Chapter 35: Where Did the Body Go?

Xiaopang looked at the bald man’s corpse. His skull was gone, and brain matter was everywhere, making Xiaopang feel a bit queasy. “Brother Li,” he said, “how can you be so ruthless? You always go for the skull?”

Li Banfeng explained, “I’m tender-hearted. I can’t bring myself to hit their vital points. Skulls are hard; they can take a beating. Anywhere else, I’m afraid it would hurt them too much.”

Isn't the skull a vital point?

What kind of twisted logic was this?

Qin Xiaopang felt his comprehension was lacking; he couldn't understand Li Banfeng’s reasoning. He looked at the two women lying in the woods. Caoye was crying, and Youyao’s condition was unknown.

Youyao was still alive.

Caoye gave Youyao two pills, and Youyao gradually regained her ability to move.

She couldn't believe what she was seeing was real.

The bald man and his three subordinates—four people in total—were defeated just like that by Li Banfeng and Xiaopang?

How powerful were these two young men?

Youyao asked Caoye, but Caoye couldn't explain either. She was too terrified and hadn't clearly seen the fight.

It wasn't just them; Xiaopang also couldn't quite grasp what had happened.

The entire battle was too brief. The six individuals with the man in the gold-rimmed glasses vanished in the blink of an eye. Xiaopang didn't even have time to process what had transpired.

What Daoist sects did these six people belong to? What techniques did they possess?

Aside from one body cultivator who wore armor, Xiaopang had no impression of the others’ abilities because Li Banfeng hadn't given them a chance to use them.

Xiaopang had always considered the man in the gold-rimmed glasses to be the most sinister person he’d ever met.

Looking at Li Banfeng, Xiaopang wasn't so sure if the man in the gold-rimmed glasses truly counted as sinister.

The bald man and his three followers had stolen many people's snake bane chrysanthemums, totaling 176 stalks. This included Youyao's 38 stalks and Caoye's 61 stalks.

Youyao and Caoye were incredibly grateful to have survived. They didn't expect to get their flowers back, but Li Banfeng returned them anyway.

The remaining 77 stalks, along with Old Smoker's 91 stalks, were split evenly between Li Banfeng and Xiaopang.

Qin Xiaopang stared blankly at Old Smoker's corpse.

Old Smoker had saved his life; otherwise, Xiaopang would have certainly died at the hands of Tiger Cub. Regardless of Old Smoker's intentions at the time, his life-saving act was undeniable, and Xiaopang didn't want his body to be left exposed in the wilderness.

Li Banfeng handed a shovel to Xiaopang. "Hurry up," he said, "we should head down the mountain."

While Xiaopang dug the hole, Li Banfeng thoroughly searched the bodies of the bald man and his followers.

The bald man had over a thousand yuan on him, and each of his followers had between three and five hundred yuan, totaling over 2,200 yuan.

Since Youyao and Caoye had suffered losses, Li Banfeng gave each of them 300 yuan as compensation. The remaining money was split, with Li Banfeng and Xiaopang each taking 800 yuan.

The bald man’s knife was a fine weapon, which Li Banfeng kept for himself. The weapons of the three followers were ordinary, so Li Banfeng let the others choose.

As for what else the man in the gold-rimmed glasses and Tiger Cub had, that would wait until they returned to the Portable Abode. Li Banfeng had dealt with these two entirely on his own, so he decided to keep all their belongings for himself.

Xiaopang buried Old Smoker, then carried Youyao, and the four of them descended the mountain together.

As they walked down the mountain path, the scent of blood emanating from Youyao made Xiaopang's nose twitch.

"You don't seem like a body cultivator," Xiaopang said, expressing deep doubt about Youyao's Daoist sect. "Body cultivators can take a beating, so how did they injure you like this?"

Caoye knew the situation but remained silent, as one's Daoist sect was a secret among cultivators.

To his surprise, Youyao didn't hide it. She smiled and said, "I'm a Joy Cultivator. We just met, so I didn't tell you the truth at first."

"So you're a Joy Cultivator," Xiaopang sighed. "It seems those scoundrels got off easy."

According to Xiaopang's conjecture, Youyao falling into the bald man's gang's hands would certainly have involved more than just a beating.

"They didn't get off easy," Youyao said with a bitter smile. "They were saving me for their boss. If they had dared to touch me, that would have been fine. I can't beat them standing up, but if I were lying down, none of them would have survived."

Li Banfeng chuckled. "You're so badly injured, yet you still have such a sharp tongue."

"Are you saying I'm bragging? My abilities aren't just talk. Aren't you a Joy Cultivator too? How about we have a little contest?" Youyao asked, looking at Li Banfeng suggestively.

Li Banfeng looked at Qin Xiaopang. "I already have a partner."

Qin Xiaopang looked at Caoye. "I'm a Food Cultivator. I can eat a lot."

Youyao sighed and looked at Li Banfeng. "You've been picking chrysanthemums all this way. Don't you want a change of taste? I think flat is better than round."

Caoye blushed from her cheeks down to her neck.

Just as Li Banfeng was about to speak, he saw Qin Xiaopang hastily explain to Caoye, "I'm a Food Cultivator, really a Food Cultivator! I eat a lot. I'll treat you to a meal soon, and then I'll show you how much I can eat."

The four walked all the way to the foot of the mountain. Youyao took out her pocket watch and saw that it was already eight o'clock.

The round trip on the mountain had exceeded twenty li. Li Banfeng had sensed it earlier; his basic cultivation as a Journey Cultivator was already sufficient, more than sufficient, in fact, with plenty to spare.

Bitter Mist Mountain was a dangerous place. According to Li Banfeng's perception, walking one li here was equivalent to walking three to five li in Ligou Town. Not only was his basic cultivation enough, but he should have also accumulated an extra two days of time.

In Li Banfeng's impression, dangerous places seemed to hold a special significance for him.

What significance was that?

Li Banfeng was lightheaded from the choking mist and couldn't recall for a moment.

He had slept in the residence last night, so his homework as a Residence Cultivator was also complete.

If he couldn't remember, he wouldn't dwell on it. What he needed to do now was quickly exchange the snake bane chrysanthemums for money and buy a train ticket back to Yuezhou.

As for how exactly to exchange them, Li Banfeng was still pondering.

It definitely wouldn't be selling the flowers directly; Li Banfeng intended to sell elixirs.

This would depend on the power of the Bronze Lotus.

Crossing the Bridge of No Regrets and leaving the poisonous mist behind, the four of them gasped for fresh air.

Youyao vomited twice, and Qin Xiaopang sat by the bridge, panting heavily, sweat pouring down his pale face.

Caoye took out all her Cooling Powder and distributed it among them. After resting for over half an hour, Youyao managed to stand up and could walk with difficulty.

While cultivators indeed had good physical constitutions, and their external injuries healed quickly, this didn't mean the poisonous mist within their bodies could be cleared just as fast.

The group stumbled along, finding it very difficult to walk. Even Li Banfeng, who had only recently left the abode, felt a weakness in his legs.

Caoye cautioned them, "Everyone, brothers and sisters, when you get home, please rest and recuperate well for a while. This poisonous mist is very harmful to the body, so don't be careless."

Li Banfeng sighed. "Is it really worth it for a few thousand yuan?"

Youyao snorted. "If you were rich, you wouldn't need to come here risking your life with us. We're all 'cheap lives,' yet you're talking such nonsense."

Qin Xiaopang looked at Youyao. "We risk our lives because we have no capital. But with your looks and figure, do you really need to risk your life? Plenty of men would be willing to support you for a lifetime."

"This old lady doesn't need anyone to support her!" Youyao scoffed. "Not only can I support myself, but I can also earn money to support my partner."

Li Banfeng frowned. "Your partner still needs you to support them?"

"This old lady is willing, and I have the ability!" Youyao shot Li Banfeng a glare. "If you could support your partner, would you let them come out and risk their life with you?"

Xiaopang started sweating. "I'm a Food Cultivator, how can I explain this to you..."

"I know you're a Food Cultivator, that's nothing to be ashamed of," Youyao said with a smile. "My partner isn't a Joy Cultivator either. They're a Residence Cultivator."

Caoye suddenly understood. "No wonder you asked me about Residence Cultivators. It must be difficult for you, as Residence Cultivators don't find it convenient to go out and earn money."

"Earning money is secondary," Youyao shook her head. "She's a young woman, and I don't want her to expose herself to the outside world."

Li Banfeng suddenly realized, "So your partner is a woman."

The others nodded. "So she's a woman."

After a few more steps, Li Banfeng turned his head and looked at Youyao. "Your partner is a woman!"

"Is there a problem with that? What's wrong with being a woman?" Youyao's brow furrowed slightly. "You think round is better than flat; I think flat is better than long. Is there anything wrong with that?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "No, there's nothing wrong with that."

Youyao turned and pinched Caoye's cheek. "Don't you agree with what Big Sister said?"

"Big Sister, well, yes..." Caoye distanced herself from Youyao.

Qin Xiaopang looked a bit dazed. "I'm a Food Cultivator, that's what I am."

As more people appeared on the road, Li Banfeng became more vigilant. He worried someone might try to snatch their flowers.

He suspected this was a place completely without legal constraints.

Youyao's expression was quite relaxed. "Don't worry. Down the mountain, everyone has to follow the rules, or at least they can't openly steal. Otherwise, they won't be able to establish themselves in Yaowang Gully!"

Amidst the dense fog, flags of various colors fluttered.

The major apothecaries were right before them; it was time to make money.

Qin Xiaopang and Youyao's eyes were gleaming, and even the shy Caoye couldn't hide her excitement.

The proprietors of the various apothecaries had set up their stalls to collect flowers. But as they approached, Li Banfeng heard sounds of arguments.

"Twenty-five yuan? Do you think we're selling cabbage?"

What was worth twenty-five yuan?

Caoye looked at the snake bane chrysanthemums in her bag, unable to believe this was real.

Qin Xiaopang went to inquire, and before long, he returned, gritting his teeth.

"Let's go, let's go! We're not selling!"

People nearby also shouted, "We're not selling! We'd rather let them rot than sell!"

"This is damn outrageous; we absolutely cannot sell!"

The proprietor of the Liu Family Apothecary, baring his yellow teeth, smiled and said, "If you don't want to sell, fine. If you think I'm offering too little, go check other places."

It was the same at other apothecaries. The proprietress of the Chu Family Apothecary, while adjusting the makeup on her face, said, "Twenty-five yuan per stalk, that's the price this year. If you want to sell, do it soon, or I'll close up shop."

Why had the price become twenty-five yuan per stalk?

Wasn't it eighty-five yuan per stalk?

Here's the situation.

Several major apothecaries had sent people up the mountain and found a cliff where snake bane chrysanthemums grew in vast patches.

They collected these chrysanthemums, and each apothecary received over a thousand stalks.

With over a thousand stalks as a base, the apothecaries felt secure. They conspired together and drove the price down.

But they had suppressed the price too cruelly.

At twenty-five yuan per stalk, four stalks would yield one snake bane elixir. With a cost of one hundred yuan, and selling for ten thousand, that was a hundredfold profit.

Youyao sat on the ground, silent for a long time.

Caoye lowered her head, tears uncontrollably streaming down her face.

Xiaopang stomped his foot in anger. "No, I'm damn not selling! I don't believe we can't find other buyers."

"Don't talk nonsense out of anger!" Youyao gritted her teeth. "If you don't sell to them, who else can you sell to? All the major apothecaries in Yaowang Gully are here!"

Qin Xiaopang's eyes widened. "Then we won't sell in Yaowang Gully! We'll go somewhere far away!"

Youyao scoffed. "What idle talk are you spouting? Where else can you go? Have you ever even left Yaowang Gully?"

Qin Xiaopang sat down on the ground. "Then I'll just wait for a peddler to come!"

"Wait for a peddler?" Youyao gave a bitter laugh. "The man with the glasses said that harvested snake bane chrysanthemums rot within a day. If we don't sell them today, they'll be worthless tomorrow."

Qin Xiaopang snorted. "That man with the glasses isn't a good person either."

Caoye sobbed, "What he said is true. These flowers will really rot tomorrow and be useless."

Youyao sighed. "Forget it, let's sell them. A little profit is better than none. I have thirty-eight stalks, which can sell for nearly a thousand yuan. It's better than nothing. This is just our 'cheap fate'!"

"I'm not selling, no matter what!" Xiaopang threw his bag onto the ground, growing angrier the more he thought about it.

After a moment of thought, he suddenly looked at Li Banfeng.

He leaned close to Li Banfeng and whispered, "Brother Li, is that elixir still with you?"

Li Banfeng nodded and handed a snake bane elixir to Xiaopang.

Xiaopang looked around, then led the group to a secluded spot. He handed the snake bane elixir to Caoye. "Sister, can you tell if this is real?"

Caoye was a Medicinal Cultivator. She couldn't refine snake bane elixirs, but she could distinguish between real and fake ones.

After examining it for a moment, Caoye's eyes widened. "Brother Pang, this really is a snake bane elixir! Where did you get it?"

Xiaopang looked at Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng said, "I saw an old woman on the mountain. She said she'd trade elixirs for chrysanthemums with me—one elixir for ten stalks of flowers."

"Ten stalks?" Caoye couldn't believe it was true, nor could Youyao.

Ten stalks could only refine two elixirs. Was this old woman only making a double profit?

These apothecaries here were making a hundredfold profit!

"This elixir must be fake..." Caoye started to doubt her own judgment.

Xiaopang angrily retorted, "Didn't you just say it was real?"

"I'm afraid I made a mistake. Where in the world would you find such a price? I think I should still..." Caoye looked towards the apothecary flags.

"I trust you!" Youyao handed her bag to Li Banfeng. "You saved my life, and you gave me back my flowers. Whether this is real or fake, I trust you! Even if I lose everything, I accept it!"

Xiaopang also handed his bag to Li Banfeng.

Caoye hesitated for a moment, then also placed her bag into Li Banfeng's hand.

Xiaopang looked back at Bitter Mist Mountain. "I wonder if that old woman is still on the mountain, Brother Li, could you help us..."

Feeling bad about asking Li Banfeng to go back to Bitter Mist Mountain, Xiaopang added, "Brother Li, I'll go with you."

Li Banfeng raised an eyebrow. "I'll go try my luck. You just stay here and don't make things more complicated."

Li Banfeng retraced his steps and, deep within the dense fog, opened his Portable Abode.

He knew this was risky and might attract unnecessary suspicion.

But if he kept the snake bane chrysanthemums and didn't act, he would also be suspected.

Later, when he sold the snake bane elixirs, Li Banfeng would have no connections or helpers, which could lead to more trouble.

Seeing the faces of the apothecary owners, it was hard to say what they might do. Li Banfeng genuinely didn't want to sell the snake bane elixirs to them.

He would help Xiaopang and the others, trying to find other ways to sell.

Anyway, once this business was done, he would return to Yuezhou, never to come to this place or encounter these people again.

Inside the Portable Abode, Li Banfeng held the snake bane chrysanthemums. He was about to check how to open the Bronze Lotus when he found it was already open.

On the seven-holed lotus core, there were three lotus seeds.

Where did these three lotus seeds come from?

Li Banfeng was stunned.

He held up a candle and looked around, noticing that something seemed to be missing from the room.

What was missing?

Where were the corpses of the man in the gold-rimmed glasses and Tiger Cub?