Li Banfeng asked, "Who is Huang Xiliang?"
"One of the Insect Cultivator Leaders, the very Insect Leader you just mentioned. But he alone couldn’t produce such ferocious mosquitoes."
"How can you be sure?"
Shaking his head, Pan Dehai said, "The habits of the Clan-Exterminating Mosquitoes have gone beyond the natural instincts of mosquitoes. This is not just reflected in their ability to consume grains. Their reproduction rate, resistance to poison, and perception of grains all far exceed those of normal mosquitoes. Aside from looking like mosquitoes, these insects have little else in common with them. I’ve also consulted numerous ancient texts, and among the records of insect calamities, this type of insect has never appeared. This means these insects were not born naturally but were created by someone using certain methods."
Li Banfeng said, "Can’t an Insect Leader create a new type of insect?"
Shaking his head, Pan Dehai said, "Insect Cultivators are adept at controlling insects. Huang Xiliang created the Iron Thread River, and even thousands of li away, the Iron Thread Worms would still respond to his control. This shows the strength of his Mana. Moreover, Insect Cultivators are also skilled at breeding, able to selectively breed from one type of insect and choose the strongest for combat. But there’s a difference between breeding and creating a new species. I’ve never heard of an Insect Cultivator who could create a new species."
Meng Yuchun said, "It’s not only Insect Cultivators, right? It seems no Taoist Sect can create new species of life."
Nodding, Pan Dehai said, "That Miss Meng can make such a statement shows she is certainly a Person of Great Virtue. This is not something one Taoist Sect can accomplish, nor can it be done by one person’s power. To my knowledge, several Cultivators were involved in this matter, with Huang Xiliang being the chief instigator and Bei Wushuang also one of the accomplices. For the crimes they committed at Hai Chi Ridge alone, that scoundrel Bei Wushuang deserves to die. Moreover, the full story behind this incident hasn’t been clarified yet. They must have had their reasons for targeting Hai Chi Ridge, and this opportunity might reveal an even larger conspiracy. Of course, I’m not doing this just for Hai Chi Ridge. Having such despicable people as neighbors must be disturbing for Miss Meng. We should take action as soon as possible to prevent any future troubles."
Meng Yuchun glanced at Li Banfeng. She agreed with Pan Dehai’s argument; eliminating Bei Wushuang would be beneficial for both her and Li Banfeng.
Li Banfeng said to Pan Dehai, "Old Pan, you want to kill Bei Wushuang. It would make sense to do so stealthily, catching him utterly unprepared. Why did you choose to release the news in advance? Now that Bei Wushuang is scared out of his wits, he’s extremely cautious, making it much harder to kill him."
Heaving a long sigh, Pan Dehai said, "I had thought about acting covertly, but then I reconsidered and felt it inappropriate. Being able to join forces with Huang Xiliang proves that Bei Wushuang has some skill. If I acted rashly, I’m afraid I might not succeed in killing him and could instead fall prey to his schemes. I released the news early so that virtuous people like you would learn of Bei Wushuang’s wickedness and, sharing our common enemy, join forces with me to destroy him!"
Li Banfeng said, "If we refused to help, I suppose you would have spread the news that Meng Yuchun was planning to make a move against Bei Wushuang, thus making him our enemy."
Shaking his head, Pan Dehai said, "I had not yet planned to do that."
Li Banfeng scoffed, "Old Pan, you’re being modest. ’Not yet planned’? You’ve already done it!"
"Old Pan, Bei Wushuang certainly deserves to die. But do you have a good plan?"
Nodding, Pan Dehai said, "There is a plan, but I’m not sure if I should share it with you."
Li Banfeng was taken aback. "Since you’re here to discuss revenge, what is there that cannot be said?"
Looking at Meng Yuchun, Pan Dehai said, "I came to discuss matters of revenge with Miss Meng."
Li Banfeng frowned.
At this moment, it was only natural for Meng Yuchun to support Li Banfeng. She sat next to him and took his arm. "He’s my sweetheart. He can hear whatever I can hear, and I will only agree if he agrees to it."
Pan Dehai sighed softly. "My reluctance to speak out is also for his own good. Li Qi, you might not be able to truly contribute in this battle. I want to ask, what is your current cultivation level?"
Li Banfeng said with a smile, "My cultivation level is certainly not as high as Old Pan’s. If Old Pan is worried that I will be a burden, then I simply won’t join the fight."
Meng Yuchun took Li Banfeng’s arm and said, "If he doesn’t fight, neither will I."
Pan Dehai nodded and said, "Both of you are virtuous people, determined to punish the wicked and eradicate evil. I greatly admire that. Since this is the case, I will share the battle strategy with you two. I entered the Taoist Sect a few years before you two, and my cultivation level is also slightly higher. Therefore, I won’t let you take the dangerous risks. You two just need to go to Bei Wushuang’s territory and pretend to battle with him. I will venture into the Dragon Pond and Tiger Cave, go to his residence, and dig up his Contract Book. Then I will rejoin you, and together we will kill this scoundrel."
"Look at Old Pan’s magnanimity," Li Banfeng said to Meng Yuchun. "He insists on keeping us out of danger."
Pan Dehai smiled and said, "You two don’t have to be polite. When I handle matters, I always prioritize virtue. It is my desire to protect the younger generation, as befits a Person of Great Virtue."
"Old Pan, why don’t you speak more directly? You simply want us to act as bait and draw out Bei Wushuang. Then, while you have the chance, you’ll dig up his Contract Book. If we hold out, you’ll have achieved a great success. If we can’t hold out, you can still retreat unscathed. Is that what you mean?"
Pan Dehai repeatedly shook his head and said, "Li Qi, you’re misunderstanding me! I certainly have no such intention!"
"No matter what you intend, we refuse to be bait," Li Banfeng said to Pan Dehai. "You should find someone else for that role."
The atmosphere grew tense.
The Silk-pulling Earrings whispered, "Master, there’s movement outside, there really is."
A crow flew over the entrance of the cave. Pan Dehai’s expression grew dark. "Miss Meng, I came to you with sincerity to join forces, but this sweetheart of yours speaks quite unpleasantly."
Meng Yuchun wanted to ease the atmosphere and was about to reply when she suddenly felt a tingling itch on her Peach.
Li Banfeng was caressing her Peach with his fingertips. Just as Meng Yuchun was about to get angry, she suddenly realized that Li Banfeng seemed to be writing on her Peach.
He wrote two words, one on each half of the Peach, repeating them three times.
Meng Yuchun quivered her Fatty Peach and indeed recognized the two words.
She sneered and said to Pan Dehai, "What does it matter if his words are unpleasant? I listen to him anyway."
Pan Dehai stood up and said, "If that’s the case, then we have nothing further to discuss. This trip has been in vain. I take my leave."
Meng Yuchun also stood up. "You think you can just come and go as you please? What do you take this place for?"
Pan Dehai looked at Meng Yuchun, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Late at night, Bei Wushuang was checking the various lookout points in his territory when a crow flew near him and whispered, "Master, Pan Dehai has gone to Meng Yuchun’s territory. He’s acquainted with Meng Yuchun’s sweetheart. The three of them are together discussing matters."
Bei Wushuang answered calmly, "I already know about this."
The crow continued, "Pan Dehai is being underhanded, but the sweetheart won’t agree. Their negotiations have failed, and a conflict arose between Meng Yuchun and Pan Dehai. They fought, and Meng Yuchun was injured, quite seriously. Pan Dehai was also injured and has been trapped by Meng Yuchun within her Boundary, and he’s struggling to escape."
Bei Wushuang, expressionless, said, "Investigate further."
After the crow left, Bei Wushuang gazed into the distance and snorted.
After a moment of contemplation, a magpie suddenly flew over, whispering in Bei Wushuang’s ear, "That sweetheart is here again."
Bei Wushuang turned and walked towards the northwest.
After traveling for more than ten li, he stopped and called out to the space before him, "Why have you come?"
Li Banfeng emerged from the darkness and said to Bei Wushuang, "I’ve come to give you a generous gift."
"What gift?" Bei Wushuang flicked his tongue.
"Pan Dehai has been trapped by Meng Yuchun. If you wish to move against him, now is the perfect opportunity."