Chapter 342: Bitter Medicine Pass

Li Banfeng obtained a travel permit and bought a train ticket, preparing for his trip to Huangtu Bridge. Shopkeeper Feng's elder brother, Feng Chongli, was still there, waiting to conduct a major business deal. Feng Chongli was the most crucial lead in Li Banfeng's investigation into the railway tracks. Li Banfeng didn't tell Qiu Zhiheng the reason for his departure, only stating that he would return as soon as possible. Only Shopkeeper Feng knew what Li Banfeng was going to Huangtu Bridge for, and he accompanied him.

"My brother has a rule," Shopkeeper Feng explained. "When doing business with him, you need a witness who knows both you and him. Few people know this rule, and he's unwilling to inform others beforehand. As a result, after people discuss business with him, things often end unpleasantly due to the lack of a witness."

Li Banfeng was puzzled. "Why is a witness necessary? What happens if there isn't one?"

"Without a witness, the deal changes significantly," Shopkeeper Feng replied. "If he's buying, he'll drive down the price, possibly to less than half. If he's selling, he'll inflate the price, perhaps doubling it, or even back out of the deal entirely. This witness is related to his cultivation; deals without one seem detrimental to his practice."

"Since the witness is so important, why isn't this rule told to people beforehand?" Li Banfeng asked.

Shopkeeper Feng shook his head and sighed, "That, I don't know." Although they were blood brothers and belonged to the same spiritual sect, Shopkeeper Feng didn't know Feng Chongli very well.

Before leaving, Li Banfeng paid a visit to Old Yao's residence. His wife had engraved a record and told Li Banfeng, "Take this to the local earth god, Old Yao. He's skilled in combat, and as long as he defends his home, the Mourning Star shouldn't be his match. However, the Mourning Array has already formed in Yaowang Gully. There's always a risk of unforeseen events, so if the Mourning Star launches a sneak attack, this record might come in handy." The power of his wife's records was beyond doubt.

"But Old Yao doesn't even have a record player," Li Banfeng pointed out, "how can he play it?"

"Give him one," his wife replied.

Li Banfeng retrieved a wind-up record player from the sixth room, one he had bought from Miaosheng Phonograph Store. He often bought record players there; those from Amikan country had parts interchangeable with his wife's, which he generally reserved for her upgrades. If he found record players from other countries appealing, he would buy them for his collection. This particular record player was made in Aotuilie and had excellent sound quality, but Old Yao didn't like it.

"I really can't stand Western stuff," Old Yao grumbled. "Just put it in the room as an ornament."

Li Banfeng placed the record player by the bed. "I've wound it up for you. Remember, when you're fighting, switch it on; it will be very useful."

Old Yao scoffed, "When I'm fighting, do you think I'll have the presence of mind to listen to this?"

Li Banfeng then handed Ling Miaoying's adhesive tape to Old Yao. "If you get injured, stick this on."

Old Yao held the tape, examining it for a long time. "Is this for sticking people, or for sticking tires?"

"It's good stuff; just keep it and use it!" Li Banfeng said.

After Li Banfeng had walked away, Old Yao sighed, "I never make friends with people. Why are you giving me so many things?" No sooner had he spoken than a gentle breeze swept by. A leaf floated down, then suddenly flew rapidly towards Old Yao's cheek. Old Yao swung his wine pot, and two liang of aged wine splashed out from the spout. As the wine passed over the leaf, blue smoke rose in layers. Old Yao transformed into a mist of wine and pursued the blue smoke.

After about ten minutes, Old Yao returned to his reclining chair and snorted, "Old dog, you're quite fast!" His left arm was bleeding, but Old Yao initially paid no attention, continuing to drink. After a couple of sips, he glanced at the adhesive tape Li Banfeng had given him, and chuckled, "Well, it's your kind gesture; I might as well try it out!"

Inside the Portable Residence, Hong Ying asked, "Yaowang Gully, that's the former Kuyao Pass, right?"

The phonograph replied with a single word: "Yes."

Hong Ying murmured, "So that person really is Yao Xin."

"Yes," came the reply.

"That old man is still here?"

"He always has been."

"You knew he was here?"

"Yes."

"He knew you were still alive?"

"Yes."

"Have you seen him since that incident?"

"No."

"Do you hate him?"

"I have never hated that old general. Among all the armies, he is the only one I never hated."

Hong Ying scoffed, "Then why do you hate me?"

"You are different from him. He was a competent general; he held Kuyao Pass and has held it to this day."

Li Banfeng and Shopkeeper Feng arrived at Huangtu Bridge by train. Of the entire train, only the two of them disembarked at this station. From the moment they got off the train until they reached the plaza in front of the station, they saw no one else except the ticket inspector at the exit. This place was utterly desolate.

Despite its desolation, the area was quite vast, with several crisscrossing streets and tracks running through them, reminiscent of Black Stone Slope. However, the smell of rust and dust was overwhelmingly strong. The strong smell was natural; the railway tracks were heavily rusted, and an even more severely corroded small train stood on them. Many of the train's wheels had been removed; the few remaining ones supported the train's weight, likely because they were too difficult to remove, hence their preservation. As for the machinery on the train, it was clear that apart from the steam drum and boiler, almost everything that could be removed had been.

After walking several hundred meters along the main street, Li Banfeng didn't see a single open shop. Only one restaurant's glass windows were still intact, but upon touching the windowsill, he found dust over an inch thick. For a town of such a size, almost like a small city, it was astonishingly desolate.

Li Banfeng asked Shopkeeper Feng, "Where can we find your brother?"

Shopkeeper Feng replied, "I remember there's only one inn still open in Huangtu Bridge. Let's head that way and take a look."

Shopkeeper Feng was a sedentary merchant who rarely traveled and wasn't very familiar with Huangtu Bridge. The two groped their way, walking from noon until dusk for over three hours, before finally locating the inn. It was surprisingly large, a seven-story building with over a hundred rooms in total.

The innkeeper was dozing behind the counter. Li Banfeng asked directly, "We're looking for a guest named Feng."

The innkeeper looked displeased. "Do you think I can just disclose guest information? Don't you understand our business rules?"

Li Banfeng handed him two Huan Kingdom banknotes. The innkeeper then pointed to the stairs. "Room 608. He just returned an hour ago."

The two went to room 608. When Feng Chongli opened the door after they knocked, Li Banfeng froze for a moment. He looked at Shopkeeper Feng, Feng Xincheng, and whispered, "Did we come to the wrong person?"

Feng Chongli, meanwhile, addressed Shopkeeper Feng, "Xincheng, why are you here? And who is this..."

Was this really Feng Chongli? That didn't seem right! Feng Chongli was Shopkeeper Feng's elder brother, and Shopkeeper Feng appeared to be over fifty years old. Yet Feng Chongli looked to be in his thirties. What was going on?

Shopkeeper Feng briefly introduced Li Banfeng, and Feng Chongli invited them inside. He was staying in a suite with a living room outside and a bedroom inside. The three sat down in the living room, and Li Banfeng immediately stated his purpose: "Mr. Feng, I'm here today because I'd like to buy a pair of iron rulers from you."

Feng Chongli paused, then asked, "Are you looking to buy weapons?"

"You could say that."

"I don't understand. Aren't iron rulers weapons?"

Feng Chongli seemed to be testing him, so Li Banfeng decided to be more explicit. "You once sold a pair of iron rulers to Boss Tu. I took a liking to that item, but Boss Tu wouldn't part with them. I'm here to ask if you still have any of those."

Feng Chongli glanced at his brother, Feng Xincheng. He found Li Banfeng rather unusual. People in the jianghu spoke indirectly, saying three parts and leaving seven, always probing one another. But this man spoke so straightforwardly.

Feng Xincheng interjected, "Brother, Mr. Li is here for business, and I will be the witness for this deal." Although the brothers had differing temperaments, Feng Chongli naturally trusted his own younger brother's character.

"To be frank," Feng Chongli said, "I have two pairs of iron rulers in total. One pair I sold to Boss Tu, and I still have one pair left."

He actually had a pair! Li Banfeng nodded. "I'll take that pair."

"Don't rush. First, consider the price."

Li Banfeng was prepared for the price; Tu Yinghong had lost everything for them, so such an important item certainly wouldn't be cheap. "Name your price," Li Banfeng said.

Feng Chongli held up a finger. "One million silver dollars."

Feng Xincheng choked on his tea and nearly spat it out. Though Li Banfeng was mentally prepared, he was speechless for a long moment. One million silver dollars?

Li Banfeng said, "Mr. Feng, do you know the price of 'Bailemen,' the landmark establishment in Green Water City?"

"Yes, I know. Last year, Lu Dongjun sold it to Chu Huaiyuan for eight hundred thousand silver dollars."

"And your pair of iron rulers costs one million?"

Feng Chongli nodded. "Indeed, that's the price."

"Was it the same price when Tu Shumei bought them from you?" Li Banfeng doubted Tu Shumei had that much wealth.

Feng Chongli took a sip of tea. "How much Boss Tu paid is not something you should ask about." This was a fair point; each deal was its own affair.

Could Li Banfeng come up with one million silver dollars? When he sold the Tiger-Blasting Spear, Li Banfeng earned eight hundred thousand silver dollars. Six hundred thousand remained in Iron Gate Fortress, and two hundred thousand was on him. With his recent comings and goings, he could retrieve three hundred thousand silver dollars from his Portable Residence, and getting the money back from Iron Gate Fortress would total nine hundred thousand. Adding the profits from his businesses in Blue Willow Village, Decent Village, and Free-and-Easy Haven, Li Banfeng personally had over six hundred thousand more. So, he could indeed produce one million silver dollars.

Li Banfeng said, "I'll give you a 30% deposit now, and the remainder later. We can draw up a contract, but you must let me take the item, alright?"

Feng Chongli pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

Feng Xincheng interjected, "Brother, I trust Mr. Li's character. I'll vouch for him. No one could possibly carry one million silver dollars on them. You have to give him a few days to raise the funds."

Feng Chongli lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. "It's rare for Xincheng to speak up, so I'll offer a discount—a big discount. The price of one 'Bailemen' establishment, eight hundred thousand. Before this time tomorrow, bring the eight hundred thousand. We'll exchange money for goods, verify authenticity on the spot, and sign the contract. If you can't bring it, don't come looking for me. I have other business in Huangtu Bridge, and after tomorrow, I won't be seeing any more guests."

Feng Xincheng started, "Brother, you..."

Feng Chongli's face darkened as he looked at Feng Xincheng. "I've given you enough face."

These brothers truly didn't get along. Feng Xincheng had nothing more to say.

Li Banfeng nodded, pulled his hat lower, and left Feng Chongli's room with Shopkeeper Feng. Shopkeeper Feng's face was flushed. "Mr. Li, I wasn't able to help you with this."

Li Banfeng chuckled, "How can you say you didn't help? You saved me two hundred thousand silver dollars!"

Shopkeeper Feng pursed his lips. "When doing business, there's always bargaining. Even without me, he should have offered some discount. But this is too difficult for anyone. Eight hundred thousand silver dollars in one day, in this desolate place? Where would you even get it?"

Li Banfeng also didn't know where to get it.

After eating, Li Banfeng settled Shopkeeper Feng into his room, then he himself took a separate room and returned to his Portable Residence. Inside, Li Banfeng counted his cash: he had a total of 380,000, leaving him short by 420,000. He sat by the bed, silently contemplating his options.

Option one: Go out and steal money. In Huangtu Bridge, being unfamiliar with the place, he wouldn't even know where to steal, and Li Banfeng would never target innocent people. Option two: Directly steal the iron rulers. This wouldn't work either. First, it was a fair transaction, mutually agreed upon. Why would he rob someone?

As Li Banfeng was talking to himself, he suddenly heard the Glove speak beside his ear: "Master, if you don't want to steal it, I can go 'borrow' it for you."

"Borrow it..." Li Banfeng patted the Glove. "You're quite eloquent."

"Then let's go!" The Glove was about to move, but Li Banfeng shook his head. "Borrowing won't do either. Shopkeeper Feng is vouching for this, and it's his own brother. We can't put them in a difficult position."

The phonograph chimed in, "Oh, my dear husband, what's causing such difficulty?"

Li Banfeng sighed, "My dear wife, I need to buy something."

"We have plenty of money at home," she replied. "What can't we buy?"

Li Banfeng said, "I want to buy a pair of iron rulers, and they cost eight hundred thousand silver dollars!"

"Eight hundred thousand? That's quite a sum. What kind of fine weapon is it?"

"It's not a weapon. It's something for our residence."

*Clang-clang-clang!* The phonograph strongly supported this. "Oh, my dear husband, things for the residence should be bought without hesitation, no matter the cost. Husband, convert your pills; the price of Golden Yuan Pills is quite high!"

That was indeed an option. High-quality Golden Yuan Pills commanded exceptionally high prices. But Li Banfeng still needed to save the pills for his journey to cultivation. Obtaining pills wasn't easy; their production rate wasn't high.

In his dilemma, he heard the Glove again: "If Master doesn't want to borrow the iron rulers, then let's borrow some money."

Li Banfeng gave a wry smile. "Where am I supposed to borrow so much money?"

"Borrow from me!" No sooner had it spoken than the Glove took two steps back, opening its palm upwards, and out gushed a large pile of silver dollars with a clatter. The silver dollars piled higher and higher, filling almost half the room.

The Glove told Li Banfeng, "Four hundred thirteen thousand two hundred twenty-two silver dollars, Master. Count them."

Li Banfeng was stunned for a long time. The Glove then spat out a box of gold. "This is what you awarded me before. If you calculate it, it should be enough. If not, I still have banknotes; they're all for you, Master!"