Chapter 335: Avoiding Disaster

You Xuehan, codename Tangyuan, is an erudite, known in Puluo State as a Literary Cultivator.

Normally, Tangyuan would not participate in dealing with such relatively primitive aberrations, as these creatures do not understand human speech or possess an understanding of human culture, rendering most of a scholar's techniques ineffective against them.

However, this was an emergency. Aside from "Chunni" and "Lightbulb," she was the fastest to arrive.

In front of this silkworm, there were two most suitable techniques.

One is textual attack, which Puluo State calls "A Word Worth a Thousand Gold."

This "silkworm" is illiterate, but this does not affect the efficacy of "A Word Worth a Thousand Gold." This technique harnesses the power of text and cultivators to inflict heavy damage on the enemy.

For example, writing the character "Shatter" on this silkworm, if one's cultivation is high enough, can cause the silkworm to shatter on the spot.

This is the best choice for literary cultivators dealing with primitive aberrations, so why didn't Tangyuan use it?

"A Word Worth a Thousand Gold" is a Level Six technique, and Tangyuan only has Level Four cultivation.

These four levels of cultivation were achieved through the technological advancements of other states, gained through medication and training, so Tangyuan's practical combat experience is quite limited.

The second is text materialization, which Puluo State calls "Ink Tracing."

This is a Level Four technique for literary cultivators, and Tangyuan can use it.

This technique also utilizes the power of text and cultivators, materializing text to fight enemies.

However, this technique was not a good choice in the current situation.

The materialized text transformed into hundreds of warriors, indiscriminately attacking everyone present.

The silkworm, with its tough hide and thick flesh, could withstand it, but "Lightbulb" wasn't so tough. A character "Blade" materialized into a short knife and flew over. "Lightbulb," covered in grease, could still maneuver for a moment.

When a character "Fire" transformed into a ball of flame and flew over, Lightbulb got scared and immediately gave up on rescuing Qin Minghui, fleeing directly out of the technique's range.

He fled, but what about Qin Minghui?

Qin Minghui wasn't the worst off; the worst off were the two children, who couldn't even perform basic defensive actions.

Tangyuan found a way out within the lines of text, escaping from the materialized characters.

She had also considered that others would be affected, so she didn't strike with full force. Currently, she faced a dilemma.

Should she save Qin Minghui first, or the two children?

While she hesitated, Qin Minghui, while the silkworm was fending off the textual attacks, seized the opportunity to escape. He rushed towards the two children and shielded them with his body.

He had not yet escaped the technique's range of control.

Several lines of text surrounded Qin Minghui and began attacking, leaving him covered in wounds.

Seeing this, Tangyuan quickly deactivated the technique.

But she didn't expect this was also a foolish move.

She hadn't struck with full force earlier, so the silkworm hadn't been severely injured. Now that the technique was deactivated, the enraged silkworm charged at Qin Minghui again.

At this moment, Tangyuan couldn't think of a countermeasure.

At this critical juncture, Big Head rushed into the factory and knocked the silkworm over with a single punch.

The silkworm squirmed and struggled on the ground, trying to get up. Big Head stepped forward and delivered another kick, breaking the silkworm's fangs.

While the silkworm was unable to resist, Big Head took a syringe from his waist, injected it into the silkworm's skin, and administered the medicine.

The silkworm struggled for a moment, then lay motionless on the ground.

Tangyuan quickly called an ambulance and sent Qin Minghui and the two children to the hospital.

Qin Minghui had sustained many injuries, but fortunately, they were not life-threatening. After his wounds were treated and he was put on a pain pump, he soon fell asleep.

The next morning, Big Head and Lightbulb returned to the bureau to write reports, while Tangyuan stayed at the hospital to care for Qin Minghui.

Chen Changrui arrived at the hospital, and upon learning that Qin Minghui was doing well, couldn't help but sigh in relief.

According to the bureau's policy, Qin Minghui was in a private room. Taking advantage of the empty room, Chen Changrui spoke a few words with Tangyuan.

"Tangyuan, Chunni and Lightbulb are new recruits, so I won't talk about them yet. How many years have you been at the bureau?"

Tangyuan lowered her head and replied, "Ten years."

"If I recall correctly, you became a Dark Energist at the age of eight."

Tangyuan nodded.

"I remember your father specifically found a master for you at the bureau to teach you a scholar's training techniques. Your talent is truly remarkable, to have reached Level Four at this age."

Tangyuan bit her lip and remained silent.

Chen Changrui looked at Qin Minghui: "Chunni and Lightbulb are new, so I won't mention them, but you've been at the bureau for ten years, with Level Four strength, and this is how this mission turned out?"

Tangyuan's face flushed crimson.

Chen Changrui sighed, "This isn't your fault, it's mine. I've given you too little practical experience. You're not the only one in our team in this situation. The last time on a mission, Spectacles and Sugar Cube messed things up completely. When we encounter slightly more difficult missions, the ones who can fight tough battles are all Big Head and a few other old team members. If these old team members can't fight anymore someday, I don't know what our security team will be able to do."

As he spoke, Qin Minghui woke up.

"I'll go get some hot water." Tangyuan, who was overwhelmed with shame, couldn't sit still and found an excuse to leave the ward.

Chen Changrui looked at Qin Minghui and said, "Little Qin, well done, you didn't disgrace me. I'll go to the bureau tomorrow and request an award for you."

Qin Minghui shook his head. "Captain, I heard everything you just said. This mission wasn't handled well."

Chen Changrui smiled and said, "You did very well."

"Bad is bad, it's the same for everyone. I recalled the entire process, and we made many mistakes."

"Don't dwell on that. You're new, it's your first time dealing with an aberration. Achieving this level is quite good."

"What's that aberration called?"

"Its name..." Chen Changrui thought for a moment. "According to our nomenclature, it should be a primitive lepidopteran aberrant creature."

"What's it called in Puluo State?"

"You know about Puluo State too?"

"I heard you mention it before. You said it's a place where one can truly develop skills."

Chen Changrui smiled, "In Puluo State, this aberration is simply called a silkworm."

"Listening to that name, it doesn't sound like it's taken very seriously."

"Seriously? How should I put this?" Chen Changrui said with a wry smile. "In Puluo State, there's a special place called New Land. There, any hunter can easily take down a silkworm simply because there's nothing valuable on a silkworm, so hunters don't bother with them."

Qin Minghui listened intently. "So, Puluo State must be very powerful?"

Chen Changrui shook his head. "The people of Puluo State are formidable, but Puluo State itself is not powerful. You'll understand once you've been there."

Ma Wu stared into A-Qin's eyes for a long time.

Yesterday, after pulling out the "root of infatuation" from Huo Ling's eyes, Huo Ling quickly returned to normal.

This root of infatuation in A-Qin's eyes, however, couldn't be pulled out. It was like a soft thorn, making it difficult to apply force when pulling.

Fortunately, A-Qin had regained some clarity. Ma Wu told her not to watch the shadow play again, and A-Qin, obedient to Ma Wu, stayed obediently at the newspaper office for a night.

By the next morning, when he checked again, the root of infatuation in A-Qin's eyes was gone.

When asked again about the shadow play "Blade Detective," A-Qin had no particular feelings about it.

"It was just for novelty; I wouldn't say it was exceptionally good."

Huo Ling also agreed, "I watch shadow plays for the excitement, but this one wasn't very lively, though it did preach a lot of grand principles."

Ma Wu found it increasingly strange.

Was he truly overthinking it?

Were these two women really just looking for something new?

He had Bai Qiusheng arrange a travel permit, bought train tickets, and prepared to make a trip to Kudaikan.

Huo Ling was unhappy. "Wulang, what are you going there for? Aren't the two of us enough?"

A-Qin also advised him, "You've just been promoted, you should be careful."

Ma Wu looked at the bloodstains on the handkerchief. These were left by Huo Ling.

Was this truly a root of infatuation?

Perhaps only she could verify it.

At Yaowanggou Station, Li Banfeng got off the train, and in the square in front of the station, he inquired everywhere about the rickshaw puller with the fire wheel.

It was rare for him to come here; if he could meet him, it would be best to ask about the Level Seven technique.

An old master, who was acquainted with the rickshaw puller with the fire wheel, said, "That fellow went home yesterday afternoon, saying he was going to hide from disaster, and told me to hide too. How can I hide? If I don't work for a day, we can't make ends meet. My whole family is waiting to eat."

Hiding from disaster?

This rickshaw puller was a prominent figure among traveling cultivators; his ability to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune was not to be underestimated. If he said he was going to hide from disaster, something was definitely up.

What could it be?

Li Banfeng heightened his vigilance, didn't take a rickshaw, and walked directly to Ligou.

Ligou felt truly familiar. It was Li Banfeng's first stop in Puluo State, especially Archway Street. Every shop was very familiar, including the Xianyue Dance Hall which he had blown up.

The dance hall had been rebuilt; its facade was similar to before, and he heard it was still a business of the Jiangxiang Gang.

Should he blow it up again?

Maybe another day.

First, he went to look for Shopkeeper Feng.

Li Banfeng arrived at Fengji General Store, but the shop was closed.

Where did he run off to enjoy himself this time? Wasn't Chunsheng here either?

The Yu Family Cloth Shop next door was also closed.

What was going on?

Li Banfeng was about to ask someone when he suddenly felt someone approaching from behind.

He suddenly turned his head and saw a tall, slender figure say to him, "You're back and you didn't even say hello?"

To meet by chance on the street, Qiu Zhiheng was overjoyed.

Perhaps accustomed to this unspoken understanding, Li Banfeng said little, and Qiu Zhiheng asked little. He directly led Li Banfeng to Qiuji Pharmacy: "Come on, let's go home and eat."

At the pharmacy, after Qiu Zhiheng's introduction, his sister-in-law learned that this person was Li Qi.

His sister-in-law was also very happy and personally cooked for them both.

The pharmacy business was thriving. Qiu Zhiheng had struggled for many years and finally had his own business, which he managed with exceptional care.

His sister-in-law prepared a table of food and wine. After they had a few drinks, Qiu Zhiheng said, "Later, take a look at the ledgers and calculate the bonuses."

It was clearly stated at the beginning: Li Banfeng would provide the capital, and Qiu Zhiheng would provide the effort, a fifty-fifty split. When it came time to split the money, Qiu Zhiheng would certainly not let Li Banfeng lose out.

Li Banfeng waved his hand and said, "You can use my share of the bonus for now. Let's expand the business. This time I came to find Shopkeeper Feng of Fengji General Store. Do you know where he went?"

His sister-in-law said from the side, "He said he went into hiding from disaster and told us it would be best to close for these two days."

Why was Shopkeeper Feng also hiding from disaster?

What exactly was going on?

Qiu Zhiheng said, "Our business has just opened; how can we just close it down? I suspect the Jiangxiang Gang is coming to cause trouble. I'd like to see what tricks they can pull off here."

Was it really the Jiangxiang Gang?

Shopkeeper Feng hiding from the Jiangxiang Gang was reasonable.

Why would the rickshaw puller hide from the Jiangxiang Gang?

Was there something else going on here?

As he was pondering, Qiu Zhiheng's son ran in and said with a flushed face and a smile, "Sister Caoye is here."

Caoye?

Which Caoye?

Li Banfeng stepped out to look, and indeed, it was the Caoye he had met on Mount Kuwu.

Caoye stood at the pharmacy entrance, her eyes red, with a carriage parked behind her.

Beside the carriage stood a man, appearing around sixty, wearing a short jacket, with his hair parted and a profound smile. He spoke to Caoye in a senior tone:

"Let me say something, don't take it the wrong way. What's the point of you doing this kind of business? How much money can you earn delivering a batch of medicinal herbs? You still want to open a pharmacy? You still want to run a big business? Do you think you're cut out for it? Do you think you have the destiny for it?"

Hearing this, Caoye began to sob.

Surely not.

On Mount Kuwu, Caoye was someone who had risked her life. She wouldn't cry just because of a few words from this old man, would she?

Who was this old man to her?

Li Banfeng was still observing the situation when he saw his sister-in-law rush out the door, pull Caoye, and bring her into the pharmacy.

Qiu Zhiheng said to the customers in the pharmacy, "Excuse me, everyone, our shop is closing now. Please come back another day?"

The customers were very displeased. What time was it? How could they just close like that?

Qiu Zhiheng didn't explain. He sent all the customers away and immediately closed the door.

Li Banfeng said, "Brother Qiu, what happened?"

Qiu Zhiheng's brows were tightly furrowed. "I haven't been to Yaowanggou in too long, so I'm out of touch with the news."

His sister-in-law said from the side, "Nonsense! Shopkeeper Feng told you to go into hiding, but you didn't listen!"

Qiu Zhiheng was very annoyed. "He didn't explain clearly. I thought he had enemies coming. Who knew *this* thing would come!"

As they were speaking, the old man shouted from outside the door, "What's the meaning of this? You close the door when I arrive? Can business be done this way? Let me say something, don't take it the wrong way: your pharmacy treats customers like this; it certainly won't do well in the future!"

Qiu Zhiheng gritted his teeth and said, "Bad luck!"

Li Banfeng said, "What exactly does this person do?"

"He's a Funeral Cultivator!"