Chapter 694: Oil Slick

Li Banfeng sat in the Third Room, carefully imagining the appearance of every room in the Portable Residence.

From the Main Room to the Thirteenth Room, he didn't miss a single detail, as if he had walked through each one himself.

Grandpa Train had once said that the Third Room was the most special in the small train, capable of free movement. Li Banfeng believed practicing the "Connected Cavern Room" technique in the Third Room offered the best chance of success.

In his mind, Li Banfeng was most familiar with the layout of two rooms.

One was the Main Room. When he was home, he always stayed there with his wife. The tables,

chairs, cabinets, and even the ornaments on the shelves were all very familiar to Li Banfeng.

The second most familiar room was the Thirteenth Room.

The Thirteenth Room had appeared only after he ascended to the third layer of the Cloud Realm. It was empty, with no furniture inside.

Li Banfeng wanted to swap the positions of these two rooms.

The key to swapping positions lay in the sequence and process within his mind.

He needed to clearly define the distance and all details of both rooms' positions before the swap, and also meticulously visualize each step of the exchange in his mind.

This process was highly illogical, but Li Banfeng had to rationalize it within his understanding.

Fortunately, the Portable Residence was essentially a train. Swapping two carriages was relatively easy to conceptualize logically.

He tried a dozen times without success. Li Banfeng became determined, remaining hidden in the Third Room, holding his breath and concentrating. He spent almost two hours on the technique.

As he delved deeper into the technique, Li Banfeng felt he was on the verge of success when he suddenly shivered.

What was happening?

A premonition of good or bad fortune?

What danger could there be at home?

Or had he already mastered the technique?

Li Banfeng pushed open the door and saw nothing outside.

The Main Room had become the Thirteenth Room!

Li Banfeng was overjoyed and quickly went to the Thirteenth Room to check its condition.

Passing by the Ninth Room, he noticed a box on the floor. This box was originally in the Main Room, and Glove often slept inside it.

How did this box end up in the Ninth Room?

Did the "Connected Cavern Room" technique fail to swap the box, leaving it halfway?

No, that's not right. According to Li Banfeng's visualization, the two rooms should have swapped completely. This box shouldn't have been left behind. Li Banfeng walked around the box, staring at its underside, and asked, "Brother, what are you doing?"

Glove crawled out from under the box, drooping his index finger, and said, "There's too much to move; I couldn't do it in time."

"Who told you to move it?"

"The Mistress told us to. She saw you practicing all day and felt sorry for you, so she told us to move everything to the Thirteenth Room."

Li Banfeng looked ashamed and helped his family move everything back to the Main Room.

The Phonograph comforted him, saying, "My dear husband, the Connected Cavern Room is not easy to learn. All Cloud Realm techniques need to be honed slowly; you can't rush them."

Hong Ying added from the side, "There's nothing wrong with being a bit rushed. Seventh Master has always done things quickly."

Ninth Lady shook her head, "His speed isn't because he's rushed."

Listening to their comforting words, Li Banfeng's expression was slightly subdued.

The Phonograph pondered for a moment and came up with an idea: "Husband, to master the Connected Cavern Room, you need to be in tune with the residence. Our old master is injured and can't resonate with you, so naturally, the technique is difficult to perform."

Hearing this, Li Banfeng felt a little better, but then worried about the Portable Residence: "I wonder when the old master will recover."

The Phonograph had examined the Portable Residence's damage: "The injury is indeed severe. To recover quickly, some materials are needed for repair."

His wife understood repair methods, so Li Banfeng naturally trusted her. His wife wrote a list, and Li Banfeng took it to an outer province, asking Tang Changfa to procure the materials. He then went to the Dark Star Bureau to have Chen Changrui arrange travel procedures for Zhong Er.

Li Banfeng wanted to take Zhong Er to Puro Province, and Chen Changrui was wondering what reason to write down.

Li Banfeng said impatiently, "What other reason could there be? You submit the form, and I approve it. Isn't that enough?"

"Director Li, things are different now. The higher-ups are stricter with us. Every business trip to Puro Province requires separate approval. We haven't even clarified the matters with Lightbulb and Tangyuan yet."

"What's there to say to them? They're just full of themselves, constantly meddling in trivial matters. Just write 'investigating infiltration by Shang Kingdom personnel.' I'll approve it shortly and take the person with me. You handle the rest."

"Wouldn't that be acting first and reporting later—" Seeing Li Banfeng angry, sputtering his words in frustration, Chen Changrui quickly said, "Please, take Zhong Er and depart. I'll arrange the train for you and handle the rest."

Li Banfeng stuttered not from anger, but because he shivered. Once the train was arranged, Li Banfeng took Zhong Er to Greenwater City and settled him in Carefree Haven.

He instructed Steward Zhang to pay close attention to news of the peddler. As soon as the peddler arrived at Greenwater Bay, he was to take Zhong Er for treatment immediately.

With everything properly instructed, Li Banfeng shivered again.

What was going on?

Danger?

Where would the danger come from?

Was something going to happen to Zhong Er?

What could possibly happen in Carefree Haven?

Zhong Er had some knowledge of Puro Province but not enough: "Director Li, I'm injured like this, even Dr. Kang couldn't help. Can the peddler really cure me?"

Li Banfeng smiled, "Don't worry, even broken limbs can be healed."

After settling Zhong Er, Steward Zhang said to Li Banfeng, "Seventh Master, a friend has been coming to look for you promptly at 8 PM every night these past few days. He'll be here in about two hours. Will you see him?"

"What kind of friend?"

"He doesn't state his name, and he has no particular distinguishing features, except for a rather large face."

Li Banfeng nodded, "Later, prepare a private room and a table of food and drinks. Inform me immediately when the guest arrives." Steward Zhang went to prepare the private room. Li Banfeng called Qiu Zhiheng: "Brother Qiu, please have Lightbulb return to Greenwater City. The friend I mentioned to him earlier has arrived."

That evening, Large Face arrived at Carefree Haven, and Li Banfeng greeted him warmly.

"You're so hard to find," Large Face shook his head repeatedly. "If I hadn't found you today, I would have left. I heard my Daoist disciple came to Three-Fork Junction. Can I see him?"

Li Banfeng was a little surprised: "How do you know about this?"

"I have a few old friends at Three-Fork Junction. They said they saw someone using my Daoist techniques, and he was one of Li Qi's subordinates, so I guessed it was my disciple from the outer province.

It's inconvenient for me to go to Three-Fork Junction. I heard you were in Greenwater City a while ago, so I came here to find you. I looked several times without success, and then I heard the steward say you might only come once every three to five months, which made me a bit disheartened."

Li Banfeng said, "I've already summoned that brother. Do you want to teach him your techniques?"

Large Face nodded, "My friends told me that my disciple's cultivation might only be at the third layer of the Ground Realm, or maybe not even that.

With such low cultivation, how can he continue the lineage? I'm thinking of staying in Greenwater City for a few days to teach him some real skills. If something happens to me in the future, at least the Daoist sect won't lose its foundation."

Hearing his sad words, Li Banfeng asked, "Have you heard any rumors? Is someone coming after you?"

Large Face nodded, "Recently, many people from the Inner Province have been sent to deal with me. I don't pay attention to the others, but there's a man named Shan Chengjun. I genuinely can't defeat him. Have you heard of him?"

Li Banfeng nodded, "I've heard of him. He's the Martial Cultivation Ancestor."

Large Face sighed, "This man is not only powerful but also ruthless. Some time ago, you caused changes in Chaoge. Shan Chengjun took the Saint to the Earthwork Kingdom, wagging his tail at the Demon Lord."

Li Banfeng was surprised: "The Saint defected to Earthwork? Isn't Great Shang an enemy of Earthwork?"

Large Face chuckled, "Do you think the Saint cares about that? As long as he can survive, he wouldn't hesitate to call the Demon Lord 'father'.

Recently, he's frequently sent people to Puro Province: first, to find you; second, to find me; and third, to find He Jiaqing. They've already caused many deaths."

Li Banfeng knew Shan Chengjun was looking for him; his wife had already told him about it. Snowfall Port had even lost a master because of this.

It made sense that he wanted to find Large Face because Large Face possessed critical techniques. With these techniques, the Saint might still regain influence in the Shang Kingdom. Even if he couldn't, he could at least accumulate more leverage with the Demon Lord.

"What's his purpose in looking for He Jiaqing?" This point was harder for Li Banfeng to understand.

Large Face said, "You shouldn't be asking me that! Didn't you go to the Inner Province with He Jiaqing?"

Li Banfeng replied, "I went with him, but I don't know what he did to offend the Saint."

Large Face's eyes widened. "He stole so many deeds! Doesn't that count as offending the Saint?"

Li Banfeng thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Stealing deeds would offend the court, but the Saint has already left the court. Would he still care about this?"

Large Face shook his head. "I don't understand the reason either. It's probably that the Saint considers He Jiaqing your accomplice and sent Shan Chengjun to retaliate.

Shan Chengjun acted ruthlessly against He Jiaqing; he killed over a dozen local deities and almost killed He Jiaqing himself. Brother, in short, you need to be very careful."

Shan Chengjun killed over a dozen local deities?

Caused such a huge commotion?

When did this happen?

When Li Banfeng asked for more details, Large Face no longer knew.

Two days later, Lightbulb arrived in Greenwater City. Upon seeing the Patriarch for the first time, Lightbulb was a bit afraid and dared not speak.

Large Face chuckled, "What are you afraid of? You're fortunate, boy. Your grandfather, with all his talent, never received guidance from me in his entire life."

Lightbulb was taken aback: "You know my grandfather?"

Large Face nodded, "I met him twice and even gave him elixirs. It's a pity I was trapped back then, otherwise I would have taught him some real skills.

Your talent seems quite ordinary, but your luck is genuinely good. I went to Medicine King Gully and learned that your senior brother is no longer there.

You're the only disciple left in our Daoist sect. I'll teach you as much as I can."

Li Banfeng found a residence and settled Large Face and Lightbulb there.

With matters handled there, Li Banfeng immediately went to New Land to find Chu Er. He wanted to know what exactly had happened in New Land.

Chu Er dismissed everyone, closed the door, added three locks, checked the hooks twice with a magic treasure, pushed Li Banfeng onto the bed, and covered him with a quilt before daring to speak about it:

"Brother Seven, I've wanted to find you about this for a long time, but I was afraid Grannie Ku would find out."

Li Banfeng frowned, "What does this have to do with Grannie Ku?"

Chu Er lowered his voice to a whisper: "He Jiaqing is truly despicable. He gathered a group of local deities for a meeting, intending to take over all their territories.

My father is working for you now, so naturally, he couldn't let He Jiaqing succeed. My father decided to disrupt things, and I went along.

He Jiaqing sent Shen Rongqing to placate me, and those two scoundrels, Duan Shuqun and Zou Datou, also came. I didn't want to deal with them, but they kept pestering me. I was about to fight them when, unexpectedly, He Jiaqing killed all those dozen local deities, leaving only Chu Yaoxian."

Li Banfeng was stunned: "You're saying He Jiaqing killed those people?"

Li Banfeng had long anticipated that when He Jiaqing collected all the land deeds, he would likely kill these local deities and monopolize all territories.

But to kill them now, wasn't that too soon?

Moreover, he shouldn't have acted during the alliance meeting. If he did that, would anyone be willing to join the Brotherhood Alliance in the future?

This didn't seem like something He Jiaqing would do.

Chu Er was absolutely certain: "He did it! He just wanted to seize those local deities' deeds. He left Chu Yaoxian alive because he couldn't kill a local deity within their own territory; that way, it wouldn't violate the Peddler's rules.

How disgusting is he? Is there anything he wouldn't do? I wanted to tell you about this, but Grannie Ku wouldn't let me. She even said if I told you, she'd break my legs!

I really don't know why Grannie Ku keeps protecting He Jiaqing. Even though I'm scared of her beatings, since you came to find me today, I definitely have to tell you: the local deities in the surrounding territories are all terrified of He Jiaqing and want to pledge allegiance to you."

Li Banfeng covered Chu Er's mouth and held him tightly under the covers.

His Silk-Pulling Earrings had just told him there was movement nearby, not that of an ordinary person.

Chu Er struggled to breathe, whimpering twice.

When Li Banfeng released him, Chu Er gasped for a long time.

Hearing the whimpers and gasping, the person left. The Silk-Pulling Earrings could only detect extremely subtle movements.

This person was of a very high cultivation level. In the past, the Silk-Pulling Earrings couldn't have detected them. After acquiring one of Old Man Laughter's hands, the Silk-Pulling Earrings' power had undergone a qualitative change.

Once the person was far away, Li Banfeng instructed Chu Er, "Don't tell anyone about this. For now, have your father stay with you more often. If things feel off, call me immediately."

Seeing Li Banfeng's concern, Chu Er felt incredibly touched. She held him tightly under the covers for a long time before letting him leave.

Walking along, Li Banfeng kept thinking about the matter. Who exactly killed these local deities? Chu Er's and Large Face's accounts were completely different.

He decided to ask someone relatively close by.

Li Banfeng found Gu Wuyan. Since the incident happened near his territory, his information would be more reliable.

As soon as Gu Wuyan saw Li Banfeng, he quickly bowed and said, "Seventh Master, you've finally arrived."

Li Banfeng paused: "Were you waiting for me?"

Gu Wuyan nodded, "Seventh Master, not only was I waiting for you, but all these old brothers around here were waiting for you too. They want to pledge allegiance to you.

In my ignorance, I, Gu Wuyan, was truly blind. I even doubted Seventh Master and almost joined the Brotherhood Alliance. But now I finally see clearly: that scoundrel He Jiaqing is utterly worthless. He merely called a meeting, and twelve local deities died by his hand!"

Gu Wuyan's account matched Chu Er's, but Li Banfeng still found it a bit strange: "Twelve local deities,

couldn't defeat one He Jiaqing?"

"Seventh Master, He Jiaqing's cultivation is very high, extraordinarily high. He must have reached beyond the Cloud Realm. And these twelve local deities were all unprepared. They were invited by Chu Yaoxian to attend a meeting in He Jiaqing's territory. Who would have known he would act so ruthlessly?

The key is that Grannie Ku also intervened. With her assistance, how could those local deities be a match? It was like offering their necks to be slaughtered!"

Li Banfeng was very surprised.

"Grannie Ku helped He Jiaqing kill local deities? Old Gu, you can't just say things like that!"

Gu Wuyan cupped his hands and said, "Seventh Master, if I'm speaking nonsense, you can punish me however you wish! When He Jiaqing was digging for deeds in Zhuang Jiahan's territory, Grannie Ku was standing right beside him. Someone saw it with their own eyes!"

Gu Wuyan was straightforward; he shouldn't be lying about this.

But why would Grannie Ku do such a thing?

Gu Wuyan said, "We're all waiting for an explanation now, to see how the Peddler handles this matter!"

Li Banfeng thought for a moment and said, "This doesn't seem to violate the Peddler's rules, does it? Chu Yaoxian is still alive."

Gu Wuyan was a bit angry. He gritted his teeth and said, "Yes, that's right, Seventh Master is correct. These local deities didn't die in their own territories, so this doesn't violate the Peddler's rules.

But if they don't die in their own territory, the Peddler won't intervene? Then this matter will be easy in the future. I'll just trick local deities into my own territory and kill them one by one!

Even if I don't have that ability, surely a powerful figure from beyond the Cloud Realm would? Grannie Ku certainly has that ability, right? If this continues, local deities will never dare to leave their own territories. They'll lose their heads just by stepping outside!

Twelve local deities just gone, and all their territories taken by He Jiaqing? Is no one going to do anything about it? If the Peddler handles things this way, no one will respect him anymore!"

Gu Wuyan was very agitated, his eyes red as he spoke.

Li Banfeng said, "Calm down first. I need to investigate this thoroughly."

"Who will you ask to investigate? Do you still not trust me?"

Li Banfeng said, "I need to ask the person involved. Chu Yaoxian is still alive, isn't she?"

Gu Wuyan shook his head, "Seventh Master, you absolutely cannot go to Chu Yaoxian. Chu Yaoxian was forged by He Jiaqing under the covers. She listens to He Jiaqing about everything. He Jiaqing has lost his humanity, and she's just as bad.

Those twelve local deities were all lured by that seductive woman. If you go to her, it's likely to be a dangerous situation!"

Chu Yaoxian was sleeping when she suddenly felt a cold draft enter her covers.

Opening her eyes, she saw Li Banfeng pulling back her quilt.

Chu Yaoxian was startled: "Seventh Master, what are you doing?"

"Where is He Jiaqing?"

"He's not here."

Li Banfeng asked, "What exactly happened that day? Who killed the twelve local deities?"

Chu Yaoxian said, tearfully, "He Jiaqing killed them."

"How did he kill them? All by himself?"

Chu Yaoxian nodded, "Just by himself. He used both Thief Cultivation techniques and Bitter Cultivation techniques. He didn't kill me; he said he had feelings for me and that if I obediently listened to him from now on, he would spare my life..."

He Jiaqing knew Bitter Cultivation techniques?

Had he joined the Bitter Cultivation Daoist sect, or did he steal the techniques from Grannie Ku?

Given Grannie Ku's cultivation, it probably wouldn't be easy for He Jiaqing to steal her techniques.

However, Chu Yaoxian explained every detail, word for word, so clearly that Li Banfeng had no choice but to believe her.

Sitting in Carefree Haven, Li Banfeng felt a headache coming on. Four people, four different accounts. Except for Large Face's far-fetched explanation, everyone else claimed He Jiaqing did it, and two of those accounts implicated Grannie Ku.

Would this incident trigger a fierce battle between Grannie Ku and the Peddler?

Very likely!

Li Banfeng always felt there was a conspiracy here, a massive one, but he couldn't find a clue to solve the problem.

The next morning, Li Banfeng received a message from Chu Shaoqiang: "The local deities of New Land are restless. They not only refuse to acknowledge He Jiaqing but now even the Peddler. They only respect you, Your Highness. Now is the best time to take them all under your wing. They'll be loyal to you from now on."

Best time?

Was it really that good?

Li Banfeng shivered. Danger seemed to be very close.

Before understanding the full sequence of events, Li Banfeng had no intention of taking any action.

In the afternoon, Large Face came looking for him.

"Seventh Brother, why isn't there any news in the newspaper?"

"What news?"

Large Face smacked his lips and said, "Don't you have a newspaper agency? Shan Chengjun killed twelve local deities. Such big news, why aren't you spreading it?"

Li Banfeng smiled, "Brother, if I may be frank, I investigated this matter, and among all the information, yours was the most unreliable. How could I spread that news?"

Large Face stomped his foot in exasperation: "Why are you investigating? Just blame Shan Chengjun for it and be done with it!"

Li Banfeng didn't understand: "What do you mean 'just blame him'?"

Large Face grew even more anxious: "Otherwise, what can we do? Blame He Jiaqing and Grannie Ku? One or two local deities wouldn't matter, but this is a full twelve! The Peddler must give an explanation. Isn't this forcing the Peddler and Grannie Ku to fall out?

Grannie Ku has been at odds with the Peddler for years. If they truly fight, it'll be a battle to the death. Then the Inner Province will seize the opportunity and enter, and won't Puro Province be the one to suffer?"

Li Banfeng also considered this: "But if we don't want them to fight, we need to find out the truth of the matter."

"What truth?!" Large Face shook his head repeatedly. "Just pin it on Shan Chengjun, say the Saint ordered him to do it. Shan Chengjun is a bastard, and the Saint is an old bastard. Tie those two bastards together and boil them in a black pot, wouldn't that be perfect?"

So that's what Large Face was thinking.

Li Banfeng shook his head, "It's not that simple. To blame Shan Chengjun, you need evidence. To find evidence, you still need to investigate the matter thoroughly."

Large Face waved his hand, "Don't investigate. Just falsely accuse him. We brothers can figure out the evidence together; we'll always find some clues!"

Li Banfeng said, "To find clues, you at least need to know who did it!"

Large Face sighed, "If you want to know so badly, I'll tell you: Shu Wanjuan did it. Chaoge ordered him to."

Li Banfeng was stunned: "How do you know?"

Large Face said, "I have an informant in Chaoge. I've already investigated this; it was Qiao Yi's personal order."

Li Banfeng slapped his thigh: "That makes perfect sense! He Jiaqing stole the deeds, which is like undermining Chaoge. The local deities pledging allegiance to He Jiaqing is tantamount to betraying Chaoge.

Chaoge sent Shu Wanjuan to kill the local deities and frame He Jiaqing. It's a win-win. If this story gets out,

wouldn't everything be explained?"

As he spoke, Li Banfeng shivered again.

Large Face chuckled, "A premonition of good or bad fortune. You sense the danger now, right? This isn't a win-win situation. There are many benefits behind this, but they aren't for us.

This cannot be revealed! Once it's out, everything will point to one person."

"Who will it point to?" Li Banfeng still didn't understand.

Large Face said, "You and He Jiaqing both have deeds. Why was He Jiaqing framed, and you weren't implicated at all?

Twelve local deities died. After He Jiaqing was framed, who benefited the most? Wasn't it you?

Go ask around. How many people want to pledge allegiance to you now? How many people no longer respect the Peddler, only you!

Once the truth is revealed, what will others think? You are Prince Pingyuan of the Great Shang Kingdom. Wouldn't it seem like you ordered Shu Wanjuan to kill the twelve local deities and then framed He Jiaqing?

At that point, you'll become the biggest villain in Puro Province! What can you do?"

Li Banfeng was speechless for a long time, shivers running through him one after another.

Large Face sighed deeply, "You've underestimated Qiao Yi. He's not someone easily dealt with. His move is called 'eating a dumb loss'; no matter who suffers it, they'll be unable to argue. If the truth is exposed and you take this dumb loss, you'll have only two paths: either die without a burial place in Puro Province, or take the emperor you've established and wholeheartedly pledge allegiance to the Great Shang Kingdom.

This time, Qiao Yi's plan is flawless. If he successfully frames He Jiaqing and Grannie Ku, Grannie Ku suffers a dumb loss, and Puro Province faces internal strife, he'll seize the opportunity to deploy troops, making a huge profit. If the framing fails and the truth is finally revealed, you'll suffer the dumb loss and be forced to defect to the Inner Province, which is also a huge profit for him. If you stubbornly refuse to go to the Inner Province and end up dying in Puro Province's internal conflict, it's still a huge profit for him.

Grannie Ku handled this well; she certainly knows the truth but hasn't revealed it, which proves she wants to protect you.

But the Peddler needs an explanation. Otherwise, if this drags on, the Peddler will suffer a dumb loss, the local deities will rebel en masse, and Qiao Yi will still profit greatly!

He profits no matter what; there's no way to break this stalemate."

Li Banfeng remained silent for a long time, then said, "Is there really no way to break this stalemate?"

Large Face looked at Li Banfeng and said, "Do you know what Oil Cultivators are best at?"

Li Banfeng thought for a moment and said, "Slippery."

Large Face nodded repeatedly, "Brother, you finally understand. We can't break this stalemate, so let's just 'slide' past it! The key to this matter is to make the Peddler give an explanation, an explanation that pins it on Shan Chengjun. This 'dumb loss' is on the tip of our tongues, but we won't take it. We'll slide it over to that bastard Saint, and then it's done, isn't it?"

Li Banfeng stretched his shoulders and neck, and the waves of chills on his body disappeared.