Chapter 481.2: Cant Tell Whats Left or Right (2)

Chapter 481.2: Can't Tell What's Left or Right (2)

Earlier, Luo Zhengnan had gathered a group of friends at the Jiangxiang Gang's main hall to discuss eliminating the bandits in the area. Their targets were none other than the surviving members of the Jiangxiang Gang, and Kang Qihai was one of the men Luo Zhengnan intended to deal with.

As a former branch master of the Jiangxiang Gang, Kang Qihai was considered quite powerful among the mountain bandits. However, his abilities were nothing compared to Luo Zhengnan's.

In less than two days, Luo Zhengnan had familiarized himself with the mountain paths. That night, while Kang Qihai was busy celebrating his wedding, Luo Zhengnan led his men up the mountain, wiped out the entire stronghold, and took Kang Qihai's head.

Upon entering the bridal chamber, Luo Zhengnan lifted Lightbulb's veil and studied his face for a moment before remarking admiringly, "He really is quite handsome."

Lightbulb gritted his teeth, broke free of his ropes, and bolted for the door.

Several of Luo Zhengnan's men tried to grab him, but he was so slippery that none of them could get a proper hold on him.

Luo Zhengnan glanced at one of his men, a Fire Cultivator. The man understood the signal and released a wall of flames to block the doorway.

Lightbulb no longer dared to run. He stood trembling in the middle of the room.

Luo Zhengnan smiled. "An Oil Cultivator, huh? You don't see many cultivators of that Daoist path these days."

One of his subordinates chimed in, "An Oil Cultivator is good! Very smooth!"

Luo Zhengnan instructed his men, "Keep him here for now. Master Qi might have a use for him."

One of his men looked surprised. "Master Qi is into that sort of thing too?"

Luo Zhengnan frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about? Just keep him under guard."

Lightbulb shouted, "The Master Qi you are talking about is Li Qi, right? I know him! We know each other! Let me see him!"

Luo Zhengnan paused in surprise. "You know Master Qi?"

"Of course I do! Just mention me to him. He will definitely know who I am!"

Luo Zhengnan thought it over for a moment, then found a fishing net, stuffed Lightbulb inside, and hung him from a ceiling beam in the bridal chamber.

***

At Yellowclay Bridge, Li Qi handed over the more than ten thousand refugees he had brought out of Vilefolk Hillock to Qin Bulou.

Honestly, Qin Bulou was reluctant to take them in. He was a level-nine Calculation Cultivator who had remained at that level for many years. With his experience and knowledge of the world, he knew a thing or two about Vilefolk Hillock and the situation there.

"Master Qi, I will certainly do as you ask, but I am afraid these people might be more than I can handle."

"Whether you can handle them or not, you will have to. These people can help you defend your domain, so you must take them in. However, if anyone dares to spread the Sage's teachings in Yellowclay Bridge, execute every last one you catch. Show no mercy."

Qin Bulou agreed and set about finding places for the refugees to live.

Li Banfeng took a walk through the streets of Yellowclay Bridge. Thanks to Ma Wu's efforts, the place had begun to show signs of recovery, though the improvements were still rather limited.

The Northern Bridge was a little more prosperous than before, while the mines at the Western Bridge brought just enough activity to keep the area from feeling deserted. The Eastern and Southern Bridges, however, remained as desolate as ever. The Eastern Bridge was particularly bleak, with its empty streets looking no different from the last time he had visited.

As Li Banfeng walked along, he came across a cafe and wondered whether he should go inside.

Coffee was a rare luxury in Puluo Province. The fact that Yellowclay Bridge once had a cafe was a testament to how prosperous the place had been back then. The cafe had long since been abandoned, yet waves of danger seemed to emanate from within. That was enough to pique Li Banfeng's curiosity.

Who is trying to ambush me here?

Li Banfeng walked past the caf without slowing his pace, as though he hadn't noticed it at all.

A man leaped from the second floor and lunged at him from behind. The attacker didn't need to make physical contact with Li Banfeng. He only needed to get close enough to infect him with a disease.

Li Banfeng glanced over his shoulder and recognized Wan Jinxian, another disciple of the Greenwater Beggar. He was Lu Dongjun's strategist and one of He Jiaqing's most loyal subordinates. According to Cedric, Wan Jinxian was a level-seven Disease Cultivator.

When Li Qi had killed Tu Yinghong, Wan Jinxian had tried to assassinate him from the shadows. Li Qi had retreated into his Pocket Dwelling and escaped the attack. Ma Wu, however, had contracted a serious illness as a result.

As far as Wan Jinxian knew, Li Banfeng was still only a fifth-level Wanderlust Cultivator. His impression of Li Qi remained stuck in the days when Li Qi hadn't dared to confront him head-on.

If he had known that Li Qi had reached level-eight cultivation in both Homebound and Wanderlust Cultivation, he would never have dared to ambush him.

Li Banfeng had plenty of ways to kill Wan Jinxian. The simplest method was to vanish from his sight, causing him to explode on the spot.

However, that would come at a huge cost. Once Wan Jinxian exploded, cleaning up his remains would be extremely difficult, and the slightest mishap could trigger a plague. The Eastern Bridge would have to remain deserted for a long time, and if the plague spread, all of Yellowclay Bridge would be in serious trouble.

Although Cedric had mentioned that Wan Jinxian's disease was nowhere near as powerful as the Greenwater Beggar's, Wan Jinxian still carried a portion of Greenwater Beggar's power in him.

The best solution was to drag Wan Jinxian straight into the Pocket Dwelling and leave the rest to Wifey and Crimson Lotus. They could dispose of both his body and soul without leaving a trace, then give the place a thorough blast of steam to ensure nothing remained.

Li Banfeng waited for Wan Jinxian to come closer. Meanwhile, he discreetly took out his key, ready to open the Pocket Dwelling.

Wan Jinxian slowly closed in from behind. Li Banfeng's mind was overwhelmed by an intense sense of danger, but he had his plan ready. At just the right moment, he would dodge aside and let Wan Jinxian charge straight into the Pocket Dwelling before slamming the door shut.

However, Li Banfeng suddenly found himself facing a serious problem. Which way was he supposed to turn the key?

Am I sick? I have opened the Pocket Dwelling countless times. Why would I even need to think about this?

Yet no matter how hard Li Banfeng tried, he simply couldn't remember.

Left or right? Wait, which way is left?

Wan Jinxian was getting closer by the second. Li Banfeng had to dodge soon, or he would be infected with Wan Jinxian's disease.

Seeing Li Banfeng retreat to a safe distance, Wan Jinxian couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. "That Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Calamity ability of Wanderlust Cultivators really is troublesome. Still, I wasn't trying to kill you. I just want to ask you one question. What exactly is your relationship with He Jiaqing?"

"Why do you ask?" Li Banfeng said with a smile, though inwardly, he was extremely nervous.

It wasn't that he had forgotten how to open the Pocket Dwelling. He simply couldn't tell left from right. For a moment, it was as though he had completely lost his sense of direction.

It was not just the direction. His sense of distance had become just as unreliable. He couldn't tell whether he was far enough away from Wan Jinxian to be safe, nor could he be certain whether his next step would take him forward or backward. He even began to worry that he had already been infected with Wan Jinxian's disease.

Could Wan Jinxian infect people with a disease that would interfere with a person's sense of direction and distance? It was possible. Li Banfeng had seen Cedric induce vertigo in one of He Caiyuan's clones before.

His current condition was somewhat similar to vertigo. A Wanderlust Cultivator's abilities depended heavily on their sense of direction and distance. Losing those senses would severely impair their combat abilities.

Wan Jinxian was not in a rush to kill Li Banfeng. There were still a few things he wanted to find out before finishing him off.

"He Jiaqing keeps saying he wants to take back Crimson Lotus, and he knows she's in your hands. Yet whenever he makes a move against you, he's always extremely cautious. I have never understood why. Care to explain?"

Li Banfeng smiled. "I don't think Crimson Lotus is actually with me. In fact, I suspect she's been with He Jiaqing all along. He doesn't want anyone finding out the truth, which is why he won't let you people kill me."

Having managed to express himself so clearly and coherently, Li Banfeng figured he probably hadn't been infected after all.

Wan Jinxian nodded. "That's what I thought too. He Jiaqing doesn't want to hand over Crimson Lotus, so he's using you as an excuse. But if that's really the case, then you are no longer of any use to me."

"Don't say that." Li Banfeng smiled. "You are still somewhat useful to me. How did you know I was at Yellowclay Bridge? Have you planted a spy among those around me?"

Wan Jinxian frowned slightly. "Li Qi, why are you always so arrogant? Don't you realize you have already made quite a name for yourself in Puluo Province? Why do you still like going everywhere by yourself?"

"Maybe it's just in a Wanderlust Cultivator's nature."

Wan Jinxian laughed. "Oh, don't give me that nonsense. I have met plenty of famous Wanderlust Cultivators, and they all had people backing them up. Take Bao Yingchen, the Great Golden Seal of the Three Heroes Sect, for example. Speaking of Bao Yingchen, I heard a rumor that you two fought for days and nights without either of you gaining the upper hand, only to end up becoming friends. I actually believed it at first, but now I can see that you never had that kind of capability. So how exactly did Bao Yingchen die? Are you willing to tell me about that?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you. Why don't you go down there and ask him yourself?"

Wan Jinxian's expression darkened. "One last question. Do you know anything about He Jiaqing's trip to Sage's Peak? And why did you bring the people from Vilefolk Hillock to Yellowclay Bridge? Does He Jiaqing have anything to do with that?"

Li Banfeng sighed. "You really do talk a lot. Anything else you want to get off your chest? If you are done, it's time to send you on your way."

"Fine! You have got guts!" Wan Jinxian suddenly lunged at Li Banfeng.

Wan Jinxian moved with astonishing speed, thanks to a nail embedded in his heel. It was a Wanderlust Cultivation enchanted artifact.

Despite his earlier taunts, Wan Jinxian had no idea how powerful Li Qi actually was. He was not confident at all. If the Greenwater Beggar hadn't backed him into a corner, he would never have wanted to face Li Qi head-on.

Li Banfeng retreated as quickly as he could, exerting every force to maintain a safe distance from Wan Jinxian. However, with his sense of direction and distance impaired, his movements were noticeably slower than usual.

Wan Jinxian pressed forward relentlessly. All he needed was to make Li Qi cough once, and he would have the upper hand.

After the two had spent quite some time maneuvering around each other, Li Banfeng decided to use Intent Travels a Thousand Mountains to bring a region of peril here and end the fight as quickly as possible.

But which region should I choose?

After giving it some thought, Li Banfeng settled on Ghostblade Ridge. Even if his ability couldn't bring the Toilblade Ghost along with the mountain, Ghostblade Ridge itself would work well due to the unusual terrain. The mountain was covered in thick forests, with hardly a path to be found. Wan Jinxian might be astonishingly fast, but without the Severing Paths to Forge a Way ability, all that speed would not help him. With the terrain on his side, Li Banfeng was quite confident he could kill Wan Jinxian.

He was just about to use his ability when he felt something vibrating against his chest. It was a call from Old Luo.

The call interrupted Li Banfeng from using his ability. However, his sense of direction improved a lot, and he could almost tell left from right again. Perhaps he could forget about the plague for now and use Passing Flowers on Horseback to blow Wan Jinxian to pieces.

On second thought, perhaps not. His sense of distance was still playing tricks on him, and he didn't dare to use Passing Flowers on Horseback recklessly. He was afraid that one wrong move could send him straight toward Wan Jinxian, which meant that he might not escape Wan Jinxian's line of sight and would instead catch a disease himself.

Wan Jinxian was moving faster by the moment, while the phone against Li Banfeng's chest continued to vibrate.

Now, why on earth would receiving a phone call help me regain my sense of direction?

As Li Banfeng continued maneuvering around Wan Jinxian, he muttered, "Pick up the phone."

Glove sprang into action, pulling the circuit board from Li Banfeng's chest, attaching the battery, and plugging in the antenna. Then, the call connected.

Just then, Wan Jinxian suddenly closed the distance between them and Li Banfeng instinctively lashed out with a kick, sending Wan Jinxian flying before he could even infect Li Banfeng with the disease.

That kick sent Wan Jinxian flying so far away. How far away? Even Wan Jinxian himself could not estimate the distance. He just kept flying, colliding with several buildings along the way. Strangely enough, the buildings suffered no damage, and neither did he.

He flew faster and faster, and the scenery around him grew increasingly blurred until he could no longer see a thing. He realized he had already crossed the boundary of Yellowclay Bridge, yet he hadn't suffered so much as a scratch.

What kind of ability is this? A Parting Across Ten Thousand Miles? Since when is Li Qi able to use A Parting Across Ten Thousand Miles?

Wan Jinxian continued hurtling through the air in utter despair. When he finally landed, he found himself in the middle of a dense forest.

Where on earth am I?

"SCREEE-AAAAAAHHHH!"

A terrible screech rang out through the trees.

***

Luo Zhengnan managed to get through to Li Qi, but he couldn't hear a word from him.

Is there something wrong with the signal?

He fiddled with the antenna on his head and kept calling out, "Master Qi? Master Qi, can you hear me?"

"Yes, I can."

The voice didn't come from the phone.

Luo Zhengnan nearly jumped out of his skin. He whipped around and found Li Banfeng standing right behind him.

"M-Master Qi! H-How did you get here?"

Li Banfeng hadn't the faintest idea how he had ended up here himself.

"Weren't you looking for me?" Li Banfeng answered vaguely. "Anyway, what's up?"

"Well, I..." Luo Zhengnan took a good while to recover from the shock. Once he had calmed down, he pulled the antenna out of his head and led Li Banfeng into the bridal chamber.

Lightbulb was hanging from a ceiling beam, suspended in a fishing net. Luo Zhengnan ordered his men to lower him.

Li Banfeng lifted Lightbulb's bridal veil and took a good look at him. A faint smile spread across his face. "Well, would you look at that! He's quite a handsome fellow!"

Author's Note:

PS: In Chapter 2, when Li Banfeng saw He Jiaqing off at the train station, He Jiaqing asked him to give him a call.