Chapter 556: Stealing and Substituting

Carrying Teacher Song on his back, Li Banfeng stopped after traveling over a hundred miles from Jianrengang. They were hungry and thirsty. Teacher Song drank half a pot of water, coughed a few times, but didn't vomit. This proved the medicine had taken effect, and his symptoms were slowly subsiding.

Sitting opposite Li Banfeng again, Teacher Song felt a bit ashamed. "There are some things I didn't deliberately hide from you," he said. "I've never mentioned them to anyone."

Li Banfeng sighed. "I never expected this," he said. "That you even have a birthmark on your body."

"No, no, that's not the point," Teacher Song stammered, worried his identity would be unacceptable to Li Banfeng. "Banfeng, ask whatever you want. I'll tell you what I can."

Unexpectedly, Li Banfeng didn't ask about his identity. Instead, he asked about the Dao Lao Ghost. "How did you know there was a Dao Lao Ghost on Shifeng Road?" he inquired. "Who told you this information? Was it Shen Jingye?" Li Banfeng now had to find the source of the information. If it came from Shen Jingye, then Shen Jingye would have to explain.

The answer surprised Li Banfeng.

"My information didn't come from Shen Jingye," Teacher Song replied. "The information Shen Jingye received probably came from me. Yesterday afternoon, after we parted ways, I went to the campus supermarket and got a USB drive—"

Teacher Song recounted the events.

"So, the news about the Dao Lao Ghost came from a video sent by He Jiaqing?" Li Banfeng confirmed.

Teacher Song nodded. She didn't really want to mention He Jiaqing's name, as she was worried Li Banfeng would react strongly. But unexpectedly, Li Banfeng remained unusually calm. He didn't press for details about the cause and effect, only asking about the incident itself: "What was He Jiaqing's purpose in sending this video?"

Teacher Song thought for a moment. "He was probably trying to give me a hint," she replied.

"What was his purpose in hinting at you?"

"Perhaps he also didn't want the situation to escalate," Teacher Song said. "After all, this is a disaster that could threaten the entire Yuezhou."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Under no circumstances would He Jiaqing care about the fate of other prefectures," he stated. "If you truly know him, you'd know he wouldn't give you any hints about this, unless his interests are involved. But where exactly are his interests?"

"Just up ahead," He Jiaqing said, pointing to the distant barren mountain to Big Head. "In the barren mountain where you often practice, I've prepared clothes and food. We'll be there soon."

Big Head turned to his wife. "Ruifang," he said, "when we get there, we'll change into dry clothes."

Miao Ruifang, holding her child's hand, remained silent for a long time. Miao Ruifang had been imprisoned for a long time because of Big Head's situation. It was only today that she finally managed to see her child. This should have been a joyful occasion, but who would have thought they were now fugitives?

They jumped into Peach Blossom Lake, almost drowning. It was hard enough to emerge from the water, only to arrive at such a place: a place so dark that no light could be seen, and so eerie that it left mother and child breathless.

Upon reaching the cave, the family of three changed clothes. Miao Ruifang burst into tears. "Zou Guoming," she sobbed, "explain this to me clearly! What have I gained by spending my entire life with you? All these years of marriage, and I never knew what you were doing outside. I was arrested without knowing why, imprisoned for so long, and then unwittingly became a fugitive! I don't even know what law I broke. What is going on? You must explain this to me!"

Big Head didn't know what to say.

"Sister-in-law, don't worry," He Jiaqing advised. "When we reach Pu'luozhou, we'll tell you everything slowly."

"Why should I listen to you? Who are you? Do I even know you?" Miao Ruifang yelled at He Jiaqing.

Big Head felt a bit embarrassed. "Ruifang, Jiaqing saved us," he said. "Otherwise, we'd still be locked up!"

"Then why don't you say why we were locked up!" Miao Ruifang retorted. "Tell me, tell me the truth!"

As the couple argued inside the cave, He Jiaqing went outside the entrance, unfurled an ink painting, and pulled a tricycle out from within the scroll. The tricycle was quite large, with a wooden carriage and glass doors. There were two rows of seats inside. He Jiaqing arranged for Big Head's family to sit inside the carriage, while he himself went to the front to ride.

This vehicle was originally a fine creation made by a Gong Xiu, and He Jiaqing also possessed Cloud-level cultivation. Once he started pedaling the tricycle, it ran faster than a car. Miao Ruifang didn't understand the tricycle's principle and felt terrified sitting in it, but Big Head's son, Zou Xiaohao, found it quite interesting. He poked his head out of the car window and exclaimed,