In Hanmo Garden, as the song and dance concluded, Zhu Jin, Qiao Yi, Xie Gong, and the surrounding crowd of three-headed people all fixed their gazes upon Li Banfeng.
Zhu Jin was of a more direct temperament and was even tempted to ask Li Banfeng outright.
From the moment Li Banfeng arrived in Chaoge, he had been under their watchful surveillance. They hadn't seen him employ any techniques, nor use any numinous artifacts or treasures, nor had they heard of him being a Peeping Cultivator. How on earth did he know so much?
Zhu Jin looked toward Xie Gong.
Xie Gong suspected a traitor had surfaced in Chaoge, but the man had deep, calculating thoughts; his face betrayed no expression, and his lips remained tightly sealed.
Luo Lijun and Luo Shaojun were both dumbfounded.
Luo Lijun even wanted to urge Li Banfeng to watch his tongue and maintain some sense of propriety.
She did not even realize that her very life hung upon that exact sense of propriety.
After a long silence, Qiao Yi smiled. "The wine of Great Shang is mellow and strong. His Highness Li Qi must be drunk. Our gathering here today is solely for the peace talks. Why, for no reason at all, have you brought up the Sage once more?"
Li Banfeng smiled. "Whether I speak of him or not, your Sage has to come. From the moment I entered Chaoge, he had no other way out."
These words struck straight at the vitals.
Because he was short two heads, the Sage's lineage had always been called into question. Li Qi had set up a new monarch out in the world, reducing the Sage's identity to that of the usurping Prince Chun. Once that was cemented, any path to survival for the Sage in Great Shang would be completely cut off.
Li Banfeng looked at Qiao Yi and said, "Your Sage tried everything to prevent Li Qi from reaching Chaoge. Lord Bao Ying's earlier ambush against me was done under the Sage's orders—am I right?"
Qiao Yi wore a look of utter astonishment. "His Highness Li Qi, are you speaking of Lord Bao Ying, the monarch of Boundless City?"
Li Qi chuckled. "Let's not play dumb. Your Sage had calculated long ago that the Luo sisters might use Boundless City to reach Chaoge. He had Lord Bao Ying make thorough preparations for assassination well in advance. Too bad that useless sack of straw couldn't pull it off—he couldn't kill me.
"From the moment I arrived in Chaoge, your Sage's position became precarious. What you discussed with me, and how far those talks went, were entirely out of his control. If he didn't act now, it would be equivalent to sitting and waiting for death.
"And you seized upon this exact point, laying heavy ambushes throughout the Third Ring, waiting for the Sage to walk right into your trap.
"Am I wrong?"
The moment his words landed, every three-headed person present instantly shifted their posture, pretending to engage in casual conversation with one another.
Some talked about the weather: "Chaoge has been rather more humid than usual these days."
"Indeed, Chaoge is vastly different this year compared to years past."
Some talked about attire: "Lord Liu, the embroidery on your robes is truly exquisite."
"The handiwork of Yu Guixiang in the Second Ring. The woman is rather blunt by nature, but I do genuinely admire her craft."
Some had nothing to talk about at all and scrambled for small talk: "Brother Su, look! The fresh flowers are blooming brilliantly today!"
"Quite right, Brother Xu. Blooming far too brilliantly."
Everyone pretended not to have heard Li Qi's words, because Li Qi had hit the mark. He had laid bare the true purpose of their banquet.
Today, Qiao Yi and the others had hosted this feast ostensibly to consult with Li Qi regarding the new monarch, but their real objective was to force the Sage out from Chaoge's core into the Third Ring to fight them here.
Now that their objective had been achieved, shouldn't they let Li Qi and the others leave?
Wishful thinking!
Li Banfeng knew Qiao Yi would never let them walk away.
Seeing everyone still feigning ignorance, Li Banfeng laid things bare with even greater bluntness: "You truly do want to get rid of the Sage. That intention is real.
"However, whether you manage to kill the Sage or not, you will still bear the crime of regicide. You have to secure a backup plan for yourselves, and that backup plan rests on me.
"If you succeed in slaying the Sage, you will pin the crime of regicide on me. How you handle me later will depend on which way the wind blows among the royal clan and the various lords.
"If they let the matter pass, you'll let me live, though certainly locked away for the rest of my days. If they don't let it pass, you'll execute me in public. Either way, you come out squeaky clean, entirely spotless.
"And if you fail to kill the Sage, you can simply turn around and eliminate me. That way, your stance completely flips, turning you into meritorious ministers who eradicated a thorn in the Sage's side."
The wine cup in Luo Lijun's hand clattered to the ground. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that being invited to Chaoge was merely to serve as a scapegoat.
Luo Shaojun surreptitiously reached behind her for her river snail shell. Inside lay weapons; Luo Shaojun was already prepared to fight to the death.
The crowd of three-headed people no longer pretended to chat idly, feeling there was nothing left to conceal.
Yet Qiao Yi still had plenty to hide. He retorted to Li Banfeng, "His Highness Li Qi, what absurd nonsense. Even if I claimed to be a meritorious servant, how could His Majesty ever trust me again?"
Li Banfeng smiled. "Whether he trusts you doesn't depend on his personal feelings; it depends on the leverage the two of you hold. As long as he has no concrete proof of regicide against you, you'll have plenty of leeway to parry with the Sage. Am I wrong about that, too?"
Qiao Yi stood up. "Having indulged in a couple extra cups of wine, I feel somewhat dizzy. Pray remain seated, Your Highness. Excuse me for a moment."
"Don't move!" Li Banfeng tilted up the brim of his hat and looked at Qiao Yi. "Old Qiao, I can stay here a bit longer, but the Luo sisters ought to return to Boundless City."
All the three-headed people looked toward the Luo sisters. They had no desire to let these two scapegoats slip away; after all, there were bound to be many charges to shoulder in the future, and Li Qi alone might not suffice.
Qiao Yi smiled thinly. "The Luo family and I are old acquaintances. A reunion like this is rare; leaving when the wine is only half finished—would that not spoil the mood?"
"Spoiling the mood is better than spoiling your life," Li Banfeng said, staring straight at Qiao Yi. "Having extra scapegoats is fine, of course, but keeping a path of retreat open isn't a bad idea either. Should the day come when you have nowhere left to turn, Boundless City could still offer you a shelter."
Qiao Yi sighed. "Your Highness is joking again."
"I'm not joking." Li Banfeng pulled down the brim of his hat. "Let the Luo sisters leave immediately, or I'll see to it that you go first."
Several three-headed people rose one after another, hands resting on their respective weapons.
The surrounding guards drew their blades as well. Everyone looked primed to attack Li Qi.
Yet Qiao Yi knew in his heart that they were merely putting on a show; not a single person present had the courage to actually make a move against Li Qi.
Across eleven states and three thousand nations, in individual combat prowess, none could match Puluo Province. The Li Qi sitting opposite him was a ruthless powerhouse from Puluo Province—a truly formidable figure.
Qiao Yi knew he was only a few paces away from Li Qi, and he was well aware that Li Qi could strike fatally at any moment.
Weighing his options carefully, Qiao Yi waved a hand, ordering the guards to escort Luo Lijun and Luo Shaojun away.
Luo Lijun's legs felt weak, and for a long moment she couldn't stand.
Luo Shaojun refused to leave; she was unwilling to leave Li Qi here alone.
Li Banfeng shot the two a glare, his eyes brimming with a chilling glint.
The sooner they left, the better. As long as they returned safely to Boundless City, Li Banfeng would be free of two burdens, significantly increasing his chances of escape.
The two sisters departed with Bai Liangchen and the rest of their retinue. Li Banfeng had Banfeng Two and Banfeng Three protect them from the shadows, while instructing Qiao Yi: "Lord Qiao, let's keep our dealings honorable. Do not give those two women any trouble."
Qiao Yi nodded slightly, then turned to leave the feast once again.
"Stay your steps, Lord Qiao!" Li Banfeng raised his wine cup. "A rare reunion like this between us—leaving when the wine is only half finished, wouldn't that spoil the mood?"
His expression icy, Qiao Yi sat back down.
Zhu Jin glanced at Qiao Yi with a trace of blame; he felt that if Qiao Yi had left earlier, he wouldn't have been coerced by Li Qi.
Xie Gong remained silent. He knew full well that this Li Qi was no ordinary individual—he would never allow Qiao Yi to slip out of his sight.
In his current predicament, Qiao Yi was Li Qi's life-saving bargaining chip; how could Li Qi let go so easily?
Banfeng Chou and Banfeng Mao returned to Li Qi's side. The two shadows had been stuck in the Fourth Ring, thinking that with nothing but residences there, there was nothing worth seeing. But just moments ago, they had spotted the Sage leading an army into the city.
The two had rushed back immediately, but being unfamiliar with the terrain worked against them; by the time they reached Hanmo Garden, the Sage was already on the verge of fighting his way into the Third Ring.
Qiao Yi decided to lay his cards on the table. "His Highness Li Qi, you spoke of a retreat earlier. Do you know why we must secure a path of retreat?"
Drawing upon the intelligence Banfeng Wu had brought back, Li Banfeng had already deduced the gist of it: "In the teahouse outside this garden, there is a group of people from Puluo Province. Whose side they are on remains unclear for now."
Qiao Yi could no longer maintain his composure. Li Banfeng not only knew ambushes were stationed in the city, but had also named the greatest hidden worry weighing on Qiao Yi's mind.
Just how many traitors were there in Chaoge? Exactly how much information did Li Qi possess?
Fear crept into all the three-headed people. They could not fathom what kind of person this Puluo crown prince was, nor could they imagine how deeply rooted his network in Chaoge truly went.
They exchanged glances, eyeing each other with suspicion, and many sought an excuse to slip away from the banquet.
Qiao Yi refused to let them go!
Having fought in court politics for years, Qiao Yi possessed a sharper and more sinister gaze than ordinary men. He now suspected that among those seated here sat traitors planted by Li Qi himself!
Li Qi asked again, "Lord Qiao, was I right?"
Qiao Yi gave a slight nod. "Those who could rise through the ranks in Chaoge and even become regional lords have all, to some degree, received the Sage's favor."
In other words, those in the teahouse were far more likely to lean toward the Sage.
Li Banfeng said, "I have a gift for you, Lord Qiao, which should help stabilize that crowd in the future."
As he spoke, Li Banfeng drew a document from his sleeve, unfolded it, displayed it before everyone, and then handed it to Qiao Yi.
It was an imperial edict that read:
*The Son of Heaven is touring the outer domains on an inspection hunt. Qiao Yi is hereby appointed Grand Councilor to assist in governing; all court affairs may be handled by Qiao Yi as he sees fit.*
The imperial seal was stamped upon the edict. Qiao Yi examined it repeatedly, and those around him inspected it as well. The seal was genuine!
The liquor gourd quietly asked the Judge's Brush, "I recall we didn't bring the imperial jade seal along. Where did that seal stamp come from?"
The Judge's Brush answered, "Drawn."
The old teapot felt uneasy. "Can a drawn one really work? An expert will know it's fake the moment they flip the edict over and look at the back!"
The Judge's Brush yawned. "Drawn on the back, too."
The liquor gourd was dumbfounded. "You can even do that?"
"Hmph." The Judge's Brush rolled over and went to sleep.
The projector had been recording the entire meeting, and this was the most critical part; it dedicated a generous amount of close-ups to both the edict and Qiao Yi's face.
This edict was lethal. It effectively meant Qiao Yi was accepting a promotion from the new monarch.
Qiao Yi's face changed drastically. "Your Highness is trapping me in treachery!"
Li Banfeng shook his head. "You shouldn't put it like that. If things succeed, this edict will bring Lord Qiao boundless benefits. If things fail, Lord Qiao can simply act as though you never laid eyes on this edict."
Never laid eyes on it?
Tear it up afterward?
Qiao Yi glanced back at the people around him.
They had all seen it.
Li Qi laughed. "What are you afraid of? Aren't they all your men?"
Hanmo Garden fell into prolonged silence. From outside came waves of battle cries; the Sage had led his troops here and clashed with Qiao Yi's subordinates.
Banfeng Three returned. He and Banfeng Two had already seen Luo Lijun and Luo Shaojun back to Boundless City; Banfeng Three returned to report, while Banfeng Two stayed in Boundless City to assist Li Banfeng upon arrival.
Qiao Yi looked grim. There was no conclusion from the teahouse yet, making it impossible to determine the tide of battle.
Li Banfeng chuckled. "Lord Qiao, don't dwell on a retreat anymore. Why not take the edict straight to the teahouse and see for yourself? Success or failure hinges on this single move!"
While Qiao Yi was still pondering, Li Banfeng abruptly vanished without a trace.
He escaped?
Qiao Yi turned pale with shock, quickly ordering the guards to form a ring around him.
He feared Li Qi would use Viewing Flowers from Horseback to injure him.
The other three-headed people scattered in avoidance, terrified of falling into Li Qi's line of sight.
After waiting for quite a while, everyone remained unharmed.
Li Banfeng hadn't made a move against them; he couldn't bear to kill them just yet.
If he killed them, who would fight the Sage?
Qiao Yi shouted, "Pursue him! Quick, pursue him!"
Zhu Jin said, "Why bother chasing him? The new monarch's edict is right here. Better to head straight to the teahouse and suppress the rebels by imperial decree!"
Xie Gong felt Zhu Jin's idea made sense. "Brother Zhu is right. Opportunity knocks but once. Take the edict to find Shu Wanjuan; with proper justification and legitimacy, the deed will be done!"
Qiao Yi shook his head. "That matter must be handled, but Li Qi cannot be allowed to escape either. Without him as a witness, certain matters will be hard to account for later."
Xie Gong frowned slightly. At a critical juncture, how could he vacillate like this?
Qiao Yi immediately issued orders to hunt down Li Qi along his escape route.
Zhu Jin urged anxiously, "We shouldn't divide our forces right now."
He was right; they should be concentrating their strength against the Sage.
Qiao Yi replied, "Only mobilize the ambushes in the First and Second Rings to pursue Li Qi. The soldiers of the Third Ring are to commit all their forces to encircling and slaying the traitor!"
He was the leader among the three, leaving Zhu Jin and Xie Gong no choice.
Clutching the edict, Qiao Yi wanted to head to the teahouse, yet still hesitated.
Leading his soldiers, the Sage had already fought his way to the vicinity of Hanmo Garden.
Xie Gong grew anxious. "Elder Brother, we cannot hesitate any longer! Have you forgotten that His Majesty also crawled his way out of Puluo Province?"
Weighing things over and over, Qiao Yi took the edict and headed for the teahouse.
Li Banfeng sprinted toward the Second Gate. The gate was shut tight, heavily guarded atop the battlements. Banfeng Zi reminded him, "Master Jia, Banfeng Two mentioned earlier that there are mechanisms hidden within the city walls."
"Then we fly over!" Li Banfeng used the Riding the Wind and Charioting Clouds technique, soaring into the air.
The soldiers on the walls cranked their ballistas, and over a hundred ballista bolts shot out, chasing after Li Banfeng.
Li Banfeng dodged, but the bolts trailed him in midair. He touched down, ducking behind a massive boulder, but the bolts slammed into it, shattering the stone into dust.
Li Banfeng used Carefree and Unfettered to evade, and the bolts passed straight through his chest without harming him.
Yet who would have thought that after flying a short distance, the bolts wheeled around and came back! They had locked onto Li Banfeng the instant they left the bowstrings; as long as they didn't strike him, they wouldn't stop!
If weapons like these were brought to Puluo Province, how many troops could withstand a single ballista?
With no way to evade, Li Banfeng stopped dodging altogether.
Over a dozen ballistas locked onto him, unleashing a torrential hail of bolts.
Suddenly, a pavilion materialized, shielding Li Banfeng within.
The bolts struck the pavilion, trapped by its defensive barrier, unable to break free.
Homestead and Travel countered yet nurtured each other. Li Banfeng had used Mind Traversing a Thousand Mountains to relocate Yucui Building right here.
This was his residence; though brought over for only a fleeting instant, it was enough to withstand the lethal strike on his behalf.
Yucui Building vanished, bristling with bolts. Li Banfeng took to the air once more, preparing to fly over the wall, when a sudden icy chill crept up his spine.
*Can't fly.*
There were separate mechanisms on the wall designed specifically against flying targets.
Li Banfeng had no idea what kind of mechanism it was, but the chill told him it had already been triggered—and its power was staggering.
If flying over was out of the question, what then?
Charge through the mechanisms embedded in the wall itself?
Only twenty to thirty paces remained between Li Banfeng and the wall. He unleashed the Sever Path to Open a Road technique.
A fissure tore open in the wall, from which colorless, invisible steam under extreme heat and pressure blasted out.
Li Banfeng activated Benevolent Heart of the Homestead, charging straight into the steam, while simultaneously activating Dogged Persistence, sending his cultivation surging continuously.
He pushed Sever Path to Open a Road with increasing force until a passageway finally split open in the wall, and Li Banfeng squeezed his way through.
The guards atop the wall pivoted their ballistas and fired another volley. Li Banfeng snatched two feathered arrows, planting one at his feet and another several dozen paces away.
Travel Cultivator technique: Hundred Steps Traversal.
The arrows chased after Li Banfeng, flying swift and long, yet failing to catch him.
By the time the arrows lost their numinous power and clattered to the ground, Li Banfeng had long since vanished without a trace.
Bursting through the Second Gate, Li Banfeng assumed any remaining dangers lay at the First Gate.
He was wrong.
Something else was waiting for him within the Second Ring.
The bronze horns that had lined the streets to welcome him earlier sounded once more.
*Wuuu-oong!*
The blast sent vibrations shaking through every bone in Li Banfeng's body. This was no illusion—if these bronze horns kept sounding, his bones truly would shatter.
With his wife not by his side, Li Banfeng could not borrow Sound Cultivator techniques. He carried a few records with him, but playing them would be useless; their volume would be drowned out by the bronze horns in an instant.
Benevolent Heart of the Homestead and Mind Traversing a Thousand Mountains could not be used again so soon, and without his homestead around, Close the Doors and Bar the Gates and Expand the Domain and Open the Frontiers were out of reach.
Li Banfeng took stock of his techniques, unable to think of any way to counter so many bronze horns.
Try a Fool Cultivator technique?
With so many horns, which one was he supposed to fool?
The bronze horns grew louder and louder. Li Banfeng gritted his teeth, holding out against the assault.
Suddenly, from the distance came the whistle of a train, accompanied by singing mixed into the steam:
"Racing through the plains, crossing through the hills, chuffing plumes of smoke!
Add the coal, fill the water, off on our way we go,
Once the train gets moving, its power has no bound!
Over bridges, drilling tunnels, iron wheels roll through perilous passes,
Ten thousand trials and dangers we fear not,
Come wind or rain, true to time, we traverse ten thousand streams!"
The "Train Ballad"!
Li Banfeng was overjoyed. Grandpa Train was here!
The ballad resonated alongside the whistle, echoing back and forth and disrupting the unified blare of the bronze horns.
Li Banfeng felt a rush of relief, sprinting as fast as his legs could carry him. In his ear, he heard Grandpa Train's voice: "Brother, slow down a bit! I'll go open the gates for you!"
He Jiaqing was still keeping watch near the First Gate. With too many guards on the walls, he hadn't found an opportunity to slip out of the city.
Use the Leaping Walls and Crossing Rooftops technique to scale the wall directly?
Won't work.
If there were few guards on the walls, it might have been worth a try, but with so many troops, so many weapons, and so many mechanisms on Chaoge's city walls, if he left a trace while climbing, he would never make it back down once he reached the top.
Scale the wall somewhere away from the gate?
That wouldn't work either.
The geography of Chaoge shifted constantly. Aside from the city gates remaining fixed, mountains, rivers, and buildings were all liable to change locations.
Though He Jiaqing had been to Chaoge and knew how to navigate, if he lost the city gates—his most vital reference point—and exited from elsewhere, he might end up hopelessly lost.
Having come this far, He Jiaqing didn't want to take risks. He simply waited patiently beneath the wall. No matter how big the commotion, the guards were bound to change shifts eventually.
As He Jiaqing waited patiently, Grandpa Train's voice suddenly sounded in his ear: "What are you waiting for?"
Why was he back again?
He Jiaqing said, "I'm waiting for a chance to leave the city."
Grandpa Train materialized beside He Jiaqing. "Now is the perfect chance! I'll lure away the people on the wall, and you go pry open the city gate!"
With those words, Grandpa Train pulled a palm-sized, swallow-shaped kite from his robe and tossed it into the air.
The kite took flight, spreading its wings. Originally only the size of a palm, after flying for just a moment, it expanded into a massive creature one zhang long and two zhang wide.
One kite split into two, two split into twenty, and twenty kites surged onto the battlements, tangling in combat with the defenders.
Grandpa Train tugged at more than twenty kite strings and shouted at He Jiaqing, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and unlock it!"
Seeing that the opportunity was indeed golden, He Jiaqing stealthily crept to the gate. Using a key, he opened the lock, pushed back the bolt, and just as he shoved the gate open, he heard Grandpa Train shout, "Brother, run!"
"Thank you, Senior!" He Jiaqing was just about to dash forward when he saw Grandpa Train fleeing with Li Banfeng in tow.
When Grandpa Train called out "Brother," he was calling Li Banfeng?
When did he get to know Grandpa Train?
Had Grandpa Train already been trapped in the Inner States before Li Banfeng ever came to Puluo Province?
Could Li Banfeng have had ties to Puluo Province before that?
Li Banfeng really did come to Chaoge! Was the one who stole the covenant deeds from me just now actually him?
He Jiaqing was rife with suspicion, but now was not the time to ponder such things. The kites on the battlements had vanished, and He Jiaqing needed to escape immediately.
Li Banfeng burst out of the city gate, only for a herd of white horses to block the way ahead.
Lining the streets, the white horses had indeed been more than mere ceremonial decor. They bore weapons, and though none of high rank, their sheer numbers could stall a battle into a deadlock.
*Boom!*
Li Banfeng had no patience for a stalemate. He stamped down with Treading Ten Thousand Rivers. Several white horses collapsed, opening up a path.
Grandpa Train sighed. "Brother, how on earth did you learn this technique? Treading Ten Thousand Rivers and Viewing Flowers from Horseback are our pathway's signature skills, yet you've butchered them into this state?"
He desperately wanted to demonstrate the core essentials of Treading Ten Thousand Rivers for Li Banfeng once more, but unfortunately, this shadow was too far from his true body and lacked the strength.
Li Banfeng pursed his lips. "Elder Brother, once we return to Puluo Province, I'll polish my skills with you properly."
"Puluo Province..."
Old Train hesitated, words caught in his throat.
The two sprinted along, reaching the outskirts of Chaoge.
Ahead lay a mountain. Once he crossed it, Li Banfeng would be out of Chaoge.
"Brother, take care."
Li Banfeng paused, startled. "Elder Brother, aren't you coming back with me?"
Grandpa Train's figure gradually faded. "Didn't your shadow tell you? I'm only a shadow, too."
Pressed for time, Banfeng Zi had transmitted only the most crucial memories to Li Banfeng first; some details Li Banfeng was only just now glimpsing.
"Elder Brother, tell me where you are!"
Grandpa Train smiled. "No rush."
He refused to say, fearing Li Banfeng would do something reckless.
He feared this rash little brother would refuse to leave.
He had so much he wanted to say to this little brother, yet after waiting a moment, all that came was a long whistle.
Frightened by the whistle, the pursuing white horses dared not approach for the time being.
"Remember to visit the Second Room often and study Shadow Cultivator techniques well." Grandpa Train twitched his eyebrows at Li Banfeng with a smile, and his figure disappeared.
Standing at the foot of the mountain, Li Banfeng looked into the distance for a moment, and he smiled as well.
Grandpa Train was in good shape!
"Elder Brother, wait for me. I will definitely save you!"
Li Banfeng crossed the mountain ridge and entered the valley.
The mountains slowly closed together as the massive worm shut its mouth, vanishing into the deep sea.
Ten-odd minutes later, having fought through white horses the entire way and covered in injuries, He Jiaqing ran to the shore.
Where was the entrance?
Where was Sui'an Town?
*That untrustworthy woman dumped me here!*
Li Banfeng walked forward along the slippery path, feeling that something was amiss.
The environment here was very similar to Boundless City, yet there seemed to be a slight difference.
"You're back—who are you?" Zuo Anna walked from the main street of Sui'an Town to the exit, quietly staring at the man before her in the black suit.
Li Banfeng looked at Zuo Anna and asked, "What is your honorable surname?"
Chapter 675