Chapter 439: Ironclad Evidence

Sun Tiecheng, the master of Fool's City, had initially pretended to be a hunter to lure Li Banfeng into the city. After Li Banfeng successfully passed the assessment, Sun Tiecheng taught him two techniques.

He appeared suddenly, standing among the women before anyone seemed to notice.

Li Banfeng, surprised and delighted, said, "Now that you're here, I don't need to ask anyone else."

Sun Tiecheng frowned, "What exactly are you doing here?"

Li Banfeng chuckled, "Isn't it almost New Year's? I've come home for a visit."

"Visit, sure, but why are you causing trouble?"

"I'm not causing trouble. I just want to learn another skill. Look at these people; it's been so many years, and they still believe they're alive. It can't be as simple as 'speaking with conviction'..."

As he spoke, Tang Changfa and the women all looked at Li Banfeng.

Sun Tiecheng gritted his teeth, "Stop talking! Say another word and I'll beat you to death, right here on the spot!"

Li Banfeng chuckled, "Don't worry, we're all family here, we know each other inside and out. I just want to ask how this was achieved."

Sun Tiecheng waved his hand, instructing everyone in the brothel to leave the hall and wait in the back courtyard.

Once everyone had left, Sun Tiecheng glared at Li Banfeng. "Haven't I told you? You just need to make them believe they're still alive, and 'speaking with conviction' is enough."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Just using that one technique probably isn't enough, is it?"

Sun Tiecheng scoffed, "That's just because you haven't mastered the skill."

Li Banfeng wouldn't accept that. "It's not a matter of mastery. If 'speaking with conviction' alone were enough, you wouldn't need to give them flesh and blood, making them appear so real.

"What's more, I've noticed they actually know they're dead and that this flesh isn't their own. Many even have to find ways to acquire more.

"Yet, every one of them believes they're alive. Even knowing this flesh came from someone else, they believe it grew on their own bodies.

"This kind of contradiction clearly goes beyond the scope of 'speaking with conviction.' There must be some other secret."

Sun Tiecheng smiled. "There's also the 'Fool's Deliberation' technique at play here. Think about it: they can't figure out whether they're dead or alive, and when they can't figure it out, they simply stop thinking about it. Doesn't that explain it?"

Li Banfeng smiled. "One is 'speaking with conviction,' and the other is 'Fool's Deliberation.' Both happen to be techniques I know. Is it really such a coincidence?"

Sun Tiecheng nodded. "It is just that coincidental! You already know the techniques, so go and integrate them yourself."

They exchanged glances for a moment, then shared a knowing smile.

After their smiles faded, Li Banfeng sighed. "You're the one who introduced me to this path; I'm your disciple. Is it appropriate for you to deceive me like this?"

"What are you talking about!" Sun Tiecheng thumped his chest and gave a thumbs-up. "All my disciples were tricked into joining me!"

"I'm different from them," Li Banfeng said, looking earnestly at Sun Tiecheng. "They're just playing along with you, but I genuinely want to bring glory to our Daoist sect!"

"Don't give me that!" Sun Tiecheng's face darkened. "Do you even know my other disciples to say they're just playing along?"

Li Banfeng said, "Let's not talk about how many disciples you had before. Only two people passed the assessment in Fool's City, and I'm one of them. Shouldn't you show me some favoritism?"

Sun Tiecheng replied, "I've cared for you enough. I've told you everything you asked about. You're the one who came into the city and caused trouble, and I haven't even settled that score with you yet!"

"What you told me was clearly false. Giving them this flesh and blood, making them appear like living people—that's not a technique performed through words and thoughts.

"That's a skill performed with external objects, with a completely different mechanism than 'speaking with conviction' or 'Fool's Deliberation.'"

Sun Tiecheng sniffed, clasped his hands together, and squatted on the ground.

For some reason, it seemed to be his nature: whenever Li Banfeng hit a nerve, he would adopt this meek and guileless appearance.

"There is indeed another technique here," Sun Tiecheng admitted, "but I can't teach you any more techniques from my Daoist sect."

Li Banfeng clasped his own hands and squatted beside Sun Tiecheng. "We're family; what can't you teach me? You've already taught me two; just teach me one more."

"No, that won't do. You haven't officially joined my Daoist sect yet. I can't let you learn so many techniques." Sun Tiecheng shuffled a couple of steps away, turning his face to avoid looking at Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng circled around and squatted in front of Sun Tiecheng. "Then just let me join the Daoist sect! I'm completely loyal to our sect."

Sun Tiecheng turned his face to the other side again, continuing to evade Li Banfeng. "You can't join the Daoist sect yet; the time isn't right."

"If the time isn't right, then it's not my fault. Since I haven't done anything wrong, why won't you teach me?"

"I just won't teach you, that's all!" Sun Tiecheng drew circles on the ground with his finger.

Li Banfeng also drew circles beside him. "If you don't teach me, I won't leave. I'll cause trouble here every day!"

"If you cause any more trouble, I'll beat you to death!"

"If you beat me to death, you won't have any disciples left."

"I have one more."

"You mean He Jiaqing? That useless one?"

Sun Tiecheng was startled. "How did you know it was him?"

Li Banfeng said, "I encountered him once on the train and was nearly harmed by his Foolish Cultivation technique. At the time, I didn't know who he was, but later, after thinking it over carefully, I realized it was him I met that day."

Li Banfeng had indeed encountered the Foolish Cultivation technique on the train to Wuqin Township, and he had speculated that the person who used it was He Jiaqing.

From Sun Tiecheng's reaction, this seemed to be true.

The other disciple who passed the assessment was indeed He Jiaqing.

As for why He Jiaqing came to Fool's City and how he left, it was unknown for now, and not the time to ask.

Li Banfeng struck while the iron was hot, telling Sun Tiecheng, "He Jiaqing's cultivation is higher than mine, and he knows more Foolish Cultivation techniques. If I encounter him again in the future, imagine how much I'll suffer.

"We're both from the same sect; you, as a master, are being unfair!"

Sun Tiecheng lowered his head, continuing to draw circles. "That's not how it is. I only taught him two techniques, too. That's treating you both equally."

"That's different. I'm your last disciple; you should treat me better."

Sun Tiecheng stood up, fuming. "Who said I'm closing the door? Why would it be closed? My Daoist sect is perfectly fine. When did it close?"

Li Banfeng asked, "Then after me, do you have any other disciples?"

Sun Tiecheng squatted down again, resuming his circle drawing. "I haven't found a suitable one yet."

"See? That settles it. Ultimately, there's no one else. You should treat me better. I'm honest, upright, and I have good character. In the future, the entire Daoist sect will rely on me."

Sun Tiecheng wrestled with himself for a moment, then sighed. "Your character, how should I put it... you, damn it, you're using a technique on me again...

"Do you even know who I am? Do you know my status? If you dare to use a technique on me again, I'll beat you to death on the spot!"

Li Banfeng grinned innocently. "We're family; I just wanted to show you that my efforts weren't wasted."

Sun Tiecheng was silent for a moment, then said, "You came here this time for Qiu Luoye, didn't you?"

Li Banfeng was startled. "You know about that?"

"Of course I know. I often travel too, and I'm still looking for a more serious disciple."

Li Banfeng sniffled. "Am I not serious?"

"Serious? You're a joke! Either don't come back, or if you do, don't cause trouble. I'm telling you, don't talk nonsense from now on. Everyone in this city is alive!"

Li Banfeng chuckled. "We both know what's going on, so there's no need for pretense."

"What am I pretending about? Everyone in this city *is* alive!" Sun Tiecheng stood up. "Yan Hong, come out and eat something for him to see!"

Yan Hong emerged with a bowl of noodles. In front of Li Banfeng, she ate every last noodle and drank all the broth.

Sun Tiecheng said, "See? Being able to eat and drink means you're alive. This is irrefutable proof. Do you still have anything to object to?"

Li Banfeng pursed his lips. "You can't just talk about eating and drinking..."

"Yan Qing'er, come out and sing something for him!"

Yan Qing'er took a record, wound up the phonograph, and started a song. She came before Li Banfeng, swaying her waist, dancing and singing: "Gusts of wind, chilling, stirring the full spring pond, rippling waves, scattering my heart's spring passion, my heart grows heavier..."

It was the famous song from Puluo Province, "Longing for My Beloved to Return."

Sun Tiecheng continued, "Did you see? Did you hear? Being able to sing and dance is irrefutable proof that they are alive!"

Li Banfeng said, "You can't just say being able to sing and dance, he's just..."

"Seeing is believing! Are you still unconvinced?" Sun Tiecheng shouted. "Yan Cui'er, let him try touching!"

Yan Cui'er was a bit more voluptuous than Yan Hong and Yan Qing'er. She walked up to Li Banfeng, took his hand, and tucked it into her blouse. "My conscience is in your hand. Feel for yourself, the flesh in your palm is real, and the 'pearl on your palm' is also real!"

"Pearl on his palm"...

Seeing Li Banfeng silent, Yan Hong took his hand again, lifted her qipao, and placed his hand below her waist. "The 'peach' is in your hand. Feel again; both halves are real, and the crevice is real too!"

Sun Tiecheng said, "Not only is it real, the flesh is warm. It's irrefutable proof; this is alive. What more do you have to say?"

Li Banfeng pulled his hand back. "You can't just say this is..."

"Still not convinced!" Sun Tiecheng bellowed. "Yan Cui'er, pin him down and deal with him!"

This woman was surprisingly strong; she really did pin Li Banfeng down.

Li Banfeng cried out, "Wait, this isn't appropriate!"

"She's not appropriate?" Sun Tiecheng yelled. "Tang Changfa, come over here and deal with him!"

"Alright!" Tang Changfa came over, rolling up his sleeves.

Li Banfeng cried out, "Don't come any closer! I believe you! Isn't 'alive' good enough?!"

Yan Cui released Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng was very curious: What had just happened? Why couldn't he break free?

Sun Tiecheng said to Li Banfeng, "Open your eyes and you can see; prick up your ears and you can hear; reach out your hand and you can feel.

"With all this irrefutable proof right before your eyes, they are living people. What do you have to object to?"

Li Banfeng's mind stalled.

Sun Tiecheng was right.

This was indeed alive.

Li Banfeng found himself unable to find any reason to refute it.

Even if someone else were there today, they would find no reason to object.

"But they were..."

Sun Tiecheng waved his hand. "Don't talk about causes and effects, and don't try to beat around the bush with me. The irrefutable proof is right before your eyes.

"I'm settling this now: this is real! They are alive!"

Li Banfeng stood stunned for a long time, sensing an undeniable authority.

He looked at Sun Tiecheng and asked, "Is this the technique?"

Sun Tiecheng nodded. "This is the 'Irrefutable Proof' technique."

Li Banfeng smiled.

He taught him. He finally agreed to teach.