Chapter 56: Rules and Boundaries

"Man-hag!" The man in the mandarin jacket smelled smoke first, then his entire body burst into flames. Only then did he realize he had encountered an enemy.

No wonder this man in the red suit knew so much about the Oil Cultivator.

No wonder he even knew my killing moves.

It turned out Yu Nan had guided him.

Yu Nan had indeed guided Li Banfeng; otherwise, if Li Banfeng had encountered an Oil Cultivator, such a rare sect, on his own, he would have suffered a great loss.

Oil Cultivators fear fire, so using fire is the most effective tactic against them.

But why didn't Li Banfeng use fire initially?

Because the right method must be used at the right time.

Li Banfeng's successful sneak attack was due to his concealed approach. If he had approached the man in the mandarin jacket with a torch, the man would have taken him down immediately.

During the battle, why didn't Li Banfeng use fire?

Strike a match mid-fight?

Li Banfeng had considered it.

But the man in the mandarin jacket was not foolish; he wouldn't give Li Banfeng a chance to strike a match. Even if a match was lit, he wouldn't let it touch him.

Let alone Li Banfeng, even Yu Nan, the Smoke Cultivator, would find it extremely difficult to set the man in the mandarin jacket on fire. When they fought previously, the man hadn't even given Yu Nan a chance to light a cigarette.

Even though he had successfully started the fire this time, the man in the mandarin jacket wasn't without recourse.

He immediately retracted the oil from his body and rolled on the ground, quickly extinguishing the flames.

But by the time he put out the fire, Li Banfeng was already approaching with his sickle.

The man in the mandarin jacket had lost an eye, suffered burns, and was running low on stamina. Without using oil, he could only await death.

What if he used oil?

The smoke was right beside him; if he used oil, he would catch fire again and still face death.

He was in a desperate situation, a dead end from which he couldn't escape.

Seeing no hope, the man in the mandarin jacket cried out, "Boss Yu, my past actions were wrong. We can discuss anything."

"Discuss?" Yu Nan sneered, "Rong Jin'an, why didn't you discuss it with me when you killed my brothers?

Why didn't you discuss it with me when you smashed my shop?

When you insulted the sisters in my shop, why didn't you discuss it with them?"

So, the man in the mandarin jacket was named Rong Jin'an. Li Banfeng quietly noted his name.

Rong Jin'an argued, "Some matters, our manager discussed with you, but you refused, which is why I burned your shop. I acted openly, unlike your underhanded tricks. You broke the rules of the jianghu!"

Yu Nan stepped forward and kicked Rong Jin'an in the face, leaving a red and black shoe print.

Rong Jin'an wailed, "Boss Yu, I apologize to you. I'll even kowtow. Just spare my life.

However, there's something I should remind you: you run a business, and you still have to live in Ligou. Once your anger is vented and your revenge taken, the matter should be over.

If you push things too far, you'll cut off your own retreat. You know the methods of the Geng Family Pharmacy; they have the Jiangxiang Gang behind them.

You've navigated the jianghu for years, and harming someone with a hidden attack puts you in the wrong. You know the rules and the limits. I've said my piece, you decide what to do."

Yu Nan's index and middle fingers rubbed the cigarette holder up and down, his expression extraordinarily solemn.

Rong Jin'an had a point. His actions at Yu Nan's shop back then were open and direct.

But Yu Nan's actions tonight were a hidden attack, truly breaking the rules.

Killing him outright would also be going too far.

As Yu Nan hesitated, Li Banfeng walked up to Rong Jin'an and asked, "You just said, 'I've said my piece.' What did you mean by that?"

Rong Jin'an sneered, "You don't understand that? Is this your first day in the jianghu? What it means, you figure it out!"

Li Banfeng said, "I have figured it out. As I understand it, it means you've said everything you wanted to say."

Rong Jin'an was stunned, "What does that mean?"

"You don't understand that? You've said your last words, now you should be on your way," Li Banfeng swung his sickle, aiming for the man in the mandarin jacket's throat.

Rong Jin'an used his right hand to block, but he didn't have time to use his oil, and his forearm was severed by Li Banfeng.

Rong Jin'an, with his severed hand, gasped, "Little brother, you're also working for money. Your master hasn't given the word, and you're already acting. That's not according to the rules."

"Why do you have so many rules?" Li Banfeng struck the man in the mandarin jacket again. He had aimed for his head, but the man dodged desperately, losing an ear.

"Let's not talk about rules, let's talk about reason. You and I have no grievances..."

"Why do you have so many reasons?" Li Banfeng struck again. He had aimed for the neck, but Rong Jin'an dodged, and Li Banfeng pierced his left shoulder.

"I, I am a member of the Jiangxiang Gang..."

"Oh, so you're from the Jiangxiang Gang. Then you deserve an extra strike," Li Banfeng struck again.

"I, I'm not really from the Jiangxiang Gang, I'm from the Geng Family Pharmacy..."

"Then why did you lie to me just now?" Li Banfeng struck again.

...

The final strike pierced his chest, and Rong Jin'an stopped moving.

Seeing this, Yu Nan, who had still been somewhat hesitant, could only accept reality.

The two discussed. Li Banfeng was responsible for handling the body, and Yu Nan was responsible for disposing of the traces.

Qin Xiaopang had already been rescued by the employees of Yu Family Textile. Yu Nan said, "Seventh Master, come to the textile shop first thing tomorrow morning. I'll take you to visit Boss Qin."

Li Banfeng nodded, hoisted the man in the mandarin jacket's body onto his shoulder, and walked away.

Yu Nan saw the man in the mandarin jacket's blood flowing onto Li Banfeng's red suit. Upon closer inspection, no traces were visible.

Was that why Li Banfeng wore a red suit?

Had he decided to kill from the very beginning?

Yu Nan sighed, "Seventh Master, you truly disregard all rules and boundaries."

Li Banfeng turned back, asking with surprise, "What exactly are rules and boundaries?"

Yu Nan was taken aback, unsure if Li Banfeng was genuinely confused or feigning ignorance.

After a moment of silence, Yu Nan smiled, "Rules and boundaries, that is the jianghu."

The jianghu?

So profound?

He didn't understand.

Li Banfeng never dwelled on things he couldn't understand.

He walked to the depths of the alley, making sure no one was around, and brought Rong Jin'an's body into the portable dwelling.

He moved very lightly, afraid of waking the phonograph. When he placed the body next to the copper lotus, he found the lotus petals open. In the seven-holed lotus heart, there were three lotus seeds.

Li Banfeng peeled the lotus seeds.

Two of the lotus seeds were refined from the bodies of De Cai and De Mao.

The other lotus seed was refined from the blood-sucking short knife.

Before long, two of the lotus seeds burst, each yielding two red pills. Li Banfeng collected the pills.

Li Banfeng now had eight red pills. Based on the efficiency of two pills per layer, Rong Jin'an's body would also yield two pills, making a total of ten red pills. However, Li Banfeng still didn't know what the red pills were for.

As Li Banfeng pondered, Rong Jin'an's eyeball moved slightly.

He wasn't dead. At the moment Li Banfeng stabbed his chest, he had generated oil in his heart, and the knife had merely grazed it.

Now that the "man-hag" was gone, only this bewildered young man remained.

Rong Jin'an planned to gather some strength and take Li Banfeng's life.

*Crack!*

The last lotus seed burst.

Three rusty pills burst out, and Li Banfeng quickly collected them with his gloves.

In addition to the pills, a pendulum also burst out from the lotus.

Li Banfeng recognized this pendulum; it was Luo Yuni's relic.

When did this thing get into the copper lotus?

Li Banfeng touched the edge of the pendulum; it was extremely sharp.

What was this thing for?

Li Banfeng looked at Rong Jin'an: "Do you know what this thing is for?"

Rong Jin'an's heart jolted, but he dared not speak.

He's trying to trick me. I can't fall for it!

"Bear with the pain for a bit. I'll try it," Li Banfeng held the pendulum and swung it at Rong Jin'an's head.

Rong Jin'an's head quickly seeped oil, but it was too late.

The Traveler's speed was too fast; the pendulum had already embedded itself in his skull.

Rong Jin'an's body twitched violently. Li Banfeng stared at Rong Jin'an's wound, frowning.

Strange, why isn't he bleeding?

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