Hiss! A rush of steam scalded He Haiqin, shattering his train of thought. He had referred to Hong Ying as merely a house spirit, a statement the phonograph clearly disapproved of. He Haiqin cast a glance at the phonograph, uncertain of its nature as a magical treasure; not daring to inquire further, he turned his attention back to Li Qi, asking, "You are Jia Qing’s friend, correct?" Li Qi remained completely silent. He Haiqin chuckled, "My initial assumption was that Jia Qing had entrusted the Red Lotus to your care. At that moment, the Lu Family was actively searching for your whereabouts, and I found myself concerned for your safety." How artfully he spoke. His claim of concern implied he had never acted against Li Banfeng, and had even harbored worries for him. Yet, in truth, the He Family’s focus at the time was on Lu Xiaolan, and Li Banfeng was not a consideration. What was Li Banfeng's standing then? In the eyes of Patriarch He, he wasn't even worth noting, yet they express worry for him? Li Banfeng maintained his silence. Observing Li Banfeng’s unyielding demeanor, He Haiqin ceased reminiscing about the past and shifted to the present circumstances: "My presence here today stems genuinely from a misunderstanding with my sister. There are matters I simply wish to clarify with her; I never intended a genuine confrontation. Honestly, I was unaware of the connection between you and my sister." Li Banfeng offered a smile. Here was a true master, skillfully redirecting the conversation. "Allow me to inquire first, how did you manage to locate this place?" Li Banfeng broke his silence. He Haiqin replied, "Shen Jinzhong of the Three Heroes Gang, wielding the Great Gold Seal, provided me with the information." "And how did Shen Jinzhong come to know of He Yuxiu’s location?" "Shen Jinzhong and my sister shared a history in their youth, and they continue to maintain contact to this day; it is likely my sister informed him." Li Banfeng gave a subtle nod, inwardly commending He Haiqin’s talent for crafting plausible fabrications. Had Li Banfeng truly been He Yuxiu’s lover, those simple sentences alone could have easily diverted all his suspicion towards Shen Jinzhong. He Haiqin added with conviction, "If you doubt my words, you are welcome to summon Shen Jinzhong. I am prepared to face him directly." Li Banfeng simply shook his head and stated, "There is no need to summon Shen Jinzhong; I believe you." The phonograph interjected pointedly, "Shouldn't we bring Shen Jinzhong here, to ensure we do not falsely accuse the wielder of the Great Gold Seal?" Li Banfeng responded, "It is not convenient, my dear. Shen Jinzhong has gone to the soda kiln to meet an old flame." The phonograph inquired further, "And who might this flame be?" "Luo Lijun," Li Banfeng replied, patting He Haiqin’s cheek, "that young lady who resembles a snail; do you happen to know her?" He Haiqin contemplated for a moment, but offered no response. Li Banfeng’s direct revelation had cornered He Haiqin, making further fabrication exceedingly difficult. Since He Haiqin found himself unable to continue, Li Banfeng took the initiative. "Old He, I have no desire to make things difficult for you. You speak the truth; Jia Qing is indeed my friend. When I first arrived in Puluo State, your He Family did not trouble me. Had it not been for your family diverting the Lu Family’s attention, I might not have achieved what I have today." Li Banfeng began constructing his narrative. "Back at the soda kiln, Yuxiu and I were betrayed by Jiang Xiang Gang. Had we not fought our way out, we would have surely met our demise at their compound." He Haiqin nodded slightly, acknowledging that he was aware of this event. The incident was factual, the camaraderie genuine, and coupled with undeniable proof, his carefully laid groundwork became even more convincing. "Then, merely days ago, Jia Qing and I encountered Green Flower outside the provinces. You are well aware of Green Flower’s formidable strength, yet we still managed to defeat him. What does this signify? It demonstrates that when brothers stand united, any obstacle can be overcome!" This particular event was unknown to He Haiqin. Li Qi and Jia Qing fought against Green Flower? Was there a pre-existing animosity between them and Green Flower? "Then why did you involve Green Flower? And arrange for five thousand three-headed individuals to assist him?" He Haiqin, though perplexed, began to follow Li Banfeng’s logic. Li Banfeng let out a laugh, "Do grudges in the Jianghu truly last forever? Once an incident has passed, why dwell on it? Must it always lead to a matter of life and death? Eldest Brother He, Yuxiu and I are truly lovers, and Jia Qing and I are like sworn brothers. Can the bonds of our friendship be considered false? Today’s conflict, consider it a friendly exchange between brothers; let us put this matter behind us. Let us relinquish this animosity and, bringing Jia Qing along, we shall later perform the rites and become sworn brothers." The generational hierarchy felt somewhat jumbled, but He Haiqin did not seem to mind. "Can we truly set aside this animosity between us?" Li Banfeng smiled warmly, "I expended considerable effort to secure a parcel of land from Luo Lijun, a feat others could not achieve. Yet, I gifted it to our Xiuer. Does this act of friendship not yet earn your trust?"
He Haiqin affirmed with a nod, stating: "Very well, my trust is in you. Since you've been forthright, I shall reciprocate with honesty. My purpose in visiting today is precisely this unestablished territory. The intelligence originated from individuals within the Inner State. They not only informed me but disseminated the information widely; the news spreads like wildfire, and consequently, arrivals are continuous. The Inner State has decreed that dominion over this land shall belong to whoever successfully claims it. Those who acquire this territory will be liberated from the Inner State's authority, attaining the status of a free, terrestrial deity."
Li Banfeng's brow furrowed as he inquired, "So, a considerable number of individuals are already aware of this opportunity?"
"What alternative did you envision?" He Haiqin gestured towards the outside, adding, "How do you surmise He Haisheng received word? It clearly indicates the news has reached his ears as well! To be direct with you, several local deities who oversee newly claimed territories in proximity, including Lu Huowang, Sha Dingzhong, Chu Yaoxian, Rong Si Jiao, and Xie Laizi, are all en route. Furthermore, prominent figures from distant locales are also making their journey: Pan Dehai, Tao Xuehong, Hua Manchun, Dou Jiyan, and Song Baijin. Among these individuals, who do you believe you can afford to provoke?"