Leaving Cheap Person Ridge with Teacher Song on his back, Li Banfeng halted after walking more than a hundred li.
They were hungry and thirsty. Teacher Song drank half a pot of water, coughed a few times, but didn't vomit.
This proved the medicine was working, and the symptoms were gradually alleviating.
Now, sitting opposite Li Banfeng, Teacher Song felt a bit guilty: "It's not like I deliberately kept things from you, I haven't mentioned it to anyone."
Li Banfeng sighed and said, "I didn't anticipate the situation; you actually have a birthmark."
"That's not the main point," Teacher Song worried that her identity was something Li Banfeng couldn't accept, "Banfeng, ask whatever you want. I'll try to tell you whatever I can."
Unexpectedly, Li Banfeng didn't ask about the identity; instead, he asked about the Knife Labor Ghost: "How did you know the Knife Labor Ghost appeared on Shifeng Road? Who told you this information? Was it Shen Jingye?"
Li Banfeng had to find the source of the information now. If it came from Shen Jingye, Shen Jingye would have to give an explanation.
The answer was beyond Li Banfeng's expectations.
"My information didn't come from Shen Jingye. Shen Jingye probably received the info from me. Yesterday afternoon, after we parted, I went to the campus supermarket and got a USB drive..."
Teacher Song recounted the sequence of events.
Li Banfeng said, "So, the information about the Knife Labor Ghost came from a video sent by He Jiaqing."
Teacher Song nodded, not really wanting to mention He Jiaqing's name. She was worried Li Banfeng might react overly.
But to her surprise, Li Banfeng remained unusually calm, not asking much about the cause and effect, only posed one question about the event itself: "What was He Jiaqing's purpose in sending this video?"
Teacher Song thought for a moment, "He might be trying to give me a hint."
"What was the purpose of the hint?"
"Perhaps he also didn't want the situation to escalate, since it's a disaster threatening the whole Yuezhou."
Li Banfeng shook his head, "Under no circumstances would He Jiaqing care about the fate of the Outside Provinces. If you really understand him, you'd know he wouldn't give you any hints unless it involves his interests. But what exactly are his interests?"
...
"Just ahead," He Jiaqing pointed to the distant wilderness, telling Big Head, "In the wilderness where you often train, I've prepared clothes and food for us. We'll be there soon."
Big Head turned to his wife, "Ruifang, when we arrive, let's change into dry clothes."
Miao Ruifang held their child's hand, silent for a long time.
Because of Big Head's issue, Miao Ruifang had been locked up for a long time, and today she finally got to see their child.
This should have been a joyful occasion, but who would have thought that their identities had become fugitives.
They jumped into Peach Blossom Lake, nearly drowned there, and unexpectedly emerged in such a place, a place so dark there was no light at all, a place so eerie that it left the mother and child gasping for breath.
In the cave, the family of three changed clothes, and Miao Ruifang burst into tears: "Zou Guoming, you need to explain clearly. After living with you all my life, what am I really pursuing?
We've been married for so many years, and I don't know what you've been doing outside. I got caught in a muddle, locked up for all these days, and I became a fugitive without knowing which law I've broken. What's going on, you must make it clear!"
Big Head didn't know what to say.
He Jiaqing advised, "Sister-in-law, don't worry yet, let's talk slowly when we get to Puluo State."
"Why should I listen to you? Who are you? Do I know you?" Miao Ruifang yelled a few words at He Jiaqing, making Big Head a little uncomfortable.
"Ruifang, it was Jia Qing who saved us, or we'd still be locked inside!"
"Then why don't you say why we were locked up in the first place! Tell me, tell me the truth!"
The couple quarreled in the cave, and He Jiaqing went outside. He unfolded an ink painting and pulled a tricycle out from the Scroll.
This tricycle was quite large, with a wooden cargo area, glass doors, and two rows of seats inside.
He Jiaqing made arrangements for Big Head's family to sit inside, and he went to the front to pedal.
This vehicle was a good product crafted by Craftsman Cultivation, and with He Jiaqing's cultivation level Above the Clouds, once the tricycle started pedaling, it ran faster than a car.
Miao Ruifang didn't understand the principle of this vehicle and sat in it with a nervous heart, while Big Head's son, Zou Xiaohao, showed interest.
He stuck his head out of the window and exclaimed, "Uncle, your pedaling is really fast!"
He Jiaqing chuckled, "Once over this slope, it's flat ground, and I can pedal even faster."
Zou Xiaohao wanted to chat more with He Jiaqing, but Miao Ruifang dragged him back, "Don't talk to him!"
Zou Xiaohao protested, "What's wrong with just saying a few words?"
Miao Ruifang snapped, "You still have the thought to chat here? Once there's no place to stay, no school to attend, you'll be running scared with your dad everywhere, do you understand?"
Zou Xiaohao was indeed more optimistic than Miao Ruifang, "Mom, you don't have to scare me. There's definitely a place to stay, Dad wouldn't let us suffer.
As for school, I don't feel it's such a pity, neither the teachers nor classmates liked me, the studying was already uninteresting."
"Why don't you ask why others didn't like you, still not because your dad caused trouble!"
Big Head felt uneasy, turned back to He Jiaqing and said, "Jia Qing, take a break, I'll pedal."
He Jiaqing shook his head, "You're not from the Taoist Sect, and your pedaling isn't as fast as mine; just stay with your wife and child."