A few minutes passed, and Li Banfeng felt no more itchiness.
Cui Tiq’s face twisted in contortions as numerous bumps sprouted on his cheeks—he had transferred the disease left by the Greenwater Beggar onto himself.
"The Grandmaster’s affliction is indeed... unique," Cui Tiq said with difficulty. "I’ve fulfilled my promise. Can I leave now?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "Before you leave, can you reveal some of your Grandmaster’s intentions? Was the beggar sent by him?"
"He was sent by him; he takes great issue with your pioneering work."
"Why would he care about my pioneering? Because I’ve gathered a large number of people in Greenwater City?"
Cui Tiq shook his head. "I don’t understand the specifics, but my advice to you is to continue doing what you want to do."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because that’s the kind of person the Greenwater Beggar is. Even if you wanted to stop now, he wouldn’t let you go."
"Farewell, friend. Don’t touch the beggar’s corpse again."
What truly worried Li Banfeng was what the Greenwater Beggar would do next.
「...」
Cui Tiq returned to the hospital and immediately prayed to the Greenwater Beggar, "Great Grandmaster, as you instructed, I’ve been keeping an eye on that beggar, and now he is no longer in this world."
Soon after, the Greenwater Beggar appeared before Cui Tiq. "Speak clearly. Is he dead or not?"
"Yes," Cui Tiq nodded.
"What about the corpse?"
"I’ve destroyed it."
"Why?"
"Because the Grandmaster’s power was on his body. If others discovered his corpse, they might trace the Grandmaster’s whereabouts."
The Greenwater Beggar chuckled. "You’ve done well. Would you like to know who that beggar was?"
"Provided that the Ancestral Master is willing to tell me, and that it is something I can know."
The Greenwater Beggar laughed. "You still speak with such effort, but I find your words pleasant enough. That beggar is known as Dogtail Grass, the Local Deity of the New Land near Blue Poplar Village.
"Over the years, we’ve clashed a few times. I’ve taken over more than seventy percent of his territory, and his cultivation level is about to fall to Earth Skin.
"Now that he’s dead, there’s no need to leave that little place for him. I’ll take it all.
"If one day you’re fortunate enough to cultivate to Above the Clouds, you can also come to me to claim a piece of territory."
"Thank you for the Grandmaster’s generosity."
The Greenwater Beggar shook his head. "Don’t thank me yet; there’s more to tell. Did you see who killed him?"
Cui Tiq answered truthfully, "I didn’t see the fight. I only saw a figure in white clothes."
Green Flower laughed, "That wretch from Cheap Person Ridge, to protect Li Qi, actually allowed Zhong Huairen and that clothing to take action! To what extent has that clothing reached that it could kill Dogtail Grass?
"It seems I can’t sit idle either. I must give them a response."
Cui Tiq bowed deeply. "I am willing to do all I can to help the Grandmaster win this war."
"War? I’m not used to these words you use," the Greenwater Beggar chuckled. "I’ve already made my move. I guess Chu Shaoqiang won’t be able to hold on, just like in the past."
「...」
Near Yangjiao Garden, in a Western-style house, Chu Shaoqiang, the former Family Head of the Chu Family, sat on the sofa. Dressed in a gray-white coat, he was listening to the white-clothed young Zhong Huairen report his investigation findings.
"Mr. Chu, Li Qi has returned to Greenwater City. He has contacted the He Family, and his relationship with He Yuxiu seems to be very close. He has recruited more Pioneers. Should we take action against him?" Zhong Huairen stroked his chin.
Chu Shaoqiang shook his head. "There’s no rush with that. I’m quite interested in talking to Qiu Luoye. After all, his Contract Book is still under the control of the Inner State.
"I’ve heard that the Border Defense Envoy has made some moves, and it seems they’re directed at me."
Zhong Huairen, who knew about this, was about to tell Chu Shaoqiang, "Chief Envoy Liao sent someone to find the Strict Law Society, hoping to see you."
"No," Chu Shaoqiang flatly refused. "I also advise you, it’s best not to have too much to do with him. You should have heard some of my past experiences."
Zhong Huairen scratched his cheek. "But Master said that in order to regain our empire, we cannot do without the support of the Border Defense Envoy."
Chu Shaoqiang chuckled and shook his head. "The Border Defense Envoy won’t support you; only the Inner State can help you."
"But Master said..." Zhong Huairen scratched his cheek vigorously. Clear blisters, one by one, slowly rose on his face.
Chu Shaoqiang frowned and stood up, moving away. "Have you seen the Greenwater Beggar?"
Zhong Huairen shook his head in bewilderment. "I haven’t seen him. Following your instructions, I’ve been avoiding him."
"It looks like you didn’t manage to avoid him!" Chu Shaoqiang prepared to leave the mansion immediately.
He hurriedly followed. "Mr. Chu, what should I do? Can the disease inflicted by Green Flower be cured?"
Chu Shaoqiang offered a suggestion, "Steaming for several hours with boiling water should fix it."
"Steaming?" Zhong Huairen shook his head. "I can’t endure steaming; my cultivation level isn’t high enough."
Chu Shaoqiang kept his distance from Zhong Huairen. "I was talking to the clothing on you."
The white clothing immediately left Zhong Huairen and went to boil water in the kitchen.
「...」
Wan Jinxian contacted He Jiaqing. "Jia Qing, Green Flower wants to ally with us."
"Green Flower? Isn’t he the Inner State’s henchman? How could he possibly want to ally with us?" He Jiaqing was riding an electric scooter delivering food. The nearby neighborhoods were bustling with people.