"I've got it! I've finally figured it out!" A'yi turned the valve, returning Hulu Village to concealment.
She looked at Li Banfeng and Zhao Xiaowan. "I could never understand before why Hulu Village travels so fast. Old Seventh, you're a top Travel Cultivator—do you dare say you travel faster than Hulu Village?"
Li Banfeng shook his head. He truly couldn't make such a claim.
Hulu Village shuttled back and forth among the Inner State, Outer States, and Puluo Province. Going strictly by distance and time, Hulu Village's speed far surpassed his own.
A'yi led the two of them out of the cave, talking as they walked. "I always assumed it was because Hulu Village itself was inherently fast. But I designed its steam engine, so I know exactly how fast it can go. I used to think the Old Train had tampered with my steam engine, but now I understand. It's not that my steam engine is fast, nor that Hulu Village moves fast—it's that the road Hulu Village takes is different. Just like Xiaowan said, this is the expressway of the Outer States. The road is straight and short. It's only because it takes advantage of this road that Hulu Village seems so fast!"
The three returned to the village, Li Banfeng turning A'yi's words over in his mind.
Hulu Village truly moved fast—faster even than him.
Who else was faster than Li Banfeng?
Li Banfeng returned to the companion dwelling.
No matter how great the distance, whenever it followed Li Banfeng's intent, the companion dwelling was even faster than Hulu Village!
"Old Master, have you been on this road the whole time too?"
"A'qi, seeing Hulu Village's situation just now got me thinking as well, wondering if my situation is the same as theirs. I might also be on that road your wife mentioned, but I don't know what that road actually looks like."
"Old Master, can't you usually see that road?"
"No. Sometimes I can't see anything at all and can only move forward along with your consciousness. Other times I can see, but what I see is no different from what you see."
This was another baffling concept.
Knowing Li Banfeng wouldn't understand, the Old Man opened a carriage window on the wall.
Peering through the window, Li Banfeng saw the scene of Hulu Village.
"I can see Hulu Village, and you can see Hulu Village. When I follow you, what I see is no different from what you see, yet I know I am not in the same place as you. I can reach your location, but that requires Third Room to switch tracks a few times. Once the switch succeeds, I can charge out and fight enemies alongside you."
This was the companion dwelling in its normal state. Its location was peculiar, yet its view was identical to Li Banfeng's.
This reminded Li Banfeng of Lühuazi's residence in Green Water City. The companion dwelling's current state was such that it couldn't see its own true environment, but could see the environment Li Banfeng was in.
"Old Master, what is it like when you can't see?"
"A'qi, try thinking of another place in your mind."
Li Banfeng turned his thoughts toward Carefree Dock.
Outside the carriage window, everything suddenly turned pitch-black. After a brief wait, a streak of light broke through, and the scene beyond the window transformed into Carefree Dock, right inside Li Banfeng's room.
He shifted his thoughts again. The window went black once more, and before long, the landscape emerged—Li Banfeng was back in Hulu Village.
Whenever the companion dwelling moved along with Li Banfeng's consciousness, the Old Man lost sight of the road.
This meant the Old Man had to be traveling that road entirely on his own.
Startled, Li Banfeng asked, "Old Master, can you get on and off this road whenever you want?"
"A'qi, I don't know what kind of road this is. In this state, I just follow the rails. The more rails there are, the clearer the direction becomes."
Li Banfeng had found a total of eight rails for the Old Man, allowing him to travel anywhere from the Outer States to the Inner State without restriction.
"Could the rails have been designed specifically for this road?"
"Perhaps," the Old Man said, uncertain himself. "Some things will have to be asked of the Old Train, though I don't know if he still remembers."
The Old Train had been quite lucid recently, so he should be able to recall plenty.
Li Banfeng headed to Santoucha, only to find he had been far too optimistic.
"Eighteen Wheels has lost his mind," Sun Tiecheng said, crouching on the ground with his hands tucked into his sleeves. "A few days ago, he was wandering all over Baishun County, muttering to himself non-stop about how they were basically the same all along, and why wouldn't anyone believe him. I asked him what was the same, and he babbled a huge pile of gibberish, sweating profusely in his agitation, yet unable to explain a thing. Two days later, seeing he had cleared up a bit, I prepared some wine and food, hoping to talk over the past with him. Who would have thought the old bastard would drink half a jug of wine and start losing his mind all over again? He kept insisting to me that they were basically the same, and even insisted on taking me to see for myself. How was I supposed to know where he wanted to go? There was no way I was following him! After all that racket, I dodged out of the way, he bolted, and now no one knows where he ran off to."
Li Banfeng inspected the defenses of Baishun County. Although the various major gangs had sent plenty of fresh reinforcements, the overall defenses were much slacker than before.
Many people from Baiji County had left the Bainian Five Islands for the underground city.
It was a natural choice. Everyone wanted a better life, and Ma the Fifth had helped Li Banfeng fulfill his promise by providing relocation allowances to all who left.
Ling Baitao remained behind, and Baishun County's defenses currently rested entirely on his shoulders.
Li Banfeng handed Ling Baitao a simplified telephone, which Yuan Miaoping had modified for a more stable signal. "If the Inner State invades, contact me immediately."
If his wife's theory was correct and all Xuyuan paths were the same road, that proved the route from the Inner State to Baiji County was also this very road—it was simply that the method to open it was somewhat peculiar and its exact location was difficult to pinpoint.
Once the road opened, Li Banfeng would seal it with the jade seal, ensuring the safety of Baiji County and Santoucha until the Inner State managed to produce a new seal.
Now, every indication pointed to his wife's theory being correct: all Xuyuan paths were one and the same road. In that case, let it be called the Great Xuyuan Road.
From what was currently known, there were three ways to access the Great Xuyuan Road.
First, through fixed entrances and exits, which required a jade seal to open the gate.
Second, through temporary bridges, which required the Dark Bridge Cannon to erect—Yu Yaoming likely possessed similar means.
Third, through special entities like the companion dwelling and Hulu Village, which could enter and exit the Great Xuyuan Road freely, though such entities seemed unable to observe the road effectively.
Was there a fourth method?
White Crane Bai Wusong approached Li Banfeng. "Seventh Master, have you seen our Sect Master Qiu recently?"
Li Banfeng stared at Bai Wusong for a good while.
There was indeed a fourth method.
"I only just saw him. Do you want to meet him?"
Bai Wusong said, "If it's in Hulu Village, I won't go. A'yi and I have a bit of bad blood."
"We're all one family. What bad blood can't be cleared up? I'll take you for a stroll through Hulu Village, and whatever you have to say, you can tell Sect Master Qiu directly."
Bai Wusong waved his hands. "No to Hulu Village. Baiji County still needs defending, and I can be of help here. If I go to Hulu Village, it won't be easy for me to make the journey back."
"With me around, A'yi won't give you trouble. Rest assured." Li Banfeng took Bai Wusong to Hulu Village.
When A'yi saw Bai Wusong, her eyes lit up.
"Don't be a concubine anymore. I'll make you my first husband! You're much more useful than that long-nosed one."
Bai Wusong shrank away from A'yi. "I don't have time for idle chatter with you. I have business to discuss with Sect Master Qiu."
A'yi giggled. "We're all family here. Whatever business you have, let's talk about it together!"
Zhao Xiaowan said, "Husband, is this the man who entered the wormhole on his own?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "The fact that he can get onto the Great Xuyuan Road proves he understands the mystery here."
"The Great Xuyuan Road—what a fine name!" Zhao Xiaowan pondered for a moment, then compared Bai Wusong and the Old Train. "Husband, Bai Wusong can get onto the Great Xuyuan Road, but he can enter without being able to leave. The Old Train, on the other hand, was able to create the companion dwelling and modify Hulu Village. Both the companion dwelling and Hulu Village can enter and exit the Great Xuyuan Road at will, which proves the Old Train possesses a certain understanding of it—and an understanding far deeper than Bai Wusong's."
Li Banfeng didn't quite agree. "The Old Train might not understand it any more deeply. He has a volatile temper and only ever has a half-baked grasp on most matters. He even thought the Xuyuan road and the Land of Xuyuan were basically the same thing. How could they possibly be basically the same—"
Halfway through the sentence, Li Banfeng froze.
Thinking something had gone wrong with him, Zhao Xiaowan asked, "Husband, what's the matter?"
Li Banfeng remained silent for a long time. Just as Zhao Xiaowan was about to press further, the figure of the Heavenly Maiden slowly materialized beside them.
Zhao Xiaowan was startled. "You wench, your methods have recovered quite a bit, haven't they?"
The Heavenly Maiden said to Li Banfeng, "A'yu has mostly recovered, but don't force her regarding Duan Tielu anymore. A'yu was trapped for so many years; her skills are no longer what they once were. Losing to Duan Tielu is only natural."
Zhao Xiaowan searched her memories for a long time. "I know of this Duan Tielu, but I don't recall much about his methods. Aside from being an artisan cultivator, does he belong to any other Dao lineage?"
"As far as I know," the Heavenly Maiden said, "the artisan lineage is his only one."
"Relying solely on artisan cultivator methods, he managed to infuriate A'yu to such an extent?"
The Heavenly Maiden said, "I once saw Duan Tielu slay a Star Cultivator. He refined that cultivator into a Dharma treasure, preserving over ninety percent of the cultivator's combat prowess."
Zhao Xiaowan was stunned. "You must be joking. Over ninety percent? Refining someone into a Dharma treasure should reasonably shave off at least half!"
A'yi shook her head. "That's no joke. When I met Duan Tielu back then, he already had that ability. The Dharma treasures he refined from cultivators barely lost twenty percent of their combat power. After all these years, who knows how many people he has killed, or how many Dharma treasures he holds in his hands. If he were fully prepared, even Shan Chengjun might not dare clash with him head-on!"
As the group was discussing Duan Tielu, A'yu arrived beside them and said to Li Banfeng, "Hurry back to the Inner State! Commandery Prince Anshun and Duan Tielu didn't reach an agreement. I reckon the two of them will make contact again. If we eavesdrop more, we might just uncover Duan Tielu's whereabouts."
Li Banfeng stood rooted to the spot, expressionless.
A'yu said, "Old Seventh, did you hear a word I said?"
Zhao Xiaowan prompted from the side, "Husband, A'yu wants to return to the Inner State."
"Huh?" Li Banfeng blinked, as if waking from a dream. "What are we going back to the Inner State for?"
A'yu frowned. "Didn't you hear anything I just said? To go back and keep searching for Duan Tielu!"
The Heavenly Maiden advised A'yu, "Set the matter of Duan Tielu aside for now."
A'yu waved her off. "None of your business."
This was simply the temperament of Puluo Province. In the words of Professor Balloon, it was called obsession.
A'yu urged Li Banfeng, "What are you spacing out for? Let's head back already!"
Li Banfeng thought for a moment, then asked A'yu, "Do you think it's possible that Duan Tielu is currently in some place that can neither be seen nor heard, which is why you couldn't hear his voice?"
A'yu pondered briefly and asked, "Are you talking about an unnameable place?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "Let's treat it as an unnameable place."
A'yu thought it over, but felt it didn't add up. "If he were in an unnameable place, it truly would be hard to sense his whereabouts. But he was able to speak with Commandery Prince Anshun. Since the prince could hear him, I should have been able to hear him too."
Zhao Xiaowan shook her head. "Not necessarily. Among Sound Cultivator techniques, there are certain specialized methods of voice transmission designed specifically to guard against Peeping Cultivators."
A'yu said, "I've already thought of those methods. I can crack most Sound Cultivator techniques. Even if I truly couldn't crack one, I have the Source-Tracing Method to trace the origin of the sound directly through the hook. Yet not only could I not hear Duan Tielu's voice, I couldn't find his location either. I refuse to believe he has practiced Sound Cultivator techniques to such an absurd level."
Zhao Xiaowan said, "What if both methods were used in tandem?"
A glimmer of comprehension dawned on A'yu.
The Heavenly Maiden chimed in from the side, "Perhaps, as you and Old Seventh said, Duan Tielu used a directional Sound Cultivator technique while inside an unnameable place—and an exceptionally unique unnameable place at that, one you couldn't trace at all."
A'yu shook her head slightly. "There aren't many unnameable places I can't trace. When I sensed Duan Tielu speaking, I couldn't even detect the slightest hint of direction. That unnameable place would have to be far too well-hidden."
Li Banfeng asked A'yu, "What kind of unnameable place is the most hidden? Could it be the Land of Xuyuan?"
A'yu thought about it. "The Land of Xuyuan cannot be reached through ordinary means, so it should count as the most hidden... Old Seventh, how did you suddenly think of the Land of Xuyuan?"
Li Banfeng muttered to himself, "On the Great Xuyuan Road, there are Xuyuan silkworms—the very kind Little Fatty ate. Xuyuan silkworms grow in the Land of Xuyuan. Maybe they were basically the same all along. Maybe it's been the exact same place the whole time! He said the Xuyuan road and the Land of Xuyuan were basically the same, and I even laughed at him. Maybe that wasn't half-baked knowledge—maybe that was great enlightenment!"
A'yu was stunned. "What 'same place'? Who had a great enlightenment?!"
Li Banfeng continued, "The Peddler might have been wrong too. The Old Train was right all along."
The Heavenly Maiden snapped furiously, "Don't talk nonsense! When was the Peddler ever wrong?!"
A'yu turned her gaze on the Heavenly Maiden. "He beat you half to death—was that not his fault either?"
The Heavenly Maiden lowered her head. "The fault in that matter did not lie with him!"
A'yu was flabbergasted. "If it's not his fault, is it yours? Meaning you just deserved that beating?"
The Heavenly Maiden kept her head down. "It's impossible to explain."
A'yu looked utterly lost. Thinking that the matter was indeed beyond explaining, she urged Li Banfeng to hurry to the Inner State.
Li Banfeng said to his wife, "Are you coming with me?"
Zhao Xiaowan considered it. "I'd like to study the jade seal a bit further with A'yi."
"Fair enough. The Dark Bridge Cannon has been upgraded several times, and there are components I'm no longer familiar with. Teach me how to operate it."
Though his grasp of the underlying principles was rudimentary, Li Banfeng learned the operation with astonishing speed.
Once he had mastered its use, he took the Dark Bridge Cannon and set off for Tianyi City with A'yu.
Inside the city, A'yu monitored the hook with rapt attention. Her judgment proved spot-on: Commandery Prince Anshun had indeed contacted Duan Tielu again. Going a single day without the jade seal left him deeply unsettled.
"Old Duan, you haven't done business with me before, but you must have at least heard of my reputation. You ought to have heard a thing or two about my credibility—"
A'yu still couldn't hear Duan Tielu's voice. With her previous experience, she was able to sense a vague direction through the hook.
Yet the direction was far too indistinct. Beads of sweat dripped from A'yu's brow; no matter how many methods she employed, she couldn't make the direction any more precise.
Li Banfeng hauled the Dark Bridge Cannon out of the companion dwelling and erected a dark bridge with lightning speed.
"Come with me!" Li Banfeng pulled A'yu onto the dark bridge.
A'yu protested, "What are you doing?! Anshun is still talking with Duan Tielu! Can't whatever it is wait until they're done?"
"Once they're done, it'll be too late. Try sensing Duan Tielu's direction again and see if there's any change."
"What kind of change could there be? What is this place? I can barely sense the hook—" A'yu paused, stunned. She could sense the hook.
On the dark bridge, she could sense the outside world.
Tracing the hook to sense the direction again, she found it had become far clearer this time.
The dark bridge connected the Great Xuyuan Road to the outside world. Through the hook, she could faintly hear Duan Tielu's voice.
The sound was indeed directional. After A'yu unraveled layer upon layer of Sound Cultivator techniques, Duan Tielu's voice gradually became distinct:
"Your Highness, I am unfamiliar with Li Qi. If he goes back on his word, who am I supposed to seek justice from?"
Commandery Prince Anshun said, "You can seek justice from me! If he lacks credibility, do you distrust me as well?"
Duan Tielu said, "I trust you, but crafting a jade seal is not something done overnight. Preparing the materials alone takes two to three years."
Commandery Prince Anshun couldn't wait two to three years. "Make me one first so I can make do with it! Even if the quality is a bit lacking, as long as others can't tell the difference, that's enough."
Duan Tielu seemed to harbor reservations. "The Imperial Seal of the Realm is no ordinary object. If a flaw appears, I'll be dragged down with it. If Your Highness treats this like child's play, I won't dare assist you."
Commandery Prince Anshun grew anxious. "Old Duan, you're deliberately brushing me off! Name your price and let's speak plainly. There's no need for such scheming."
"Your Highness misunderstands me. Let us speak again in the future."
Duan Tielu's voice sounded somewhat familiar; Li Banfeng felt as though he had heard it somewhere before.
The connection was severed. A'yu lowered her head and rubbed her temples, tracking Duan Tielu's position.
Li Banfeng didn't disturb her, quietly watching from the side.
A'yu pointed beneath the bridge. "Can we go down there?"
Li Banfeng found a rope and tied it around A'yu's waist.
A'yu descended from the bridge, walked across the pitch-black wilderness for over half an hour, then turned back and tugged on the rope at her waist.
Li Banfeng hauled A'yu back onto the bridge. A'yu nodded repeatedly at Li Banfeng. "I found him!"
"Where is he?"
"I can't explain it!"
Li Banfeng frowned. "How is that any different from not finding him?"
"There is a difference!" A'yu looked earnestly at Li Banfeng. "I don't know this road. If we find someone who knows the way, we can find him!"
Someone who knows the way.
"The companion dwelling should know the way!"
Li Banfeng brought A'yu back into the companion dwelling. The Old Man was somewhat bewildered by the current situation. "A'qi, where on earth are we heading?"
"Where do you say we're heading?" Li Banfeng looked toward A'yu.
A'yu pursed her lips. "I can't put it into words. This has to be transmitted through consciousness."
Li Banfeng brought Yuan Miaoping over, and the two each grasped one of her antennae.
Yuan Miaoping worried, "Don't you two pull too hard! If those antennae break, there's nowhere to replace them!"
With the aid of Yuan Miaoping's electromagnetic induction, A'yu transmitted her intent to Li Banfeng, who then passed it on to the companion dwelling. The companion dwelling set off.
Although the Old Man frequently traveled by following Li Banfeng's intent, this time was peculiar. In the past, every destination had physical reference points; this time, A'yu provided none at all.
A'yu could only convey the perceived direction of the sound's source to Li Banfeng, who then relayed it to the companion dwelling. This meant the Old Man was effectively blindfolded, feeling his way in the pitch dark along the Great Xuyuan Road guided solely by A'yu.
After traveling for more than half an hour, the Old Man began to feel uneasy. "Do you actually know what you're doing? I don't even know where I've run off to!"
A'yu huffed, "I'm the world's foremost Peeping Cultivator, and you still don't trust me? I've got my eyes shut tight right now, so of course I don't know what I'm doing!"
Another half-hour passed, and the Old Man grew irritated. "If we keep running around blind like this, I'm stopping! Are you just throwing a wild tantrum because you couldn't best Duan Tielu?"
A'yu immediately promised, "Just half an hour more! We'll definitely arrive within half an hour!"
The Old Man didn't trust A'yu. "A'qi, you need to make the call!"
"Keep going for now!" Li Banfeng, on the other hand, had confidence in A'yu. "We'll talk after half an hour."
They hadn't arrived after half an hour either. Through a mix of coaxing and cajoling, Li Banfeng got the Little Train to run for another half-hour. After two full hours from start to finish, they finally reached their destination.
The Little Train departed the Great Xuyuan Road and opened its carriage window. Outside lay an endless expanse of heavy snow.
The two stepped out of the companion dwelling and looked around the snowy plain. With a Travel Cultivator's eye for terrain, Li Banfeng recognized the place.
"Isn't this the Curse Gu Ruins?" Li Banfeng looked at A'yu. "How did we end up here?"
A'yu surveyed their surroundings and re-sensed the signal she had previously received through the hook.
"This is the place," A'yu warned. "Old Seventh, be extra careful. Duan Tielu is right here in the Curse Gu Ruins."
What was he doing in the Curse Gu Ruins?
Li Banfeng pushed his Dwelling Cultivator talents to their limit, had A'yu follow behind him, and carefully observed the surrounding movements as they walked toward the village.
In the village, the Curse Cultivators were rearing Xuyuan silkworms, and the Gu Cultivators were in the village as well.
Yet there was no strife between them; they coexisted in perfect harmony.
The reason for this harmony was simple: the Curse Cultivators had been beaten into submission by the Gu Cultivators.
Li Banfeng had paid a sum to have Yang Xiangjun lead the Gu Cultivators in keeping the Curse Cultivators in check here. True to his word, Yang Xiangjun had won the battle.
Even after winning, he hadn't left. Fearing Heng Wuyou might return for revenge, he had drilled the Gu Cultivators day and night, remaining in the village to this day to help maintain their defenses.
Li Banfeng couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "Yang Xiangjun is a man of his word. That was money well spent."
"Yang Xiangjun has great integrity? Only toward you, maybe!" After walking a lap around the village, A'yu felt a bout of dizziness.
She had pushed her skills to the absolute limit, but searching aimlessly like this made finding Duan Tielu exceedingly difficult.
Li Banfeng sent A'yu back to the companion dwelling to rest. Catching sight of Yang Xiangjun outside a corner tower on the cliff, Li Banfeng waited until he returned to his room, then slipped inside behind him while no one was around.
Yang Xiangjun had just had a large tub of hot water drawn and was preparing to bathe. Li Banfeng's sudden appearance made him shudder in fright. "Aiya! Who did I think it was! You don't even announce yourself before walking in!"
Li Banfeng kept his voice low. "Keep quiet. I slipped in secretly."
Yang Xiangjun's face flushed. "What did you come here secretly for?"
"Urgent business."
"You never think of me when there isn't any business!" Yang Xiangjun rolled his eyes at Li Banfeng. "Out with it. What did you come looking for me for?"
Li Banfeng pushed his Dwelling Cultivator talents to their absolute limit. Now, even if someone entered the room, they wouldn't be able to see Li Banfeng or Yang Xiangjun, nor would they catch the sound of their conversation.
"I heard Duan Tielu came to the Curse Gu Ruins. Have you noticed anything unusual lately?"
"Duan Tielu!" Yang Xiangjun was taken aback, clearly harboring great wariness toward the man.
After a moment's thought, Yang Xiangjun said to Li Banfeng, "Come with me to the eastern edge of the village. We need to disguise ourselves."
Unaware that Li Banfeng was a Dwelling Cultivator, Yang Xiangjun had specifically prepared a white cloak for him.
The cloak was a spiritual item capable of completely concealing Li Banfeng's figure amidst the snow. Together, the two made their way to the eastern side of the village, where a row of dwellings stood. These had originally been the quarters where the Gu Cultivators lived while enslaved, but were now abandoned.
Concealed in the distance, Yang Xiangjun pointed toward the row of houses and whispered, "Someone has been living here. When I came by a few days ago, I spotted two footprints. The person was extremely cautious and swept away the rest, but missed those two, leaving behind faint traces. After discovering them, I didn't make a fuss. People say the Curse Gu Ruins belong to the Curse and Gu Cultivators, but plenty of outsiders reach their hands in here. If they don't actively cross us, there's no need to pick a fight, but I've never let my guard down. I make a point of checking every few days."
Li Banfeng nodded slightly. "Wait here. I'll go take a look."
Yang Xiangjun caught Li Banfeng's arm. "I know the path. Let me go."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "It's safer if I go."
Watching Li Banfeng's retreating back, Yang Xiangjun bit his lip. "He's worried something might happen to me..."
Li Banfeng crept up to the wall, pressed himself against it, and used Discerning Spiritual Sound to listen for movement inside.
The house was dead silent. There shouldn't be anyone within.
He moved to a door, intending to push it open and inspect the interior. Just as his right hand brushed the edge of the door, a sudden wave of peril surged from inside the room.
Li Banfeng's hand froze against the door, unmoving.
The room remained quiet, without the slightest sound.
Li Banfeng stayed completely still. Banfeng Zi slipped out from beneath his feet, Tang dao in hand, and glided over to the window.
Ten-odd seconds later, the door creaked. Someone seemed about to burst out from inside.
Li Banfeng kicked the door to splinters. At that exact instant, a figure leapt out the window!
A feint to the east to strike in the west!
The person inside had deliberately made noise at the door to lure Li Banfeng into kicking it down, intending to flee through the window.
His movements were stealthy enough, but the scent of rouge on his body had already been caught by Li Banfeng's Hundred Flavors Exquisite.
Hidden beside the window, Banfeng Zi was prepared well in advance. His blade slashed directly into the figure.
The ambush hit home, and the Tang dao struck a vital spot. Yet the moment Banfeng Zi caught sight of the figure's form, he immediately pursued.
The man was He Jiaqing!
He possessed the art of Stealing the Beams and Replacing the Pillars.
Sure enough, where the blade passed, a clay pot was severed in two. He Jiaqing had already circled around to the other side of the house.
He appeared to have made a clean escape, but after taking only two strides, a figure flashed before his eyes.
He Jiaqing gasped, realizing disaster had struck. With a sharp snap, a wound split open across his chest.
Passing Flowers on Horseback!
Li Banfeng's Passing Flowers on Horseback had two stages. If the second stage detonated, He Jiaqing would be crippled if not dead.
Yet He Jiaqing was clever; he froze on the spot, not daring to move an inch.
Li Banfeng's voice drifted into his ear: "I believe I told you that if you saw me again, you might lose your life."
In a trembling voice, He Jiaqing said, "You can't blame this on me. You came looking for me."
Li Banfeng said, "Then who do you say is to blame?"
He Jiaqing lowered his head. "No one is to blame. Let's just say... it must be fate."
Li Banfeng turned to look at Yang Xiangjun. "He says it's fate. What do you think?"
"Fate, my ass!" Yang Xiangjun scoffed. "On the verge of death and he's still running his mouth. This little slut deserves to die!"
Chapter 851