Chapter 733: Oral Transmission and Heart Teaching

The Tu Fang envoys departed the venue.

Despite emergency medical attention from the medical staff, the Tu Fang envoys sustained irreparable severe injuries. As three-headed beings, the middle of their three heads had been torn off by Li Banfeng using the "Five Horses Quartering" technique. According to Li Banfeng's understanding of their physiology, this middle head should not regrow.

The Tu Fang envoys wanted to issue a stern warning to Li Banfeng, conveying the severe consequences of the incident. However, when Li Banfeng inquired about their injuries with concern, they chose silence to express their dissatisfaction, believing silent resistance was more impactful.

After confirming the Tu Fang envoys had no further issues, Li Banfeng left the venue. His entourage stayed a little longer, repeatedly emphasizing that Li Qi's actions did not represent Huan Nation's stance.

As soon as Li Banfeng returned to the Dark Star Bureau, he received a call from Teacher Song. "Banfeng, you've caused trouble! You should understand the current situation; our goal is to buy time. You were too impulsive. Where are you now? I've asked my father to see Doctor Kang to see if this can still be remedied."

Li Banfeng calmly replied, "Teacher, I truly don't believe there was a better way to handle this."

Teacher Song was furious. "I know the Tu Fang people can be arrogant, but with proper negotiation skills, losses can still be minimized. You should have remained clear-headed and restrained in this matter. Now you've severely injured the Tu Fang envoys—how is that different from declaring war? Prozhou isn't prepared for war at all. What will they fight the Tu Fang Nation with?"

Li Banfeng offered no further defense against Teacher Song's accusations.

After leaving the Dark Star Bureau, Li Banfeng sat for a while in a park. An old woman was sweeping fallen leaves near a bench with a broom. Li Banfeng stood up and said, "Please, have a seat."

"Thank you, young man, but I won't sit. I still have work to do," the old woman said, wiping sweat from her brow as she continued sweeping.

Li Banfeng took the broom. "Auntie Er, please sit. I'll do this."

Granny Ku sat on the bench and sighed. "It makes me a bit embarrassed for you to call me 'Auntie Er.' People of my generation usually call you 'brother.'"

Li Banfeng considered this; it was true. Sun Tiecheng, for instance, was quite displeased with the title "Auntie Er."

"Elder Sister, it's like this—"

Granny Ku then pulled out another broom and tapped it against Li Banfeng's face. Li Banfeng took both brooms and continued sweeping.

Granny Ku said earnestly, "Nephew, do you know you've caused trouble?"

Li Banfeng swept the leaves into a pile and dumped them into a trash can. "You think I've caused trouble too?"

Granny Ku chuckled, "Who hasn't been young? I was wilder than you in my youth and caused more trouble. But this time, the trouble you've caused is too big; it might be hard to clean up. You could have just scared them, but you actually cut off their heads."

Li Banfeng stood leaning on the broom. "But if I didn't cut off their heads, would they have been intimidated?"

Granny Ku shook her head, exasperated. "You unruly boy, you just don't listen to advice. Let me tell you, Prozhou is going to suffer. The Tu Fang people won't give up. Remember, don't get involved in this. Once you're knee-deep in it, it'll be hard to get out."

Li Banfeng twirled the broom in his hand. "If I don't get involved, who else can handle this?"

Granny Ku took the broom from Li Banfeng. "That depends on whose turn it is. Each sweeps the snow from their own doorstep, and minds not the frost on others' roofs. Prozhou has always been like this. Why do you need to be so strong? If you truly can't avoid it, hide in Bitter Vegetable Village. I'll protect you."

With that, Granny Ku flew away, broom in hand.

Li Banfeng stood there, pondering a question. Why didn't she just ride the broom to fly away?

Back at his dwelling, Li Banfeng recounted the incident to his wife.

After a long silence, Li Banfeng asked, "Do you also think I've caused trouble?"

"My husband would never cause trouble. My husband is my heart's treasure; how could he cause trouble?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Don't blindly protect me just because I'm your man; that's not rational."

The Phonograph immediately corrected herself. "My husband's actions are always wise and decisive; how could he cause trouble?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "That's a more objective assessment."

The Phonograph's spirit entered Zhao Xiaowan's body and she sat beside Li Banfeng. "My husband, I truly don't believe you did anything wrong, but the root causes and consequences of this matter must be clarified. The Tu Fang Nation has always acted arrogantly, but this is their first interaction with you, my husband. At the very least, there should have been some probing; they shouldn't have been so overtly provocative from the start."

Li Banfeng had no prior dealings with the Tu Fang Nation, but he offered an alternative theory: "What if the provocation was the probing?"

His wife, being exceptionally intelligent, naturally understood the implication. "If the Tu Fang Nation isn't sure whether Prozhou will join the war, they wouldn't provoke rashly. However, if the Tu Fang Nation has already caught wind that Prozhou intends to join the war on Shang Nation's side, then provoking now truly becomes a test. If we tolerate it, the Tu Fang Nation will push their advantage, demanding one city today and another territory tomorrow, gradually taking control of Prozhou. If Prozhou resists, they might preemptively declare war, or they might continue to probe to uncover our true strength."

Li Banfeng rubbed his forehead. He had realized this during the meeting with the Tu Fang envoys. The situation at the time was very similar to historical records he had encountered.

"He's really backed us into a corner."

His wife sighed. "I just don't understand why the Tu Fang Nation is so convinced Prozhou will join the war."

Li Banfeng got a piece of paper, and together, the couple drew and scribbled, connecting the clues.

Li Banfeng first outlined the first clue: "The Peddler and the Tu Fang Nation have had several recent conflicts, laying down seeds of hatred between them."

His wife outlined the second clue: "My husband abolished the Liren system in Xiāngdū. Qiao Yi, under pressure from the court, didn't interfere but helped my husband facilitate this. The Tu Fang Nation must have assumed Qiao Yi and my husband made a beneficial exchange."

Hong Ying interjected, "Didn't Qiao Yi not dare to interfere with Seventh Master because his three heads became one, putting him at Seventh Master's mercy, and because he signed a contract with Seventh Master?"

The Phonograph said, "Outsiders don't know these things. To outsiders, Qiao Yi's indulgence of my husband must mean they formed an alliance. The smooth progress of abolishing the Liren system certainly owes something to Qiao Yi."

Li Banfeng drew the third clue: "Qiao Yi opportunistically sent troops to the border. I heard from the Luo sisters that the Tu Fang Nation raids annually in autumn, and Chaoge usually doesn't react. But this year is unusual; Shang Nation specifically responded."

His wife continued, "The Tu Fang Nation must have deduced that Shang Nation's newfound confidence in resisting comes from Prozhou's support. With Qiao Yi spreading a few rumors, Prozhou has been dragged into the battlefield."

Jiu'er also understood the situation. "Now the Tu Fang Nation is extending its hand towards Prozhou. Qiao Yi just waits for news. If Prozhou doesn't act, he'll observe. If Prozhou acts, he'll join in. If this war is won, Qiao Yi's prestige will soar, firmly establishing his foundation in Chaoge. Even if he reveals his single-headed identity in the future, no one will be able to shake his position."

Li Banfeng sat by the bed, recalling Qiao Yi's expression when he left Xiāngdū.

As he thought, Li Banfeng smiled.

"He lays his schemes out so openly, so clearly, yet there's nothing we can do about him! Any advantage gained from him, he'll surely demand back with interest, never taking a loss. This isn't the first time. Qiao Yi, that old scoundrel, no wonder that saint couldn't outmaneuver him."

This was sincere praise from Li Banfeng, but the crucial question now was how to respond next. What if the Tu Fang Nation chose to start a direct war? What if they continued their probing?

Before Li Banfeng could devise a countermeasure, trouble erupted in Yaowang Gully.

Qiu Zhiheng brought news: a group of three-headed beings intended to collect snake-spotted chrysanthemums on Bitter Mist Mountain.

Li Banfeng was surprised. "Are the snake-spotted chrysanthemums blooming so late this year?"

Qiu Zhiheng replied, "Seventh Master, the timing isn't the key. The crucial point is that they cannot be allowed onto Bitter Mist Mountain. They aren't three-headed beings from Prozhou; although they look similar, they must be from the Tu Fang Nation."

"How many are there?"

"Over three hundred."

His wife heard the news and realized the situation was grim. "This is the second provocation, and each one targets a vital point. There are iron-ribbed bamboo on Bitter Mist Mountain."

Li Banfeng quickly packed a few things and immediately returned to Yaowang Gully.

At dawn, over three hundred Tu Fang people arrived at the foot of Bitter Mist Mountain.

Qiu Zhiheng led his people forward to block them. "Please leave Bitter Mist Mountain."

A three-headed being, speaking with a stiff accent, said to Qiu Zhiheng, "We are from Three-Headed Fork; we are Prozhou people. We want to gather some snake-spotted chrysanthemums to make a living. What's wrong with that?"

Qiu Zhiheng shook his head. "If you're looking for a livelihood, I can help you, but you cannot pursue this particular one."

"Why can't we?" the three-headed being looked at the flower pickers already on the mountain. "Just because we look different from them, we're denied the right to make a living? Master Qi said he would save us three-headed beings, yet he denies us the right to survive. Is he deceiving us with such hypocritical lies?"

Qiu Zhiheng's face darkened. "You know where you're truly from. Must I spell it out for you?"

The three-headed being stared at Qiu Zhiheng, fearless. "Go ahead, spell it out. Tell us, where are we from?"

People from various medicine guilds watched nearby. Qiu Zhiheng, at his limit, was about to act, but a middle-aged man stopped him, shaking his head slightly.

This was Half-Cup Yellow Wine Qiao Wuzui, who had taken over from Old Xu in overseeing Yaowang Gully.

"Zhiheng, we can't get involved in this. It will lead to great chaos."

Qiu Zhiheng also knew not to easily attack these people. In his hesitation, over three hundred three-headed beings ascended Bitter Mist Mountain.

Halfway up the mountain, Xu Han wiped his ladle and prepared his buckets.

Face-Not-Large was urging him, "Old Xu, you're a smart man. Don't be foolish about such a big matter. You'll cause serious trouble."

Granny Ku also tried to dissuade him. "Xu Han, you're usually so careful. Why are you so unyielding today? The Tu Fang people are here to probe us. Why do you have to fall into their trap?"

Xu Han placed the buckets on the ground, looking up at Face-Not-Large and Granny Ku. "I'm a farmer. As long as my land isn't touched, everything is fine. But if my land is touched, then things will be different."

Seeing that he couldn't be persuaded, Face-Not-Large conceded a step. "Alright, let's stop them, but don't harm them. How about that?"

Xu Han raised his ladle. "Tell me then, how can we stop them without harming them?"

"Make them slide!" Face-Not-Large thumped his chest. "With a little trick, I can make them slide all the way down the mountain. Won't that be the end of it?"

Xu Han asked, "What if they try to come up tomorrow?"

"The snake-spotted chrysanthemums will have withered tomorrow, so why would they come up?"

"Is it hard to find an excuse?" Xu Han pushed Face-Not-Large aside. As he watched the figures of the three-headed beings slowly approach in the mist, he scooped up a half-wet, half-dry mixture, ready to act.

Face-Not-Large was still trying to stop him. "Old Xu, don't kill them! Leave some room!"

The three-headed beings approached, looking at Xu Han, Face-Not-Large, and Granny Ku.

The middle head asked, "Who are you?"

Xu Han chuckled. "What do you think?"

The middle head smiled. "I think you look like a good person."

Xu Han nodded. "That's what others say."

The three heads spoke one after another: "What are you doing here? Are you waiting for us?" "The fact that you can endure so long halfway up Bitter Mist Mountain proves you're not ordinary people." "If you're not ordinary, you should know our identities and our purpose for being here. So, we advise you not to do anything foolish."

Xu Han remained silent, unwilling to elaborate.

Face-Not-Large whispered, "Don't rush. Once they've all gathered, I'll send them down together."

More and more three-headed beings gathered, their laughter echoing. "We've gathered. What do you want to prove? Continue to prove your ignorance and foolishness?" "Do you still think Prozhou has the highest individual combat power? Times have changed. If you want a fight, we can grant your wish." "Given your advanced age, we won't be too cruel to you. As you often say in Prozhou, we can stop just short of fatal. We can at least preserve your lives. This is our benevolence and charity towards you."

Face-Not-Large saw that the time was right and was about to use his technique to make the group of three-headed beings slide down the slope.

A heavy, tearing sound suddenly echoed, and the leading three-headed being stopped laughing. His shoulders were torn open, with one head remaining on the left, one on the right, and one in the middle, each on its respective shoulder. All the three-headed beings stopped laughing.

Granny Ku looked at Face-Not-Large. "Did you make them slide?"

Face-Not-Large shook his head. "I haven't done anything yet."

Xu Han smiled. "It truly was 'stopping short of fatal.' You didn't lose your heads, so you've kept your bodies intact."

Face-Not-Large was agitated. "Old Xu, how could you—"

"That wasn't me just now," Old Xu grabbed his ladle. "Now it's my turn!"

Seeing their leader instantly die, the three-headed beings cried out in alarm. Some fled down the mountain, but Old Xu's ladle unleashed a waterfall of golden light, stopping them. Many others scrambled into the forest. Old Xu flicked another spoonful of golden light, and the golden sap transformed into glittering golden beads, bouncing and chasing after the scattered three-headed beings. First, it burned through their clothes, then their flesh, and after burning through their bones, the golden sap flowed into their body cavities, joyfully pulsating with their internal organs.

The three-headed beings had unique bodies, allowing them to endure the golden light for some time. Li Banfeng clearly saw that when the three-headed leader was torn open, their physical structure was just like Qiao Yi's, with two bodies embedded within another.

A resilient three-headed being burst out of the forest, escaping the pursuit of the glittering golden light. Its body had suffered severe damage, but its flesh and internal organs could regenerate at an astonishing speed, using this speed to counter the corrosive effects of the golden sap. This was a form of body cultivation. No wonder these Tu Fang people were so arrogant; they were all dark energy users, and at a high level. However, they weren't familiar enough with Prozhou and mistook Xu Han and the others for ordinary cultivators.

Li Banfeng intercepted the fleeing three-headed being and advised, "This is Bitter Mist Mountain; it's very dangerous. Don't run around, you'll get lost. Go back quickly."

He then kicked the three-headed being towards Xu Han.

"You've come a long way; it's not easy. This old man hasn't been a good host, so have a little something first!" Old Xu fed him a spoonful of golden sap.

This mouthful of golden sap burned its way down from the mouth, incinerating the internal organs. This three-headed being died instantly; no matter how strong its regenerative ability, it could not recover.

The others scrambled to flee in all directions. Old Xu, ladle in hand, urged, "Don't rush, don't fight over it, there's enough for everyone!"

Before long, over three hundred three-headed beings were cleanly dealt with by Li Banfeng and Xu Han.

Face-Not-Large was furious, stomping his feet. "You two villains! Over three hundred people, and not a single one left!"

"That's not entirely true," Xu Han searched in the bucket for a while. "There's still one left. This one seems to still have a breath."

Face-Not-Large glanced at it. "Just put him out of his misery! What's he been turned into? Didn't I tell you not to harm them?"

Li Banfeng looked at the corpses on the ground. "I didn't harm them. Aren't they all dead?"

Face-Not-Large glared at Li Banfeng, too angry to speak. He turned to Xu Han. "He's young and foolish, but you're old; why are you also messing around? How are we going to explain this to the Peddler when things are like this?"

Old Xu put away his ladle. "I stand by what I said: if anyone touches my land, no matter who it is, I won't spare them. As for the Peddler, I have nothing to explain. You have a big face; you go explain it to him."

Face-Not-Large retorted angrily, "What does that have to do with having a big face?"

Granny Ku looked at Face-Not-Large and said, "I don't think your face is big either."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Auntie Er, we need to speak honestly. Isn't Big Brother Face's face big?"

"No!" Granny Ku answered very decisively.

Li Banfeng was momentarily stunned. He remembered something. It seemed there really was someone who thought Face-Not-Large's face wasn't big. Who was it again?

Face-Not-Large squatted by the roadside, saying nothing.

Xu Han looked at the corpses strewn on the ground and sighed. "They were all people who wouldn't listen to advice. We told them not to come up the mountain, but they insisted."

Li Banfeng also sighed. "They came up the mountain to collect snake-spotted chrysanthemums just to earn a living. Who knows how many people die on this mountain like them every year? Old Xu, give them a proper burial."

Xu Han nodded. "Alright, I'll get them some dry land in a bit."

Granny Ku said, "Don't think this matter will just be glossed over. The Tu Fang Nation will likely use this as an excuse for war."

Li Banfeng looked at the mist on Bitter Mist Mountain. "If we don't gloss it over, will the Tu Fang Nation not wage war?"

Granny Ku was speechless. She understood Li Qi less and less, both his temperament and his strength. Just now, when Li Qi suddenly killed the three-headed leader, Granny Ku hadn't even noticed Li Qi's arrival. Face-Not-Large hadn't noticed either; only Xu Han had. To what extent had this young man's cultivation reached? And how should this current situation be handled? The Tu Fang Nation was bound to attack; how should the Peddler respond?

***

Tu Fang Nation, outside the city of Moye, at the vanguard army camp.

Centurion Yang Genini was inspecting the camp. He saw a soldier squatting next to a tent, starting a fire. The soldier had long white fur and a pair of curved horns; from his appearance, he looked like a sheep. Yang Genini assumed he belonged to his camp.

He approached and asked, "What are you doing here?"

The soldier looked up. "It's too cold at night. I want to build a fire to warm myself."

Yang Genini stroked his beard, carefully observing the soldier. The soldier indeed had a sheep's face, but Yang Genini couldn't recall having such a soldier in his camp. Furthermore, his accent was peculiar; though understandable, his pronunciation was very stiff.

"Why aren't you in your tent? No fires are allowed in the camp at this hour!"

The soldier shrugged. "I just told you, it's too cold in the tent. If you don't let me build a fire, how am I supposed to get warm?"

These words completely exposed the soldier's true identity. He wasn't a Tu Fang national; his Tu Fang language was very non-standard.

"Who exactly are you?" Yang Genini drew his sword and pointed it at the soldier's face.

The soldier raised his hands. "Don't be so agitated. Actually, my linguistic talent isn't bad, but your pronunciation is truly uncomfortable."

Yang Genini tried to swing his sword to strike, but his hand trembled violently, and the sword wouldn't lift.

"The sword feels heavy, doesn't it?" The soldier stepped back a few paces, trying to maintain a distance from Yang Genini. "I suggest you put the sword down first. If it falls and cuts your foot, it will negatively impact your subsequent condition."

No sooner had he spoken than Yang Genini's sword dropped to the ground. Although the blade didn't cut his foot, he bent down to pick it up, but his fingers couldn't exert any strength.

The soldier advised, "You don't have much time left. Don't waste it on meaningless things. In the next minute or so, you will still be conscious. Please allow me to use this precious time to explain your condition. Your hands will quickly lose their mobility, but that's not important because your actions will then primarily rely on your legs and teeth. Although you will lose consciousness, as a Tu Fang soldier, you will still maintain a good combat state. You will run, and run very fast. You will tear and bite anyone you see, friend or foe. Those you bite will become like you: their hands will lose function, but their legs and jaw function will be enhanced. They will run faster, bite harder, and spread the same affliction to more people."

Yang Genini lunged at Cui Tik, intending to fight him to the death.

Cui Tik dodged aside. "I warned you not to do anything futile. Biting me is useless; I already carry the affliction. Go over there, to the tents. Many people are waiting for you there; they are your targets."

Yang Genini looked at the tents, then at the soldier before him. He tried to shout, but no sound escaped his throat.

Cui Tik apologized deeply. "I forgot to mention, after the onset of the disease, you will lose the ability to speak, but I don't think that's very important either."

Yang Genini lunged at Cui Tik several times but couldn't even touch Cui Tik's battle attire. His consciousness gradually blurred. He didn't want to rush into the soldiers' tents; he chose to rush towards the campfire, intending to end his own life, but Cui Tik stopped him.

"Don't be in a hurry to die. You only have three to five hours left to live. After that time, your body will rot away, but before you die, please do something meaningful. The meaning of your life is inside the tents."

Cui Tik guided Yang Genini into a tent.

A few minutes later, Cui Tik saw a group of soldiers with dangling arms rush out of the tent, mouths agape, searching for targets within the camp. Cui Tik bent down, let his own arms hang, imitated their movements, and ran wildly with the group of soldiers. This running posture was tiring, but Cui Tik enjoyed the joy of the moment. He turned to a soldier and whispered, "This technique is called Oral Transmission of Heart's Teaching. You must use your mouth and your inner fighting spirit to spread the affliction. Will you remember the name of this technique? I have good news for you: with three Sky-Tier techniques, I can advance to a higher level!"

***

Thirty miles from the vanguard camp stood a granary, filled with large quantities of grain. Unlike Shang Nation, the Tu Fang people's staple food was mostly grains, which were edible in Prozhou as well.

The Peddler sighed softly. "The Tu Fang Nation's grain supply is diminishing. It's truly not easy to fill such a large granary."

Aiyi also sighed. "It's not easy, indeed. Or perhaps I could help them transport the grain to Gourd Village for safekeeping?"

The Peddler shook his head. "Don't be ridiculous. How long would it take to move a granary this size?"

Aiyi, a little helpless, said, "Very well, let's proceed then." She took out thirty catties of explosives from her bag, muttering under her breath as she handled them.

The Peddler felt uneasy. "Are you sure this thing will work? I put a lot of effort into finding this granary and camp."

"Don't worry," Aiyi smiled triumphantly. "Li Qi used this very good stuff to blow up the altar in Haocheng."

Concerned about potential issues with Cui Tik's side, the Peddler urged Aiyi, "Is this ready yet?"

"It is!" Aiyi nodded. "It'll explode in the blink of an eye!"

The Peddler stared. "Explode in the blink of an eye?"

"Mm-hmm!" Aiyi winked at the Peddler, revealing a sweet smile.