As a First Layer Traveling Cultivator, Li Banfeng had truly not expected there to be two Techniques.
Startled, Li Banfeng asked, "Seek Fortune and Avoid Disaster, how does this Technique work?"
The Coachman did not answer, just kept his head down pulling the rickshaw.
Li Banfeng wanted to ask again when he suddenly felt a chill and couldn’t help but shiver.
Turning his head, the Coachman asked, "Scared?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "Yes, scared."
The Coachman smiled and said, "I just directed some killing intent towards you, but rest assured, I didn’t really want to kill you. I was just helping you test the Technique.
"’Seek Fortune and Avoid Disaster’ is the simplest Technique. You coming to ride my rickshaw today is what’s called ’seeking fortune’.
"Feeling anxious, hands trembling, shivering, getting goosebumps—all could be signs of impending danger. When you encounter such situations, make sure to avoid them; that’s called ’avoiding disaster’.
"The Technique is easy, but there are always those who fail to understand it, especially the careless ones who never take these little things seriously.
"A Traveling Cultivator wanders through a thousand mountains and crosses ten thousand rivers. The heart must be meticulous, weighing one’s life with every step taken."
This Technique greatly surprised Li Banfeng. "So, if there’s danger, a Traveling Cultivator will definitely sense it?"
The Coachman shook his head. "There’s no such guarantee. It depends on your cultivation level, the Magical Treasure, and also the capabilities of the opposing Taoist Sect.
"If your opponent’s cultivation level exceeds yours by two layers, they can hide their malice. If they want to harm you, you won’t detect it at all.
"Or, if the opponent has a Magical Treasure or a Technique that conceals malice, you still won’t notice.
"Some hidden places can conceal dangers, and if your cultivation isn’t high enough, you won’t detect them.
"If you encounter a Home Cultivator of the same layer, you won’t be able to discern all their thoughts, and their malice will also go undetected."
"Big Brother, from what you’ve said, Home Cultivation seems to have some kind of counter against us Traveling Cultivators."
"It’s not just some restraining effect," the Coachman said with a bitter laugh. "Let me tell you, we normally have to avoid Home Cultivators, and they have to avoid us. Once we get into a fight with a Home Cultivator of the same level, we must be prepared to fight to the death.
"If we enter a Home Cultivator’s residence, we’re as good as dead. If we lure a Home Cultivator into dangerous terrain, they’re as good as dead.
"I once encountered a Home Cultivator. He was about to force me into his residence. I steeled myself, endured his brutal attacks all the way, and managed to haul him to the edge of a cliff.
"We Traveling Cultivators have steady footing. I was able to stand firm, but Home Cultivators aren’t as stable. He lost his balance and fell off the cliff to his death. That’s how I won.
"Forget about pulling punches or ending things amicably. There’s no such luck. These two Taoist Sects are natural enemies. Whoever relaxes even a bit loses their life!"
Seizing the opportunity, Li Banfeng asked, "Big Brother, do you know what Techniques Home Cultivators have?"
"I can’t say for sure," the Coachman shook his head. "Home Cultivation Techniques vary. Some are similar, some are different, and they’re not easy to recognize. That much is consistent. But each Home Cultivator I’ve met had their own unique methods.
"Home Cultivators are already rare, and the temperament of House Spirits is unpredictable, which makes them challenging to deal with. If you run into one, try your best to avoid them."
Li Banfeng still had several questions, but the Coachman suddenly stopped and said, "This is the station. Take care."
Just like that, in a matter of moments, they had arrived at the station.
As he got off, Li Banfeng asked one more question, "Apart from ’Wind Rises on Flat Ground’ and ’Seek Fortune and Avoid Disaster,’ do Traveling Cultivators have other abilities?"
"There are plenty of skills, but you’ve reached your destination."
Li Banfeng pulled out his wallet and said, "Take me a little farther. Even if you don’t pull the rickshaw, just chat with me. I’ll pay. Name your price."
The Coachman laughed. "Save your money. Our encounter ends here for today. If we’re fated to meet again, I’ll tell you more then."
With that, the Coachman wiped his face with a towel and pulled his rickshaw away from the square in front of the station.
「Just a few days earlier, Li Banfeng had walked out of this very station. Today, he was about to embark on another journey, returning to Yuezhou.」
Li Banfeng massaged his forehead.
The station was small, just a strip of bungalows, with a slightly elevated waiting hall next to the ticket office.
Following the Coachman’s teachings, Li Banfeng first controlled his hips, then his knees, followed by his ankles and his toes.
The approach was correct, but the strand of force, thinner than a hemp rope, was difficult to control. As Li Banfeng lifted his leg, his entire body shot into the ticket office.
Luckily, there was no one in the ticket office. Li Banfeng managed to stop in time, arriving at the ticket counter.
The ticket seller was dozing off and didn’t notice Li Banfeng’s unusual entrance. Li Banfeng called out several times, "Ticket! I want to buy a ticket!"
The ticket seller rubbed her eyes and yawned before asking, "Where to?"
"Yuezhou."
"A seat or a sleeper berth?"
The ticket seller prepared to issue the ticket. "Train 1160, first-class sleeper, 13,000. The next available one departs at 9 p.m. tomorrow."
Li Banfeng was stunned for a moment. He hadn’t brought that much money with him; most of his funds were inside his Portable Residence.
Just as he was thinking about retrieving money from his Portable Residence, he heard the ticket seller say, "First, show me your Guide Token."
"Guide Token? What’s that?" Li Banfeng was puzzled.
The ticket seller frowned. "Without a Guide Token, how can you buy a ticket?"
While Li Banfeng was still puzzling over the concept of a Guide Token, a man wearing a forward cap walked into the ticket hall and silently observed him.
He had been waiting here for a long time.
His name was Chu Yunlong. He was Big Nine, a patrol squad leader under Second Helmsman Xun Feng of the Medicine King Hall, part of the Jiang Xiang Gang.
Chu Yunlong slowly approached Li Banfeng.
Li Banfeng was still arguing with the ticket seller. "I need a Guide Token to get on a train? Why don’t you demand a travel permit too? Is this train on a pilgrimage to the Western Heaven to fetch scriptures or something?"
Li Banfeng was furious, shaking with rage.
"Have you ever even ridden a train before? Don’t you understand such a simple rule?" The ticket seller also grew angry.
As the two argued, Chu Yunlong got closer and closer to Li Banfeng.
He had his hands in his pockets, his face expressionless, seemingly about to queue up behind Li Banfeng, waiting to buy a ticket.
He was seven or eight meters away from Li Banfeng, and the argument between Li Banfeng and the ticket seller grew louder.
"When I arrived, why didn’t I hear anything about a Guide Token? How come you have so many rules all of a sudden?"
"I don’t care where you came from. Without a Guide Token, you can’t buy a ticket. Telling me all this is useless. This is the rule. Buy it or get lost!"
Chu Yunlong’s mouth curled up slightly, continuing to move closer to Li Banfeng.
"What kind of rule is this? Show me your rules!" Li Banfeng roared loudly, somewhat losing control.
"Why should I show you anything? Who do you think you are?" the ticket seller retorted fearlessly.
"If you don’t show me the rules, it proves there are no rules! I’m going in to get a ticket myself right now, and I’d like to see how you try to stop me from buying one!"
Chu Yunlong was now standing right behind Li Banfeng and slowly reached out his hand.
Chu Yunlong’s hand did not touch Li Banfeng.
Li Banfeng leaped onto the counter, intending to break into the ticket office!
The ticket seller was also stunned. "You dare! Just you try coming in!"
Li Banfeng was indeed about to go in. He wasn’t someone to back down from a confrontation.
At this moment, Chu Yunlong and the ticket seller shared the same thought:
Chu Yunlong now couldn’t make his move since Li Banfeng was on the counter.
The ticket seller quickly pulled the alarm, and the deafening bell rang out in the ticket hall.
Li Banfeng didn’t continue his attempt to barge into the ticket office. Instead, he squatted on the counter, glancing at Chu Yunlong behind him and then at the ticket hall’s main entrance.
Two uniformed individuals charged into the ticket hall from outside. Li Banfeng didn’t recognize them, but Chu Yunlong did.
The ticket seller pointed at Li Banfeng and shouted loudly, "He’s trying to steal a ticket! He doesn’t have a Guide Token! He’s trying to ride illegally!"
The two Patrol Officers didn’t hesitate and charged towards Li Banfeng.
Chu Yunlong hastily moved aside.
Li Banfeng jumped down from the counter and said to Chu Yunlong, "Brother, run! What are you standing there for?"
"No, I mean..." Chu Yunlong blinked, unsure of what to say at that moment.
Li Banfeng took off running. He was incredibly fast, slipping past the two Patrol Officers’ attempt to block him and dashing out of the ticket hall in the blink of an eye.
Seeing this, the two Patrol Officers immediately moved to encircle Chu Yunlong.
Chu Yunlong licked his lips, facing the oncoming Patrol Officers.
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