Chapter 449: Given, All Given

Li Banfeng sat in the teahouse, flipping through "Huiye Denghua" page by page.

This book also recounted the legends of the learned literati, but unlike other versions, it detailed some of Murong Gui's less savory past.

The Murong Gui in this book was still adept at discerning people's intentions, but two miscalculations nearly cost him his family's foundation.

Murong Gui had once managed a gang. In other books, he was depicted as extremely diligent and never lax.

However, the Murong Gui in this book spent half a month lounging in a pleasure district, ignoring all matters, which almost led to the collapse of his gang.

Li Banfeng, fumbling with the Judge's Brush, asked, "Which one is the real Murong Gui?"

The Judge's Brush replied, "Both."

Cui Tik arrived at the teahouse and, seeing Li Banfeng reading, nodded and said, "If I'm not mistaken, Murong Gui must be in excellent shape right now. Even you are so engrossed in reading."

"I'm a very keen learner," Li Banfeng said, putting down "Huiye Denghua." "Has your Daoist Ancestor made a move?"

"Yes, he'll arrive at the Ink Fragrance Shop tonight, bringing along your good friend. He's determined to find Murong Gui first, kill him, then abduct Ge Junma to force Chu Shaoqiang to appear.

If Chu Shaoqiang finds Murong Gui first, things will get more complicated. The Ancestor might choose to 'intercept' or 'collect from the bottom.' Those are mahjong terms, I haven't used them incorrectly, have I?"

"Mostly correct."

Cui Tik took a sip of tea and said, "Regardless of the situation, we must act at the opportune moment. How many fish we can catch isn't the main point; the main point is whether we can successfully make it to shore."

Li Banfeng asked, "If your Ancestor makes a move against Murong Gui first, what will you do?"

Cui Tik wiped his mouth with a napkin. "First, I'll help my Ancestor defeat the local deity and the Inner State people. Then, I'll find an opportunity to send him to another world, take the deed to the Ink Fragrance Shop, and then return to Greenwater City."

Li Banfeng was surprised. "You're going back to Greenwater City?"

Cui Tik looked somewhat melancholic. "Greenwater City is the foundation the Ancestor built over his entire life. Now that he's gone, I can't bear to let this legacy fall into disrepair."

From what he just said, Li Banfeng felt he might have deeply misunderstood Cui Tik.

Cui Tik's eyes were almost teary, showing the sincerity of his feelings for Greenwater Beggar.

Li Banfeng then asked, "If Chu Shaoqiang makes a move against the local deity first, what will you do?"

"That requires a bit more patience. Chu Shaoqiang has the support of the Inner State behind him, and his strength is clearly superior to the Ancestor's. By my estimation, he might bring three to five powerful helpers from the Inner State.

However, Ge Junma, whom he intends to rescue, is a pure-blooded Inner State person. Ge Junma shouldn't be in Puluo State, as this violates Puluo State's laws. Chu Shaoqiang must act discreetly.

As long as the Ancestor chooses the right moment, he still has a chance to win. After the Ancestor wins, we'll find an opportunity to send him off. After that, there's no need to rush; we'll have ample time to share the spoils."

"What if Chu Shaoqiang wins?"

Cui Tik was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "If Chu Shaoqiang wins, I don't think we can continue this 'fishing in troubled waters' business.

We'd have enough intelligence, and the Ancestor would have made ample preparations, yet still lose to Chu Shaoqiang. That would only prove one thing: Chu Shaoqiang brought too many people, and their strength is too formidable.

In such a situation, just preserving my own life would be a stroke of luck. You're better off staying out of it, or you might not find your way back to shore."

Li Banfeng looked at Cui Tik and said, "So you never intended to act against Chu Shaoqiang? Your blade has always been pointed at your own Ancestor?"

Cui Tik explained, "This is merely my analysis based on the situation. I hope you won't question my devotion to the Ancestor because of it."

"I'm not questioning your devotion. I think you're a person with singular affections."

Li Banfeng pulled down the brim of his hat. Cui Tik raised his teacup and said, "Once the Ancestor arrives, our opportunities to meet will be few. But I believe we'll have ample understanding on the battlefield."

Cui Tik's only target was Greenwater Beggar.

What did he want from Greenwater Beggar?

Did he want Greenwater City?

His cultivation wasn't enough. Did he intend to pretend to be a local deity like me?

The place I chose wouldn't attract attention. If Cui Tik chose Greenwater City, the largest city in Puluo State, how could he possibly defend it with his current strength?

It shouldn't just be Greenwater City.

He kept wiping his mouth while speaking. Was he coveting something about his Ancestor?

Li Banfeng returned to Wild Goose Sands Study, where he saw Tan Fucheng yelling at the top of his lungs, holding an axe, while a group of people struggled to pull him away, creating a chaotic scene.

"Don't stop me! I can't keep this hand, I have to chop it off!"

Because he had previously used "Hundred Family Surnames" to wipe off noodle soup, the more Tan Fucheng thought about it, the more guilty he felt, leading to the impulse to chop off his hand.

Li Banfeng advised, "Brother Tan, keep your hand for now. Take Mrs. Xiao and Miss Chunying, and quickly return to Seven Autumn City."

"But I still want to study here!"

"Don't worry, once things here are settled, I'll specifically arrange for you to study. We'll sign a contract; you won't be able to refuse even if you want to!"

"Is that true?"

"Absolutely!"

To engage in such a perilous endeavor, he had to eliminate all worries. If Xiao Yeci and the others encountered trouble at Wild Goose Sands Study, Li Banfeng would truly find it difficult to handle.

Tan Fucheng still had his cultivation. Although he had lost his rationality earlier, Li Banfeng's persuasion quickly reminded him of his true purpose for the trip.

His primary task was to protect Xiao Yeci and her daughter; studying was secondary.

After packing their bags, Lu Yuanxin breathed a sigh of relief. "I never want to come to this place again."

Li Banfeng chuckled, "Occasionally reading a book isn't a bad thing either."

As they were talking, sounds of an argument erupted from a room.

Xiao Yeci refused to leave. "Nannan, stay with Mama for two more days! There are so many books here, and Mama hasn't finished reading them all!"

"Mom, let's buy the books and take them home to read. You can buy as many as you want."

"But some books aren't for sale, and some aren't even shown to others! I paid a lot of money just for them to let me read them! Nannan, just one more night, please? Just one more night?"

"No! No matter what books they are, I'll find a way to get them for you to take home. You have to come with me now!"

Lu Chunying dragged Xiao Yeci, who got angry. "You little girl, when did it become your turn to tell me what to do!"

Li Banfeng pushed open the door, walked in, hoisted Xiao Yeci onto his shoulder, and tossed her into the carriage.

Xiao Yeci was still struggling inside the carriage. Li Banfeng found a chain, locked the carriage, and told Lu Yuanxin to quickly take it to the train station.

Lu Yuanxin, hearing the crying from inside the carriage, lowered his voice. "Seventh Master, if I go out on the street like this, people will think I'm kidnapping someone."

Indeed, tying up the carriage with a chain was inappropriate.

Li Banfeng unlocked the chain, got into the carriage, gagged Xiao Yeci, and bound her with the chain.

With everyone gone, Li Banfeng breathed a sigh of relief, preparing to tidy up his belongings and set up an ambush in the garden after nightfall.

Actually, there wasn't much to tidy up; all his weapons and magic artifacts were in his Portable Abode.

But Li Banfeng really wanted to take a book. Wild Goose Sands Study indeed had many good books.

At a time like this, I still feel like reading?

Even I can't put a book down, which proves that the order at the Ink Fragrance Shop is very stable, indicating Murong Gui's excellent condition.

This also proved that the big toad hadn't been bothering him.

Why hadn't it bothered him?

What was Ge Junma doing?

Li Banfeng had a bad feeling.

He was about to go to Willow Garden. Just as he stepped out of his room, he suddenly saw the owner of Lu Family Bookstore standing in the corridor, smiling. "Mr. Li, are you also at Wild Goose Sands Study?"

"Mr. Lu, what a coincidence. Are you here to read?"

Mr. Lu shook his head. "I'm here to deliver books to Miss Xiao, Miss Xiao Yeci from Greenwater City. Do you know her?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "Yes, I know her. Did she go to your bookstore?"

"She picked out a few books at my shop yesterday. She found them heavy to carry, so she asked me to deliver them. I just knocked, but Miss Xiao doesn't seem to be in."

Li Banfeng said, "Miss Xiao has returned to Greenwater City."

Mr. Lu sighed. "It's my fault for being late. I originally planned to come right after lunch, but then an old friend arrived and insisted on chatting with me.

Back in Greenwater City, this friend was quite an important figure, so I couldn't really refuse him. We ended up chatting until now, and he's still at my bookstore.

Mr. Li, are you familiar with Miss Xiao? Would you mind delivering these books to her? If it's too much trouble, I can just mail them to her."

"No trouble at all, just give them to me."

Mr. Lu handed the books to Li Banfeng and then left Wild Goose Sands Study.

Li Banfeng looked at the books in his hand. One of them was "The Literati of Wisdom," but it was only the second volume, without the first.

Li Banfeng had once bought the first volume at Lu Family Bookstore. At the time, he had said the second volume would be too cumbersome to carry, so he hadn't bought it.

Now, Mr. Lu had brought the second volume. Li Banfeng opened a page and saw a crease.

It was a crease he had made before.

Mr. Lu hadn't come to deliver books to Xiao Yeci; he had come to deliver a message to Li Banfeng.

The former important figure had arrived at the Ink Fragrance Shop.

Which important figure?

Chu Shaoqiang had arrived.

Chu Shaoqiang was still at the bookstore, which meant Mr. Lu had held him up, but probably not for much longer.

Li Banfeng quickly rushed to Willow Garden. The garden gates were tightly shut, not open, but coincidentally, a young couple had climbed over the fence and were cuddling in the woods, enjoying the snow.

Li Banfeng took out a music box, and to the tune of a beautiful melody, the couple fell asleep.

After moving the couple outside the garden, Li Banfeng took out a projector and began recording details of the forest.

He had to create some concealment. Neither Greenwater Beggar nor Chu Shaoqiang could be allowed to find the special willow tree immediately.

The Projector sounded nervous. "Seventh Director, if it's someone with mere 'Ground-Level' cultivation, I'm confident I can deceive them. But for 'Cloud-Level' figures, I truly can't boast."

The Glove snorted, "Brother, that's not right. You've had plenty of good meals from 'Cloud-Level' figures. When it's time to contribute, you can't drag your feet!"

The Projector didn't decline. It chose a suitable spot and projected an image, obscuring the willow tree along with Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng took out his phone and contacted Luo Zhengnan. "Old Luo, have you found the peddler?"

Luo Zhengnan was frantic. He had searched from Haichi Ridge all the way to Yaowang Gully, but hadn't seen the peddler anywhere.

Li Banfeng said, "Things are about to kick off here. Keep searching; you must find him."

Things are about to kick off!

Seventh Master was about to clash with those formidable individuals.

Luo Zhengnan couldn't think of anything else, so he dialed a number.

A familiar voice echoed in his ear: "Dear listener, welcome to Afternoon Teahouse. What would you like to share with us?"

"Peddler! I'm looking for the Peddler!" Luo Zhengnan hadn't misdialed; he had called this very radio station. "Whoever sees the Peddler, please tell him I'm looking for him in Yaowang Gully. It's extremely urgent."

The sky gradually darkened. Li Banfeng accumulated luck and strength in his Portable Abode, put on his newly repaired Thread-Pulling Earrings, and quietly hid beside the willow tree.

Under the Projector's concealment, ordinary people couldn't see the willow tree at all, but today's opponents were no ordinary individuals.

Chu Shaoqiang entered the garden with a black-clad figure.

The black-clad figure had large eyes, a long face, and a pointed chin, resembling a bat. It was Wang Fuqi, Chu Shaoqiang's personal messenger.

Chu Shaoqiang had arrived at the Ink Fragrance Shop this morning. He knew Ge Junma's whereabouts and had established contact with him through Wang Fuqi.

This was why Ge Junma had been unusually quiet today: he was accumulating strength, waiting to coordinate with Chu Shaoqiang from within and without to take down Murong Gui.

However, Chu Shaoqiang didn't fully trust Ge Junma. He wanted to confirm Murong Gui's true condition, so he went to Lu Family Bookstore to sound out Mr. Lu.

But no matter how he asked, Mr. Lu claimed ignorance. To avoid further complications, Chu Shaoqiang decided to act tonight.

Upon reaching the edge of the woods, Wang Fuqi didn't rush in. He picked up a stone from the ground and threw it into the forest.

The stone didn't follow a parabolic arc; instead, it flew in a straight line, bouncing back and forth between the trees.

The Earring prompted, "Master, 'throwing a stone to find the way' is a high-level peeking cultivation technique."

Just by hearing the name, Li Banfeng could guess the technique's purpose. He estimated that this single move could break through the Projector's defenses.

What to do?

Li Banfeng prepared to use the 'Deep Mansion Grand Courtyard' technique, intending to leverage his wife's sound cultivation methods to directly inflict heavy damage on this peeking cultivator.

Unexpectedly, the stone was suddenly snatched mid-flight.

"'Given are given!'" Green Blossom chuckled, clutching the stone!

"'Pushing your luck?'" Wang Fuqi was startled and quickly retrieved the stone.

Chu Shaoqiang shouted, "Don't rush! He's not a beggar cultivator!"

As his words fell, it was too late. The stone was already back in Wang Fuqi's hand, and Wang Fuqi's hand began to rapidly decay, with individual finger bones becoming exposed.