Chapter 197: Iron Sheep Trio

The cargo was fully loaded onto ten large carts.

The carts were pulled by donkey-headed grubs, a species unique to the New Land. Each grub was three meters long, resting on the ground, and stood about 1.5 to 1.6 meters high. When the cart drivers yelled, the grubs neighed repeatedly, then swiftly slithered forward, pulling the cargo.

Ma Wu rode his swallow, leading the procession with A-Qin by his side. Li Banfeng followed at the rear in a cart, with Xianxian and Qiaocui behind him.

As the convoy set off, Zuo Wugang watched from the property, feeling a bitter pang in his heart. Escorting the convoy, known as "pulling the load" in their argot, was a core responsibility of a pillar. Given the trouble in the New Land, a senior pillar should have personally intervened, but for some unknown reason, Ma Wu didn't use Zuo Wugang this time.

Back in the wooden hut, Zuo Wugang went straight to sleep. Cao Zhida and Zhen Jincheng, with nothing to do, had the cook prepare two dishes and drank moodily together.

"Old Cao, we're outsiders after all. We've worked our guts out for Master Wu, but he still doesn't trust us."

"If anyone's been good to us, it's Master Qi. He was the one who brought us in. I'll never forget that kindness."

"But Master Qi and Master Wu are true brothers. We're still outsiders. If Master Wu ever turns on us, Master Qi won't be able to side with us."

The two brothers sighed and lamented for over two hours, getting thoroughly drunk before finally falling asleep.

They slept for most of the day. A subordinate rushed into the room, shouting, "Brother Cao, Brother Zhen, some people have entered the property and burned down our warehouse!"

Zhen Jincheng and Cao Zhida awoke and hurried to check the warehouse. Before they could reach it, a smiling man approached them.

"Are you two going to save the warehouse? Don't bother. That's Ma Wu's cargo, not yours. It's not worth risking your lives."

Zhen Jincheng narrowed his eyes and snapped, "Who the hell are you?"

Cao Zhida gritted his teeth. "Do you even need to ask? This bastard's the one who set the fire!"

As the two drew their weapons and prepared to attack, the man lowered his palm. "Gentlemen, I'm doing this for your own good. Ma Wu treats you like outsiders. He's not worth dying for, don't you agree?"

"What the hell kind of nonsense..." Cao Zhida's words trailed off as he suddenly felt that what the man said made a lot of sense.

Zhen Jincheng, whose cultivation was slightly higher than Cao Zhida's, rubbed his forehead and looked at the man. "You're a Virtue Cultivator..."

"Good medicine tastes bitter, and harsh words improve conduct. My words might not be pleasant, but I genuinely wish you well. Gentlemen, whatever we do, we must put ourselves in others' shoes. If Ma Wu truly treated you like brothers, we wouldn't hesitate to go through fire and water for him. But aren't you aware of how he treats you?"

Zhen Jincheng shook his head, still resisting. "This is our duty..."

"What duty? Isn't it just about earning money to get by? To have food, drink, and women when you're alive—that's the real duty. If you lose your life, what else can you do? Reincarnate and cross the bridge of oblivion, your life over. What's the point of talking about duty then?"

Cao Zhida and Zhen Jincheng had been pillars their entire lives. They certainly had complaints, but they had never acted against their duty. But today was different. The two returned to their rooms, packed their bags, observed the situation, and then decided their next move. If nothing major happened on the property, they would go out and shout a bit, indicating they had also contributed. If something big occurred, they would immediately flee to ensure they weren't implicated.

How could two highly reputed pillars make such a move? Because they had encountered a Level Five Virtue Cultivator, who had lowered their moral standards!

Virtue Cultivators from Level One to Three specialized in overpowering others from a moral high ground. This technique, called "Reflect on Virtue and Strive for Equality," established a moral standard for opponents, causing them to fall into self-restraint. However, Level Four to Six Virtue Cultivators possessed another method: they could lower an opponent's moral bottom line. This technique was called "Disheartening and Demoralizing." Those affected by this technique would forget all moral constraints and act in their own best self-interest.

This Virtue Cultivator continued to shout as he went, convincing any of Ma Wu's subordinates who came out to resist to go back. If he encountered hunters, he had a different spiel: "Loot! Hurry and loot! Ma Wu isn't here! Someone's invaded from outside, and his territory is finished! Soon, everything will be set ablaze and burnt to ashes! What are you waiting for if not to loot now? Do you actually think you'll be doing business with Ma Wu in the future? Ma Wu is gone; he won't survive this. Hurry and grab what you can! What you seize is yours. Those who are slow will lose out."

The hunters' moral bottom lines were also lowered to the absolute minimum. They began looting, grabbing goods, money, and even robbing their fellow hunters. The entire property descended into chaos.

As he moved on, the Level Five Virtue Cultivator encountered Xiao Chuanzi. Xiao Chuanzi had a steam engine strapped to his back, its boiler fire raging, and the chimney puffing smoke. He held a steam pipe in his hand, ready to fight to the death!

The Virtue Cultivator advised, "Young brother, don't be reckless, don't get carried away. Listen to my advice. You're just a worker. The master pays you, you do the work. You don't owe him kindness, nor loyalty. There's no reason to risk your life for him."

Xiao Chuanzi yelled, "Master Wu has been kind to me!"

The Virtue Cultivator burst into laughter. "Young man, to say such a thing shows your youth. You work and exert effort to earn money for food; what kindness do you owe him?"

"Master Wu treats me differently!"

"What's different? It's all nonsense, ha ha ha..."

A sticky, viscous substance entered the Virtue Cultivator's mouth.

The Virtue Cultivator was laughing loudly, his mouth wide open. He had intended to completely destroy Chuanzi's moral bottom line through mockery. Unexpectedly, Xiao Genzi gave him a spoonful of something, which immediately shattered his dietary standards.

The Virtue Cultivator spat repeatedly over a dozen times, then looked up at Xiao Genzi, who had suddenly appeared on the rooftop. He roared, "You little bastard, are you tired of living?!"

Xiao Genzi, holding his spoon, said with a serious face, "What kind of talk is that? I gave you something to eat, why are you cursing?"

Zuo Wugang stood beside Xiao Genzi, looking down at the Virtue Cultivator, and chuckled, "See? I told you he lacks virtue."

The Virtue Cultivator looked up. "Oh, isn't this Pillar Zuo? Your master doesn't value you, he doesn't even use you for escort duty, and you're still here shamelessly risking your life?"

Zuo Wugang looked at Xiao Genzi. "His name is Wang Qi. He used to be a smooth-talker on Iron Sheep Mountain. Not only is he immoral, but his mouth also stinks. Genzi, give him another spoonful later to get rid of that taste in his mouth."

Genzi actually scooped out another spoonful for him, when a figure behind him flew towards Genzi.

Zuo Wugang lifted a foot and kicked the person. The person crossed their arms, protecting their chest, did a somersault, and landed next to Wang Qi.

Zuo Wugang chuckled, "This one is Yu Dacheng. He's from the same bandit group as Wang Qi, and he's a Body Cultivator. Look at him, jumping around like a toad."

A Level Five Body Cultivator and a Level Five Virtue Cultivator stood before Zuo Wugang, who showed no fear. "Aren't you the Three Heroes? Where's Du Shuping, the Mouth Cultivator? Tell him to come too. I'll deal with all of you at once to save trouble!"

Wang Qi, the Level Five Virtue Cultivator, said, "It would be unfair to outnumber you. I am a person of martial virtue..."

Zuo Wugang laughed. "Genzi, give him another spoonful later. And Old Wang, if Du Shuping doesn't show up, I'm just going to attack directly!"

As his words fell, Zuo Wugang was already in front of Wang Qi.

Wang Qi, being a Virtue Cultivator and one level lower in cultivation, was certainly no match for Zuo Wugang. Yu Dacheng, the Body Cultivator, leaped up and rammed his head into Zuo Wugang's chest.

"After all these years, only that one toad technique of yours still works!" Zuo Wugang kicked Yu Dacheng on the head, sending him staggering back. He stepped forward for another kick, but a layer of rough, warty bumps like those of a toad grew on Yu Dacheng's back, and he slammed into Zuo Wugang again. These bumps were hard, sharp, and poisonous.

Zuo Wugang still didn't dodge, continuing to kick. In the hands of a Martial Cultivator, anything could be a weapon. The shoes on his feet were weapons, incredibly durable weapons. He was confident he could kick Yu Dacheng to death, and without giving Yu Dacheng a chance to retaliate. This was the formidable power of a Martial Cultivator.

After kicking Yu Dacheng several times, he suddenly heard someone shout, "You search high and low for a pair of iron shoes..."

Zuo Wugang chuckled, "Du Shuping, you're here. That move of yours won't work on me."

*Rip!*

Before Zuo Wugang could finish speaking, his leather shoes suddenly shattered, scattering pieces all over the ground. Du Shuping's move had worked. The idiom "seeking something endlessly until one wears out iron shoes" took on a literal meaning: Zuo Wugang's very shoes shattered. The toad's bumps pierced his feet, and Zuo Wugang was poisoned.

Zuo Wugang, standing on his toes, stepped back two paces and stared at the newly arrived Du Shuping in astonishment. "You've reached Level Six?"

Du Shuping chuckled, "Old Zuo, surprised? Our brothers have suffered many losses because of you. It's time we settled that score."

Zuo Wugang gritted his teeth and nodded. "Stop talking. Come at me, all of you."

"Master Zuo has spoken; let's oblige him!" Du Shuping called out to his two brothers, "Come, let's send Master Zuo on his way."

Du Shuping, a Level Six Literary Cultivator, was on par with Zuo Wugang in strength. The remaining two, a Level Five Virtue Cultivator and a Level Five Body Cultivator, would quickly end Zuo Wugang's life under a concerted attack. There was no need to talk about experience or tactics; they were all seasoned veterans, and none of them lacked skill.

Zuo Wugang knew he was going to fall here this time, but he didn't flinch. He might not be good at making decisions, but he never hesitated when it came to life-or-death battles! Zuo Wugang had been a pillar his entire life. He had made mistakes and lost face, but he had never abandoned his duty.

He tore off a piece of cloth, tied it tightly around his lower leg, straightened his back, and faced the three. "Come, all of you!"

Just as the three were about to advance, they suddenly heard someone shout from the rooftop, "Old Zuo, well done! I knew I wasn't wrong about you!"

Hearing the voice, Zuo Wugang looked up. "Master Qi?"

Why was Li Qi back? Wasn't he supposed to be escorting the cargo with Master Wu?

Li Banfeng had indeed returned. To be precise, he had never left. In everyone's eyes, Li Banfeng was a man wearing a top hat and a large beard, his hat brim pulled so low that his face was almost invisible. Not seeing his face made things easier, as Li Banfeng wasn't very good at drawing faces. He had drawn a dummy to escort the cargo in his place. No one knew about this except Ma Wu, and even he wasn't explicitly told. On the chessboard, Li Banfeng moved his knight, signaling Ma Wu to make the first move. He kept his 'rook' back, signaling that he would stay behind and guard the home base. Knight moves, rook stays—that was the tactic! The reason he couldn't say it outright was that Li Banfeng didn't know the location of the mole, and he feared word would get out. He didn't even dare stay inside the house, fearing discovery by the mole. He spent most of his time in his portable residence, emerging every half hour to check the situation.

He had just emerged now, and happened to run into these three bandits from Iron Sheep Mountain.

Li Banfeng looked at the three and said, "I am a person of martial virtue. I didn't ambush you. But I see you've been fighting for quite a while and have expended a lot of energy. It would be unfair for me to act now. To be fair, I'll first cut myself with a knife!"

Du Shuping was stunned. *Is this person crazy?* He glanced at Wang Qi, the Virtue Cultivator, and asked, "Did you use your technique on him?"

Wang Qi shook his head. "No technique. I didn't even notice him just now..."

Li Banfeng took out a knife, cut his palm, and let the blood drip onto the ground. "Look closely, everyone, I'm wounded too!"

Du Shuping, the Level Six Literary Cultivator, was the first to react. "He's the Landlord! Run!"

The three took off running, reaching the edge of the property in one breath. A curtain of water descended, sealing off the property. When the Landlord spills blood, invaders are subject to the punishment of the local deity. Yu Dacheng, the Body Cultivator, gritted his teeth and charged. As soon as he hit the water curtain, he instantly dissolved into a mass of blood and flesh. The water curtain was stained slightly red, and both Du Shuping and Wang Qi were terrified into a daze.

Water Spring whispered into Li Banfeng's ear, "Do you want them dead or alive?"

"Alive. I need to find out who sent them."

"Alright. If they were sent by those pioneers, tell me. I'll need to have a word with Qiu Daxian about this too."

As the words faded, myriad water droplets burst from the water curtain, striking Du Shuping and Wang Qi. Each droplet passed through their bodies, riddling them like sieves.

(End of chapter)