Chapter 183: Joyful Village

The food server held up a red-hot iron rod and looked at Chu Er. "That bearded man isn't an ascetic at all. If he’s not an ascetic, why is he here in Kucai Village?"

During their confrontation earlier that day, the food server had noticed that Li Banfeng’s cultivation level was unusual. He didn't know Li Banfeng's purpose in coming to Kucai Village, but that day’s fight had severely impacted his standing there.

Even though he was just a food server, he cherished his position greatly. His authority in Kucai Village was indeed considerable; besides serving meals, he was also in charge of food distribution.

"Just tell me his name. I just want to know his name." The food server, holding the iron rod, came closer and closer, and Chu Er’s body trembled continuously.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't scared.

Chu Er bit her lip and, with bloodshot eyes, yelled, "Come on! Come at me! Burn me here! See if I’m afraid of you! If you don’t dare, you’re a damn bastard!"

The people around stared in astonishment.

How could this woman be so crazy?

She was a second-level ascetic, but if she were truly branded...

They were just asking for a name, why wouldn't she tell them?

Chu Er didn't know much about Li Qi.

The only thing she knew was that Li Qi did not want to be known.

"Little girl, you’ve got guts. I have a dozen iron rods ready. I’ll take my time 'fixing' you. Don't say I didn't warn you. If your 'portal' is fixed, you won't be considered a woman anymore. That's fine too; ascetics shouldn't have so many attachments. If you truly have such backbone, then don’t cry out later!"

Sizzle!

Chu Er didn't scream.

The food server screamed.

"Ah!!!"

His scream was loud.

The red-hot iron rod in the food server's hand was kicked by Li Banfeng and landed squarely on his face.

The fiery red rod branded him from his brow to the corner of his mouth.

These people had originally intended to ambush Li Banfeng, but when they saw him suddenly appear and brand the food server, the group of ascetics ran off, retreating back into the dining hall.

Only the food server remained, knocked to the ground by Li Banfeng’s two kicks.

Li Banfeng stepped on the food server's chest, holding the iron rod in one hand, and asked calmly, "What did you just say about 'fixing the portal'? What is a 'portal'?"

The food server’s voice trembled slightly: "A portal… it’s just a portal..."

Chu Er spat, "A portal is something on the body."

"Something on the body?" Li Banfeng stared at the food server for a long moment. "Where is your portal? Where is it located?"

The food server didn't know how to answer.

Chu Er whispered, "He doesn't have a portal..."

Li Banfeng didn't understand. "Didn't you say a portal is a part of the body? Why doesn't he have one?"

"He's a man. Men don't have portals..." Chu Er’s voice grew even fainter, so quiet she could barely hear herself.

"Men don't have portals?"

Such a thing exists!

Li Banfeng was deeply shocked by this answer!

"They just don't... they just don't..." Chu Er didn't know what she was saying.

"Really not?" Li Banfeng looked at the man on the ground.

"No, really not!" The man shook his head desperately.

Li Banfeng raised the iron rod. "Then how about I open a portal for you?"

Chu Er was dumbfounded with fear.

The food server begged for mercy repeatedly.

Sizzle, sizzle, scorched smoke rose.

The food server’s wails were deafening.

Grandma Ku watched from a distance, making no move to stop it.

As long as no one died, she wouldn't interfere with suffering.

Cultivation.

This all counted as cultivation.

With the 'portal' opened, the food server didn't die; he slept very peacefully.

Li Banfeng muttered to himself, "Should I call him 'Auntie' from now on?"

Chu Er was still hanging from the wooden stake, looking down at Li Banfeng. "Are you here to save me?"

Li Banfeng didn't know how to answer.

He wasn't there to save Chu Er; he was there to cause trouble at the dining hall.

However, Chu Er had been strong-willed just now, willing to let her 'portal' be destroyed rather than reveal Li Banfeng's name. This changed Li Banfeng's impression of her.

Just lie to her this once.

"Yes." Li Banfeng looked at Chu Er and nodded seriously.

After saying this, he pulled down his hat brim and turned to leave.

He came to save me.

That single word held great weight for Chu Er.

Someone in this world still cared about her.

Watching Li Banfeng’s retreating back, Chu Er said with tearful eyes, "You came to save me, so why didn't you untie me?"

Chu Er was still hanging there.

Li Banfeng quickly returned and untied her from the stake.

He forgot, truly forgot.

While untying the ropes, Li Banfeng didn't forget to ask, "Do you have a portal?"

"Yes," Chu Er answered softly.

"Really, though..."

"What woman doesn't have one!" Chu Er couldn't take it anymore.

Li Banfeng thought of pendulums and earrings, then shook his head. "That's not necessarily true."

Red Lotus and the Wine Gourd probably do.

My wife has a door, the cabinet door of the computer case, does that count?

Chu Er wiped the blood from her face and said to Li Banfeng, "When we get back to Lushui City, I'll take you to a hospital to get checked out..."

"You rest here for a bit. I'm going to invite them to take a bath." Li Banfeng walked towards the dining hall.

He rubbed the teapot and whispered, "Brother, I don't need to tell you about the water temperature, do I?"

"Brother, if you keep this up, Grandma Ku probably won't let you off lightly."

It's best if she doesn't let me off. Anyway, she won't kill me. As long as she sends me out of Kucai Village, anywhere is better than here.

Li Banfeng jumped onto the roof, and before long, sounds of wailing came from inside the building.

Grandma Ku, where did you go?

Didn't you forbid people in the village from bathing?

I've broken the rules again, hurry up and kick me out!

That night, Grandma Ku didn't show up.

The next morning, when it was time for breakfast, everyone held their bowls and waited eagerly.

The food-serving man couldn't cook anymore; he had now become an 'auntie' and was still recovering on a straw mat.

Since he couldn't do it, Li Banfeng could do it himself.

Chu Er chopped wood, Chu Er started the fire, Chu Er fetched water, Chu Er rinsed the rice, and Li Banfeng was in charge of controlling the heat.

This morning, they ate porridge, still accompanied by bitter greens, but there was no sand in the porridge.

The dining hall wasn't short on food; for lunch, everyone ate dry rice until they were full.

In the evening, it was still porridge, but this meal included meat. Li Banfeng took out ten cans and poured them into the porridge.

The meal was delicious, and for the first time, the ascetics, whose faces were typically green from bitter greens, showed a hint of color.

Grandma Ku stood outside the dining hall, her eye twitching slightly.

Do you think this will make me let you go?

Let's see how long you can keep acting crazy.

There was more craziness to come.

Late at night, Li Banfeng asked the Wine Gourd, "What is the strongest liquor in the world?"

"My young friend, that's hard to say. How strong do you want it to be?"

"Can a jin of liquor intoxicate sixty people?"

"Yes," the Wine Gourd answered with confidence.

"Don't make the taste too strong."

"I can make it so they can't taste the alcohol."

Li Banfeng smiled. "Tomorrow morning, we'll still have porridge."

The next morning, porridge was served at the dining hall.

After two bowls of porridge, a woman suddenly burst into tears: "If I hadn't been tricked by that man, I would never have come to this place."

This woman's name was Qian Jiafeng. Her family background was originally good, and like Yanzi, she had been deceived by a heartless man, becoming completely disheartened and turning to asceticism.

A man sat beside Qian Jiafeng and quietly asked, "What kind of person are you talking about?"

This man was Ou Haidong. In Kucai Village, his dwelling was relatively close to Qian Jiafeng’s, and they often looked out for each other. However, according to the rules of Kucai Village, they didn't inquire about each other's pasts, so he didn't know much about Qian Jiafeng's history.

Qian Jiafeng sobbed, "He's the most shameless man in the world. He came to my house as a tutor and, relying on his ability to write a few poems, he tricked me. When my father found out, he kicked me out of the house. I still wanted to live with him, but he turned around and found someone else in an instant."

Ou Haidong sighed, "Don't cry. He's not worth your tears."

He wanted to hug Qian Jiafeng when a middle-aged woman carrying porridge sat down beside them. "If you ask me, men are no good; they're all heartless beasts!"

With that, the woman tilted her head back and downed an entire bowl of porridge!

A middle-aged man nearby leaned over, his face flushed, and said, "That's not fair. I'm a pretty good man."

"Hmph!" The middle-aged woman spat. "Stay away from me! I don't trust any of you men!"

"I am a man," the food-serving man cried, still drinking his porridge. "I really am a man!"

Another man chuckled, "They say you have a portal now. Let me see it; I haven't seen one in ages."

Throughout the entire dining hall, crying and laughter intertwined!

Grandma Ku stood in front of the dining hall, her eye twitching once more.

Fine, let's see how long you can keep this madness up!

After three days of free meals, everyone returned to their respective homes.

That evening, Li Banfeng and Chu Er didn't go home but followed Qian Jiafeng to her dwelling.

Li Banfeng lowered his voice. "Are you sure there's something between them?"

Chu Er nodded. "Last time I came to Kucai Village, they were constantly exchanging glances, but neither dared to break the ice!"

Li Banfeng looked at Chu Er with disdain. "Didn't you go to school? You don't 'break' the window paper; you 'poke' through it!"

Chu Er paused for a moment. "Are you talking about the window, or the portal?"

They didn't wait long before Ou Haidong arrived.

Chu Er had predicted he would come. "Every time the free meals are over, he comes to Qian Jiafeng's house to help clean up."

Li Banfeng looked at Chu Er. "Did you come to Kucai Village for cultivation or for entertainment?"

Chu Er lowered her head. "It was unintentional..."

Chu Er in Kucai Village was truly a different person from Chu Er in Lushui City. Li Banfeng didn't know which was her true nature.

Soon, the house was tidied. Qian Jiafeng wanted to keep Ou Haidong for a cup of tea, but Ou Haidong, being a proper gentleman, drank one cup and then got up to leave.

Qian Jiafeng saw him to the door and suddenly noticed a woman standing there, her face covered in scars and her expression grim.

Qian Jiafeng trembled with fright, and Ou Haidong quickly shielded her behind him.

"You're the young woman who was beaten earlier, aren't you?" Ou Haidong recognized Chu Er. "We didn't dare offend the food server, so we couldn't help you, but we didn't harm you either."

Chu Er looked at Ou Haidong, then at Qian Jiafeng. "Were neither of you involved?"

Ou Haidong said with a serious expression, "I live honorably and will not deny anything I've done."

"Alright, I believe you." Chu Er turned and left.

Qian Jiafeng trembled for a long time. "She... why is she so scary?"

Ou Haidong said with a solemn expression, "This woman is quite pitiful, but she seems a bit crazy, and she might come back."

Qian Jiafeng clutched Ou Haidong's hand. "I'm scared."

Ou Haidong said, "Don't worry, I'll guard your door all night."

"The door..."

Ou Haidong lowered his head. "I won't enter your room, don't worry."

He then positioned himself at Qian Jiafeng's door and guarded for over half an hour before Qian Jiafeng emerged.

"How about another cup of tea?"

"No," Ou Haidong took a deep breath. "You should rest early."

"Just, a cup of tea..."

Ou Haidong thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright, then."

He drank another cup of tea.

This tea was very special; it contained alcohol, but he couldn't taste it.

This liquor was good; it was a tonic and an aphrodisiac.

The two drank a few more cups of tea, and then Ou Haidong suddenly caressed Qian Jiafeng's cheek.

Qian Jiafeng clasped Ou Haidong's hand and led him into the inner room.

Li Banfeng and Chu Er, hidden by the window, watched intently.

After watching for a while, Li Banfeng signaled to Chu Er that it was time to leave.

Chu Er didn't move.

After watching a bit longer, Li Banfeng again signaled that it was time to leave.

Chu Er's veins bulged as she watched, still unwilling to leave.

Li Banfeng pinched her bottom. Chu Er winced in pain, a pain that was strangely satisfying, and only then reluctantly left.

On the way, Chu Er kept complaining, "We stayed up all night for this, and you don't even let me watch?"

"Do you know where that middle-aged woman lives?"

"I know, but what's there to see with her?"

"It's interesting; you wouldn't understand..."

The two exchanged notes as they headed to the next house.

Grandma Ku watched from behind them.

Fine, I'll let you be crazy. Let's see how long you can...

She couldn't watch anymore.

Grandma Ku lost her patience and gave Li Banfeng a severe beating the next day.

Li Banfeng didn't mind; he considered it a way to toughen his muscles and bones.

After disciplining Li Banfeng, Grandma Ku returned to her dwelling and began picking bitter greens, one by one.

She had picked more than half when she heard Li Banfeng's hearty laughter again.

"Ho ha ha ha ha! This place is great!"

What was this madman going to do now?

Grandma Ku tossed the bitter greens into the basket and gritted her teeth fiercely.