Li Banfeng looked at the sapling. "Is this for relieving boredom?"
Root nodded. "It can relieve boredom. Big Brother Zhang has a flower that’s much smarter than this tree. That flower has endless things to say every day and is very understanding of human nature."
During the conversation, Root kept his eyes on Li Banfeng.
Root knew that Zhang Wanlong was a person with real abilities and also someone difficult to deal with. Although he knew it was dangerous to do so, Root hoped that Li Banfeng would give him a chance—an opportunity to continue interacting with Zhang Wanlong, because Zhang Wanlong could bring Root unimaginable opportunities.
Li Banfeng nodded. "Root, when you meet a capable person like Big Brother Zhang, you must learn from him. I have other matters to attend to, so you can stay here and pioneer the land with him, but we have to agree, this territory cannot be pioneered using your methods."
Root looked at the bucket. "Seventh Master, what’s wrong with my method?"
"Your method might easily anger the Local Deity. Just to open a mere mile of Wilderness, Big Brother Zhang will definitely have a way."
Zhang Wanlong nodded repeatedly. "I also think Root’s method isn’t suitable. Even if the patch of land is opened up, it won’t be easy to manage later on."
Li Banfeng glanced at the sapling planted by Zhang Wanlong, lowered his hat brim, and turned to leave.
Li Banfeng was certain that once these saplings grew, their combat power would definitely not be inferior to those watermelons at the Geng Family Medicine Shop.
The Local Deity had too much to handle. Li Banfeng rubbed his forehead, feeling somewhat taxed.
Upon returning to the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng told his wife, "The plot of land has been opened, and two more pioneering groups have arrived."
"Congratulations, Husband. The territory is flourishing. This is a good thing."
"It’s good indeed, but the more people there are, the more troubles arise. If I’m not near the territory in the future, how shall these matters be dealt with?"
His wife had already made plans for Li Banfeng. "It all depends on whether or not my Husband cherishes the reputation of the territory.
"If my Husband doesn’t care about his reputation, he might just leave the land as it is, paying it no mind."
"If someone who successfully pioneered a plot comes asking for my help, should I also ignore them?"
"That depends on luck. If that person is fortunate and encounters Meng Yuchun, Meng Yuchun should offer some assistance. Afterwards, my Husband can share some cultivation level from the territory with Meng Yuchun as a token of gratitude."
"What if they don’t meet Meng Yuchun?"
"Then it’s just their bad luck. They’re left to fend for themselves. If they bleed and seek help, and the Local Deity doesn’t respond, the reputation of this territory will be ruined."
"My dear, I do cherish the reputation of this territory."
"If you cherish the reputation, my Husband cannot just leave. Over a Hundred Miles of Land, my Husband must protect it with all his heart. Any enemy my Husband can deal with should be handled personally, and for those he can’t, he should immediately seek Meng Yuchun’s help. With my Husband’s speed, this shouldn’t be too difficult to accomplish."
Li Banfeng sniffed. "Do I really move that fast?"
"What Little Servant means is that my Husband could use the Deep House Technique to borrow some Techniques from Hong Ying."
Hong Ying nodded repeatedly. "Qi Lang, as long as you speak up, all of this is easy to discuss. Just tell me first how exactly we should handle the two business deals..."
SMACK!
The Phonograph threw a rag at Hong Ying’s face, then addressed Li Banfeng, "Husband, you must carefully weigh the gains and losses.
"Seizing a place of power is an exceedingly difficult task. A single misstep could lead to the ruin of all that you have accomplished."
「The next afternoon」
Li Banfeng left the Portable Residence and went to check on He Yuxiu’s territory.
He Yuxiu had prepared for the inspection. Oil Peach followed behind, asking with concern, "It’s been three days since you last went. Shall we freshen up before going?"
"No need to freshen up." He Yuxiu shook her head. This girl named Oil Peach was a bit too enthusiastic.
She worked diligently. Yesterday, she not only boiled hot water but also helped He Yuxiu wash thoroughly from head to toe, meticulously cleaning every inch. Even now, He Yuxiu still felt a tingling sensation on her skin when she recalled it.
Once within the territory, it wasn’t long before the first Strange Monster arrived to challenge her.
Those who dared to open a three-mile territory, Pioneers, naturally possessed some strength, and the Strange Monsters who came to challenge them were of quite different mettle.
The challenger this time was a mosquito, about as large as Oil Peach.
Though large in size, this mosquito acted very cautiously.
She spread her membranous wings, flattened herself to the ground, and blended in with the dead branches and leaves, showing no sign of change.
Crawling all the way, the mosquito entered the plot of land without He Yuxiu or Oil Peach noticing at all.
This mosquito was very patient, lying next to Oil Peach for a full two hours without making a move.
Seeing the two slackening, their concentration waning, the mosquito quietly rose, aimed its long proboscis at the back of Oil Peach’s head, and struck.
If that strike had landed, she wouldn’t have even needed venom; the physical injury alone would have been enough to kill Oil Peach.
As the proboscis closed in on a strand of hair, He Yuxiu reached out and grabbed it. With a twist of her wrist, the proboscis snapped off at once.
The mosquito, in shock, began to flutter her wings, trying to escape.
He Yuxiu casually threw the broken proboscis, piercing the mosquito’s head with deadly accuracy.
The mosquito died on the spot. He Yuxiu nudged the corpse with her foot and laughed. "This level dares to challenge me? The Strange Monsters of this territory aren’t very impressive!"
Oil Peach kept praising her, "Sister, you’re so capable! Sister, have a drink! Sister, eat something! Sister, you’re sweating, let me wipe it for you."
He Yuxiu took the handkerchief. "I can wipe it myself. Don’t stick your hand inside my clothes."
Li Banfeng left. There was no need to watch this test, as the Strange Monsters here were no match for He Yuxiu.
Root had prepared the offerings, and Li Banfeng was genuinely worried he might place the buckets right on the altar.
Luckily, Zhang Wanlong was a tactful person. A pot of corn wine was arranged on the altar, emitting an enticing aroma.
Li Banfeng didn’t dare to drink it, so he collected the wine and activated the land.
「The next day」
Li Banfeng, grasping the Judge’s Pen, flew over the land to see how they were pioneering it.
He didn’t see Root, only Zhang Wanlong wielding a hoe and tilling the field.
Li Banfeng’s heart tightened. Scanning over the plot briefly from above, he spotted Root lying quietly amidst the wild grasses in the middle of the land.
Li Banfeng glanced again at the tilling Zhang Wanlong. A leech, over five meters long, had coiled its body and was sliding towards him, yet Zhang Wanlong was completely unaware.
The leech surged behind Zhang Wanlong, rose up suddenly, and swallowed his head in one gulp.
Zhang Wanlong’s body immediately shriveled. The segments on the leech’s body undulated like waves, trembling layer by layer, as it sucked Zhang Wanlong’s blood and flesh.
In under a minute, all that remained of Zhang Wanlong was a shriveled husk on the ground.
The leech sniffed around, seemingly detecting a scent, and slithered towards Root.
Root remained motionless, not a trace of fear on his face.
Twenty to thirty meters from Root, the leech raised its body again.
The leech buried its head into the soil and swiftly raised it again. Its body experienced layers upon layers of intense undulations.
It kept coiling and uncoiling, suffering tremendous pain.
On its coarse black skin, some bulges appeared, and from them, fresh green sprouts broke through.
The sprouts grew rapidly, their roots breaking through the leech’s skin and drilling into the ground.
The green stalk grew thicker, and leaves multiplied. They intertwined over the leech’s body, forming a meter-wide globe eggplant.
The eggplant slowly split open, and out crawled Zhang Wanlong, hoe in hand, continuing to till the field.
The leech on the ground continued struggling, more roots and leaves sprouting from its body.
The stems and leaves quickly formed another eggplant. Another Zhang Wanlong emerged from it, hoe in hand.
The real Zhang Wanlong rose from the weeds, fiddling with the seeds in his hands.