The Overlord of Puluo

Li Banfeng had been planning to investigate the grudge between Pan Dehai and Bei Wushuang, but unexpectedly, Pan Dehai came to him of his own accord.

Pan Dehai rose from beneath a tree, using his cane for support. He said with a smile, "I came here today to discuss a few matters with Meng Yuchun. I didn't expect to find you here as well. It seems the rumors I heard were true."

"What rumors?"

"Someone told me you're Meng Yuchun's lover. It's true, isn't it?"

How was Li Banfeng supposed to answer—yes or no? Pan Dehai was a Moralism Cultivator. If Li Banfeng were to lie in front of him, he would see through the lie very easily.

Li Banfeng answered, "People have indeed said that."

He spoke a truth.

Pan Dehai frowned. "But I heard Meng Yuchun doesn't eat the long ones; she eats the flat ones. Could it be that her tastes have changed because of you?"

Li Banfeng smiled calmly. "You've been peeping at other people in the bedroom again, you shameless old bastard."

"I didn't peep. I heard about it."

"Then you've been prying into other people's bedroom affairs. You really are a shameless old bastard."

Pan Dehai did not get angry. Shaking his head, he said, "Enough. I came to see Meng Yuchun because I want to join forces with her against an evil man. Since you're here too, you might as well lend a hand."

"'Might as well'? You certainly think highly of me," Li Banfeng remarked as he looked at Pan Dehai. The old fellow's temperament had not changed one bit. "Give me a reason first. Why should I help you?"

"I already said we're dealing with an evil man. It is my duty as the Great Moral Paragon to uphold virtue and condemn evil. You're a man of virtue. Surely, you can't just stand by and do nothing, can you?"

Li Banfeng smiled. "So, he's evil just because you say he is? Tell me this first—what evil has he committed, exactly?"

"Have you heard of a man named Bei Wushuang?"

"I've heard of him. I've even met him."

Pan Dehai nodded. "Then I don't need to elaborate on his crimes. Since you've met him, you'll definitely help."

"I'll definitely help just because I've met him? What kind of logic is that?" Li Banfeng wasn't buying it. "You'll have to explain a bit more. I know nothing about Bei Wushuang's evil deeds."

Pan Dehai sighed. "Do you remember last year's calamity—the insect plague?"

"Of course. I risked my life to help you stop it. You haven't forgotten that act of good, have you?"

Pan Dehai nodded. "That's why I say you're a man of virtue. You do good without expecting repayment. Do you know what caused that insect plague?"

"I do. It was the Entomic Luminary," Li Banfeng replied, being upfront with the truth to spare Pan Dehai from circling the subject.

Pan Dehai shook his head. "You know only half the story. There's another secret you don't know. If I told you this secret, how would you repay me?"

Li Banfeng pointed into the distance. "I've got a buddy over there. I'll borrow a bucket of gold from him and give it to you as repayment. How does that sound?"

As they were speaking, Meng Yuchun appeared in midair. She charged toward Pan Dehai and yelled, "Who are you?"

Pan Dehai looked up. "You must be Miss Meng?"

Meng Yuchun demanded angrily, "Was it you who used a spell to harm my sisters?"

Pan Dehai looked bewildered. "When have I ever harmed anyone?"

"My sisters are no longer close to me. Wasn't that your doing?"

Pan Dehai glanced at Li Banfeng and chuckled. "See? I neither peeked nor pried. She told me about it herself."

There was something Li Banfeng had been puzzled about this whole time. Why had Pan Dehai made such a commotion when entering Meng Yuchun's territory? Wasn't he worried that Bei Wushuang would learn he had come here?

After thinking carefully about Pan Dehai's way of doing things, Li Banfeng figured it out. Pan Dehai wanted Bei Wushuang to know that he had come to see Meng Yuchun. He wanted Bei Wushuang to know that he had dealings with Meng Yuchun!

Now, Meng Yuchun had no choice but to help him, regardless of whether she wanted to. Otherwise, once Pan Dehai left, Bei Wushuang would certainly target her. It was much like when Pan Dehai had tried to lure the mosquitoes to Girdle-Slipping Hollow. He was using the same strategy for a different situation.

Li Banfeng looked up at Meng Yuchun. "This is Old Pan of the Ridges of Bottomless Stomachs, the Great Moral Paragon. Let's find somewhere private and have a proper talk."

Meng Yuchun looked Pan Dehai up and down. "So this is the land deity of the Ridges of Bottomless Stomachs?"

Before Li Banfeng could answer, Pan Dehai bowed respectfully first. "This humble old man is indeed the one."

Meng Yuchun was still angry, but she had heard of Pan Dehai and knew the strength of a true land deity. Following Li Banfeng's suggestion, she led the two of them to a secluded cave.

Li Banfeng worried that even the cave might not be secure. Meng Yuchun's residence would have been the most secure, but he knew full well that Meng Yuchun and Pan Dehai were strangers. There was no way she would reveal the location of her residence to him.

Before entering the cave, Threaded Earring whispered by his ear, "Master, I think something's moving."

That was only to be expected. After all, Bei Wushuang had always noticed whenever Li Banfeng entered his territory. With the commotion that Pan Dehai had caused, Bei Wushuang's spies had likely followed them already.

How can we conceal this?

Li Banfeng looked back. Several black hawks circled outside the cave. This type of hawk was common in the New Lands and possessed little spirit essence. Aside from them, he saw no other living creatures.

After Li Banfeng entered the cave, a crow quietly blended in among the black hawks.

Pan Dehai sat down on a rock and sighed. "I've come all this way, and you haven't even prepared a cup of tea."

It appeared that his words worked on Meng Yuchun; she actually felt a little ashamed that she had not given him a proper welcome.

Li Banfeng noticed there was a water hole inside the cave with a bit of standing water. "Old Pan, let's have water in place of tea. It's the thought that counts. Why don't you lie on the ground over there and have a sip?"

Pan Dehai smiled helplessly. Some things simply did not work on Li Banfeng.

He got straight to the point regarding the insect plague. "After the great calamity passed, I investigated its cause. The true culprit behind the plague was indeed Huang Xiliang[1]."

Li Banfeng asked, "Who is Huang Xiliang?"

"One of the leading Entomic Cultivators—the Entomic Luminary you mentioned earlier. But on his own, he could never have created mosquitoes that vicious."

"What makes you say that?"

Pan Dehai shook his head. "The behavior of the Annihilation Mosquitoes goes beyond what is natural for ordinary mosquitoes. It's not just that they can feed on grain. Their rate of reproduction, resistance to poison, and ability to detect food sources all far surpass those of normal mosquitoes. Aside from their appearance, these insects have almost nothing else in common with ordinary mosquitoes. I have consulted many ancient texts for records of insect plagues, and this kind of insect was never mentioned. In other words, these insects aren't creatures born from nature. They were artificially created."

Li Banfeng asked, "The Entomic Luminary can't create entirely new species of insects?"

Pan Dehai shook his head. "Entomic Cultivators excel at controlling insects. Huang Xiliang created the Iron-thread River, and even iron-thread insects hundreds of kilometers away remain under his control, which shows just how formidable he is. Besides that, Entomic Cultivators are also skilled at selective breeding. They can continually breed stronger specimens from a species and produce the strongest insects for combat. But selective breeding and creating an entirely new species are two different things. I have never heard of any Entomic Cultivator capable of creating a brand-new species."

Meng Yuchun said, "It's not just Entomic Cultivators, right? As far as I know, no Daoist path is capable of creating an entirely new lifeform."

Pan Dehai nodded. "For Miss Meng to say something like that proves you are truly a person of great virtue. This isn't something a single Daoist path can accomplish, nor can it be done by one person alone. As far as I know, several cultivators were involved. Huang Xiliang was the mastermind, and Bei Wushuang was one of his accomplices. Just with the crimes they committed at the Ridges of Bottomless Stomachs, that scoundrel Bei Wushuang already deserves to die.

"Furthermore, the full story behind the incident is still unclear. They must have had a reason for targeting the Ridges of Bottomless Stomachs, and this may be our chance to uncover an even greater scheme. Of course, I'm not doing this solely for the Ridges of Bottomless Stomachs. With such a despicable man as your neighbor, Miss Meng, you surely cannot sleep or eat in peace. We would do well to strike first and eliminate the problem once and for all."

Meng Yuchun glanced at Li Banfeng. She agreed with Pan Dehai. Eliminating Bei Wushuang would benefit both her and Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng said to Pan Dehai, "Old Pan, if you intend to kill Bei Wushuang, you should strike from the shadows and catch him off guard. Why spread word of your intentions beforehand? Now that you've frightened him, he's going to behave extremely cautiously. Killing him won't be nearly as easy."

Pan Dehai let out a deep sigh. "I considered doing that, but upon further thought, I realized it wasn't a good idea. Seeing as Bei Wushuang had cooperated with Huang Xiliang, that means he is quite capable. Had I acted rashly, I might have failed to kill him and instead fallen victim to one of his schemes. The reason I spread the news beforehand was so that virtuous people like yourselves would learn of Bei Wushuang's wickedness, share my hatred, and join forces with me to kill our common enemy!"

Li Banfeng thought, So that was his plan after all. The old bastard has a habit of dragging others into his troubles, yet he always dresses it up in such righteous language.

"If we were to refuse to help, you'd probably spread word that Meng Yuchun intends to take action against Bei Wushuang, forcing us into the feud anyway."

Pan Dehai shook his head. "I didn't plan on doing that."

Li Banfeng scoffed. "Old Pan, you're too modest. What do you mean you didn't plan to? You're already doing just that!"

Pan Dehai's methods were disgusting, but he wasn't wrong about this matter. It truly was impossible to rest easy living beside Bei Wushuang.

Bei Wushuang had seized the Mountain-Uprooting Lord's territory. Li Banfeng didn't know the circumstances behind it, so he couldn't judge.

However, Bei Wushuang had nearly killed Li Banfeng simply because he had entered Bei Wushuang's territory. Even if that was the only grudge, it was unforgettable for Li Banfeng, and it made Bei Wushuang a mortal enemy.

"Old Pan, Bei Wushuang certainly deserves to die. But might I ask what good plan you have in mind, sir?"

Pan Dehai nodded. "I do have a plan, though I'm not sure whether I should tell you."

Li Banfeng blinked in surprise. "You came here to discuss taking revenge. What could there possibly be that you can't say?"

Pan Dehai turned toward Meng Yuchun. "I came to discuss getting revenge with Miss Meng."

Li Banfeng frowned.

What's this supposed to mean? Is he looking down on me?

Naturally, Meng Yuchun had to show her respect for Li Banfeng at this moment. She sat beside him, linked her arm through his, and said, "He's my lover. Anything you can tell me, you can tell him too. I'll only agree to whatever he agrees to."

Pan Dehai sighed softly. "If I withhold it, it is for his own good. Li Qi, you may not even be able to contribute in this battle. Tell me, what cultivation level have you reached now?"

Li Banfeng thought, So that was it. He wanted to ask about my cultivation level, so he even used a bit of reverse psychology beforehand.

As if I'd tell you.

He smiled. "My cultivation level is certainly inferior to yours, Old Pan. If you're worried I'll be a burden, then I simply won't take part in the battle."

Meng Yuchun held onto Li Banfeng's arm and declared, "If he doesn't fight, then neither will I."

Pan Dehai nodded. "You two virtuous people are determined to punish villains and eliminate evil. I deeply admire that. Since that's the case, I'll explain my battle plan. I entered the Daoist path several years before either of you, so my cultivation level is somewhat higher. Naturally, I won't ask the two of you to undertake the dangerous part. All you need do is enter Bei Wushuang's territory and pretend to engage him in battle. I'll venture into the depths of his territory, find his residence, and dig up his contract. Then I'll regroup with you and kill the villain."

"Well, now. Look how magnanimous Old Pan is," Li Banfeng said to Meng Yuchun. "He said he won't put us in danger."

Pan Dehai chuckled. "There's no need for you to be courteous about it. I have always prioritised being virtuous above all else. Looking after the younger generation is both my own wish and the proper conduct of a virtuous man."

If Little Gen had been nearby, Li Banfeng would have scooped up a ladle of his golden juice and splashed it onto Pan Dehai's face.

"Old Pan, why don't you put it plainly? You want us to serve as bait and lure Bei Wushuang out. Then you'll seize the opportunity to dig up his contract. If we hold out, you'll accomplish your objective. If we don't, you'll still be able to retreat unscathed. Isn't that what you really mean?"

Pan Dehai shook his head repeatedly. "Li Qi, you've misunderstood me. I have absolutely no intention of doing that!"

"Whatever your intention may be, we're not serving as bait," Li Banfeng said flatly, looking straight at Pan Dehai. "Find someone else."

The atmosphere had turned tense in a heartbeat.

Threaded Earring whispered to Li Banfeng, "Master, there's movement outside. There really is movement."

A crow flew past the cave entrance.

Pan Dehai's expression darkened. "Miss Meng, I came here sincerely seeking an alliance, but your lover has quite an unpleasant way of speaking."

Wanting to ease the tension, Meng Yuchun was thinking of how to respond. Then she suddenly felt a ticklish sensation on one half of her peach. Li Banfeng was gently brushing his fingertip across it. Just as Meng Yuchun was about to snap at him, she realized he was writing something on her peach. There were only two characters, one written on each peach. Li Banfeng wrote them three times in succession.

Meng Yuchun's plump peach quivered slightly under his touch, but she actually figured out what the two characters were.

She let out a cold laugh and said to Pan Dehai, "So what if his words are unpleasant? I listen to him regardless."

Pan Dehai stood up. "If that's how it is, then we have nothing more to discuss. This was a wasted trip. Farewell."

Meng Yuchun rose as well. "You come when you please and leave when you please. What do you think this place is?"

Pan Dehai looked at Meng Yuchun and furrowed his brows slightly.

***

Late in the night, Bei Wushuang was inspecting the border checkpoints throughout his territory.

A crow flew over to him and whispered, "Master, Pan Dehai went to Meng Yuchun's territory. He knows Meng Yuchun's lover, and the three of them are discussing something together."

Bei Wushuang replied calmly, "I already know."

The crow continued, "Pan Dehai tried to pull something underhanded, but the lover refused. Their negotiations broke down, Meng Yuchun and Pan Dehai got into a fight, and Meng Yuchun was injured—seriously injured. Pan Dehai was wounded as well. Meng Yuchun trapped him within her boundary lines, and now he can't get away."

Expressionless, Bei Wushuang said, "Keep watching."

After the crow departed, Bei Wushuang stared into the distance and let out a snort.

He spent a moment in deep thought, then a magpie flew over and chirped by his ear, "That lover has come again."

Bei Wushuang turned and headed northwest.

After walking over several kilometers, he stopped and called out to the darkness ahead, "Why have you come?"

Li Banfeng emerged from the darkness and stepped into view. "I've come to present you with a huge gift."

"What huge gift?" Bei Wushuang asked, flicking out his tongue.

"Meng Yuchun has trapped Pan Dehai. If you've been looking for a chance to strike him, now is the perfect opportunity."

1. His name can be translated roughly to “give a lot of locusts”. ☜