Chapter 368: All Friends Who Would Die for Each Other

Li Banfeng held the remote control, examining it repeatedly.

It wasn't that he lacked the courage to try it; he simply couldn't discern what changes had been made to the portable residence.

The crucial question was whether the new function, once completed, would be what Li Banfeng desired.

“Do you know what this is for?”

The portable residence replied, “For passing through.”

“Do you know what path I intend to cross?”

“Of course, I know. Wherever you go, I follow.”

“Can this open the border?”

“Half a minute, once a day.”

Li Banfeng pondered for a moment, then asked, “Are you referring to this mechanism?”

“What else could it be? This device is ingeniously crafted; with the current materials, this is as far as it can be modified. Go ahead and try it, though I can't guarantee its effectiveness.”

Li Banfeng took a paper figure, sprinkled some blood on it, exited the portable residence, stood near the border, and pulled the lever.

He guided the paper figure across the border; it passed through without any damage.

It worked!

The portable residence was remarkably capable!

As a train, it possessed such powerful engineering skills!

With only thirty seconds available, the paper figure had used twenty. Li Banfeng didn't hesitate, immediately rushing across the border. Ten seconds later, the mechanism clicked, and the lever returned to its original position; Li Banfeng tried to pull it again but couldn't.

The seemingly insurmountable border of Puro Province had opened just like that; Li Banfeng found it hard to believe.

As long as the remote control remained intact, Li Banfeng could now travel freely through most of Puro Province without needing to worry about travel permits.

Behind him was Blackrock Slope.

Ahead was Soda Kiln, adjacent to Blackrock Slope.

Li Banfeng carefully put away the remote control, pulled down the brim of his hat, and vanished into the night.

Soda Kiln was a town roughly the size of Medicine King Gully.

The place had a distinctive name. While working at the newspaper office, Li Banfeng had once inquired about Soda Kiln's origin, and Xiaochuanzi's explanation was that the soda there was exceptionally delicious.

At dawn, Li Banfeng arrived in town, where a rich aroma wafted towards him.

It was the scent of soda, and many soda stalls were already open early in the morning.

Li Banfeng found a stall and sat down. The proprietress asked him what flavor of soda he wanted.

Orange, grape, cantaloupe—the soda here was mixed purely with artificial flavorings, containing absolutely no natural fruit juice.

Yet, he didn't know what technique they used, but the blended soda was genuinely tasty.

Li Banfeng ordered two bottles of grape soda and the stall's signature set meal: two authentic Ingrid sausages, a plate of authentic Greenwater City pig's head meat, a dish of Soda Kiln's traditional spicy cabbage, and a bowl of the stall's secret white porridge.

Was this an appropriate meal?

Li Banfeng found it quite suitable; it was large and filling, flavorful enough, and not at all greasy.

While eating, Li Banfeng chatted with the proprietress about the origin of Soda Kiln.

The name originally had nothing to do with beverages.

“Back in the day, our Soda Kiln produced Puro Province's first batch of boilers. In a boiler, water turns into steam, and steam turns back into water—this steam-water cycle is the foundation of a steam engine.

Every household in Soda Kiln had steam access, earlier than Blackrock Slope. If it weren't for the business acumen of those from Blackrock Slope, we in Soda Kiln would have lived better lives than them!

Later, Soda Kiln gained some fame, and someone started a soda business here, falsely claiming that the soda sect originated in Soda Kiln.

As a result, Soda Kiln's steam engines didn't advance much, but the soda became increasingly good. Locals loved it, and outsiders loved it too. Now, soda stalls are everywhere in town, and they all say our place name comes from soda. Don't you think that's spreading rumors?”

The proprietress didn't look very old, perhaps twenty-five or twenty-six, but once she started talking about Soda Kiln's history, she couldn't stop. Seeing that Li Banfeng was almost finished, she even gave him another bottle of soda just to chat a little longer.

After eating, Li Banfeng returned to the portable residence for a nap. At dusk, he bought a map and strolled through the streets.

At this time of day, there were even more soda stalls. Li Banfeng was contemplating where to get dinner when he quickly spotted the same stall where he had eaten breakfast.

Upon seeing Li Banfeng, the proprietress quickly gestured for him to sit. Suddenly, someone nearby said, “Friend, don't be in a hurry to leave. Allow me a word.”

Li Banfeng turned and saw a man by the roadside, dressed in a black cloth gown, wearing a small round cap, with a goatee, and holding a mahogany folding fan.

In front of him was a square table with a banner hanging beside it. The banner had two large lines of text: "Know the past and discern the future, boundless transformation; good fortune or ill omen, revealed beforehand."

It was a fortune teller.

The proprietress coughed a few times, signaling Li Banfeng not to engage him.

Li Banfeng walked closer to the fortune teller and asked, “Are you looking for me?”

The fortune teller nodded and said, “This is your first time in Soda Kiln, isn't it?”

Li Banfeng honestly replied, “Indeed, it is my first time.”

The fortune teller counted on his fingers for a moment, then his brows suddenly furrowed. “You shouldn't have come.”

Li Banfeng was startled. “Why shouldn't I have come?”

“Your destiny contains an ominous number, and that number is in Soda Kiln. By coming to Soda Kiln, you have already encountered this ill omen, and a bloody disaster is inevitable.”

“What's an ominous number? That sounds rather scary.” Li Banfeng clasped his hands together and squatted obediently on the ground.

The fortune teller asked, “Have you come this time to visit relatives or friends?”

“To visit a friend.”

“Is your friendship with this person deep?”

“Yes, it's a life-or-death friendship; we've gone through life and death together several times!”

The fortune teller closed his paper fan and sharply asked, “You've come to collect a debt, haven't you?”

Li Banfeng was astonished. “Why would I be here to collect a debt? I've come to repay a kindness.”

“That's not right! You *are* here to collect a debt!” The fortune teller picked up paper and a pen and told Li Banfeng, “First, write a character.”

This was a character divination.

Li Banfeng cautiously asked, “How much does character divination cost?”

“Not a single penny!” The fortune teller waved his hand. “I'm not doing this for money. I see you're a person who values loyalty, and I want to help you avert this disaster.”

“If it's free, then fine.” Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly and wrote the character "Xiang" (相) on the paper.

After examining it, the fortune teller's expression grew even graver. “This is a sign of great misfortune; I can smell blood even through the paper.”

“What smell? I can't smell anything,” Li Banfeng said nervously.

“Look closely, the character ‘Xiang’ (相) is composed of ‘wood’ (木) and ‘eye’ (目). Bloodshed is imminent.”

Li Banfeng was puzzled. “How does the character for 'wood' imply bloodshed?”

“If there's a thorn on a piece of wood, and it pricks your hand, does it bleed?”

“Yes, it would definitely bleed.”

“If a wooden stick pokes into your eye, would that be life-threatening?”

“Yes, that would definitely be life-threatening!”

The fortune teller nodded. “That's why I said earlier you were here to collect a debt. Now that you've come to Soda Kiln, your friend's life is as good as gone.”

Li Banfeng was terrified, wiped sweat from his face, and stood up. “Then I'll just leave.”

“Too late!” the fortune teller sighed repeatedly. “You've arrived, and the ominous number has been struck. Your friend cannot escape this calamity.”

“No, that won't do!” Li Banfeng clasped his hands together and squatted on the ground again, his voice trembling as if he were about to cry. “I came to repay a kindness; how could I bring harm to my friend?”

“What a genuinely sincere man. In this age, one rarely sees such a kind person who values loyalty and righteousness,” the fortune teller nodded. “Meeting you today is also a stroke of fate. I will use half of my life's cultivation to devise a solution for you. First, tell me, what is your friend's name, and where does he live?”

“I don't know his name.”

The fortune teller was taken aback. “What do you mean? Didn't you say you had a life-or-death friendship?”

“Yes, it's a life-or-death friendship. Back then, to fulfill one of my wishes, he entrusted his very life to me.”

To sound convincing, one must include a few truths, and what Li Banfeng had just said was indeed true.

The fortune teller was even more puzzled. “If your friendship is that deep, how could you not know his name?”

Li Banfeng wiped his tears and said, “He wouldn't tell me. He only said he was the 'Prime Minister of the Jianghu' and lived in Soda Kiln, which is why I wrote the character 'Xiang' (相).”

Upon hearing this, the fortune teller fell silent for a moment.

“Prime Minister of the Jianghu” was a self-designation used by disciples of the Jiangxiang Gang.

The fortune teller asked, “What age is your friend, and what does he look like?”

Li Banfeng replied, “He's in his fifties, quite thin, a bit dark-skinned, and very gentle in his speech and actions.”

The fortune teller fell into deep thought.

According to this description, there might indeed be such a person in the local branch, but it was impossible to pinpoint who exactly.

The uncertainty was normal, as Li Banfeng hadn't provided any distinguishing features. Based on his description, one could find many such people walking around the streets.

The fortune teller was conflicted, wondering if this person Li Banfeng spoke of was indeed a fellow member of their sect.

After much internal debate, seeing Li Banfeng's honest and naive appearance, the fortune teller decided to proceed with the business.

“I will cast a divination to see if I can help you find your friend. Once you meet him, how do you plan to repay his kindness?”

Li Banfeng continued to speak truthfully: “I've brought many good things, but I can't tell you what they are. Once I meet my friend, I'll give all these good things to him, and I'll share some with you too.”

“A kind person, pitied by heaven. I will certainly help you with this.” The fortune teller took out his divination sticks and first asked Li Banfeng for his birth characters (Bazi).

Li Banfeng didn't know his actual birthdate, so he fabricated one in detail.

After the divination, the fortune teller immediately packed up his stall. “Come with me. Your friend's whereabouts have been determined. Whether you can save him depends on both your fates.”

Seeing Li Banfeng about to follow the fortune teller, the soda stall proprietress grew anxious. She wanted to stop him but dared not speak out.

The fortune teller led Li Banfeng through streets and alleys, continuously chatting with him along the way and praising his loyalty.

This was the Jiangxiang Gang's 'Kunma' technique, which emphasized 'Assess, Probe, Intimidate,' followed by 'Deceive, Flatter, Sell.'

‘Assess’ involved observing expressions and actions; seeing Li Banfeng looking around nervously, he concluded he was an outsider.

‘Probe’ was about indirect questioning to gather information. Though they were strangers, the fortune teller gleaned much from Li Banfeng.

‘Intimidate’ meant instilling fear, emphasizing that disaster was inevitable. Once these three steps were completed, the groundwork was laid.

After the groundwork came the main act. ‘Deceive’ involved tying unrelated matters together; asking Li Banfeng to perform character divination was an example of this deceptive method.

‘Flatter’ meant gaining Li Banfeng's trust through praise.

‘Sell’ was self-promotion. At this stage, the business was considered done.

Along the way, Li Banfeng nodded frequently, trusting every word the fortune teller said. In the fortune teller's eyes, the deal was sealed.

The only thing the fortune teller needed to confirm was whether this person was a friend of a fellow member in their local branch.

If he genuinely was a friend of a branch member, then he should be handed over to that member for handling; one shouldn't harm internal relations over a "fat sheep."

If no one in the branch recognized him, then there would be no need for politeness; if he left with even a single copper coin, it would mean the fortune teller was unskilled.

Arriving in a small alley, the fortune teller performed a quick calculation and told Li Banfeng, “Wait here. The tribulation is not far ahead. I'll go see if your friend is amidst it.”

Li Banfeng clasped his hands together and waited obediently in the alley.

The fortune teller exited the alley, turned into another lane, and entered a private house.

This private house was their branch office. The branch leader was disciplining two female disciples. The Jiangxiang Gang had a business called "releasing white pigeons," which involved women swindling money from men. Zhou Yujuan, the proprietress of the Immortal Music Dance Hall and the previous owner of the Silk Thread Earrings, came from this line of work.

These two female disciples were unskilled, hadn't earned any money for half a month, and were consequently receiving corporal punishment, lying on a spring bench while being whipped.

The fortune teller stepped forward to report, “Branch Leader, someone has come to our branch seeking a friend. He says they have a life-or-death friendship and that his friend is a member of our gang.”

“Visiting us to see a friend? And a life-or-death friendship?” The branch leader found this peculiar. “Are you spouting nonsense?”

Just as the fortune teller was about to explain, he heard Li Banfeng from nearby say, “Branch Leader, I'm not lying to you. It truly is a life-or-death friendship. They entrusted their very lives to me.

I've brought many good things for you this time. Don't worry, we are all friends; everyone will get a share.”

Li Banfeng drew his sickle.

The Tang blade flew up immediately.

The gourd was on his left, and the pendulum on his right.

The glove moved to the main entrance and closed the door.

Ten minutes later, Li Banfeng emerged, still supporting the fortune teller from before.

“Don't cry. What I told you was the truth. I truly have a life-or-death friendship with them.

I just wanted to destroy your gang, and to fulfill one of my wishes, they all sacrificed their lives. Isn't that a deep enough friendship?”

Passing the soda stall, Li Banfeng even greeted the proprietress.

The proprietress didn't know what was happening; she hadn't expected the two of them to be chatting so enthusiastically.

Li Banfeng continued to comfort the fortune teller: “You, sir, are truly accurate with your fortune-telling. I'm not flattering you; I genuinely admire you. Those people in the branch earlier were all my good friends, and they also entrusted their lives to me.

Your main hall must have many more good friends. Please take me to meet them. As you saw, I brought many good things, all prepared for you. I even saved a special portion just for you.

Didn't I tell you not to cry? Crying like this looks bad; people might think I did something wrong.

Quickly wipe your tears, and wipe the blood from your face too.”

After dismantling two branch offices, Li Banfeng arrived at the main hall of the Jiangxiang Gang.

He didn't directly charge into this main hall but waited until late at night to approach.

The fortune teller had informed Li Banfeng that within this main hall, there was a high-ranking master artisan especially skilled in creating mechanisms and traps. The fortune teller had drawn a map for Li Banfeng, marking a safe route, though Li Banfeng didn't know if he was telling the truth.

He certainly couldn't risk testing it himself. After using the music box to incapacitate a few gatekeepers and sentries, Li Banfeng retrieved two paper figures from the portable residence and sent them along the marked route.

The fortune teller had told the truth; the route was indeed safe.

Li Banfeng entered the main hall's courtyard. It was late autumn, early winter, and the weather was cold. Worried that the hall leader and others might catch a chill, Li Banfeng prepared to set a fire in the hall first.

As he searched for a suitable place to start the fire, he suddenly heard Silk Thread Earrings whisper, “Master, there's movement.”

Clang, clang!

The sound of metal clashing.

The sound seemed to come from underground.

In the dungeon, the heavily bruised He Yuxiu was tightly bound by chains.

The chains were made of special material, and He Yuxiu couldn't break free. She desperately slammed her body against the iron door.

“You dog-spawned bastards!” He Yuxiu gritted her teeth. “Even if I have but one breath left, I'll fight you to the end!”