Chapter 84: Blood and Qi, Break Through

Under the steam's gentle caress, Li Banfeng slowly opened his eyes.

"Oh, dear husband, you're finally awake!"

The steam supported Li Banfeng and helped him sit on the edge of the bed.

Li Banfeng rubbed the back of his aching head and asked the Gramophone, "What sound did I just hear?"

"An indescribable sound."

"Can I try listening again?"

"Oh, dear husband, if you listen to it again, I will become a widow."

"Why can't I listen again? Is it because this dwelling's level is too high?"

"Yes, dear husband. Its level is so high that it is unfathomable."

"But I did hear something earlier."

"This, this..." The Gramophone could not explain it either. "Maybe the dwelling isn't shy, so it gave you a hint. Dear husband, every enchanted artifact in this world has a price that must be paid each time it is used. This earring doesn't cost much to use once, but if you use it too often, you will hear strange sounds. Some sounds are fine to hear, but others will invite disaster. You must be careful."

Hear strange sounds?

That's about the same as putting on heavy makeup; it's nothing serious.

Li Banfeng then wondered what else he had at home that possessed spirit essence.

However, it seemed that the Arcane Crimson Lotus had already consumed and refined everything that had spirit essence.

The Gramophone reminded Li Banfeng, "Dear husband, I'm not sure if you did it intentionally. But Crimson Lotus, that hussy, just refined an enchanted artifact for you. Why don't you try it? Do you loathe enchanted artifacts, or do you loathe that hussy?"

It's not about loathing; I simply forgot.

Li Banfeng took out the earring, held it to his ear, and listened for a moment. He shook his head and said, "There's no sound."

"Dear husband, listen more carefully."

Li Banfeng listened for a while longer, but there was still nothing.

"Dear husband, focus your mind on your ear and listen even more carefully."

This time, Li Banfeng held the earring right up against his ear and finally heard something. It sounded like someone speaking.

He pressed the earring even closer and barely managed to make out the words.

It was the voice of a woman. She whispered, "Master, what would you like to hear? Please tell me."

"I want to hear what my wife has to say."

"As you wish, Master."

The Gramophone chuckled amusedly.

A deafening sound burst from the earring, leaving his ear with a high-pitched ringing. He had almost lost his hearing.

Li Banfeng was standing too close to the Gramophone. Using the earring with the Gramophone was like plugging it into a high-power amplifier.

Li Banfeng quickly pulled the earring away from his ear.

The Gramophone sang with a teasing laugh, "Oh, my dear husband, I'm right here beside you. Why use that enchanted artifact to hear me speak? If there comes a time when you've found something you want to hear but can't, that's when you should use the earring. This earring can weave threads and hook onto things, so let's call it the Threaded Earring."

Threaded Earring. That's not a bad name at all.

Li Banfeng picked up the pair of scissors and asked, "Does this thing not have a name?"

"Dear husband, what need is there to name something so foolish? Better give it to Crimson Lotus to turn into a pill."

No way.

As far as Li Banfeng was concerned, these scissors were still quite useful.

He held the scissors to his ear and listened for a while, only to hear a single word repeated over and over. "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

As expected, in terms of intellect, the scissors were on a lower level than the earring.

Li Banfeng put away the earring and the scissors. Then he straightened out his clothes and went out to gather information on the Jiangxiang Gang.

Just as he was about to step out of the Pocket Dwelling, Li Banfeng heard the Gramophone sing.

「Rose, oh rose, the most lovely of all,

Rose, oh rose, the most gorgeous of all.

You bloom all summer long,

Rose, oh rose, how I love you~ 」

Inside the Pocket Dwelling, the Gramophone moved the miscellaneous items one by one into the newly opened room. Then she carefully steam-cleaned Li Banfeng's dirty clothes, garment after garment.

At that moment, Li Banfeng suddenly felt truly blessed.

***

Li Banfeng walked down the main street of the Inner Gully, looking for a place to eat.

It was already eight o'clock, so it wasn't easy to find a restaurant that was still open.

No matter how large Medicine King Gully was, it was still just a small town. Without electricity, most eateries closed early.

The large restaurants were crowded and full of watchful eyes. Li Banfeng had just blown up the Jiangxiang Gang's dancehall, so it wasn't worth taking the risk just for a meal. After wandering for a while, he finally settled on Prosperity Bun Shop.

He planned to eat quickly and leave right away.

However, just as he pulled out a chair to sit at a table, someone called out, "Brother Qi!"

Chubby Qin waved enthusiastically, motioning for Li Banfeng to sit with him.

That was exactly why Li Banfeng hadn't wanted to come to Prosperity Bun Shop. Chubby Qin ate there almost every day.

Zhang Liuze was busy that day, so Chubby Qin had gone to the eatery alone. Bored and craving company, he immediately told the shop assistant to add two more dishes and bring out a jar of wine.

Having already been recognized, Li Banfeng didn't stand on ceremony. He sat down and dug in, devouring two steamer baskets' worth of buns. He focused on filling his stomach first.

After eating and drinking his fill, Chubby Qin grabbed Li Banfeng's arm. "Brother Qi, come take a look at my place! I have a home here in Inner Gully now."

Guess I could go take a look.

Li Banfeng followed Chubby Qin to his place on Threaded Lane. It was a one-room house with a small courtyard, and it was a rental, but Chubby Qin was clearly proud of it.

Chubby Qin might have been pleased, but Li Banfeng didn't like it at all.

Threaded Lane was the street where the He Family's old residence stood, and Lu Xiaolan was still living there.

Inside Chubby Qin's home, Chubby Qin brewed a pot of tea to share with Li Banfeng. After drinking a cup of tea, Chubby Qin took a pouch from his chest pocket and poured out twenty pills.

Speckled-Snake Pills!

Chubby Qin pushed the pills over to Li Banfeng. "Brother Qi, these are my gift to you."

Li Banfeng blinked in surprise. "Where did you get these pills?"

"This afternoon, I passed by the Geng Family mansion. Old Master Geng, Geng Zhiwei's father, gave them to me!"

Li Banfeng chuckled. "So his father finally yielded?"

Chubby Qin gritted his teeth. "At first, he refused. When I saw him, the damn old man even glared at me, huffing and puffing in anger. He clearly thought I wouldn't dare touch him because the Jiangxiang Gang was backing him up. But today, he caved. He invited me to a teahouse. He apologized, bowed to me, and even gave me all these pills, begging me not to hold a grudge.

“Later, some brothers from the Three Heroes Sect told me that the Jiangxiang Gang had cut ties with the Geng Family. The old man was so scared he nearly pissed himself. That's why he came crawling to apologize that very day!"

Li Banfeng frowned slightly. "You're just an ordinary disciple of the Three Heroes Sect. The Geng Family's a major influential household. Do they really have reason to fear you that much?"

"If it were another sect, maybe not. But the Three Heroes Sect holds a special position in Puluo. Even families like the He Family and the Lu Family have to be respectful when they encounter members of the Three Heroes Sect. Shopkeeper Yu even sent people to ask around for information today. I guess her cloth shop will reopen soon. Brother Qi, I don't care how that Nanny Butch plans to repay her debts to you, but I insist that you accept these pills, no matter what."

Li Banfeng wasn't short on pills. "Keep them for yourself. Accumulate more cultivation time."

Chubby Qin shook his head. "They're wasted on me. I can't reach a higher level anyway. Taking them would be a waste."

"Why can't you advance?"

Chubby Qin sighed. "My stomach and intestines aren't big enough. Our Iron Seal, Brother Zhang, said he'd get me something called Stomach-Clearing Powder. Says it'll help."

Li Banfeng had heard of that medicine. It wasn't rare in Medicine King Gully. "Isn't Stomach-Clearing Powder sold everywhere?"

"It's not the common kind. Brother Zhang said this one can actually expand the stomach and intestines. I'll take it for a while and see if it helps me advance. If it doesn't, I'll just accept my fate."

After chatting for a while, Li Banfeng rose to leave. Chubby Qin held out the pills and said, "Brother Qi, I insist that you accept these pills."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "If you don't plan on taking them, sell them instead. And about that Stomach-Clearing Powder, look into it properly. Don't get swindled."

Putting on his fedora, Li Banfeng walked toward the door of the Prosperity Bun Shop. Just as Li Banfeng was about to exit, Chubby Qin suddenly asked, "Brother Qi, have you heard the news? The Jiangxiang Gang's dancehall got blown up."

Li Banfeng feigned ignorance. "What dancehall?"

Chubby Qin fell silent for a moment before asking, "Brother Qi... was that your doing?"

Li Banfeng put on a small smile. "What do you think?"

Chubby Qin quickly lowered his head. "Brother Qi, forget I asked. I owe you my life; it is yours. Whenever you need it, I'll give it to you."

"You've only got one life. Keep it for yourself."

Li Banfeng left the courtyard. Filled with a quiet joy, Chubby Qin walked him to the gate and watched him disappear into the night.

It had to be Brother Qi's doing.

Only he has that kind of skill.

I'll follow Brother Qi for the rest of my life.

"Brother Qi, if I want to meet you again, where should I go to find you?" Chubby Qin called out to Li Banfeng in the darkness.

Li Banfeng thought about it for a moment, then he glanced at the old locust tree in Chubby Qin's courtyard.

The tree was peculiar. Regardless of whether there was wind, its leaves always rustled softly.

Chubby Qin usually paid it no mind, but Li Banfeng took note of it. "If you want to meet me, pluck three leaves from this tree and stick them on the wall in front of the bun shop."

Chubby Qin blinked. "But there are so many locust trees in front of the bun shop. What if some random leaves get stuck to the wall and you mistake it for a signal—"

"Don't worry. I won't."

Li Banfeng took one last look at the tree and lifted his fedora slightly in a small gesture of respect. Then he put the fedora back on his head and left Chubby Qin's house.

There was a woman in a long green dress sitting amid the branches of the locust tree. She was shrouded in blue-green flames that clung to almost every leaf around her.

Leaves tainted by ghostly fire were rare. Li Banfeng would never mistake them for anything else.

As the woman watched Li Banfeng disappear into the distance, she sensed a trace of bloodlust from him, and it made her fearful.

Then she looked back at Chubby Qin. At this moment, Chubby Qin had already laid out his bedding and was preparing to sleep.

***

Li Banfeng hadn't expected the Jiangxiang Gang to back down so quickly. Feeling refreshed, he strolled along the streets of the Inner Gully. Even the roads seemed wider than before.

"Extra! Extra! The Elysian Melody Dancehall has been blown up! Suspect: Jia Quansheng! The young master of the Jia Family found with his eyes gouged and heart carved out. When will the feuds of the jianghu ever end?" shouted a newsboy from the roadside.

The boy's cry caught Li Banfeng's attention.

Jia Quansheng?

How could Jia Quansheng possibly have blown up the Elysian Melody Dancehall?

So the Jiangxiang Gang pushed the blame onto that useless fool.

Li Banfeng bought a newspaper and flipped through it with a cheerful grin.

So it's over?

Just like that?

Really?

Didn't it get resolved a little too quick?

***

Five days later, Li Banfeng spotted three locust leaves on the front wall of the bun shop, each one glowing faintly with ghostly fire.

The Stomach-Clearing Powder that Zhang Liuze had promised finally arrived. After taking it, Chubby Qin felt as though his stomach and intestines had expanded by around thirty centimeters.

That very day, Zhang Liuze arranged a banquet at the bun shop. He invited everyone to witness Gourmandism Cultivator Qin Tianjiu, also known as Chubby Qin, advance to the next level.

All of Zhang Liuze's men were present, along with several familiar shopkeepers from the neighborhood.

Chubby Qin hadn't planned for such a big celebration. He had wanted to treat Li Banfeng and Zhang Liuze to a few drinks, then he would go off by himself to find a quiet corner to eat ten kilograms of buns.

However, Zhang Liuze wouldn't have it. He insisted on giving Chubby Qin a proper celebration.

Shopkeeper Feng from the general store arrived with a smile. "Trader Qin, congratulations!"

Chubby Qin stammered, "

Ah,

d-don't say that yet. I haven't even..."

While he was still trying to explain, the shopkeeper from Qingwen Medicine Hall came over to offer his congratulations too.

Yu Nan didn't attend the celebration, but Wang Xuejiao from Yu's Cloth Shop did. "Trader Qin, our shopkeeper's out on a supply trip and couldn't make it back today, so I've come to deliver her well wishes in her place!"

"Out on a supply trip" was just a polite excuse.

Yu Nan was still hiding out in her new land and did not dare return to the Inner Gully.

Li Banfeng walked up to Wang Xuejiao and quietly asked, "Is it done?"

Wang Xuejiao blushed. "Master Qi, do you mean... the marriage matter?"

"Who's marrying you? I'm talking about the matter regarding Old Mister Yao."

"It's done. Here's the yellow paper you bought," Wang Xuejiao replied. She discreetly slipped a folded piece of yellow paper into Li Banfeng's hand.

As more people crowded around, Chubby Qin frowned anxiously and whispered to Zhang Liuze, "Brother Zhang, what do we do? There are so many people here..."

However, Zhang Liuze ignored him and exchanged a few pleasantries with the guests. Then Zhang Liuze yelled, "Serve the dishes!"

The Prosperity Bun Shop had never hosted such a large banquet before; many of the dishes had to be prepared by nearby restaurants.

Soon after, the tables were covered with hearty dishes.

Chubby Qin looked troubled. "Brother, buns are fine for me. This isn't the time for all this fancy food..."

Zhang Liuze grabbed Chubby Qin's hand and called out to the crowd, "I, Zhang Liuze, have lived in Medicine King Gully most of my life, and I am fortunate to have so many of you, my fellow townsmen, show up out of respect for me.

"Tonight, this humble feast is to give my brother courage and cheer him on as he breaks through to the next level.

"I'll stake my face on this. If my brother fails to break through today, I'll quit showing my face on the streets of the Inner Gully!"

Chubby Qin's face turned pale green. "Brother Zhang, why are you saying things like that? I—"

The whole room burst into cheers. Zhang Liuze slammed his hand on the table. "The auspicious hour has come! Brother, start eating!"

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Chubby Qin began to eat.

He started with buns and didn't dare drink even a sip of water, afraid it would take up space in his stomach.

When he had already eaten more than half of the buns, a nosy member of the Three Heroes Sect handed him an oily chicken leg. "Brother, try this!"

Chubby Qin took a bite, but when the grease from the chicken coated his mouth, his appetite instantly dropped.

Zhang Liuze snatched the chicken leg away, turned around, and kicked his subordinate. "Who the hell told you to meddle?!"

The spread of dishes wasn't meant to be eaten by Chubby Qin. It was there for show, to help whet his appetite.

Chubby Qin had to eat ten kilograms of food within an hour. He couldn't have anything too oily, too dry, too salty, spicy, or bitter.

Buns were the only suitable choice.

In no time, he had eaten eight kilograms of buns.

In the past, that would have been his limit. One more bun, and he would've thrown up.

But today, he had to keep going!

One reason was that he had taken the Stomach-Clearing Powder and believed his stomach had expanded enough to handle the food.

The second reason was that he couldn't possibly back down with so many people watching him.

The third reason was that Zhang Liuze's reputation was on the line. Li Banfeng was there watching him too. Even if it cost him his life, he had to finish all ten kilograms of buns.

However, when he got to 8.5 kilograms, Chubby Qin's face went pale.

Beside him, Zhang Liuze spoke encouraging words. "Brother, grit your teeth and keep going!"

The guests joined in and cheered, "Master Qin! Well done! A true hero!"

"Chubby Qin, eat like your life depends on it! Our Three Heroes Sect doesn't raise useless scoundrels!"

By the ninth kilogram, Chubby Qin's complexion turned from pale to red.

Seeing that, everyone cheered even louder.

"Master Qin's recovering!"

"Good job, brother! Just one kilogram to go!"

But Zhang Liuze's expression turned grim as he muttered, "This isn't good..."

Beside him, Li Banfeng asked quietly, "What's wrong?"

"A Gourmandism Cultivator nourishes his blood through food. That guy's blood and qi are surging too fiercely. He's reaching the limits of his body!"