Chapter 552: Dark Energy User

"Wife, we have a visitor," Li Banfeng said, tossing Chu Zikai into the main room. "Please look after him for me. I have some unfinished business to attend to. I'll interrogate him properly when I return."

His wife smiled. "Husband, hurry back. I'll help you prepare some vegetables in the meantime."

Li Banfeng returned to the side hall of the ballroom and again used the Beggar's Bowl to probe, but received no response. How did that blonde old man manage to escape? He would have to investigate thoroughly in the future. The next time they met, he absolutely could not let him leave alive.

Unable to delay any longer, Li Banfeng carried Shui Yongquan on his back and left Yanlou Village. He ran directly to Huahu Park, crossed through Xindi, and continued all the way to Qiqiu City. Qiu Luoye was eating when he saw Shui Yongquan, and the pumpkin in his hand dropped to the ground.

"Old Shui…" Qiu Luoye approached and stared at Shui Yongquan for a long time. "Say something, Old Shui."

"He can't speak for now," Li Banfeng said, recounting Shui Yongquan's experience to Qiu Luoye. He had originally intended to settle Shui Yongquan in Wumian Town, but Wumian Town had only recently been conquered and its foundation was unstable. Feng Daiku and Ma Wu could only help with supervision. Ma Wu had to manage his own new territory, and Feng Daiku also needed to look after Kudai Kan and Qishui Yao. The only one left who could truly care for Shui Yongquan was Qiu Luoye.

"Old Qi, leave him with me. Whether he recovers or not, I promise he won't suffer," Qiu Luoye sighed. "Old Shui was cautious his whole life; who would have thought it would come to this?"

"Brother Qiu, the people from Xuehuapu are targeting him. They might come looking for trouble these days, so please be extremely careful."

"Let them come!" Qiu Luoye instructed Laohu to prepare a house for Shui Yongquan. "It's been a while since I've stretched my muscles; my arms are itching a bit. If they send one, I'll kill one!"

Li Banfeng looked around Qiqiu City. He saw two new restaurants on Junyang Avenue. They had just opened, offered cheap prices, and were completely full. A "Seven Night Xuan" had opened on the street, which was actually a dance hall. Ma Wu had insisted on such a cultured name, but not many people recognized the character "Xuan," so others pronounced it as "Seven Night Gan." It was said that anyone who could fight for seven consecutive nights there would receive a red envelope from the establishment.

Li Banfeng was slightly displeased with the Seven Night Xuan, but the changes in Qiqiu City filled him with great satisfaction. A new territory previously full of wilderness, combined with a lifeless small town, had finally taken the rudimentary shape of a city under diligent management. He returned to his residence, hid the key, and entered the Portable Dwelling.

Chu Zikai's attitude had become much humbler. Hong Ying helped him realign his bones and muscles, and the Phonograph helped him reorganize his meridians, making their communication much smoother. Li Banfeng asked, "Why has your Xuehuapu always been bothering me?"

Chu Zikai shook his head. "My status in Xuehuapu isn't high, so I don't know much about your affairs. If you ask me about the Ferrymen's Gang, I can tell you more."

"The Ferrymen's Gang is a branch of Xuehuapu in the Outer States, right?"

"Not exactly. The Ferrymen's Gang isn't entirely under Xuehuapu. It's an organization jointly founded by Xuehuapu and the Birch Hermit Society."

"What's the background of the Birch Hermit Society?"

"The Birch Hermit Society is somewhat similar to the Light Chaser Group; both are foreign dark energy user organizations. Relatively speaking, the Light Chaser Group's combat strength is clearer."

"What do you mean by 'clearer'?"

"Is the Birch Hermit Society's combat strength not clear?"

Chu Zikai shook his head. "Indeed, it's not clear. They don't have fixed Dao schools or clear levels, making it difficult to measure their combat strength with specific standards. Members of the Light Chaser Group can be estimated and compared using our standards. I know a bishop from the Light Chaser Group whose combat strength is equivalent to a Level Six dark energy user. However, for those outside the Light Chaser Group, their combat strength is difficult to estimate. The man who fought alongside me just now, named Miglov, is the head of the Birch Hermit Society. He excels at constructing buildings and searching for hidden spaces. Simply comparing these two abilities, his combat strength could be estimated as a Level Three Cultivator on the Cloud. Yet, he was once beaten by a Level Seven martial cultivator to the point of being unable to retaliate, almost losing his life. This can't be explained by simple Dao school counter-relationships. His overall abilities have serious shortcomings, making it impossible to estimate his actual combat strength using the levels we are familiar with. Such people are common within the Birch Hermit Society. I once saw a member of the Birch Hermit Society who could use herbs and animal blood to set up special formations. Once activated, these formations could destroy several hectares of surrounding buildings. However, it would take him three days or even longer to set up a single formation, and apart from setting up formations, he had no other skills. For such individuals, their combat strength is clearly not defined."

Li Banfeng asked, "Why did Xuehuapu and the Birch Hermit Society join forces to establish the Ferrymen's Gang?"

"For money!" Chu Zikai answered very directly. "Both Xuehuapu and the Birch Hermit Society have encountered severe economic problems. During our fight today, I didn't use any dark energy conduits because all my suitable ones had already been sold."

Li Banfeng frowned. "Are you that poor?"

"I'm not the poorest. At least outwardly, I can maintain a decent life. There are people in Xuehuapu who are poorer than me, some who can't even afford food and clothing."

Li Banfeng found it hard to believe. "Isn't that a bit exaggerated? Wang Zimian is also one of yours, and his life is still very luxurious. Just a thumb ring he owns is worth more than two factories."

Chu Zikai gave a wry smile. "All I can say is that everyone has different pursuits, and everyone's loyalty to Xuehuapu varies. I am willing to contribute everything I have, even if it means eating a boxed meal and sleeping under a bridge tomorrow; I'd do it willingly."

Li Banfeng chuckled. "Have you ever slept under a bridge?"

Chu Zikai shook his head. "That's just a metaphor to express my loyalty to Xuehuapu."

"I still don't understand," Li Banfeng said. "Xuehuapu can mint currency for Pruro State. From any perspective, you shouldn't be short on money."

Chu Zikai countered, "Do you know what the quantity theory of money is? Do you know what the demand for money theory is? Do you know what the equation of exchange is?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "I truly don't understand those."

Chu Zikai replied, "I don't understand them either. I only know that money cannot be minted arbitrarily; it must conform to economic laws. Xuehuapu's economic situation cannot be saved by minting money; it must be saved by members like us."

"So, you went bankrupt for this, selling all your artifacts and spiritual items?" Li Banfeng asked.

"Those weren't all artifacts and spiritual items," Chu Zikai said, without elaborating further. "This is my loyalty to Xuehuapu, loyalty without regret or complaint."

"What has Xuehuapu given you to earn such loyalty?"

"Do you know about my past?" Chu Zikai asked.

"I've read a bit online. It's said you were born into an ordinary working-class family and achieved your success in the music industry through your own efforts."

Chu Zikai replied, "That's half true. My parents were indeed ordinary factory workers. They did everything they could to let me study music. However, when I applied to music academies, I failed three times in a row. I thought it was due to my lack of ability, but later I found out I had missed one specific cram school before the exams. The tuition for just one class at that cram school made my father tremble all over. I took ten classes in total, didn't learn much, but I did find a master. With this master's help, I successfully entered the music academy. After graduating from the music academy, I worked at a small music company. I held many positions, but every time I suggested I wanted to sing, I was rejected. They said my voice lacked texture. So, I went to the black market, bought a guide-agent, and became a singer. Yet, when I sang for them again, they still said my texture wasn't good, even after I used techniques. They still said I wasn't good enough. I became suspicious of the whole situation. Was it the song that wasn't good, or me, or did the company simply decide I wasn't good enough? So, I found a friend, a friend who was even worse off than me. He was very talented, and he wrote a song called 'I Am Your Guokui.' To pay for next month's rent, he sold me that song for three thousand yuan. I hired someone to create the instrumental, recorded a single, and released the song within a small online circle. The people in that circle had some musical literacy; they could tell it was a good song. With their recognition, I felt I had enough."

Li Banfeng frowned. "What does this have to do with Xuehuapu?"

"Everything!" Chu Zikai exclaimed. "Within that small circle, there was a member of Xuehuapu. He suggested that it was an excellent song. He offered to provide me with operational funds. I understood the process; it was very simple, but it required a lot of money to be burned, money burned like paper. I couldn't afford that, but he said he was willing to bear the cost for me. He promised to push me to the top of the charts. He only made one condition: that I join Xuehuapu."

"Did you know what Xuehuapu did at the time?"

"No, and I didn't care to know. I agreed. For me at that time, this opportunity was simply too rare, and I had nothing to lose. That person fulfilled his promise and put me at the top of the charts. I became famous. I released my first album, held my first solo concert. I experienced glory I had never known in my life, met people I never dared to aspire to associate with, and gained wealth I could never have imagined. But that's how popular music is. The popularity of 'Guokui' lasted for a while and then gradually faded. People still remembered my name and waited for new songs, but I couldn't produce better works. 'Guokui' wasn't written by me, and I couldn't write better songs because I discovered I wasn't good at composing."

Li Banfeng said, "Then find someone who is good at composing. What about the person who wrote 'Guokui' for you before? Give him more money; he surely has more good songs to sell you."

Chu Zikai shook his head. "He went back north. In winter, he couldn't afford coal, so he froze to death clutching his guitar. But Xuehuapu didn't abandon me. They hired many lyricists and composers, trying every way to maintain my popularity. At the same time, they offered me a new path: they wanted me to become an excellent cultivator—not a dark energy user, but a true cultivator."

Li Banfeng was surprised. "What's the difference?"

Chu Zikai said, "There's a huge difference here. You don't think a 'wanderer' is a 'travel cultivator,' do you? Or that a 'singer' is a 'sound cultivator'?"

"Aren't they?" Li Banfeng found this strange. The essence was the same, just different names. Dark energy users and cultivators were simply a difference in terminology between Pruro State and the Outer States, which was basic common sense.

Chu Zikai smiled. "Of course not. You haven't been in the Outer States long enough to understand their dark energy users deeply. At lower levels, there's already a certain gap between dark energy users and cultivators. If you perform a few more probes, you'll discover the difference. The overall abilities of dark energy users are far less comprehensive than those of cultivators. Once they reach a certain level, dark energy users hit a bottleneck and cannot advance further. This bottleneck is usually Level Seven. In the Outer States, people always say that the limit for dark energy users is Level Seven. You probably thought they were lying, but they are telling the truth."

Li Banfeng glanced back at the Phonograph, which remained silent, as it was also unfamiliar with the Outer States.

Chu Zikai continued, "I know you're reluctant to believe me, but you can verify this yourself and find the answer quickly. Dark energy users are a technological product of the Outer States. They attempted to create a dark energy system for the Outer States based on Pruro State's cultivation rules. However, the guide-agents produced in the Outer States are far inferior to the peddler's introductory medicinal powder, merely poor imitations. To become a true cultivator, one must purchase medicinal powder from Pruro State. Apart from some private collections held by prominent families, the peddler's medicinal powder is the only correct path for cultivators to begin."

There was a fundamental difference between dark energy users in the Outer States and cultivators in Pruro State. Was this the reason for the Dark Star Bureau's insufficient combat strength?

"Where do the medicinal powders held by prominent families come from?"

"Do you really want to know?" Chu Zikai stared intently at Li Banfeng. "Spare my life, and I'll tell you the truth. I can also reveal many truths you don't know."

Li Banfeng chuckled. "You think you can buy your life with a casual lie? There's no such cheap deal in this world."

"If you don't believe me, that's fine," Chu Zikai continued. "After becoming a sound cultivator, I stayed in Pruro State for a while and learned a lot of valuable knowledge. With Xuehuapu's help and my connections in the Outer States, I conducted a lot of business."

"What kind of business?"

"Business involving ghost servants, and also artifacts and weapons. I knew how to manage it and who to spend money on. I earned a lot of money for Xuehuapu, and Xuehuapu provided me with a large quantity of elixirs, elixirs with almost no side effects."

Li Banfeng asked, "You mean no elixir poison?"

"To be precise, the elixir poison is very minimal. Do you know where these elixirs come from?"

Li Banfeng shook his head.

Chu Zikai said, "They came from the Profound Scarlet Lotus. Xuehuapu once possessed the Profound Scarlet Lotus, leaving behind a large number of high-quality elixirs. It was precisely with these high-quality elixirs that I accumulated my cultivation to the Cloud level in ten years. Now that the Red Lotus is in your hands, you should be clearer about this process than I am."

Xuehuapu once possessed the Red Lotus? Was this true? He could ask Red Lotus to verify, but Red Lotus might not necessarily tell the truth. According to official data, Chu Zikai was thirty-four years old this year, and he had become famous thirteen years ago. If his description was true, this promotion speed was indeed quite fast, faster than the leading figures of the various major families in Pruro State.

Chu Zikai sighed. "However, it was precisely during these years of my dedicated cultivation that Xuehuapu's economic situation entered a crisis. This should be somewhat related to the disappearance of the Red Lotus. Xuehuapu changed my life, and fighting for Xuehuapu is my undeniable mission. I spent all my savings, doing my utmost to maintain Xuehuapu's operations. To further expand our business scope, I contacted Miglov. Together with him, I formed the Ferrymen's Gang. Through him, I could conduct some business abroad. I became a true 'boat boss,' delivering valuable items all over the world."

Looking at Chu Zikai's expression, Li Banfeng chuckled, "You're very proud."

"Shouldn't I be proud? I maintain long-term contact with over thirty foreign dark energy organizations. Do you want to know their information? Spare my life, and I can tell you everything. I can even introduce them to you."

"Given how large your international business is, why didn't you sell Shui Yongquan abroad?" Li Banfeng asked.

"Foreign psychics generally don't acquire battle spirits from Pruro State; the communication barrier is simply too great. Foreign dark energy users are more interested in artifacts and spiritual items. I mean artifacts and spiritual items, not dark energy conduits. The dark energy conduits from the Outer States cannot compare to the artifacts and spiritual items from Pruro State. You can't imagine how much profit there is in this. As long as you choose to team up with me, you will possess wealth beyond your wildest dreams."

"Beyond my imagination?" Li Banfeng patted Chu Zikai's face. "How much money do you think that is?"

Chu Zikai knew Li Qi wasn't easily swayed, but with his life on the line, he had to try to convince him. "I know you have deep roots in Pruro State, but your vision is too narrow. You know nothing about matters outside Pruro State. Release me, and I can open the door to the entire world for you. You will see the true impact dark energy has had on this world, and you will learn where the pinnacle of power truly lies."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "That's too far-fetched. Let's talk about something more immediate. Where does Miglov live? I have business with him."

"Are you scared?" Chu Zikai smiled profoundly. "You should be scared. Miglov knows your identity, which means the entire Birch Hermit Society knows your identity. They won't let you go. To find out Miglov's movements and take appropriate precautions, you still need to rely on me. I can maintain contact with Miglov and act as an informant for you under the guise of the Ferrymen's Gang. Don't worry, I've already done my duty to Xuehuapu. As long as you let me go, I will become your most loyal subordinate."

Li Banfeng slightly raised his eyebrows. "I asked you for Miglov's address. Why are you saying so much?"

Chu Zikai looked towards the door. "Let me out first. Once I'm out, I'll tell you whatever you ask."

Li Banfeng stood up. "So, you still don't want to talk?"

The Phonograph came to Li Banfeng's side and gently caressed his back with a puff of warm steam. "My dear husband, don't be angry. You don't need to handle this minor matter. Your little servant knows what you want to ask. Just leave the rest to me. I'll get him to say everything he knows. Husband, why don't you go have a drink with some friends and clear your head?"

Li Banfeng left the Portable Dwelling. A searing hot steam began to move over Chu Zikai's body. Enduring the intense pain, Chu Zikai cried out, "Without me, Li Qi won't survive! The Birch Hermit Society won't spare him, and neither will Xuehuapu. You'll just be waiting to collect his corpse!"

The Phonograph chuckled. "Oh, I've heard those words so many times my ears are calloused. Yingying, teach him some manners when he speaks."

Hong Ying, holding a small knife, drew a cut across Chu Zikai's face. "Didn't I teach you manners before? Did you forget so quickly?"

"Let me go! Let me leave this room, and I'll tell you the truth."

Hong Ying made another cut on his face. "When you speak, you follow the rules, prioritizing what's important. Start with that Miglov person. Didn't Qilang ask you? Where does he live?"

Li Banfeng did not linger in Qiqiu City. He immediately returned to Yuezhou and found Jin Shunying through Yin Siniang. Jin Shunying was terrified and disoriented; she had planned to take a flight out of Yuezhou the next day. Li Banfeng warned her, "Even if you leave Yuezhou, you might not escape the Birch Hermit Society."

Jin Shunying looked bewildered. "What is the Birch Hermit Society?"

Li Banfeng said, "I don't know much about this organization either. I've arranged a travel pass for you. Go to Lushui City; someone will meet you at the station. You can hide there for a few days."

Jin Shunying thought for a while and asked, "Which province is Lushui City in?"

"Lushui City is in Pruro State."

"Pruro State?" Jin Shunying was stunned. She knew the concept of Pruro State and had even seen ghost servants from there, but the name still felt somewhat vague to her.

"It's a good place; perhaps it can turn you into a true cultivator."

"Cultivator? Isn't that just a dark energy user?"

Li Banfeng wasn't sure about the exact relationship between cultivators and dark energy users either. "I'll explain this to you later. Hurry and pack; I'll take you to the station."

Jin Shunying packed her luggage and followed Li Banfeng to Platform 96. The moment she saw the steam train, Jin Shunying became very nervous. "Boss, are you going to—"

Li Banfeng looked at the carriage number on the ticket. "I'm not trying to sell you, nor would I ever harm you. Going to Pruro State will absolutely be good for you."

"I know it's a good thing," Jin Shunying said, biting her lip with tears in her eyes. "But how much will it cost? The prices in Pruro State aren't low, are they? I don't have much money on me—"

Li Banfeng said sincerely, "I'll cover your food and lodging, and pay you a salary. Hurry and get on the train."

Jin Shunying wiped away her tears and boarded the train with a hopeful smile.

Nothing would happen on the train; the Birch Hermit Society wouldn't dare make a move on it, as that would cross a red line in the Outer States. Once in Lushui City, he would have Old Luo settle her in the Carefree Dock. Li Banfeng genuinely didn't believe they would dare reach into the Carefree Dock.

Back at the Dark Star Bureau, Li Banfeng asked Tangyuan to find some information about the Birch Hermit Society for him. Tangyuan only found a few documents. "Seventh Master, I don't have much information on the Birch Hermit Society, and what our bureau can find is also very limited. However, there's someone who has a lot of relevant information, though I'm not sure if his sources are accurate."

Li Banfeng's expression changed slightly. "You're not talking about Chun Er, are you?"

Tangyuan nodded. "That's him. He's particularly interested in organizations like that."

Li Banfeng called Chun Er over, who indeed had a lot of information. "Starting from the mid-early last century, some literary works already contained records about the Birch Hermit Society. In the documents of that time, it was referred to as the Birch Gang, Birch Gate, White Birch Barbarian Sect, and White Birch Shaman Society."

Li Banfeng asked, "How do you know these gangs refer to the Birch Hermit Society? Just because their names are related to birch?"

"Not just the names. The descriptions of these gangs completely match the characteristics of the Birch Hermit Society. In these literary works, the respective gangs were composed of 'Maoyi' or 'Maosha' people. These were the terms used by both the public and official sources at the time to refer to foreigners, specifically those with hair and skin colors different from ours—"

Chun Er showed Li Banfeng the collected information one by one, and Li Banfeng slowly pieced together the clues. "The Birch Hermit Society has a significant influence," Chun Er said, pulling out several case files. "In several cases related to dark energy enthusiasts, the Birch Hermit Society didn't directly appear, but the dark energy enthusiast organizations involved were more or less connected to them, including the previous Chamomile Witch Association."

The Chamomile Witch Association had brought Lu Dongjun out of Neizhou, almost causing a disaster and nearly trapping Li Banfeng. This matter was still unresolved.

Li Banfeng put away the information and asked Chun Er, "What level are you at now?"

Chun Er looked around, worried about surveillance equipment.

Li Banfeng said, "Here with me, you don't need to worry about being listened to."

Chun Er lowered his voice. "Director Li, I'm already at Level Two and a half. I reckon Level Three isn't far off."

Li Banfeng calculated his progress. "Have you used up all the conciliators the bureau gave you?"

"Not yet. I got a little more from the black market myself."

"You're still so bold, kid!" Li Banfeng chuckled. "Don't leave after work. I'll take you somewhere to check your cultivation."

After work, Deng Pao drove Li Banfeng and Chun Er to a wild lake on the outskirts of the city.

Li Banfeng picked up a pebble and said to Chun Er, "Use this as a weapon and spar with me for a couple of rounds."

The pebble was smoothly rounded with no edges, wet and slippery, making it hard to grip. Chun Er observed it for a while, then shook his head. "Director Li, you've stumped me. This pebble is really not suitable as a weapon."

Li Banfeng picked up a clump of mud by the lake and handed it to Chun Er. "How about this?"

Chun Er took the mud and repeatedly shook his head. "This is even less suitable."

Li Banfeng recalled a past experience. "In Garden Community, you once fought with a bundle of sleeping mats, and you could pick up a tile and use it as a weapon."

Chun Er explained, "Tiles are different. They have edges, are easy to grip, and are sharp enough. They're a superior choice for a weapon."

Li Banfeng mused for a moment, "Are you always so picky about weapons?"

Chun Er didn't think there was anything wrong with it. "Choosing a suitable item as a weapon is a mandatory lesson for combatants."

That's the point.