Returning to Sand Goose House, Tan Fucheng was squatting at the door, eating noodles with a group of Supports. Some soup had spilled on him, and he nonchalantly wiped it off with *Hundred Family Surnames*.
Li Banfeng was taken aback. "You’re using a book to wipe your hands?"
Tan Fucheng didn’t care. "I didn’t bring a handkerchief, so I’m just making do."
"You’re getting the book all greasy. How will you read it later?"
"I won’t read it anymore!" Tan Fucheng shook his head. "It’s too tiring to read this stuff. I’ve barely read any books in half my life, and I’ve been just fine."
RIP!
A person next to him tore a page from a book to wipe their mouth.
Li Banfeng wanted to return to his room and saw Xiao Yeci in the corridor. She had dressed simply and was about to head out with Lu Chunying.
"Not reading any books today?"
Xiao Yeci shook her head. "No. There are so many books, they give me a headache. It’s not easy for us to come out; I want to take Nannan out for a stroll. Benefactor, would you like to join us?"
"You go ahead. I want to sleep for a while."
Lu Yuanxin came out of his room. He was to escort Xiao Yeci and her daughter. Seeing that they were still some distance away, Lu Yuanxin lowered his voice and said to Li Banfeng, "Seventh Master, I feel something is not right. This morning, I really wanted to read, but after a few pages, I just couldn’t get into it anymore."
Li Banfeng laughed. "Maybe it’s because you haven’t read in a long time."
Lu Yuanxin shook his head. "I think someone used a Technique."
Lu Chunying urged Lu Yuanxin to hurry, and Li Banfeng reminded him, "Be careful on the road."
He Yuxiu had once said that when Lu Yuanxin got tough, he was very much like Lu Dongjun. However, in some ways, he was different; he was smarter than Lu Dongjun.
From their behavior, Li Banfeng understood the meaning of the three sentences on the books.
"’Those who are blind should feel ashamed,’ refers to the illiterate like Tan Fucheng, who would feel guilty for lacking cultural knowledge."
"’Those who are learned should strive,’ refers to Literature Cultivators like Xiao Yeci. In the Ink Shop, they would become diligent and proactive."
"’All people should learn literature,’ refers to ordinary people who are not illiterate. In the Ink Shop, they would develop a desire to study the ways of Literature Cultivators."
These three sentences constituted the order of the Ink Shop.
The Local Deity of the Ink Shop controlled this order, and Murong Gui’s repeated writing of these three sentences was the process of reinforcing it.
Because he was busy dealing with Ge Junma, Murong Gui could only temporarily neglect ’All people should learn literature,’ focusing more energy on the battle. Therefore, Lu Yuanxin was not initially affected.
Last night, Ge Junma was injured and temporarily no longer a threat to Murong Gui. Murong Gui then re-established the order of ’All people should learn literature.’ This affected Lu Yuanxin, who consequently felt like reading this morning.
Li Banfeng was unaffected because his level was too high.
Having recently experienced a fierce battle, Murong Gui had to abandon all order to fight at full strength. This also allowed everyone to return to normal.
Murong Gui was maintaining the territory’s order in such a way. He was the most exhausted Local Deity Li Banfeng had ever seen.
"Ah Bi, why do you think there is such an exhausted Local Deity?"
The Judge’s Pen slowly responded, "Reading is exhausting. There’s no other way."
Back in his Portable Residence, Li Banfeng lay down on the bed, closing his eyes to rest.
The Gloves came to his ear, shaking its index finger. "Boss, he’s neither kin nor acquaintance to us. That Local Deity is immature, and we’ve done enough."
The Gourd also chimed in, "Little brother, let’s go. I don’t want to stay here any longer."
The Teapot sighed, "Even Bitter Vegetable Manor is better than this place."
The Projector said, "This place lacks art."
Even the usually reticent Sickle spoke up, "The people here are so irritating."
They were right. The Ink Shop was indeed annoying—its people, its atmosphere, even its Local Deity.
Li Banfeng thought of the scenery of Hai Chi Ridge and the image of the Peddler selling wares on the streets with his rattle.
After pondering for a little over a minute, Li Banfeng felt it should be enough. He was ready to go out when he heard the Portable Residence say, "You don’t need to go out and look; I haven’t moved."
Li Banfeng was stunned. "Why haven’t you moved?"
The Portable Residence chuckled. "Ah Qi, there are things in this world that just can’t be done. Tracking the Peddler is one of them. Not only can I not do it, but you also must not attempt it."
Hong Ying advised, "That vendor’s mind is difficult to grasp. Even if we find him, he might not be willing to help."
The Tang Sword also advised, "Master, whether the Peddler can come or not depends on the fate of the Ink Shop. Maybe it is destined to face this calamity."
"Such an irritating place should just fend for itself."
"We should leave quickly too. If we’re late, we might get dragged down with it."
The Phonograph remained silent, only enveloping Li Banfeng with a cloud of Steam.
Li Banfeng looked towards the Judge’s Pen.
The Judge’s Pen leaned against the wall, huddled in the corner, without saying a word.
「...」
The next day at noon, Luo Zhengnan brought news. "Seventh Master, I’ve reached Hai Chi Ridge, but I couldn’t find the Peddler."
Li Banfeng said, "Go to Pants Belt Pit immediately."
"Seventh Master, I contacted an old friend. The Peddler didn’t go to Pants Belt Pit."
"Old Luo, keep searching and let me know immediately if there’s any news."
Li Banfeng went to the Poetry Society, still contemplating what kind of poem to leave for Cui Tiq.
Unexpectedly, while standing outside the door, Li Banfeng heard an impassioned recitation:
"The footsteps of dreams are in the Ink Shop! The value of life is in the Ink Shop! The meaning of struggle is in the Ink Shop! I am willing to devote everything I have to the Ink Shop!"
Li Banfeng stood at the entrance and waved at Cui Tiq.
Under the disdainful glances of the young men and women, Cui Tiq walked out of the gate.
"It makes no sense! These lines were crafted with heartfelt effort, and even the men despise me!" Cui Tiq grumbled, teacup in hand.
Li Banfeng found it hard to understand Cui Tiq’s mental state. "You’re being pressed so hard by the Greenwater Beggar, yet you still have the mind to come out for a blind date?"
Cui Tiq shrugged. "What can I do? There are only so many investigation channels I can find. Even if he were the Ancestral Master, he couldn’t expect me to have results so quickly."
"I’ve already found results."
Cui Tiq was startled. "What did you find out?"
There was a Phonograph in the first-class private room. Li Banfeng took a record from the cupboard, put on the stylus, and played *"Where to Find a Soul Mate"* to cover the sound of their conversation.
"The Local Deity of the Ink Shop is named Murong Gui."
"Murong Gui, the Erudite Scholar," Cui Tiq took a sip of tea. "I’ve heard of this person. He’s a legendary figure at the Ink Shop. I, too, suspected that he is the Local Deity there. Is your information reliable?"
"It’s very reliable. I can also tell you that He Jiaqing’s information is accurate. Murong Gui’s condition is indeed not very good. I think you must have noticed some anomalies too."
Cui Tiq didn’t quite understand. "The anomalies you mentioned are...?"
"Yesterday morning, you would have noticed a change in the people of the Ink Shop."
After a moment of thought, Cui Tiq nodded. "Yesterday morning, including me, only three people came to the Poetry Society. The other two didn’t want to recite poetry. They felt that reciting poetry was meaningless. They didn’t want to live such an exhausting life and left after sitting for only a short while."
"That’s because the Local Deity here has become very weak. He just went through a battle."
Cui Tiq became tense. "A battle with whom? Could it be that Chu Shaoqiang has already arrived?"
Li Banfeng shook his head. "Not Chu Shaoqiang. It was Ge Junma."
"What a strange name." Cui Tiq recalled for a moment and shook his head. "I don’t know this person."
"Your Ancestral Master definitely knows him, or if not, he has surely heard of him. Relay the information to him, and he will have ways to verify it. As for the source of the information, you’ll need to make up a lie yourself."
Cui Tiq spun the teacup in his hands a few times and drained the tea.
"I trust you. This information is too precious. In exchange, I will now tell you some things about He Jiaqing.
Your friend has become an ally of my Taoist Sect’s Ancestral Master. His cultivation level is extremely high, and he can decipher the Skill of Layered Peaks of Cheap Person Ridge."
Recalling his experience at Cheap Person Ridge, Li Banfeng asked, "The Layers of Ranges you mentioned, is it a Technique that prevents people from getting out of Cheap Person Ridge?"
Cui Tiq nodded. "Yes, it’s a very high-level Lust Cultivation Technique. If I’m not mistaken, your friend found a way out from within the other party’s Technique, leading me out of Cheap Person Ridge.
Based on this, he must be a thief—what is commonly referred to in Puluo State as a Thief Cultivator—and his cultivation level is not at the Earth Skin stage.
A Cloud Top Cultivation requires a special method to support one’s rank. His previous support point was lost, and now his support point comes from Dogtail Grass. You should recognize this person."
"You mean the beggar I killed?"
Cui Tiq nodded. "My Ancestral Master took his Contract Book as a bargaining chip for the trade, and he gave the Contract Book to He Jiaqing."
Li Banfeng was curious. "What exactly is so valuable that a Contract Book needs to be used for the trade?"
Cui Tiq puffed out his chest, proudly answering, "Me!"
Li Banfeng was startled. "The Greenwater Beggar traded you for a Contract Book? It seems he really valued you!"
"That’s why I love my Ancestral Master." Cui Tiq poured a cup of tea for Li Banfeng. "I’ve provided all the information I have. Do you think it’s an equivalent exchange?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "Basically equivalent."
Seeing Li Banfeng about to leave, Cui Tiq asked, "Are you still in the business of fishing in troubled waters?"
"Yes." Li Banfeng lowered his hat brim. "If you have information, come find me at the teahouse."
「...」
"Ge Junma, he actually went to the Ink Shop." The Greenwater Beggar held his Begging Bowl, sitting in the corner, and couldn’t help but laugh.
He Jiaqing threw an Ocean Dollar into the Begging Bowl. "Is the information reliable?"
The Greenwater Beggar stared at the Ocean Dollar in the bowl for a moment, then suddenly said, "Given is given..."
Before he finished speaking, the Ocean Dollar in the bowl disappeared again.
"Impressive skill," the Greenwater Beggar expressed his admiration. "Cui Tiq found this out through Inner State contacts. He has been to the Inner State, so he definitely wouldn’t dare to lie to me about this."
He Jiaqing twirled the Ocean Dollar on his finger. "To be on the safe side, it’s better to wait a bit longer. It won’t be too late to make a move after Chu Shaoqiang shows up."
"No need to wait." The Greenwater Beggar stood up. "Ge Junma is in the Ink Shop. Chu Shaoqiang will definitely go to save him.
We’ll go over, take the Earth Skin, take the Contract Book, and take Chu Shaoqiang’s head too. Such a good deal, where else would you find one?"
He Jiaqing continued to fiddle with the Ocean Dollar. "Before the business starts, it’s best to settle the accounts. Whether you want the heads or the territory, we better make this clear."
The Greenwater Beggar sneered, "Don’t you want a new Puluo State? Are you going to haggle over such trivial matters?"
He Jiaqing laughed. "I want to change Puluo State, but at the very least, I need a foothold. It’s like doing business; you always need a shop first.
I really want the territory of the Ink Shop. If you want it too, we can discuss it slowly."
The Greenwater Beggar frowned. "You took the Contract Book from me, and now you want the territory too? Isn’t your business sense a bit too greedy?"
He Jiaqing threw the Ocean Dollar back into the Greenwater Beggar’s Begging Bowl. "The Contract Book has already been given. Letting me earn a bit more won’t be a loss for you."
The Greenwater Beggar shook the Begging Bowl, the Ocean Dollars clinking inside. "If you want to earn more, then put in more effort. Chu Shaoqiang, Ge Junma, Murong Gui—three heads. How many can you take?"