Sun Tiecheng shook his head and said: "Brother, there are some things I can't tell you, but listen to me; when you can beat them, don't hold back, beat them down. If you really can't win, come to me, and I'll beat them for you."
Snowflake Beach seemed so vulnerable here at Sun Tiecheng's place.
After a few more drinks, Li Banfeng looked at Tang Changfa and a few familiar ladies: "Big Brother, I want to take them out for some training."
As soon as he said this, Tang Changfa, Yan Cui'er, and the others put down their chopsticks.
Sun Tiecheng didn't say anything. Tang Changfa said to Li Qi: "Shopkeeper, it's been many years since we've been out. We don't even know what it's like outside. If we go out now, who knows how much trouble we'll stir up? In the end, we'll just be a burden to you."
Li Qi shook his head: "You won't be a burden. You all have skills in handling things. Going out, you could help me."
The few people looked at each other, saying nothing.
Sun Tiecheng smacked his lips: "The entire Puluo State is wary of our Taoist Sect. They've been with me for so many years that I'm worried if they leave the city, it might be sending them to their deaths."
Li Banfeng thought for a long time and said to Sun Tiecheng: "Then let's not go to Puluo State. Let's go to the Outside Provinces, where they don't know much about our Taoist Sect."
Upon hearing about going to the Outside Provinces, Tang Changfa became even more anxious: "City Lord, the Outside Provinces might really not know us, but we know even less about them. Apart from newspapers, I've barely heard of the Outside Provinces."
Sun Tiecheng took a sip of wine, savoring its taste, and this time he seemed tempted: "Old Qi, be honest with me. Are you taking them to the Outside Provinces to support yourself or to repay me?
If it's to repay me, forget it. I don't need your repayment. But if you sincerely want to take them out, I think it's a good thing."
"They will be great helpers in the Outside Provinces. That's the truth." Li Banfeng indeed needed some helpers in the Outside Provinces.
Tang Changfa still didn't want to go: "City Lord, we're really not capable..."
"What's not capable?" Sun Tiecheng waved his hand, "In the city, you listen to me. At Changsan Book Residence, you listen to the shopkeeper. Wherever the shopkeeper tells you to go, you must go!"
The crowd fell silent. Sun Tiecheng, in a great mood, poured another bowl for Li Qi: "Set a date and take them. If they're useful, keep them for a while. If not, send them back to me."
After staying in Fool's City for a few days, under Sun Tiecheng's guidance, Li Banfeng learned the technique of turning effect into cause.
He also received news from He Yuxiu that the first three-mile piece of the new land was opened.
The cook was indeed impressive, with different strategies for different wandering monsters.
The Three-Headed People learned quickly too. On the last day of the test, the cook hardly guided them, and the Three-Headed People devised their own strategies, successfully defeating Weng Fangqu.
The land reclamation progressed smoothly. With a water source, over five thousand people could settle down successfully. Ye Jianhuang stayed in the new land, and Snowflake Beach did not send anyone to cause trouble again, marking the success of this endeavor.
"Good lad," Sun Tiecheng praised, "you've cut a piece of meat from the Inner State!"
Li Banfeng modestly said: "Big Brother, that bony carp was left behind by you, right?"
Sun Tiecheng nodded.
Li Banfeng laughed: "I just picked up what was already there from you, Big Brother."
Sun Tiecheng shook his head: "Not just anyone can pick up this readily available. I left this fish to see if the Inner State would dare fight the Outside Provinces.
From the looks of it, the Inner State makes a lot of noise but lacks confidence. They'd rather give you a piece of territory than engage with the Outside Provinces."
Li Banfeng sighed: "If I'd known it was you who set this up, I'd have asked them for more new land to see if they'd agree."
Sun Tiecheng laughed heartily: "You've got high ambitions, do you know you've personally appointed a local deity?"
"Is that so?" Li Banfeng thought about the whole process, and indeed, he personally appointed He Yuxiu.
Li Banfeng casually smiled: "That's no big deal."
"No big deal?" Sun Tiecheng looked Li Banfeng up and down, "A local deity is a feudal lord. Who do you think can appoint a local deity?"
Li Banfeng really didn't know about this.
Sun Tiecheng didn't explain further, humming a tune as he turned and left.
With everything packed, Tang Changfa handed the management of the Book Residence to Yan Qing'er. Taking Yan Hong'er and Yan Cui'er with him, he left Fool's City with Li Banfeng.
Li Banfeng originally planned to take them on a train. With his ability, getting three anonymous guide tokens wouldn't be a problem. They could ride all the way back without having to endure a tough journey.
But less than twenty miles out of Fool's City, Tang Changfa started trembling, unsure of how to move his legs or open his mouth to speak.
This wasn't nerves; it was Tang Changfa worrying that the Fool's skill would fail, fearing he wouldn't believe he was still alive and slowly becoming like a dead man.
Yan Cui'er trembled along with Tang Changfa. Yan Hong'er was strong and clever, displaying calm in front of Li Banfeng, but was also scared inside.
Li Banfeng said to the three of them: "I walked out of Fool's City, am I alive?"
The three nodded.
Li Banfeng said to the three of them again: "You came out of Fool's City too, so you must be alive, right?"
Yan Cui'er nodded. She believed what the shopkeeper said was true.
Yan Hong'er remained silent, thinking it wasn't true, but dared not say it out loud.
Tang Changfa couldn't hold it in and said: "Shopkeeper, you're different from us."
Li Banfeng feigned surprise: "How so? We eat the same food, drink the same alcohol, sleep the same way, enter the Path Gateway the same way, learn techniques the same way. In everything we do, we're the same, aren't we?"
Li Banfeng sorted out the cause and effect, and Tang Changfa felt at ease, thinking they could reach the train station. Surprisingly, after a few dozen miles, the three of them relapsed.
They had stayed in Fool's City for countless years; this couldn't be cured with one technique session. If this state continued on the train, who knows how much trouble might arise? If they lost control, they might reveal secrets about Fool's City.
Better to take the new land path.
Li Banfeng led the three of them through the new land, trekking for an entire day. In the evening, as they set up camp, Li Banfeng was about to return to his Portable Residence but caught a whiff of burning smoke.
Was there a fire?
Li Banfeng stepped out of the tent and followed the trail of smoke. After walking over two miles, he saw a man who had arranged a few stones into a stove and was adding logs to the firebox.
Seeing Li Banfeng, the man stood up and dusted his hands: "The night wind is getting cold. I was afraid you'd freeze, so I built a stove to warm you up."
Li Banfeng laughed: "Being more than two miles away, we really can't feel the warmth."
The man added more firewood: "But you've come, haven't you? I knew you'd come, so I built the fire here, waiting for you to come and warm up."
Li Banfeng nodded: "You're quite nice, drawing me here for what reason?"
The man sincerely replied: "I want to have a match with you, to decide a winner and a loser."
Li Banfeng asked: "And after the contest?"
The man took out a contract book: "If you win, I'll sign this contract. The land under my feet will be yours to dispose of."
Li Banfeng asked, "If you win, He Yuxiu's land will become yours, right?"
"I won't take that land for nothing," the man produced another contract book, "If I win, you sign this contract. I'll use the land under my feet to exchange with He Yuxiu's territory, so it's not entirely unfair for you."
Li Banfeng asked: "What do I call you?"
The man put away the contracts, stoked the fire, and smiled: "I like to build stoves and make them burn brightly. The land under your feet is mine."
PS: August 1st has arrived, base monthly tickets, all go to Shala. Thank you to all the esteemed readers!