Li Banfeng frowned slightly. "You’re just an ordinary Disciple in the Three Heroes Gang, and the Geng Family is a local powerhouse. Do they have such reason to fear you?"
"If it were any other gang, it would indeed be hard to say, but the Three Heroes Gang has a special status in Puluo State. Not to mention the Geng Family, even big families like the He Family and Lu Family have to give full face to members of our gang. Today, Manager Yu also sent someone to inquire about news. It seems the cloth store is about to open up too. Brother Seven, as for how that Tomboy repays kindness, I don’t care, but you must accept this Elixir no matter what."
Li Banfeng didn’t lack Elixirs. "You keep it for yourself, save some time."
Little Fatty shook his head. "It’s no use for me to keep it. I can’t reach the higher levels; eating it would just be a waste."
"Why can’t you reach the higher levels?"
Little Fatty sighed. "My intestines and stomach are a bit short in size, just not big enough. Iron Seal Zhang Liuge said he’ll get me some Stomach Cleansing Powder; that stuff works."
Li Banfeng had heard of this medicine; it wasn’t rare in Medicine King Valley. "Isn’t Stomach Cleansing Powder available all over the streets?"
"Not the ordinary Stomach Cleansing Powder. Brother Liu said this one could increase the size of the intestines and stomach. I’ll give it a try for a while and see if I can reach a higher level. If I still can’t, then I’ll accept my fate."
After chatting for a bit, Li Banfeng stood up to take his leave. Little Fatty, holding the Elixir, said, "Brother Seven, you must take this no matter what."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "If you don’t want to take it, then exchange it for money. Also, about this Stomach Cleansing Powder, you better inquire more carefully. Don’t get tricked."
Li Banfeng put on his top hat and walked to the door. He suddenly heard Little Fatty ask, "Brother Seven, have you heard? The Jiang Xiang Gang’s dance hall was blown up."
Li Banfeng feigned ignorance. "What dance hall?"
Little Fatty was silent for a moment, then said, "Brother Seven, did you do this?"
Li Banfeng smiled slightly. "What do you think?"
Little Fatty quickly lowered his head. "Brother Seven, pretend I never asked. I owe you my life, and this life is yours. Whenever you think I can be of help, I’ll lay down my life for you."
"You only have one life; take good care of it." Li Banfeng didn’t say much and left Little Fatty’s yard. Little Fatty saw him to the door and watched Li Banfeng’s figure disappear, a burst of joy filling his heart.
"Brother Seven, where should I go if I want to see you in the future?"
Li Banfeng pondered for a moment and looked at the old Pagoda Tree in Little Fatty’s yard.
This tree was a bit special. Whether there was wind or not, it always rustled non-stop.
Little Fatty usually didn’t pay much attention, but Li Banfeng was very concerned about this tree. "If you want to see me, just pick three leaves from this Pagoda Tree and stick them on the front door of the Steamed Bun shop."
Little Fatty blinked. "There are a lot of Pagoda Trees in front of the Steamed Bun shop, and it’s inevitable that leaves will stick to the wall. If Brother Seven gets it wrong..."
"Don’t worry, there will be no mistake." Li Banfeng took another look at the Pagoda Tree in the yard, raised his top hat slightly as a salute, and then put on his top hat and left Little Fatty’s home.
A woman in a green long dress sat on the Pagoda Tree, her body enveloped in green Ghost Fire that clung to every leaf.
These leaves, touched by Ghost Fire, were not common. Li Banfeng could not be mistaken.
She watched Li Banfeng walk away, feeling a sense of fear from the bloody aura he exuded.
She then gazed at Little Fatty, who by now had spread out his blanket and was ready to sleep.
Li Banfeng never expected the Jiang Xiang Gang to back down so quickly. Feeling refreshed, he walked through the streets of Ligou in Medicine King Valley, and the road seemed much wider.
"Extra! Extra! Xianle Dance Hall has been bombed, suspected to be the doing of Jia Quansheng! The Jia Family’s young master was found with his eyes gouged and heart carved out, lying dead in the street! The vendettas of the Jianghu, when will they end!"
The newsboy’s sales pitch caught Li Banfeng’s attention.
Li Banfeng bought a newspaper, his mood uplifted as he flipped through the news.
「Five days later,」
Li Banfeng saw three Pagoda Tree Leaves in front of the Steamed Bun shop—leaves touched with Ghost Fire.
The Stomach Cleansing Powder promised by Zhang Liuzi had arrived. After Little Fatty ingested it, he felt his intestines and stomach had expanded by a size.
Zhang Liuzi set up a banquet at the Steamed Bun shop that day, inviting everyone to witness the Food Cultivator Qin Tianjiu’s advancement to the next level.
That day, all of Zhang Liuzi’s brothers had arrived, and several Shopkeepers from familiar shops on the street had also come.
Qin Xiaopang hadn’t planned such a big show. He just wanted to invite Li Banfeng and Zhang Liuzi for a drink, then find a place to eat twenty pounds of Steamed Buns and be done with it.
But Zhang Liuzi wouldn’t have it. He insisted on making a big deal out of it for Little Fatty.
The proprietor of the sundries shop, Shopkeeper Feng, arrived. "Boss Qin, congratulations, congratulations!"
"No, no, you’re speaking too soon. I haven’t... that thing yet..." Qin Xiaopang was still busy explaining when the Shopkeeper from Qingwen Pharmacy also came over to congratulate him.
Yu Nan didn’t come, but Wang Xuejiao from the Yu Family Cloth Store did. "Boss Qin, our manager went out to stock up and couldn’t make it back today, so I’m here to bring her regards!"
Going out to stock up was a euphemism. Yu Nan was still in New Land and had not dared to return to Ligou Street.
Li Banfeng walked up to Wang Xuejiao and asked in a low voice, "Is it taken care of?"
Wang Xuejiao’s face turned red. "Is Seventh Master talking about marriage?"
"Who’s getting married to you? I’m talking about Old Master Yao’s matter."
"It’s taken care of. Here’s the Yellow Paper you bought." Wang Xuejiao quietly stuffed the Yellow Paper into Li Banfeng’s hand.
Seeing more and more people gathering, Qin Xiaopang said to Zhang Liuzi with a strained expression, "Brother Liu, what should we do? There are so many people here..."
Zhang Liuzi paid no attention to Little Fatty and exchanged a few pleasantries with the guests before shouting loudly, "Serve the dishes!"
The Steamed Bun shop had never laid out such a large banquet before. Many of the dishes were made by other restaurants.
In a short while, a table full of elaborate dishes was served. Little Fatty said with a troubled expression, "Brother, I’d just eat Steamed Buns. Now’s not the time to eat these..."
Zhang Liuzi grabbed Qin Xiaopang’s hand and shouted to the crowd, "I have spent most of my life in Medicine King Valley, and in front of all the neighbors, I have some reputation. Tonight, I’ve laid out this table of modest wine to encourage my Brother as he attempts to pass the First Layer. I’m putting my reputation on the line here! If my Brother can’t pass this trial tonight, I won’t be able to show my face on Ligou Street anymore!"
Little Fatty’s face turned green. "Brother Liu, why do you say this? I..."
The roomful of guests all cheered in unison. Zhang Liuzi slammed the table. "The auspicious moment has arrived! Brother, start eating!"
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Qin Xiaopang began to eat.
At first, he only ate Steamed Buns, not daring to drink even a sip of water, fearing it would take up space.
Seeing that more than half of the Steamed Buns were eaten, a troublemaker from the Three Heroes Gang brought a chicken leg to Little Fatty. "Brother, try this!"
Qin Xiaopang took a bite of the chicken leg, and the greasiness instantly diminished his appetite.
Zhang Liuzi stepped forward, snatched the chicken leg away, then turned and kicked his subordinate. "Who the hell gave you permission to be meddlesome!"
The table full of elaborate dishes wasn’t for eating; it was for show, to stimulate the appetite.
Little Fatty had to eat twenty pounds of food within an hour. Too oily wouldn’t do, too dry wouldn’t do, too salty wouldn’t do. Spicy and bitter were even worse.
Steamed Buns were perfect.
In the blink of an eye, Little Fatty ate sixteen pounds of Steamed Buns.
In the past, this would have been his limit. One more Steamed Bun, and Little Fatty could regurgitate it.
But today he had to eat!
First, he had taken Stomach Cleansing Powder and believed his stomach had expanded and could take more.
Second, in front of so many people, he could not show weakness.
Third, Brother Liu had put his reputation on the line, and Li Banfeng was also watching. Today, he would risk his life to eat those twenty pounds of Steamed Buns.
After eating the seventeenth pound, Little Fatty’s face began to turn pale. Zhang Liuzi cheered him on, "Brother, grit your teeth and carry on!"
The surrounding guests also echoed with praise, "Elder Qin Jiu, well done, true hero!"
"Little Fatty, eat for your life! Our Three Heroes Gang doesn’t produce cowards!"
By the eighteenth pound, Little Fatty’s face turned from white to red.
Seeing this, everyone cheered aloud.
"Ninth Master has recovered!"
"Brother, well done! Just two more pounds to go."
Zhang Liuzi looked serious, muttering under his breath, "Not good..."
Li Banfeng asked from the side, "What’s not good?"
"Food Cultivators nourish their blood with food. This kid’s Qi and blood are too vigorous. He can’t hold out!"
PS: Shala’s vitality is strong. Combining two Chapters into one, now everyone is satisfied, right? Leave messages for Shala, vote for Shala!