Puluo State, Hai Chi Ridge, First Ridge.
Ma Wu looked at Qin Tianjiu on the bed and asked the medical cultivator beside him, "How long can he last?"
The medical cultivator replied truthfully, "With my abilities, I can sustain him for at most one more day."
"One day is not enough," Ma Wu shook his head, "Doctor Cui won’t arrive until the day after tomorrow; think of something else."
The medical cultivator lowered his head, "Master Wu, you have faith in me. I will certainly do my best, but I really can’t think of another way,
Ninth Master is severely injured, not only are so many bones broken, but his internal organs are also damaged. If he was strong enough to withstand an elixir, perhaps he could survive one more day, but with his body so frail, how could I dare give him an elixir."
Ma Wu remained silent with a sullen face.
The medical cultivator, fearing Ma Wu’s anger, found an excuse and quickly left the room.
The nurse said she needed to prepare to change Little Fatty’s medication and took the opportunity to step out.
The room was left with only Ma Wu. In fact, Ma Wu couldn’t think of a good solution either; the only hope now rested on Cui Tiq.
But is there any way to make Cui Tiq come to Hai Chi Ridge earlier?
In a state of helplessness, someone pushed open the door and entered the room.
Ma Wu frowned, "Who is it?"
Li Qi said, "Old Five, don’t wait for Cui Tiq anymore."
Ma Wu shivered in fright, lowered his voice, "Old Qi, how did you come back?"
Li Qi locked the door and took the wine gourd from his waist.
The wine gourd scanned Qin Tianjiu and said to Li Qi, "Let him drink two ounces first."
Ma Wu, without the Insightful Spirit Sound Technique, naturally couldn’t hear the words of the wine gourd.
He only saw Li Banfeng prying open Qin Tianjiu’s mouth and starting to pour the wine.
Ma Wu was very nervous, "Old Qi, will this work? Little Fatty is too weak, he can’t even take elixirs."
Li Banfeng said, "He’s not weak; his frail appearance is because he has intestinal wheelworms in his stomach."
After two ounces of wine went down, Little Fatty coughed twice but didn’t wake up.
The wine gourd observed for a moment, "He can drink one more ounce."
Li Banfeng continued to pour the wine.
Ma Wu said, "Old Qi, I think we should wait for Doctor Cui to come. Doctor Cui has already promised me he will definitely save Little Fatty."
Li Banfeng shook his head, "Don’t listen to his nonsense. He’s neither a medical cultivator nor a medicine cultivator; he’s not skilled at healing wounds. He promised to come probably because he wants to use Little Fatty for experiments. This person is unpredictable, and dealing with him requires utmost caution."
After another ounce went down, Little Fatty’s face had a bit of color.
Li Banfeng put away the wine gourd, "Have the doctor come in later to have a look, and find me a set of dry clothes."
Ma Wu then noticed Li Banfeng was soaked from head to toe.
After changing clothes, the two moved to a quiet room to chat. Ma Wu punched Li Banfeng, "You left without a word; I looked for you all night, you know?"
Li Banfeng smiled, "I was afraid you’d be reluctant to let me go."
"How’s the Outside Provinces? Are you used to living there?"
Li Banfeng took a sip of wine, "Initially, it was uncomfortable, but now it feels about the same."
Ma Wu laughed, "How can it be the same? The tricks they play in the Outside Provinces, Puluo State can’t even imagine."
Li Banfeng put down his cup, "After some time, maybe the two places will be the same."
Ma Wu didn’t quite understand Li Banfeng’s meaning but didn’t pursue it, "Jiang Mengting is crazy about you; will you stay for some time this time? Go visit her at Xiaoyao Lodge?"
"Not visiting; once Little Fatty wakes up, I’ll ask him a few questions and hurry back to the Outside Provinces."
Li Banfeng ran from the new land of Flower Lake Park to the new land of Iron Gate Fort, then all the way to Hai Chi Ridge.
Ma Wu did not know the hardships of this journey; seeing Li Banfeng unwilling to talk about it, he did not ask more.
The two had endless topics to discuss. Li Banfeng first asked about Little Fatty, "How did you find him?"
Ma Wu sighed, "Initially, I went to the wrong place; everyone thought Little Fatty was in Greenwater City. Later, Miss Feng sent someone with a message saying Little Fatty was in Hai Chi Ridge."
Miss Feng? Feng Daiku?
Li Banfeng asked, "How did she know Little Fatty was in Hai Chi Ridge?"
"She said it was conveyed by an old friend."
Old friend?
Feng Daiku must mean Pan Dehai!
Pan Dehai is the local deity of Hai Chi Ridge; it makes sense he could find Little Fatty.
But why did he ask Feng Daiku to convey the message? Has the grudge between him and Feng Daiku been resolved? Has the wound on his heart healed?
Ma Wu continued, "When we arrived at Hai Chi Ridge, I just sent people to gather information. Unexpectedly, Old Zuo saw dozens of people attacking Little Fatty on the street,
he led the brothers and rescued Little Fatty; that group was really ruthless, even Old Zuo was badly injured."
Li Banfeng thought carefully, Zuo Wugang is a Sixth Layer martial cultivator and has followed Li Banfeng for over a year. He earned quite a lot of elixirs and practiced diligently, already standing at the edge of the Seventh Layer.
They were able to injure Old Zuo.
"Where did this group come from?"
Ma Wu shook his head, "The other side was very adept; according to Zuo Wugang, they engaged for less than a minute, didn’t fall behind but also didn’t overpower Old Zuo, then retreated."
Li Banfeng asked Ma Wu, "Have you heard of the Ferry Gang?"
Ma Wu was puzzled, "Are you talking about water bandits?"
"Not water bandits, but a gang doing business between the Outside Provinces and Inner State."
Ma Wu shook his head, "I haven’t heard of such a gang."
"This gang might not be well-known in Puluo State."
Ma Wu still shook his head, "A gang not well-known wouldn’t be able to do business in the Outside Provinces. Those doing business in the Outside Provinces are not ordinary people; they have deep roots in Puluo State. It’s not easy for us brothers to compete for business in the Outside Provinces,
In Puluo State, besides the major families, the gangs doing business in the Outside Provinces are limited to first-rate ones like the Three Heroes Gang, Qingyun Society, and Hundred Flowers Gate. I’ve never heard of the Ferry Gang among them."