Li Banfeng returned to the Pocket Dwelling and told wifey about the meeting ten days later.

Wifey pondered for a long while before saying, “Husband dear~ This little wifey thinks that it's better if you don't meet him."

Li Banfeng shook his head. “If I don’t meet him, how am I supposed to leave this place?”

Wifey’s voice turned grave. “Husband dear, let’s think of another way.”

Crimson Lotus let out a hissing sound, as if she was agreeing with the gramophone.

Hongying let out a cold snort. “That's someone who has a Ruptured Cocoon. You should know what kind of monster that makes him, and you should know your own limits. Still, giving you ten days is already more than generous.”

Li Banfeng was also very curious as to why the Sage would give him ten days.

After returning to Benefactor Stronghold, Li Banfeng ordered everyone to stay on high alert. He suspected the Sage might make a sudden move within these ten days and catch them off guard. In actuality, he had the same plan and wanted to give this Sage a surprise.

However, the Sage did not appear the next day nor did his disciples. Instead, dozens of people came to seek refuge at Benefactor Stronghold.

Their reasons were about the same as the others. They all said that they could no longer endure the exploitation of Sage’s Mountain or the bullying of his disciples.

Among them, one woman had suffered the most. Her name was Dong Qiaoqin, an Agrarian Cultivator in her twenties.

She was from another region. When she was thirteen, she became an Agrarian Cultivator. When she was fifteen, she was trafficked into Respect the Virtuous Village and sold to a household as a bride.

When she was sixteen, she consummated her marriage with her husband, and the two of them had a son and a daughter.

Although she was only a level-one Agrarian Cultivator, Dong Qiaoqin was skilled in farming. She could raise silkworms, and tend to livestock. Her days had once been simple and content.

When she was twenty years old, her husband offended one of the Sage’s disciples. He was beaten to death in the village, along with their two children.

She had happened to be in a nearby village that day, buying silkworm seedlings. By sheer luck, she was the only one who survived.

When she returned to the village and learned that her family had all died, Dong Qiaoqin nearly took her own life.

From that day on, the villagers’ attitude toward her changed.

It wasn’t because she had tried to take her own life, but because she hadn’t succeeded.

In the eyes of the people of Respect the Virtuous Village, Dong Qiaoqin should have died. She should have died alongside her husband and children.

The fact that she had survived made people suspect there was something wrong.

Her husband’s family, in particular, insisted that Dong Qiaoqin had colluded with the Sage’s disciples and deliberately caused her husband’s death.

They didn’t dare confront the Sage’s disciples, so they took out all their anger on Dong Qiaoqin.

For two full years, everything Dong Qiaoqin owned was taken from her, and she endured countless beatings and abuse.

It started out being her husband’s family beating her up. Then, it was the villagers of Jingde Village. After that, people from the surrounding villages came as well. Even one of the Sage’s disciples showed up to beat her.

Why would the Sage’s disciple target her too? Because he believed he had gained nothing from the incident. Instead, his reputation had been tarnished by her, and in his eyes, that grievance had to be repaid.

Half a month ago, Dong Qiaoqin was surrounded and beaten by a group of villagers. The little food she had left was taken, and she was injured so badly she couldn’t get out of bed for days.

With nothing left to live for, she fled into the mountains and sought refuge at Benefactor Stronghold.

Xiao Yeci felt so sorry for the woman that she even cleared out a space in her own room, set up a bed, and let Dong Qiaoqin stay with her.

Dong Qiaoqin proved herself quick and capable. Once she had settled, she picked out a stretch of land at the forest’s edge, scattered a bag of quick-sprout seeds, and began farming.

The land was not small. Although Dong Qiaoqin had some ability, she could not manage it alone, so Xiao Yeci called on many members of the stronghold to help her farm.

Most of them had suffered in the villages before, and their farming skills were more than sufficient.

The seeds were especially remarkable. They grew far faster than those from the Ridges of Bottomless Stomachs. Sown on the same day, they sprouted the next, and by the third day, they were ready for harvest, yielding a surprisingly good crop.

Xiao Yeci was very pleased and rewarded Dong Qiaoqin with thirty silver dollars. As an important member of the stronghold, she felt it was only right to do so.

Dong Qiaoqin took the thirty silver dollars and headed to the nearby villages to buy poultry and livestock.

She raised chickens and ducks, tended cattle and sheep, and within three days, chicken coops, duck pens, and livestock sheds had all been set up.

Dong Qiaoqin then went to the village to buy silkworm larvae, gathered mulberry leaves, built a silkworm shed, and led the women of the stronghold in raising silkworms together.

"This is a good thing… it’s a good thing…" Xiao Yeci kept telling herself. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

Dong Qiaoqin also felt wronged. “Sister Xiao, tell me. What did I do wrong?"

Xiao Yeci couldn’t explain it, so she went to find Li Banfeng. “Benefactor, I just feel that Miss Dong is doing something wrong, but I can’t say exactly what’s wrong.”

Li Banfeng nodded. “I know something is off about her.”

“Was she sent by that Sage? Did she make up all those experiences to deceive us?” Xiao Yeci asked.

Li Banfeng shook his head. “I went to Respect the Virtuous Village to check. Everything she experienced is real.”

Xiao Yeci fell silent for a long moment. “Then… if it’s all true, does that mean I am just overthinking it?”

Li Banfeng shook his head again. “You are not overthinking it. She was very likely sent by that Sage.”

Xiao Yeci looked utterly confused. “Then I really don’t understand.”

Li Banfeng let out a bitter laugh. “I don’t understand either. She’s been through so much… so why would she still be working for him?”

Xiao Yeci said, “Then let’s just kick her out. Benefactor, it won't be convenient for you to do this, so let me handle it.”

Li Banfeng sighed. “And how are you going to do that? If you kick Dong Qiaoqin out, how will you explain it to everyone else? Are you going to tell them that growing food is wrong, and that taking it by force is the right way?”

Xiao Yeci had no answer.

Li Banfeng looked at Xiao Yeci. “In this stronghold, aside from me, everyone’s suffered more than you and your daughter, hasn’t they?”

“Yes. They have all been here longer than us.”

“Then tell me, why are there so many villages in this place?”

“I… I don’t know…”

“Did the Sage come first, or did these villages come first?”

“I don’t know…”

“They have suffered so much, and yet as long as life can go on, they can forget all that pain. Why do you think that is?”

“I… still don’t know…”

Xiao Yeci really had no idea, but she knew that Li Banfeng was right. The people in the stronghold just wanted to live a stable life. If anyone asked them to go out and rob again, they would definitely refuse.

Li Banfeng lowered the brim of his hat and stood up. “I am going to meet the Sage tomorrow. If I find a way out, would you two be willing to leave? Talk to your daughter about it.

Xiao Yeci remained silent. Li Banfeng left the stronghold, found a secluded spot, and stepped into the Pocket Dwelling.

“Husband, tomorrow is the agreed day. Are you really going to meet that Sage?”

Li Banfeng fell silent for a moment and did not answer. Instead, he asked another question. “Wifey, does Hongying count as my dwelling spirit?”

Wifey was a little angry, but she held it back as she knew now was not the right time to lose her temper. “You called out her name in front of her, and that wretch responded. Naturally, she counts as your dwelling spirit.”

Li Banfeng asked again, "Can I use her abilities with the Deep Court Domain?”

Hongying spoke in a cold tone. “Heartless man, vicious woman, what exactly are you plotting? Let me make this clear. Don’t think of scheming against me. I won’t fall for your tricks.”

Li Banfeng said, “I am not trying to scheme against you. I just want to borrow something from you.”

“What do you want to borrow?” Hongying said coldly. “You want to borrow my abilities?”

Li Banfeng shook his head. “I am not looking to borrow your abilities, at least not for now. Dealing with that Sage will take more than just that. I want to borrow some of your presence… your aura.”

The Gramophone paused, thinking it over. “Husband, are you planning to intimidate that Sage?”

Hongying let out a cold sneer. “So you want to play the fox borrowing a tiger’s might to scare others. Madman, have you really thought this through? If that Sage sees through you, do you think you’ll make it back alive?”

Li Banfeng said, “Then lend me more of that presence, so he won’t be able to see through it.”

Pop… crackle… pop…

“That could work,” the Gramophone said, turning its horn toward Hongying. “Listen to my husband. Bring out all the presence you had on the battlefield.”

“Vicious woman,” Hongying snapped, “that madman has already lost his mind, and you are going along with him? Do you have any idea how great the risk is? If he shows even the slightest hint of weakness, his life is as good as over!

“The best thing to do now is avoid meeting him. That lunatic isn’t some honorable gentleman. It’s just a verbal agreement. Why take it so seriously?”

“Avoid meeting him?” Li Banfeng said. “Where would I even hide? And for how long? This is his territory. Sooner or later, I’ll still fall into his hands.”

Li Banfeng was right. As long as he remained in Vilefolk Hillock, his life would stay firmly within the Sage’s grasp.

The Gramophone made her decision and wrapped Hongying in a coil of steam. “This matter is settled.”

Hongying flared up. “Do you think it’s settled just because you say so? Why should I agree to this?”

The Gramophone replied, “We have known each other for many years. You should know my temperament. Help me this once, and I won’t treat you unfairly.

“As for the matters between us, if you don’t wish to speak of them, I won’t force you anymore, so long as you sincerely help my husband this one time.”

***

The next day, sixty-four disciples from Sage’s Peak carried a palanquin down the mountain.

As they passed each village, the villagers had already gathered at the entrance an hour in advance, kneeling in silent rows to welcome them. Not a single person dared to rise while the Sage was present. Even after he had passed, they remained on their knees for another hour, heads bowed, as a sign of reverence.

晚上十点，辇车来到了恩公寨。听说圣人亲自驾临，恩公寨里的所有人都躲进了山洞里，只剩下肖叶慈母女壮着胆子留在了山寨。李伴峰坐在木屋里，正在沏茶。白衣弟子率先走进了屋子，对李伴峰道:“师尊在门外等你，他说让你出去说事。”李伴峰摇摇头道:“那不行，让他进来回话。”At ten o’clock that night, the palanquin arrived at Benefactor Stronghold.

The moment word spread that the Sage had come in person, the villagers all retreated into the cave. In the end, only Xiao Yeci and her daughter had the courage to remain in the stronghold.

Li Banfeng stayed seated in the wooden house, making tea.

The white-clothed youth entered first and said, “My teacher is waiting outside. He asks that you come out to speak with him.”

Li Banfeng shook his head. “That won’t do. If he wants to talk, he can come in.”

The white-clothed youth relayed the message word for word. The Sage gave a soft chuckle and stepped down from the palanquin.

The moment his feet touched the ground, all the accompanying disciples dropped to their knees, pressing their foreheads firmly against the earth.

If Li Banfeng hadn’t forbidden kneeling beforehand, the entire Benefactor Stronghold would likely have followed suit.

The Sage stepped into the wooden house and sat down across from Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng poured a cup of tea, then calmly drank it himself.

The Sage only smiled.

He looked like a man in his forties. A round-topped hat sat neatly on his head, his face was lean and pale, and a thin mustache curled at the ends.

He was clearly someone of great status, yet he was completely different from the Sage that Li Banfeng had imagined.

The Sage looked at Li Banfeng. “Have I made myself clear?”

Li Banfeng shook his head. “You haven’t even said anything yet.”

"You are a smart man. Even without me saying it, you should already understand.”

Li Banfeng did not deny it. “You could say that I do.”

The Sage gave a slight nod. “Since you understand, I will ask you just one question. Do you want to leave?”

Li Banfeng nodded. “I do.”

The Sage picked up a teacup and poured himself some tea. “Then this is easily settled. You leave tonight. I will let you go, and you will never come back here again."

Li Banfeng held his teacup. “That's not enough."

The Sage blinked, quite certain his ears had betrayed him.

“Not enough?” he repeated, slowly, as if tasting the words. Then his eyes narrowed. “And what, exactly, do you think you want?”

“I want to take some people with me. I want to take anyone who wants to come with me.”

The Sage shook his head at once. “There is no such precedent.”

Li Banfeng answered just as calmly, “Then I will have to trouble you to make one.”

“You still don’t understand.”

The Sage’s domineering presence surged outward in an instant. The wooden house creaked and shuddered, as though it might come apart at any moment.

Lu Chunying, hiding in the distance, almost wet herself. Xiao Yeci already had, but she was too embarrassed to admit it.

The disciples kneeling outside trembled like leaves.

Li Banfeng did not tremble. He very much wanted to, but he held himself back.

He lifted his head just a little and locked eyes with the Sage. A powerful presence spread outward, matching the Sage’s domineering aura.

Li Banfeng calmly took a sip of tea. “I think I understand very clearly.”

The Sage’s brows furrowed tightly, the remaining half cup of tea gently swaying in his cup.

Author's Note:PS: How many people can Banfeng take with him?