Li Banfeng picked up the back scratcher and examined it for a moment.
The back scratcher said, "You can't try it now. That woman just used it once; you have to wait an hour…"
Before it finished, the Gloves slapped the back scratcher. "What do you mean 'that woman'? Watch your mouth! That's our Missus!"
The back scratcher didn't dare make a sound, and Li Banfeng first handed it over to the Gloves for safekeeping.
The Phonograph said, "Husband, with the Golden Gaze Autumn Hair Technique and these two Magical Treasures, we don't need to fear people from the Inner State. Whenever we run into one, we bring one back. Let's see who can escape from Husband's palm. Husband, isn't that a good thing?"
Li Banfeng took a Silk Handkerchief and wiped the dew off the Phonograph's horn. "You're right, wife, it really is a good thing. Everything we bring back is a fine dish."
Whoosh~
Wife was unhappy.
"Listen to what Husband's saying. Do you think Little Servant is doing this for a bite to eat? Little Servant is just like Husband, thinking about the safety of Puluo State."
Hong Ying wiped her lips and said, "We do have to think about the safety of Puluo State, but saury is also delicious!"
The Tang Sword wiped its blade. "The Marshal is right. We're all doing this for the safety of Puluo State."
The Projector cleaned out its film compartment. "For the future of Puluo State, we need a feast of art."
The Magical Treasures in the room all voiced their agreement, and Li Banfeng stood up and said, "For safety and for the feast, I should get out and walk around a bit."
The next day, Li Banfeng went to the Defense Agency and handed the Inner State's truce Contract Book to Liao Zihui, telling him to pass it on to Du Wenming and hurry up and get those thirteen thousand Three-Headed People implemented.
Liao Zihui didn't dare neglect it and immediately had someone present the Contract Book. Li Banfeng ate a meal at the Defense Agency and took a walk around.
No Inner State People showed up in the Defense Agency, and Li Banfeng sighed. "Zihui, you've been doing a pretty good job with your work."
Liao Zihui was completely confused and had no idea which part of his work was supposed to be "pretty good".
Li Banfeng left somewhat disappointed.
Two days later, Chu Er arrived at the New Land with her people. Li Banfeng went over to lend support, and Ma Wu brought Feng Daiku along as well.
Li Banfeng asked Ma Wu, "Chu Er is already making her move. When are you planning to bury the deed?"
Ma Wu said, "I'm just waiting for her to make the first move and see what kind of trouble she runs into, so I can be prepared."
As they were talking, Ma Wu looked off into the distance, his eyes a little hazy.
Feng Daiku twisted Ma Wu. "Who are you eyeing this time?"
"N-no one…" Ma Wu smiled at Feng Daiku, but his gaze was still drifting.
He really had set his eyes on someone.
Chu Er was deep in the forest, talking with Chu Shaoqiang.
Chu Shaoqiang sighed. "You judge people better than I ever did. Following Li Qi really hasn't done you any harm."
Chu Huaiyuan sighed. "Dad, when you left us back then, our brothers and sisters suffered plenty."
"What happened in the past was my fault to you. From now on, we'll live properly."
Chu Er looked at Chu Shaoqiang and asked, "Can you really live properly? Will the Inner State let you go?"
"There'll be difficult times," Chu Shaoqiang said frankly, "but what could compare to one's own flesh and blood? Don't worry, I know where the line is with these things."
As the two were talking, Xiang Fenglan hurried over. "Huai Yuan, Granny's here."
Chu Er glanced at Chu Shaoqiang.
Chu Shaoqiang gave a slight nod, and Chu Er quickly followed Xiang Fenglan toward the riverbank.
Bitter Granny stood by the river, smiling as she looked at Chu Er. "Not bad. You took all those beatings at Bitter Vegetable Manor and finally made some progress. Now you're going to be a Local Deity."
Chu Er lowered her head. "This disciple's cultivation level isn't enough. I don't know if I can keep this territory safe."
Bitter Granny frowned. "You can say that to me, but you absolutely cannot babble like that in front of Li Qi. He's already feeding you with a spoon at your lips and you say you can't swallow—won't people laugh at you? You'll throw the Taoist Sect's face away…"
Halfway through, Bitter Granny looked off into the distance.
Before Chu Er could react, Bitter Granny's figure flickered and she appeared in front of Ma Wu, kicking him straight into the river.
"Where'd this wild brat come from? What are you staring at me for?" Bitter Granny's expression was icy as she looked down at Ma Wu in the river.
"You misunderstand, Lady, I just wanted to…" Ma Wu had just climbed out of the water when Feng Daiku yanked him up.
Feng Daiku pinned Ma Wu down, gave Bitter Granny a bow, then ran off to a distance and lowered his voice. "Are you insane? You dared to make a move on her!"
Ma Wu looked a bit embarrassed. "I just thought this Lady was quite charming and wanted to get to know her."
Feng Daiku said angrily, "Just stay crazy. Sooner or later you're going to lose your life over that craziness!"
...
Li Banfeng moved back and forth among the guests. A lot of people really had come today; they said they were here to congratulate Chu Er, but in fact they were all here for Li Qi.
Sha Dingzhong, Rong Si Jiao, Xie Laizi, and several Local Deities from the surrounding area had all come.
Back when He Yuxiu had just taken over this territory, these Local Deities had all sent people to stir up trouble, but now they no longer dared.
Getting a whole, intact Contract Book for a piece of New Land—people might say Li Qi got lucky, a fortuitous coincidence.
Getting a territory and then being able to hold it, that can't be explained away as mere coincidence.
And now he'd gotten a second territory. These Local Deities had already seen his methods and strength, and it was time for them to change their attitude.
"Brother Li Qi, Sha here offers you congratulations!" Sha Dingzhong, face covered in dust, was the first to present a gift.
"Brother Sha, you're too kind!" Li Banfeng stared at Sha Dingzhong, looking him up and down for quite a while.
This one wasn't an Inner State fake.
"Little Brother Li Qi, what your big brother did before wasn't right, you mustn't take it to heart." Rong Si Jiao—this man looked very unusual, with two horns growing from his forehead and another two from the back of his head.
He also wasn't an Inner State fake.
Puluo State needed peace!
The family needed to set up banquet tables!
Those Inner State People were really disappointing, not even showing up to take a look at an occasion like this.
Xie Laizi, face full of scabby rashes, grinned from ear to ear as he said, "There's no overnight grudges in the Jianghu. What happened before is all in the past. I've come to beg a cup of wine—Brother, you have to give me some face, right?"
"Brother Xie, this way please."
This one also wasn't an Inner State fake.
Besides them, there were people of even higher status.
"Worthy brother, your foolish elder brother is late!"
Hearing that voice, Li Banfeng pushed his Golden Gaze Autumn Hair Technique to the max, turned around, cupped his hands, and said, "Elder Pan, when did you arrive?"
Pan Dehai said, "Upon hearing that my worthy brother, with great virtue, is investing a New Land with title, how could your foolish elder brother not come?"
He was the first one to actually say the words "invest with title."
When those two words were spoken, many people focused their gazes on Li Banfeng.
Was "investing with title" an appropriate term?
Everyone thought it over carefully; it didn't seem inappropriate anywhere.
Li Qi really had invested Local Deities with title, and more than one at that.
Li Banfeng wasn't thinking about the matter of investiture; his gaze had never left Pan Dehai.
Pan Dehai had no special little items on him, and no high-temperature objects either.
He'd listened with the Silk-pulling Earrings and still hadn't heard any valve sounds.
Try the itching stick.
Or just skip the test altogether—bring him straight home. Real or fake, taking Pan Dehai in was a reasonable choice.
Pan Dehai also had Hundred-Eyes Fish and Gao Shuxia with him, and as they chatted idly, he suddenly heard someone say, "Old Qi, how could you forget about your big brother?"
Li Banfeng turned his head and saw Shui Yongquan had arrived.
"How would I dare forget you, Brother?" Li Qi quickly went up to greet him. "Did you just get here, Brother?"
Shui Yongquan let out a long sigh. "Me, I almost didn't want to come—felt too shabby. You've got such a good territory and didn't think of your big brother, only those few sweethearts of yours."
Li Banfeng laughed. "I really have thought about that. Let's find a Quiet Place later and talk it over properly."
This really wasn't easy to explain. This territory wasn't far from Zhengjing Village. Li Banfeng had indeed thought Shui Yongquan would nitpick about it, and it wouldn't be simple to make things clear.
When Li Banfeng said Quiet Place, he had no other meaning; he genuinely wanted to discuss the New Land with Shui Yongquan. If Shui Yongquan had the guts for it, next time he got his hands on a New Land, Li Banfeng would definitely set aside a piece for him.
But Shui Yongquan thought the wording sounded wrong. "What's this, Old Qi—what are we going to a Quiet Place for? You planning to teach your big brother a lesson? I was just joking with you, and you took it seriously?"
Hiss~
The Silk-pulling Earrings transmitted a faint sound.
Li Banfeng stared at Shui Yongquan, sizing him up from head to toe.
Shui Yongquan was holding a Teapot, lips pressed to the spout as he took a sip of tea.
Li Banfeng asked him, "Brother, that's good tea, isn't it?"
Shui Yongquan shook his head. "Just something to quench my thirst on the road, nothing special."
"Can I have a sip?"
Shui Yongquan put the Teapot away and said, "That's not proper—I've been drinking straight from the spout. I'm afraid you'll think it's dirty. When you get back to the village, I'll treat you to some top-grade tea."
Li Banfeng smiled. "No need to wait till we get back to the village—I've got good tea right now. Brother, come sit with me for a bit first."
PS: Inner State People are very good at picking their targets.