Chapter 43: Old House in the Deep Mountains

Li Banfeng knocked on the door. A man of about thirty-five or thirty-six answered. He was short but sturdy, wearing a patched vest and long trousers. He had tanned cheeks, thick brows, and thick lips. He gave off an air of simplicity and honesty.

Chubby Qin had once told Li Banfeng that there weren't many places that offered food outside the Inner Gully of Medicine King Gully. If someone grew hungry on the road, they could knock on a door for a meal. Three or five yuan was enough, and most households would not refuse.

After Li Banfeng explained why he had come, the man warmly invited him inside.

The host's clothes were plain, but his courtyard was far from small. The front yard alone was about the size of a basketball court. Inside the yard stood three tile-roofed houses and a storage shed. Though the buildings were old, they were kept spotlessly clean.

He called this courtyard the front yard because, judging by the walls and layout, there was likely a sizable backyard too.

As a Homebound Cultivator, Li Banfeng couldn't help but feel a pang of envy at the sight of such a spacious and tidy home.

"We only have some leftover rice and a few simple dishes. You have to bear with it," the man said, lighting an oil lamp in the courtyard.

A woman stepped out with a bowl of rice and a small plate of pickled cucumbers. She wore a patched, cross-collared cloth shirt. With how old she looked, she seemed to be the man's wife. Li Banfeng kept his gaze respectful and didn't linger on her.

After setting the table, she quickly slipped back inside.

Li Banfeng pulled out thirty yuan and pressed it into the man's hand, but the man waved it away repeatedly. "That's far too much."

Li Banfeng shook his hand firmly. "Take it. I feel bad for coming so late and disturbing your family."

The rice was coarse and full of husks, but Li Banfeng didn't mind at all. He was really starving and ate it in big mouthfuls with the pickled cucumbers.

The man clutched the bills with a guilty look, as though he owed Li Banfeng a debt. He slipped back inside, and soon an elderly woman with graying hair emerged.

She carried a wine jar in her arms and came to Li Banfeng with a smile. "Young man, have a taste of our homemade sorghum liquor."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Elder, I can't drink."

He wasn't being courteous. He simply couldn't get used to the liquor here.

To a poor family, a jar of liquor was clearly precious. The old woman had even come out because of his visit. Since he didn't like it, he felt that drinking it himself would just waste their good stuff.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

However, the old woman insisted and poured him a bowl. "Young man, have a drink. It's not fine wine, so don't look down on it. My son took your money, and he feels bad about it."

Since the old woman had poured it herself, Li Banfeng could no longer refuse. He picked up the bowl and took a sip. To his surprise, the liquor was rich and mellow, far better than what was sold at the bun shops.

He emptied the bowl of rice, finished the cucumbers, drank the liquor to the last drop, and let out a full, contented burp.

The old woman smiled. "Young man, have you found a place to stay? If not, you can stay here."

"I already have a place to stay. I'll be on my way now. Thank you for your hospitality.

After eating, he hurried to leave. The Jiangxiang Gang was still after him, and he couldn't risk bringing trouble to this honest family.

As soon as he got to his feet, a rush of dizziness hit him. The figures of the mother and son seemed to sway in front of him.

Did I drink too much? No! I have been poisoned!

With a smile, the old woman said, "Young man, stop running around. It's best if you stay here."

What's going on?

Li Banfeng thought. He turned to bolt for the door, only to find the man's wife already there, blocking his path.

The man's wife lifted her head and slammed a fist into Li Banfeng's chin. He tried to dodge, but his body refused to listen, and the blow landed full on.

This woman is so strong!

Li Banfeng thought as he staggered back two steps before crashing to the ground.

He looked closely at the woman's face. By the candlelight, he saw her features clearly at last, and a ring of dark stubble stood out around her lips.

A man! This is a shady store! Impossible! I didn't sense any danger just now!

Li Banfeng pressed his forehead, rubbed his eyes, and wiped the blood from his nose and mouth. He then slumped to the floor and closed his eyes slowly.

While his eyes were closed, he was not actually unconscious. His mind was very clear and he could hear the conversation around him clearly.

The eldest son, whose face was plain and unremarkable, glanced at the old woman. "Ma, did we really need to waste a whole jar of good wine on this Bleater? That plate of pickled cucumbers alone would've been enough."

So the pickled cucumbers were poisoned too!

Li Banfeng cursed inwardly. He was feeling so much rage and frustration. He had survived Mount Bitterfog, only to stumble in a gutter like this!

Strange. I could sense malice before. At the station, I felt Chu Yunlong's malicious intent. So why did I not sense anything from this family while eating?

Are their cultivation levels unusually high? If they were that strong, why would they still resort to such vile tricks?

The old woman chuckled. "Silly boy, look closer. He's no ordinary bleater. Don't you see how he walks strangely? He's a Wanderlust Cultivator. In fact, he's a level-one Wanderlust Cultivator."

"A Wanderlust Cultivator?" The eldest son scratched his head. "Don't think I've come across one before."

The old woman said, "If you have never met one, today's your chance to learn and broaden your horizons. Wanderlust Cultivators are quick on their feet. The fact that he can use

Raising a Gale on Level Ground

proves he's reached level one."

"It's just that he advanced not long ago and hasn't learned to control his footwork. If I hadn't poisoned him with the wine, he would've run off and vanished in the blink of an eye. And Wanderlust Cultivators are very sensitive to danger. If I hadn't pulled my trick first, he would've rumbled us the moment he walked through the door."

"Rumbled" was gang slang, meaning the person being scammed had caught on.

So the woman did her trick first, which is why I could not sense their malice. What level is this old woman? And what ability does she have?

Hearing this, the eldest son said proudly, "Ma, I really am getting better at brewing liquor, don't you think?"

The old woman gave a sharp snort. "You advanced to level one a year and a half ago. If you still can't take down someone of considerable cultivation, how do you have the face to continue this profession?"

Through the old woman's words, Li Banfeng figured out that the eldest son was a level-one Poison Cultivator. As he listened, he tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids were unbearably heavy. He made several attempts, yet each one ended in failure.

The second son, the one dressed as a woman, spoke up. "Ma, since he isn't just a bleater, we ought to finish him now and take his head."

The second son had never seen a Wanderlust Cultivator either, but he thought that it would be best to kill off any prey with cultivation.

Hearing that, Li Banfeng's heart clenched. In his current state, he had almost no way to fight back.

He thought,

Even without many methods to rely on, I have to fight. I can't let myself die here!

The old woman poked Li Banfeng with her cane. Seeing no reaction, she told her sons, "Strip him clean, shackle his hands and feet, and lock him in the prey room. We act at midnight."

Looking baffled, the second son said, "Ma, why do we have to wait until midnight?"

Yes, why wait until midnight?

Li Banfeng didn't understand either. Regardless, he had already resolved to fight with everything he had.

Are they planning to strike when I let my guard down? She's overthinking it. There's no way I can keep my guard down.

"I told you to wait until midnight, so just be good boys and wait! Now, strip him clean!" the old woman snapped. The two sons stepped forward and searched Li Banfeng, taking his sickle, trowel, and wallet. They even fished out the spicy strips he had hidden in the lining of his clothes.

However, there was one thing they hadn't taken. When wiping the blood from his nose and mouth, Li Banfeng had hidden the key in his mouth.

He initially thought to unlock the Pocket Dwelling and secretly escape inside. Unfortunately, with the three of them staring, he wasn't confident he could keep the key hidden. He wasn't even sure he could turn the knob and get the door open.

At this moment, it seemed like the old woman truly didn't want to kill him.

Why did she say to wait until midnight? For what reason? And why is it that even now I can't feel any danger in this place?

Li Banfeng wondered.