Li Banfeng gazed at the Arithmetic Cultivator before him, remaining silent for a long time.
He remembered something the Coachman had once said to him back in Medicine King Valley: "You all look down on my profession and think pulling a cart is shameful. Well, I look down on you risk-takers too, thinking your lives are cheap."
"I really want to know the whole story," Li Banfeng said. "I want to know why the Coachman ran."
The Arithmetic Cultivator said, "Because I told him that if he didn’t leave Loess Bridge, I would turn this territory into Old Land."
Li Banfeng lifted the brim of his hat with his right hand, his eyes emerging from the shadows as he looked at the Arithmetic Cultivator. "You might as well try. See if I can’t take your life first."
The Arithmetic Cultivator replied, "Taking my life would be pointless. The people from North Bridge are all waiting at the station; they have Magical Treasures. As soon as I die, they’ll know immediately. Once they learn something has happened to me, they’ll board the train at once. The moment they leave the Loess Bridge territory, it will turn into Old Land."
Li Banfeng said, "So what if it changes? The Coachman already gave you the land. Does he care if it’s Old Land or not? He’s thrown all caution to the wind, so why wouldn’t he dare to fight you?"
"It’s different," the Arithmetic Cultivator said, lifting the Iron Token in his hand. "Seventh Master, you should have seen this before. This is called a Privilege Seal. Originally, there was a pair. I only have one; the other is still with the Coachman.
"The Coachman’s carriage is very special; it’s linked by blood to Loess Bridge. No matter who becomes the Local Deity of Loess Bridge, the Coachman can maintain his position there as long as one Contract Book remains on his carriage. Furthermore, as long as Loess Bridge doesn’t become Old Land, the Coachman’s status won’t drop.
"But that carriage also has rules. If the Coachman returns to Loess Bridge, he must immediately take the Contract Book from the carriage and bury it in the ground. If the Contract Book is dug up, it must be immediately placed back on the carriage, and the Coachman must leave Loess Bridge right away. If he’s even a step too slow, his status will be lost."
Li Banfeng thought about the profound regard the Coachman had for his carriage.
"Even if what you’re saying is true," Li Banfeng countered, "the Coachman didn’t need to rush to dig up his own Contract Book. He could have stalled you, bought some time while waiting for me to arrive and figure something out."
The pancake stall owner—the Arithmetic Cultivator—nodded. "I calculated that possibility as well. If this dragged on for too long, the situation could change by the time you arrived. So, I had to force the Coachman to leave quickly.
"I’ve roughly calculated where the Coachman buried the Contract Book. He entered Loess Bridge from New Land, and upon entering, he had to bury the Contract Book immediately. The burial spot is critical: it must be safe, concealed, and at the perfect depth. Based on the Coachman’s speed and his limited time, I’ve calculated three possible locations.
"I’ve already sent people to watch these three spots. I also told the Coachman this in person. If my calculations are correct, he must immediately find his Contract Book and then leave Loess Bridge. Otherwise, by the time I dig it up, it will be too late for him to leave. If I’m wrong, then I’ll have the people from North Bridge board the train immediately and see if the Coachman still dares to stay."
Li Banfeng furrowed his brows. "You calculated all this?"
The Arithmetic Cultivator nodded. "For this matter, I’ve been calculating for over a decade."
Li Banfeng asked, "This Contract Book in your hand—did the Coachman dig it up himself and give it to you? That would be absurd, wouldn’t it?"
The Arithmetic Cultivator shook his head. "It’s not the Coachman’s. This one belonged to Deathgate Star. I dug it up myself after repeated calculations."
Li Banfeng scoffed. "I really don’t believe that. If you’d figured out the locations of both Contract Books, why didn’t you just dig up the Coachman’s instead of orchestrating this whole charade?"
The Arithmetic Cultivator tucked the Contract Book into his robes and looked calmly at Li Banfeng. "Seventh Master, if I had actually done that, would you have let me off the hook? If the Coachman truly lost his status, wouldn’t he fight me to the death? My cultivation level is still at Earth Skin, not Above the Clouds, and I don’t wish to fight any of you. I can’t win.
"From the very beginning, all I wanted was to drive the Coachman away. I’ve calculated this very clearly. I refrain from doing anything I shouldn’t. For instance, the first time you came to North Bridge and ate the savory crepe, I didn’t poison it. The probability of successfully poisoning you was low, and I didn’t want to arouse your suspicion, much less create an irreparable enmity.
"I stole coal from you twice. Don’t worry about that. I will repay you double, covering the cost of the coal, the carriage fee, and the business profits. I absolutely will not let you suffer any loss."
He went to Miss Qin’s courtyard and brought Ma Wu out.
The Arithmetic Cultivator remarked with admiration, "Seventh Master, your subordinates are all ruthless. If I had been a step later, my daughter would have been bedded by Master Wu."
Ma Wu clasped his fists. "May I ask for your esteemed name, Senior?"
The Arithmetic Cultivator replied, "My surname is Qin. I am called Qin Bulou."
"Senior, your methods are so thorough. You truly live up to such a fine name."
Li Banfeng left North Bridge with Ma Wu.