Chapter 795: Deceiving Cultivation Methods

He Jiaqing quickly removed the copper coins from his body with nimble fingers. The way the copper coins struck, with such peculiar precision, surely indicated Mr. Kong Fang's involvement.

He Jiaqing cupped his hands and asked, "Senior, what offense have I committed?"

"Offense? You still ask that at this point? It seems you are completely unrepentant."

He Jiaqing could hear Mr. Kong Fang's voice but couldn't see his figure. Reflecting, He Jiaqing genuinely couldn't recall having offended Mr. Kong Fang. He had once considered joining forces against Boss Lu but later withdrew upon realizing his own limitations. Could that truly be considered an offense?

"If a deal doesn't work out, we should part ways amicably. I haven't done anything to wrong you, Senior."

"Haven't wronged me? I founded the Hundred Flowers Sect, and you nearly wiped out my organization. How should that debt be settled?"

He Jiaqing's heart lurched. The Hundred Flowers Sect was founded by Mr. Kong Fang?

Hidden in the shadows, Li Banfeng touched the Judge's Brush. "Is this true?" he whispered. His voice was so faint that no one else could hear him.

The Judge's Brush trembled in response, "Shameless!"

He Jiaqing also trembled. He knew full well how he had treated the Hundred Flowers Sect. If it truly was founded by Mr. Kong Fang, the grudge between them would be profound.

Considering their respective strengths, He Jiaqing couldn't defeat Kong Fang even under normal circumstances. Now that he was injured, he certainly wouldn't be his match. Since there was no chance of victory, it was futile to resist. He Jiaqing decided to yield first.

"Senior, there is no real animosity between the Hundred Flowers Sect and me. Those past conflicts stemmed from my personal feud with Zhang Xiuling. Now, the Hundred Flowers Sect is under my administration, with abundant resources and thriving members. I have not let down your efforts, Senior."

Hearing this, the Judge's Brush trembled even more violently. "This is even more shameless!"

From within the night, Mr. Kong Fang's laughter echoed. "Hahaha, He Jiaqing, what did you mean by that? You are young and accomplished, and you've made my Hundred Flowers Sect prosper in both people and wealth. Should I perhaps commend you for that?"

He Jiaqing shook his head and replied, "I wouldn't dare, Senior. It was my oversight that offended you. Tomorrow, I will return the Hundred Flowers Sect to Zhang Xiuling and publicly apologize before all the major sects in Puro Province."

"You speak so lightly. What if, one day, I let Zhang Xiuling push you to a dead end, then she turns around and swallows your Hand-Foot Alliance, ruins it, and then returns it to you? Would you be willing then?"

He Jiaqing thought for a moment, then said, "I am willing to offer compensation. Please name a figure, Senior."

"Compensation? You dare to suggest that? The Hundred Flowers Sect may not be as wealthy as your He family, but I also have Snowflake Haven supporting me. Do you think I lack money?"

He Jiaqing had dealt with Feng Chongli before. At that time, Feng Chongli was almost driven to his death by Zhang Gunli over a debt, which suggested that Snowflake Haven was not particularly wealthy. However, Mr. Kong Fang was not asking for money now, and He Jiaqing was at a loss for what else to offer.

"Then please name your price, Senior."

"That's more like it. I hear you possess thirteen territories in the New Lands."

He Jiaqing's heart turned cold. This was a price he could never accept.

"Senior, who told you this?"

"Never mind who told me. Just answer if it's true."

He Jiaqing shook his head. "Those thirteen territories are not mine."

"I know they aren't yours in name. Those thirteen territories originally belonged to the Merchant Kingdom. You killed the thirteen local gods and established a new one. Although the local god is still not you, these territories are effectively under your control. I'm not mistaken, am I?"

He Jiaqing couldn't hide his surprise. He hadn't expected Mr. Kong Fang to have investigated the matter so thoroughly. Since things had come to this, there was no point in hiding it any longer. He Jiaqing decided to speak truthfully.

"I have poured countless efforts into those thirteen territories. Please don't make things difficult for me, Senior."

"Why are you telling me this? What does your effort have to do with me? I'm telling you to hand over those thirteen territories to me as compensation right now!"

He Jiaqing's face showed a hint of murderous intent. "I have risked my life time and again only to obtain these thirteen territories. There is no way I will hand them over." A voice replied, "You don't have to. Since you are someone who values wealth over life, I will simply let you leave your life here instead."

In the night sky, a scroll trembled, and thousands of petals flew, surrounding He Jiaqing. Looking at the scroll, He Jiaqing called out, "Senior Mu, you are here too! When you joined the Hand-Foot Alliance, did you forget the oath you made?"

From within the night sky, Mu Yuejuan's voice replied, "Jiaqing, I have never forgotten my oath. Asking you to hand over the territories now was, in fact, originally the Hand-Foot Alliance's command."

He Jiaqing was furious upon hearing this. "Whose command?" he demanded.

"Don't you know whose orders the Hand-Foot Alliance follows? This is the Heavenly Maiden's command. She said you couldn't hold onto these thirteen new territories, and she also wants you to hand them over."

Hearing this, He Jiaqing gritted his teeth.

Li Banfeng chuckled inwardly, muttering, "Shameless!"

The Heavenly Maiden's soul was in the Portable Abode. The Heavenly Maiden's body was split into two halves, one on the clouds above Gourd Village and the other on the clouds above Greenwater City. Who could have given Mu Yuejuan that order? This was clearly nonsense.

The current situation was now very clear. Mr. Kong Fang, Ai Yeqing, claimed to have retired, but in reality, he hadn't. He was still secretly stirring up trouble. He impersonated the Hundred Flowers God, instigating a conflict between Ma Wu and He Jiaqing. His goal was to seize He Jiaqing's territories and then frame Ma Wu. If Ma Wu was framed, Li Qi would inevitably be implicated. Ai Yeqing would then seize the opportunity to not only reclaim the underground city but also make a significant profit.

Mu Yuejuan was Ai Yeqing's accomplice. Joining the Hand-Foot Alliance was merely a facade; in reality, she was still secretly working for Ai Yeqing. It was also Ai Yeqing who had stolen Ma Wu's hamstrings. When Mu Yuejuan returned them to Ma Wu, the blame would then fall on He Jiaqing. What Ai Yeqing intended to do now was first trick He Jiaqing into relinquishing the territories, then kill him to silence him. His skill in deception was truly masterful; he had managed to orchestrate such a grand scheme.

Li Banfeng had deduced the logic very clearly, but the Judge's Brush suddenly spoke. "That's not right," it said.

"What's not right?"

"The painting is wrong," the Judge's Brush replied. "This doesn't look like Mu Yuejuan's painting style."

The painting it referred to was the one floating in the night sky; all the petals and copper coins had emerged from it. Li Banfeng carefully examined the scroll. "I have extensive knowledge of painting," he said. "How could this not be Mu Yuejuan's style?"

The Judge's Brush observed for a while longer without reaching a definitive conclusion. "Mu Yuejuan's painting style is varied," it said. "Perhaps I was mistaken."

From within the night, Mr. Kong Fang's voice came again. "He Jiaqing, I already know you intend to go to Bitter Vegetable Village. Even if I let you go there now, Old Woman Ku will still make you hand over the territories. We are old acquaintances; for the sake of our past connection, I will spare your life. Give me the territories, and I will let you leave."

He Jiaqing stood in the wilderness, looking at the distant mountains and forests, then at the withered grass at his feet. The landscape of the New Lands was always desolate, but his territories were different because eighty percent of them had already been cultivated. He closed his eyes, and before him appeared the sight of those thirteen new territories. There was light, abundant light, continuous light illuminating vast stretches of land, and continuous water sources sustaining many people. He Jiaqing opened his eyes. The light vanished, and the people vanished.

He looked up at the scroll in mid-air. "For these territories, I have risked my life repeatedly. Even the Peddler agreed to give them to me. Senior, are you just going to forcibly take them from me like this, and not fear the Peddler's wrath?"

"He Jiaqing, I'll tell you again: Snowflake Haven stands behind me, and its Haven Master is the Peddler himself! If the Peddler thinks I've done something wrong, I will return the territories to you. If you are not convinced, you can always go to the Peddler and complain about me!"

Li Banfeng smiled. He had told so many lies that he even started to believe them himself. Snowflake Haven and the Peddler were completely unrelated. If He Jiaqing really