Chapter 445: Muddy Business

Cui Tik came to Li Banfeng for a business matter.

Li Banfeng found a teahouse, reserved a private room, and spoke with Cui Tik in detail.

He first asked a question: "Why does Chu Shaoqiang want to take over Moxiang Store's territory?"

Cui Tik replied, "According to the information I have, Chu Shaoqiang is eager to acquire a proper territory. Under pressure from Neizhou, he wants to find a soft target to pick on."

Is Moxiang Store considered a soft target?

Li Banfeng expressed deep skepticism: "The Local Deity of Moxiang Store should be a Scholar Cultivator, shouldn't he?"

Cui Tik nodded, "Since arriving here, I've been influenced by this place and developed a great interest in Puluozhou's literature. This should be an effect caused by the Local Deity through some means."

Li Banfeng took out a map he had bought on the street. "Moxiang Store is not a small place. A Local Deity capable of influencing an entire territory with their power is quite rare.

Scholar Cultivators are one of Puluozhou's largest daoist sects, and the sect itself is very powerful. If Chu Shaoqiang were looking for a soft target, he shouldn't have chosen this place."

Cui Tik said, "I've had similar suspicions, but according to the information your friend gathered, the Local Deity here has encountered some misfortune and has fallen into an extremely weakened state."

My friend.

He was referring to He Jiaqing.

"Is this information reliable? Exactly what state has the Local Deity fallen into?"

Cui Tik replied, "My Patriarch didn't reveal more details. As for the reliability of this information, he sent me here to verify it."

Li Banfeng was curious: "How do you verify it?"

"My Patriarch taught me to find a spot in Moxiang Store, spread a plague, kill off the local inhabitants, and see if the Local Deity appears to stop it.

If the Local Deity doesn't appear, it proves your friend's information is accurate, which in turn proves Chu Shaoqiang will arrive at Moxiang Store at any moment.

At that point, my Patriarch will have many options. He could wait for Chu Shaoqiang to act and then reap the benefits, or he could seize Moxiang Store before Chu Shaoqiang and wait for a chance to present itself."

Li Banfeng asked, "You don't want to do that?"

"No."

"Because you can't bear to?"

Cui Tik shook his head, "I can bear it, but I'm afraid. If I create a disaster in Moxiang Store, and the Local Deity of Moxiang Store hasn't fallen into a bad state, then the one in a bad state would probably be me.

Even if the Local Deity doesn't personally deal with me, as you said, Scholar Cultivators are the second largest daoist sect in Puluozhou; their influence wouldn't let me off the hook.

Based on this, if I truly did that, no matter the outcome, I would be the one who dies.

I'd very much like to use a plague to kill everyone in this world, but only if I truly possess that power. Before I have that power, I'd like to live a bit longer."

Li Banfeng understood Cui Tik's predicament.

"Given your situation, what kind of business can you do with me?"

"I want to find out the Local Deity of Moxiang Store's condition in a different way, a more normal and gentler approach.

But you know Puluozhou isn't too friendly towards foreigners, and I'm not good at reconnaissance myself. When I was hunting you down, I even had to rely on Daboyinsi's resources.

I hope you can help me gather information about the Local Deity. In exchange, I can disclose some information about He Jiaqing to you."

Li Banfeng asked, "What kind of information can you provide? If it's not very valuable, I don't want to waste my time."

Cui Tik said, "The information I provide you and the information you provide me will undoubtedly be of equal value. This isn't our first time doing business, so we can certainly agree on this point. I also know your capabilities and methods; I won't risk my life on this matter."

Li Banfeng twirled the teacup in his hand. "The Local Deity's condition isn't easy to ascertain. I might only be able to find out part of the truth."

Cui Tik nodded. "I understand that. Given our working relationship, I might as well be completely honest with you: I don't plan to tell my Patriarch the full truth, but I need to fabricate a relatively credible lie.

The Local Deity's residence, cultivation level, or even just a name—as long as one piece of information is true, the lie will be believable.

Of course, if you ultimately discover the Local Deity's true condition, our deal can be upgraded. I can strategically convey certain information to my Patriarch, allowing him to make either correct or incorrect responses.

Once Chu Shaoqiang, my Patriarch, your friend, and the Local Deity of Moxiang Store go to war, there might be even greater surprises awaiting us."

Li Banfeng smiled, "You want to fish in troubled waters?"

Cui Tik said, "I think leaving such delicious fish in murky waters is disrespectful to the fish."

"That depends on how murky and how deep the water is."

Cui Tik picked up his teacup and took a sip. "No matter how murky or deep the water is, I must enter it; I have no choice in that matter.

But you are different. You can choose not to enter the water, and even if you do, you can come ashore at any time. You won't lose out on this deal."

Li Banfeng looked out the window; from there, he could still see the poetry society they had visited earlier. "Will you still go to that poetry society?"

"Yes," Cui Tik nodded. "There aren't many places where I can gather information, and that's a good spot. Even if the women there don't like me, at least I can collect some folklore and strange tales."

"If you see a poem or writing I've left in the poetry book, it means I've found a result. Wait for me at the poetry society then; I'll find an opportunity to contact you."

Li Banfeng left the teahouse, walked around Moxiang Store, and returned to Yanshazhai at nightfall.

Tan Fucheng was reading in the courtyard. He didn't know many characters, and with a dictionary at his side, he was struggling to read.

He pulled up a chair for Li Banfeng. "Seventh Master, please sit."

Li Banfeng didn't sit. Tan Fucheng was a Devotional Cultivator, and sitting in his chair might attract trouble. It wasn't that he didn't trust Tan Fucheng; it was just that Tan Fucheng's state seemed off.

"Seventh Master, over the years, my cultivation has grown, my business has expanded, I've acquired over a dozen properties, and married more than a dozen wives. I thought I had enjoyed all the blessings of this world. But now I realize that half my life has been wasted.

All the truths of the world are contained within these books. If I hadn't seen this today, my entire life would have been lived in vain!"

What book could have affected Tan Fucheng so deeply?

The book was thin. Li Banfeng looked at the cover; it was "The Hundred Family Surnames."

This was hard to understand.

"What earthly truths does this 'Hundred Family Surnames' teach?"

"Seventh Master, I can't explain it clearly. I don't understand it myself; I'm too dull-witted. Wait until I've fully grasped this book, and then I'll tell you!"

Several of Tan Fucheng's subordinates were reading, Xiao Yeci was also reading, and Lu Yuanxin was feeding insects inside the room.

When Lu Chunying saw Li Banfeng, she happily said, "Seventh Brother, Moxiang Store has business opportunities! There are many farmlands outside the city and quite a few farming cultivators. A lot of grain is sold out annually, so doing grain business here could earn a lot of money.

It's just that people tend to get a bit strange after staying here for a long time. I don't know what happened to Brother Tan and the others; they're so engrossed in reading that they don't even want to eat."

It seemed Lu Chunying had visited many places that afternoon. Li Banfeng asked, "Don't you want to read?"

Lu Chunying shook her head. "I read with my mother every day at home; haven't I had enough? It's a rare chance to come out, so I need to accumulate some cultivation too."

Moxiang Store had no effect on Lu Chunying or Lu Yuanxin, but it was impossible to tell if it had affected Xiao Yeci.

Back in his Portable Abode, Li Banfeng took out the Judge's Brush and asked, "Is Moxiang Store your home?"

The Judge's Brush did not reply.

Li Banfeng asked again, "Who is the Local Deity of Moxiang Store?"

The Judge's Brush remained silent for a long time. The Phonograph, nearby, spoke up: "This humble servant knows about this. The Local Deity of Moxiang Store is Huiye Scholar, one of the foremost Scholar Cultivators. He possesses extremely high combat power and exceptional intelligence. You can find many anecdotes and rumors about him in Moxiang Store."

Li Banfeng took out the book he had bought at the Lu Family Bookstore. "Wife, take a look. Are the records in this book accurate?"

The Phonograph quickly flipped through it. "My dear husband, this humble servant doesn't know much about Huiye Scholar's affairs, but rumors from various places are generally consistent.

Huiye Scholar's name is Murong Gui. He can guess intentions in three sentences and see through people's hearts in five. His scholar cultivation techniques have reached their peak, and his martial cultivation foundation should not be underestimated.

He excels at using a Judge's Brush. Once wounded by that weapon, though not fatal, one instantly loses all combat power."

Hong Ying said, "Isn't that just describing our wretched brush?"

The Phonograph asked, "How can you be so certain?"

Hong Ying was momentarily stunned. "You hag, are you testing me? Is there even a need to ask about this? If it were poison, the opponent could still struggle for a bit. But if a 'lazy cultivation technique' is used, the opponent becomes too lazy to fight, thus losing all combat power, right?

A 'lazy cultivation technique' combined with a Judge's Brush—isn't that describing our wretched brush?

Seventh Young Master, this wretched brush seems to want to return to its old master. You should be extra careful."

Li Banfeng looked at the Judge's Brush and said, "Do you want to go home?"

"Hmph," the Judge's Brush replied with a single sound.

"If you want to go home, I can let you back."

Hong Ying hastily said, "Seventh Young Master, you can't let it go! It knows so much about us. If it leaks information to its master, we'll be in danger!"

The Judge's Brush trembled with rage and blurted out a sentence: "Then don't take me out!"

A full seven characters!

These seven characters fully expressed the Judge's Brush's anger and dissatisfaction.

"Don't worry, I trust you," Li Banfeng said calmly. "A-Bi, if you truly want to go home, we can draw up a contract, ensuring you won't mention our past. I'll personally escort you back."

"Hmph," the Judge's Brush turned away, ignoring Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng pondered for a moment. "Are you afraid that through you, I'll find Huiye Scholar Murong Gui and bring disaster upon him?"

The Judge's Brush didn't speak.

Li Banfeng said, "If I find Murong Gui, that'll be his luck. But if Greenwater Beggar or Chu Shaoqiang finds him, that's when real disaster strikes.

Not only will Murong Gui face great peril, but the entire Moxiang Store will also be in grave danger. You should weigh this matter carefully."

Late at night, Li Banfeng slept soundly, holding the Phonograph, and all the magical artifacts were resting.

The Judge's Brush quietly stood up from the table, making no sound.

It floated into mid-air, silently looking down at Li Banfeng.

The glove under the bed silently gripped the dagger.

He was awake.

Even if the Judge's Brush had made no sound, it would have woken him.

According to the glove's judgment, if the Phonograph were awakened now, the Judge's Brush would strike Li Banfeng first.

But if it only needed to parry, the glove was sure it was faster than the Judge's Brush, and then the Phonograph would wake up upon hearing the commotion.

The Judge's Brush hovered for a moment, then woke Li Banfeng.

"Seventh, I need to discuss something with you."