Chapter 770: If Wrong?

The Dark Star Bureau building has thirty-six floors, and the campus supermarket has thirty-six lockers. Is this a coincidence?

Li Banfeng and Mu Yuejuan fought on the thirty-sixth floor, and this black snake inexplicably appeared in locker number thirty-six. This can no longer be explained by coincidence.

Thinking back to the fight, Li Banfeng once used his "Galloping Horse Viewing Flowers" technique to blast the black snakes off Mu Yuejuan, sending them flying everywhere. If there's some connection between the Dark Star Bureau and the campus supermarket lockers, is it possible one of those snakes was blown into a locker?

But at that time, even Mu Yuejuan couldn't escape the "Wisteria Pine Overlapping Shadow Diagram," so what were the chances of a snake being blown out of it?

Mu Yuejuan might have initially fought with Old Locomotive, a Gongsian cultivator. She used the black snakes, and Old Locomotive somehow sent them into the lockers.

What exactly is the relationship between the lockers and the Dark Star Bureau? Is this Old Locomotive's Gongsian technique, the Heavenly Maiden's skill, or perhaps a technological product of the Dark Star Bureau?

Li Banfeng looked towards the campus supermarket, then towards the Dark Star Bureau. As he pondered, the projector delivered a simple phone.

The call was from Ba Suan: "Seventh Master, over a dozen passenger ships have entered Dingye City. Based on their draft, we estimate they're carrying about fifty thousand soldiers."

"Fifty thousand?" Li Banfeng was startled. "Is that accurate?"

"I can't say for sure, only a rough estimate. Their passenger ships are heavily guarded, so we can't get close, and we're not certain if they're carrying soldiers. It could also be military equipment and provisions."

If they truly are soldiers, that's bad news. Fifty thousand Wavebreaker Army soldiers would be difficult to defeat, even with a surprise attack, and these are just the new recruits, not counting the Wavebreaker Barracks' previous strength.

Before these fifty thousand new recruits are fully trained, they need to urge A'yi to act sooner.

Back at his Portable Residence, Li Banfeng handed Teacher Song's notes to his wife.

Zhao Xiaowan flipped through a couple of pages, just starting to get interested, when Li Banfeng said, "Wife, we need to finalize the deal with A'yi quickly. The Wavebreaker Barracks just got fifty thousand new troops. If we don't act soon, we'll lose our chance."

"Fifty thousand troops?" Zhao Xiaowan was skeptical. "How many royal families does the Shang Kingdom have in total? They can't possibly send them all, can they?"

Li Banfeng replied, "I think it's highly possible they'll send everyone. Although Qiao Yi himself is from the royal family, other royal members are both useful tools and potential obstacles to him."

Zhao Xiaowan's fingertip gently traced a record, and a soothing erhu melody began to play.

Pondering for a moment amidst the music, Zhao Xiaowan nodded slightly: "You're right, husband. Only royal family members can prevent Qiao Yi from becoming emperor.

Sending all royal members to war means disobedient ones can die on the battlefield, while obedient ones can earn military merits and attain high positions. Qiao Yi stands to gain immensely from this.

He'd conquer Puluo Prefecture externally and pave the way for his ascension to emperor internally. That's a clever calculation."

Li Banfeng said, "I want to go to Dingye City tomorrow. If all goes well, we'll wipe out the Wavebreaker Barracks. If not,

we'll at least scout it out first."

Zhao Xiaowan shook her head. "You said before that you had a ten-day agreement with A'yi. Less than half that time has passed.

If we rush A'yi like this, things are bound to go wrong. If she opens an underdeveloped path, and you force your way in, it could be very dangerous."

Li Banfeng said, "If we don't act now, the Wavebreaker Barracks might become fully formed."

Hong Ying thought Li Banfeng was overthinking it: "It shouldn't be that fast. Didn't you say before that for the Wavebreaker Army to be combat-ready,

the three-headed people need to cultivate? Cultivation isn't that easy to achieve, and even with those outer-prefecture elixirs, a few days wouldn't be enough."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "We don't know when Qiao Yi gave them their cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Jiu'er nodded repeatedly: "A'qi is right. These royal family members might only be in Dingye City for military training.

Their cultivation might have been accumulating for a long time, perhaps even reaching certain levels already."

Hong Ying, a renowned general herself, understood the situation perfectly: "If that's the case, then things are difficult. Simple formation drills aren't hard, and a few days of practice might indeed be enough."

Li Banfeng looked towards the depths of his Portable Residence. Zhao Xiaowan understood that he intended to send out the television.

"Husband, have you considered the consequences of actually giving Yuan Miaoping to A'yi?"

Li Banfeng had been considering this recently: "A'yu will maintain contact with A'yi, and they'll coordinate to rescue the Heavenly Maiden and A'yu."

Zhao Xiaowan continued, "Husband, do you know what the consequences would be if the Heavenly Maiden gets out?"

Li Banfeng said, "It might change the entire situation in Puluo Prefecture, but with the Heavenly Maiden under A'yu and A'yi's restrictions, the situation should be controllable."

Jiu'er nodded beside him: "Even though there's some friction between my mother, my sister, and me, I trust their character. They can control the Heavenly Maiden and won't let Puluo Prefecture suffer. I think A'qi is right."

Li Banfeng heard the Old Master's voice: "Even if Lai Wuju and Hong Lian are under our control, they can't cause much trouble.

Therefore, giving the television to A'yi truly won't have serious consequences. The Portable Residence agrees with this view."

But his wife's opinion was different. She turned to Hong Ying: "Yingying, what do you think?"

Hong Ying considered for a moment and said, "I think Xiaowan is right."

Zhao Xiaowan grabbed a board. "I haven't even said anything yet, and you're already saying I'm right!"

Hong Ying chuckled, "Whatever you say, I think it's right."

Zhao Xiaowan looked at Li Banfeng and said, "Husband, you and Jiu'er are both treating Yuan Miaoping as just a television."

Hong Ying interjected, "Isn't she a television?"

Zhao Xiaowan gave Hong Ying a look. "She's the matriarch of Electro-Cultivation, an outsider who established a sect in Puluo Prefecture. You're all underestimating her.

Jiu'er, you also called her a seasoned veteran before, but you didn't consider: if she truly falls into A'yi's hands, would she be content to be just a communication tool?

Husband, Luo Zhengnan is your capable assistant. You should know how powerful Electro-Cultivation techniques are. Once the Heavenly Maiden is released,

no one knows who Yuan Miaoping might contact.

Behind her stand the Hand and Foot Alliance, the entire Electro-Cultivation Dao sect, possibly people from other prefectures, and even people from the inner prefecture.

After A'yi rescues the Heavenly Maiden and A'yu, it's uncertain whether they will be under A'yi's control or Yuan Miaoping's. If the Heavenly Maiden truly falls under Yuan Miaoping's control, the situation in Puluo Prefecture could become unpredictable."

Li Banfeng suddenly realized; he had indeed been deceived by Yuan Miaoping's appearance.

"But if we don't give Yuan Miaoping to A'yi, what can we offer her as payment?"

Hong Ying said, "Aren't Xiaowan and A'yi sworn sisters? Xiaowan even said before that this could be discussed."

Xiaowan smiled, remaining silent.

Hong Ying then looked at Jiu'er: "If sworn sisters won't do, aren't there actual sisters?"

Jiu'er lowered her head and said, "I can't persuade her either."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Regardless of whether they're blood sisters or sworn sisters, there's no reason to ask someone to do something for free. Dingye City is heavily guarded; even the Baiji Alliance couldn't find a way in.

Without A'yi's help, we absolutely can't enter Dingye City. Then we'd just have to wait for the Wavebreaker Barracks to attack. How could Puluo Prefecture resist tens of thousands of Wavebreaker Army soldiers? And we wouldn't even know where they'd attack from."

Zhao Xiaowan understood the stakes: "If we want to talk to A'yi, we absolutely need to agree on a price. Since she's doing this to rescue A'yu, if we can't agree on another payment, we'll just help her rescue A'yu."

Li Banfeng looked at Zhao Xiaowan.

Before saying this, Zhao Xiaowan had carefully considered it: "Husband, if both the Heavenly Maiden and A'yu are released, the situation in Puluo Prefecture will definitely change drastically. Rather than leaving the situation to others, it's better to control it ourselves."

Jiu'er was shocked to hear this: "That's the Heavenly Maiden! Can we really control her?"

Zhao Xiaowan said, "You alone, husband, might not be enough. Our entire family must work together to find a way."

After speaking, his wife looked at Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng put on his top hat, pulling the brim low.

That afternoon, Li Banfeng used his "Chain-Connecting Bridal Chamber" technique to bring Zhao Xiaowan and Jiu'er out of the Portable Residence, taking them to Gourd Village.

They were met at the village entrance by A'yun. Seeing Zhao Xiaowan and Jiu'er, A'yun asked Li Banfeng, "Seventh Brother, did you clear this with the Village Chief?"

Li Banfeng shook his head slightly.

A'yun said, "Bringing people into Gourd Village without permission isn't allowed."

"I'll explain to the Village Chief; it won't involve you at all."

If it were anyone else, A'yun would definitely have refused, but she knew that A'yi and Li Banfeng were sworn siblings.

After much hesitation, A'yun led the three into the village. They waited for a while downstairs at the Village Chief's house before A'yi emerged, covered in grease.

She walked out from the building.

Standing before the three, A'yi glanced at them and said, "Oh, all three sisters are here."

Li Banfeng specifically emphasized, "I'm the brother."

Jiu'er hid behind Li Qi. A'yi chuckled, "Why are you hiding? If you didn't want to see me, why did you come to the village?"

Zhao Xiaowan smiled, "Since we're here, it must be because we missed you."

A'yi's face lit up with joy. "All three of you missed me?"

Zhao Xiaowan nodded repeatedly, "Yes, we all missed you."

"Miss me for what? What's there to miss?" A'yi suddenly stopped smiling. She looked at Li Banfeng and asked, "You're trying to default on our agreement, aren't you?"

Before Li Banfeng could speak, A'yi turned to Zhao Xiaowan and Jiu'er: "And you two are here to help him default, aren't you?"

Her words left Li Banfeng speechless.

They had always dealt with each other honestly during their long acquaintance.

But today, Li Banfeng dared not meet A'yi's eyes.

Zhao Xiaowan said, "We're not trying to default; we want to negotiate a different price with you."

"A price?" A'yi laughed. "Won't talking about a price make us strangers? Today, brother is here, and two sisters are here. Why don't the four of us become sworn siblings?"

Zhao Xiaowan held Li Banfeng's arm. "This is my husband. It wouldn't be appropriate for us to become sworn siblings."

A'yi felt her words sounded distant: "What's inappropriate about it? My mother and father were also sworn siblings."

Zhao Xiaowan sighed, "Our temperaments are probably not that uninhibited yet."

"Refusing to become sworn siblings means disrespecting me. If you're disrespecting me, why come to my village? Do you think I'm easy to bully?" A'yi still smiled, but a hint of coldness appeared in her eyes.

Li Banfeng felt danger approaching. The dust on the ground rippled up and down like water.

In the cornfield, a "man" adorned with corn leaves, carrying a corn stalk, and with corn silk for a beard, walked up to A'yi.

This person, who resembled a corn cob, was actually made of stone, a first-grade weapon used by the Inner Prefecture to guard the Hao Prefecture altar.

A'yi was ready to fight.

With a clanging of gongs and drums, his wife sang an Erhuang original board tune: "How can Dragon Spring's roar in the starry wilderness compare to the old Peach Garden Oath? Bloody fingerprints on the golden orchid scroll, sword tassels entwined in a lovers' knot. Has this friendship truly been forgotten?"

After the song, the previously enraged Corn Man calmed down considerably, and the rippling dust settled back onto the ground.

A'yi tilted her head, looking expressionlessly at Zhao Xiaowan: "You come to bully me, yet you speak of friendship? Men are no good, and women are no good either!"

Li Banfeng lowered his head, silent. He was in the wrong first.

Zhao Xiaowan said, "Husband, our sisterly matters have nothing to do with you!"

"Well said!" A'yi roared. "If it has nothing to do with him, then make him leave!"

As her words fell, A'yi waved her hand, and the scenery around Li Banfeng suddenly changed.

The Village Chief's building was gone, and the surrounding farmland had vanished.

Li Banfeng stood on a road, able to see passing pedestrians and vehicles.

Gourd Village was, after all, A'yi's territory. Li Banfeng, feeling guilty and unprepared, was simply sent out of the village by A'yi and returned to Yuezhou City.

He clutched his jade pendant, intending to return to Gourd Village, but this time, the village entrance didn't appear.

Li Banfeng took out his key to return to his Portable Residence.

He had a house in Gourd Village and could use the "Chain-Connecting Bridal Chamber" technique to return to it.

Before the door to the Portable Residence even opened, the projector delivered the simple phone: "Director Qi, it's Qin Tianjiu. Judging by his tone, something major has happened."

Li Banfeng answered the call. Qin Tianjiu, panting, said, "Seventh Brother, the brothers at Yaowang Ravine sent word. They saw people from the Inner Prefecture in the outer ravine!"

"How many people?"

"Still not sure. I'm rushing to Yaowang Ravine with the brothers, but I don't know if we can beat them!"

Yaowang Ravine has iron-tendon bamboo, which is a raw material for refining Daoist medicinal powder. For the entire Puluo Prefecture, this is a crucial location.

But why did the Inner Prefecture choose this time to attack Yaowang Ravine?

Was this done by the Shang Kingdom or the Tufang Kingdom?

Little Fatty's information was limited; he didn't know the enemy's combat strength yet.

Xu Han was still in Baijun Commandery. Yaowang Ravine was currently defended by Qiao Wuzui, "Half-Bowl Yellow Soup." Li Banfeng wasn't very familiar with Qiao Wuzui and didn't know if he was capable.

Should he go to Yaowang Ravine to check?

What about the situation at Gourd Village?

Or should he find a way to inform Xu Han and have him return to Bitter Mist Mountain?

Li Banfeng was still weighing his options when the phone rang again. It was Qiu Zhiheng: "Old Seven, Baijun Commandery is under attack! The Inner Prefecture has sent troops!"

They attacked?

Qiao Yi acted so quickly?

The Wavebreaker Barracks completed their training so fast?

Li Banfeng's head felt numb. Could it be that he had acted too late?

"How many did the Inner Prefecture send?"

Qiu Zhiheng replied, "The number is unknown for now. Tan Jinxiao has gone to reinforce them, and I'm gathering people to go as well."

Old Xu and Zhang Wanlong were in Baiji Commandery, but if tens of thousands of Wavebreaker Army soldiers arrived at once, could they hold them off?

Should he go to Baijun Commandery first?

Why did these two things happen at the same time?

Why did both calls come in at the same time?

Actually, Qin Tianjiu and Qiu Zhiheng had been trying to call Li Banfeng repeatedly. He was in the Portable Residence earlier, then went to Gourd Village, so the calls couldn't connect.

Yaowang Ravine first or Baijun Commandery first? Li Banfeng hadn't decided where to go when the phone rang again. This time it was Luo Zhengnan: "Seventh Master, my brother stationed in Suihuang Plain sent word that people from the Inner Prefecture have invaded."

Yao Lao and a group of Ironbone Seeds were in Suihuang Plain. It was unclear if the Ironbone Seeds were formidable enough yet. If it was the Wavebreaker Barracks, could they withstand them?

He had to go to Suihuang Plain first!

But Suihuang Plain wasn't easily accessible; it was too remote. Li Banfeng was still in Yuezhou and thought for a while,

but couldn't think of a suitable route.

He'd try traveling to Suihuang Plain using his Portable Residence to see if he could get there.

The phone rang again, and Li Banfeng felt a wave of dizziness.

Qiao Yi, where exactly do you plan to strike?

Li Banfeng answered the phone: "What now?"

"What 'what now'?"

"Where's the trouble this time?"

"What trouble?"

"Who is this?"

"I'm your senior brother!"

Li Banfeng was startled; it was the Peddler calling. This was the first time he'd heard the Peddler's voice over the phone.

Was it really the Peddler?

That didn't make sense!

"How could you possibly call this number?"

The Peddler said, "Why couldn't I? It's just electro-cultivation; it's not some particularly sophisticated technique."

Li Banfeng was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "I used to be your senior brother, do you remember?"

The Peddler replied, "That beating at Iron Gate Fortress was still too light."

Confirming it was indeed the Peddler, Li Banfeng said, "Something's happened at Yaowang Ravine, and at Baijun Commandery and Suihuang Plain too. I'm planning to go to Suihuang Plain—"

"Don't go to Suihuang Plain yet. Focus on the task at hand. How are your negotiations with A'yi going?"

Li Banfeng was surprised: "You know about this?"

"I know. I have an operative in Gourd Village. Settle things with her, take down the Wavebreaker Barracks, and deploy troops according to your agreed time. Don't act hastily. I've found you helpers; they'll assist you when the fighting begins."

"But right now..."

"Don't worry about current events, brother. The Wavebreaker Barracks is the big issue. The Tufang Kingdom has moved against us first, and I can't break away. Otherwise, I'd deal with the Wavebreaker Barracks myself.

Qiao Yi has invested heavily this time. He's creating all these distractions because he doesn't want Puluo Prefecture to settle down. He wants to conceal his true strength.

If you can deplete his resources, you can break his backbone, and he'll never dare to easily interfere with Puluo Prefecture again.

It won't be easy to accomplish this. You must not get distracted. I've suffered from distraction before. As long as none of us are distracted now, we can win this war."

The Peddler was about to hang up when Li Banfeng suddenly called out, "Senior Brother, what if I release the Heavenly Maiden? I mean, *if*—"

He had to tell the Peddler about this.

Even if the Peddler turned hostile, he needed to know. Li Banfeng couldn't let him bear all the consequences alone.

"Let her out, then."

He expected the Peddler to be furious, but his reply was remarkably calm.

"Senior Brother, once the Heavenly Maiden is out, it might be disadvantageous for you."

"Brother, she was meant to be released. Trapped in the outer prefecture, who knows what might happen in the future?

Especially at this critical juncture, if your ambush fails, and the outer prefecture betrays us, forcing her to withdraw the border, and the Inner Prefecture brings in the Wavebreaker Army along with their first-grade weapons, it'll be difficult for us to fight back.

For so many years, regardless of right or wrong, or her true intentions, she has been protecting Puluo Prefecture. We can't let her remain in darkness forever."

"But they say you two will fight to the death as soon as you meet. I don't know if that rumor is true or false."

The Peddler said, "That rumor is true. We've been avoiding it for so long; we can't hide forever. It's better to have a resolution."

A sudden cold wind blew, and Li Banfeng shivered: "What if I make a mistake?

"With something this big, who can guarantee everything will be perfectly right? It doesn't matter if you make a mistake, as long as it's not too big. I'll find a way to fix it. If anyone blames you, put all the blame on me."

The Peddler hung up the phone.

The wind grew fiercer, and Li Banfeng stood in it for a moment.

He was about to return to his Portable Residence to use the "Chain-Connecting Bridal Chamber" to go to Gourd Village when he suddenly saw the entrance to Gourd Village appear on the street.

A'yun, smiling, waved at Li Banfeng.

Inside the Village Chief's small building, A'yi rubbed the bruises on her face and poured Zhao Xiaowan a bowl of wine: "If you had explained things clearly earlier, we wouldn't have had such a fight!"

Zhao Xiaowan wiped the blood from her forehead: "We're all sisters; a spar now and then is no big deal."

A'yi raised her wine bowl and said, "Sister, I like your straightforwardness. I don't trust Yuan Miaoping either, and now that you're willing to help, I feel much more at ease."

Zhao Xiaowan smiled broadly, but secretly sighed: *You're at ease, but we have a lot more to do on our end.*

Since no other price could be agreed upon, ultimately, they still had to help A'yi rescue her mother.

A'yi looked at Jiu'er and said, "Xiao Yu, we're rescuing our mother and our eldest sister. Xiaowan is helping out, so why aren't you saying anything?"

Jiu'er glared at A'yi and said, "What's there to say to you? You hit so hard, you knocked out my tooth."

A'yi pinched Jiu'er's cheek: "We've been fighting since we were little. Are you still holding a grudge? Besides, this is just your puppet body, and it doesn't seem very well-made. Next time, I'll make you a good one!"

The mention of puppets reminded Zhao Xiaowan of something: "A'yi, you're a master of Gongsian cultivation; your skills are no worse than Eighteen Wheels'.

Currently, Eighteen Wheels' soul is incomplete, and his Gongsian physique is also incomplete. Part of his Gongsian body was taken by the Travel Cultivators. As long as we get you into the Dark Star Bureau, you should be able to unravel his Gongsian technique."

A'yi chuckled, "Sister, you flatter me. Who told you my Gongsian techniques are no worse than Old Locomotive's?"

"I've heard many people say that."

A'yi shook her head. "That rumor is false. Eighteen Wheels dislikes Gongsian cultivation, but his mastery of it is too profound. Among living Gongsian cultivators, no one can compare to him.

Even though his Gongsian physique is incomplete, we truly can't confront him head-on to rescue my mother. Since you want to help me, you must have already thought of a plan, right?"