Chapter 816: Curse Gu Ruins

Mo Xiang Shop, Lu Family Bookstore.

Boss Lu first brewed tea, then heated some wine. He poured a cup of hot tea and a cup of hot wine for Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng took a sip of the hot wine, warming his heart and stomach. Then he drank some hot tea, which cleared his mind and refreshed him.

Boss Lu sighed, "Those old seniors are probably still quite annoying."

"No, I think they're rather nice. You know about this too?"

Boss Lu pulled out a newspaper and handed it to Li Banfeng. The headline on the front page read, "Heroes Gather at Mo Xiang Shop: What's the Fuss About All the Infighting?"

"Mo Xiang Weekly again?" Li Banfeng carefully flipped through the newspaper. "This Shao Yingzhen person is really well-informed."

"He hasn't always been this well-informed," Boss Lu said, bringing over several past issues of Mo Xiang Weekly and highlighting a few articles for Li Banfeng.

After reading these articles, Li Banfeng's impression of Shao Yingzhen worsened considerably.

"Deep and Tragic Love" recounted the story between Li Banfeng and Chu Huaiyuan. The article contained extensive descriptions of intimate details between the two, some behaviors of which were beyond Li Banfeng's comprehension.

"Mother and Daughter's Tears of Blood" described the unusual romance between Lu Chunying, Xiao Yeci, and Li Qi. A particular dialogue from Lu Chunying was specially marked by Boss Lu: "Xiao Yeci, I must kill you. If you die, I will only lose my mother. If you live, I will lose love!"

"Deep and Bitter Hatred" narrated an "utter absurdity!" Li Banfeng nearly tore the newspaper. It was about an impossible relationship between Li Banfeng and Shan Chengjun.

Boss Lu quickly intervened, "Seventh Master, I'm keeping these newspapers for my collection."

"Is this even worth collecting?" Li Banfeng pointed at the articles in the newspaper. "You can find this sort of stuff everywhere in Black Stone Slope. Is it popular in Mo Xiang Shop now too?"

Boss Lu shook his head. "This has never been popular in Mo Xiang Shop. It's not that his stories are bad; it's because his writing is terrible."

Li Banfeng corrected him, "His stories aren't good either!"

Boss Lu explained, "Mo Xiang Shop prefers 'Adding Fragrance to Ci Poems,' 'Embroidered Frost Collection,' and 'Jade Fragrance Record.' It's fine if the stories are a bit vulgar, but the writing shouldn't be so blunt. Seventh Master is right, this kind of newspaper belongs in Black Stone Slope, not Mo Xiang Shop. I've investigated Shao Yingzhen; he has little experience in the newspaper business. Mo Xiang Weekly wasn't originally his venture. After he took it over, sales plummeted in less than two months because Mo Xiang Shop doesn't like fabricated news. What he's doing is out of desperation. Given his current connections in Puro Province, it's hard for him to gather valuable news material, so he can only apply his fabrication skills from Black Stone Slope to Mo Xiang Shop. Yet, precisely during this period, his newspaper office has produced so much genuine content. Seventh Master, you should carefully consider the reason behind this."

Li Banfeng took three teacups and arranged them in a circle on the coffee table.

"Inner Province instructed Shan Chengjun to seize Mo Xiang Shop. Shao Yingzhen must have received information from Inner Province to know the full story of the incident."

Boss Lu placed another teacup on the coffee table. "Given Shao Yingzhen's current capabilities, he has no way of obtaining intelligence from Inner Province, unless he has been bought by Inner Province and is working for them."

Li Banfeng stared at the four teacups, finding it contradictory. "Inner Province has Shan Chengjun doing something, but then has Shao Yingzhen leaking information? What's the purpose of that? Isn't that undermining themselves?"

Boss Lu tapped one of the teacups. "Shao Yingzhen lured a group of old seniors to Mo Xiang Shop. They'll constantly covet the position of the local deity from now on. Perhaps this is Inner Province's objective. Mo Xiang Shop is crucial to the rise and fall of Puro Province's cultural heritage. There might be some of Qiao Yi's subordinates among this group, trying to take advantage of the chaos to bring Mo Xiang Shop under Inner Province's control."

Li Banfeng moved the teacups aside. "Then we need to find a way to keep them far away from Mo Xiang Shop."

Boss Lu shook his head slightly. "Guarding against thieves for a thousand days isn't a good solution."

Li Banfeng put the teacups back into the tea set box directly. "What if we send all these old seniors back to their hometowns?"

Boss Lu bit on his pipe and took a puff. "I've thought about that too. Sending them all away at once would be difficult, but sending them off one by one wouldn't be so hard. However, I can't recall exactly how many old seniors there are in Puro Province. If we don't count carefully, some are bound to slip through the net. Furthermore, I believe there's definitely a leader among these old seniors. If we can't unearth this leader, Mo Xiang Shop will never have peace."

Li Banfeng was also contemplating this. "These few patriarchs didn't dare provoke Shan Chengjun, yet now they have the audacity to make trouble for me. There must be someone backing them. Who could it be? Is it Shu Wanjuan?"

Mo Xiang Shop, Mo Song Newspaper Office.

Shu Wanjuan threw the newspaper in front of Shao Yingzhen. "Was it also Master Qiao who ordered you to publicize the contents of the heroes' gathering?"

Shao Yingzhen nodded. "Without Master Qiao's command, how would I dare to act on my own initiative?"

Shu Wanjuan looked at Shao Yingzhen. This man's cultivation wasn't particularly high—a level six Martial Cultivator of the Earth Rank. His influence wasn't significant either, with only a few factories and a newspaper office under his command. Shu Wanjuan wondered how he had managed to curry favor with Qiao Yi. Moreover, Shao Yingzhen seemed to enjoy more of Qiao Yi's trust than Shu Wanjuan did. Ostensibly, Shao Yingzhen was working for Shu Wanjuan under Qiao Yi's orders, but in reality, Qiao Yi issued commands directly to Shao Yingzhen, completely bypassing Shu Wanjuan, which greatly displeased him. Shao Yingzhen's various actions also dissatisfied Shu Wanjuan. How could such a crucial matter as seizing Mo Xiang Shop be extensively publicized in a newspaper? However, since it was Qiao Yi's instruction, Shu Wanjuan couldn't say much. He held the newspaper, reading it over and over. When he reached the supplement, Shu Wanjuan frowned deeply; these stories were truly vulgar.

"Write fewer of these unsavory words from now on. Mo Xiang Shop is not Black Stone Slope!"

Shao Yingzhen repeatedly agreed, but despite his quick verbal assent, whether he would actually change was another matter.

Shu Wanjuan left the newspaper office and walked onto the streets of Mo Xiang Shop.

The streets of Mo Xiang Shop were not wide, but the buildings were elegant and unique. With heavy snow today, the streetscape appeared even more poetic.

By the roadside was a school building called Shushi Mountain House, a two-story pavilion. From the second floor came the disciplined sound of students reading aloud.

"Xihe drives the sun, the crow and rabbit chase light. The sea of learning has no bounds; a single reed can cross it. To sorrow in old age, is that not ignorance? The path to knowledge is winding and long."

Shu Wanjuan enjoyed listening to this, as they were reciting "Ode to Diligent Study," an excellent motivational piece he had left behind when he first established Mo Xiang Shop.

A boy, about ten years old, stood crying in the snow in front of the school. Shu Wanjuan approached him and asked, "Why are you crying?"

The boy held a book, looked up at Shu Wanjuan, and said, "I don't have money for a new book, so I brought an old one. My teacher said my recitation was wrong."

Shu Wanjuan opened the book in the boy's hand and carefully read "Ode to Diligent Study." Then he asked the boy, "Where did he say you recited it incorrectly?"

The boy pointed to a line of text: "Immortals in the Purple Palace, all burned oil to continue their studies; portraits in Lingyan Pavilion, none but those who chiseled holes for light. My teacher said these two lines aren't in 'Ode to Diligent Study' at all and told me to cross them out immediately. I saved money for a long time to buy this old book, and I couldn't bear to mark it, which angered the teacher, so he punished me by making me stand outside."

Shu Wanjuan frowned. "Take me to your teacher!"

The boy refused, wiping his tears. "I owe several months of tuition, and the teacher hasn't held it against me. It's only right that he punishes me."

Upon hearing this, Shu Wanjuan's frown softened slightly.

He went up the stairs to the second floor and, from a distance, wrote the character "倦" (weariness) in the air, causing it to fall upon the teacher.

The teacher suddenly felt a wave of weariness and told the students to review on their own. He planned to return to his room to wash his face and rest for a moment.

Upon returning to his bedroom, he saw a man sitting by his desk. Judging by his attire, he was dressed as a storyteller.

The teacher, startled, angrily demanded, "Who are you? How dare you trespass into my residence?"

Shu Wanjuan glanced at the teacher, who shivered. All his thoughts coalesced, then instantly dissipated, leaving only awe in his mind, nothing else.

He lowered his head, no longer daring to look directly at Shu Wanjuan.

Shu Wanjuan slowly said, "Immortals in the Purple Palace, all burned oil to continue their studies; portraits in Lingyan Pavilion, none but those who chiseled holes for light. These two lines are indeed from the original 'Ode to Diligent Study.' Later generations made errors in transcription, leading to incomplete text in existing versions. You made a conclusion without proper verification; you deserve to be punished!"

After speaking, Shu Wanjuan picked up a ruler and lightly struck the teacher's head twice.

After striking him, Shu Wanjuan continued, "You teach and impart knowledge without regard for personal gain or loss, which is a blessing for students from humble backgrounds. This also upholds my original intention in establishing Mo Xiang Shop. You deserve a reward!"

Shu Wanjuan took out a book, from which he poured out a wooden box, placing it on the table.

The teacher heard every word clearly. Upon hearing the phrase "established Mo Xiang Shop," he realized he had encountered an extraordinary individual.

He held his breath, not daring to make a sound. He felt that looking up was wrong, but not looking up was also wrong.

After a long wait, the teacher finally dared to raise his head, but he was alone in the room, and a box of silver coins was left on the table.

Shu Wanjuan sat in a teahouse by the street, drinking tea with Bloodfang Monster. Just then, Chang Jiuhai, the Ancestor of Demonic Cultivators, walked past on the street, with many ghost servants lingering around him.

Several ghost servants entered the school. Shu Wanjuan, holding his teacup, frowned deeply. "What exactly do these people want?"

Bloodfang Monster smiled. "What? Are you feeling sympathetic?"

Shu Wanjuan shook his head. "Their actions are so ostentatious; I'm afraid they'll attract the Peddler."

Bloodfang Monster put down her teacup, ate a preserved fruit, and stared at Shu Wanjuan. "Second Great King, don't think I can't see anything. When Old Shan wanted to take on this business, you kept putting obstacles in the way. I know you still have feelings for Mo Xiang Shop."

Shu Wanjuan remained silent.

Bloodfang Monster continued, "I don't care how much affection you have for it. And now that Old Shan is dead, I don't really care about that either. I just want to be a queen consort; it's all the same to me who I live with. We are supposed to trade Mo Xiang Shop for those thirteen territories and then establish ourselves as rulers. Just don't forget that. As for what these people are doing, it's none of our business. If they do something excessive, when the Peddler arrives, we can just use them as a shield. Wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?"

Shu Wanjuan looked at Bloodfang Monster. "Qiao Yi issued commands to Shao Yingzhen without going through me at all. This task concerning Mo Xiang Shop is no longer solely in my hands."

Bloodfang Monster chuckled. "Why bother with the task itself? Isn't it enough to just manage the business? Whoever controls Mo Xiang Shop has the capital. As long as Qiao Yi's price remains unchanged, we can continue this business."

Shu Wanjuan gazed at the snowy scene and murmured, "How many people has he truly promised this price to—"

Qiao Yi looked at the documents sent from Puro Province, his expression somewhat complex.

He was ninety percent satisfied with the outcome, yet he still felt that one percent was missing.

"The Peddler still hasn't appeared at Mo Xiang Shop?"

Nian Shangyou replied truthfully, "No trace of the Peddler has been found to date."

Qiao Yi picked up his brush, intending to draft a document, but after a moment of thought, he washed the tip and left it to dry on the pen rest.

Since the Peddler wasn't going to Mo Xiang Shop, Qiao Yi also didn't want to change his strategy.

Nian Shangyou also found it strange. The Peddler was neglecting Mo Xiang Shop; what was he busy with?

In Gourd Village, Ayi wiped the sweat from her forehead and told the Peddler, "Don't rush, slow down a bit more."

The Peddler held the snow cream bottle in his left hand and a probe in his right, his hands trembling. "How can I go any slower?"

"Just pick out a tiny bit, don't get too much. Too much makes it harder to distinguish."

The Peddler picked out a needle-tip-sized black shadow from the bottle and placed it into the glass bottle in Ayi's hand.

The black shadow slowly wriggled inside the glass bottle. Ayi quickly capped the bottle and told the Peddler, "You wait here, and don't you dare try to seduce my wife!"

The Peddler looked at Qiu Luoye, pursed his lips, and remained silent for a long moment.

Ayi carried the lunchbox and the glass bottle up to the clouds. Using the opportunity of delivering food, she handed the glass bottle to Ayu. Ayu examined it for a long time and then told Ayi, "That's right, this is a Void Yuan Silkworm. It's exactly the same as the one the Peddler gave you last time."

Ayi thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Big Sister, you must be mistaken. The Void Yuan Silkworm the Peddler brought last time was much bigger than this one."

Ayu looked for a moment longer. "This Void Yuan Silkworm is trapped by a special spell, preventing it from growing. As long as the spell is lifted and it's placed in a Void Yuan realm where it has something to eat, it will quickly grow to the size of a finger."

Ayi scratched her scalp. "What is a Void Yuan realm?"

Ayu impatiently said, "Go ask the Peddler; I'm starving!"

She opened the lunchbox, which contained a lamb leg and sazi noodles.

Ayu frowned. "Lamb leg again? Eating this every day is so tiresome. Can't you offer some variety?"

Ayi got angry. "You half-dead lingering spirit, you're still so picky about food."

Ayu smiled gently, lifted one leg, and kicked Ayi out of the house.

Ayi flew out of the second floor, landed on the ground, then scrambled to her feet, brushed off the dirt, and shouted towards the house, "You shrew! If I starve you for three days, anything will taste good!"

Back below the clouds, Ayi relayed the exact words to the Peddler.

The Peddler shook the snow cream bottle. "It really is a Void Yuan Silkworm! A speck the size of a needle tip is one. How many are hidden in the Great Totem?"

Previously, the Peddler had harvested a large area of black shadows from the center of the Great Totem. If they were all composed of Void Yuan Silkworms, their number would truly be inestimable.

Ayi was very curious. "What exactly is a Void Yuan Silkworm, and what is a Void Yuan realm?"

The Peddler explained, "At the beginning of Puro Province's creation, it was entirely a Void Yuan realm. It was only through gradual improvements that so many territories appeared. Even now, there are still Void Yuan realms in Puro Province, but they are extremely rare. Void Yuan Silkworms grow in Void Yuan realms. I can't explain their exact origin, but they can cause some disturbance to one's cultivation."

Ayi asked, "What kind of disturbance?"

The Peddler recalled carefully, "As far as I know, once a Void Yuan Silkworm is consumed, five out of ten people will experience slight fluctuations in their cultivation, though not significant. Two out of ten will show clear improvements, while three out of ten will suffer noticeable losses in cultivation. There are also a very few individuals who will lose all their cultivation, and an equally small number who will see rapid advancements."

Ayi blinked her eyes. "What do you mean by 'rapid advancements'?"

"I heard of someone whose cultivation leaped from Earth Rank to Cloud Rank in a short period."

Ayi snatched the snow cream bottle. "Then let me try it!"

The Peddler snatched the bottle back. "Why would you try this?"

Ayi looked wronged. "I've done so much for you; aren't you going to give me some benefit? Didn't you say it could lead to rapid advancements?"

The Peddler looked exasperated. "Did you not hear anything I said earlier? Only a very few people can achieve rapid advancements. Do you think you're one of those very few?"

Ayi retorted, "Even if I'm not, perhaps my wife is that kind of person."

The Peddler put away the snow cream bottle. "Just give up on that idea. Such people are one in ten thousand; they're not that easy to find."

Qin Xiaopang arrived at Mo Xiang Shop and brought Liang Wucai to Li Banfeng's residence.

Liang Wu was very happy to see Li Banfeng. "Seventh Master, I thought you had forgotten about us sisters."

Liang Cai's expression was melancholic. "It would be better if you had forgotten. Every time I see you, endless sorrow rises in my heart."

Li Banfeng frowned. "Where does all this sorrow come from? Didn't I arrange for you to become empress dowagers? Are you still feeling wronged?"

Liang Wu glared at Liang Cai, then turned to Li Banfeng and said, "Seventh Master, don't listen to her. We've enjoyed much good fortune these days, and we've always remembered your kindness."

As she spoke, Liang Wu looked on with tender affection, wanting to embrace Li Banfeng, but Liang Cai, being ignorant, remained standing still.

Their body belonged to two people, and with Liang Cai not moving, Liang Wu could only fret. The sisters were in a standoff when Qin Tianjiu awkwardly coughed. "Seventh Brother, I've brought all the brothers from the Three Heroes Sect. If anything happens, we'll tell you immediately. I'll take a walk around the street first."

After Xiaopang left, Li Banfeng asked Liang Wucai, "Are you biological sisters?"

Liang Cai shed tears. "I told you he was a heartless person. He never remembers anything we say."

Liang Wu was also a bit disappointed. "Seventh Master, we did tell you about this. We weren't sisters originally. After we died, our spirits wandered the world as lost souls. When we reached the New Land, we grew together."

"Which New Land did you go to? And why did you grow together?"

Li Banfeng had never asked this question before; he didn't like to pry into others' backgrounds.

But today, he had to ask for a clear answer. This matter was of great importance.

Liang Wucai truly didn't want to talk about it, especially Liang Cai. She looked out the window, trying to change the subject. "The snow is falling so heavily today; the pure snowflakes are cleansing my soul."

Li Banfeng said nothing, just quietly watched the sisters.

Liang Wu endured for a long time, then finally spoke. "This place cannot be mentioned casually; once spoken of, it brings mortal danger. But since Seventh Master has asked, it must be something important."

Li Banfeng nodded. "Indeed, it is something important."

Liang Cai said, "If we lose our lives because of this, will you still insist on asking?"

Li Banfeng said, "I will ensure your safety."

Liang Wu bit her lip. "If we sisters truly lose our lives, Seventh Master, please don't forget us."

"Wait a moment!" Li Banfeng silently scattered a drop of blood, causing an invisible boundary to envelop the two sisters.

Within this boundary, he employed the "Carefree Slumber" technique. Should any situation arise, Li Banfeng was confident he could rescue the two sisters.

Liang Wu spoke first, "After I died, my spirit wandered to the New Land, but it was a place that didn't seem like the New Land. That's where I met Liang Cai."

Liang Cai continued, "I arrived a few days before Liang Wu. I thought it was the legendary Old Earth. That place was vast, but its population was sparse."

Li Banfeng asked, "Does that place have a name?"

Liang Wu said, "The place is called Curse Gu Ruins. Some living people reside there, calling each other sisters."

Liang Cai said, "Our souls were trapped in Curse Gu Ruins. They cast curses on us, forcing us to become sisters. They remade our bodies, connecting the two bodies together, making us look like we do today."

"They also gave us a name, Liang Wucai—"

Mid-sentence, Liang Cai began to cough violently, as if something had choked her throat.

The two sisters weren't lying; they truly couldn't mention that place.

Lai Wuju must also be facing the same problem; she didn't even dare to mention that sister.

Li Banfeng activated his Golden Clear Insight, parted Liang Cai's lips, and saw a worm wriggling on her throat.

He instructed his gloves to remove the worm. After two attempts, the gloves replied, "Master, this worm is too agile. If pressed, it burrows into the flesh. I can't get a good grip."

In any other place, these sisters would have already died.

But they were within Li Banfeng's boundary, where the "Carefree Slumber" technique was active, and Li Banfeng was the master of this place.

He lightly stepped forward, and the sisters became still as clay statues, sitting motionless.

This was the "Self-Imprisonment" technique, executed perfectly, without harming the sisters at all.

The worm in the throat couldn't chew through Liang Cai's flesh and tried to wriggle down her windpipe.

Li Banfeng invoked the authority of a family head. Under this might, the worm's body stiffened, and the gloves easily retrieved it.

The worm was entirely black, about the size of an index finger, and had no distinctive features.

Li Banfeng held the worm and observed it for a moment. The stiff worm's body twitched, and it tried to bite Li Banfeng, but he balled it up and gave it to Old Teapot to handle.

After a long while, the sisters recovered from the "Self-Imprisonment" technique. After a few gasps, they found their bodies were no longer abnormal.

Liang Cai rubbed her throat and asked, "Are we not dead yet?"

Liang Wu let out a long breath. "I knew it. With Seventh Master here, that curse was bound to be broken."

Li Banfeng thought about the worm's appearance. "Was that a curse or a Gu art?"

The two sisters shook their heads; they couldn't tell the difference. Practitioners of these two Daoist arts were extremely rare in Puro Province.

Li Banfeng said, "In Curse Gu Ruins, everyone calls each other sisters. Are there no men there?"

Liang Wu said, "When we were in Curse Gu Ruins, we never saw any men."

Lai Wuju had told Li Banfeng that she had a sister with similar talents, and whose name shared a character with hers.

She had also told Li Banfeng that he had met sisters like them, born in the same place, sharing the same traditions, and using the same characters in their names.

Liang Wucai, Lai Wuju, and also Hen Wuyou.

It seemed Li Banfeng had found the right people.

"How did you get out of Curse Gu Ruins?"

Liang Cai said, "We came out through a dream. In the dream, a very beautiful woman showed us a path and allowed us to leave Curse Gu Ruins."

Liang Wu said, "That woman said she would come find us again later and give us a home, but we never saw her again. Later, Master Qiu took us in, so we stayed in his territory."

"In a dream? A very beautiful woman?" Li Banfeng pondered for a long time. "Could it be Meng Qian?"

Shang Kingdom, Bo Province.

Cui Tike walked along the deserted streets into the Second City.

Bo Province's structure was generally similar to Chaoge: the First City had many factories, and the Second City had many workshops.

Now, both factories and workshops had ceased operations because there were not many people left in Bo Province.

However, this particular pottery workshop in the Second City was special. Although no one could be seen inside, Cui Tike could always sense a faint presence of life.

He entered the workshop and walked step by step towards the backyard.

A strong sense of weariness suddenly washed over him, forcing Cui Tike to stop.

"Imperial Envoy, this is just a small business of mine. There's nothing to investigate. Please go elsewhere."

Cui Tike recognized the voice. "Lady Meng, in Chaoge, I did not enter the Dream Weaver Tower. I believe I have already given you the proper consideration."

Meng Qian replied, "I am deeply grateful for the Imperial Envoy's consideration."

Cui Tike looked at the pottery workshop. "But I cannot keep showing you consideration. I am an Imperial Envoy, and I must fulfill my duties."

Meng Qian understood Cui Tike's meaning. "Nor can I ask for your consideration for nothing. Please name a price, and I am willing to compensate you."

"A price..." Cui Tike considered his current predicament. "I want a dream, a dream that can save my life."

Meng Qian was silent for a long time. "Imperial Envoy, given your current situation, this is very difficult. I can only do my best."