"You're worried about the daolao ghosts and the Great Totem too!" Li Banfeng took a sip of noodle broth. "I suspect the daolao ghosts have already fallen under the Great Totem's control. When Qiao Yi led the Totem soldiers into Jianrengang, the daolao ghosts didn't react at all. Daolao ghosts are fiercely territorial. I truly never expected they could be modified to such an extent."
Critic shook his head. "That wasn't modification. Qiao Yi must have uncovered the incantations of curse from the Xia Dynasty."
"The Xia Dynasty?" Li Banfeng had only ever encountered that name in history books.
Critic had researched the subject deeply. "Theoretically, the Xia Dynasty was the predecessor of the Shang Dynasty, but in reality, the two coexisted for a very long time. The Xia Dynasty possessed an advanced level of technology, yet it could not withstand the Shang Dynasty's onslaught and was eventually destroyed. They left themselves one final sliver of hope—the daolao ghosts on Daogui Ridge. The daolao ghosts are the remnants of the Xia Dynasty. To preserve their formidable survival capability, they carry a powerful curse upon their bodies. Their physical forms changed, and their behavior grew more primitive, but they retained a unique language whose primary expressions are their dances and the howls they emit while dancing."
Li Banfeng pondered for a moment. "You mean Qiao Yi has already deciphered the language of the daolao ghosts?"
"I can only say he has deciphered part of it. A substantial portion remains beyond even my ability to decipher. But if Qiao Yi is allowed to continue, before long, he will be able to command the daolao ghosts in battle."
Li Banfeng already realized the gravity of the situation. Picking up his top hat, he said, "Looks like I'll have to find a suitable final resting place for these remnants of a fallen dynasty."
"Wait a moment!" Critic hastily held Li Banfeng back. "Things haven't reached an irreversible point yet. Given the current state of the war, you don't have the spare energy to deal with the daolao ghosts anyway."
"Do you have a better idea?" Li Banfeng looked around the cave. "With your current, unique life form, can you return to the real world and resume control over Daogui Ridge?"
Critic shook his head. "Not right now. I cannot leave the realm of dreams yet, but you can."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "I have no idea how to communicate with daolao ghosts. I occasionally like to dance with them, but that's mostly because the mood struck."
"You understand another form of communication—a relatively abstract one." Critic pulled aside the cloth curtain hanging at the cave entrance. Beyond lay the temple atop Sage Peak, where daolao ghosts were preparing a sacrificial ceremony.
This was Critic's dream. Though his form of existence was somewhat peculiar, he distinctly remembered every single step of the ritual.
"This is even more direct than dancing. This is the devout, unwavering faith of the Xia Dynasty's remnants," Critic said, looking at Li Banfeng. "I know you've treated that faith as a source of combat strength, but do not overlook the power of the daolao ghosts themselves. You are their Daolao God of War. You can command them in battle and let them know who their true enemy is. That is fairer to you, and fairer to them."
Li Banfeng agreed with Critic's reasoning, but two practical problems stood before them.
"I can continue to pose as the Daolao God of War, but I still can't communicate with the daolao ghosts."
Critic corrected him: "You earned the recognition of the daolao ghosts only after defeating the previous Daolao God of War, Wan Jinxian. You won that title through combat; it is hardly an imposture. As for communicating with them, if it's just basic combat orders and encouragement, I can teach you those."
Li Banfeng said, "There's another crucial issue. Daolao ghosts cannot stray too far from Daogui Ridge. I can't lead them to fight elsewhere like you did."
Critic nodded. "That is indeed a crucial issue. Daolao ghosts can leave Daogui Ridge, but it depends on their numbers and the duration. For a brief departure, under their current evolutionary level, a robust daolao ghost can hold out for three days. During those three days, they require no additional supplies whatsoever. The only thing to watch out for is that you must not give them any drinking water, or they will show signs of losing control."
Li Banfeng made a rough calculation of the time, then asked, "What qualifies as a 'robust' daolao ghost?"
Critic thought it over. "It can be measured by combat capability. Through our joint efforts, the combat strength of the daolao ghosts has seen a remarkable increase. A common daolao ghost possesses combat strength roughly equivalent to a fifth-layer ground-level cultivator. A robust daolao ghost can reach the sixth or even seventh layer of the ground level. Meanwhile, a frail daolao ghost might not even match a third-layer ground-level cultivator. I am speaking of absolute combat capability here, not comprehensive combat effectiveness."
Li Banfeng considered this, not quite grasping his meaning. "What's the difference between the two?"
"A huge difference! Comprehensive combat effectiveness and absolute combat strength can sometimes be inversely proportional!"
The scenery outside the cave shifted. Two daolao ghosts had gotten into a fight over a mate.
The difference between robust and frail was readily apparent from their physiques. The robust daolao ghost completely overwhelmed its opponent physically, brutally injuring the frail one in under five minutes.
Critic explained, "If it were purely a contest of absolute combat capability, even three frail daolao ghosts might not defeat one robust one. The problem is that while a robust daolao ghost excels at fighting other daolao ghosts, against enemies of other species, its comprehensive combat effectiveness is abysmal, because its body lacks a sufficient number of disease vectors."
Li Banfeng understood. "Strong daolao ghosts don't get sick easily, so in external combat, they aren't as good at spreading disease as the frail ones."
Critic shook his head. "It cannot be judged so simply. As you saw, that frail daolao ghost's own fighting capability is extremely limited. If you sent it out to spread pestilence, it would likely be killed before ever reaching the enemy. Hence, its comprehensive combat effectiveness cannot be considered high either. Furthermore, a daolao ghost frail to that degree can only leave Daogui Ridge for a single day at most, making it far less tactically flexible. Therefore, when selecting personnel, you must make a balanced assessment. I have constructed several mathematical models that you can take back for reference."
Looking at the densely packed formulas, Li Banfeng felt a throbbing headache coming on.
"Don't feel discouraged, my friend. You have shortcuts available," Critic said, producing another stack of manuscripts. "If you wish to lead daolao ghosts in extended operations away from home, the optimal choice is to deploy a coordinated mix of varying physical conditions. Have the robust daolao ghosts handle the frontline fighting, while the frail ones take charge of spreading disease. I have calculated the precise personnel ratios, though in actual combat, adjustments must be made according to the shifting tides of battle. Remember above all else: if daolao ghosts are to fight away from Daogui Ridge for extended periods, you must prepare an ample supply of water for them. This cannot be ordinary water; it must come from Daogui Ridge. That point is paramount. Daolao ghosts of differing physical conditions consume water at different rates, which I have detailed extensively in the attached tables—"
Li Banfeng gritted his teeth and took the manuscript. Critic then asked a serious question: "Which journal do you think would be most suitable for publishing our findings?"
Li Banfeng said nothing, merely staring at Critic in silence.
Critic waved his hands with a laugh. "Just a joke! I wouldn't publish our treatise before you've completed the field experiments. Now then, let's learn the dances. They aren't complicated at all."
Li Banfeng had a solid foundation in dance; back when he needed to deal with Du Wenming, he had studied dancing diligently.
In just over an hour, Li Banfeng mastered a large array of daolao ghost dance movements.
Critic wiped away his sweat and altered the scenery outside the cave once more.
Beyond the entrance now lay a desolate expanse of newland. Overhead, bands of halo light rippled—a sign that land reclamation was nearing completion.
"This is a scene I discovered within Qiao Yi's dreams. In it, I saw a friend of yours, surnamed He."
Li Banfeng nodded. "He has been reclaiming newland all this time. This should be his territory."
Critic said, "I don't intend to sow discord in your friendship, but I must caution you: this friend of yours has appeared in Qiao Yi's dreams more than once. Lately, in particular, he has appeared with high frequency."
Li Banfeng pondered this carefully.
He Yuxiu had just left; surely she would know of He Jiaqing's recent circumstances?
"Can you enter He Jiaqing's dreams?"
Critic shook his head. "I cannot actively enter another person's dreams. I can only follow the master of Dream-Tethering Tower to scout for information. He Jiaqing is not in the Inner States, and his cultivation is formidable and his vigilance sharp. Entering his dreams would be exceptionally hazardous. The master of Dream-Tethering Tower wouldn't take such a risk lightly, and even if he did, he wouldn't bring me along. I merely want you to stay on guard. War is cruel. I have lived through war, and I know what choices people make when life and death hang in the balance."
Li Banfeng looked at Critic. "If faced with a choice between life and death, would you bow your head to the Inner States?"
"If I were someone who bowed so easily, my state of existence wouldn't have ended up like this."
Critic pulled open his lapels. Embroidered across his chest were the same five large characters: *I love Puluo Province!*
"My friend, I too am fighting for Puluo Province, in my own way. My dream will not change, but before it is fully realized, Puluo Province will be my very last target."
Li Banfeng nodded slightly. The two looked at each other for a moment, then both removed their hats and bowed to one another.
Waking from the dream, Li Banfeng realized a serious problem: he remembered the dances Critic had taught him, but the manuscript was far harder to commit to memory.
Li Banfeng explained the situation. "Brother Zhao, can you take me into Critic's dream one more time?"
Zhao Lanmeng looked awkward. "That's quite difficult. To enter his dreams, I have to evade Meng Qian's sight and sneak into Dream-Tethering Tower. Meng Qian is cautious. Slipping in and out of Dream-Tethering Tower twice in such a short span of time—there's no way Meng Qian wouldn't notice. But there's no need to fret over this. I can help recreate a portion of your earlier dream. Any formulas you didn't memorize, you can memorize again."
Li Banfeng stared at Zhao Lanmeng. "In other words, I have to go into a dream to memorize math formulas?"
As a sloth cultivator, Zhao Lanmeng fully understood Li Banfeng's agony. "I can't think of a better way either."
***
He Yuxiu, accompanied by her family, rode the Haichi Old Carriage to He Jiaqing's thirteen tracts of newland.
Twenty li from the border, the driver brought the carriage to a halt. "Miss He, this is as far as I take you. You'll have to walk the rest of the way."
The remaining distance wasn't great, but it wouldn't have taken much for the driver to go a little further, and quite a few people felt disgruntled.
He Yuxiu, however, felt no resentment at all. Leaving Santoucha on the eve of battle was inherently unjustifiable. That Li Qi hadn't blamed her was already generous, and arranging a carriage to escort her was a rare mark of favor.
Once everyone had disembarked, He Yuxiu offered a chest of silver dollars to the driver as a token of thanks.
The driver had intended to say nothing, but after glancing at the silver dollars, he couldn't help speaking up: "Miss He, keep your guard up around certain people. Tread carefully in certain matters. And some fires, you'll just have to swallow down yourself!"
With that, the driver pulled the carriage away.
After spending so much time around him, He Yuxiu had learned a bit about Che Wushang's reputation. The man was habitually overcautious; he was likely just reminding her to be careful, without any deeper meaning.
She led the group toward the newland, growing more puzzled with every step.
He Jiaqing had constantly claimed he was out of money, yet there were plenty of people clearing land, and work seemed bustling across every parcel.
Along the way, she ran into no acquaintances until she had crossed two tracts of land, where she finally encountered Shen Rongqing.
Shen Rongqing was thoroughly surprised to see He Yuxiu. "Sister Xiu, what brings you here?"
He Yuxiu examined Shen Rongqing's eyes. "Sister, why are your eyes so red? Did something happen?"
Shen Rongqing forced a thin smile. "Nothing major. Sister Xiu, I heard you've been fighting alongside Seventh Master all this time. Why have you suddenly returned?"
He Yuxiu found the question odd. "Big Head told me earlier that Jiaqing was taking such a beating he couldn't hold out, so I came back. The way you ask makes it sound like my coming was entirely superfluous."
"No, not superfluous at all," Shen Rongqing stammered, her tongue twisting. "The matter has actually blown over. Those people aren't coming to cause trouble anymore, so... it ends here."
He Yuxiu grew annoyed. "What are you talking about? What do you mean they aren't coming to cause trouble anymore? Didn't Jiaqing get into a war with the Inner States? You make it sound like he just bumped into a couple of ruffians!"
Shen Rongqing was one of the foremost talents in Puluo Province, yet right now she couldn't even speak coherently.
He Yuxiu frowned. "I'm done talking to you. Where is Jiaqing? I'll go find him myself!"
Shen Rongqing glanced toward a row of wooden cabins in the distance. "Jiaqing... he doesn't seem to be around right now—"
He Yuxiu pushed past Shen Rongqing and marched straight toward the cabins.
He Jiaqing emerged from the house to greet her. "Auntie, why have you come?"
He Yuxiu lit a cigarette. "Whether I should have come or not, explain yourself clearly!"
He Jiaqing put on a broad smile. "This is our He family's land. Auntie is welcome to come whenever she pleases."
"Jiaqing, that's not quite the way to put it." A young man stepped out of the cabin. He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, fair skin, and very handsome features.
Yet his attire was somewhat peculiar. Judging by his long robes, he appeared to be dressed in the official vestments of the Inner States.
He Yuxiu asked, "Are you from the Inner States?"
The young man remained silent, while He Jiaqing hurriedly made the introduction: "This is the Prince of Anshun, dispatched by the imperial court to reward our He family."
"Dispatched by whom? Rewarding whom?" He Yuxiu could scarcely believe her ears. "Jiaqing, repeat what you just said for me."
He Jiaqing pursed his lips and looked at He Yuxiu with a smile. "Auntie, the imperial court has bestowed these thirteen tracts of land upon our He family."
He Yuxiu stared at He Jiaqing in silence for over a minute.
Suddenly, she drew a dagger and thrust it straight toward the Prince of Anshun's brow.
Moments ago, she had been fighting the Inner States in a life-or-death struggle, and now He Jiaqing was here accepting rewards from them!
As a martial cultivator at the first layer above the clouds, He Yuxiu struck with lethal force, giving the Prince of Anshun such a fright that he trembled.
He Jiaqing moved a step ahead, snatching He Yuxiu's dagger away.
Losing the blade didn't stop her; He Yuxiu jabbed her fingers toward the Prince of Anshun's eyes.
The prince still couldn't dodge in time, but He Jiaqing thrust out his own palm to block He Yuxiu's fingers, shielding the prince once more.
He Jiaqing's palm was pierced straight through, and the sight wrenched He Yuxiu's heart.
In that single heartbeat of hesitation, He Jiaqing drew out a length of cord, whipped it around He Yuxiu's wrists, and bound her fast.
He Yuxiu fell to the ground, struggling furiously, but she couldn't break free. This was a magical treasure of the binding path, one He Jiaqing had seized from He Qingdong.
"He Jiaqing, you brute! You'll die a miserable death!" He Yuxiu cursed at the top of her lungs.
The other members of the He family moved to charge forward, but a crowd of experts surged out of the surrounding woods, encircling them.
Lying on the ground, He Yuxiu looked around. The newcomers were all elders of the He family—uncles, grand-uncles, and many she didn't even recognize.
Sheng Shanzhou, the old head bookkeeper, stepped forward to shield He Yuxiu. "Elders, these are internal family matters. We cannot make ourselves a laughingstock before outsiders."
The He family elders looked at Sheng Shanzhou without expression. One grand-uncle said, "The imperial court's business is far greater than family business!"
Seeing that reasoning was futile, Sheng Shanzhou turned to He Jiaqing. "Jiaqing, you must say something! Your aunt returned today entirely for your sake!"
He Jiaqing remained expressionless. Lowering his head, he stood dutifully beside the prince.
The Prince of Anshun sighed. "The He family has been loyal and upright for generations. How did a den of rebels like you emerge? For Jiaqing's sake, I shall spare your lives. Find a place to lock them up!"
A group of He family elders confined He Yuxiu and the others in separate wooden cabins, sealing them tight with various magical treasures and spiritual artifacts.
With bloodshot eyes, He Yuxiu glared out the window, watching He Jiaqing bow his back, head lowered, standing by the prince's side.
He was still explaining to the prince that He Yuxiu's actions had nothing to do with him.
The prince patted He Jiaqing on the shoulder. "Jiaqing, your loyalty to the court is clear to me, but there are others who cannot see it. While my words carry some weight in the court, I am not the one who can elevate you. The true authority in the court rests with Lord Qiao. Lord Qiao remembers everything you did back then. If you truly wish to wipe the slate clean, you must take to the battlefield!"
He Jiaqing showed a look of reluctance, but he agreed nonetheless. "This humble official is at Your Highness's command."
***
Meanwhile, Li Banfeng copied formulas while analyzing Critic's algorithm. Halfway through, he gave up.
He felt his math was decent enough, and if he really couldn't solve it, he could have his lady help him calculate; if his lady couldn't, they could bring Ba Suan into the equation. But would it even be useful once solved? Even Critic had admitted this mathematical model was merely for reference.
Packing up his notes, Li Banfeng left Qiu Zhiheng's residence and sought out Chu Er.
"Huaiyuan, I have a favor to ask."
Chu Er was taken aback. "Seventh Brother, what are you saying? Why talk of favors between us? What do you need me to do? Do you want to keep Granny Ku here? Even if I risk her beating me to death, I'll go see her right now."
Li Banfeng stopped her. "It's not about Granny Ku. I want to meet your father."
Chu Er looked startled. "I can't say for sure which side he stands on."
Li Banfeng had turned the matter over in his mind many times. "I believe he stands with us."
Chapter 839