped into the office. Li Banfeng said, "I'm taking Mijian, Lightbulb, and Haitang to Puluo Province. Stay here and keep an eye on the latest news for me. If there is any progress on treatment, notify me immediately." Going to Puluo Province. Could it be that they were going to... Tangyuan didn't dare think about it. She pleaded with Li Banfeng, "Let me go with you." "You can't help me if you go. Stay here to gather intel. We still have a chance to save everyone!" Tangyuan nodded gently. Li Banfeng added another instruction: "Tell Chen Changrui to arrest Mingxing immediately and try to pry some leads out of his mouth!" That afternoon, the chartered train departed. Mijian, Lightbulb, and Haitangguo—all three wrapped head to toe in bandages—were brought onto the carriage by special transport. Barring Li Qi and the medical personnel, no one else was permitted inside their carriage. By now, the three of them had realized the severity of the situation. They joked no longer, not even daring to ask a single question about where this journey was heading. They were terrified—terrified that Li Qi would tell them, "There's no hope left." Once inside Puluo Province, gazing at the unfamiliar scenery outside the window, Mijian shed tears. "Director Li, we're not going to make it, are we?" Lightbulb stood beside his berth. He didn't want to lie down, nor did he want to sit; he just wanted to stand ramrod straight like this. He still reminded Mijian about her phrasing: "Now that we're in Puluo Province, don't call him Director Li. Call him Seventh Master. As long as Seventh Master is here, he will definitely find a way." Mijian's tears rolled down one by one. "Seventh Master, since it's already come to this, allow me to say something shameless: can I see Zhong'er one more time?" Haitangguo was still fairly optimistic. "What's the rush now? Once we're cured, we'll go back and make that boy tie the knot with you. I'd like to see him dare refuse! Seventh Master, as long as we find Doctor Kang Zhenchang, we'll definitely be cured. Is Doctor Kang Zhenchang in Puluo Province?" Li Banfeng shook his head. To find Kang Zhenchang, he had to go through Song Qianhun. Song Qianhun was certainly in the Outer States right now; under such circumstances, he was the only Healer Cultivator in the Outer States who could be trusted. "I'm taking you to see someone else. His treatment methods are very peculiar and might carry some risks, but if there's only one person among everyone I know who can cure you, it's definitely him." The train stopped at Desong Cliff, where Liao Zihui personally came to meet them. He was wearing a hazmat suit with a thick mask and helmet, making Li Banfeng think they had arrived at Santoucha. "Why are you bundled up so heavily?" "Didn't I hear the fungus is contagious?" Liao Zihui waved toward Mijian and the others by way of a visit, then had them loaded into a steam car. Li Banfeng said, "Settle them in the Garrison Office first while I go find someone to treat them." Liao Zihui said, "Brother Li, I don't think going to the Garrison Office is quite appropriate." Li Banfeng grew a bit annoyed. "Sufficient preventive measures have been taken on them; they won't spread the fungus to the Garrison Office. We're right at your doorstep, and you won't even give us a place to stay?" "There's a place to stay, but right now there's no staff left in the Garrison Office. I'm afraid nobody will be there to look after them." "Where are the people?" "With Desong Cliff fought to such a state, the Garrison Office's personnel have all scattered. There's only a gatekeeper left." Li Banfeng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Then why did you even come to meet the train?" "Isn't it to give you face? I had people look into it: Critic is on Decheng Mountain. You can go straight to him, just make sure you don't go to the wrong place." "You're afraid I'll take a wrong turn?" "A lot of Virtue Cultivators have died lately. If they run into you again, I'm worried their pathway might go extinct." "What's there to fear? Haichiling still has Pan Dehai!" Liao Zihui rode along in the car, seeing Li Banfeng's group to the foot of the mountain, and Li Banfeng led the three up the mountain. Reaching halfway up, Li Banfeng saw many people queuing outside a cave entrance. A man with a severed hand and missing tongue wailed relentlessly before Critic. Critic briefly checked the man's condition. "You severely violated your promise. Your right hand cannot be saved no matter what, but your tongue might still grow back. That depends on your future conduct." Having finished with the patient before him, Critic looked toward Li Banfeng. "My friend, are you here to catch up with me, or to steal my business? The Peddler has already handed Desong Cliff over to me." "Rest assured, I definitely won't steal your business. I'm here to ask for your help." Li Banfeng brought the three bandaged individuals up to Critic. Critic caught the scent coming off Haitangguo and suddenly smiled faintly. "What a pure scent." Startled, Haitangguo hid behind Li Qi. Lightbulb had met Critic before and was even more terrified than Haitangguo. He wanted to hide behind Li Qi as well, when a child walked out holding a bowl. "Noodle soup for you!" The child held the bowl up before Lightbulb. "Xiao De, come back!" Critic stepped forward and took the child into his arms. "Don't go near these friends for now. They can't play games with you; their condition is very dangerous. Go back inside the cave and wait for me." Li Banfeng was stunned. From the time he met Critic until now, Li Banfeng had never seen him care about someone like this. "Is this your son?" Li Banfeng felt this was a rather reasonable deduction. Critic looked at Li Banfeng with a stern expression. "Don't make such jokes. This child is a very important person. I need to obtain very important information from him!" Looking at Critic, Mijian plucked up the courage to ask, "Are you a doctor?" Critic nodded. "I am an exceptionally brilliant doctor. Some wonderful little things are growing rapidly on your bodies. I need a little time to have a good chat with these wonderful things. But before that, I need to talk terms with an old friend." "The price won't be too outrageous, will it?" Li Banfeng was a little worried. "Rest assured, the price is guaranteed to be fair." Critic pulled open his lapels, revealing eight large characters tattooed across his chest: "Fair trade, Fair to Old and Young Alike!" P.S. When the Peddler spared Lühuazi back then, there really was good reason for it.