Demons

Du Wenming came to find He Jiaqing, claiming he had a lucrative piece of business to offer. He Jiaqing pointed to the newland behind him. "What do you think of this business of mine?" "Reclaiming wasteland in the newland? You call that a business?" Du Wenming scoffed disdainfully. He Jiaqing replied with utter seriousness, "In Puluo Province, this is the most legitimate business there is." "I know where Yu Yaoming is," Du Wenming said. "Interested in doing this deal?" He Jiaqing pondered for a moment and asked, "Is Yu Yaoming still at the Lu Family Bookhouse?" Du Wenming nodded. He Jiaqing shook his head. "Forget it, then. I don't want to ruin my good relations with Boss Lu." "Did Zhou Badou beat the fear of death into you?" Du Wenming chuckled. Du Wenming had hit the nail right on the head. He Jiaqing was indeed terrified of him. Seeing that He Jiaqing remained silent, Du Wenming continued, "Then let's switch to another deal. Yu Yaoming's device for crossing the Boundary really worked. A person can enter a wormhole using his apparatus, but getting out requires special means. I can share some of the core technical details with you—provided you help me remove something." He Jiaqing looked Du Wenming up and down, guessing his request. "You have a mark inside your body, a very troublesome one. You want me to take it out for you?" Surprised that He Jiaqing could pinpoint the issue at a single glance, Du Wenming nodded repeatedly. "Looks like I found the right man." He Jiaqing glanced around. "We can do this deal, but we have to make haste. The person who marked you might come tracking you down at any moment, and I don't want to get dragged into your mess. Hand over the core materials for me to inspect first. I need to make sure they're genuinely valuable." Du Wenming frowned. "Payment first, work second?" He Jiaqing nodded. "Think I'm being overbearing? If you're dissatisfied, you're free to look elsewhere. Only, the person hunting you must be very close by now." Without further hesitation, Du Wenming produced a document envelope and handed it to He Jiaqing. He Jiaqing opened the materials and looked through them. The contents indeed provided a detailed exposition of Yu Yaoming's research findings, complete with relevant experimental data. "This data is all from before Yu Yaoming was captured. Isn't it a bit outdated?" He Jiaqing seemed inclined to nitpick. Du Wenming stood stock-still. On a large tree behind him, a crow suddenly tilted its neck to the right, its head bending at a full ninety-degree angle. *Crack!* He Jiaqing's head snapped sideways at a ninety-degree angle as well. He Jiaqing was utterly shocked. He had been on guard against Du Wenming's arts the entire time, but Du Wenming hadn't directed the technique at him directly. Instead, he had cast it on the crow, and the crow had transmitted the art to He Jiaqing. "I've paid, yet you refuse to work. That puts you in the wrong." Du Wenming's eyes glinted coldly. With his head cocked sideways, He Jiaqing managed a strained smile. "Don't get nervous. I was merely raising a few questions about the materials. When it comes to honoring an agreement, I never go back on my word." Du Wenming waved a hand, and He Jiaqing's neck snapped right back into place. The two stared at each other for a moment, the cold wind slicing across their cheeks like blades. If it truly came down to a fight to the death, He Jiaqing felt he could likely defeat Du Wenming, but he had no desire to fight. He Jiaqing extended his right hand toward Du Wenming. "This might feel slightly invasive. Please don't take offense." Du Wenming nodded slightly, watching helplessly as He Jiaqing's hand reached straight into his belly. Over ten seconds later, He Jiaqing drew his hand back out. Resting in his palm was the character "Zhou," written in pitch-black ink and dripping with fresh blood. "Here's the mark from your body. I've already guessed who left it. Destroying this thing won't be easy. You'll have to take it away with you—I don't want Badou the Scribe tracking it to this territory." Du Wenming shook his head. "I don't intend to take it. I paid you to handle the job, so naturally, cleaning up the aftermath is your responsibility. That's only fair and reasonable." Facing He Jiaqing, Du Wenming took long strides as if walking forward, yet his body moved rapidly backward, his silhouette vanishing into the forest in the blink of an eye. *Does he really have to dance every time he walks?* He Jiaqing pondered for a moment before understanding the rationale. Moving in such a peculiar fashion made it nearly impossible for anyone to track his footprints. He hastily tucked the documents Du Wenming had given him into his robes, but the bloody character "Zhou" in his hand still needed prompt disposal. What He Jiaqing had said earlier was the truth: destroying the mark was indeed no simple feat. With his current strength alone, he couldn't accomplish it without the aid of a magical treasure. But he didn't have that treasure on him. To be precise, it wasn't even his; it belonged to Xie Juncong, the First Master of the Ghost Hand Sect. Borrowing something from Xie Juncong's hands wouldn't normally have been a problem, but circumstances were different now. He Jiaqing knew Xiao Qianshou had his eyes on him, and the odds of Xie Juncong turning against him were exceedingly high. Since the mark was difficult to destroy, He Jiaqing devised a plan: he would hide it. Hiding it in Chu Yaoxian's territory was out of the question. When Zhou Badou came searching and applied a bit of torture, Chu Yaoxian would give He Jiaqing up in an instant. Where would be suitable? Huaxian Manor, Hua Manchun's territory! Hua Manchun's land bordered Chu Yaoxian's. Hua Manchun had been killed by Li Banfeng, and the territory now belonged to Li Banfeng, currently managed by Ma the Fifth. If he buried the mark in Huaxian Manor, when Zhou Badou tracked it down, he would only seek out Li the Seventh and Ma the Fifth for an explanation, leaving He Jiaqing entirely out of it. With that in mind, He Jiaqing pulled a wooden box from his robes, placed the character "Zhou" inside, and hurried toward Huaxian Manor at top speed. *** At dusk, Boss Lu arrived at Huaxian Manor. In the woods outside the estate, he dug up a wooden box containing the blood-drenched character "Zhou." This was the tracking mark he had planted inside Du Wenming's body, now buried here by someone unknown. Boss Lu naturally knew the rules of Huaxian Manor: no men were permitted to enter. Yet he could see men coming and going freely, proving that certain rumors were true. Huaxian Manor had changed masters, an affair linked to Li the Seventh and Ma the Fifth. Did this character have something to do with the two of them? Or had Du Wenming visited Huaxian Manor himself? As Boss Lu pondered, an acquaintance walked out of the manor. Luo Zhengnan was leading a group of craftsmen into the woods to select timber. Boss Lu made no attempt to hide, stepping forward to greet him directly. "Hall Master Luo, long time no see." Luo Zhengnan was taken aback, then promptly stepped forward to meet him. "Boss Lu, what brings you here? Don't tell me you're planning to open a bookstore in Huaxian Manor?" Boss Lu chuckled. "Hall Master Luo, you do love to joke. Huaxian Manor doesn't allow men through its doors—how could I possibly do business here? I'm just passing through on my way to deliver books to a customer." Luo Zhengnan shook his head repeatedly. "Boss Lu, that's ancient history! The rules of Huaxian Manor have changed. If you want to open a shop here, just give the word, and I'll pick out a prime spot for you." Boss Lu cupped his hands. "Once I scrape together some capital, I'll be sure to trouble Hall Master Luo in the future." Both men measured their words with exquisite precision. To whom was Boss Lu delivering books? What kind of books? Why travel such a long distance? These were questions Boss Lu could not easily answer, but Luo Zhengnan didn't press for details. By the same token, why had Huaxian Manor's rules changed? Who called the shots here now? Luo Zhengnan could not speak openly about these matters, and Boss Lu didn't ask a single question. They chatted casually, as though bumping into each other on a street corner in Green Water City. Once they had talked enough, Boss Lu cupped his hands in farewell. As soon as he was out of sight, Luo Zhengnan immediately placed a call to Li Banfeng. "Boss Lu went to Huaxian Manor?" Li Banfeng couldn't fathom Boss Lu's intentions either. Rather than guessing blindly, it would be better to find a suitable day to ask Boss Lu directly to his face. Which day would be suitable? Li Banfeng flipped through the almanac. *** Boss Lu returned to his bookhouse in Green Water City, went up to the second floor, and said to Yu Yaoming, "Du Wenming escaped. I failed to catch him." Yu Yaoming was startled. "Didn't you say you left a mark? Did your mark stop working?" Boss Lu shook his head. "Someone extracted the mark from Du Wenming's body and buried it in Huaxian Manor." "What kind of place is Huaxian Manor?" "Reportedly, it's Li the Seventh's territory." "Li the Seventh?" Yu Yaoming asked in astonishment. "Li the Seventh and Du Wenming have a blood feud. When I was captured by Li the Seventh back then, Du Wenming broke me out. Later, when Du Wenming tried to help me recover my equipment, he fell into Li the Seventh's trap, losing his Outer States identity and all his belongings. Their hatred runs as deep as the ocean, and they're bound to fight to the death sooner or later. How could Li the Seventh possibly save Du Wenming?" Boss Lu sat beside the tea stove and poked at the charcoal embers. "People bustle about for profit; where there's gain, they flock together. The Boundary involves immense interests. Li the Seventh surely wants the method to breach the Boundary as well." Yu Yaoming thought about it, but still found it illogical. "If he extracted Du Wenming's mark and buried it in his own territory, wouldn't that be laying the whole matter out in the open right in front of you?" Boss Lu tossed some tea leaves into the pot. "For anyone else, it would be illogical, but Li the Seventh has never cared for conventional logic. He might be warning me that Du Wenming is now his man, telling me not to lay a finger on him again." "Warning you?" Yu Yaoming found the notion absurd. "Does he even have the strength for that?" Boss Lu poured two cups of tea, offering one to Yu Yaoming and keeping the other for himself. "Strength and combat prowess are two different things. Whether in the Inner States, the Outer States, or Puluo Province, Li the Seventh possesses capital, and capital is strength. I admire the man, and I don't wish to fall out with him." Yu Yaoming wore a bitter expression. "If you don't fall out with him, won't the secret of the Boundary leak out?" "I need to find an opportunity to probe Li the Seventh. We cannot rush this; we must proceed obliquely and test him repeatedly." Boss Lu sipped his tea, weighing future countermeasures. Yu Yaoming wanted to offer some advice of his own when he suddenly noticed a magazine on the bookshelf move. It was a publication from Black Rock Slope, one Yu Yaoming was particularly fond of. On the cover were three attractive young women dressed in traditional garb, cupping their fists in greeting to celebrate the New Year. On the first page of the main body, the three women had shed their traditional attire, each holding a gold ingot to symbolize wealth and fortune. On the second page, six women dispensed with clothing altogether, each cradling a golden ruyi scepter to symbolize smooth fortune and boundless success. On the third page, Tang Shijiang stood holding a potted peony to symbolize flourishing prosperity. This page was critical. Every time Yu Yaoming reached the second page, he could barely hold himself back, but by the third page, he managed to regain his composure. The fourth page was an advertisement, which Yu Yaoming rarely bothered looking at. The fifth page was exceedingly sensational—the one Yu Yaoming perused the most, dog-eared from frequent handling. Boss Lu said testily, "When reading, show some respect for the books." "I do respect them..." Yu Yaoming was astonished. Aside from Tang Shijiang on the third page, the figures on every other page were actually moving. They were moving! Boss Lu lingered on the fifth page for a moment. Suddenly, the women vanished, and the photograph transformed into the lobby of the bookhouse. A man dressed in a jacket stood in the middle of the hall. "He's here." Boss Lu's brow furrowed slightly. Yu Yaoming studied the figure for a long time. He couldn't recognize the face, though the jacket seemed commonplace enough in the Outer States. "Is that Li the Seventh?" Boss Lu nodded. "It's him. He entered from the Outer States shop." "Li the Seventh came at a time like this?" Yu Yaoming couldn't comprehend it, and Boss Lu was equally perplexed. Boss Lu descended the stairs and circled the third row of bookshelves twice. Ordinarily, circling the shelves would bring him straight into the Outer States shop, yet looking outside the door, he found himself still in Green Water City. This was hardly abnormal. Within the confines of Puluo Province, wherever a Lu Family Bookhouse stood, Boss Lu could travel there at will. Leaving Puluo Province, however, depended on the state of Santoucha. At present, the situation at Santoucha was peculiar. There wasn't even a crack along the Boundary, preventing Boss Lu from crossing unless he resorted to special measures. He retrieved two official documents from beneath the counter and stamped them with his jade seal. Keeping one on his person, he slid the other out through the front door. Returning to the first row of bookshelves, he stood for a moment, then circled the third row twice more. Stepping out from between the two shelves, Boss Lu found himself in the Outer States shop. Li the Seventh was standing right by the shelves near the entrance. "Seventh Master, forgive my neglect!" Boss Lu cupped his hands. Li the Seventh returned the greeting and said directly, "There's something I wanted to ask you. I originally planned to pick an auspicious date, but when I checked the almanac, today looked quite suitable." Boss Lu reflected for a moment, glancing back at the almanac on the wall. Truth be told, today really was an auspicious day! The two took their seats in the hall. Boss Lu brewed hot wine tea, and Li Banfeng began, "Old Luo told me you went to Huaxian Manor. What was that all about?" Boss Lu stared at Li the Seventh for a moment, then countered directly, "You truly don't know?" Li Banfeng shook his head. "If I knew, I wouldn't have come to ask you." Boss Lu fell silent. He had originally intended to use subtle hints and repeated probing to unearth the truth. Yet in just a few words, the matter seemed poised to be cleared up. Back when they had discussed writing, Li the Seventh had advised Boss Lu that great work ought to feature fewer convoluted twists. Rather than breeding further misunderstanding, it was better to lay the matter bare. "I have some grievances with Du Wenming, so I planted a mark on him. Someone extracted the mark and buried it in Huaxian Manor." "What kind of mark?" Boss Lu cast a glance at the bloodstained character "Zhou." Li Banfeng shook his head. "I haven't seen this mark, and my men haven't spotted Du Wenming recently either. But since the mark appeared in Huaxian Manor, it proves this was directed at me. I'll keep an eye out." Throughout their exchange, Boss Lu watched Li Banfeng's expression closely. Li Banfeng offered no further explanations, standing up to take his leave. Boss Lu offered a word of caution: "Du Wenming's cultivation has progressed significantly. Seventh Master, you must exercise extreme care." Li Banfeng thanked him and departed from the bookstore. Boss Lu circled the second row of bookshelves twice. Looking out the window, he was still in the Outer States; the Boundary at Santoucha remained impassable. "I thought I might save an official document." Drawing the remaining document from his robes, he slipped it outside the door, circled the second row twice more, and returned to Green Water City. Going up to the second floor, Boss Lu told Yu Yaoming, "You guessed right. This matter has nothing to do with Li the Seventh." Yu Yaoming asked, "So he didn't come to warn you?" Boss Lu shook his head. "If he were aiding Du Wenming in secret, he wouldn't have left the document at Huaxian Manor. If he intended to threaten me openly, he wouldn't deny it. It seems he truly isn't the culprit. Who could have done it?" *Ding-dong—* A bell chimed as someone entered the bookstore. Boss Lu picked up the magazine from the shelf and flipped through it page by page. Flipping all the way to the final page, Boss Lu observed the scene in the first-floor lobby. "Ah, a customer has come to buy books!" Yu Yaoming stared in disbelief. "I heard the bell downstairs ages ago. You spent all that time flipping through just because you wanted to look at the magazine!" Had it been an ordinary customer, Boss Lu might not have bothered, but today's patron held a certain status: Ling Miaosheng of the Miaosheng Gramophone Shop. Boss Lu headed downstairs, walked straight to the counter, and said with a smile, "Boss Ling, here to buy sheet music?" Ling Miaosheng nodded and selected several music books, containing both Western and traditional pieces. To Boss Lu's knowledge, Ling Miaosheng rarely studied traditional music. "Boss Ling, developing a fondness for the ancestral arts, are we?" Ling Miaosheng nodded. "The ancestral arts are indeed marvelous. I recently made two friends who are well-versed in the zither, lute, reed pipes, and flute, though their huqin playing falls a bit short. I'm picking up a couple of scores to study together with them..." Halfway through his sentence, Ling Miaosheng was seized by sudden dizziness. Boss Lu quickly supported him into a seat. "Boss Ling, are you unwell?" Ling Miaosheng shook his head. "I'm not sure what's wrong. Perhaps the chill over these past two days gave me a cold." Boss Lu kept his thoughts to himself; Ling Miaosheng's condition didn't resemble a common cold, but rather an internal injury. After resting for a short while, Ling Miaosheng recovered, gathered his music scores, and returned to his gramophone shop. Entering his room, he placed a record on the turntable and listened in quiet contemplation. These were records mailed from Amikan, over a dozen in total, each featuring different music. Encoded within them were his memories of Amikan. He had once told Li the Seventh that once the records arrived, his memories would return. Yet after listening to them dozens of times, he still couldn't recall a thing. After listening to two tracks, Ling Miaosheng was about to put on a third when a clerk came to report that Mr. Yang Shaofeng and Mr. Cai Weiming had arrived. Yang Shaofeng and Cai Weiming were the aliases used by Bai Wusong—the White Crane—and his attendant, Bai Xinsheng. Ling Miaosheng had been waiting for them and promptly told the clerk to usher them in. "Gentlemen, what brings you here so early today?" Bai Wusong cupped his hands. "Mr. Ling, we have come today to bid you farewell." Ling Miaosheng was taken aback. He shared a deep kinship with Bai Wusong and had spent every day recently studying music alongside him. Hearing that Bai Wusong was departing, Ling Miaosheng felt genuinely reluctant to see him go. "Are you leaving in such haste because Ling has been remiss in his hospitality?" Bai Wusong drew an envelope from his robes. "To find a kindred spirit in this life is my great blessing. To receive Mr. Ling's aid in my time of destitution was an even greater stroke of fortune. Please accept this modest token to cover our food and lodging over this period." Ling Miaosheng accepted the envelope and looked inside, finding a thick stack of banknotes. "Gentlemen, you shame me. Simple meals and plain tea—how could Ling ever keep account of such things with you?" "I do not know how to repay your benevolence, sir. If you refuse even this modest token, it will weigh heavily on my conscience." Bai Wusong insisted on giving it, but Ling Miaosheng adamantly refused to accept. "Gentlemen, forgive my presumption, but could you tell me where you are headed? That way, should Ling wish to visit in the future, I will know where to look." Bai Wusong weighed his words and decided to reveal the truth. "To hide things from you at this juncture would truly be a betrayal of your profound kindness. To speak truthfully, my name is not Yang Shaofeng, nor is my disciple Cai Weiming. My name is Bai Wusong, and we are both members of the White Crane Gang." Ling Miaosheng was familiar with the White Crane Gang, an organization of physical cultivators. The name Bai Wusong sounded familiar as well, but his journey to Inner Amikan had damaged his memories, and he couldn't recall who Bai Wusong was. "Are you planning to return to your gang?" Bai Xinsheng lowered his head. "If only we could go back." Evidently, he had no desire to leave Green Water City. Bai Wusong glared at Bai Xinsheng, then turned back to Ling Miaosheng. "To tell the truth, we don't plan to return to our gang. We intend to make a trip to Sheqiao Village. Boss Ling is likely aware of the White Crane Gang's background. I am a transformative physical cultivator, and my disciple is a mutative physical cultivator. From the day I entered the sect, I held fast to one conviction: all physical cultivators under heaven are our fellow disciples. Two days ago, I learned that Mr. Li the Seventh had settled a group of my fellow disciples in Sheqiao Village—people who suffered through hardship at Santoucha. I want to help them, or else I wouldn't have..." Bai Wusong stopped mid-sentence. He truly wished to help the three-headed people of Santoucha. His secluded cultivation had been aimed at finding a way to breach the Boundary; otherwise, he wouldn't have collided into the Boundary in the first place. Unable to speak further on the matter, Bai Wusong sighed. "I know I am a man of modest ability. Once I reach Sheqiao Village, I will contribute whatever strength I have, even if it means doing odd jobs. I do so willingly." Ling Miaosheng marveled inwardly. He had traveled far and wide, through both Puluo Province and the Outer States, and men like Bai Wusong were exceedingly rare. If nothing else, how many physical cultivators in this world would treat three-headed people as fellow disciples? Ling Miaosheng said, "I share an acquaintance with Li the Seventh as well. How about this: I'll accompany you to Sheqiao Village and make an introduction to Li the Seventh on your behalf." Bai Wusong shook his head. "We wouldn't dare trouble you with that, sir, nor do we require an introduction. We've seen Li the Seventh here at your gramophone shop before. It's enough that Mr. Li knows people like us exist. We aren't going to Sheqiao Village to cause disturbance; we are genuinely going to lend a hand." Ling Miaosheng smiled. "My friendship with Li the Seventh is hardly superficial. I'd like to lend a hand at Sheqiao Village too. Let us set off today." "What about the business here...?" "Someone will look after the shop. Rest assured." Ling Miaosheng ordered his belongings packed. With their luggage prepared and a carriage waiting outside, Ling Miaosheng was just about to step through the door when a dull, stabbing pain flared beneath his ribs. Limpness washed over him, and he nearly collapsed to the floor. Seeing Ling Miaosheng turn pale and break into a cold sweat, Bai Wusong asked, "Sir, what happened?" Ling Miaosheng shook his head. "It's nothing serious. The dampness over the past few days must have..." Seeing that Ling Miaosheng could barely speak, Bai Wusong supported him into a seat. "I possess some modest medical knowledge. If you trust me, sir, allow me to feel your pulse." After taking his pulse, the White Crane pondered for a long time, then asked, "Did you suffer an internal injury?" *An internal injury?* Ling Miaosheng searched his mind, and a sudden wave of memory crashed into his consciousness. "I... I truly was injured..." Ling Miaosheng recalled the injury under his ribs, and remembered being treated. Severely wounded and collapsed on the ground, an Amikan soldier had carried him off the battlefield on his back. Yet as to how he had been injured, Ling Miaosheng could not recall. Bai Xinsheng had no desire to go to Sheqiao Village and genuinely wished to stay in Green Water City. Seeing that Ling Miaosheng was injured, he spoke up hurriedly, "My master's medical skills are superb, especially with acupuncture. Let him treat you and nurse you back to health for a month or so, and your internal injury will definitely heal." Ling Miaosheng looked toward Bai Wusong. Indebted to Ling Miaosheng's hospitality, Bai Wusong could hardly refuse. "I haven't used acupuncture in years, and my skills have likely grown rusty. But if Mr. Ling trusts me..." "I trust you!" Ling Miaosheng cupped his hands. "Thank you for taking the trouble, sir." "You honor me too much." The White Crane instructed Bai Xinsheng to prepare the needles. Ling Miaosheng asked, "I'm a bit sensitive to pain. While you administer the needles, would you mind if I played some music?" The White Crane nodded. "That is perfectly fine." Ling Miaosheng wasn't truly afraid of pain; he had remembered something crucial and wanted to use the records to retrieve the rest of his memories. Once preparations were complete, the White Crane began applying the needles. Bai Xinsheng placed the first record on the turntable. The melody was gentle and melodious, and the White Crane's needles were steady. When the first piece finished, Bai Xinsheng put on the second record; the tune was light and cheerful, easing the White Crane's tension considerably. When the third record began, strings and winds blared in unison with a tragic, heroic fervor. Beads of sweat broke out across the White Crane's brow. A moment later, the melody grew low and oppressive, as though an immense force were gathering strength. The veins on the White Crane's forehead bulged. Moments later, the rhythm surged with aggressive intensity. The White Crane applied force through his fingertips, driving a silver needle half an inch deep and causing Ling Miaosheng to shudder in pain. The White Crane turned around and snapped at Bai Xinsheng, "Why play such a piece? Are you intentionally causing trouble?" Just as Bai Xinsheng moved to change the record, Ling Miaosheng waved a hand. "Wait, let me listen a little longer." The White Crane paused his treatment. Once the piece ended, Ling Miaosheng said, "That was a battle hymn." The White Crane nodded. "A Western battle hymn indeed carries great ferocity. It made me feel like charging into battle myself." "Battle..." Ling Miaosheng recalled more fragments. "I fought in battles—many vicious battles. But I can't remember who I was fighting against." The White Crane didn't pry, gesturing for Bai Xinsheng to change the track. Bai Xinsheng switched the record. Just as the White Crane prepared to insert another needle, a wave of unease washed over him. The tune was eerie and bizarre, shifting keys repeatedly amidst wildly fluctuating scales. The White Crane shook his head. "This piece is unlistenable as well. It sounds as though a hundred demons are running rampant through the streets and alleys." "A hundred demons!" Ling Miaosheng jerked his head up. "That's it! Exactly a hundred—a hundred demons! Demons dispatched by the Inner States!" *** Returning to his quarters, Li Banfeng carefully reviewed Boss Lu's words, analyzing the hidden implications. Amidst his contemplation, a surge of energy stirred within his body, sending an involuntary shiver through him. This energy stemmed from the mortal qi within him. Back at Haichiling, Pan Dehai had gifted him the sacred effigy of the Seventh Master. Consuming this mortal qi had boosted his cultivation considerably, allowing him to unleash Mad cultivator techniques and Expand the Domain and Open the Frontiers at Mount Zhouzi. The volume of mortal qi had been immense, and because Li Banfeng had not advanced in rank, the energy remained partially unabsorbed to this day. This had been Pan Dehai's deliberate gesture of goodwill toward Li Banfeng. Nor was it the only one; Pan Dehai had also taken in Little Fatty Qin earlier. Thinking of Little Fatty Qin brought another clue to the surface of Li Banfeng's mind. After Qin Tianjiu emerged from the wormhole, his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. Boss Lu had just mentioned that Du Wenming's cultivation had progressed significantly as well. Qin Tianjiu had been sent into the wormhole by Boss Lu. How had Du Wenming's cultivation improved? Had he also been sent into the wormhole by Boss Lu? And how had Du Wenming managed to get out? Boss Lu was searching high and low for him, proving that Du Wenming hadn't been released by Boss Lu. Could he have crawled out on his own? Did Du Wenming already possess the ability to leave a wormhole? *He's grown that strong.* Reflecting on their past grievances, Li Banfeng felt a sense of looming peril. He immediately picked up his simple telephone to call Luo Zhengnan. "Old Luo, keep an eye on Du Wenming's movements. That man went to Huaxian Manor, and Boss Lu went there specifically hunting for him." Luo Zhengnan led a team to investigate at once. While Li Banfeng was pondering Du Wenming's whereabouts, the projector suddenly spoke up: "Director Seven, an incoming call from Shen Jingye." Shen Jingye had ordered food and wine in his office, inviting Li Banfeng for a drink to celebrate a stroke of good fortune today. Arriving at the office and seeing Shen Jingye's face blooming with joy, Li Banfeng asked, "What good fortune has happened?" Shen Jingye laughed. "The Dark Star Bureau is saved! Half the credit goes to your insistence on staying with us, and the other half is because the External Civilization Bureau ran into trouble." "What happened to them?" "The External Civilization Bureau wanted to assert its authority, so they started by targeting the dark energy organization known as the Hundred Demons Workshop. In truth, the Hundred Demons Workshop is a fairly well-behaved outfit, but the External Civilization Bureau lacked any sense of discretion. Their heavy-handed actions sparked outrage among numerous international dark energy organizations, creating a disastrous fallout. Now, handling the Hundred Demons Workshop has been handed over to us. The standing of our Dark Star Bureau is completely secure this time!"