At the Jiang Xiang Gang’s Medicine King Hall entrance, Hall Master Luo Zhengnan sat on the roof terrace listening to the radio, chuckling as he listened.
"The world is so vast and full of wonders! A man and his two donkeys parading down the street... and to think such a thing could even occur in Medicine King Valley!"
As Luo Zhengnan reveled in amusement, his subordinate, Staff Bearer Sun Xingbing, came to report, "Han Jinwei has arrived."
"Hall Master Han is here? Bring him in quickly!"
Sun Xingbing said, "Boss, Han Jinwei is no longer a Hall Master. Why do you still treat him with such respect?"
Han Jinwei was formerly the Hall Master of the Loess Bridge Hall Entrance within the Jiang Xiang Gang. Due to the lackluster state of his territory, he often led his men on missions to the Outside Provinces.
The last time he was in the Outside Provinces, he happened to receive orders from Xiao Zhenggong to fight over "Long Spear Zhao Xiaowan" at Iron Gate Fort. Li Banfeng’s scheme subsequently led to the annihilation of his Loess Bridge Hall Entrance.
Subsequently, "Long Spear Zhao Xiaowan" was purchased and brought back by Luo Zhengnan. Xiao Zhenggong did not promote Luo Zhengnan to Deputy Gang Leader, but he did honor one commitment by transferring control of Loess Bridge to Luo Zhengnan.
Now, Luo Zhengnan was the Hall Master of two Hall Entrances, and Han Jinwei had become his subordinate. There really was no need for Luo Zhengnan to be polite to him.
But Luo Zhengnan knew how to handle people. He reprimanded his subordinate Staff Bearer, "You just don’t get it. What’s wrong with calling him Hall Master? Who knows, he might make a comeback one day. The old saying goes, ’No one ever complains about being treated too politely.’ Translated into foreign terms, it’s called having high emotional intelligence, got it? Now hurry up and invite him in!"
When Han Jinwei arrived, after exchanging a few common courtesies, he revealed his purpose, "Hall Master, I wish to return and check on Loess Bridge, and perhaps take care of some Gang business while I’m there."
Luo Zhengnan smiled, having seen through Han Jinwei’s intentions.
"Hall Master Han, is there still any business going on at Loess Bridge?"
"There is. We have three helms, each in charge of their own area. I’ve brought the roster for your perusal."
Luo Zhengnan couldn’t be bothered to look. "I was just at Loess Bridge last month. I walked for more than ten li and barely saw a few households. That place is deserted. What would you even do there?"
"Hall Master, we still have over a hundred brothers there. This matter..."
"Discuss it with the brothers. Those who want to come to Medicine King Valley, I’ll take them in. For those who don’t, extinguish your incense sticks, and go your separate ways."
"Hall Master, this isn’t right. They’ve all been contributing to the Gang."
"Contributing what? Don’t tell me you don’t know. There isn’t any legitimate business left to do at Loess Bridge; human trafficking is all that’s left."
Han Jinwei kept his head down. "But that’s still our Gang’s business."
The Jiang Xiang Gang dealt in all sorts of trades, including human trafficking.
Luo Zhengnan’s face darkened, and his tone became less friendly. "Old Han, I’ve told you before, and I’ll say it again today. The Gang has its business, and each Hall Entrance has its rules. In Medicine King Hall, the business of human trafficking is forbidden. Anyone caught doing it is going against me, Luo Zhengnan."
"Indeed, indeed." Han Jinwei dared not confront Luo Zhengnan and, after exchanging a few idle words, hurried off.
Luo Zhengnan resumed listening to the radio, still amused by the donkey incident in the street, muttering to himself, "Why would the Grieving Cultivator come to Medicine King Valley? Is this related to that person in Loess Bridge?
"This Bird Person dared to provoke Monkey Qiu; it’s his own fault for being short-sighted. Getting dealt with by a donkey in the street, he probably doesn’t have the face to stay in Medicine King Valley anymore.
"The sooner he gets lost, the better."
Luo Zhengnan was hoping the Grieving Cultivator would clear off soon, but Yu Heshun had not yet left.
Far from leaving, after nursing his wounds for a couple of days, he went to make trouble at Qiu’s Pharmacy again.
This was the Grieving Cultivator’s consistent logic: whoever hurt him, he would cling to them.
"You’ve injured me like this! If I don’t get an explanation, you’ll have to take care of me for life!"
The Medicine Shop’s assistant, Ding Youming, got angry. "Who’s going to serve you all their life? What are you blabbering about?"
"What did I say? You hurt me, and I came to reason with you!" Yu Heshun repeated his old trick, shouting loudly and causing a crowd to gather.
Ding Youming was not afraid of him and shouted even louder, "Who hurt you? You were injured by a donkey! Go reason with the donkey! Let the donkey serve you for a lifetime then!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd burst into laughter.
Yu Heshun’s face turned red as he said, "Don’t talk nonsense..."
"Who’s talking nonsense? You ask anyone here, who doesn’t know that you were ’handled’ by a donkey in the street!"
"I, that was..." Yu Heshun tried to explain that he had been affected by a Technique.
Ding Youming didn’t give him the chance to explain. "I don’t care whether you’re sincere or pretending, but you were just ’handled’ by a donkey in the street!"
"I, I am..."
"You were ’handled’ by a donkey!"
"Stop slandering me!"
"I have evidence! You were simply ’handled’ by a donkey!" Ding Youming turned on the projector, the very one Li Banfeng had brought specially.
The scene of him being ’handled’ by a donkey was projected right in front of the Medicine Shop.
The crowd roared with laughter and cheered, while Yu Heshun, fuming with anger, turned and left.
In the back hall of the Medicine Shop, Li Banfeng asked Qiu Zhiheng, "He’s not going to ruin the shop’s feng shui, is he?"
Qiu Zhiheng shook his head. "We haven’t been criticized by others, so the feng shui can’t be ruined. He just can’t stay in Medicine King Valley anymore."
Outside the Medicine Shop, the laughter rolled in waves.
Li Banfeng didn’t laugh.
He admitted that Grieving Cultivators were indeed tough to deal with.
He also admitted that Qiu Zhiheng certainly had his ways.
It was reasonable that Shopkeeper Feng and Yu Nan had wanted to avoid the bad luck and hide by leaving.
「Two days later, Yu Family Cloth Store opened.」
Seeing Li Banfeng, Yu Nan was very happy and invited him to the cloth store for a drink.
After having a couple of drinks, Li Banfeng asked about the incident of dodging the disaster, and Yu Nan replied, "Shopkeeper Feng told me there would be trouble in Medicine King Valley and asked me to leave for a couple of days, so I went to New Land."
「A few days later, Shopkeeper Feng also returned.」
When he learned that Li Banfeng was back, Shopkeeper Feng was both startled and pleased. "Boss Li, long time no see! I’ve been waiting for you here for so many days. Let’s settle the Elixir money first."
All the Elixirs Li Banfeng had consigned to Shopkeeper Feng had been sold.
Shopkeeper Feng was very particular about doing business, always having clear accounts according to their agreement, without any ambiguity.
Li Banfeng waved his hand and said, "The Elixir money isn’t urgent. Let’s first talk about this disaster-avoiding incident. Where did you hear the news from?"
Shopkeeper Feng took a sip of tea and said, "Heard it from a friend."
Shopkeeper Feng was reluctant to elaborate. Li Banfeng never pressed him on matters he didn’t wish to discuss.
"I’ve come to ask about someone," Li Banfeng continued, "Your elder brother, Feng Chongli."
Shopkeeper Feng frowned slightly and after a long silence, he asked, "May I ask what business you have with him?"
"A matter of business."
Shopkeeper Feng sighed and said, "I truly don’t wish to bring him up. Although we are brothers, we are not of the same path.
"However, we had an agreement that we would support each other in business matters. Since you’ve asked, I can’t refuse to tell you.
"Some days ago, he went to Loess Bridge, then from Loess Bridge to Medicine King Valley. He came to me and said that Grieving Cultivators were coming to Medicine King Valley, and he told me to go hide.
"Grieving Cultivators are the bane of businessmen. I passed the message on to Boss Qiu and Manager Yu, and then I hid out in my old family home in the countryside. I only dared to return after hearing that the Grieving Cultivators had left.
"If you intend to do business with my older brother, as far as I know, he has gone back to Loess Bridge. You might find him there; he probably hasn’t left yet."
Loess Bridge was a town situated between Greenwater City and Black Stone Slope.
Li Banfeng had passed Loess Bridge several times by train, but he had never been there.
「The next day, Qiu Zhiheng prepared the Guide Token for Li Banfeng and took him to the station.」
Upon reaching the station square, they had just alighted from the foreign-style carriage when they heard people quarreling. Following the voices, they saw a group of people making trouble for a coachman.
A young man in his twenties said, "To Yuanzheng Street? It’s just a short walk, and you want eight dollars? Are you out of your mind?"
The bewildered coachman replied, "Isn’t that the going rate?"
From the station to Paifang Street for eight dollars was the standard fare.
Yuanzheng Street was slightly further than Paifang Street, so eight dollars really wasn’t much.
But the group was relentless. An old woman said, "What standard fare? You’re quoting exorbitant prices even to elderly folks! With your behavior, you deserve to be poor for generations. We’ll give you seven dollars, take it or leave it."
The coachman, scared, nodded and said, "Alright then, let’s go."
The old woman called out, "Get on the carriage!"
More than a dozen people started boarding the carriage, frightening the coachman. "Folks, my carriage can only seat two people at most. What are you trying to do?"
The old woman grunted, "Who says it can only fit two? We can squeeze in, can’t we?"
The coachman blocked them, saying, "No, you’ll break my carriage!"
"What’s this? You won’t let us board even after we’ve paid? Are you discriminating against us outsiders? Is this the kind of attitude Medicine King Valley has? Can this place even be considered decent?"
The crowd pushed and shoved, and the coachman, grabbing his carriage, ran off.
Li Banfeng quickly counted the number of people hassling the coachman—fifteen in total.
Qiu Zhiheng was also stunned. He said to Li Banfeng, "Brother, let’s leave! Don’t get caught up in this bad luck."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "I can’t go just yet. I need to see an old friend."
Qiu Zhiheng was startled. "I’m also going to see an old friend. Surely we’re not looking for the same person?"
It turned out they were looking for the same person.
Qiu Zhiheng led Li Banfeng to Hundred Fragrance Village. They walked more than seventy li southeast from the village to a barren mountain.
Deep in the barren hills, after passing two disorderly graveyards, they finally saw a small courtyard from afar.
Upon entering the courtyard, a strong scent of alcohol hit them. Elder Yao was lying on a recliner, holding a wine jug and singing an opera:
"The arrival of this letter is most opportune, aiding Huang Zhong in his arduous quest, standing at the camp gate to pass the order, all the boys listen well to this root and sprout..."
It was *Stable Military Mountain*!
Not to mention, Elder Yao was singing quite well, with precise timing in every measure.
Seeing Li Banfeng, Elder Yao stood up from the recliner, grabbed Li Banfeng’s hand with a cheerful grin. "How come you’re here, lad?"
Li Banfeng replied courteously, "I’ve come specially to visit you, Elder."
"Is business still good?"
"Thanks to your blessings, Elder, business has been quite good."
"Why didn’t you bring your wife and children along?"
"I um..." Li Banfeng was at a loss for words.
Elder Yao frowned. "Xiao Qiu, it’s not that I want to criticize you, but look at your face full of stubble. Can’t you trim it properly?"
Li Banfeng looked at Qiu Zhiheng, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Elder Yao took a glance at Qiu Zhiheng, rubbed his forehead, and said, "I’ve had a few too many. My mistake, that one is Xiao Qiu!"
Then he turned to Li Banfeng and asked, "How did you come here with Xiao Qiu?"
"Big Brother Qiu and I have known each other for some time."
"I know you’re acquainted. But girl, let me remind you, Xiao Qiu has a family. He is not suitable for you.
"Haven’t you always fancied Li Qi? But that Li Qi is no good either!"
"That guy, Li Qi, he’s quite alright," Li Banfeng said to Elder Yao. "Just how much have you drunk?"
"Not much!" Elder Yao raised two fingers. "Eight and a half pounds, with half a pound still in the jug."
Qiu Zhiheng said, "Elder Yao, we came to tell you, Grieving Cultivators have arrived in Medicine King Valley."
"I’ve heard about that!" Elder Yao looked unconcerned. "It’s just one Grieving Cultivator. Can’t you handle it? You don’t need me for such a trifling matter."
Qiu Zhiheng shook his head. "Not just one. A total of fifteen have come."
"Fifteen?" Elder Yao was taken aback, his drunkenness fading.
"How could there be fifteen?" Elder Yao muttered to himself. "How many people does that Taoist Sect have in total? How could fifteen of them come?"
After a moment of silence, Elder Yao raised his head. "Who has been to Loess Bridge recently?"
Li Banfeng vigorously shook his head; he hadn’t been there.
Qiu Zhiheng answered, "I went there once at the beginning of the year."
"How was the situation there?"
"Not good, very bleak. There’s hardly anyone left."
Elder Yao blinked and said, "I thought that place produced coal and had iron mines. It shouldn’t have come to this."
Qiu Zhiheng said, "Doing business there is too troublesome. Merchants have moved to Black Stone Slope, and ordinary families have relocated as well."
Elder Yao put down his jug, looking utterly astonished. "Is the Deathgate Star fixated on me now?"
PS: A major incident is about to happen in Medicine King Valley.