Chapter 19: Incompatible as Water and Fire

Firelight flickered across Li Banfeng’s face as he slowly opened his eyes.

The Peddler’s face suddenly appeared right before him. He gazed at Li Banfeng, his smile as if he cared for him deeply.

"You’re awake? Here, drink this

Guozi Lu

[1]. It’ll freshen you up."

Guozi Lu

was a drink from the old days. Though it resembled fruit juice, it had no real fruit in it. This bowl, mixed with coloring and saccharin, carried an orange flavor.

Li Banfeng’s mouth felt dry and bitter, and he thought it would be nice to have a bowl of something to drink.

After downing the

Guozi Lu

in one gulp, Li Banfeng asked about joining the Daoist path.

The Peddler's smile brimmed with sincerity. "Congratulations, young man. The danger of Heavenly Light has passed, and you have become a cultivator, which is what the people of the Outer Province call a Dark Ability User."

Why is the Peddler speaking in such a strange tone?

Li Banfeng thought.

Indeed, the Peddler's voice now carried a formal politeness, and the streetwise casualness from before was gone.

Li Banfeng asked, "Which Daoist path did I enter?"

"You wanted to become a Wanderlust Cultivator, right? This wish has already been granted," the Peddler said as he poured another bowl of

Guozi Lu

.

"That's good," Li Banfeng said as he raised the bowl and took a large sip. This one was pineapple-flavored; it was golden in color and had the rich aroma unique to pineapple.

But then, the sight of this golden hue reminded Li Banfeng of what he had seen before he fainted. It was the golden Activation Powder laced with a faint bluish-green glow.

"Just a Wanderlust Cultivator?" Li Banfeng asked, looking at the Peddler with suspicion.

The Peddler's smile remained sincere. "You just asked another customer earlier if it was possible to cultivate two paths at once. Let me answer on his behalf. It is possible."

I knew it. Something definitely went wrong!

Li Banfeng thought. Then he asked, “Which two Daoist paths am I cultivating?”

The Peddler paused for a moment before replying, "Wanderlust Cultivation and Homebound Cultivation."

The blue powder represented Wanderlust Cultivation, while the golden powder represented Homebound Cultivation.

Li Banfeng remained expressionless for a long time before asking, "How does one cultivate both Wanderlust and Homebound Cultivation at the same time?"

These two Daoist paths clearly had traits that conflicted as sharply as water and fire.

The Peddler patiently explained, "That customer earlier said it’s harder to achieve anything if you cultivate two paths. In my opinion, that’s wrong. A person who cultivates two paths should actually be stronger in combat than someone who cultivates only one. Even if they’re a level lower, they can still rely on the combined methods of both paths to fight their opponent. Don’t you think that’s an advantage? Isn’t that potential? I believe cultivators who walk two paths have a bright future ahead of them!"

Li Banfeng nodded. "I think so too. So then, how does one cultivate Homebound Cultivation and Wanderlust Cultivation at the same time?"

"Let's start with Homebound Cultivation," the Peddler patiently explained. "Because of its unique nature, Homebound Cultivation can be practiced alongside many others. For example, it pairs well with Spycraft Cultivation.

"Spycraft cultivators specialize in observation and tracking. If a Homebound Cultivator also acquires the abilities of Spycraft Cultivation, they can monitor a person’s movements from the safety of their own home. Even if they’re exposed, they remain protected by their dwelling spirit.

"Furthermore, a dwelling spirit can strengthen the abilities of Spycraft Cultivation. Its master can pursue enemies from thousands or even tens of thousands of miles away, and still break through barriers. So you see, the path of Homebound Cultivation is very well suited for dual cultivation."

Li Banfeng nodded. "It’s a great fit. So then, how exactly can a cultivator practice both Homebound Cultivation and Wanderlust Cultivation at the same time?"

The Peddler continued, "Now, let’s look at the path of Wanderlust Cultivation. This Daoist path is also very suitable for dual cultivation. I know someone nearby who's just the perfect example. Manager Han from Baisheng Medicinal Hall in Medicine King Gully is known to everyone there as a Medicine Cultivator, but in truth, she also practices Wanderlust Cultivation. Manager Han has traversed thousands of mountains and crossed ten thousand rivers, gathering countless rare treasures. That is how she kept Baisheng Medicinal Hall running. So don't you think Wanderlust Cultivation is very suitable for dual cultivation?"

"Definitely. Both Daoist paths are very suitable for dual cultivation," Li Banfeng very much agreed. "So how exactly does dual cultivation work with Homebound Cultivation and Wanderlust Cultivation?"

"Homebound and Wanderlust Cultivators are both great for dual cultivation. Putting these two paths together should be a perfect match..." The Peddler trailed off.

Li Banfeng asked seriously, "What's so great about it?"

The Peddler wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Wait, hear me out while I cook something up..."

Li Banfeng remained serious. "Alright, I'm listening. Go ahead."

Several minutes of silence followed. A cold breeze swept through, and sweat formed on the Peddler's forehead. "I've got nothing."

Li Banfeng began to sweat as well. "And?"

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Things had taken a turn for the worse.

The Peddler forced a smile, as if trying to comfort Li Banfeng. "Homebound Cultivation and Wanderlust Cultivation were never meant to be practiced together. These two Daoist paths are like sworn enemies, though I guess you can try to see it in a positive light."

"What's positive about it?"

"The good thing is that you're still alive," the Peddler said. His smile had faded. From this point on, every word he spoke concerned Li Banfeng's survival. "Homebound Cultivation and Wanderlust Cultivation have no overlap and clash severely in nature. By all logic, taking the Activation Powders of both paths should have killed you on the spot. However, the fact that you are still alive shows that there is something peculiar about your physique. Of course, this mainly has to do with your exposure to the Heavenly Light."

"What exactly is Heavenly Light?"

The Peddler shook his head. "It's far too profound to explain. You wouldn't understand."

"Take your time explaining. What if I actually understand?" Li Banfeng pressed. He needed to figure out what had happened to him.

The Peddler paused in thought before asking, "Do you know what dark matter is?"

"Of course I do."

In truth, Li Banfeng had not a single clue. With the current level of human technology, no one really knew what dark matter was. Still, thanks to his higher education, he had at least heard of the term.

"You really know what it is?" the Peddler asked again.

Li Banfeng gave a firm nod. "I do. I have had higher education."

"Well, I don't!" The Peddler puffed out his chest. "I don't know what dark matter is, so I can't explain it clearly!"

Li Banfeng scratched the back of his head. He had to admit that there was nothing wrong with what the Peddler said. "Alright then, let's not talk about dark matter."

The Peddler continued with his explanation, "What we call exposure to Heavenly Light is what you people of the Outer Provinces would describe as a stream of dark matter particles.

"Dark matter exists everywhere, but some forms of it are rather unique. In the Inner Nine Provinces, we call it a burst of Dao affinity. If absorbed properly, Dao affinity doesn’t cause much harm to the body. But if the burst is too strong, no ordinary person can withstand it.

"If you’re struck by such a burst, your body could explode, and the lingering Dao affinity might even harm those nearby. To survive, you must begin cultivating a Daoist path as soon as possible. With the guiding powder, you can channel the Dao affinity within your body in the right direction..."

The Peddler explained the workings of Heavenly Light in the simplest terms, and Li Banfeng quickly understood the main idea. Dark Ability Users, known here simply as cultivators, were extraordinary beings whose powers came from mutations triggered by specialized forms of dark matter. These mutations occurred chaotically and were usually fatal. The Peddler's medicine, however, could guide that chaos into an orderly mutation.

With a slow and steady intake of dark matter, as in the cases of Ma Wu and Chubby Qin, the mutations progressed gradually. Once the mutation reached a certain level, they could take the Peddler's Activation Powder to guide the change and become Dark Ability Users.

Li Banfeng’s situation, however, was different. He had been struck by a direct stream of dark matter, and his body was overwhelmed in an instant. The pressure built so rapidly that he could have exploded on the spot. His mutations had to be guided immediately.

There were many kinds of guiding medicines, each directing the mutations down a different path and awakening a different extraordinary ability. Li Banfeng had enough dark matter in his body to choose any path he wanted. He could have even chosen two that were somewhat alike, and it would have worked out. However, he was now walking two completely opposite paths, and he hadn’t even been the one to make the choice!

Li Banfeng's eyes widened. "Where's Qiao Yuesheng? That damn birdman who ran into me earlier? This is all his fault..."

The Peddler pointed at the straw mat beside him. "You mean this one?"

Li Banfeng had never paid much attention to the straw mat beside the Peddler. He had thought it was just covering some miscellaneous items. But on closer look, he realized there was a person wrapped inside.

Li Banfeng exclaimed, "That's Qiao Yuesheng?"

The Peddler nodded. "This all started because of him. He has already given me sufficient compensation. Nevertheless, you were injured at my stall, so I bear some responsibility. That means I owe you compensation too. This is just what I should do as a businessman. From the looks of it, you've survived the activation phase, but the road ahead will be very tough. As a Wanderlust Cultivator, even if you are not trying to advance in cultivation, you must walk at least ten kilometers every day. And as a Homebound Cultivator, you must stay home for at least two hours a day."

Li Banfeng did some quick math and said, "That doesn't sound too hard!"

Indeed, it did not seem difficult. He could just jog the ten kilometers. After that, he could go home, take a nap, read a novel, or watch a show, and the two hours would pass easily.

The Peddler shook his head. "That's just the early stages. As your cultivation advances, you must walk farther and farther to do the bare minimum for your Wanderlust Cultivation. You would also have to spend more and more time at home to keep up with the Homebound Cultivation. Eventually, the two paths will become completely incompatible.

"Furthermore, when a Wanderlust Cultivator advances, they can no longer stay in one place for long. Meanwhile, a Homebound Cultivator’s dwelling is fixed, which means they can’t travel too far from home. That’s why these two cultivation paths are considered sworn enemies.

"Of course, that’s something to worry about later. You can deal with it when the time comes. For now, there’s a more urgent matter. To advance to the next level as a Wanderlust Cultivator, you must spend a full day and night in a region of peril.

"And that’s where the real problem lies. A Homebound Cultivator has to return home every day. If you miss a single day, you might just drop dead. So how will you survive a full day and night outside?"

Li Banfeng blinked. "What exactly do you mean by region of peril?"

The Peddler stared at him in disbelief. "Didn't you go to school? You don't know what a region of peril is? It's a place where you might die at any moment."

Li Banfeng muttered, "What exactly counts as a region of peril? If I sleep in the middle of the road, I could get run over any second. Does that count?"

The Peddler nodded seriously. "That's actually a good idea! You could try sleeping in the middle of the road. If your cultivation acknowledges it, you really might ascend a level."

Li Banfeng gawked. "My cultivation... acknowledges things?"

"Why wouldn't it? Your cultivation has already become one with you. As you perceive, so too does it perceive. So, have you decided to sleep on the road yet?"

"I was just saying..." Li Banfeng muttered, falling into thought.

A Homebound Cultivator has to return home every day. But what about someone like me, who does not even have a home? I never had a home to begin with, so which home am I supposed to return to?

With that thought, Li Banfeng asked directly, "I don't even have a house right now, no home to go back to. If I sleep outside, under the wind and stars, that would not count as breaking the rules of a Homebound Cultivator, right?"

The Peddler nodded. "You're not wrong."

Hearing this, Li Banfeng broke into a grin. "Then it is simple. I will go to a dangerous place, endure one full day and night, become a level-one Wanderlust Cultivator, and then buy a house. Problem solved, right?"

The Peddler shook his head. "That will not work."

"Why not?"

"That would mean giving up the Homebound path. Dual cultivation requires you to cultivate both paths together. If you abandon one, you will die."

"I am not giving it up," Li Banfeng said quickly. "I will just do the traveling part first, and then I will—"

The Peddler cut him off. "What good is talking? Cultivation has become part of your body. Every action reveals the truth of your intent.

"If you reach level one in Wanderlust Cultivation, it means you have already made progress on that path. Yet, you do not even have a proper house, which means you have not begun cultivating the Homebound path. And if that is the case, does it not mean you have already abandoned Homebound Cultivation?"

"That is a bit of a stretch, isn't it? That is not my intent!"

The Peddler shrugged. "It's pointless telling me about it. If you don't believe me, you can try."

"Try... No, that is not something I can risk testing," Li Banfeng muttered, sinking back into thought. Then he gritted his teeth. "Fine, I will just not level up. I will hold out like this until I find a solution."

"Like him?" The Peddler lifted the straw mat, revealing Qiao Yuesheng's mangled body. To describe it as "mangled" was almost too kind. What lay beneath was closer to a lump of shredded meat than a human form.

If the Peddler had not told him beforehand, Li Banfeng would never have recognized Qiao Yuesheng.

"How did he end up like that?"

The Peddler covered the corpse again. "He was a Dark Ability User. He's a Glutton! He's what we would call a Gourmandism Cultivator."

Compared to Wanderlust Cultivators, Gourmandism Cultivators were not especially fast. But once they were full, they could run far faster than ordinary people. By the rules of the Outer Provinces, Dark Ability Users were banned from competing in sports. It was considered cheating. Even so, Qiao Yuesheng had gambled everything for fame and profit. Dark matter could not be detected, so no one realized he was a cultivator. Yet, he still feared that someone might notice something unusual about him.

The Peddler continued, "As a Gourmandism Cultivator, he needed to eat two and a half kilograms of food every day. But he was too afraid of exposing himself, so he did not dare eat his fill, and he did not dare to advance. He kept using the abilities of his cultivation path but refused to follow its proper order. Like what you want to do, he forced himself to endure, and this is what he became. You can't keep stalling forever. Whether it's Homebound Cultivation or Wanderlust Cultivation, you need to advance in at least one path. If you wait too long, your fate will be the same as his."

"If I reach level one in my cultivation, can I stop there?"

"No. Even if you stop seeking progress, you still need to fulfill the daily foundational cultivation requirement."

Li Banfeng stared at the straw mat covering the corpse. "When does cultivation finally end?"

"There is no end," the Peddler said, shaking his head. "From the moment you chose this path, you were bound to walk it for life."

Li Banfeng raised his head. "Then tell me, how do I get past this hurdle?"

The Peddler looked back at Li Banfeng. "You have two options. The first option is to set up your home in a region of peril. I’ll set up the house for you."

1. In the late 1970s and early 1980s in China, there was a drink called Guozi Lu, which literally means “Fruit Dew.” It was a thick, orange-flavored syrup sold in green glass bottles sealed with tin caps and labeled with pictures of pineapples, lemons, oranges, and other fruits. It was more like concentrated juice than an actual drink. The syrup was so strong that you had to dilute it with water before drinking. Refer to TL Note for images. ☜