Tears welled in Yuan Miaoping's eyes. Pouting, she looked at Li Banfeng. "Chief, it's not what you think. There's no way I can just casually turn anyone into a Disease Cultivator. Critic really is a special case. I chose him back then because he actually met the requirements to become one."
Li Banfeng carefully wiped down the phosphor screen. "By 'met the requirements,' you mean he had Dao affinity, right?"
Yuan Miaoping's face filled with admiration. "Chief, how do you know everything? You truly are a god among men!"
"Is that so hard to figure out? Inner Amikan doesn't even have the concept of Dao lineages. People with Dao affinity must be exceedingly rare there. First, tell me how Critic got his Dao affinity." Li Banfeng delicately wiped away a speck of grime on the screen.
Sensing the shift in his tone, Yuan Miaoping quickly explained, "His Dao affinity had nothing to do with me! He was frail and plagued by illness from childhood. While his parents were still alive, they sought out many witch doctors to treat him. The herbal concoctions he drank and the shamanic rituals he underwent had long since accumulated plenty of Dao affinity for him.
"So you see, I can't turn ordinary people into Disease Cultivators. I have to find someone who has built up enough Dao affinity but hasn't entered a lineage yet. People like that are scarce enough in Puluo Province, and practically impossible to find anywhere else.
"Besides, the person has to be willing. Critic watched the television for days on end back then. There was no plot, no characters—just a few looping images shifting over and over. If someone wasn't willing in their heart, how could they possibly sit through that?"
"In other words, you poured so much painstaking effort into cultivating Critic entirely out of sympathy?" Having finished wiping the screen, Li Banfeng began cleaning the chassis.
Yuan Miaoping nodded. "It really was out of sympathy. I'm a person with a sense of justice! You must know what Critic went through in his childhood, Chief. Anyone who saw or heard of it would weep! He was already reduced to such a pitiful state—what other motives could I possibly have had toward him?"
Li Banfeng sprinkled some cleaning fluid onto the casing. "How is your relationship with the White Falcon League?"
Yuan Miaoping licked her lips. "It's all right, I guess..."
Whenever a tender spot was struck, Yuan Miaoping habitually licked her lips.
"What level of friendship does 'all right' entail?"
Keeping her head lowered, Yuan Miaoping said, "When walking the martial world, paying respects at a few extra docks never hurts. But that's all in the past. Now, my loyalty belongs solely to you, Chief."
Li Banfeng asked, "Did you want to cultivate a Disease Cultivator on behalf of the White Falcon League?"
Yuan Miaoping replied in a small voice, "Chief, that really wasn't what I had in mind back then. I genuinely pitied Critic. How could I exploit such a young child? Chief, what kind of person do you take me for?"
"I take you for a normal person," Li Banfeng said as he wiped the chassis clean, moving on to clean the back cover. "When normal people do things, they always have a bit of selfish interest, but they also maintain a sense of decency."
Yuan Miaoping's eyes reddened, and she began to sob softly. "Chief, I knew I followed the right person! I knew you were the wisest, most considerate, and most worthy enlightened master to follow in this world! Helping Critic truly was out of good intentions. As for the White Falcon League wanting to raise a Disease Cultivator, that was pure coincidence."
Sure enough, the White Falcon League was involved in the arrangements. No wonder they had constantly tried to recruit Critic into their ranks; they had invested capital into this matter.
Even so, one could not completely dismiss Yuan Miaoping's motives solely because of this. After helping Critic become a Disease Cultivator, she had also aided his revenge. That indeed contained an element of sympathy and pity.
"Did you sacrifice your own mortal flesh solely to preserve the lineage of the Disease Cultivators?" Li Banfeng meticulously cleaned the back cover, wiping every bit of dust from the crevices.
"Chief, you aren't planning to clean me up just to execute me on the spot, are you?" Yuan Miaoping wept even more pitiably. "Helping preserve the lineage was also true, and I did have my difficulties back then. After all, the Electric Cultivators outpaced the Disease Cultivators, and the backlash from the Dao lineage was becoming more than I could bear."
Selfishness intertwined with decency—that was Yuan Miaoping's true nature.
Having thoroughly cleaned Yuan Miaoping, Li Banfeng sat quietly in front of the screen. Yuan Miaoping shivered in terror behind it.
"Ah Qi..." The companion dwelling started to speak, but hesitated.
He believed Yuan Miaoping was a menace and ought to be eliminated directly. To Li Banfeng, eliminating her would pose no difficulty at all. Regardless of her immense prowess outside, when it came to individual combat within the companion dwelling, she was completely outmatched. Li Banfeng could take her life at any moment.
Yet Li Banfeng did not do so.
There were many threats across Puluo Province. If every threat were killed on sight, many Dao lineages would have been wiped out long ago.
Take Lühuazi, for instance: everyone considered him a menace to Puluo Province, but who could have foreseen that he had just saved it?
"How high is your standing in the White Falcon League?"
Yuan Miaoping shook her head. "I don't have any real standing. I only collaborated with them on occasion."
"Stop talking nonsense!" Li Banfeng tossed the rag right at the screen, smacking Yuan Miaoping square in the face. "The medicinal powder of the Electric Cultivators is in the Peddler's hands, and their disciples are basically natives of Puluo Province. The appearance of Puluo Province people is distinctly different from that of people in Inner Amikan. Without the help of the White Falcon League, how could you possibly repair televisions in Amikan?"
Yuan Miaoping began licking her lips again. He had hit the mark once more.
If it had been just one or two sets, it might have been plausible. But Yuan Miaoping had planted dozens of televisions throughout Inner Amikan. Without the assistance of another organization, Electric Cultivators alone could never have accomplished such a massive undertaking.
"Chief, I... well..."
"I'm not trying to hunt down an infiltrator, nor do I intend to make things difficult for you. Right now, I need to investigate certain matters through the White Falcon League. If you can serve as an intermediary, things might go much smoother."
Yuan Miaoping ventured, "May I ask, Chief, are you looking for the whereabouts of Duan Tielu?"
Li Banfeng nodded. Yuan Miaoping was indeed exceptionally sharp in these matters.
"Chief, Duan Tielu is an extremely cautious man. I doubt the White Falcon League holds many clues either. Rather than teaming up with them to investigate, it would be better for me to scout out some information first. Once we have a general direction, you can look into it personally. After all, you carry status in the Shang State, Chief, and you might have access to more means than the White Falcon League."
Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly. This line of thinking was spot-on.
He hoisted Yuan Miaoping onto his shoulder and prepared to head out, only to hear the companion dwelling call out, "Ah Qi, be careful."
Li Banfeng understood how the old man felt, but this was hardly the first time he had taken Yuan Miaoping outside.
He had kept his guard up before, and he would keep his guard up now.
He had extended a measure of trust before, and he would continue to extend it going forward.
Li Banfeng brought Yuan Miaoping to Xiaoyaowu. Standing in the room, the images on Yuan Miaoping's screen shifted continuously.
First came snow-capped mountains, then an isolated island upon the sea, followed by a drift of clouds, and then a cavern on a sheer cliff...
"According to the clues found earlier, Duan Tielu should be along the border between the Shang State and the Tufang State." Li Banfeng didn't want Yuan Miaoping searching aimlessly.
A picture-in-picture window appeared in the lower-left corner of the television. Yuan Miaoping shook her head. "I've heard about the information you mentioned, Chief. I just surveyed the border between the Shang State and the Tufang State.
"At least based on current observations, I haven't found Duan Tielu's residence, much less any sign of the man himself."
Had Duan Tielu moved?
As shrewd as he was, he had likely caught wind of the Shang State's defeat and found a place to hide.
Where could he have hidden?
"You just said you didn't even see Duan Tielu's house. What does it look like?"
While the main feed kept shifting, Yuan Miaoping opened another picture-in-picture window. "Chief, this was Duan Tielu's house on the border between the two countries back then."
Li Banfeng saw a hill, but no house.
Yuan Miaoping displayed another picture. It was the same hill, almost indistinguishable from the first.
Only when the two pictures were superimposed for comparison did Li Banfeng spot the difference.
The hill in the first picture had something extra: in the lower-left area, there was an additional mass of rock.
This rock mass was rounded and smooth. Even with its presence, the hill's contours remained seamless, showing no signs of abruptness. Crafting one's residence with such exquisite subtlety showed just how consummate the founder of the artisan cultivators truly was.
Yuan Miaoping brought up several more images: coastal reefs, desert dunes, mountain snowfields, and prairie ponds.
All of these places had once served as Duan Tielu's dwellings. Yet looking at these photographs, Li Banfeng could spot no flaws whatsoever.
Among the hundred lineages of Puluo, many lineage founders possessed rather mediocre strength, but many others represented the pinnacle of their paths. Duan Tielu was likely the ceiling when it came to artisan cultivation—though Old Train might not necessarily agree with that assessment.
While Yuan Miaoping continued searching for Duan Tielu's whereabouts, Li Banfeng first contacted Ba Suan and Pineapple.
The two of them had been piloting Tianyi City to gather intelligence on Chaoge. Strangely, from the end of the war until now, no news whatsoever had come out of Chaoge.
Li Banfeng then contacted the Luo sisters. According to what Luo Lijun had gathered so far, the Shang State's cabinet remained under Qiao Yi's control. However, the imperial court had issued a ban prohibiting the various feudal lords from visiting Chaoge during this period, which had prevented the Luo sisters from seeing Qiao Yi.
Had Qiao Yi truly been resurrected?
Why restrict regional lords from going to Chaoge?
Things were getting interesting.
Taking Yuan Miaoping with him, Li Banfeng went to Qishuiyao, boarded Tianyi City, and headed first to Xiaodu.
Order had only recently been restored in Xiaodu. Because of the war between the Shang State and Puluo Province, Xiaodu—being the fiefdom of Prince Pingyuan—had been in an extremely awkward position. Figures like Tie Baisheng and Banchiling, due to their close ties with Li Qi, were in constant danger of losing their lives on charges of colluding with the enemy. Consequently, many across the Shang State had proactively severed business dealings with Xiaodu.
Other states had also feared upheavals in Xiaodu, putting all previously agreed business deals on hold.
Now that the fighting was over and Xiaodu remained safe and sound, trade with neighboring states had resumed. However, domestic business had yet to reopen; merchants from various regions were still observing the imperial court's next moves.
Tie Baisheng was also being extremely cautious. He had tightened security around his manor and kept ships ready at the harbor, prepared to take to sea at a moment's notice.
Li Banfeng appeared directly before Tie Baisheng. "Who's running the court right now?"
Tie Baisheng was scared out of his wits. "Your Highness, when did you arrive?"
Li Banfeng said, "I just got here. Looks like business in Xiaodu is quite lively."
Tie Baisheng showed a bitter expression. "Your Highness, I harbor no grand hopes for business. I only pray the court won't lay blame upon us. I sent people to Chaoge City to make inquiries. Word is that despite the defeat, Lord Qiao is still in charge of court affairs. He likely won't let us off easily in the future."
As he spoke, Tie Baisheng gingerly gauged Li Banfeng's demeanor.
Just yesterday, he had received another piece of news: Prince Pingyuan had become the Grand Chief of Puluo Province.
He had to watch his words with utmost care, mention the war as little as possible, and never offend the Prince.
Li Banfeng didn't pay much attention to Tie Baisheng's attitude; he was skeptical about the news from Chaoge. Even someone as formidable as Lian Buda lacked the ability to divide a person into three. Qiao Yi had died twice, and Li Banfeng had wept twice. He felt Qiao Yi ought to be dead through and through.
"Did Banchiling go to Chaoge to scout things out?"
"That, I wouldn't know," Tie Baisheng said, shaking his head repeatedly. "That old cow fled days ago. I have no idea where she is now."
"She ran that fast?" Li Banfeng's impression of Banchiling wasn't great. "Did the court send anyone to warn you, or send people to interrogate you about the situation?"
Tie Baisheng replied, "Your Highness, if the court actually made a move, we wouldn't be this terrified. What terrifies us is that there's no movement from them at all, yet there's no telling when they might strike."
That was indeed Qiao Yi's style: never alert the snake before striking.
Could Qiao Yi truly be alive?
It would be best to go take a look in person.
Li Banfeng arrived at Chaoge. From the First Ring to the Ninth Ring, the entire city was under heavy guard.
Particularly upon reaching the Fifth Ring, first- and second-grade weapons were piled so thick along the gate towers that there was scarcely room for them all. Even with Li Banfeng's profound cultivation, walking the city streets sent chill after chill through him.
Was Qiao Yi setting up defenses?
Was he worried Puluo Province would launch a counterattack?
Channeling the full talents of a Dwelling Cultivator, Li Banfeng stepped into Qiao Yi's manor.
This was an extremely risky move. Around the manor lay more than one weapon belonging to Peeping Cultivators. If those weapons exerted their power simultaneously, they would certainly detect his movements.
Fortunately, each weapon operated independently within its assigned role. Li Banfeng moved smoothly from the front courtyard to the rear garden without causing any stir.
He searched every room, but found no sign of Qiao Yi.
In the study, Li Banfeng found several documents. Most of the dates signed on them preceded the war. A few had been delivered after the fighting began, and these remained unopened.
In other words, from the outbreak of the war onward, Qiao Yi had never returned to this manor.
One could even conclude that Qiao Yi had never returned to Chaoge at all.
Of course, there was also the possibility that Qiao Yi had moved to a new residence upon his return.
Yet if he had moved, why guard this manor so heavily?
Just whom were they guarding against?
Leaving Qiao Yi's residence, Li Banfeng relied on his techniques of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Calamity to wander toward more perilous areas in Chaoge. He had assumed nowhere in the city could be more dangerous than Qiao Yi's manor, but it turned out he had miscalculated.
The manor of Commandery Prince Anshun was arrayed with even more first-grade weapons, far more hazardous than Qiao Yi's estate.
Li Banfeng had entered Chaoge several times, but he had never witnessed such an array. Looking at the prince's manor before him, Li Banfeng knew clearly that the moment he took a single step past the main gate, his presence would undoubtedly be exposed.
All those weapons, just to protect a single commandery prince?
There was no shortage of imperial kin in Chaoge, and the number of commandery princes was hardly small.
Li Banfeng still had some recollection of Commandery Prince Anshun. The prince had marched out on the campaign alongside Qiao Yi. By the time Li Banfeng departed, Commandery Prince Anshun had already contracted the plague. Only two outcomes had awaited him: either turn into a daolao ghost or die outright from the disease.
How had he managed to return to Chaoge?
Was the person inside the manor truly him?
Li Banfeng returned to his dwelling to consult the Heavenly Maiden. Using images cast by the projector, the Heavenly Maiden examined the defenses of the prince's manor.
She shook her head repeatedly. "That place is impenetrable. Even I have no way inside. Even if I brought the other half of my body down from the clouds, it still wouldn't work."
Li Banfeng said, "I only want to see whether Commandery Prince Anshun is inside the manor. A'yu should be able to manage that, right?"
The Heavenly Maiden lacked confidence. "A'yu might be able to, but it's exceptionally dangerous. You and I must accompany her outside and do everything to shield her. Don't get too close to the manor. The instant she catches a glimpse, bring her back immediately."
For the Heavenly Maiden to be so cautious demonstrated just how formidable the defenses of the prince's manor were.
Li Banfeng brought A'yu from Hulu Village. The projector displayed an image of Commandery Prince Anshun. Together, the two of them shielded A'yu as they approached the vicinity of the manor. A'yu had looked for less than two seconds when the Heavenly Maiden flashed a look. Li Banfeng turned a door handle and pulled both the Heavenly Maiden and A'yu back inside.
A'yu snapped in annoyance, "What's the rush? I hadn't even caught my breath before you dragged me back!"
The Heavenly Maiden retorted, "Can't you breathe some other time? Did you have to catch your breath right there? Did you see Commandery Prince Anshun just now?"
A'yu closed her eyes and recalled the scene for a moment. "I couldn't even make out the layout of the entire manor clearly. I barely glimpsed a few people, but I can't say for sure whether one was Commandery Prince Anshun. Let me see what he looks like again."
The projector leaned close and flashed its lens at A'yu. "Beautiful lady, I would be delighted to be of service."
A'yu rolled her eyes at the projector, her face full of disgust.
The projector once again cast the image of Commandery Prince Anshun. It had been taken on the battlefield, where the prince was clad in armor—distinctly different from the attire A'yu had just seen. Combined with the hurried glance, A'yu had missed many details, making positive identification quite difficult.
After a careful comparison, A'yu said to Li Banfeng, "Commandery Prince Anshun should indeed be in that manor. I'm at least sixty percent certain. His physical appearance has changed significantly, but certain habits in his demeanor still bear unmistakable traits."
His appearance had changed, but his behavioral habits remained.
Li Banfeng deduced, "The soul is real, but the body has been replaced?"
A'yu pondered for a moment. "I can't say for certain, but that's definitely a possibility."
Had the Great Totem revived him?
Li Banfeng frowned. "If that rascal really is alive, I need to meet with him."
The Heavenly Maiden shook her head. "You'd better not go. If you go, there's virtually no chance you'll come out alive."
A'yu agreed with the Heavenly Maiden's assessment. "Even though I only took a brief look, the defenses of that manor are truly formidable. Commandery Prince Anshun is currently in the main courtyard. To the east, west, south, and north, there are two rings of courtyards, each guarded by over a hundred first-grade weapons. Trying to sneak in would be a near-certain death sentence."
Hong Ying couldn't hold back. "I hate discussing things with you Dwelling Cultivators! It's just a five-courtyard compound, isn't it? It's not a dragon's pool or a tiger's den—what's there to be afraid of?
"Seventh Brother, if they don't dare go, the two of us will! We'll carve our way straight through and drag that prince back!"
The Heavenly Maiden shook her head. "That is absolutely out of the question."
Hong Ying had already readied her armor. "Seventh Brother, just say the word and tell me when we strike!"
"Strike what?" Li Banfeng looked at Hong Ying. "Am I trying to rob someone or abduct someone? Am I that sort of person? Would I do such a thing?"
Hong Ying felt there was nothing wrong with robbery as a trade, but since Seventh Brother had turned over a new leaf, she would let it drop.
Li Banfeng asked Yuan Miaoping, "If A'yu gives you directions to help locate Commandery Prince Anshun, can you contact him?"
"Why would I contact him?" Yuan Miaoping looked terrified. "Chief, you aren't suspecting me of colluding with the enemy, are you? I've never had any dealings with this prince!"
"Who said you colluded with the enemy?" Li Banfeng unfolded a map. "Find a suitable place to invite him out. I want to meet with him and discuss some serious business."
"A suitable place?" Yuan Miaoping had also seen the current state of Chaoge through the window. "Is there still any suitable place in Chaoge right now? I feel like no matter where we negotiate, we'll be at a disadvantage."
The Heavenly Maiden offered an idea. "Have him come to Xiaodu. We'd feel more at ease there."
"Xiaodu?" Li Banfeng chuckled. "Why don't you suggest having him come to Green Water City? If he came to Xiaoyaowu, I'd feel even more at ease!"
The Heavenly Maiden nodded. "Going to Xiaoyaowu works too. That's our home as well."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "This prince will never leave Chaoge. Setting up so many weapons isn't just to guard against Puluo Province. Have him go to Qiao Yi's manor. Tell him I'll meet him in Qiao Yi's study."
***
Commandery Prince Anshun sat in his bedroom, staring blankly at the dishes on the table.
An attendant stepped forward. "Your Highness, the food has grown cold. Allow me to warm it for you."
Commandery Prince Anshun shook his head. "No need. Clear it away. I'm not hungry."
The attendant said with concern, "Your Highness, you've barely eaten all day. Please have a little..."
Commandery Prince Anshun looked up at the attendant. "You talk too much."
The attendant quickly covered his mouth and ordered the servants to clear the table of wine and food.
The prince ordered hot water drawn, intending to bathe and sleep. Soaking in the hot water, he closed his eyes. Amidst the rising steam, the silhouette of Li Qi materialized before him.
Commandery Prince Anshun was startled at first, but when he opened his eyes, Li Qi was gone.
An illusion?
Commandery Prince Anshun retrieved two weapons and inspected the surroundings thoroughly for a long time, but he saw no further sign of Li Qi.
The maidservants waiting nearby had seen no one enter the room either.
None of the first-grade weapons in the courtyard had reacted. Commandery Prince Anshun closed his eyes once more. Before long, Li Qi's silhouette appeared again.
Just as Commandery Prince Anshun was about to shout for guards, Li Banfeng spoke: "Shunzi, don't be in a rush. I have urgent business to discuss with you."
What kind of situation was this? Had Li Qi fought his way into the manor?
Were all those layers of defenses inside and outside the estate just for show?
Li Qi even took the trouble to explain, "I haven't come in person. This is just an image; it can't harm you. I'm here to help you. So, do we have something to talk about or not?"
Commandery Prince Anshun opened his eyes, glanced around, and dismissed the servants, claiming he wanted to take a short nap.
Once everyone had left, Commandery Prince Anshun closed his eyes and replied in a low voice, "What could I possibly have to discuss with you?"
Li Banfeng said, "Qiao Yi didn't return, did he?"
Commandery Prince Anshun said, "Who told you that?"
"I'm at Qiao Yi's manor right now, and there's no sign of him!"
"Why should you get to see him? Does Qiao Yi have to sit at home waiting for you?"
Li Banfeng laughed. "Bickering gets us nowhere. I really came to help you. You have deep entanglements with the former emperor, and even deeper ties with the former Senior Grand Secretary. Both the Sage and Qiao Yi offended plenty of people. Now that neither of them is around, shouldn't that score be settled on your head?"
Commandery Prince Anshun sneered. "What, you think I'm scared? I've walked through wind and blood my entire life—when have I ever backed down?"
"If you really aren't scared, why set up so many defenses around this manor?"
In a calm tone, Commandery Prince Anshun said, "We just suffered a military defeat. Fearing unrest, we tightened security in the capital. What's wrong with that?"
Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly. "I almost forgot—since you suffered a defeat, that score falls on your head too."
Commandery Prince Anshun pressed his lips together and remained silent.
Li Banfeng said, "Stop being stubborn. I'm truly thinking of your best interests. If you don't become the emperor, don't even dream of keeping your life. I'd like you to get the throne, but I need to know how much capital you actually have."
After a long silence, Commandery Prince Anshun said, "If we're going to talk, do it soon. Where are you?"
Chapter 849