Chapter 606: Husband, You Let Her Come

Teacher Song, the man in white, and the white crane followed a man forward. To be precise, none of them were certain if the person in front was male. Their figure, face, and clothing were all indistinct. Even the white crane, with its extremely keen senses, could only make out a rough outline, and had to guess the person was male based on the voice that had previously called out Qin Tianjiu's name.

This was the effect of a Dwelling Cultivator at the third layer of the Cloud Realm, who had pushed an easily overlooked talent to its limits. The white crane's perceptive abilities were too strong. Li Banfeng had expended a great deal of stamina to maintain this effect and wasn't sure how long he could sustain it.

Emerging from the wormhole, the four of them stood together in a swamp. The man in white looked around but didn't see Qin Tianjiu. Qin Tianjiu had left long ago. He wasn't on this side of the Boundary Line; he was on the other side, in the territory of Kuzhaikan.

The first time the gramophone activated the Dark Bridge Cannon, Li Banfeng traveled from Green Water Bay to Kuzhaikan. The second time, he returned from Kuzhaikan to Green Water Bay. The gramophone, along with the Dark Bridge Cannon, had long since returned to his Portable Dwelling. Li Banfeng took out three contracts and laid them one by one before the three individuals.

The content of the contracts was very simple: they stipulated that the three people present must not disclose what had happened that night. The three successively pressed their bloodied handprints onto the contracts. Li Banfeng waved his hand at them, indicating they could leave.

The white crane folded its wings across its chest and bowed to Li Banfeng. "Benefactor, would you be willing to share your name?"

Li Banfeng subtly shook his head.

The white crane bowed again. "Your life-saving grace, I shall never forget it in this lifetime. This life of mine, Bai, I shall temporarily entrust it here. Should you ever have need of me, Benefactor, come to the White Crane Gang and find me, Bai Wusong. I will brave any danger for you."

With that, the white crane pecked off a feather from its own wing. The peck was forceful, leaving blood on the root of the feather. He handed the feather to Li Banfeng; its meaning was clear. It was a token for their future reunion. As long as Li Banfeng presented this feather, Bai Wusong, the white crane, would willingly entrust his life to him.

Li Banfeng accepted the feather, and his indistinct figure returned the bow to the white crane. The white crane flew off with the man in white. Teacher Song looked at Li Banfeng, seemingly wanting to speak but hesitating.

When Li Banfeng had called for Qin Tianjiu, Song Shu had heard the voice. She suspected it was Li Banfeng but dared not speak. As Song Shu still hesitated, she saw the figure opposite her give a slight nod.

It was him! It really was him! Teacher Song's eyes welled up with tears, a mix of joy from surviving the ordeal and excitement from their long-awaited reunion. She didn't know how to express her feelings to Li Banfeng at that moment. Unfortunately, their reunion was brief, and Li Banfeng waved his hand again, signaling her to leave quickly.

"Thank you, thank you…" Teacher Song knew it wasn't the time for pleasantries. She repeatedly expressed her gratitude, then slowly turned and walked into the night. After a few steps, she looked back, wanting one more glance at Li Banfeng, but his figure had already vanished.

Song Shu bit her lip, and tears, no longer controllable, streamed down her cheeks.

"Li Banfeng, you didn't even say a word to me? You saved my life, how can I ever repay you? And you... You haven't even told me where this is! Which way am I supposed to go?"

Song Shu was not very familiar with Puluo State. There were many places she hadn't visited, and she had never been to this particular swamp. The weather was gloomy, with dense clouds obscuring the stars. It was the dead of night, and there were no buildings nearby.

Song Shu sensed the surrounding magnetic field and found it to be in complete chaos. This was not unusual; half of Puluo State's territory had chaotic magnetic fields. Teacher Song gripped her left index finger with her right hand, pulled it out, rotated it twice clockwise, and one and a half times counter-clockwise. She wanted to make a call to the radio station for help. However, just as the call was about to connect, she pressed her index finger back into place. She couldn't reveal this location; doing so would definitely be disadvantageous for Banfeng. She decided to keep walking. Ahead, there was a faint outline of a forest. Once inside, she might find her way.

After walking for more than two hours, Song Shu entered the forest. After passing a few rows of trees, the snow was already past her knees. The swamp outside the forest wasn't frozen, yet the snow inside the forest was over a foot deep. The territories of Puluo State simply defied common sense.

Logically, traversing snowy terrain should have been no problem for someone of her cultivation level. However, she had been trapped in the wormhole for too many days and, unlike Fatty Qin who could eat anything, her body was now incredibly weak.

Deep in the forest, Song Shu could no longer bear her exhaustion. She leaned against a tree to rest for a while, grabbing a handful of snow and putting it in her mouth to quench her thirst. "Young lady, why are you eating snow?"

Song Shu had just taken a mouthful of snow when she suddenly heard someone speak. The cold meltwater made her cough violently. She looked around and saw a woman, dressed in black, slowly approaching from a distance. Seeing her light steps, leaving no indentation in the snow, Teacher Song knew the person was skilled and immediately became wary. "Are you lost? Are you hungry? I have some pastries here." As she spoke, the woman drew near. "You are..." Song Shu stared at the woman for a moment, suddenly captivated.

How could this woman be so beautiful? Her skin was so fair, perfectly so. A shade whiter and it would lack vibrancy; a shade less fair and it would lose some allure. Yet, she was precisely the most beautiful shade of white. Her figure was exquisitely slender. An inch taller would make her seem too imposing; a fraction thinner would make her appear too delicate. Yet, her figure was flawless, perfectly embodying both grace and softness. It wasn't just her figure. From her forehead to her brows and eyes, from her mouth and nose to her shoulders and neck, one could examine her dozens of times and find not a single flaw. As her gaze moved inch by inch downwards, every part appeared equally exquisite.

Even if one found Puluo State's foremost painter, Mu Yuejuan of Hundred Flower Ink, and had her paint for ten or eight years, she couldn't create such a beauty. Song Shu was spellbound, and the woman, in turn, carefully observed Song Shu. "Young lady, your face is drawn, and you're covered in dust. Have you encountered ruffians?"

"No, no," Teacher Song's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head. Trapped in the wormhole for so long, she knew she must look unkempt, disheveled, and even a bit pathetic.

The woman said, "My home is nearby. Come to my place, wash up, eat something, have a bowl of hot soup, and get a good night's sleep."

"This..." How could that be? Forget Puluo State; even in an Outer State, in the wilderness, if you met a woman of unknown origin urging you to come to her home, would you dare go? Song Shu took a deep, cold breath, trying to clear her head. "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm in a hurry."

"What hurry? The wind is strong, the snow is heavy, can you even find your way? Come to my house." The woman's eyes flickered, and Teacher Song's heart trembled. Teacher Song buried her head deeper. She didn't dare to look into the woman's eyes, and spoke in a low voice, "My home isn't far, it's just ahead. My dad is waiting for me to come home."

"Girl, who are you trying to fool? I know everyone in the villages and hamlets within ten miles of here. Which village do you live in? Tell me."

"It really is just ahead, not far... I, I can't..."

"I don't..." Despite her protests, Song Shu's feet moved uncontrollably, following the woman forward. She dared not look at the woman, but avoiding her gaze was useless; the woman's voice alone was enough to ensnare one's soul. Teacher Song followed the woman out of the forest, the woman's voice continuously lingering in her ears.

Like one possessed, she walked faster and faster. Then, suddenly, the woman's voice disappeared. Teacher Song looked up again, and her surroundings were empty; there was no one in sight. Had she encountered a fox spirit, or a mountain ghost? Song Shu slapped herself.

"I am a cultivator of the Cloud Realm, a university lecturer, I have received higher education. How could I believe such a thing? How could I be tricked by a mountain ghost?" Emerging from the forest, Song Shu vaguely saw a road with frozen footprints and tire tracks. Following this road should lead her to civilization. She guessed she had been hallucinating in the forest. Being trapped in the wormhole for so long, combined with the cold and hunger, it was normal to experience illusions. But why had the voice seemed so real? Song Shu walked a long distance, but the voice still echoed in her mind.

In the forest, Li Banfeng carried Zhao Xiaowan and sped along. If Li Banfeng had arrived even a moment later, Zhao Xiaowan would have led Teacher Song home, and perhaps she would already be on the dinner table by now! "My husband, it's freezing outside, why not bring her home?"

"My wife, don't say such angry words. If she really came home, would she come out alive?"

"What would she come out for? It would be so much better to stay home and serve my husband! She could even bear you a few chubby babies, and I'll look after them for you!"

"My wife, stop being angry."

"What am I angry about? I'm not angry at all! I've turned back into human form, and my husband doesn't even say he likes it; all he does is hug that gramophone all day long! Look how beautiful that brazen hussy is! Bring her home, I'll get along well with her, I promise I won't kill her!"

Li Banfeng carried his wife back to his Portable Dwelling. Teacher Song had already left the forest, and Fatty Qin was being looked after in Kuzhaikan. He just didn't know where the white crane and his attendant had gone. He'd leave it to fate; the white crane's cultivation was high, so nothing serious should happen to him.

The man in white rode on the white crane, flying towards Green Water City. "Master, that woman never caught up; I don't know where she went."

"Her cultivation isn't low; you don't need to worry."

"I'm not worried, I just feel a bit reluctant to see her go. That woman was quite good."

The white crane chuckled. "She is indeed beautiful, but don't dwell on it. She recognized our benefactor, and the two of them might be a couple."

"Master, how did you tell they knew each other? Our benefactor didn't even show his face."

"There are some things you don't understand yet. Learn slowly."

The next morning, the white crane flew near Green Water City, landed, and with a gentle flap of its wings, transformed into a man in his early forties. He held a folding fan, wore a white robe, and had a dongxiao (bamboo flute) tucked into his waist. He was handsome and had an extraordinary demeanor. However, in their attire, he and his attendant were somewhat similarly dressed.

The attendant, named Bai Xinsheng, felt a bit intimidated by the bustling crowds in the city and kept trying to hide behind the white crane. From a young age, he had cultivated in seclusion with the white crane. Shortly after emerging from seclusion, both were trapped in the wormhole. Bai Xinsheng had never seen so many people in his entire life. "Master, let's quickly go to the gang's headquarters."

Bai Wusong, the white crane, was the elder martial brother of Bai Wuchuan, the current leader of the White Crane Gang. He had originally come to Green Water Bay to inherit the gang leader position. "No need to go just yet. Let's first inquire about the gang's situation."

Bai Xinsheng was stunned. "Master, why aren't we going to the gang to inquire? Don't you want to be the leader?"

Bai Wusong shook his head. "I never wanted to be the leader. With my current cultivation level, it's also no longer suitable for me to be the leader. Back then, the gang was in a difficult transition, and they forced me to come out of seclusion; I had no choice. But now, if Wuchuan can manage the gang well, he should continue to hold the leader's position."

"Why should he?! Why should that fellow get it easy?!" Bai Xinsheng objected. "We were trapped for so many years, and he didn't even send anyone to help us. Now he gets to pick up an easy leadership position? That's not fair at all!"

The white crane frowned. "Do you know how many gangs in Puluo State have been destroyed by internal strife? If I return to the gang and cause a struggle, do you know how many gang disciples would die for it?"

Bai Xinsheng lowered his head. "If he becomes the leader, what will we do?"

"What's wrong with staying away from worldly affairs, focusing on cultivation, and living a peaceful life?"

Bai Xinsheng looked at the vendor selling shaobing on the street and swallowed. "I can't be peaceful like this. My stomach keeps growling; it's quite uncomfortable!" He was hungry. After eating moss for two years in the wormhole, now that he finally saw human activity and food, how could he not be hungry?

When the white crane emerged from seclusion, he had brought a considerable amount of travel money, enough to buy not just a shaobing but even to establish a business. However, all that money had been lost in the wormhole. Now, master and servant had not a single coin between them. For individuals of their caliber to be stumped by the cost of a shaobing seemed absurd, but the white crane was unwilling to steal or rob. He wanted to earn money by his own abilities. How to earn this money? With his status, he couldn't simply serve as someone's subordinate.

The white crane had an idea. He took Bai Xinsheng to Sky Bridge, stood by the roadside, and began playing a tune on his dongxiao. There were many street performers on Sky Bridge: storytellers, opera singers, martial artists, magicians, plate spinners, jar balancers, and those who could 'pull cakes from flat ground'—all earning their living through genuine skill. The white crane played three tunes, but not a single person offered money.

Bai Xinsheng told his master to rest. He then took out a flute and played a few tunes himself. Occasionally, people would stop to listen for a while before turning and leaving, still without giving any money. Bai Xinsheng felt humiliated and lowered his head. He knew they were performing, but he didn't understand why passersby who listened to their music didn't give money. Was it because they played poorly? It wasn't that they played poorly at all. It was just that their choice of tunes was unsuitable. Highbrow music was not appropriate for a place like Sky Bridge.

Nearly an hour passed without them earning a single coin, and the two were feeling distressed. Suddenly, a man standing by the roadside took out a silver dollar and handed it to Bai Xinsheng. Bai Xinsheng quickly took the money and looked up at the man. The man wore a tuxedo, a bow tie, and had a handlebar mustache on his upper lip, dressed like a civilized gentleman. On Sky Bridge, even one Huan Kingdom note was considered generous for a tip, but this man had given a silver dollar. The white crane was a bit hesitant to accept it.

The man smiled. "You two are true connoisseurs of music. However, this Sky Bridge is not quite suited to your artistry. If you would honor me, why not stay at my place for a few days? I could record a few phonograph records for you and try selling them."

The white crane clasped his fists and bowed. "Sir, what is your name?"

The man introduced himself: "My name is Ling Miaosheng. I own a business called Miaosheng Gramophone Shop. I've been away traveling for a while and just returned today, right off the train." The white crane found him quite sincere. Being penniless, he wasn't afraid of being swindled out of money. As for anyone trying to trick him in other ways, with his cultivation, it would be impossible.

He agreed to Ling Miaosheng's offer. Master and servant followed Ling Miaosheng to the gramophone shop. Ling Miaosheng specifically prepared a room for them to play their music. The two performed another piece, and Ling Miaosheng was utterly engrossed. He immediately had records pressed and paid them a hundred silver dollars as remuneration.

The white crane refused to accept it. "How can we take so much?"

Ling Miaosheng shook his head. "This isn't much at all. These records are sure to sell well. Once we've made money, we can calculate everything more precisely."

That evening, Ling Miaosheng kept the two for dinner at the gramophone shop. When it was time for the meal, Li Banfeng arrived with gifts. After Ling Miaosheng returned, he immediately sent someone to invite Li Qi. Li Qi happened to be at Carefree Villa, and since Ling Miaosheng had been away for so long, Li Qi would certainly come to visit. Seeing the white crane and Bai Xinsheng, Ling Miaosheng quickly stepped forward to introduce them: "These are two artists, Mr. Yang Shaofeng and Mr. Cai Weiming."

These two names were made up by the white crane on the spot. Li Banfeng didn't recognize the white crane, nor did the white crane recognize Li Banfeng. However, Li Banfeng recognized Bai Xinsheng, and from Bai Xinsheng's demeanor, he deduced that the other man was indeed Bai Wusong, the white crane. How had this senior martial brother come to Green Water City to perform at the Miaosheng Gramophone Shop instead of leading the White Crane Gang?

Li Banfeng didn't ask further questions. During the meal, they exchanged toasts, and their conversation was quite amiable.

After dinner, Ling Miaosheng arranged lodging for the master and servant. He and Li Qi then spoke privately in the gramophone shop. Li Banfeng asked, "Did you go to Inner Amikan Nation this time?"

"Yes, I did. They've changed a lot. Before, they didn't treat witches as people. Now they're a bit friendlier towards witches. Witches are their cultivators, but they're somewhat different from our cultivators here."

Li Banfeng was familiar with the concept of witches: no Daoist sects, no levels, but with certain dark abilities. Treythick had introduced him to the idea. "Why is Amikan Nation friendly towards witches now?"

"At first, I thought their perceptions had changed. Later, I learned they had received intelligence that war might be imminent. According to Inner Amikan Nation, the Demon King is about to unleash the fires of hell and set Amikan Nation's land ablaze."

Li Banfeng considered this. "Does 'hell' refer to the Inner States?"

Ling Miaosheng nodded. "That's my deduction. However, many of my memories were taken. Amikan Nation still follows the same pattern; they keep most matters regarding Inner Amikan Nation deeply hidden. I recorded some memories onto phonograph records, using certain techniques that should bypass Amikan Nation's censorship. Once these records are sent back after some time, I should retrieve most of my memories, and then I should be able to unravel many secrets."

Li Banfeng and Ling Miaosheng had always gotten along very well. As they were deep in conversation, the simple phone rang. It was Luo Zhengnan, saying that Liao Zihui had gone to Carefree Villa and had an urgent matter to discuss with Li Qi. Li Banfeng cautioned Ling Miaosheng, "Those two musicians you found are no ordinary people. Be sure to treat them well."

"I treat every artist well," Ling Miaosheng replied. He escorted Li Banfeng out of the gramophone shop and bowed deeply.

At Carefree Villa, Liao Zihui had been waiting for a long time, so anxious he hadn't even had a sip of wine and was sweating profusely. "Zihui, what has you so agitated?"

"Brother Li, Shen Jingye is missing!"

"Who?"

"Shen Jingye, the director of the Dark Star Bureau. He went to investigate Gourd Village yesterday and never returned!"

"He entered Gourd Village?"

Liao Zihui shook his head. "It's not certain yet. At the very least, we can't categorize this incident. Once it's categorized, Shen Jingye will be finished..."

"What's your relationship with him? Since when have you cared so much about him?" In Li Banfeng's memory, Shen Jingye and Liao Zihui had a long history of bickering and mutual complaints.

"It's different now. The previous squabbles and nonsense were minor issues. This time, it's serious. If he entered Gourd Village, he might not get out, and even if he does, he won't be able to explain himself."

"If he chose to go to Gourd Village himself, what can I do?" Li Banfeng seemed unconcerned about this.

Liao Zihui pleaded, "The situation isn't confirmed yet; he might not have gone to Gourd Village. He's not a particularly good person, but he can be somewhat reasonable. When you work with him, things go smoothly. If someone else takes over, you'll definitely feel uncomfortable, and the entire Dark Star Bureau will struggle."

Li Banfeng smiled. "Whether it's easy or not, what does it matter?" To be honest, Li Banfeng felt he had largely fulfilled his role as a balancer. The Boundary Line issues were mostly resolved, and the Outer States' attitude towards Puluo State had largely been rectified. Now, what remained was to wait for his wife to improve the Dark Bridge, giving the Dark Bridge Cannon a greater range and longer duration, to ensure more people could pass through the Boundary Line. Once this task was complete, Li Banfeng felt his mission in the Outer States would also be accomplished.

Of course, the problem of the Three-Headed Men still needed to be resolved, but that was not something the Dark Star Bureau could handle. Each release of a Three-Headed Man required an exchange of interests between both parties. For Li Banfeng, did the Dark Star Bureau still hold any significance? Perhaps the only significant things left were his close associates: Lightbulb, Tangyuan, and Chunibyo.

Yan Zihui seemed to read Li Banfeng's thoughts. "Brother Li, I beg you, help him. Haven't you always wanted the Three-Headed Men? I'll figure out a way for that. If you can bring Shen Jingye back, we can bypass formal procedures, and I'll allocate a group of people to you."

This attitude was quite sincere. Li Banfeng nodded. "Alright, I'll go back and take a look."

The Dark Star Bureau was still holding a meeting late into the night, chaired by senior leader Guan Zhengyang. "I never imagined such a problem would arise with the head of the Dark Star Bureau. Our superiors have repeatedly stressed the importance of remembering one's responsibilities, one's mission, and clearly defining the minimum boundaries in our work. Old Chen, tell us today, what work have you done in implementing the instructions and requirements of our superiors, and where have you placed responsibility and boundaries!"

Chen Changrui lowered his head, quickly organized his thoughts according to Guan Zhengyang's questions, and replied, "We have thoroughly studied..."

"No need to say it! What's the point of these clichés?" Chen Changrui was cut off by Guan Zhengyang the moment he opened his mouth. Chen Changrui's opening was superfluous. Guan Zhengyang simply wanted to embarrass him, to embarrass the entire Dark Star Bureau, and to regain the face that the research department had lost. Allowing Chen Changrui to speak was merely a pretext to find a transition point. He indeed needed a turning point, as the meeting had already lasted over five hours.

Next, Guan Zhengyang intended to further elevate the issue: "The Dark Star Bureau has experienced such a serious problem today, and the reasons are certainly multifaceted, but we must identify the primary cause. During the execution of a critical mission, Shen Jingye, as the head of the Dark Star Bureau, lacked even the most basic awareness of boundaries. As an investigator of Gourd Village, he actually failed to resist the temptations from Gourd Village. This indicates a serious problem within the Dark Star Bureau, particularly regarding ideological understanding. The root of this problem lies in..."

*Bang!*

Li Qi pushed the door open and walked in. Guan Zhengyang was about to erupt in anger, but seeing that it was Li Qi who entered, he suppressed his rage. "Director Li, are you..."

"Move aside," Li Qi said expressionlessly, looking at Guan Zhengyang.

Guan Zhengyang looked utterly surprised.

"I told you to move aside, didn't you hear me?" Li Qi lifted Guan Zhengyang and set him aside.

Seeing this, Deputy Director Wang quickly stood up and helped Guan Zhengyang to his own seat. Guan Zhengyang refused to sit, gritted his teeth, and tried to leave the conference room. Li Qi frowned. "Where are you going? We're in a meeting! Don't you understand discipline?"

Guan Zhengyang's face turned green, and he sat back down in Deputy Director Wang's seat. To be honest, he was defiant, but he couldn't overcome the fear in his heart. Previously, he had been captured by members of the Birch Hermitage Society at a hotel and had an ear cut off. Simply for saying a few extra words, Li Qi had him sent to the bureau for severe interrogation, and his ear almost couldn't be reattached. If he were to walk out of this conference room today, he had no idea what the consequences would be.

Li Banfeng scanned the conference room and said to everyone, "Director Shen personally went to track clues related to Gourd Village. During the tracking process, due to some special factors, he is currently trapped in an Unnameable Place. We must now concentrate all our efforts to rescue Director Shen."

Guan Zhengyang looked at Li Banfeng. "What basis do you have for these claims? Why is Shen Jingye trapped in an Unnameable Place? Have the origin and nature of this Unnameable Place been thoroughly investigated?"

Li Banfeng countered, "Do you know what an Unnameable Place is?"

"It's..." Guan Zhengyang pursed his lips. He had heard of the concept, but it was from Puluo State, and he couldn't think of how to describe it at the moment. Li Banfeng looked at Guan Zhengyang and said, "You know nothing, yet you've been spouting nonsense for so long? Aren't you ashamed?"

Guan Zhengyang retorted, "Then why don't you tell me, what is an Unnameable Place?"

"If I told you, would you understand? Or perhaps I should take you to see it?"