Wuqin Village was a town, smaller than Medicine King Valley, and smaller than Pants Belt Pit as well, making it the smallest town Li Banfeng had ever visited.
There weren’t many people in this town, and there wasn’t much conversation among them either. The only thing in abundance was swampland. Li Banfeng wandered around for a day and found swamps near the wilderness, woods, farmlands, and village roads; there were even mud pits between the houses.
At dusk, Li Banfeng ate a bowl of braised pork noodles in a restaurant, which cost him 30 yuan.
This price was obviously expensive, but Li Banfeng didn’t mind. The Shopkeeper of the noodle shop was a kindly old lady who had made it clear beforehand that the bowl of noodles would cost 30 yuan.
Before leaving, Li Banfeng gave an additional 20 yuan and asked the old lady how to get to New Land.
The old lady was very enthusiastic. She told Li Banfeng, "Child, stick close to the wall and head east. When you reach the second alley entrance, keep going south. After you come out of the alley, there will be a mountain path. Cross over the mountain, and you will see New Land."
In Wuqin Village, it was rare to find someone who would give such detailed directions.
Li Banfeng thanked her profusely, but there was one thing he didn’t understand. "Granny, why must I stick close to the wall as I walk?"
The old lady lowered her voice and said, "Child, there are unclean things on this road, and I’m afraid you’ll run into them. We’re neither kin nor kith, and it’s not my place to say too much, but you’ll be fine if you listen to me."
Li Banfeng gave another 20 yuan to the old lady, but as soon as he stepped out the door, he sensed danger.
Li Banfeng kept close to the wall and moved forward, activating the Golden Gaze Autumn Hair Technique to examine the condition of the road up ahead.
From time to time, pedestrians were on the road, but there was no sign of any Lost Souls or the like.
SPLOSH!
Li Banfeng stepped into a mud pit.
There were even swamps next to the wall.
This mud pit was bottomless, with no markings around it. To prevent passersby from spotting it, the old lady had thoughtfully sprinkled a layer of loose soil on top. This made it look no different from ordinary ground.
Just as Li Banfeng was about to climb out of the mud pit, he saw the old lady approaching with a wooden stick. "Child," she said, "don’t struggle. The more you do, the faster you’ll sink. Don’t panic, I’ll pull you out."
Li Banfeng didn’t need the old lady’s help. With his abilities, he could easily get out without using any Technique.
But the old lady was so enthusiastic, holding out the bamboo pole and saying, "Child, since we’re neither kin nor kith, I can’t help you for nothing. Here’s the deal: you give me 2,000, and I’ll pull you out."
Li Banfeng blinked and asked, "Is 2,000 reasonable?"
"Think it’s too expensive?" The old lady frowned. "I’m telling you, many people have drowned in this Mud Pit. Considering we’re neither kin nor kith, who else would bother about you? If you think it’s too much, let’s make it 5,000."
Li Banfeng was stunned. "Is 5,000 reasonable?"
"If you ask again, it’ll be 10,000!" The old lady’s smile remained kind.
Li Banfeng nodded. "Ten thousand is fine."
After speaking, Li Banfeng jumped out, grabbed the old lady, and threw her into the mud pit.
The old lady gasped, pointed her toes, curled up, and rolled, getting out of the mud pit.
No wonder she dared to set up this trap; the old lady had a cultivation level, good skills, and no fear of retaliation.
After getting out of the mud pit, the old lady sprang up and pulled out a handful of Lime, ready to throw it in Li Banfeng’s face.
Li Banfeng dodged, grabbed the bamboo pole, and with a casual stab, sent the old lady back into the mud pit.
The old lady tried to roll out again, but Li Banfeng, holding the pole, sent her back each time she rolled out. After this happened a few times, the old lady ran out of strength and stopped moving in the mud pit.
Li Banfeng stood beside the pit, holding the bamboo pole and watching as the old lady slowly sank. He asked calmly, "Earlier, you told me to stick close to the wall. Was it just to set me up here?"
The old lady shouted, "Who’s setting you up? Who told you to walk close to the wall? Go on, ask! Did anybody hear that?"
No need to ask. In this place, where nobody was related to anybody, no one would have heard.
Li Banfeng said nothing, just stood quietly beside the mud pit.
As the old lady sank deeper, she couldn’t help but yell, "I give up! Spare my life!"
"Ten thousand," Li Banfeng stated his price.
The old lady said angrily, "You still want money?"
Li Banfeng said, "Isn’t that the price we agreed on just now? Since we’re neither kin nor kith, why should I spare you if you don’t pay?"
The old lady shouted at the people around, "Someone help me! I’ll pay! I’ll give 2,000!"
Two thousand was not a small sum, but no one dared to step forward.
Everyone could see Li Banfeng was no easy mark, and being neither kin nor kith, who would dare risk their life? Even the few shop assistants were just watching the show from the side.
The old lady gritted her teeth. "Ten thousand, I accept! Just let me out first."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "Money first."
The old lady shouted at her shop assistants, "Bring 10,000 yuan here!"
An assistant brought 10,000 yuan and handed it to Li Banfeng, who pocketed it and asked, "I’m heading to New Land. Was the direction you gave me earlier correct?"
"It’s correct!" the old lady answered crisply.
Li Banfeng stood still. As the mud reached her waist, the old lady finally admitted the truth. "It’s the third alley. Follow the third alley to the mountain path, and once you cross over the mountain, that’s New Land."
"How many entrances to New Land do you have here?"
"Just one!"
Li Banfeng left. After much struggling, the old lady eventually freed herself from the mud pit.
"Just you wait! You better wait for me!" The old lady kept grinding her teeth. "Madame will definitely not let you off!"
Li Banfeng couldn’t trust the old lady, so he continued to ask around for the entrance to New Land.
Asking for directions in Wuqin Village was exceedingly difficult. Li Banfeng never asked for favors without paying. Although he offered money, he asked seven or eight people and got seven or eight different locations, none of them the same.
It had gotten dark. Li Banfeng found a secluded place to hide the key, preparing to return to his Portable Residence for a good night’s sleep when he suddenly felt danger approaching.
After securing the key, Li Banfeng saw a woman carrying a lantern walking towards him from a distance.
The woman was around 50 years old. She wore a green, floral-print blouse with a slanted placket, and her hair was tightly bound at the top of her head with a Hairpin. The hair at her temples was slicked down to a shiny gleam with some unknown substance.
This old-fashioned style was rare even in Puluo State. The woman approached Li Banfeng and said, "My name is Qiao Shaofen. I am here under orders from our Madam to invite you to our residence for a meeting."
"Who is your Madam?"
"Madame Wuqin, the master of Wuqin Village."
Li Banfeng asked, "We are strangers. Why would she want to meet me?"
Qiao Shaofen replied, "Our Madam admires your considerable skills and would like to make your acquaintance."
Li Banfeng frowned. "Has your Madam seen me before?"
Qiao Shaofen nodded. "Just now, in the town, you exchanged moves with Madam’s servant, Lu Dehua. Lu Dehua’s cultivation level is not low, yet she was powerless before you. Young talents like yourself are highly esteemed by our Madam."
"The Lu Dehua you’re talking about, is that the one who runs the noodle shop?"
Qiao Shaofen nodded again.
Li Banfeng cupped his fist. "I’m flattered by Madam’s high regard, but at this hour, it wouldn’t be proper for a man like me to visit your Madam. I’ll prepare a gift and pay a visit another day."
After speaking, Li Banfeng said his goodbyes and turned to leave, but Qiao Shaofen called out, "You came looking for the way, didn’t you?"
Li Banfeng turned back. "How do you know?"
"To the east of Wuqin Village, there used to be the Ink Shop. But something happened, and suddenly an unknown territory appeared. The people there are trapped inside, unable to leave. You’re here to rescue them; our Madam figured it out a long time ago."
Qiao Shaofen continued, "Our Madam can help you find the path. But if you won’t even meet her once, that’s perhaps a little too dismissive of my Madam."
"That makes sense," Li Banfeng said after pondering for a moment. "Could I trouble your Madam to come here to meet me instead?"
Qiao Shaofen frowned. "What kind of request is that? It would be improper for my Madam to come and meet you in the middle of the night."
Li Banfeng replied, "It would be equally improper for me to visit your Madam’s home. If she refuses to come, no matter. Just give me a map, and I will be sure to express my sincere gratitude."
Qiao Shaofen, with a stern face, said, "You wait here. I will go and relay your words to the Madam."
She left, occasionally looking back as if she feared Li Banfeng would follow her.
Li Banfeng had no intention of tracking Qiao Shaofen.
Tracking was a matter of timing and technique. With the other party on full alert, even the best techniques could easily go awry.
Li Banfeng returned to his Portable Residence and asked the Phonograph, "My dear, have you heard of Madame Wuqin?"
The Phonograph answered, "I’ve heard of her, the Local Deity of Wuqin Village. But Little Servant knows nothing about her, as she seldom interacts with others."
"If she doesn’t easily interact with others, why seek me out?"
The Phonograph chuckled. "She must think my husband is handsome!"
Li Banfeng nodded. "Yesterday, when I was taking a piss, I looked at my reflection in a puddle. You know what? I really am quite handsome."
The couple teased each other for a bit before Li Banfeng took a knife, cut his palm, and dripped blood onto a seed.
「Sometime later, Qiao Shaofen returned.」
She found Li Banfeng waiting by the road.
"Our Madam said that it is indeed inconvenient to meet at this hour. She asked me to show you the way. Since our homes are neighbors, it’s good to be helpful to each other in the future."
Li Banfeng nodded. "Thank you."
"It’s dark and the road is hard to navigate, so make sure to keep close."
Li Banfeng inclined his head slightly. "Much obliged."
One in front and one behind, they traversed a mountain path over a small hill. Ahead, the land was covered in a heavy fog. Qiao Shaofen said, "We’ve arrived at New Land."
Li Banfeng nodded. "Thank you for your help."
After walking along a small path for several miles, Qiao Shaofen pointed to an old tree stump ahead. "Let’s sit here and rest for a bit."
Li Banfeng nodded. "Thanks."
Before Li Banfeng could sit down, Qiao Shaofen suddenly spat at his feet.
Li Banfeng was taken aback. He felt the ground underfoot become wet and soft—the firm ground had turned into a mire, and his body began to sink rapidly.
As he tried to break free, Qiao Shaofen spat again.
The mire became stickier and softer. Li Banfeng couldn’t get out; in an instant, the muck submerged him to his chest.
He looked at Qiao Shaofen in astonishment. Her expression was icy as she said, "We’re neither relatives nor friends. You expect me to guide you? Who do you think you are?"
Once Li Banfeng was completely swallowed by the muck, Qiao Shaofen took a deep breath, sucked the two globs of saliva back into her mouth, and the mire on the ground vanished, leaving only the hard, cold earth.
Qiao Shaofen turned and left. After a few steps, she concealed her form and sped away into the night.
Li Banfeng activated the Golden Gaze Autumn Hair Technique and followed Qiao Shaofen silently.