Chapter 202: The World's Number One Sect

In the thick fog, the two traveled swiftly. The hunter Sun Tiecheng walked quite fast, covering over seventy li in half a day. However, for a third-tier cultivator, this speed was quite slow.

"Are you really a cultivator?" Li Banfeng was growing impatient.

Sun Tiecheng answered honestly, "Sir, we can't go too fast. If we go too fast, we won't find the Old Land."

"Why is that?"

"I can't explain why, but I only know we have to walk slowly on this path to find the Old Land's gate."

The Old Land had a gate? The more Li Banfeng heard, the more curious he became.

After another half-day's journey, the thick fog gradually dispersed, and a city faintly appeared ahead.

Unlike Greenwater City, this wasn't a modern metropolis, but an ancient city with walls, battlements, and a gate tower.

Sun Tiecheng said, "Sir, this is Fisherman City. If you pass through Fisherman City and keep heading south, you'll reach Iron Sheep Mountain."

"Fisherman City? Are there many fishermen?"

"It's not that 'yu' (fish), it's that 'yu' (another character). I'm illiterate, so I don't know how to explain it."

A city suddenly appearing in the boundless wilderness made Li Banfeng uneasy. He had a bad feeling about it, as if danger awaited him. Seeking good fortune and avoiding ill luck was fundamental to a cultivator's survival.

Li Banfeng told Sun Tiecheng, "Let's not enter the city. We'll go around it."

"We can't go around it; we'll get lost."

Li Banfeng looked at Sun Tiecheng in surprise. "Have you been to Iron Sheep Mountain before?"

"Yes."

"You're a cultivator, and you've been there before. You could still get lost?"

"Yes, I could get lost. This city is really strange. You can only go through it; you definitely can't bypass it."

Li Banfeng grew even more perplexed. "Even walking along the city wall, we can't go around it?"

Sun Tiecheng looked troubled. "Sir, you've paid me, and I certainly wouldn't dare to lie to you. You truly can't bypass this city. If you don't believe me, I'll return your money."

"There's no need for that," Li Banfeng waved his hand. "Let's enter the city."

After entering the city gate, Li Banfeng looked around. Indeed, the city was quite large, with wide streets paved with stone slabs and rows of houses on either side. However, years of neglect had left them looking dilapidated.

Despite the rundown buildings, there were quite a few people. Some wandered the streets, others set up stalls by the roadside, and shops of all sizes were open, with people constantly entering and exiting.

The Old Land became what it was because the proper world had lost its vitality. According to the lady on the record player, a hundred li of land wouldn't even have a hundred people. But why were there so many people in this city?

Others might not understand, but Li Banfeng didn't find it strange, because these people were unusual: their faces glowed green. To be precise, they weren't people; they were ghosts.

The city was filled with wandering souls, just as Ma Wu had said: they acted as if they were alive, completely lacking the caution and taboos proper for ghosts. These ghosts were different from what Li Banfeng usually saw. Their flesh and blood looked incredibly real and complete, almost comparable to that of a local earth god.

Were they all local earth gods? That was impossible! They lacked the imposing presence of such deities. But where did this flesh and blood come from? Was it a result of living in the Old Land for many years?

The two hadn't walked far down the main street when they heard someone shouting by the roadside:

"Pain is pain, injury is injury, blood flows like the Yangtze River! Minor chills become illness, minor heat in the blood becomes sores!"

What was this person doing? As they approached, they saw a man with a box on his back, promoting medicine to the onlookers:

"This is my ancestral secret recipe, specifically for lower back and leg pain and injuries. Each plaster contains twenty-one ingredients—no pearls or ginseng, no ox gallstones or dog's treasures—just inexpensive herbs. Folk remedies can cure serious illnesses, and herbs can anger famous doctors! Our medicine isn't expensive, two yuan per plaster. For severe cases, two plasters will surely work; for mild cases, one will be enough."

Li Banfeng chuckled. "This person is quite interesting."

He certainly was, selling plasters to ghosts. Did ghosts need plasters? Would they even work? Perhaps they would, for these ghosts with complete flesh and blood.

Sun Tiecheng smacked his lips beside him. "Sir, this is a quack, a plaster seller. They're all frauds; there's nothing to see."

A "quack" was slang for a traveling medicine seller. A "plaster seller" referred to one because, in the old days, plasters had to be heated over a fire before application. Such itinerant medicine sellers were never genuine, but it was unexpected that this man, even as a ghost, still used these tricks to deceive others. However, since the buyers were all ghosts too, Li Banfeng wanted to see how a ghost would trick other ghosts.

The man glanced at Sun Tiecheng, then continued his shouting: "Someone just called me a fraud. We are strangers, and I don't know where you got that idea. I am an honest man, filial to my parents at home, and widely befriended outside. What I value most is my reputation. Hearing your words makes me feel wronged. I want my reputation, and I will contend for this breath. Today, to spread my name, I'm going all out: this medicine is absolutely free, I'm giving it away!"

Giving it away for free? Li Banfeng stroked his chin, watching with increasing fascination. How would he trick people if he gave it away for free?

Sun Tiecheng urged him, "Sir, don't watch him. He's putting on a show to draw people in. It's a charlatan's trick."

Li Banfeng still refused to leave.

The man continued, "Although my herbs are cheap, they still cost money. If I were to give one plaster to everyone here, I truly couldn't afford it. I have ten tickets here. I'll toss them out, and you pick them up. Whoever catches one gets a free plaster. Those who catch one get it; those who don't, don't."

The man began tossing out paper tickets. Li Banfeng actually caught one. Good luck! He wondered how the man would get his money back now.

The man then said, "Yesterday, someone took a plaster from me, went home, felt like they hadn't spent money, didn't care, and just threw it away. A gentleman is easy to deal with, but a scoundrel is hard to guard against. For those who received the medicine, please give me the cost. One yuan is enough."

Li Banfeng called out, "Wasn't it free? Why are you asking for money now?"

The man said, "This brother is right; we must keep our word. My word is my bond; if I say it's free, it's free. For one yuan, you pay for the cost of one plaster, and I'll give you another one for free. If it doesn't work, you can come back for a refund. If it works, please spread my name."

Li Banfeng repeatedly shook his head. Who would fall for such a trick to get money?

Five minutes later, Li Banfeng, holding two plasters, continued walking with Sun Tiecheng.

"Sir, I told you he was a fraud. Why did you still fall for it?"

"It's fine. One yuan isn't much. Just consider it for entertainment. My legs have actually been a bit sore these past two days."

Li Banfeng's legs were indeed sore, not due to injury, but because his cultivation level as a Home Cultivator suppressed his Traveler Cultivator abilities. So what good would this plaster do for him? He bought it, so he bought it.

They hadn't walked much further when they heard an old man shouting: "Not many have come for fortune-telling today, but there's no shortage of matters. Good and ill fortune are written on every face. The transformations of Yin and Yang are infinitely subtle; the world is all within my palm. With one glance, I've already seen a clue: Someone's family has suffered a misfortune, someone has been slandered behind their back, and someone else has come to seek revenge, with a bloody disaster hanging over their face!"

Li Banfeng stopped. What did this person mean? Was he talking about me?

Sun Tiecheng whispered beside him, "This is a traveling fortune teller and a scammer. Don't fall for his tricks."

Li Banfeng didn't stop but continued walking. Not long after, the old man caught up to him.

"Young man, I'm not looking for your business. I chased you half a street just to give you a warning: Today, you are under ill fortune. Put aside your revenge. Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt has its debtor. The natural order has its fixed number. There's no rush!"

Li Banfeng looked at the old man for a long time, then took out a hundred Huan currency from his pocket and placed it in the old man's hand.

The old man sighed. "Young man, I'll take this money. From your face, I can tell you have a benevolent heart. I'll teach you a way to break this spell: Stay in the city for one night. Absolutely do not leave the city. Tomorrow, come back to me for another reading, and I'll tell you how to deal with it."

With that, the old man left.

Sun Tiecheng stomped his foot in exasperation. "Sir, how did you fall for it again?"

Li Banfeng pondered for a long time, then said, "What he said was actually quite accurate."

"Let's not waste time here. I'll take you to Iron Sheep Mountain right away."

Li Banfeng waved his hand. "No mountain tonight. I'll stay in the city for a night and decide tomorrow."

"You actually believe his words? I'm not staying here!" Sun Tiecheng shook his head. "Sir, I've told you what I need to. Tomorrow, if you leave the city and head south, you'll see Iron Sheep Mountain."

Li Banfeng then gave Sun Tiecheng another twenty silver dollars, making it fifty silver dollars in total, as a reward.

Sun Tiecheng pursed his lips. "Sir, you are a good man. If you insist on staying in the city, I'll take you to Youlai Inn. That inn doesn't cheat people."

Li Banfeng followed Sun Tiecheng to the inn. The innkeeper's face glowed green, indicating he wasn't from the living world, but the prices were fair: eighty-one yuan a night for a single room. That night, Li Banfeng settled into the inn.

Not long after Li Banfeng had checked in, the innkeeper looked at the bellhop beside him and ordered, "Go to the backyard, call the brothers, grab your weapons, and let's start the feast!"

The bellhop whispered, "Start the feast now? Shouldn't we wait until he's asleep?"

The innkeeper furiously spat, "Bah! You want me to wait, and then you'll go ahead and eat it all while it's fresh? Do you think I can't see your little scheme?"

"Innkeeper, what are you saying? I'm thinking of you. If we wait until he's asleep to act, we'll have peace of mind."

"Stop the damn nonsense, just call everyone!"

The bellhop reluctantly went to the backyard, intending to call the odd-jobbers, laborers, and cook. To his surprise, these individuals already had their knives sharpened and were preparing to climb through the window.

The bellhop angrily exclaimed, "You heartless wretches! Without the innkeeper's orders, you planned to sneak a bite? You have no discipline!"

The cook covered the bellhop's mouth. "What are you shouting about? We were worried that kid might be tricky, so we thought we'd scout ahead for the innkeeper."

The bellhop pushed the cook away and waved his hand. "Follow me to the main hall. The innkeeper is waiting. We'll act together."

Upon reaching the main hall, they all looked around but didn't see the innkeeper. The odd-jobber asked, "Where's the innkeeper?"

The bellhop shook his head. "I don't know. He's the one who sent me here."

The temporary laborer stomped his foot in anger. "That old fox! He sent you away so he could eat alone!"

Everyone rushed up to the second floor, reaching Li Banfeng's door, which they found still closed. The innkeeper hadn't come?

The cook smiled. "Good that he didn't come. Let's make our move first."

The temporary laborer kicked the door open and immediately pinned someone down. The odd-jobber took a large quilt and covered the person. The bellhop ordered, "Chop!"

The cook stepped forward and chopped down with her knife.

The innkeeper cried out in pain, "What the hell are you chopping me for?"

The odd-jobber pulled back the quilt and found the innkeeper underneath it.

The bellhop looked utterly surprised. "Innkeeper, why did you come up first? Weren't we supposed to go together?"

The innkeeper, without changing his expression, said, "I came up first to scout ahead for you all. Which bastard chopped me just now?"

The temporary laborer pointed at the cook. "It was her! The knife is still in her hand!"

The cook defended herself, "My knife can only chop living people; it can't chop spirits. Even if it did chop a spirit, it wouldn't hurt."

"Doesn't hurt? Are you trying to trick a ghost? Am I not made of flesh??" The innkeeper rubbed his back for a long time. "I'll show you 'doesn't hurt!' Let me chop you, and you'll see!"

As the innkeeper was about to chop the cook, the bellhop asked, "Innkeeper, where did the guest go?"

The innkeeper, holding his knife, pondered for a long time. He hadn't seen the person since entering the room. Where had this person gone?

Li Banfeng hadn't gone anywhere. He had placed his key on the roof beam and was staying inside his Portable Residence. He sat silently in front of the record player, holding two plasters, lost in thought.

"Oh, my dear husband, what is that sticky, disgusting thing you're holding?"

Li Banfeng said, "I bought it on the street; it's for leg pain."

"Are your legs hurting, husband?"

"A little bit."

"You're using *this* to treat it?" The record player couldn't believe it. "Husband, sometimes you might be a bit crazy, but you are ultimately a smart person. How could you fall for a quack's trick?"

"Not only did I fall for the quack's trick, but I also fell for the fortune teller's trick. It didn't cost much money, and I'm not short on money anyway." Li Banfeng tossed the plasters aside.

He certainly wasn't short on money, but at the moment, he was short on intelligence.

Li Banfeng looked at the record player and slowly said, "My dear, I don't know what's wrong with me. Ever since I entered this city, my mind hasn't been working well. I believe whatever anyone tells me."

"What city did you enter?"

"Fisherman City."

"On the Old Land?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "Yes, it's on the Old Land. I thought there would be many fishermen, but who knew there were so many swindlers?"

"Oh, my dear husband, that 'yu' is not the 'yu' for 'fisherman'; it's the 'yu' for 'fooling.' You've entered Fool's City and encountered Fool Cultivators!"

"Fool Cultivators? There's such a sect? And this sect is that powerful?"

"Husband, the Fool Cultivators were once the most powerful sect in the world. At the same level, no one could be their match."

Would other sects admit that?