"Madam is right," Li Banfeng sighed. "Next time I encounter that coachman, I just won’t argue with him."
"It’s already too late, my lord," she said.
"How can it be too late?"
"The Technique of ’Flowering on the Pole’ lasts a very long time," she explained.
"How long?"
"It depends on how long the life of that Gang Xiu lasts."
Li Banfeng was shocked. "Could it be he has to carry it for a lifetime?"
"Yes, my lord. Once a Gang Xiu lifts the pole, they really do have to carry it for a lifetime. From now on, whenever he faces off with you, he will always have double the combat strength," she said.
The Phonograph advised, "Since Gang Xiu engage in constant arguments during their cultivation, it’s hard for them to hide their malice. My lord, if you make good use of the ’Seek Fortune and Avoid Disaster’ Technique, you should be able to dodge a Gang Xiu’s blows."
Li Banfeng was organizing his thoughts when the Projector returned from the Fifth Room. "Seventh Guide, the Lady of the Fifth Room has shown the outside scene again; the coachman has indeed left," she reported.
The Phonograph said, "Being able to see outside our house, this woman’s cultivation level is not low. She certainly won’t help us for nothing."
The Projector said, "Madam is correct. The Lady of the Fifth Room said she helped us this time, but next time, she will charge a fee. What exactly the fee will be, she hasn’t decided yet."
The Phonograph reminded Li Banfeng, "Be very cautious when dealing with her."
Li Banfeng left the Portable Residence, swam up from the bottom of the lake, and returned to Xiao Yeci’s mansion.
After changing into dry clothes and getting some sleep, at dawn the next day, Li Banfeng sought out He Yuxiu to inquire about the rumors surrounding Bridge Yesong.
He Haiqin had controlled Bridge Yesong for many years, so even if He Yuxiu did not know the specific reasons, she must have heard some legends and strange tales.
After thinking for a long while, He Yuxiu said to Li Banfeng, "I indeed heard Haiqin talk about some things, but what he specifically said, I’ve forgotten."
"Xiuer, you’re such a straightforward person." Li Banfeng didn’t know how to describe his feelings at that moment.
He Yuxiu also felt a bit embarrassed: "You can’t blame me for that; those are all unsubstantiated claims. I just listened for fun, who could remember such things?"
At this point, He Yuxiu remembered someone. "Xiao Yeci likes these kinds of things. When she has nothing to do, she tells them to Oil Peach. Oil Peach likes to listen and also likes to relay them to me, but Oil Peach isn’t good at telling them, and I can’t be bothered to listen. You should ask Xiao Yeci. She was originally from Bridge Yesong and probably knows quite a bit."
Li Banfeng found Xiao Yeci, and as soon as he brought up the subject, Xiao Yeci became very animated.
"Benefactor, do you really want to listen, or do you just want to make fun of me?" she asked.
Li Qi asked in surprise, "Why would I make fun of you? If you tell me a story, I’ll listen attentively. If it’s good, I’ll even give you a reward!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yeci was delighted. "Then I shall humbly present my account!"
She had a special piece of Awakening Wood, which she struck on the table with a CLACK! and began narrating the story of Bridge Yesong’s scholar, Liu Yuansheng, in earnest.
"Liu Yuansheng came from a poor family but was diligent and fond of learning. By his early twenties, he was already a famous scholar of Bridge Yesong! Not only could he write excellent prose, but he was also skilled in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting!"
Using his own intelligence and wisdom, Liu Yuansheng did many good deeds for the people of Bridge Yesong. Later on, he was recognized by the Local Deity of Bridge Yesong, which bestowed upon him a cultivation level.
Xiao Yeci exclaimed with emotion, "This is what they mean by ’Good and evil will ultimately be repaid; it’s just a matter of sooner or later.’ A good person like Liu Yuansheng deserves such a wonderful blessing!"
"What happened after that?"
Xiao Yeci said, "After Liu Yuansheng, who had attained a cultivation level, left Bridge Yesong to wander and study at various places, he continued doing good deeds!"
"What kind of good deeds?"
Scratching her head, Xiao Yeci said, "I don’t know about that. The story ends here!"
"Well told! Here’s a reward!" Li Banfeng said, placing two Ocean Dollars on the table. Xiao Yeci wasn’t short of money, but she still happily accepted the reward.
"I have more good stories, Benefactor. Would you like to hear them?"
"Of course, I’m all ears for as many as you have."
"Then let me tell you the story of the Wandering Swordsman Wang Saihong. Wang Saihong wasn’t originally from Bridge Yesong. She arrived at the age of seventeen and performed martial arts displays on the streets for money. At that time, a group of rogues, seeing that she was a pretty girl, harbored evil intentions..."
Unlike Liu Yuansheng’s story, Wang Saihong was a Wandering Swordsman. Her story involved far fewer intellectual duels and many more action-packed fight scenes. Whenever Xiao Yeci reached the climax of the story, she’d demonstrate a couple of stances, which Li Banfeng thoroughly enjoyed, continuously cheering her on.
Yet these two completely different stories had the same conclusion.
The Wandering Swordsman Wang Saihong, because of her righteous deeds and her fight against tyranny, won favor from the Local Deity, obtained an excellent cultivation level, and eventually left Bridge Yesong to seek other places where she could uphold justice.
Li Banfeng took out a stack of Silver Yuan. "That’s a good story. Got any more?"
Seeing Li Qi’s enjoyment, Xiao Yeci was delighted and kept telling stories from morning until night, sharing around a dozen tales. Each story had a different style, but they all ended the same way: the protagonist gained the Local Deity’s favor, acquired a formidable cultivation level, and then left Bridge Yesong.
Li Banfeng was pondering the connections within the stories when a Support came to report that Border Defense Envoy Zheng Siyi was requesting Seventh Master’s presence.
Zheng Siyi and Li Banfeng were not closely acquainted, so his visit was most likely on behalf of Liao Zihui.
As expected, Zheng Siyi invited Li Banfeng for tea, and waiting in the private room at the teahouse was none other than Liao Zihui.
Upon seeing Li Qi, Liao Zihui smiled and said, "Brother Li, you saw the task I assigned, right?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "Chief Envoy Liao acts decisively."
"We have to clean up the traitor completely so we can proceed with what comes next," Liao Zihui said, taking out a map. "Shilou Mountain, have you been there, brother?"
Looking at the map, Li Banfeng said, "I passed by once, but I’ve never walked up the mountain."
"I’ve just got word that the Chase the Light Group’s Boundless Camp is hiding up in those mountains. Tomorrow at noon, I’ll lead my men to the mountain to exterminate the bandits. We’ll treat them all as Mountain Bandits and take care of them. However, if we bring troops, it’s inevitable that there’ll be some noise, and these rascals will surely run. If even one escapes and spreads the news, it would be difficult for me to handle the aftermath. Therefore, I need Brother Li to help me in secret. For anyone who slips through the net, take care of them all. We can’t leave any survivors."
Looking at the map, Li Banfeng said, "I’ll go up the mountain first to scout the area."
"Scouting is fine, but remember, brother, this is between the two of us. You can’t let the cat out of the bag."
"Don’t worry." Li Banfeng took the map and left the teahouse.
After just a couple of steps, Li Banfeng suddenly sensed danger approaching and heard someone ask from close by, "Sir, would you like to take a sedan chair?"
Li Banfeng’s head buzzed, and he quickly walked away.
The coachman wiped the sweat from his face with a towel, then followed closely behind.
Liao Zihui, hearing the commotion, looked down from the teahouse, only to see chaos below, unable to discern the situation.
One of his Peeping Cultivation subordinates said, "Chief Envoy, someone’s ambushing Li Qi."
Startled, Liao Zihui asked, "Who is it?"
Bridge Yesong’s Border Defense Envoy, Zheng Siyi, said, "It must be those from the Chase the Light Group again."
Grinding his teeth, Liao Zihui exclaimed, "Those damned devils dare to make a move against me in broad daylight! Tell the brothers to grab their weapons, protect Li Qi, and capture anyone from the Chase the Light Group!"
PS: Xiao Yeci loves listening to story recitals, as detailed in Chapter 115.