Li Banfeng squeezed through the entrance and entered the hidden form space, where a three-story mansion stood with a small courtyard.
Looking up to the heavens, he could see the night sky and stars; looking down, he could see the dew on the flowers and grass.
This was a courtyard located by Shuiyun Road, but it couldn’t be observed normally.
Li Banfeng crossed the courtyard, entered the mansion, searched the living room, and then toured the second and third floors before leaving the hidden form space.
As long as he had the gloves, finding things wouldn’t take much time. Zheng Siyi had previously mentioned all the good stuff had been moved. Li Banfeng wasn’t interested in looking for magical treasures or elixirs; he just wanted the local deity’s contract book.
But the gloves sensed nothing, and Li Banfeng found no clues. The probability was high that the coachman didn’t bury the contract book at his residence.
That made it hard to find.
Xiao Yeci had read in a book that some local deities of proper land didn’t bury contracts at their residences, which was a relatively cautious choice. Now Li Banfeng truly understood the significance of such caution.
The coachman was already dead. Unless he found the coachman’s covenant guardian spirit, the contract book might be lost forever.
If he was a coachman, what kind of existence would a covenant guardian spirit be?
Li Banfeng and Luo Zhengnan left Shuiyun Road and went to the riverbank, where Li Banfeng saw a new bookstore had opened, its sign reading "Lu Family Bookstore."
Boss Lu’s business was growing. He would have to visit another day to see if the setup was the same as in other stores and if Boss Lu happened to be there.
Back at the residence, Li Banfeng sat by the lotus pond in the backyard, having a meeting with himself.
Ban Feng Yi: "The coachman’s covenant guardian spirit must be another coachman. This line of work should appear in pairs."
Ban Feng Bing: "But we didn’t see another coachman before."
Ban Feng Ding: "That proves the other coachman is well hidden. But as long as we follow this clue, there’s a chance to find the other coachman."
Ban Feng Wu: "I think you’re oversimplifying this. Who says a coachman’s covenant guardian spirit must be another coachman? If their connection was that strong, I don’t think the guardian spirit would be necessary."
Ban Feng Ji: "We have no better choice right now. To find the contract book, we can only follow the coachman’s clue."
Sun Tiecheng: "I don’t think it’s necessary to continue looking. I already have the contract book. If you want it, I can give it to you."
Ban Feng Jia announced the meeting was over and stood up, addressing Sun Tiecheng: "Big Brother Sun, when did you arrive?"
"Just now. I saw you were busy and didn’t want to disturb you. You continue discussing; I’ll sit for a while and leave."
Li Banfeng shook his head and said: "That’s just my habit. When thinking, I sometimes talk to myself."
Sun Tiecheng looked at Li Banfeng, asking seriously: "You’re not always like this, are you?"
"No, only occasionally, just sometimes."
Sun Tiecheng smacked his lips: "What should I do? I only received two disciples. One was killed by you, and the one left is a madman."
Li Banfeng shook his head: "I’m not crazy. I’ve seen doctors, and they all said I’m not."
Sun Tiecheng sighed and took out two arch-shaped iron tokens: "This is the contract book for the territory of Bridge Yesong. That Gang Xiu is dead, and I changed the name to Li Er. Does that suit you?"
Li Er?
"You mean me?"
Sun Tiecheng nodded.
"Why call me Li Er?"
Sun Tiecheng replied: "You’re my second disciple."
Li Banfeng shook his head: "No, I want to be the first disciple."
"There already is a first disciple!"
"Isn’t he dead?"
"Even dead, he’s still the first disciple; the title remains."
Li Banfeng crouched with his arms crossed: "No, I want to be the first disciple!"
Sun Tiecheng frowned: "Why are you being unreasonable?"
"Who’s unreasonable!" Li Banfeng said angrily. "Your previous disciple colluded with the Inner State, tried to rebel in Fool’s City, and even wanted to kill me.
If I hadn’t fought him tooth and nail, Fool’s City would have been destroyed, and our Taoist Sect extinct. You still want to leave him a title; aren’t you breaking my heart?"
This left Sun Tiecheng speechless. After hesitating for a while, Sun Tiecheng sighed: "Fine, then let’s change it to Li Yi. But you have to accept the name Li Yi!"
Li Banfeng said, "Of course, I accept; it sounds much better than Li Er!"
Sun Tiecheng shook his head: "It’s not about sounding good or bad. I’m writing your name on this contract not to give you a local position but because I want you to ascend to the clouds!"
Indeed, Sun Tiecheng’s thoughts coincided with Li Banfeng’s; he also didn’t want Li Banfeng going to the Inner State. He wanted Li Banfeng to leap over the tenth layer and rise above the clouds.
Li Banfeng raised an eyebrow: "Isn’t ascending to the clouds still far off?"
Sun Tiecheng smiled meaningfully: "I don’t think it’s far. Otherwise, your senior brother wouldn’t have died by your hand. I’ve altered the contract for you. Now I just need to find a suitable place to bury it. Whether it holds depends on your fate."
Li Banfeng asked: "This territory of Bridge Yesong doesn’t seem easy to keep, does it?"
Sun Tiecheng stood up and said: "This is proper land. Once you ascend to above the clouds, a lot of human energy will be waiting for you. Who wouldn’t want such a good place?
If the matter were handled discreetly, that would be fine. But now that people from other provinces have made such a big commotion that the entire Puluo State is alerted, all who want this piece of land will reach for it,
I’ll help you fend them off for a while and catch up with some old friends. But I can’t help you forever. Once I’ve dealt with these old friends, you’ll have to rely on yourself."
Li Banfeng was caught in a dilemma.
It wasn’t because Sun Tiecheng used any technique. The current situation itself was truly perplexing.
Li Banfeng had his territory, and Sun Tiecheng brought along Bridge Yesong.
His territory was hidden, but the gains were limited.
Bridge Yesong promised abundant rewards, but too many were eyeing it.
PS: With the ascent to the clouds imminent, how should this matter be resolved?