The Overlord of Puluo

The next morning, Li Banfeng woke up feeling refreshed and stepped out of the Pocket Dwelling.

His mind felt much clearer than it had the day before. Perhaps the good night’s rest had finally settled his thoughts, or perhaps the special properties of the dwelling had helped him shake off the influence of the Folly Cultivators’ techniques. Whatever the reason, the fog that had clouded his thinking the previous day was gone.

The truth was that some problems only needed a moment of quiet reflection before their answers revealed themselves.

Could someone truly get lost in this city? No.

No matter how complicated the streets were, if someone simply kept walking in one direction, they would eventually reach the city wall.

Once he reached the wall, all he had to do was follow it, and sooner or later he would find one of the city gates. As long as he could leave the city through that gate, everything would return to normal.

After thinking it through, Li Banfeng felt a great deal more confident. How large could this city possibly be? Even if it stretched from one end to the other, it could not be more than fifty kilometers across.

For Li Banfeng, fifty kilometers was nothing. At his speed, he would not even need half an hour to cover that distance. The only thing he had to ensure was that he kept moving in a straight line the entire time.

With that plan in mind, Li Banfeng immediately set off. Whenever the road ahead curved away from his direction, he ignored it entirely. He vaulted over walls, crossed courtyards, and pushed straight forward without hesitation, forcing his way through the city in the most direct path possible.

After running for more than five hours, Li Banfeng still had not found the city wall. The street ahead looked exactly like the ones he had already passed through. A wide main road stretched forward, lined with open shops and noisy vendor stalls.

Behind him were narrow alleys where people strolled leisurely or stood chatting in small groups. Li Banfeng was certain he had been here before. In fact, he had passed through this very place more than once.

Along the way, he had tried every method he could think of. He watched the direction of the wind, hoping it might guide him consistently through the maze of streets. He used distinctive buildings as reference points and even carved marks into walls and pillars to track his path. Yet no matter which method he tried, the result was always the same.

After all that effort, Li Banfeng still had no idea how to leave the city.

Up ahead, an auntie with a kind face stood by the roadside. She looked gentle and harmless, the sort of person who might patiently explain the way to a lost traveler. Perhaps he could ask her for directions.

Li Banfeng took out a banknote, walked over, and asked cautiously, ”Auntie, how do I get to the city gate?”

The auntie looked startled. ”You are asking for directions?”

Li Banfeng nodded.

”You silly child, why would you give money just to ask for directions?” the auntie said kindly. ”The city gate is still far away, and you look exhausted. Come inside and have a bowl of water first.”

”No, Auntie,” Li Banfeng replied. ”I have urgent business and must leave the city. Please just point me in the right direction.”

The auntie was not happy. ”I am only inviting you in for a bowl of water. Do you think I would harm you? If you don’t trust me, then go ask someone else!”

What should I do? Should I follow her inside and drink that bowl of water? I am a level-four Homebound Cultivator. Even if she tries to poison me, she won’t be able to knock me out.

Just as Li Banfeng was about to step inside, his ability Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Calamity was activated. A faint sense of danger rose in his mind, warning him not to enter.

”Young man, come in!” the auntie called after him. ”Where are you going? Didn’t you say you wanted to leave the city? You are heading the wrong way. Come drink a bowl of water at my place, and I’ll show you the road.”

Li Banfeng didn’t even look back. He broke into a sprint and kept running without stopping.

After another hour, he slowed down when an alley came into view ahead of him. Leaning against the wall, Li Banfeng slowly slumped down in despair.

”Young man, I told you to come to me for a reading. Why won’t you listen?”

Li Banfeng gave a bitter smile. The fortune teller had appeared again. No matter how hard he searched, he could never find the city gate, yet this man always managed to find him almost instantly.

The fortune teller sat down beside him. ”Still haven’t let go of that revenge?”

Li Banfeng shook his head. ”I have already let it go. I just want to leave the city now.”

”Hard!” the fortune teller said with a deep sigh, slowly shaking his head.

”Is leaving the city really that difficult?”

”Difficult. Harder than climbing to heaven,” the fortune teller said. ”This is Yuren City. Do you think it’s easy to leave? Especially for someone like you. Your brow is dark with ill fortune, and misfortune hangs all over your face. If you force your way out, you may not even keep your life.”

Li Banfeng let out an exasperated sigh. ”I really don’t want my fortune told. I already paid you. Can you stay a little farther away from me?”

The fortune teller let out another long sigh. ”I believe in fate. The moment I laid eyes on you yesterday, I knew you were someone with an unusual destiny.

”To be honest, when I was alive, I was trapped in Yuren City for twenty-eight years, seven months, and three days. Even on the day I died, I still hadn’t found the city gate.

”But I believe you can find it. I believe you won’t die trapped in Yuren City.”

He paused for a moment before continuing.

”In the northern part of the city, there is a large three-courtyard mansion. From the day I first arrived in Yuren City, that place had already been abandoned.

”You still have unresolved karma tied to that mansion. To resolve this calamity, you must stay there for one full day and one full night.

”Remember this carefully. One day and one night. Not more, not less. Go in at whatever time you enter today, and come out at the exact same time tomorrow.

”When you come out, stand with your back to the main gate and walk straight ahead. No matter what you encounter, do not stop.

”If you hit a wall, crash into the wall. If you hit a tree, crash into the tree. No matter what stands in your way, do not stop. Keep walking for half an hour, and you will reach the city gate.”

”Young man, that’s all I have to say. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”

The fortune teller left without another word.

Li Banfeng remained where he was, slumped against the wall of the alley. After a moment, he let out a cold, disbelieving laugh. ”Why should I believe you?”

What kind of karma could I possibly have with some abandoned mansion? I have never even set foot in this city before. Where would that so-called karma even come from?

***

Late that night, Li Banfeng made his way to the northern part of the city and entered the abandoned mansion. He really didn’t want to believe the fortune teller’s words, but he couldn’t find any other way to leave this city.

The front courtyard was not large. Along one side stood a row of servants’ quarters near the entrance. Passing through an ornamental inner gate, he entered the main courtyard. The main hall faced south, with side chambers on either side.

Li Banfeng stepped into the main hall. The outer room appeared to be a reception hall, while the inner room was a bedroom.

When Li Banfeng looked up, he saw that many of the roof tiles had fallen away. Through the broken roof, the night sky was clearly visible.

The furnishings inside were still arranged neatly, but everything was covered in a layer of dust nearly half a finger thick. It was obvious the place had been abandoned for a long time.

Li Banfeng picked up a feather duster and brushed some of the dust away. After clearing a chair, he sat down and began thinking about what to do next.

Should I go into the Pocket Dwelling or stay here in this abandoned mansion? It’s definitely safer in the Pocket Dwelling. But if I went into the Pocket Dwelling, would that count as leaving the mansion? If I were in the Pocket Dwelling, would it still count as me staying here for a full day and night?

Should I go into the Pocket Dwelling or stay here in this abandoned mansion? Li Banfeng thought. The Pocket Dwelling would definitely be safer. But if I go inside, would that count as leaving the mansion? If I stay in the Pocket Dwelling, would it still count as spending a full day and night here? Or should I just stay in the mansion?

Whoosh.

A gust of cold wind swept through the hall, stirring the still air. Dust lifted from the table and drifted slowly through the room.

If he stayed here for an entire day and night, there was no telling what he might run into. It would be safer to retreat to the Pocket Dwelling first.

Li Banfeng stepped into the Pocket Dwelling. Less than fifteen minutes later, he came back out, bringing a paper beauty with him.

He knew he could not spend the time hiding inside the Pocket Dwelling. If he wanted to resolve this karmic entanglement, he had to remain in the mansion.

The paper beauty was something Li Banfeng had drawn earlier, stroke by careful stroke, while pouring a considerable amount of his vital blood into the process. As long as she did not enter combat, she could remain active for more than three hours.

Li Banfeng sent the paper beauty off to patrol the mansion. If she discovered anything unusual, she was to return at once and warn him.

After that, Li Banfeng made his preparations. He placed all of his enchanted artifacts within arm’s reach and carefully hung the illustrated calendar directly in front of him, making sure he could see it clearly without turning his head.

The elegant Dream Virtue gave a graceful bow. ”Sir, which song would you like to hear?”

”No songs. Set up the clock face.”

If he let her start singing, there was always the danger he would be pulled straight into a dream at any time. Dream Virtue’s abilities were useful, but the price for using them was never small.

Dream Virtue propped the clock face before him, and Li Banfeng sat there waiting.

Soon enough, his thoughts began to wander.

Did the fortune teller actually tell the truth? If that old man dared to lie to me, then the next time I see him, I will certainly have a proper talk with him. But what exactly should I talk about? Should I start with my fists, or begin with reason first? And if I tried reasoning, can I trick the man into revealing the location of the city gate?

Then another thought crept in.

Am I being a little too confident, thinking that I can trick a Folly Cultivator into giving up information inside Yuren City?

Ugh. I need to stop thinking. The moment I start thinking, my head hurts.

Li Banfeng waited for nearly two hours before sleepiness began creeping over him. His eyelids drooped little by little, and his head nearly tipped forward.

Suddenly, he noticed that someone was next to him.

It was the fortune teller.

”What are you doing here?”

The fortune teller smiled pleasantly. ”I came to help you ward off the ill omen.”

”Isn’t staying here for a day and a night enough?” Li Banfeng said. ”What ill omen do I still need to ward off?”

The fortune teller shook his head. ”Just sitting here won’t do. If you want to get through this day and night safely, you’ll need to have a talisman.”

”So you are here to sell talismans? Fine. Name your price.”

The fortune teller shook his head. ”I told you, I won’t take your money. Meeting you was fate Young man, give me your hand. I will draw a talisman for you. With this talisman, the vengeful spirit in this house won’t dare come near you.”

”A vengeful spirit in this house?” Li Banfeng’s eyelid twitched. slightly. If there really were such a thing here, he should have noticed it already.

”The vengeful spirit in this house has been watching you the whole time, but you cannot see her. The karma tied to you began because of her, and the calamity in your fate also comes from her.

”As long as you make it through this day and night, the karma between you will be settled, and the calamity will disappear.”

”Back then, I was just like you. Because of a single debt of fate, I ended up trapped in Yuren City for the rest of my life.

”I have been helping you this whole time without asking for anything in return. I simply don’t want you to end up like me.”

The fortune teller produced a brush, dipped the tip into his ink, and looked at Li Banfeng with an expression of deep and utterly convincing sincerity.

Li Banfeng stretched out his hand. Just as the fortune teller was about to draw the talisman on his palm, Li Banfeng suddenly asked, ”How many years were you trapped in Yuren City?”

The fortune teller let out a long sigh. ”Twenty-two years, six months, and eight days.”

Li Banfeng nodded.

Bang!

Li Banfeng suddenly threw a punch straight into the old man’s nose.

The old man staggered back, clutching his face. ”Why did you hit me?”

Li Banfeng had assumed that this punch wouldn’t even hit the old man. But to his surprise, a ghost with flesh this solid could actually feel pain.

”Old ghost! Just a moment ago you said twenty-eight years, seven months, and three days. Now it’s suddenly twenty-two years, six months, and eight days. You don’t even blink when you make up lies!”

The two of them immediately fell upon each other, grabbing, shoving, and swinging their fists at each other.

The old man was not much of a fighter. Under normal circumstances, Li Banfeng could have knocked him down with just a few punches and kicks.

However, the situation now was far from normal. Every time Li Banfeng threw a punch or tried a kick, something felt terribly wrong. It was not that he lacked strength. It was not that he was too slow. He had become stupid. Every move came out wrong. His punches went at the wrong moment, his kicks landed in the wrong place, and nothing seemed to happen the way it should.

Fine, Li Banfeng thought. If every move comes out wrong, then so be it. I’ll just fight recklessly.Anyway, I’m in my twenties. Don’t tell me I can’t beat an old geezer like you.

There was hair pulling, eye gouging, and face scratching.

Relying on his youth, Li Banfeng threw himself at the fortune teller, and the two of them tumbled together in a messy, tangled fight.

The Pendulum rushed forward and slashed at the fortune teller twice. Neither strike cut very deep, and she even nicked Li Banfeng by accident.

Realizing how poor her combat skills were, she quickly turned and called out to the Tang Saber. ”Come help!”

The Tang Saber let out a sigh. ”With my aim today, it would be better if I did not strike. I might end up wounding my lord instead.”

This was no small matter. The Pendulum’s specialty was draining and spraying blood, but the Tang Saber was a weapon meant purely for combat. If he swung at the wrong moment and the blade landed on Li Banfeng instead, he could easily kill him.

Because of that, none of the enchanted artifacts dared act recklessly. Only Dream Virtue felt she might be able to do something. She shouted at the fortune teller, ”You have no virtue!”

The fortune teller sighed with feeling. ”A young fellow beating up an old man is indeed not a virtuous act!”

A flicker of guilt rose in Li Banfeng’s heart, and the fortune teller seized the chance to kick him again.

Dream Virtue had failed. Who else could help Li Banfeng? At the critical moment, it still came down to the Liquor Gourd.

The Liquor Gourd was a Mentalism Cultivator and far more experienced in battle than the Blood-Drinking Pendulum.

”Sister Hanxue, find his heartstring!”

This was insider jargon among Mentalism Cultivators. To find someone’s heartstring meant using a Mentalism Cultivator’s abilities to control the opponent’s thoughts.

The Liquor Gourd lowered his voice and whispered to the Blood-Drinking Pendulum, ”The abilities of our Daoist Path mainly work on a person’s mind. The Folly Cultivators use similar tricks. Even if our Daoist Path cannot suppress theirs, our methods might still be able to push back against their abilities.”

Hearing this, the Blood-Drinking Pendulum immediately prepared to use her ability. But before she could act, the Liquor Gourd seized the moment and slammed himself straight into the fortune teller’s head.

The Blood-Drinking Pendulum stared at the Liquor Gourd. ”You just spent all that time talking about Mentalism Cultivator abilities...”

The fortune teller staggered, dizzy from the blow. Seeing his chance, Li Banfeng landed another kick.

After that, the fortune teller had no desire to keep fighting. He tried to run, but the paper girl grabbed him from behind.

The fortune teller was startled and cried out, ”Miss, why are you hugging me? Have you no sense of shame?”

Li Banfeng spat to the side. ”You are the one getting the advantage, yet you are still complaining. Come with me!”

The old man struggled free from the girl’s embrace and noticed scraps of paper falling from her body.

”You are a Homebound Cultivator?” the old man asked, staring at Li Banfeng in surprise.

Li Banfeng said nothing.

The old man had clearly seen a great deal in his life. At a glance, he recognized that Li Banfeng had used a fourth-level ability of a Homebound Cultivator.

”That shouldn’t be possible. You run that fast. Aren’t you a Wanderlust Cultivator? Or did you cultivate two Daoist Paths? But Homebound and Wanderlust can’t be cultivated together...”

Li Banfeng did not bother arguing with the fortune teller any further. His mind just burned with anger. Being toyed with like this had infuriated him.

”Wifey, dinner’s ready!” Li Banfeng said as he dragged the fortune teller into the Pocket Dwelling.

”Husband, did you make it out of Yuren City?” Wifey asked with delight.

”Not yet.” Li Banfeng tossed the fortune teller in front of the Gramophone. ”Anyway, let’s eat first.”

The fortune teller looked at the Gramophone and examined her from head to toe. ”Are you his dwelling spirit?”

The Gramophone let out a cold laugh. ”Your eyesight isn’t bad.”

The fortune teller shook his head again and again. ”Impossible. His dwelling can’t possibly be inside Yuren City...”

Whoosh.

A burst of steam shot out and scalded the fortune teller, making him cry out in pain.

The Gramophone shouted angrily, ”Insolent! Who allowed you to speak? Answer me first. Are you a Folly Cultivator?”

The fortune teller nodded. ”When I was alive, I was indeed a Folly Cultivator.”

”What level was your cultivation?”

”Level two!”

”Level two?” Li Banfeng didn’t believe it. There was no way a level-two cultivator could have make him struggle so much in a fight. ”Wifey, don’t believe him. This old bastard is definitely stronger than level two.”

The Gramophone, however, felt the old man wasn’t lying. ”Husband, I once heard a senior mention that level-two Folly Cultivators have killed level-three cultivators before. Some can even hold their ground against level-four cultivators.”

A level two able to hold their ground against a level four? Just how powerful is this Daoist Path? Li Banfeng thought.

He then asked, ”If you are a level-two cultivator, then what level is the one selling herbal plasters?”

The fortune teller replied, ”He’s level three.”

Level three? Stronger than the fortune teller? You have got to be joking!

”What about the innkeeper of Kindred Wayfarers Inn?”

”He’s level four.”

The very same innkeeper who had tried to chop Li Banfeng to pieces. The innkeeper who had led a whole inn full of people chasing Li Banfeng around with blades was level four?

Aren’t Folly Cultivators supposed to be extremely clever? Li Banfeng wondered.

”Liar!” Li Banfeng shook his head. ”Wifey, this man is a fraud.”

The Gramophone could not judge whether he was telling the truth either, so she asked instead, ”Do you know how to leave Yuren City?”

The fortune teller nodded. ”I do. I’m the only one who knows. I can guide him out. It just depends on whether you believe me.”

Guide the way? No way! Li Banfeng thought. He had no intention of letting the fortune teller leave.

Pop... crackle... pop...

Wifey did not agree either. ”Old bastard, letting you go would only harm my husband. Tell me how to leave the city. If it works, I will release you. If it doesn’t, I will slice you into a thousand pieces.”

The fortune teller nodded. ”What I told your man earlier was the truth. There is unfinished karma waiting for him in that abandoned mansion. He must stay there for one full day and one full night. Only after the karma is settled can he leave the city.”

Is he telling the truth? What if he lied to my husband? Should I let my husband try leaving first?

But if I don’t trust him, what else can I do? Torture him and force the truth out of him? But what if the ”truth” he gives me is just another lie?

Huff... Huff...

The Gramophone spun faster and faster.

The fortune teller’s expression grew calmer with each passing moment.

Li Banfeng’s thoughts raced even faster than the Gramophone. The other enchanted artifacts could not think of any solution. Even the Arcane Crimson Lotus seemed uncertain.

The Pocket Dwelling was unusually quiet. Just as the tension reached its peak, a yawn suddenly broke the silence.

”Are you hungry?”

The Judge’s Brush spoke. Even though it was only three words, it was unusually rare. He seemed to be speaking to the Gramophone.

The Gramophone sounded surprised. ”You are asking if I’m hungry?”

Feeling too lazy to repeat himself, the Judge’s Brush simply said, ”If. Hungry. Eat.”

Author’s Note:

PS: Look how simple and straightforward the Judge’s Brush’s philosophy of life is!