Shui Yongquan has promised to give me the territory, he really promised, handed over the Iron Token and the Land Seal to me, and I even arranged a place for him to recuperate."
Li Banfeng frowned and said: "Did you really arrange a residence, or did you just imprison him?"
Guo Gaoge whispered: "I originally didn't intend to imprison him, I was afraid he would go to Qi Qiu City and bring Qiu Luoye here."
Now Li Banfeng knows what Shui Yongquan has experienced.
The Inner State activated a curse technique and dismantled his cultivation level, Guo Gaoge took advantage of the situation and forced him to give up his territory.
Shui Yongquan was forced to hand over the territory, and as a result, was imprisoned by Guo Gaoge.
Li Banfeng asked: "Even if you imprison Shui Yongquan, you are still worried, so you decided to kill him?"
Guo Gaoge shook his head and said: "I really didn't intend to kill him, but Inner State wanted his identity, and they sent Lord Ni Shangqiu to impersonate Shui Yongquan, Ni Shangqiu feared his disguise would be exposed, and told me to kill the real Shui Yongquan."
The Phonograph said: "Did you kill him or not?"
Guo Gaoge hesitated, reluctant to speak.
Hong Ying, holding a knife, said: "Xiaowan, you're right, eat meat to gain flesh, we'll eat the meat first, then grow it where Qi Lang likes."
She cut Guo Gaoge over a dozen times, and Guo Gaoge couldn't withstand it: "I told Lord Ni Shangqiu that I killed him, but actually I didn't."
Hong Ying caressed the blade: "You let him go? You are so kind?"
"I didn't release him, but someone rescued him."
Li Banfeng asked: "Who?"
"The Local Deity of Sleepless Town, Wang Zimian."
Sleepless Town?
Ma Wu mentioned this place, it's the front third territory, but what kind of territory it truly is, Li Banfeng still doesn't quite know.
"What kind of person is Wang Zimian?"
Guo Gaoge said: "I'm not very familiar with him, I just know he has a big reputation and high prestige, he wanted to take Shui Yongquan away, and I didn't dare refuse."
Li Banfeng relaxed his brow, patted Guo Gaoge and said: "The way you spoke made me nervous, so Shui Yongquan is still alive?"
"Alive." Guo Gaoge nodded.
Li Banfeng smiled and said: "If you had told the truth earlier, you wouldn't have suffered so much."
Guo Gaoge said: "Outside, never say this, if Lord Ni Shangqiu knew, he surely wouldn't spare me."
Li Banfeng waved his hand and said: "Don't worry, Ni Shangqiu is at my house, after you meet him, we'll discuss this slowly."
Guo Gaoge shivered: "Lord Ni is here? What should I do? What if he finds out?"
Seeing Guo Gaoge so pitiful, the Phonograph comforted him: "Don't be afraid, really don't be afraid, Lord Ni will surely not blame you."
Li Banfeng asked Guo Gaoge: "First tell me, where is Shui Yongquan's Contract Book buried?"
Guo Gaoge was reluctant to say, as this was territory he fought hard to seize.
Li Banfeng frowned: "If you don't say now, it'll be too late when you meet Lord Ni."
What does this mean?
How come it sounds like Li Qi has dealings with Lord Ni?
Could it be that Li Qi has also joined Inner State?
Though he was unwilling regarding the territory matters, to preserve his life, Guo Gaoge told Li Qi the location of the Contract Book.
Li Qi left, and Guo Gaoge wanted to leave too, but couldn't open the Portable Residence's door.
Guo Gaoge cried: "I've told the truth, why can't I leave?"
The Phonograph puffed steam and said: "Don't be afraid, I'll take you to see Lord Ni."
...
Li Qi dug up Shui Yongquan's Contract Book in Hundred Vine Valley, a place Li Banfeng knew well, once fighting Qiu Luoye in the valley to earn a Revolving Noble Flower from Shui Yongquan, nearly losing his life.
Afterward, Shui Yongquan kept his word, gave Li Banfeng the Revolving Noble Flower and a Ten-Li Territory, and with this territory, Li Qi and Ma Wu established Zhengjing Village.
Recalling these things feels like they were just before his eyes, yet now Shui Yongquan is in such a state.
Li Banfeng, holding the Greenwater Beggar's Begging Bowl, found a Dark Dimension Space in Shui Yongquan's territory where he buried the Contract Book.
Transformed into a Wounded Demon Fiend, normally one's cultivation level wouldn't change further, which means Shui Yongquan can't be a Local Deity anymore.
But it's rumored that some Qimen Strange Arts might bring a turnaround, Gao Shuxia being an example, despite becoming a Wounded Demon Fiend, she kept seeking territory, showing she still has means for advancement.
In any case, first Shui Yongquan must be brought back, it might not be possible to restore him, but with Guo Gaoge and Ni Shangqiu dead, Inner State would likely seek revenge, we must prepare early.
Li Banfeng ordered the Centipede Mother and Daughter to start the production, and asked Yanzi to restore village order promptly.
The Wild Boar was surprised: "Who just said to start work? Today really they're starting, where has the Ju Gong gone? The Ju Gong that was at the door just now?"
The Ju Gong Head said beside: "Pig Lord, all our Ju Gong are here, not one less."
The Wild Boar looked through each one, none of them were the Ju Gong from before.
"Was that newcomer?"
The Ju Gong Head shook his head: "No new Ju Gong today."
The Wild Boar felt that person didn't seem new, seemed familiar yet couldn't recall the name.
...
Li Qi returned to Chu Er's New Land, called Ma Wu: "Big Brother Shui is in trouble, lost his position and cultivation, his territory was seized..."
After Li Qi's description, Ma Wu was shocked, turned to Feng Daiku: "Miss Feng, I have a favor to ask."
Feng Daiku thought they intended to seize the territory, planning to first investigate the opponent's strength.