"What sins have the sinners of the City of Sinners actually committed?" Li Banfeng was unfamiliar with these terms.
Qiu Luoye shook his head. "It’s complicated. In short, those people are no good. It’s said they have ties with the Outside Provinces."
"What kind of ties do they have with the Outside Provinces? Are they sent by the Outside Provinces?" Li Banfeng immediately became alert; if they were sent by the Outside Provinces, he couldn’t let them set foot on his territory.
Qiu Luoye said, "The messages spread by the Border Defense Envoys of the Outside Provinces claim that no one should harbor those who escape from the City of Sinners. If anyone does, they’re going against the Border Defense Envoys.
"And if we’re going against them, then so be it. I’m not afraid of the Border Defense Envoys, but these Strange Monsters are tough to deal with. I must strike first.
"Recently, I’ve told those clearing the land to be extra careful. Those Three-Headed Monsters are all on the eastern side of the territory; I’ve directed our people to stay away from there."
Qiu Luoye was about to leave, but Li Banfeng said, "Big Brother Qiu, let’s switch. You keep an eye on the land clearing, and I’ll go check out those people. We’re in a crucial time right now. As long as they’re not sent by the Outside Provinces or the Inner State to cause trouble, let’s try to avoid violence as much as possible."
Qiu Luoye waved his hand. "I think they are here to cause trouble! It’s safest to end their lives here!"
Conventional methods wouldn’t persuade Qiu Luoye, so Li Banfeng changed his strategy.
"Big Brother Qiu, hundreds of people are clearing land every day. How can I keep an eye on them all? Am I capable of receiving tributes or sending people to inspect?"
"Brother, I’m not trying to make things difficult for you..."
Li Banfeng said, "Matters of the Local Deity are beyond me. I’ll go talk to those people outside and see what the situation is first. That, at least, I can handle clearly."
Qiu Luoye was worried. "The monsters from the City of Sinners can fight. I’m afraid you might get into trouble. Let them send someone to our territory to talk."
"That won’t do," Li Banfeng was also concerned. "If one of them comes in, that’s still manageable. But what if a group comes in? I’ll go alone. Even if something happens, I have ways to get out."
"Old Qi, why don’t we try a more civilized approach with them?" Qiu Luoye considered writing a letter for Li Banfeng to deliver, to intimidate the other side.
Li Banfeng went directly to the eastern border of the territory and saw Juanzi waiting by the roadside from afar.
Old Hu, one of Qiu Luoye’s tigers, was negotiating with Juanzi: "Let me tell you, don’t be ungrateful. Master Qiu wants you to scram. If you don’t leave soon, I’ll stop being nice."
"It’s okay if you don’t take us in," Juanzi replied politely, "but could you give us some food?"
"Where would we get so much food for you? Get lost now! Don’t force me to get rough!"
"So what if it gets rough?" Mengzi flared up. "You think I’m afraid of you?!"
Just as both sides were about to clash, they saw Li Banfeng approaching, and Old Hu quickly stepped aside.
Li Qi looked at Juanzi, then at Mengzi, and then at Xiao Shan, and asked, "Who’s in charge here?"
Juanzi said, "I am."
Juanzi was over two meters tall. Li Banfeng found it uncomfortable to crane his neck to look up at her, so he pointed at a rock by the roadside. "Can we sit and talk?" he asked.
Juanzi nodded. She had just sat down when something pressed uncomfortably against her, and she quickly stood up again.
The rock spoke up in an old man’s voice, "Seventh Master, I was sent by Master Qiu to discuss matters. I haven’t even opened my mouth yet, and this girl has sat on my face!
"If I were younger, I’d let it slide. But I’m getting old, and this girl is quite heavy. I almost couldn’t take it."
Li Banfeng nodded and sat face-to-face with Juanzi on the ground, then asked directly, "What are you here to do?"
Juanzi said, "We want to find a place to settle down and are wondering whether the Local Deity here would be willing to take us in."
"If you want to settle in the New Land, why don’t you just clear the land? What’s there to ask about?"
The three heads exchanged perplexed glances. This man before them didn’t seem to understand their situation at all.
Juanzi had heard Stone call Li Banfeng "Seventh Master" earlier, so she addressed him the same way. "Seventh Master, we can’t clear land. The Local Deity won’t accept us."
"Why won’t it accept you?"
"We are sinners, from the City of Sinners." Juanzi spoke candidly and calmly. They couldn’t hide this matter; the marks on their bodies were too obvious.
"What sins have you committed?"
Mengzi interjected, "Don’t you know about the City of Sinners?"
Juanzi gave Mengzi a glare. "Don’t interrupt!"
Li Banfeng said to Juanzi, "Even though you’re in charge, you should let others speak. In my presence, everyone can have their say."
Juanzi saw a glimmer of hope in Li Qi and said, "Seventh Master, everyone from the City of Sinners is guilty. If the Local Deity is willing to give us a bite to eat, we’re willing to work like oxen and horses. As for clearing land, we wouldn’t dare dream of it."
"What exactly are your sins?"
"In the City of Sinners, people fall into two categories. One kind is those who come to Three-Head Fork from the outside. They fail in Entering the Path, don’t achieve Body Cultivation, and turn into monsters with three heads. These people are considered guilty and are sent to the City of Sinners.
"The other kind is born in the City of Sinners. According to the rules there, three-headed monsters are not allowed to marry and have children, but some still give birth. These children originally have just one head, but they are born guilty and must stay in the City of Sinners. Gradually, they also grow two more heads and become monsters..."