Chapter 818: Ink Fragrance Remains

Li Banfeng arrived at Lu's Bookstore with Xiaogenzi.

Boss Lu set up a copper hotpot. He bought freshly sliced lamb, cabbage, and tofu from a restaurant, and the three of them enjoyed the hotpot together.

Xiaogenzi wasn't very hungry. He first drank two bowls of liquor, then, with a flushed face, said to Li Banfeng, "Seventh Master, to be honest, before the fight, I had no confidence at all. That was a sect patriarch, someone on the same level as my master. If he just looked at me, I probably wouldn't have survived.

"But once I grabbed my tools and charged forward, for some reason, I didn't feel so scared anymore. A fight is just a fight. I've fought so many battles with you, Seventh Master, and I've never cowered! When I dumped that scoop of 'golden fluid' on the demonic cultivator patriarch's head, I wasn't scared at all. I realized these patriarchs are just people, too. They feel pain when hit, and discomfort when drenched."

"Well done, brother!" Li Banfeng praised, picking up a piece of lamb. He then looked at the sesame paste in his bowl and fell into thought. He couldn't help but think how tactless the child was to mention the "golden fluid" at that very moment.

Boss Lu chuckled, "After this battle, I'm a bit more confident. These seniors are still as formidable as they used to be, so defending Moxian Store shouldn't be too difficult. However, I still maintain that, Seventh Master, a thousand days of guarding against thieves is not the right path. Moxian Store should really have a local guardian deity."

Li Banfeng remained silent. Boss Lu's suggestion was indeed correct. Moxian Store truly needed a local guardian deity. It was rather absurd to have a scholar made from a writing brush guarding such an important place. The true guardian deity of Moxian Store was actually within Li Banfeng's portable dwelling, but he didn't want to put his own family members in a difficult position.

Hearing this, Xiaogenzi picked up his bucket, puffed out his chest, and declared to Boss Lu, "Senior, although my cultivation is still at the Ground Level, I have a renowned master guiding me, and I train very diligently. Advancing to the Cloud Level is only a matter of time. Entrusting Moxian Store to me would truly be making the best use of a person's talent and a thing's purpose!"

Boss Lu's brows subtly twitched, but he said nothing.

Xiaogenzi then turned to Li Banfeng, "Seventh Master, others might not know my temperament, but you do. As long as I have my bucket and spoon, I will never let the Suiren lay a finger on Moxian Store!" These words, Xiaogenzi had prepared for a long time; some of the vocabulary he had just learned from a school teacher, specifically to align with the customs of Moxian Store.

Li Banfeng could understand Xiaogenzi's feelings. This matter required patient persuasion, lest he dampen Xiaogenzi's spirits.

"Xiaogenzi, put the bucket down!" Li Banfeng said earnestly, "I've already prepared a territory for you. Once this business is settled, I'll give you the deed."

"Seventh Master, I'm talking about Moxian Store!"

Li Banfeng shook his head, "Moxian Store isn't quite suitable for you."

Xiaogenzi was very disappointed, "Seventh Master, why isn't it suitable?"

Li Banfeng explained, "Because this place is called 'Ink Fragrance'—Store."

Xiaogenzi looked unconvinced, "Seventh Master, even if Moxian Store is in my hands, its fragrance will still spread far and wide."

Li Banfeng frowned, while Boss Lu sighed deeply, saying nothing.

After the meal, Xiaogenzi went out to cultivate. Li Banfeng turned to Boss Lu, "Boss Lu, if I were to leave Moxian Store for a while, could you truly manage things here?"

Boss Lu nodded, "If Neizhou doesn't send any more elite troops or formidable experts, then I only need to handle these seniors, and that wouldn't be too difficult."

Li Banfeng took a sip of tea, "I'm not worried about anyone else, but there's one whose strength I can't discern."

"Are you referring to the Bloodfang Demon?" Boss Lu went into the house and brought out a stack of newspapers. He, too, had noticed something unusual about this person. "The earliest record of the Bloodfang Demon appeared in newspapers thirty-two years ago.

"At that time, there was a hero in Yaowanggou named Huang Yechang. She had three daughters and two sons, all of whom entered the Daoist sect before the age of ten. Even her youngest daughter, with the lowest cultivation, reached the second level of Ground Cultivation by adulthood. This youngest daughter led a group to reclaim new land at Sanpan River. She never returned, and the fifty or so people who went with her all vanished without a trace. Huang Yechang led a search and found her daughter's tracks near a barren mountain. This barren mountain later became Bloodfang Mountain."

Li Banfeng took the newspaper and read it carefully.

Huang Yechang was a seventh-level Ground Cultivation medic, and with such cultivation, she could indeed act unrestrainedly in the Yaowanggou area. At the foot of Bloodfang Mountain, she found one of her daughter's garments. Her daughter was a second-level Literary Cultivator, and in the lining of the clothes, her daughter had left a line of text using Literary Cultivation techniques: "This is Bloodfang Mountain. There's a Bloodfang Demon on the mountain." This was the only clue Huang Yechang found, confirming that something had happened to her daughter on Bloodfang Mountain.

According to subsequent news reports, Huang Yechang ascended Bloodfang Mountain sixteen times in total. She never found her daughter, and her family's financial resources were depleted. Li Banfeng asked, "How were her family's finances depleted? Did she encounter the Bloodfang Demon and get seriously injured?"

Boss Lu shook his head, "According to newspaper records, Huang Yechang never saw the Bloodfang Demon. Her subordinates did, however, and only two people ever came out alive from encounters with the Bloodfang Demon. Huang Yechang's sixteen ascents resulted in over a hundred deaths. Some were killed by the Bloodfang Demon, others were blown up by stones on Bloodfang Mountain. Just paying the 'life-buying money' for these people bankrupted Huang Yechang, and the matter ended there." Boss Lu then brought out more newspapers, all with news about Bloodfang Mountain, the content mostly from the oral accounts of survivors.

He manipulated the texts on the newspapers, arranging them in chronological order to form a single thread of information: "These reports all share a common characteristic: high-level cultivators who come to Bloodfang Mountain rarely encounter the Bloodfang Demon. This proves that the Bloodfang Demon's own cultivation level isn't very high; she has always avoided powerful opponents. In recent years, reports about Bloodfang Mountain have mostly vanished. It has become common knowledge in Prou Province that Bloodfang Mountain is a dangerous place, and the Bloodfang Demon is a native monster of Bloodfang Mountain."

Li Banfeng finished reading most of the reports. From their content, it seemed that as long as one's cultivation exceeded the fifth Ground Level and they didn't easily violate the mountain's rules, they would most likely leave Bloodfang Mountain alive.

"Boss Lu, do you think the Bloodfang Demon's cultivation is around the fifth level?"

"Around the fifth level is definitely too low, but there's no record of how high she truly is. How about we go and test her?"

Li Banfeng slightly shook his head, "Without knowing her cultivation level or what sect she belongs to, rashly probing might lead to significant losses for us."

Boss Lu was surprised; Li Qi actually had cautious moments.

Li Banfeng returned the Bloodfang Demon newspaper to Boss Lu, "Have you heard of a place called the Cursed Gu Ruins?"

Boss Lu thought for a moment, then took a book box from the shelf. From the box, he pulled out six old scrolls. Consulting the table of contents, he found some records of the Cursed Gu Ruins in each book. The writing in these books was somewhat blurred, but fortunately, Boss Lu had read them more than once. After just three to five sentences, he recalled most of the content.

"The Cursed Gu Ruins is an unnamable place in Prou Province. Ordinary people cannot reach it, and once there, it's very difficult to leave."

"How do unusual people reach the Cursed Gu Ruins?" Li Banfeng had asked the Liang Wucai sisters, but they didn't remember the way. He had also asked the Fifth House Girl, but upon hearing the name "Cursed Gu Ruins," she had immediately vanished.

"There are three ways," Boss Lu said, pointing to a line of text in the book, "one can arrive via dreams, via illusions, or via the realm of life and death."

Li Banfeng understood dreams and illusions. "What does the realm of life and death mean?"

Boss Lu explained, "The realm of life and death is a special state that people enter after experiencing life and death. How long one stays in this realm depends on the characteristics of their soul. Most people can only stay in the realm of life and death for a brief moment, but some can linger for three to five years. While in the realm of life and death, one can find unnamable paths to unnamable places."

The Liang Wucai sisters likely entered the Cursed Gu Ruins unintentionally because their souls were special, causing them to linger in the realm of life and death for an extended period after death.

Li Banfeng asked, "Is Hate Without Cause connected to the Cursed Gu Ruins?"

Boss Lu took out another old scroll. After flipping through it for a moment, he said, "The Cursed Gu Void is the origin of incantations and witchcraft. Hate Without Cause is the patriarch of incantation cultivation, and it's said that she is the ruler of the Cursed Gu Void's territory."

Li Banfeng looked at the text Boss Lu indicated. The previous mention was "Cursed Gu Ruins" (墟), but the latter became "Cursed Gu Void" (虚).

"Boss Lu, are these referring to the same place?"

Boss Lu nodded, "It's the same place."

"Then which character is correct?"

"Both characters have their own explanations," Boss Lu opened another scroll. "One theory is that 'Cursed Gu Ruins' (墟) is correct because the place has become desolate land, thus capturing the meaning of 'ruins' or 'wasteland.' The other theory is that 'Cursed Gu Void' (虚) is correct because it is the 'Origin Void' land."

Seeing Li Banfeng's clear gaze, Boss Lu continued to explain, "The Origin Void Land is the earliest formed region in Prou Province. The Origin Void Silkworms that live there are the earliest life forms in Prou Province."

"What do Origin Void Silkworms look like?" Li Banfeng recalled the insects he had removed from the Liang Wucai sisters.

Boss Lu didn't know how to describe it for a moment. He went up to the second floor of the bookstore, brought down a clay pot, and used tweezers to pick out a worm from inside. This black worm was identical to the insects Li Banfeng had removed.

"Boss Lu, did you get this worm from the Origin Void Land?"

Boss Lu hesitated for a long time before telling the truth, "Seventh Master, there's something you might already know: Yu Yaoming, the wormhole scientist from the Outer State, has been staying with me. We've been conducting research on boundary lines. To protect our research findings, I offended Qin Dajinyin of the Three Heroes Sect. I should actually explain that matter to you."

Li Banfeng slightly shook his head, "No need to explain; you're not to blame for that."

Boss Lu put the worm back into the clay pot. "Since Seventh Master is so righteous, I shouldn't hide anything anymore. This Origin Void Silkworm was obtained by me from a wormhole that crosses boundary lines. I obtained more than one, and together with Yu Yaoming, we conducted extensive research on these Origin Void Silkworms."

"You entered a wormhole and came out alive?" Li Banfeng asked with surprise, "Do you have a method for crossing boundary lines?"

Boss Lu didn't know how to answer. He had never revealed this matter to anyone before.

Li Banfeng said, "Don't worry, this is good news. I certainly won't sabotage you. Let's continue discussing these worms. Can Origin Void Silkworms enhance a person's cultivation?"

Boss Lu replied, "I haven't tried that myself; I don't have the courage. But Yu Yaoming tested it with machines, and the machines underwent significant changes. Some machines came alive, some became empathetic and could help Yu Yaoming with many tasks. Some machines became irritable; one sewing machine stitched Yu Yaoming's two hands together. And some machines were mischievous; a printing press printed a newspaper on Yu Yaoming's body."

"Living machines, aren't those Neizhou people? Can Origin Void Silkworms create life?" Li Banfeng sorted out his thoughts. "If Hate Without Cause is indeed the Bloodfang Demon, and she's also the leader of the Cursed Gu Ruins—and if the Cursed Gu Ruins really is the Origin Void Land, and there are many Origin Void Silkworms there—then this situation could be dangerous."

Boss Lu's train of thought struggled to keep up. "Seventh Master, why do you think the Bloodfang Demon is Hate Without Cause?"

Li Banfeng couldn't explain. "There are many complexities involved. Do you have a way to get to the Cursed Gu Ruins?"

Boss Lu shook his head. He had collected information on the Cursed Gu Ruins, but had never conducted detailed research.

Li Banfeng poured out a scalded worm from an old teapot and handed it to Boss Lu, "Have Yu Yaoming examine this and see if it's an Origin Void Silkworm."

Back in his portable dwelling, Li Banfeng found himself in a dilemma.

He should go to the Cursed Gu Ruins. If Hate Without Cause had submitted to Neizhou, the Cursed Gu Ruins likely had too. If the Cursed Gu Ruins truly was the Origin Void Land, then this land would provide Neizhou with a vast number of Origin Void Silkworms. If that were the case, Li Banfeng ought to flatten the Cursed Gu Ruins completely.

But what if he went to the Cursed Gu Ruins and couldn't return for a while? Would Moxian Store be in danger? If the Bloodfang Demon truly was Hate Without Cause, could Boss Lu alone withstand her?

Boss Lu gave the worm Li Banfeng had given him to Yu Yaoming. Yu Yaoming's expertise in biology was considerable, and he quickly provided a result. The worms Li Banfeng had removed from the Liang Wucai sisters were extremely similar to the Origin Void Silkworms; to be precise, they were likely a mutated form of them. This proved one thing: the correct name for "Cursed Gu Ruins" was "Cursed Gu Void," and that place was indeed the Origin Void Land.

Li Banfeng had to go to the Cursed Gu Void, but who could he find to help Boss Lu guard Moxian Store? He knew many experts, but after thinking for a long time, he couldn't find a suitable candidate. Not every expert would be willing to help at Moxian Store, and some might even pose a threat to it.

While he was deep in thought, Murong Gui walked out from the second house.

"Seventh, I'll go."

Li Banfeng, sitting on a chair, looked up at Murong Gui. In Li Qi's impression, Murong Gui mostly lay down, but now this slender scholar stood perfectly straight, appearing much taller.

"Are you really willing to go?"

"No," Murong Gui shook his head, "but I should."

Late at night, Li Banfeng took Murong Gui to the Willow Garden. Under the willow tree, Murong Gui wrote the character "Hui" (Wisdom). A lake emerged in the Willow Garden; this was his original residence. Li Banfeng felt a pang of reluctance.

Murong Gui said, word by word, "Seventh, when this matter is settled, come back and pick me up!" He lifted the hem of his long robe, hands clasped behind his back, holding his Judge's Brush, and walked step by step towards the pavilion. He dared not look back, fearing he wouldn't be able to bear leaving. He didn't want to look forward, fearing he wouldn't be able to endure a bitter life.

"Seventh, go!" He urged Li Banfeng to leave quickly, otherwise, he might change his mind at any moment.

Entering the pavilion, Murong Gui gritted his teeth. No matter how many hardships lay ahead, he had to shoulder them. He was the local guardian deity of Moxian Store; this was his duty! He sat by the writing desk, closing his eyes with a resolute expression.

Another scholar was writing at the desk. This scholar was created by Murong Gui using the peddler's brush. The Brush Scholar saw Murong Gui and felt the scene was somewhat tragic; he wanted to cry. He cried not only for Murong Gui but also for himself; he was finally free. "The blind should be ashamed," "The literate should strive," "The world should learn to read and write"—he had written these three lines countless times, and now it was the last. The Brush Scholar meticulously filled a page, then placed the brush he held onto the bookshelf. He had completed his mission and was now starting a new life. Despite having been tricked by Murong Gui initially, the Brush Scholar still bowed deeply to him.

Murong Gui opened his eyes, trying to curl his lips upward, forcing a slight smile as he asked, "Where are you going?"

The Brush Scholar pointed outside; he wanted to leave this place.

Murong Gui blinked. Paper and brush once again appeared before the Brush Scholar. Murong Gui looked up at the Brush Scholar and uttered one word: "Write!"

The Brush Scholar was stunned. *He thought:* "I wrote when you weren't here, but why am I still writing now that you are?"

Seeing the Brush Scholar standing still, Murong Gui asked, "Are you refusing?"

The Brush Scholar straightened his posture, clearly indicating defiance!

Murong Gui slowly rose, looked at the Brush Scholar, and slowly said, "Then let's fight!"

Ten minutes later, the Brush Scholar, with tears in his eyes, was hunched over the desk, continuing to write those three lines. He couldn't defeat Murong Gui.

A cold wind blew by. Murong Gui lay beside the desk, silent for a long time, then uttered another word: "Quilt!"

The Brush Scholar wiped away his tears, went upstairs, and brought down a quilt, covering Murong Gui with it.

Wrapped in the quilt, Murong Gui watched Li Banfeng in the distance and murmured, "Seventh, go. No matter how many hardships, I can bear them!"

Li Banfeng left the Willow Garden and went to Lu's Bookstore. "Boss Lu, the local guardian deity of Moxian Store has returned."

Boss Lu poured a cup of hot tea. "Seventh Master, as long as he's back, you don't need to worry about Moxian Store anymore."

Li Banfeng went to Heishi Slope and found Tang Shijiang. Tang Shijiang had just finished a photo shoot and was covered in sweat from exhaustion. "Seventh, what do you need me for?"

Li Banfeng said, "I want to go to Dreamweaver Tower."

Tang Shijiang was startled. "Have you encountered something unpleasant? Hiding in a place like that isn't a long-term solution."

"Brother Tang, I must meet Meng Qian."

Tang Shijiang hesitated for a moment. He didn't ask Li Banfeng for the reason, but directly led him to the edge of the New Land. Ahead was an abandoned train station. Tang Shijiang said, "There's a residual image of Dreamweaver Tower near the platform. Dream cultivators are very difficult to deal with in dreams, so be extremely careful. If you feel something is wrong, leave the platform immediately. This is just a residual image, so you'll have many chances to escape." Tang Shijiang told Li Banfeng about the relatively safe spots on the platform and the escape routes. He repeatedly warned Li Banfeng not to wander aimlessly after leaving the platform, otherwise, he would fall back into a dream.

Li Banfeng was not unfamiliar with this platform; it was where he first entered Dreamweaver Tower. Having said all that needed to be said, Tang Shijiang left. He had a strong aversion to Dreamweaver Tower.

Once Tang Shijiang was far away, Li Banfeng summoned his wife from the Linked Wide Bridal Chamber. His wife opened her pocket watch, looked at Meng De inside, and instructed, "Observe carefully. Speak immediately if there's any anomaly."

Meng De was nervous. "Madam, my cultivation is far too low; I'm afraid I won't be of much use."

Zhao Xiaowan frowned, "Focus on your task, don't invite a beating!"

Meng De dared not say more. Li Banfeng touched the music box in his pocket. If he accidentally fell into a dream, the music box could at least record what happened. He took his wife onto the platform and stood on the third blue brick at the edge of the rain shelter, a relatively safe position that Tang Shijiang had suggested.

Even in this relatively safe spot, Li Banfeng felt drowsy. He immediately activated his 'seeking auspiciousness and avoiding peril' to its maximum. A wave of danger struck. Li Banfeng pinched his brow, maintaining his consciousness, while his wife let out a mournful chant, fully dispelling Li Banfeng's drowsiness. Meng De's expression was blank; she had already fallen into a dream. Li Banfeng opened the music box, but no music played; the music box had also fallen into a dream. His wife's singing grew more jarring; she was attacking an invisible enemy.

Before long, a stunning woman in white, with a languid expression, slowly appeared before Li Banfeng.

"You're looking for me?"

Li Banfeng appraised Meng Qian from head to toe. To confirm whether this was a dream, he took out a box of matches.

Meng Qian shook her head, "Don't burn my clothes. You aren't asleep."

Li Banfeng put away the matches and said, "I want to go to the Cursed Gu Void, and I hope you can guide me there."

Meng Qian still shook her head, "I don't want to go to that place."

"I never ask people to do things for free. You can name your price."

Meng Qian thought for a long time, then said to Li Banfeng, "I want to build a Dreamweaver Tower in Xiaodu. Can you agree to that?"

Li Banfeng wasn't very keen on agreeing.

Zhao Xiaowan spoke up from the side, "Miss Meng, your business deal is a bit too greedy. We're only asking you to guide us once, yet you want to establish a permanent livelihood in Xiaodu. That price is quite inappropriate."

Meng Qian looked at Zhao Xiaowan expressionlessly, "I've named my price. You can bargain."

Zhao Xiaowan reminded Li Banfeng, "A shop doesn't necessarily have to be bought; it can also be rented."

Li Banfeng smiled. His wife's idea was good. He said to Meng Qian, "I'll lease you a plot of land in Xiaodu where you can build Dreamweaver Tower. As rent, you must help me with three things each month."

Meng Qian found this inappropriate. "What kind of things would you ask me to do? If one day you want to seize Chaoge City, I wouldn't be able to do something like that."

"You don't need to worry about that. I'll only ask you to do things within your capabilities. At that time, I'll propose a price, and you can also bargain."

After much deliberation, Meng Qian agreed, "To go to the Cursed Gu Void, you must first enter a dream. I will not harm you in the dream realm."

"I certainly trust you. Let's sign a contract first." Li Banfeng wrote a contract, and after both pressed their handprints, the deal was struck.

He and Zhao Xiaowan no longer resisted their drowsiness. They both successively fell into a dream, following Meng Qian into the New Land. The surrounding scenery rapidly receded as Meng Qian flew through the air, swiftly guiding them through the dream. Midway, Meng Qian reminded them, "The Cursed Gu Void is a village. Once you enter, don't talk too much to the villagers, don't eat anything they give you, and don't stay overnight in the village. When I tell you to leave, you must obey me." Li Banfeng and Zhao Xiaowan noted everything down.

The concept of time in the dream was very vague. The two felt they hadn't traveled for long, but when Zhao Xiaowan opened her pocket watch, more than half the time had already passed. After another half journey, Meng Qian, floating in mid-air, stopped beside them. The surrounding scenery ceased to move.

"Found it, it's right there." Meng Qian pointed to a cluster of towering buildings ahead.

"This is the Cursed Gu Void?" Li Banfeng was deeply skeptical. The scene before them was clearly an Outer State city.

Meng Qian explained, "This is the dream of an Outer State person. This person is currently in the Cursed Gu Void, and I can send you there through her dream." She led them into the city. Cars moved quietly on the roads, with no noise, no exhaust, and raising not a speck of dust. The sidewalks were clean and tidy, with benches every few tens of meters, surrounded by flowerbeds.

Meng Qian quickly found the dreamer: a young girl, gazing dreamily at the fountain between the towering buildings, a captivated smile on her face. In this girl's dream, city life was incredibly beautiful.

Meng Qian said to Li Banfeng, "You can exit now." She extended a finger and gently poked the dreamer's forehead. The dreamer trembled and woke up from her sleep. Tall buildings, fountains, benches, gardens—the beauty of the dream vanished completely.

The dreaming girl, clad in ragged clothes, lay in a damp cave. She cast a glance towards the faint light at the cave entrance. She curled up, closed her eyes, wanting to sleep again, but then heard Li Banfeng's voice asking in her ear, "Where is this place?"

The girl flinched in fright and got up to run. Zhao Xiaowan stepped forward and stopped her. "Don't be afraid, we won't harm you. I ask you, is this the Cursed Gu Ruins?"

The girl nodded, "Yes."

Zhao Xiaowan asked again, "Why are you sleeping here?"

The girl didn't want to answer, but Zhao Xiaowan's voice carried a special authority that made her feel she couldn't disobey. "I-I'm a Gu cultivator. If I'm caught by the Incantation cultivators, I'll be made their servant."

Li Banfeng frowned, "Where do servants come from in Prou Province?"

"The Incantation Cultivator Patriarch said so. Gu cultivators are all servants of the Incantation cultivators."

"She says servants are servants? And you're all so obedient?"

"We can't defeat them!" the girl said with a terrified expression. "The Incantation cultivators have a man with them who killed our patriarch, and all of us together couldn't defeat him!"

Li Banfeng knew who that man was. "What do the Incantation cultivators make you do after they catch you?"

The girl shivered, "Raise insects. If we don't raise them well, they feed us to the insects."