Chapter 731: Where Do Boundaries Come From?

The woman in cell six sang the battle song his wife used to sing, and Li Banfeng felt goosebumps rise on his skin.

“Hehe!” the woman chuckled. “You’ve heard this tune before, haven’t you?”

“How did you know I’d heard it?” Li Banfeng didn’t deny it.

The woman said mysteriously, “I heard the sound of your goosebumps forming.”

Li Banfeng was stunned. “Was it that loud?”

“Quite loud! A popping sound! Each one popping out from your skin!”

Li Banfeng touched his arm, pressing his ear against it, and listened carefully. He didn’t hear any popping sounds.

The woman snorted, “The goosebumps are all out, what are you listening for?”

Li Banfeng felt a little disappointed. “Will there be a sound when these goosebumps retract?”

The woman replied, “Yes, it’s a dull sound. Why do you keep asking about goosebumps? Weren’t we talking about this song? Who sang this song to you before?”

Li Banfeng said, “It was a very close relative.”

The woman was thrilled to hear this. “Don’t tell me yet, let me guess which close relative it was.”

*Hiss!* A sniffing sound came from the cell; the woman seemed to be smelling something.

“I’ve guessed it! It was your mother.”

Li Banfeng was surprised. “You were very close to guessing correctly.”

The woman was also surprised. “Then was it your father?”

Li Banfeng said, “Never mind who that person was. Tell me who you are, and why you sing this song.”

Hearing this, the woman’s voice suddenly trembled, as if she’d recalled something sorrowful.

“Do you know why I sing this song? My son, it’s because I’m your mother.”

Li Banfeng lowered his gaze, maintaining his composure. “I don’t mind this time, but don’t do it again.”

The woman stopped trembling, her voice returning to normal. “Aren’t I your mother? Let me think... Could I be your father?”

Li Banfeng was displeased. “Is there no one else here besides my parents? I’m leaving. You can think about it some more.”

The woman quickly called out, “Don’t go! It’s just me and her here, and she never talks. I’m so bored! Stay and chat with me for a bit longer, you won’t lose anything.”

Li Banfeng asked, “Two people? Who’s the other one?”

The woman said, “First, tell me who used to sing to you. Was it Zhao Xiaowan?”

*Hiss!* A sniffing sound came from the cell again.

Li Banfeng was very surprised. How did this woman figure that out?

“How long have you been locked up here?”

The woman paused for a moment. “A few years? Ten years? Decades? It’s been a very long time, I can’t remember!”

Li Banfeng asked, “Then how do you know I know Zhao Xiaowan?”

“Hehehe, you can’t figure it out, can you?” the woman chuckled eerily. “I smelled the scent of her cosmetics on you, the cheap kind.”

Li Banfeng thought this wasn't enough to make a judgment. “Many people use cheap cosmetics. How can you be sure it’s Zhao Xiaowan?”

“She’s different. She blends several cheap cosmetics together, and after blending, they create a special fragrance, even better than expensive perfumes. Many women wanted to learn her technique back then, but they just couldn’t.”

Inside the Portable Residence, Madam Wu was demonstrating the situation in the stairwell. Her technique had improved significantly, and the sound was transmitted very clearly. Hong Ying pulled Zhao Xiaowan's hand. “Xiaowan, how exactly do you blend your cosmetics? I really want to learn too. I bought so many cheap cosmetics, but I just can’t get it right, and everyone laughs at me.”

Zhao Xiaowan wasn't in the mood to pay attention to Hong Ying. She was worried now. The person in the cell had a very unique voice, seemingly masked in some way, making it impossible to identify her. Jiu’er silently combed Hong Ying's hair behind her. Hong Lian sat at the table, outwardly calm but inwardly anxious.

The woman in cell six continued to ask, “You have her cosmetic scent on you, and she’s not your mother, so could she be your grandmother?”

Li Banfeng said, “Can’t you think differently?”

“It’s hard to change my line of thought! Don’t rush to tell me, let me think carefully... You also have another scent on you, motor oil...”

Li Banfeng nodded. “I just applied motor oil.”

“And a smoky smell.”

“I smoke.”

“And a smell of water vapor.”

This was difficult to answer. Li Banfeng said, “Are you sure that’s my scent?”

“Is it your scent?” The woman also sounded doubtful, sniffing hard. “No, it’s not on you. It’s behind you! You have a train following you!”

Li Banfeng was stunned. She could smell all that? How high was this woman’s cultivation?

The woman analyzed the scent, muttering to herself, “This train smell is quite familiar. Is it the Old Train? No, the Old Train is staying in this building, he can’t get out. That’s not quite right either, half of the Old Train is still outside. Did that half return? Still not right. The Old Train’s scent is stronger than this. This is the Little Train! The Little Train has always followed the Old Train. Are you the Old Train? No, that’s not right either. The Old Train doesn’t smell like you. You have a young person’s scent. Who exactly are you? Who did you get the Little Train from?”

Li Banfeng pulled down the brim of his hat and said, “First, tell me your name, then we can talk about the train.”

The woman heard more sounds. “You really like wearing fedoras, don’t you? Don’t pull the brim too low, don’t cover your whole face. Show a little bit; young people always look good.”

Li Banfeng asked, “You can see me?”

“No, I can’t see you, but I can hear you and smell you. Your scent is very strong.”

“What scent?”

“The train’s scent! How long has the Little Train been with you? More than a year, more than two years, about three years, right?”

Li Banfeng took two steps back. She could even smell time?

The woman quickly urged, “Don’t leave! Talk to me a bit more. And Zhao Xiaowan’s scent, that’s very strong too. How long have you been with her, three years as well?”

Li Banfeng activated all his abilities: Spiritual Sound Insight, Keen Golden Eyes, and Exquisite Senses of Hundred Flavors. He looked around, wanting to see how this woman was observing him. *She must be able to see me, otherwise, she couldn’t be so accurate. No, even if she could see me, she couldn’t be this accurate! How did she know about three years? How did she know my wife and I have known each other for three years?*

The woman spoke again, “That’s strange, you called ‘mother’ again. Were you calling Zhao Xiaowan, or someone else?” *Where did she hear that from?*

Li Banfeng suddenly remembered something: the first time he went to the Mystic Sound Phonograph Store, Ling Miaosheng heard his thoughts. *Is this the power of a top-tier Mind Seeker?* At that time, there was a vast difference in cultivation between Li Banfeng and Ling Miaosheng, so it wasn't surprising that Ling Miaosheng could hear him. But now, Li Banfeng's cultivation had reached Cloud Eight. Why could this woman still hear him? Fortunately, she didn't hear everything, seemingly only a few words.

The woman asked, “Zhao Xiaowan really isn’t your mother?”

“No!” Li Banfeng completely cleared his mind.

“Then are you *her* mother?”

“No.”

The woman became annoyed. “If you can play, you should be able to lose. Cheating makes it no fun. If I guess correctly, you have to admit it, or it won’t be fun.”

Li Banfeng said, “I’m not cheating, you just haven’t guessed correctly!”

The woman clicked her teeth, seemingly biting her fingernails. “Then let me guess again why the word ‘mother’ would come up between you two.”

“Senior, who exactly are you?”

“Why should I tell you? You have to guess too! You guess, don’t disturb me,” the woman pondered for a long time, then suddenly shouted, “I’ve guessed it! She calls you ‘Niangzi’ (wife), so you’re her wife, right!”

In the fifth room of the Portable Residence, a comb dropped to the floor.

Hong Ying looked back. “Jiu’er, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Jiu’er picked up the comb and continued to comb Hong Ying’s hair.

His wife murmured, “I think I know who she is.”

Outside the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly. “I know who you are!” Among all the people Li Banfeng knew, only one person could deduce logic so rigorously.

The woman sounded a bit nervous. “You know who I am? Don’t trick me! I’m very smart, you can’t fool me!”

Li Banfeng asked, “Do you know Sun Tiecheng?”

“Ah?” The woman exclaimed.

Li Banfeng said, “Cheating is no fun. You have to tell the truth. Do you know him or not?”

The woman feigned composure. “Yes, I know him. What about it? I’m very close to him. He’s my sworn brother!”

Li Banfeng chuckled. “Did he agree to be your brother?”

“He didn’t agree!” The woman was angry when she spoke of this. “I sincerely wanted to recognize him as my brother, but he put on airs and lectured me with a bunch of principles. I couldn’t care less about any of that. No matter what he said, I just pressed him down right there and then, and we became sworn siblings. The deed is done, he’s my brother!”

Li Banfeng scoffed, “I heard from others that you two didn’t end up swearing brotherhood.”

The woman became agitated. “Who’s been spreading gossip to you? Don’t listen to them! We did swear brotherhood. It’s just that Sun Tiecheng is a bit... in front of others, he doesn’t let me call him brother. What’s there to be embarrassed about? By swearing brotherhood with me, he also gained two foster sisters. My two sisters are absolutely stunning, with great figures and beautiful faces, and they even look very much like me. Have you met my sisters?”

Li Banfeng nodded. “I have.”

The woman was surprised again. “Which sister have you met?”

Li Banfeng answered truthfully, “I’ve met Yi Hulu Hua Piao.”

“Ayi...” The woman’s voice trembled again. “That’s my sister, my biological sister, she’s a piece of me.”

Li Banfeng thought for a moment. “That sounds right.”

“Is Ayi doing well?” Her voice trembled intensely; this time, she was truly sad.

“She’s doing very well.”

“You’re lying to me. If she were truly well, why would she give you her jade pendant? Is she no longer in this world?” The woman started to cry.

“She is. She’s alive. You can hear thoughts; you know I’m not lying to you. She just married a new wife recently, and she’s living a very happy life.”

“Married again?” The woman’s voice held joy. “Ayi, that girl, she’s been promising since she was little, unlike me. I only married one wife in my life, and a timid one at that; couldn’t even swear brotherhood with him. Do you think she’s beautiful?”

“Yes, she’s beautiful, exceptionally beautiful.” This was the truth; Ayi was a rare beauty.

The woman was silent for a while, then her voice suddenly changed, losing its tearful tone and gaining a hint of tenderness. “Then let me ask you, am I more beautiful, or is she?”

*How should I answer this question?*

Li Banfeng said, “I haven’t seen you yet.”

“Just tell me who’s more beautiful?” The woman’s voice held a hint of menace.

Li Banfeng puffed out his chest. “It’s definitely you!”

The woman laughed. “You’re truly an honest person.”

Li Banfeng nodded. “I’m naturally this honest; I can’t change it.”

“If you had said she was more beautiful than me, I would kill you, and then kill that hussy Ayi too,” she trailed off, then suddenly burst into tears. “I can’t kill Ayi. If Ayi dies, I don’t want to live anymore. I’ll die with her. She’s the only one left alive in our family. I really want to see her.”

Li Banfeng shook his head. “I can’t bring her here right now. When I meet her in a few days, I’ll talk to her about it.”

The woman sobbed twice. “I have another sister, her name is Ayu. Do you know her?”

“Yes,” Li Banfeng nodded. “Do you want to see her?”

“Yes.”

*Clatter!*

In the Portable Residence, Jiu’er’s comb dropped again. This time, she didn't pick up the comb. She turned and ran, darting from room to room.

Hong Ying chased after her. “Jiu’er, don’t run! If you don’t want to leave, just tell me. No one will make things difficult for you!”

His wife looked at Hong Ying’s retreating figure. “That fighting spirit of hers truly hasn’t changed.”

Li Banfeng said to the woman, “I can ask her if she wants to see you.”

“Don’t ask her, and don’t tell Ayi either,” the woman sighed. “They definitely don’t want to see me. I’ve done them wrong.”

Li Banfeng continued to probe. “What happened between you all back then? Why were you trapped in the outer state?”

“Outer state?” The woman scoffed. “How could the outer state trap me? It’s ‘her’ and ‘him’ who trapped me.”

“Who are ‘him’ and ‘her’?” Li Banfeng didn’t understand.

The woman’s tone became mysterious. “Come closer, I’ll tell you quietly.”

Inside the Portable Residence, Hong Lian hissed, seemingly grinding her teeth. *Crazy old hag, stop messing around!*

Watching Li Banfeng about to step forward, Hong Lian was about to speak when she heard the woman in the cell shout, “Stop!”

Li Banfeng pulled back his half-stepped foot. “Didn’t you tell me to come closer?”

“Tsk, tsk!” The woman clicked her tongue, her tone full of disdain. “Just now I heard your steady, powerful footsteps; you must be a Wanderer Cultivator. Since you’re a Wanderer Cultivator, you should have the ability to avoid danger. There’s such a huge boundary in front of you, can’t you sense the danger?”

Li Banfeng paused for a long time. He truly hadn't sensed any danger just now. *Is there really a boundary?*

Li Banfeng took out a piece of white paper from his pocket and threw it towards the cell door. The white paper vanished in an instant, leaving no trace of dust. *What a powerful boundary!* His cultivation had reached a level that was unreachable for ordinary people, but Li Banfeng knew well that most of his Wanderer Cultivation techniques were not particularly impressive. However, avoiding danger was something he could do; the Coachman had taught him that. *Was it ineffective today?*

The woman sighed. “Perhaps it’s not your fault. This boundary is on too high a level; it’s reasonable that you couldn’t sense it.”

*Boundaries have levels?*

Li Banfeng took out the boundary-opening switch and pulled the wooden lever.

The woman chuckled. “You used that thing again. It won’t work.” Indeed, that remote was ineffective against powerful boundaries.

Li Banfeng asked, “What kind of equipment can undo this boundary?”

“It’s not about equipment; it requires intent.”

Li Banfeng said, “Intent might be difficult. I’m not a Thought Cultivator.”

The woman patiently instructed Li Banfeng, “It doesn’t matter if you’re not a Thought Cultivator, just remember the trick. Calm your mind, have no distracting thoughts, and repeat the incantation after me, word for word.”

“The incantation is: Ayü, is the most beautiful woman in the world.”

Li Banfeng looked up. “Is your name Ayü?”

“Focus on the incantation, don’t think too much!”

Li Banfeng recited the incantation seriously. Ayü expressed satisfaction. “Take one step forward.”

He didn’t rush forward, trying with the white paper again. The paper fell to the ground, and the boundary had indeed disappeared.

Li Banfeng was stunned. “Did you set up this boundary?”

Ayü said, “Not me, it was her.”

“Who is ‘her’?”

A slight rubbing sound came from inside the cell, as if Ayü was caressing someone. “She’s with me. I talk to her every day. Even though she doesn’t respond, she can still get things done.”

“What can she do?”

Ayü said, “She just removed the boundary in front of the door. All those incantations were just me joking with you. Wait a moment; I have something else to do. I need to temporarily open an opening to the east of the ‘Sea Eater’ realm.”

“Open what kind of opening?” Li Banfeng was utterly bewildered.

“A boundary opening, of course!” Ayü chuckled. “Many people in Puro State are researching boundaries, right? Their research on those things is useless, just like the incantation I taught you—completely useless. If I can’t hear her, then she can’t hear. If she can’t hear, no one can open it. Hehehe!”

Li Banfeng was dumbfounded. He was pondering the process of breaking through boundaries. The equipment used by the Defense Hall to break through boundaries operated on a principle different from what Li Banfeng had previously imagined, different from everyone’s assumptions! The fundamental principle of that equipment wasn’t to remove or extinguish boundaries, but to communicate. *Is this how the Outer State controls boundaries?*

Li Banfeng asked, “Did the Outer State trap you here just to control boundaries?”

“I just said, the Outer State can’t trap me. It’s ‘her’ who trapped me. Since she’s here, I can’t go anywhere.”

Li Banfeng didn’t know who “she” was, but he could continue asking. “Then who trapped her?”

“The Old Train! He made a bunch of contraptions in this room, so she can’t get out either.”

Li Banfeng continued to follow the lead. “Then who trapped the Old Train?”

“She trapped the Old Train. She created a boundary for the Old Train, a very special one. Other boundaries can trap others but not the Old Train, but that particular boundary can’t trap others yet can trap the Old Train.”

“If she can trap the Old Train, she must be a remarkable figure.”

“She is remarkable, hehehe!” Ayü laughed, a somewhat eerie laugh. “Playing along with me, are you? Sun Tiecheng is my wife; did you think I don’t understand Foolish Cultivation techniques?”

Being seen through didn’t matter; Li Banfeng could still pursue the angle. “If I release you now, can you remove all the boundaries in Puro State?”

“Yes! Try it!”

Li Banfeng took out his gloves. “Let’s try it.”

The gloves trembled. “Master, be careful.”

“It’s fine, let’s just try!”

“Master, if this really opens, there’s no telling what might be released!”

“Don’t worry, brother, just try it.”

The gloves fumbled at the door for a while, their five fingers trembling, unable to even find the opening mechanism. Ayü let out a sneer, somewhat disdainful of the gloves. “Frightened and trembling hands? That’s no way to achieve great things. It’s not difficult to break this, but the Old Train’s craftsmanship isn’t something a mere plier-hand can open. Don’t waste your effort.”

Li Banfeng quickly put the gloves away. “Sister, I truly want to save you.”

“Why do you want to save me? Why do you call me sister?”

“Ayi and I swore brotherhood; we’re sworn siblings!”

Ayü sighed. “You’re a person of loyalty. Do you have any food? The things the Dark Star Bureau sent are truly unappetizing.”

Li Banfeng sprinkled blood to create a boundary, then used his Joint Room Cultivation technique to conjure two cans of food. He brought the cans to the door. A hand, fair and slender, extended from within the iron door. It seemed real yet ethereal, as if growing from the door itself or a mirage of overlapping light and shadow. Li Banfeng placed the cans into the hand, and the cans dematerialized, vanishing into the door.

“Even though it’s not fresh food, the taste of Puro State is still so sweet,” Ayü inhaled deeply, clearly savoring it.

After a short wait, Ayü finished the cans. “Will you come to see me again?”

“Yes, as long as I can find you, I’ll visit you often. We’re friends now, right?”

“What kind of talk is that?” Ayü sounded annoyed. “You think two cans of food will trick me into being your friend? I’m a proper woman!”

Li Banfeng used his Joint Room Cultivation technique to conjure a box of cans. “Is this enough?”

Ayü took the cans into the room. “I appreciate your kindness.”

Li Banfeng nodded. “You truly received my cans.”

Ayü then said, “Next time you come, don’t just bring cans. Bring some other delicious food.”

“That’s easy to arrange. I have one more thing I’d like to ask for your help with.”

“Want to open a boundary? Which one?”

Ayü could always guess Li Banfeng’s thoughts, but this time she was wrong.

“I want you to help me *create* a boundary.”

“Create a boundary? Where?”

Li Banfeng took out a map of the Desolate Plain and marked a spot on it. “The Earth Kingdom opened an entrance here. This entrance has no boundary to block it, and it will become a major hidden danger in the future,” Li Banfeng handed the map to the door.

Ayü took the map, and a laugh came from inside the door. “So what if it’s a hidden danger?”

“If the Earth Kingdom invades Puro State through this entrance, Puro State will be finished.”

“If it’s finished, it’s finished. Puro State is full of beasts; I wish they’d die sooner!”

Li Banfeng generally understood Ayü’s meaning. “Most of the beasts who destroyed Fool’s City aren’t in Puro State. Creating this boundary is precisely to stop those beasts.”

*Sigh!* Another sigh came from the cell. “Whether they can be stopped or not, I don’t really care. But there’s one thing I do care about: Is my youngest sister in the Little Train?”

“Yes,” Li Banfeng replied truthfully.

Ayü said, “I’m afraid she’ll be wronged. You must treat her very well in the future.”

Li Banfeng nodded. “She has always treated me very well.”

“Regarding the boundary, I’ll discuss it with her slowly. Whether she agrees or not isn’t something I can decide. You must be good to Xiao Yu. I won’t treat you unfairly.”

*Click!*

A small piece fell from outside the iron door, roughly the length and thickness of an index finger.

Li Banfeng picked up the piece. “What does this mean? Do you think I’m greedy for money?”

“This gold bar isn’t for you to spend. When you want to contact me in the future, just grip this bar, and you’ll be able to talk to me. You should leave now. Some of the Outer State’s mechanisms are about to activate, and I can barely suppress them anymore.”

The projector behind Li Banfeng shook continuously. He had been suppressing the surveillance equipment, but now he was close to losing control of it. Li Banfeng still remembered the consequences of He Jiaqing's invasion of the Dark Star Bureau.

As he was about to step out of the stairwell, he suddenly heard Ayü say, “Take that paper with you, and clean up the blood. Some things you shouldn’t leave behind, and some things I can’t easily dispose of.” The gloves helped Li Banfeng clean everything up, then followed him as he closed the iron door.

Back in the stairwell, Li Banfeng was still full of questions. He pushed open the main door, curious to see what changes there might be. Instead, he saw Chen Changrui in the elevator.

“Director Li, you’re back! I have something important to report to you!”

“You always have something important to report the moment you see me. Can’t you occasionally say something unimportant?”

The two went to the office. Chen Changrui pulled out a document. “The Earth Kingdom sent a letter saying they intend to send envoys to the Huan Kingdom. The officials are undecided whether to receive them.”

Li Banfeng held the document, flipping through it for a moment, finding it hard to concentrate. The information from the stairwell was too immense, and seemingly unrelated things now appeared to be connected.