Li Banfeng first went to find Ma Wu and gave him the Pill Recipe. "Help me buy some medicinal herbs," he said.
Ma Wu was startled. "Buying so many? Are you planning to open a Medicine Shop?"
"I indeed have this intention."
After returning to the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng said to the Old Man, "I want to go to Zhengjing Village."
"What are you going to do there?"
"Learn the Soul-Separating Heart Method."
But it didn’t ask further. Li Banfeng imagined what Zhengjing Village would look like, and upon opening the door, he indeed arrived at Zhengjing Village.
After leaving the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng didn’t enter the village but instead walked towards the depths of New Land. He journeyed leisurely for over seventy li, and then, through the thick fog ahead, a city appeared.
He entered through the city gate. A man approached him and shouted, "Where are you from? Have you paid the city gate fee?"
"Still charging a city gate fee?" Li Banfeng sneered. "Who are you trying to fool? Do you take me for an outsider?"
The man was taken aback. "You’re not an outsider?"
"I am Tang Changfa, the owner of the Changsan Book Residence."
When he left Fool’s City, Sun Tiecheng had given Li Banfeng a property there—the Changsan Book Residence—which was being temporarily managed by Tang Changfa.
The man looked Li Banfeng up and down. "Nonsense! I know Tang Changfa. He doesn’t look anything like you."
Li Banfeng frowned. "I’ve just changed my flesh."
"Changed what flesh?" This statement made the man deeply uncomfortable.
"Do you really not know, or are you just pretending? Must I spell it out for you?"
"Who has time for your nonsense!" With that, the man turned and left.
A fortune teller approached him. "Young man, you are facing a bloody calamity!"
Li Banfeng drew his Sickle. "If you’re right, it’s because I’ve come to take revenge on you!"
The fortune teller fled.
Li Banfeng continued walking. A hostel attendant came out to greet him. "Guest Master, would you like to stay at our inn?"
Li Banfeng asked, "How much?"
"Eighty-one for a superior room per night."
Li Banfeng extended his hand. "Give me the money."
The attendant paused, then said, "You come to stay at my inn, and I’m supposed to give you money?"
Li Banfeng drew his Tang Sword. "I’m not staying. I’m robbing you."
"Guest Master, please see yourself out." The attendant also fled.
After walking for over half an hour, Li Banfeng found the Changsan Book Residence.
A young woman came out to greet him. She wore an emerald-green qipao embroidered with a design of magpies heralding spring. A Hairpin secured her long hair at the nape of her neck, and her bangs were styled in gentle waves. Her features were very delicate, though the thick layer of makeup somewhat obscured her natural skin tone.
"Sir, please come in and take a seat," the young woman said, hooking her arm into Li Banfeng’s as they entered the Book Residence. She first poured him a cup of tea.
Li Banfeng smiled. "And how may I address you, miss?"
"This Little Servant is named Yan Hong."
"May I ask the price?"
"Oh my, Guest Master, you really are something," the young woman said with a hint of reproach. "Coming to a Book Residence and asking about price... that rather spoils the scholarly atmosphere, doesn’t it?"
"My apologies for being presumptuous. How much is the tuition for your lessons?"
The young woman smiled and sat on Li Banfeng’s lap. "Guest Master, this is the Changsan Book Residence. Drinking tea, serving wine, or staying overnight—each costs three Ocean Dollars."
Li Banfeng took out ten Ocean Dollars and pressed them into her hand.
She looked flustered. "Oh, Guest Master, you’re giving so much! This Little Servant truly doesn’t know how to accommodate you now."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "You don’t need to serve me. I just need you to tell me a few things. Are you alive or dead?"
The young woman frowned. "What kind of question is that, Guest Master? Of course, I’m alive."
"How do you know you’re alive?"
"I have flesh and blood. I’m sitting here, breathing. Of course, I’m alive."
"How did the flesh get stuck onto your body?"
The young woman stood up and glared at Li Banfeng. "Are you here to cause trouble?"
Li Banfeng took another ten Ocean Dollars from his robes. "I just want to ask some questions."
She retorted angrily, "So what if you have money? Does that give you the right to cause a ruckus here?"
At her shout, many other young women in the Book Residence peered out.
Tang Changfa, who managed the Book Residence for Li Banfeng, came out holding a stick. "Let’s see who dares cause trouble here!"
Yan Hong pointed at Li Banfeng. "It’s this man!"
Tang Changfa stared at Li Banfeng for a moment, then swung the stick and struck Yan Hong on her Peach.
Yan Hong rubbed her Peach, her eyes welling with tears. "Why are you hitting me? He’s the one causing trouble!"
Tang Changfa said angrily, "This is our Shopkeeper! How dare you say he’s causing trouble? It seems you’re itching for a beating!"
After saying that, Tang Changfa struck her with the stick a few more times. Yan Hong covered her Peach, holding back tears, not daring to make a sound.
Li Banfeng stopped Tang Changfa. "Don’t hit her. I just wanted to ask her a few things."
Tang Changfa tossed the stick aside and smiled. "Shopkeeper, she doesn’t understand anything. If you have questions, you can ask me."
"Alright then, I’ll ask you. Are you alive?"
Tang Changfa grinned. "Yes! I’m definitely alive!"
"How do you know you’re alive?"
"Can a dead person talk to you?"
"How did the flesh get stuck onto your body?"
"It grew on my bones from childhood!"
Li Banfeng had the other young women come down and stand in a line, then questioned each one.
"Miss, what is your name?"
"My name is Yan Cui’er."
"Are you alive?"
Yan Cui’er said aggrievedly, "I am alive."
Li Banfeng then asked the next one, "Miss, what is your name?"
"My name is Yan Qing’er."
"Are you alive?"
Yan Qing’er replied, "Yes."
Li Banfeng then questioned the next person. "Sir, what’s your name?"
"My name is Sun Tiecheng."
"Are you alive?"
Sun Tiecheng retorted, "What the hell do you want?"
PS: Sun Tiecheng’s arrival was indeed quite sudden.