At dusk, the group of elderly people returned to the village. They cried and yelled, denouncing the bandits for their cruelty.

If Li Banfeng had been present, he would have tried to talk some sense into them no matter what. It was only natural that he was cruel. How could he rob people without being cruel?

The villagers had tried both soft and hard approaches to deal with the bandit problem, but none of them had worked. Several villages discussed the matter and decided that they had to ask the Sage's disciples to step in.

The offerings they had prepared for the Sage had been snatched away by bandits. Surely, the Sage's disciples couldn't just stand by and do nothing!

However, the Sage's disciples were not easy to deal with. If anything displeased them even slightly, they would hit people.

Nevertheless, the villagers were sincere in their devotion to the Sage. They could endure beatings and scoldings alike, all for the sake of showing their sincerity to the Sage.

They knelt for a long time in front of the disciples' gates, refusing to rise. They just kept begging the disciples to report the situation in the villages to Sage's Peak.

Now it was the disciples' turn to feel troubled. The villagers were expressing their sincerity to the Sage, and as the Sage's disciples, they couldn't ignore it. They were all ruthless people and would strike even the smallest child without hesitation.

However, beating children was one thing; dealing with bandits was another. After children got beaten up, they wouldn't dare retaliate.

But when bandits beat them, they wouldn't show any mercy.

In the end, three disciples gathered their courage and agreed to handle the bandits. That very night, they went up the mountain to deliver a message to the Sage.

Would they be able to make it up to Sage's Peak? Of course.

The land here was covered in mountains, and there was more than one path leading to the Sage's Peak. Li Banfeng couldn't possibly set ambushes on every single route.

Besides, he was only after valuables. He wouldn't attack just anyone passing by.

The three disciples changed into coarse cloth garments, disguising themselves as farmers, and delivered the message to the Sage's Peak.

As disciples of the Sage, did they not have any cultivation at all? They truly had none.

There were differences among the disciples. Those with cultivation lived on the Sage's Peak and did not descend the mountain to preach.

Deep inside the large courtyard of the Sage's house stood the youth who had once opened the side door and spoken to Li Banfeng. He was on the veranda, waiting outside the door for his teacher's orders.

He could hear the sound of rapid breathing coming from inside the house. His teacher was cultivating.

After the breathing gradually calmed, the youth finally heard his teacher's voice. "This person claims to be the Peddler's senior brother?"

The youth replied, "According to the villagers, yes. But it's probably just nonsense that person said."

"That may not be the case. This man came uninvited and stirred up so much trouble. He likely has some basis for what he said. Have Jingzhang and Wenlie go down the mountain and teach him a lesson first."

The youth acknowledged the order, and the sound of rapid breathing resumed inside the room. His teacher had continued cultivating.

After leaving the residence, the youth went to two other courtyards and called over his senior brothers, Qu Jingzhang and Ren Wenlie.

Upon hearing their teacher's instructions, the two disciples understood the situation and immediately went down the mountain to find Li Banfeng.

It wasn't hard to find him.

In recent days, more than two hundred people from various villages had come to seek refuge with Li Banfeng. They were all outsiders who wanted to leave but couldn't.

As their numbers grew, so did their presence. At first, they lived in caves, but when the caves were no longer enough, they began building wooden houses. The houses lined up in rows and gradually formed a mountain stronghold.

Li Banfeng named the stronghold Benefactor Stronghold.

Qu Jingzhang and Ren Wenlie were both in their early fifties. They were wearing coarse short garments patched in several places, making them look like poor folk.

The two men arrived at Benefactor Stronghold and saw Niu Guangda and Fang Lianfu patrolling outside. They asked them for a drink of water.

Fang Lianfu asked, "Are you outsiders who came here to beg?"

Qu Jingzhang shook his head. "We're not beggars. We're locals. We don't need food, just a sip of water."

Niu Guangda frowned. "You're locals, yet instead of going to the village, you came all the way into these deep mountains to ask us for water?"

Ren Wenlie let out a sigh. "Young man, how can you speak like that? At our age, would we really trick you just for a mouthful of water?

Even if you just drew a bowl of cool water from the well for us, we would remember your kindness. But you keep going back and forth, questioning us again and again, as if we were here to steal."

Niu Guangda blinked. "I was just asking. I didn't mean anything else..."

Fang Lianfu flushed red. "We're still young and don't really understand etiquette. Please wait here. I'll have someone prepare some tea and bring you some pastries."

Two farmers running into the wilderness asking for water was indeed very suspicious.

However, after a few words from the two supposed farmers, Niu Guangda and Fang Lianfu felt deeply ashamed instead of suspicious.

After drinking tea and eating pastries, Qu Jingzhang let out a satisfied burp. "Young men, I'm not trying to lecture you, but respecting the elderly is a basic human principle. After all, won't you grow old someday too? When you reach our age, if people treat you like thieves and interrogate you whenever you go out, would that feel good?"

Niu Guangda's and Fang Lianfu's faces turned deep red, and they were unable to speak for quite a while.

Ren Wenlie stretched lazily. "Young men, is there a place to rest? We won't stay long, we're just tired and want to sleep for a while."

Niu Guangda and Fang Lianfu hesitated.

Outsiders weren't casually allowed to stay in the stronghold. That was a rule that Benefactor had set.

But these two elderly men were at such an advanced age, and they just wanted to take a short nap. For Niu Guangda and Fang Lianfu, it went against their conscience to refuse such a small request.

Niu Guangda and Fang Lianfu discussed for a bit before giving in to the two older men's request. "We'll take you to our place to rest for a while, but you must leave before nightfall."

Ren Wenlie smacked his lips. "What do you mean by that? Do you think we'd refuse to leave? What's with youngsters these days? Is this how your parents taught you?"

The two young men didn't say another word and quietly led the two elders back to their house. Just as the elders were about to enter the house, they saw a man approach. He wore a fedora and sported a full beard.

"What are you doing? Instead of patrolling properly, you came back to slack off?" Li Banfeng asked.

As soon as Niu Guangda and Fang Lianfu saw him, they lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Qu Jingzhang and Ren Wenlie exchanged a glance. It seemed this bearded man was the one they were looking for.

Ren Wenlie spoke first. "Sir, don't blame these young men. We're just passing by and wanted a place to rest. These kindhearted lads found one for us."

Qu Jingzhang chimed in, "We're just two old men asking for a place to stay. Could we be breaking rules by doing that?"

Li Banfeng hurriedly said, "You've misunderstood. Respecting the elderly is a basic human principle. No matter what rules there are, they must come after that. These two kids—their house is messy and dirty. It's not suitable for you elders to rest here. Please, come with me. I'll take you straight to where I'm staying."

Qu Jingzhang and Ren Wenlie showed no change in expression and followed Li Banfeng into a cave.

Ren Wenlie glanced around. "You live here?"

Qu Jingzhang sighed. "Tell me, why are you lying to us? You're the chief of this group, how could you be living in a place like this?"

Li Banfeng lowered his head. "Please forgive the embarrassment. I don't like living in houses. I prefer living in caves."

Qu Jingzhang frowned. "Do you think it's appropriate to joke like this with two elders?"

Ren Wenlie said, "Did your parents never teach you the proper way to speak to your elders?"

Li Banfeng answered truthfully, "They really didn't teach me that."

Sweat poured down his face. Fortunately, the brim of his hat sat low enough to prevent Qu Jingzhang and Ren Wenlie from noticing.

They were using a Moralism Cultivator ability, Seeing Virtue and Aligning With It.

Using this ability, they imposed a very high moral standard on Li Banfeng, causing him to fall into self-blame and guilt under their accusations.

Could this ability be resisted? That depended on the cultivation levels of the parties involved.

Judging from the current situation, Qu Jingzhang and Ren Wenlie seemed to be at around the fifth level of Moralism Cultivation, comparable to Li Banfeng as a Homebound Cultivator. However, by working as a pair, they had put Li Banfeng at a considerable disadvantage.

"Little Brodie, can you hold on?"

The Liquor Gourd and the Blood-Drinking Pendulum were using Mentalism Cultivator abilities to help Li Banfeng stay conscious. However, his thoughts were a chaotic mess, and it was hard to turn the tide in his favor.

Dream Virtue hung on the cave wall, secretly offering support as well.

Fortunately, Li Banfeng had made sufficient preparations. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to hold on until now.

He looked at the two of them with a smile. "I gave you tea. I gave you pastries. I even found you a place to stay. Yet, here you are nitpicking and complaining. Didn't your parents teach you any manners? Acting so improperly at your age, don't you feel ashamed?"

Qu Jingzhang and Ren Wenlie were stunned. They hadn't expected Li Banfeng to say something like that.

Qu Jingzhang snapped, "Is that how you speak to your elders?"

Ren Wenlie said, "Did your parents teach you nothing? Don't you know how to respect your elders?"

Li Banfeng swept his gaze over them and replied, "That's what I should be asking you. Do you know how to respect elders? I'm older than both of you. Did you know that?"

Qu Jingzhang was stunned and couldn't speak for quite a while.

Ren Wenlie let out a cold laugh. "Aren't you afraid people will laugh their teeth off hearing that?"

Li Banfeng stared at Ren Wenlie. "How many teeth do you have? Do they really fall off that easily? I'm the Peddler's senior brother. I've eaten more salt than the bridges you've crossed. What right do you have to act like old men in front of me? When you were born, I didn't even know where I was. Your mothers gave birth to you, but clearly, they did not raise you. Is this how you speak to your elders? Didn't your mother teach you any manners?"

What Li Banfeng said sounded incoherent, but most of what he said was actually true. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Nevertheless, Qu Jingzhang and Ren Wenlie weren't focused on the truth. There was only one question on their minds. Is this man really the Peddler's senior brother?

If he really is the Peddler's senior brother, then wouldn't we be foolish to make a show with our abilities in front of him?

Seeing their conflicted expressions, Li Banfeng felt confident he would win this fight. Words Chiseled in Stone and The Fool's Thousand Worries had both taken effect.

Li Banfeng pointed at Qu Jingzhang and Ren Wenlie and yelled, "Do you have no shame? If you still know how to be ashamed of yourselves, get out there and stand outside to reflect!"

Qu Jingzhang and Ren Wenlie couldn't determine whether Li Banfeng's words were true or false. After some hesitation, they decided to leave this troublesome place for now.

If Li Banfeng really was the Peddler's senior brother, then the fact that they were still alive was entirely due to his mercy. If Li Banfeng wasn't the Peddler's senior brother, then it didn't matter too much. They already knew where he lived, so it wouldn't be too late for them to deal with him another time.

Qu Jingzhang and Ren Wenlie said nothing more and turned to leave the cave.

This was a foolish move. Due to the Fool's Thousand Worries, concerns about their gains and losses clouded their minds.

This was the most favorable outcome for Li Banfeng. People of other Daoist paths should never turn their backs toward a Wanderlust Cultivator. Otherwise, there would be no chance for them to turn around again.

Li Banfeng took a step forward, crushing a stone beneath his foot. Several stone fragments struck the backs of Qu Jingzhang's and Ren Wenlie's heads.