Chapter 250: Wuyou Plain

Li Banfeng led Xiao Yeci and a group of twenty-seven people, traveling south.

The mountain path grew progressively narrower and more rugged. By 2 AM, most people could no longer continue, and even Xiao Yeci's steps became unsteady.

Li Banfeng instructed Xiao Yeci and Lu Chunying to lead the group in setting up camp there. Citing the need to scout ahead, he didn't rest at the campsite but returned to his portable residence.

Although others found the journey arduous, this distance was nothing to Li Banfeng. Not feeling tired at all, he decided to open the history book given by the Sage and read it thoroughly.

After starting to read, Li Banfeng became sleepy.

It wasn't because he disliked studying; he could tolerate the vertical, right-to-left layout of ancient books and the obscure, archaic grammar.

However, he couldn't stand annalistic history books.

Annallistic histories chronicle historical events primarily along a timeline, making them excellent for historians researching specific events and their historical context. But for Li Banfeng, it was simply a tedious ledger.

This book recorded the history of a dynasty called Dahuan. The first sentence of the book stated the time:

"In the third month of Xiankang's sixth year, a severe drought struck Dongping, and the Emperor dispatched the Grand Tutor to provide relief."

This was about disaster relief.

In the fourth month, Emperor Xiankang had a son.

In the fifth month, Emperor Xiankang went hunting outside the city.

Li Banfeng continued reading until the end of the year but found no further information related to the disaster relief.

Annallistic histories were already dry, and these particular ones were incomplete, not starting from the founding emperor but from a certain emperor in the middle of the dynasty.

Lacking a clear beginning or end, and with no connection between events, the narratives made Li Banfeng's eyelids heavy, and he soon fell asleep.

The next day, Li Banfeng woke up to the time-telling voice of Mengde.

"Sir, on this beautiful morning, please allow me to sing 'I Want You' for you:

I want youBy my sideStaying through the nightUntil tomorrowI want you..."

Li Banfeng threw the history book at Mengde's face, got dressed, and left his portable residence.

Alarm clocks, regardless of their form, are always unwelcome devices.

Xiao Yeci and the others had a peaceful night. They packed their belongings and continued their journey with Li Banfeng.

The mountain path became increasingly difficult. By noon, there was no path left.

No path was good; it proved they weren't walking in circles.

Ahead, thorns were rampant; wild grass tangled their feet; mosquitoes bit them from all sides; and spiderwebs covered their faces. By dusk, everyone was nearly exhausted.

Only two people didn't feel tired: Li Banfeng and Lu Chunying. If it weren't for accommodating the group's pace, Lu Chunying alone could have covered several times the distance.

As darkness approached, Xiao Yeci wanted to set up camp but hesitated to tell Li Banfeng. Fortunately, they found a water source. Li Banfeng instructed everyone to collect water and rest there for the night.

Since they camped early today, Li Banfeng had more time to browse the history books.

Skimming through parts he understood and skipping those he didn't, Li Banfeng forced himself to go through all five volumes of history given by the Sage. Finally, he found some useful information at the end of the books:

"In the sixth year of Yuanxi, the Demonic Land rose in rebellion. The Emperor dispatched General Zhao Xiaowan of the Elite Cavalry to suppress them. The Elite Cavalry was defiant, and the Emperor reprimanded them."

"My wife."

"This is my wife."

Li Banfeng finally saw his wife's name in the historical records.

It only stated that his wife was sent to battle the Demonic Land and was reprimanded by the Emperor for being defiant.

As for how she was reprimanded, how she was defiant, or whether the battle was lost or won, none of it was written in the book.

This was consistent with the usual style of this history book.

All five volumes of history, from beginning to end, revolved around the Emperor.

For example, if the Emperor ate something wrong and suffered from diarrhea, the entire incident, including what he ate, how he relieved himself, and how much, had to be meticulously documented without missing a single detail.

Other matters were merely glossed over.

Turning to the end of the history book, Li Banfeng didn't see his wife's name again, but he did see another familiar person:

"In the eighth year of Yuanxi, the Demonic Land rose in rebellion. The Emperor dispatched General Hong Ying of the Talented Officers and General Cong Shixiang of the Waves to suppress them."

"Who is Cong Shixiang?"

"I don't know."

Hong Ying had also commanded expeditions against the Demonic Land. What was her relationship with his wife?

Li Banfeng looked at the gramophone and the spear, seemingly finding some clues.

The next day, Li Banfeng continued leading the group on their journey.

They had been traveling for a full twelve days. Their food supplies had long run out, and they had barely sustained themselves by hunting.

On the afternoon of the thirteenth day, a torrential rain poured down, yet everyone smiled.

Ahead, there were no mountains, only a vast plain.

Since arriving at Jianren Ridge, all they had seen were continuous mountains. No one present had ever had such a wide vista.

Finding the plain meant they had left the territory of Jianren Ridge.

But what was this place?

Li Banfeng had never been here.

He hadn't, but someone else had.

For the first time, Xiao Yeci spoke up: "Benefactor, I know this place! My daughter and I passed through here when we came!"

Lu Chunying nodded, saying, "We did indeed pass through this place."

Many present claimed to have passed through this place, but no one could say what it was called.

Now, Li Banfeng had to make an important decision: Where should these people go?

Everyone's idea was to return home, and most claimed to know the way they came.

But how would they get back?

"When you came, you all had travel permits, didn't you? Do you still have permits to return now?"

Everyone exchanged glances. Apart from Li Banfeng, no one else seemed to have a travel permit.

Li Banfeng's permit only guaranteed his own passage. His plan was to first settle everyone in this location, then return to Greenwater Bay, have Ma Wu arrange a batch of travel permits, and send everyone back to their respective homes.

This seemed to be the only viable solution, but Xiao Yeci then told Li Banfeng something important:

"Benefactor, I don't know about other places, but coming here from Greenwater Bay doesn't require a travel permit."

Li Banfeng paused, asking, "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely certain, it really doesn't require a travel permit."

Lu Chunying could confirm this. Unlike others who were abducted, Xiao Yeci and Lu Chunying had been tricked into coming.

When they reached this desolate plain, their freedom hadn't been restricted, and the friend who brought them truly hadn't shown a travel permit.

This made things easier.

Since no travel permit was required to go to Greenwater Bay, Li Banfeng could take everyone there and then make further plans.

Since they had already left Jianren Ridge, Xiao Yeci remembered the way they came, and Lu Chunying was also a traveling cultivator. Li Banfeng confidently allowed the mother and daughter to lead the way.

They walked from dawn till dusk, the heavy rain never ceasing.

Xiao Yeci encouraged everyone along the way: "Just a bit more effort! There's a village up ahead; once we reach it, we can find a place to stay."

They walked until deep into the night, but Li Banfeng still didn't see the village.

Xiao Yeci became flustered: "We didn't take the wrong path, this is the way! Where did that village go? There was a forest earlier, and we circled it, heading east, right? Did I remember wrong?"

Lu Chunying said, "Mom, you're not mistaken. This is how we walked when we came."

*Crack!*

A bolt of lightning streaked across the night sky, faintly revealing a cluster of buildings ahead.

Li Banfeng asked, "Is that the village?"

"Yes, yes, there are houses, so it must be the village!"

Xiao Yeci was very certain. Lu Chunying remained silent. The group walked towards the cluster of buildings.

As they approached, Li Banfeng's mind reeled as he saw the sight he least wanted to see.

What they called a cluster of buildings was actually a grand manor.

It had earthen-red courtyard walls, a vermilion gate, rusted nails on the gate planks, and a pair of massive door knockers.

This was the landmark building on Sage Peak!

Li Banfeng looked at Xiao Yeci and said, "Did we circle back?"

Xiao Yeci repeatedly shook her head, saying, "No way, impossible! I remember the path was exactly like this! I didn't remember wrong..."

Lu Chunying was also surprised: "We certainly walked this way before, but I don't remember there being a manor here."

This couldn't be blamed on the mother and daughter. After nearly half a month of travel, if they still hadn't left Jianren Ridge, it could only mean the Sage had gone back on his word.

"Is that scoundrel playing tricks on me?"

"If he's playing tricks on me, I'll fight him to the very end. He won't have a peaceful day again."

Li Banfeng approached the manor and, using the lingering light of the lightning, carefully examined it.

First, he could confirm that this was not the Sage's residence.

The Sage's residence was on the mountain; this was still a plain.

Aside from the location, this manor also differed from the Sage's residence.

The walls were mottled, the paint on the gate planks was peeling, and the stone slabs on the ground were full of cracks, with various weeds growing through them.

Although the Sage's residence felt lifeless, it wasn't as dilapidated as this manor.

Li Banfeng looked back at the group. After traveling all day in the heavy rain, most people were at their limit. If they continued, many would likely fall ill.

Entering this manor might be dangerous.

But camping outside it wasn't necessarily safe either.

He'd first figure out the owner's background. If they weren't villains, they could spend a night here.

If they encountered evildoers, his wife hadn't eaten in a long time. He'd assess the situation and then respond.

Li Banfeng lifted the door knocker and rapped a few times.

There was no response from inside for a long time.

Li Banfeng pushed the door. It wasn't locked. *Creak-creak*, the rusted hinges let out a shrill screech, and the door opened.

His gaze passed through the entrance hall, and Li Banfeng saw an overgrown front courtyard and brick walls covered in moss.

Was this an abandoned manor?