Chapter 61: 百味玲珑 金睛秋毫

Qin Xiaopang’s body caught fire, and in his panic, he rolled around on the ground. However, everyone present, except Xiaopang, remained completely indifferent.

Yu Nan and her fabric shop assistant both knew that Old Mr. Yao was a truly capable person. Li Banfeng trusted Old Mr. Yao deeply. Qin Xiaopang's ability to roll around now proved that his legs could straighten.

In less than two minutes, Xiaopang's clothes, hair, and all other body hair were completely burned off. He lay on the ground, groaning in pain.

Old Mr. Yao asked Xiaopang with concern, "Young man, what's wrong? Are you hungry?"

Yu Nan looked embarrassed. She knew Old Mr. Yao was accustomed to being humorous, but this was not the time for such jokes.

Li Banfeng didn't feel awkward; he thought Old Mr. Yao's question made perfect sense!

Xiaopang was annoyed, but after carefully assessing himself, he indeed felt a bit hungry.

The assistant went to prepare food. This matter had nothing to do with Old Mr. Yao, who picked up his money pouch and strolled out of the courtyard, swaying slightly with each step. Li Banfeng followed behind him.

Yu Nan stopped Li Banfeng, saying, "Seventh Master, you don't need to see him off so far."

Li Banfeng bypassed Yu Nan, "I know proper etiquette."

"It's not about etiquette, it's that we can't..." Yu Nan couldn't stop Li Banfeng. The pace of a 'smoke cultivator' was far slower than that of a 'travel cultivator' of the same level.

Old Mr. Yao walked quickly, disappearing from sight soon after leaving the gate. But Li Banfeng was no slouch either; he quickened his pace and also vanished into the night.

Yu Nan caught up, her brows furrowed. "This person is too inconsiderate of the rules!"

***

Old Yao and Li Banfeng walked, one in front of the other, for nearly an hour.

Upon reaching a patch of woods, Old Yao turned around and looked at Li Banfeng. "Why are you following me? Do you want to rob me?"

"The patient is cured; how could I touch your money? I just wanted to see you off." Li Banfeng looked at Old Mr. Yao with respect.

"See me off?" Old Yao took a sip of wine. "Do you even know where I live?"

Li Banfeng thought for a moment. "I assume it's a rather secluded place. Are we almost there?"

"Far from it. The place I live is not just ordinarily secluded. Even if you have good legs, you wouldn't be able to find your way out once you get there."

Li Banfeng's smile didn't waver. "Old Mr. Yao, you are a truly capable person, and I'd like to befriend you."

Old Mr. Yao chuckled, "Heh heh heh, I've indeed made quite a few friends in my life. One friend I made when I was eight years old, he snatched my sugar figurine and ate it. Another friend I made when I was eighteen, he took my wife and slept with her. And yet another friend I made when I was eighty, he took everything he could from me. I'm not good at discerning people, so I don't know how to make friends, and I don't want to make any more friends."

Li Banfeng said, "Then let's not talk about friendship, let's talk business. I'd like to do business with Old Mr. Yao. What kind of price should I offer?"

Old Mr. Yao took another sip of wine. "Who are you talking to? Do you even know who I am? Who gave you the audacity to try to do business with me?"

Li Banfeng showed no fear, stating seriously, "You are a good person, a decent person, and a capable person."

Old Mr. Yao chuckled, "How do you know I'm a good person?"

"Because you saved Qin Xiaopang."

"I didn't save him for nothing; I was paid."

Li Banfeng said very earnestly, "That's why I'm talking business with you, with real money and silver, not just empty words or trouble."

Whoosh~

A cold gust of wind blew through, and both remained silent for a moment.

"Hahahahaha!" The old man suddenly burst out laughing. "You little brat, you really are kindred spirits with me! Alright, tell me, what kind of business do you want to discuss? Healing illnesses or buying medicine? It's best not to talk to me about anything else."

Li Banfeng asked, "I haven't decided yet. Once I do, where can I find you?"

Old Mr. Yao looked back at Yu Nan's house. "Don't they know? When you arrive in Baixiang Village, just have them send for me."

Li Banfeng nodded. "Senior, if I come to Baixiang Village, I'll certainly ask for an in-person meeting. But if I'm not in Baixiang Village, how can I discuss business with you?"

Old Yao opened his wine gourd and took another large gulp. "If you're not in Baixiang Village, then it depends on how far away you are. If it's outside Yaowang Gully, I won't be able to help much. But if it's within Yaowang Gully, I can still assist you. As for how much help I can provide, that depends on your sincerity. Before discussing business, you'll need to give me a deposit."

Li Banfeng agreed immediately. "Senior's words make sense. I just don't know if this deposit should be given to you directly or burned for you?"

Whoosh!

Another gust of cold wind swept through the forest, making the leaves rustle.

Old Mr. Yao paused for a moment, then chuckled, "You're not old, but your insight is good. If time allows, it's best you bring the money yourself. If the matter is urgent, burning it for me will also work, but you can't burn 'yang money' – you must burn 'yin money.'"

"Where can I buy yin money?" Li Banfeng knew it wouldn't be ordinary 'yin money.'

"I have one right here, fifty thousand. Are you buying?" The old man rummaged in his tattered clothes for a while before pulling out a crumpled piece of yellow paper.

Li Banfeng was prepared; he took fifty thousand in cash from a cloth pouch at his waist and gave it to Old Mr. Yao.

Old Yao appreciated Li Banfeng's straightforwardness and nodded slightly. "Let me be clear, if this paper money is burned, there will be no refunds or exchanges, regardless of whether the business succeeds or not. Don't approach me with business that isn't fitting for my status. As for what my status is, you can ponder that yourself. If you're a clever person, you'll naturally understand once the deal is made."

Old Mr. Yao turned and departed, vanishing into the mist.

After putting away the paper money, Li Banfeng returned to Yu Nan's residence.

Seeing Li Banfeng return safely, Yu Nan took a puff from her pipe, her expression slightly displeased. "Seventh Master, next time, no matter what you do, please inform us first. You were lucky to come back alive this time, but there might not be a next time."

Yu Nan was complaining about what had just happened, but Li Banfeng seemed not to understand.

The assistant nearby translated, "Shopkeeper Li, Old Mr. Yao is no ordinary person; he is an ethereal master from Baixiang Village. Since you're not familiar with him, don't get too close. It's impossible to say what the consequences might be if you upset this senior."

Li Banfeng asked the assistant, "How do you usually contact this master?"

The assistant lowered his head and said nothing.

Yu Nan told Li Banfeng, "Since he is an ethereal master, he naturally doesn't wish to be disturbed. Without Old Mr. Yao's permission, we dare not reveal the mystery here to you."

Li Banfeng thought about the time it took the assistant to summon Old Mr. Yao. Half an hour for a round trip. The assistant clearly hadn't gone to Old Mr. Yao's home, which was very far – Li Banfeng wouldn't be able to walk there in an hour at his speed.

Considering the old man's aura of 'smoke and fire,' Li Banfeng had his answer.

Li Banfeng looked at the assistant and said, "You set up incense and candles to invite Old Mr. Yao, didn't you?"

With his keen sense of smell, Li Banfeng couldn't be fooled by ordinary scents.

The assistant stared at Li Banfeng in astonishment, then turned to look at Yu Nan.

Yu Nan's index and middle fingers rubbed up and down her pipe. Li Banfeng had seen her make the same gesture before, when Yu Nan was struggling with whether or not to kill Rong Jin'an. It was a nervous habit of hers.

Yu Nan had the demeanor of a seasoned veteran, but now it seemed she wasn't as shrewd as he had imagined. As for Old Mr. Yao, perhaps Yu Nan herself didn't know his true origins. Her description wasn't wrong: an ethereal master.

Old Mr. Yao was no longer among the living. With his 'Golden Eyes of Discernment,' Li Banfeng had initially thought there was moss growing on Old Mr. Yao's robe, but upon closer inspection, he realized he was mistaken. It wasn't moss; it was clusters of greenish-blue flames, identical to the will-o'-the-wisps found in burial grounds.