Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1253 601: The Road to Fool's City_4

"Really."

After being entangled here for more than ten days, Zhang Peiwen signed the contract, pressed his blood fingerprint, and followed Ayun to the Gourd Waist.

Ah Yi laughed: "This kid, has been reluctant to sign the contract and just wants to stall here. I don't know what he's hoping to achieve by dragging it out like this."

Li Banfeng understood Zhang Peiwen's feelings: "He wants to find an excuse for himself, a reason to stay here. He'll say it wasn't his decision, that he didn't abandon his mother; it was beyond his control."

Ah Yi sighed: "Look at how much he likes the village, and then look at you, so eager to leave."

"Sister, if I don't leave now, I'll find myself unwilling to go." Li Banfeng stood at the top of the twenty-six-story building, overlooking the village's full view.

Ah Yi took a jade pendant from her neck and placed it around Li Banfeng's neck, smiling: "I know you have things to do outside, but remember to find the way back."

"Sister, there's only one Gourd Village, but exactly how many pathways lead into it?" Li Banfeng didn't forget his purpose for coming here.

Ah Yi thought carefully: "I can't count how many paths were built; perhaps they're even more than the roads into Fool's City."

Previous speculation was correct; the situation in Gourd Village is indeed similar to Fool's City.

"Sister, did you build the roads in Fool's City?"

"Yes, I did," Ah Yi admitted. "I've built many roads into Fool's City, but typically only one road is open; the rest are closed. Which road opens is up to Sun Tiecheng."

Ah Yi still remembers Sun Tiecheng!

Ah Yi has ties with Fool's City!

Reflecting on what Miss Jiu said earlier, even the Portable Residence doesn't know Gourd Village's origins, but Jiu'er knows. Jiu'er is Sun Tiecheng's daughter, proving Jiu'er and Ah Yi are old acquaintances.

"In other words, the situation in Gourd Village is akin to Fool's City, with many roads, and which road to take is up to Sister's discretion."

"It's different," Ah Yi shook her head, "I created a key for Gourd Village. As long as you have the key, you can unlock the door to the village."

Li Banfeng touched the jade pendant on his chest: "Is this the key?"

Ah Yi nodded: "I trust you, so I've given you the key."

"How do I use this key?"

"Put aside your worries—though you may find it hard to do—but if you can forget your immediate concerns and wish to return and dwell for a few days, this key will help open the village gates for you."

Li Banfeng bowed deeply and asked, "Sister, for you to have crafted so many paths for Gourd Village, did you use one of the five great techniques of our Taoist Sect? I'd very much like to learn it."

Ah Yi shook her head: "This wasn't our Taoist Sect technique; it was craftsman cultivation, something you can't learn.

Among the world's hundred doors, crazy cultivation and foolish cultivation are the most peculiar of their kind. This kind of Taoist Sect can encompass other Taoist Sects, but it's hard for other Taoist Sects to coexist with each other.

Previously, during our encounter, I noticed you have an arrow cultivator talent, but you'd best not dual cultivate with arrow cultivation nor any other Taoist Sect. The boundaries between Taoist Sects are severe, and the backlash isn't easy to bear. Brother, take care."

...

Ah Yi led Li Banfeng away from Gourd Village, walking to the end of the mountain path. Ah Yi gave a sweet smile and began singing a mountain song:

"Oh, Brother Lang~ The rhododendrons on the mountain bloom so beautifully,

Brother Lang, don't walk so fast~ Pick another flower for your sister,

Standing on the petals, sister waits for you to return,

Oh, Brother Lang, come back soon~ Don't wait until the flowers wither..."

Ah Yi's singing voice faded away, and the surrounding scenery gradually dimmed; when Ayun's song completely vanished, the scenery of Gourd Village also disappeared.

Li Banfeng returned to the cinema entrance, the street was still sealed, nearby Dark Star Bureau agents were monitoring.

Taking advantage of the agents' neglect, Li Banfeng left the street and went back to his lodging, entering the Portable Residence.

Resting a bit in the room, Li Banfeng's understanding of crazy cultivation remained obscure, Ah Yi's state still too abstract, leaving him unable to discern truth from madness.

Li Banfeng went to the Ninth Room: "Jiu'er, you knew Ah Yi before, right?"

"Yes, she's my sworn sister."

"What kind of person is she?"

"From when I was aware, she was always erratic; she always wanted to establish her own Taoist Sect. Once she had her own sect, she wanted to compete with Sun Tiecheng for the title of the world's number one sect, and the two of them were always fighting."

"Isn't Sun Tiecheng your father?"

"Yes," Miss Jiu didn't want to bring up her father and continued about Ah Yi, "After being defeated by Sun Tiecheng, she left Puluo State and established Gourd Village.

I stayed in Gourd Village for a while; the people there were too chaotic for me to endure, so I moved back out.

Later, I heard from my mother that she ate something wrong during pregnancy, thus Ah Yi was born mad..."

"Wait a minute!" Li Banfeng interrupted Miss Jiu, "Your mother ate something wrong, but how did Ah Yi become mad?"

"Because she's born to my mother."

Li Banfeng organized his thoughts and asked again: "But you were also born to your mother, weren't you?"

"Yes!"

"You two are from the same mother, so why is she your sworn sister?"

Jiu'er explained, "She said our bond was deep and we should form a sworn sibling relationship, so I did. She is the second sister, and I am the third sister."

"Who is the eldest sister?"

"My mother."

Li Banfeng was silent for a long time.

Jiu'er further explained: "We wanted Sun Tiecheng to be the big brother, but he refused."

The shadow rose from beneath, sitting beside Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng sighed: "How did Big Brother Sun make it through all those years?"

The shadow also sighed, looking at Li Banfeng: "I've always felt you were crazy, but you're actually a good person."

Leaving the Ninth Room, Li Banfeng's mind was somewhat muddled. Hong Ying spotted his staggering steps and rushed to support him: "Qi Lang, are you hurt?"

The Portable Residence gave some gentle advice: "Ah Qi, matters of crazy cultivation can't be judged by common sense, so don't dwell on it."

The sickle made a remark: "But you can't avoid dwelling on it; Ah Qi has already become a crazy cultivator, he must practice according to their rules."

The projector pondered: "Seventh Guide, if you make achievements in crazy cultivation, will we establish a sworn sibling relationship with our Lady?"

Hong Ying kicked the projector: "You dolt! Can't you talk properly?"

Li Banfeng chuckled bitterly: "What's the use of talking properly? Things have come to this point..."

No comfort worked, Li Banfeng wandered dazed into Qi Qiu City, arriving at the laboratory as the wife's experiment was nearing success.

"Husband, what happened to you? You seem so out of it."

"Wife, I went to a strange place and met a strange person. She and her sister are sworn, the eldest sister is their biological mother..."

Li Banfeng babbled incoherently, and the phonograph hugged Li Banfeng: "Husband, what happened? Don't worry, tell Little Servant slowly."

"Wife, what if someday I go mad, what will you do?"

The phonograph smiled: "What can madness do? Even if you are mad, you'll still be my crazy man; Little Servant will still cherish you."

"Sweetheart, you suddenly appeared, my breath quickens, feelings for you, wishing you could notice, returning the thread of longing..." The wife sang the tune "Sweetheart."

Li Banfeng lay in the wife's embrace, gazing up at her, the clouds of worry across his face gradually dissipating.

"Husband, Little Servant promised to give you something good; it's almost completed." The wife shifted focus to the puppet, and pushed a device over.

Li Banfeng examined the device; its overall shape reminded him of a cannon.

"What's the use of this thing? It's not like the Magnetic Quake Cannon, is it?"

"No, it's different; this should be able to create a pathway at the boundary, but whether it's effective is still uncertain."

PS: Among the world's hundred doors, which Taoist Sects are the most peculiar?