Chapter 448: The Most Tired Local Deity

Back at Yan Sha Zhai, Tan Fucheng was squatting at the entrance, eating noodles with a group of his followers. Noodle soup spilled on him, and Tan Fucheng casually wiped it with *Bai Jia Xing*.

Li Banfeng was startled: "You're using a book to wipe your hands?"

Tan Fucheng replied indifferently: "I didn't bring a handkerchief, so I'm making do."

How did his attitude change so quickly? Last night, he was going to chop off his fingers just for sneezing, wasn't he?

"You've made the book greasy. How will you read it later?"

"I won't read it!" Tan Fucheng shook his head. "Reading is too tiring. I've barely read any books in my life, and I've been doing just fine, haven't I?"

A follower nearby tore out a page from a book and used it to wipe his mouth.

As Li Banfeng headed back to his room, he saw Xiao Yeci in the corridor. She was simply dressed and about to take Lu Chunying out.

"Aren't you reading today?"

Xiao Yeci shook her head: "No, I'm not reading anymore. All those books gave me a headache. Since we're finally out, I want to take Nannan to look around. Honored benefactor, would you like to join us?"

"You go ahead, I want to get some sleep."

Lu Yuanxin came out of his room. He was escorting Xiao Yeci and her daughter out. Seeing they were still some distance away, Lu Yuanxin lowered his voice and said to Li Banfeng: "Seventh Master, I feel something is off. This morning, I had a strong urge to read, but after a few pages, I suddenly couldn't focus on it anymore."

Li Banfeng smiled: "Maybe you haven't read in too long."

Lu Yuanxin shook his head: "I think it's more like someone used a technique."

Lu Chunying urged Lu Yuanxin to hurry. Li Banfeng cautioned them: "Be careful on your way."

He Yuxiu once said that when Lu Yuanxin got serious, he was very similar to Lu Dongjun, but also different in some ways; he was smarter than Lu Dongjun.

From their behavior, Li Banfeng understood the meaning of the three sentences on the scroll.

"The unlettered should feel shame," referred to illiterates like Tan Fucheng, who would feel guilt over their lack of cultural knowledge.

"The cultured should strive," referred to cultivators of literature like Xiao Yeci, who would become diligent and eager to learn in the Ink Fragrance Shop.

"People should study literature," referred to ordinary individuals who were not illiterate, and who would develop a desire to study literary cultivation in the Ink Fragrance Shop.

These three sentences constituted the order of the Ink Fragrance Shop.

The Ink Fragrance Shop's local deity controlled this order, and Murong Gui repeatedly writing these three sentences was the process of strengthening it.

Exhausted from his entanglement with Ge Junma, Murong Gui could only temporarily neglect the phrase "People should study literature," dedicating more energy to the fight. This is why Lu Yuanxin was initially unaffected.

Last night, Ge Junma was injured and no longer posed a threat to Murong Gui. Murong Gui re-established the order of "People should study literature," which then affected Lu Yuanxin, making him want to read this morning.

Li Banfeng remained unaffected because his cultivation level was too high. However, if he were exposed to it for a longer period, his situation would likely become similar to Lu Yuanxin's.

The recent fierce battle forced Murong Gui to abandon all aspects of the order and fight with full power, which also allowed everyone to return to normal.

What a fragile order.

Murong Gui actually maintained the order of this realm in such a way. He was the most exhausted local deity Li Banfeng had ever seen.

Would he crash due to extreme fatigue?

"Ah Bi, why would there be such an exhausted local deity?"

The Judge's Brush slowly replied: "Reading is very tiring. There's no other way."

Back in his Portable Residence, Li Banfeng lay on the bed, resting with his eyes closed.

The Glove came to his ear, wagging its index finger: "Boss, we have no ties to that local deity, and he's still naive. We've done everything we can, out of utmost benevolence and righteousness."

The Gourd also urged: "Little brother, let's leave. I don't want to stay here any longer."

The Teapot sighed: "Even Bitter Vegetable Village is better than this place."

The Projector said: "This place has no art."

Even the usually quiet Sickle spoke up: "The people here are so annoying."

They were right. The Ink Fragrance Shop was indeed annoying—the people were annoying, the atmosphere was annoying, and even the local deity was annoying.

But this was the territory of Prolix Prefecture. No matter how annoying it was, it couldn't be handed over to the Inner Prefecture.

Old Luo was still on his way to Gastronomy Ridge. Was there any way to notify the peddler earlier?

That's right, the Portable Residence now had six railway tracks, which could reach some vague locations.

Li Banfeng pictured the scenery of Gastronomy Ridge, and at the same time, imagined the peddler shaking his rattle drum while hawking wares on the street.

After thinking for over a minute, Li Banfeng felt it was enough. Just as he was about to leave, the Portable Residence said: "No need to go out and check, I haven't moved."

Li Banfeng was surprised: "Why not?"

The Portable Residence sighed with a chuckle: "Ah Qi, not everything in this world can be done. Tracking the peddler is one of those things. Not only can I not do it, but you absolutely must not either."

Even the Portable Residence was so afraid of the peddler?

The Glove advised: "That peddler's intentions are hard to fathom. Even if you find him, he might not be willing to act."

The Tang Saber also advised: "My lord, whether the peddler comes or not depends on the Ink Fragrance Shop's fate. Perhaps this place is destined for this calamity."

"Such an annoying place, let it live or die on its own."

"Let's leave quickly too. If we delay, we might get dragged into it."

The Phonograph remained silent, merely enveloping Li Banfeng in a cloud of steam.

Li Banfeng looked at the Judge's Brush.

The Judge's Brush leaned against the wall, huddled in a corner, saying nothing.

The next day at noon, Luo Zhengnan sent news: "Seventh Master, I've reached Gastronomy Ridge, but I couldn't find the peddler."

Too late?

Li Banfeng said: "Go to Koudai Kan immediately."

"Seventh Master, I contacted an old friend, and the peddler didn't go to Koudai Kan."

According to the peddler's usual movements, he should have been in one of these two places.

Where did he go?

"Old Luo, keep looking. Let me know immediately if you find anything."

Li Banfeng went to the poetry society, still pondering what kind of poem to leave for Cui Tik.

The poem needed to cleverly express the time and place of their meeting, ensuring Cui Tik would understand it, but others wouldn't.

Unexpectedly, standing outside the door, Li Banfeng could already hear a passionate recitation:

"The footsteps of dreams are in the Ink Fragrance Shop, the value of life is in the Ink Fragrance Shop, the meaning of struggle is in the Ink Fragrance Shop, I am willing to dedicate everything to the Ink Fragrance Shop!"

Li Banfeng stood at the doorway and waved to Cui Tik.

Under the disdainful gazes of the young men and women, Cui Tik walked out the door.

"It makes no sense! These are verses I wrote with all my heart, yet even the men despise me!" Cui Tik grumbled, holding his teacup.

Li Banfeng found it hard to understand Cui Tik's state of mind: "The Greenwater Beggar is pressing you so hard, and you still have time to come out for blind dates?"

Cui Tik shrugged: "What good methods do I have? There are only so many investigation channels available. Even if he's the Grand Master, he can't expect me to find results so quickly."

"I've already found the results."

Cui Tik was startled: "What did you find?"

There was a phonograph in the first-class private room. Li Banfeng took a record from the cabinet, set the phonograph playing, and played 'Where Can I Find a True Friend?' to mask their conversation:

"The local deity of the Ink Fragrance Shop is named Murong Gui."

"Murong Gui, the Industrious Scholar," Cui Tik took a sip of tea. "I've heard of him; he's a legendary figure in the Ink Fragrance Shop. I also once suspected he was the Ink Fragrance Shop's local deity. Is your information reliable?"

"Very reliable. I can also tell you that He Jiaqing's information is accurate: Murong Gui's condition is indeed not good. I imagine you've also noticed some abnormalities."

Cui Tik didn't quite understand: "The abnormalities you're referring to are..."

"Yesterday morning, you would have noticed a change in the people of the Ink Fragrance Shop."

Cui Tik pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Yesterday morning, including myself, only three people came to the poetry society. The other two didn't want to recite poetry; they felt it was meaningless and didn't want to live such a tiring life, so they just sat for a while and left."

"That's because the local deity here became very weak; he had just gone through a battle."

Cui Tik grew tense: "Battling whom? Has Chu Shaoqiang already arrived?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "Not Chu Shaoqiang, but Ge Junma."

"What a strange name," Cui Tik recalled for a moment, then shook his head: "I don't know this person."

"Your Grand Master definitely knows him, or at least has heard of him. Tell him the news, and he'll certainly find a way to verify it. As for the source of the information, you'll need to concoct a lie yourself."

Cui Tik turned the teacup around a few times, then drained its contents in one gulp.

"I trust you. This information is too valuable. As an equivalent exchange, I'll now tell you something about He Jiaqing:

Your friend has already become an ally of my sect's Grand Master. His cultivation is extremely high, capable of breaking the undulating mountain technique of Jianren Gang."

Li Banfeng recalled his experience at Jianren Gang: "The undulating mountain technique you mentioned, is it a method that prevents people from leaving Jianren Gang?"

Cui Tik nodded: "Yes, it's a very advanced Joy Cultivation technique. If I'm not mistaken, your friend managed to steal a way out from within their technique, leading me out of Jianren Gang.

Based on this, he should be a thief, or as they commonly say in Prolix Prefecture, a Stealth Cultivator. And his cultivation is not at the 'ground level'.

Cloud-level cultivation requires special means to support one's standing. His previous point of support for his standing was lost, and his current one comes from foxtail grass. You should recognize this person."

"You mean the beggar I killed?"

Cui Tik nodded: "My Grand Master took his deed, and as a bargaining chip, he gave the deed to He Jiaqing."

Li Banfeng was somewhat curious: "What exactly is so valuable that it required a deed in exchange?"

Cui Tik puffed out his chest and proudly replied: "Me!"

Li Banfeng was surprised: "The Greenwater Beggar traded a deed for you? It seems he values you highly!"

"That's why I love Grand Master," Cui Tik poured Li Banfeng a cup of tea. "I've provided my information. Do you think the value is equivalent?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "Essentially equivalent."

Seeing Li Banfeng about to leave, Cui Tik asked: "Are you still doing the 'fishing in troubled waters' business?"

"Yes," Li Banfeng pulled down the brim of his hat. "If you have any news, find me at the teahouse."

"Ge Junma, he actually went to the Ink Fragrance Shop." The Greenwater Beggar sat in a corner, holding his begging bowl, and couldn't help but laugh.

He Jiaqing tossed a silver dollar into the bowl: "Is the information reliable?"

The Greenwater Beggar stared at the silver dollar in the bowl for a moment, then suddenly said: "It's already given..."

Before he finished speaking, the silver dollar in the bowl disappeared again.

"Impressive skill," the Greenwater Beggar praised. "This information came from Cui Tik, who inquired through the Inner Prefecture. He's been to the Inner Prefecture, so he would never dare to lie to me about this."

He Jiaqing twirled the silver dollar around his finger: "To be safe, it's best to wait a while longer. It won't be too late to act after Chu Shaoqiang shows up."

"No need to wait," the Greenwater Beggar stood up. "Ge Junma is in the Ink Fragrance Shop. Chu Shaoqiang will definitely go to save him.

We'll go there, take over the territory, claim the deed, and also take Chu Shaoqiang's head. Where else can you find such a good business?"

He Jiaqing continued to fiddle with the silver dollar: "Before we start this business, we'd best clarify the shares. Do you want the head or the territory? We should make this clear."

The Greenwater Beggar sneered: "Don't you want a new Prolix Prefecture? Are you going to quibble over such a small matter?"

He Jiaqing chuckled: "I want to change Prolix Prefecture, but I need a foothold first, like starting a business; you always need a shop to begin with.

I very much want the Ink Fragrance Shop's territory. If you want it too, we can discuss it slowly."

The Greenwater Beggar frowned: "You took the deed from me, and now you want the territory too? Aren't you getting too greedy with this business?"

He Jiaqing tossed the silver dollar back into the Greenwater Beggar's bowl: "I've already given you the deed. Letting me earn a bit more won't hurt you."

The Greenwater Beggar shook his bowl, and the silver dollar jingled inside: "If you want to earn more, then put in more effort. Chu Shaoqiang, Ge Junma, Murong Gui—three heads. How many can you take?"