The Overlord of Puluo

On newly acquired land, there were two unmistakable signs that land activation had truly succeeded.

The first was Heavenly Light. Not the kind Li Banfeng had been exposed to before, but the normal kind of glow that comes from the sky onto the land. The halo overhead was subtle, almost shy, but it was there. It was a real light.

The second sign was finding a water source. And now, right there in the pit, there was water!

Li Banfeng’s heart leapt with excitement, but he did not let it carry him away. Excitement was dangerous. Carelessness was worse. He had to be cautious, absolutely cautious.

Li Banfeng fetched a bucket, climbed down to the edge of the pit with deliberate, measured steps, and carefully drew up a bucket of water. Without wasting time, he carried it straight back into the Pocket Dwelling.

His wifey peered into the bucket.

Pop...crackle...pop...

”The water’s a little cloudy,” she said. ”but it isn’t poisonous. Let it settle for a bit and it’ll be perfectly usable.”

There’s water now! The land activation had succeeded! Li Banfeng howled with joy in his heart and bolted out of the Pocket Dwelling at once. This new land was his now.

Even though the plot was empty, he felt that a random handful of dirt was more precious than gold. This was the first piece of land he had ever owned in his entire life.

Looking back, he should not have played it so safe. He should have prepared more offerings and activated a plot of land with a radius of one and a half kilometers. Then again, one and a half kilometers was still far too small. It should have been five kilometers. He should have tried to activate the largest plot of land possible.

After all, he would have been hiding in the Pocket Dwelling the whole time. No matter how big it was, it would not have been an issue! It wasn’t too late even now!

The offering table was still there, and there was still fine aged wine inside the Pocket Dwelling.

Li Banfeng carried the table out of his newly claimed land and set it up properly. He arranged the items in sets of six, six times over, an auspicious number meant to ensure everything would go smoothly. These were offered respectfully to the local land deity.

He also set out incense and candles. Everything he needed was available inside the Pocket Dwelling, except for the contract.

However, that was easy enough to resolve. The terms were simple, and Li Banfeng had heard them once before. He still remembered the gist.

After writing out the contract, he burned it. As the paper turned to ash and drifted upward, a cluster of bluish-green flames appeared in the air.

It’s here! The local land deity is here!

The wine on the offering table quickly ran dry. The cans were opened one after another and soon emptied as well.

Once the local land deity accepted the offerings, it meant the contract had been acknowledged.

Li Banfeng looked around, but he did not see the halo marking the boundary.

It doesn’t light up... What’s going on? Did the local land deity give me a plot so vast that the boundary can’t be seen at a glance? That must be it!

Li Banfeng broke into a run toward the distance. He ran for a long time, yet still could not see any halo.

Huff~

A gust of cold wind swept past.

Splash~

Rain suddenly fell from the sky.

How can it be raining when it’s the season for snow? Why is it suddenly raining? Li Banfeng thought. Through the sound of the rain, he vaguely heard a low, aged voice.

It kept repeating the same line, over and over again:

”Spat! This shameless fellow!”

He ate my offerings and still won’t give me any land. And he even dares to call me shameless? Who’s shameless here, you or me?

If I weren’t completely unable to beat you, I’d argue this out with you properly, Li Banfeng fumed inwardly.

The Land Deity had clearly refused to grant him any land. With no other options left, Li Banfeng packed up the offering table and returned it to the Pocket Dwelling.

There was light. There was water. The land had been successfully activated. And yet, Li Banfeng still felt that something was missing.

What exactly is missing? Oh right. Where is Ma Wu? Didn’t we agree he’d come back once the trial ended?

Did he forget the time? Impossible. Ma Wu has a pocket watch, and he has a very strong sense of time.

Then something must have happened. Did he break a rule in the orange grove?

The thought sent a chill through Li Banfeng’s chest. He broke into a sprint, heading straight for the orange grove. After searching for a short while, he finally spotted the orange grove’s caretaker.

”Young man, craving oranges again?”

Li Banfeng nodded. ”I really am a bit tempted.”

The old man picked an orange and handed it to him. As Li Banfeng ate, he asked casually, ”Has a young man been by the orange grove these past couple of days?”

The old man thought for a moment. ”Someone did come. He picked a few oranges, then left.”

Ma Wu picked oranges and left? Why didn’t he stay put in the grove like I told him? Why would he wander off? Was that really Ma Wu?

The old man seemed to read his thoughts and continued, ”Since you left, only one person has come through here. I suspect that’s the one you’re looking for.”

He paused, then added, ”He headed east. You can go and take a look if you want, but I wouldn’t advise it. The person you’re looking for may have run into someone... extraordinary.”

Someone extraordinary? Li Banfeng thinks. If even the grove owner describes them that way, then their background must be anything but ordinary.

What situation is Ma Wu in right now?Assuming the one who came for oranges is Ma Wu, and assuming he really did run into this so-called extraordinary figure, then why did he take the oranges? To eat.

At the moment, the only reason Li Banfeng can think of is food. Ma Wu was looking for something to eat, which means he still had some freedom of movement.

He did not eat at the orange grove, nor did he stay there to rest. That suggests he was not gathering food only for himself, but also for that extraordinary figure.

If that is the case, then the two of them must be getting along reasonably well. And the fact that the extraordinary figure did not come to the orange grove in person likely means his condition is not very good.

Of course, all of this is nothing more than Li Banfeng’s own speculation.

Even if all this guessing turned out to be true, one thing was certain. Ma Wu had to be found, and quickly. His wife had once mentioned, in her crackly, knowing way, that high-level cultivators recovered frighteningly fast.

Li Banfeng finished his orange, wiped his hands, and carefully worked out a plan. He picked up the feather duster, gave the grove one last glance, and headed east.

The plan was simple. First, confirm whether Ma Wu was indeed with that extraordinary figure. Then, find out just how bad that figure’s condition really was. After that, he would confirm the condition of that extraordinary figure.

If this extraordinary figure meant well, then the problem would be easily solved. If the figure meant harm but was already injured or weakened, then Li Banfeng would fight him.

If the extraordinary figure harbored malicious intent and was still in good condition, then things would become very troublesome indeed. At present, Li Banfeng had absolutely no idea how he would handle that situation.

Still, there was one thing he knew without the slightest doubt.

Ma Wu was his friend.

Ma Wu had followed him into the new land to activate a plot of land, and no matter what sort of mess Ma Wu had fallen into, Li Banfeng would use every ounce of strength he had to pull him out.

After walking more than ten kilometers, the road turned soft and muddy, and Li Banfeng spotted Ma Wu’s footprints.

Ma Wu’s shoes were distinctive. Their deep, chunky patterns stamped clearly into the mud, making them impossible to mistake for anyone else’s. Li Banfeng followed the trail without hesitation. All the while, he sensed no danger at all.

However, that did not mean there was none. The caretaker of the orange grove had already lived far beyond the span of ordinary humans. Anyone he described as ”extraordinary” would certainly surpass him in both power and standing.

At such a high level, Li Banfeng’s Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Calamity technique might as well have been decoration. It simply would not work.

After another dozen kilometers, a bamboo grove came into view. From deep within it drifted the faint, steady sound of a zither.

Li Banfeng reached out and checked his gear. The sickle and Tang saber were there. The pendulum and iron ruler were there too. Everything was in its proper place.

And yet, none of it would truly matter.

At this moment, only two items could actually save his life.

One was the Threaded Earring, which allowed him to hear what ordinary ears could not. The other was the key. That small, unassuming object was his final line of defense.

Li Banfeng activated the Threaded Earring and followed the sound of the zither. The first thing that reached him was not music, but a woman’s voice.

”Your friend has arrived.”

Immediately after, he heard Ma Wu’s voice.

”He’s a good person,” Ma Wu said earnestly. ”He has always been very good to me.”

Then the woman spoke again, her voice smooth and unhurried. ”If he treats you well, then he must be a good person. In that case, I will also-”

Li Banfeng heard only half of it before the sound cut off abruptly. The voice itself had not stopped. Instead, the thread on the earring had snapped. In other words, the Threaded Earring could no longer latch its hook onto the zither to eavesdrop.

He immediately ordered the Threaded Earring to latch onto the zither again, but it refused outright.

”Master,” it said in a trembling voice, ”I absolutely cannot listen to that woman speak anymore. If I hear even a few more lines, this little one fears I’ll lose my soul.”

Li Banfeng took a careful breath and followed the footprints and the thin, wandering sound of the zither deeper into the grove. The trees pressed closer together the farther he went, as though they were trying to peer over his shoulders. At the heart of it all stood a small hut made of bamboo.

A beautiful woman sat in front of the hut, playing the zither.

The new land was shrouded in darkness. To be honest, Li Banfeng could not see her face clearly, yet he still felt she was flawless, breathtaking beyond words. Even he could not explain why he felt this way.

Nearby, Ma Wu was crouched beside a fire, poking at it cheerfully. A kettle hung above the flames, bubbling away, though it was unclear where the water had come from.

When Ma Wu saw Li Banfeng, he cried out excitedly, ”Brother Li, you’ve finally come!”

Li Banfeng nodded. ”I’m here and it’s time for us to leave.”

Ma Wu’s brows gave a small, nervous twitch. He shook his head.

”I can’t leave yet,” he said. ”Miss Feng hasn’t recovered, and I need to stay behind to take care of her.”

”Miss Feng?” Li Banfeng turned toward the woman playing the zither.

The music stopped at once.

Miss Feng’s fingers lingered on the strings, stroking them softly. Then she lifted her gaze and looked at Li Banfeng as she spoke gently, ”Young Master Li, I have heard Wu speak of you. He told me you are a good person.

She continued, ”Young Master Wu saved my life. Such kindness must be repaid. It is only that I have not yet recovered and still require his care. In a few days, he will return home. Young Master Li, you don’t have to worry about him.”

Ma Wu hurriedly added from the side, ”Brother Li, Miss Feng truly can’t be alone right now. I really can’t leave. You should head back first.”

Hearing this, Li Banfeng said, ”If the young lady needs help, then why don’t I stay as well? I can help Young Master Ma look after her.”

”That wouldn’t be very appropriate, ”Miss Feng interrupted. As she spoke, her cheeks bloomed with a soft rosy color.

Ma Wu shook his head so hard it was a wonder it stayed attached.

”Brother Li,” he said quickly, ”there are many private matters involved here. Things you can’t help with. Listen to me. Go back first.”

As he spoke, he kept his eyes locked firmly on Li Banfeng’s face. Too firmly.

They were not the eyes of a man making polite excuses. They were sharp, alert, and painfully clear. He was signaling as plainly as he could. Leave now. Leave at once. If you stay, something dangerous will happen to you.

Before Li Banfeng could respond, the zither began to play again.

The melody was the same as before, sweet and lilting, but the rhythm had quickened ever so slightly, like a heart that had begun to beat faster without anyone noticing why.

As Li Banfeng listened to the music, the world gave a sudden, unpleasant wobble. The trees leaned. The ground tilted. His head felt as though someone had reached inside and gently but firmly twisted it.

”Miss!” Ma Wu cried out in alarm. ”Brother Li is my closest friend!”

Miss Feng did not look up. She lowered her head slightly and continued playing. Her brows drew together in the faintest crease, appearing slightly angry.

This time, Li Banfeng felt malice, an extremely intense malice. It was a signal Miss Feng had released on purpose.

Li Banfeng understood at once that he was no match for her. He did not pause to argue with that realization. He turned and left the bamboo grove without another moment’s hesitation.

When he reached the edge of the trees, he stopped. His thoughts shifted swiftly, discarding the path he had planned and searching for another. If he could not stay, then he would have to find a different way.

One way or another, he would still rescue Ma Wu.

As Li Banfeng studied the surrounding terrain, the sound of the zither drifted back to him.

The world tilted again, and a fresh wave of dizziness washed over him. Miss Feng’s voice slipped into his ear once more.

”Young Master Li,” she said softly, ”I was gravely injured after battling someone and require a man to help treat my wounds. Wu is someone who cherishes loyalty and values relationships. He is a good man, and I have taken a liking to him. He treats me with sincerity. I bear not the slightest malice toward him, so you may rest assured.

”As for you, I will give you a reward. This is flesh I tore from that person during our battle.”

As her words faded, something appeared before Li Banfeng. It was a piece of flesh, no larger than a palm, streaked with fresh blood and twitching faintly, as though it had not yet accepted its fate.

Li Banfeng did not move. He did not dare touch it.

A gentle breeze drifted through the grove. Two bamboo leaves floated down and wrapped themselves neatly around the flesh. Slender grass stems twisted together of their own accord, tying the bundle carefully, lovingly even, until it resembled a small zongzi prepared with great care.

Li Banfeng took it into his hands as Miss Feng’s voice followed, soft and coaxing. ”Go quickly. Go...”

The world spun again. Before Li Banfeng could steady himself, his feet began to move on their own, carrying him farther and farther away from the bamboo grove.

Behind him, the kettle had finished boiling. Ma Wu poured the water into a bowl and carried it to Miss Feng. His voice was low and urgent. ”He is my closest friend. Do not hurt him.”

Miss Feng smiled and said, ”Wu, don’t worry. I am only sending him back. I will protect him along the way. As long as he does not run into that beggar, no one in this new land can harm him.”

Ma Wu was taken aback. ”Which beggar are you talking about?”

Miss Feng reached out and touched Ma Wu’s cheek.

”You were born into wealth,” she said gently, ”so there are many things you do not know. That is not your fault. People in this domain are all like this now.”

She continued, ”That beggar is extremely powerful. Given my current injuries, I would stand no chance against him. Even at my peak, I might not be his match.”

With her touch on his cheek, Ma Wu shuddered from head to toe. From his cheekbones to the tips of his ears, everything turned a furious shade of red.

Miss Feng let out a soft, amused laugh and teased, ”Last night, when we were entwined, you were so valiant and vigorous. Why are you suddenly so shy now?”

Ma Wu lowered his head, smiling helplessly. ”Please don’t tease me, Miss. I am hardly worthy of being called valiant and vigorous. You are only keeping me by your side to amuse yourself.”

Miss Feng frowned. Her eyes filled at once with quiet grievance. ”Wu, do you truly think I deceived you?”

Ma Wu sighed softly. ”When we first met, I saw you trapped by the Green Serpent Vine and rushed forward without hesitation to save you.”

He hesitated, then continued, ”But thinking back now, with your cultivation, how could you have been trapped by an aberration of that level? Was that not a trick you played on me?”

Miss Feng caught his hand and pressed it against her chest. Her voice slowed, each word careful and sincere.

”Wu, I truly did not deceive you. I was gravely injured back then and genuinely could not withstand that Green Serpent Vine. Without you, I would not have recovered so quickly.

”I will remember this kindness forever. Wu, you are a Hedonism Cultivator. To do well in your cultivation, you must have a strong body. As repayment, I will grant you a fine physique.”

Ma Wu asked in surprise, ”What kind of fine physique?”

”You’ll find out soon enough.”

Her cheeks flushed red as she tightened her grip on his hand and gently pulled him toward the hut.

***

Li Banfeng sped through the Little Yellow Spring and rushed onward until the Iron-thread River came into view.

He did not wish to move so fast. In fact, he very much wished to slow down. Unfortunately, his legs had other plans.

Inside his head, countless streams of thought were chattering away at once, all arguing loudly, all insisting they were correct. Yet for all their noise, most of them agreed on a single, stubborn conclusion:

He had to return to Blue Poplar Village.

That thought pressed forward like a marching order. It pushed aside caution, smothered reason, and left no room for hesitation. Li Banfeng’s entire being focused on one thing alone, charging straight toward Blue Poplar Village, so completely that he could not work on avoiding any danger at all.

By the time he reached the Iron-thread River, it was already too late. He could not move forward anymore. One more step would send him plunging straight into the water.

And yet, without slowing, without pausing, and without so much as a startled gasp, Li Banfeng rushed headlong toward the river anyway.

A tiny scrap of his consciousness began shrieking in terror.

Stop. Stop. You can’t keep going!

Li Banfeng knew he had to stop, yet he could not suppress the urge to keep moving forward.

There was nothing he could do. He could only move forward.

Stop! Stop! he howled inside his own head. I want to go home!

At that very critical moment, the An Arrow Bound for Home technique finally activated.

With tremendous effort, Li Banfeng fumbled for the key. His hands twitched. His feet skidded. Everything seemed determined to escape his control.

He forced the key into place and opened the door to the Pocket Dwelling. Then, he stepped through the doorway, and without stopping to think, he hurled the key toward the opposite bank of the river as hard as he could.

The instant he stepped through the doorway, the An Arrow Bound for Home technique lost its effect.

Li Banfeng spun around and opened the door again, ready to rush back out.

He still wanted to go back to Blue Poplar Village. The thought clung to him stubbornly, filling every corner of his mind and refusing to let go.

At this moment, the gramophone was awake. The water in the bucket had cleared, and she was calmly replenishing herself, one careful sip at a time.

Fortunately, it was precisely because she was awake that she noticed something was terribly wrong. A sudden cloud of steam burst forth and wrapped around Li Banfeng, bringing him to a jolting halt.

”Heeeyaa~ Husband dear~” the gramophone chimed. ”Whatever has gotten into you?”

Li Banfeng staggered in place. His face twisted into an ugly knot, and when he spoke, his words came out thick and slurred.

”Crazy girl,” he muttered. ”Crazy girl...”

”Well, well!” she cried. ”You shameless madman, daring to mutter about some girl right in front of me!”

Her voice rose and fell in a lilting arc, each word ringing clear.

”Tell me, tell me. What crazy girl has bewitched you into such a sorry state? Husband dear, are you possessed, or have you lost your wits entirely? Which girl were you calling just now? Could it be Feng[1]... Dai... Ku? That shameless wretch!”

***

By the Iron-thread River, the key to the Pocket Dwelling lay stranded on the opposite bank, no more than ten centimeters from the writhing iron-thread insects.

That, as it turned out, was ten centimeters too close. One iron-thread insect stretched out its slender body, inch by cautious inch, and touched the riverbank.

When the insect drew back, it did not return alone. The key went with it, dragged along and slipped straight into the Iron-thread River, where it vanished at once into the churning mass of iron-thread insects.

1. 疯 (Feng) means crazy so crazy girl in Chinese basically sounds the same as Miss Feng (冯姑娘). ☜