Li Shen was overjoyed when he saw that Ban Xian had calmed Shen Feng down through the art of language, thinking he hadn't made a wrong recommendation. However, Shen Feng's next words left him speechless, as the great Lord Shen Feng was poaching talent right in front of him.
At this moment, Li Shen could no longer hold back and quickly said, "Lord Shen Feng, you cannot steal my beloved! Ban Xian has always been someone I revere, and Wanzhou truly cannot do without the elder Ban Xian. If you take him away, Wanzhou will find it difficult to overcome future crises!"
Li Shen's words painted Dan Zhengming as an unshakeable cornerstone of Wanzhou, as if taking Dan Zhengming would plunge Wanzhou into eternal damnation.
Shen Feng looked at the old man seriously. He suddenly realized that when matters concerning himself were involved, he often couldn't remain calm. In such situations, one needed guidance, for the bystander sees clearly while the participant is blinded. This so-called Ban Xian indeed had some skills. Taking him to Yuzhou would be beneficial for offering advice at critical moments, so Shen Feng was eager to take him along.
However, Dan Zhengming gently shook his head and replied, "I, this old man, am accustomed to Wanzhou. Moreover, I have been getting along with City Lord Li Shen for a long time. If I were to leave, I would be truly reluctant. Besides, I am already over eighty years old and might encounter some unforeseen accident at any time. It's better for me to stay here."
"Yes, yes, yes, Ban Xian should stay in Wanzhou, and we will take care of him. That would be for the best!" Li Shen also said earnestly.
Upon hearing their reply, Shen Feng thought carefully and took out a pale green potion from his person, handing it to Dan Zhengming. He said, "Ban Xian, please accept this. This is an ability potion. Drinking it will turn you into an ability user, enhancing your muscles. As an ability user, you can live for at least three hundred years. Please!"
Li Shen's gaze immediately became fervent. He hadn't expected Lord Shen Feng to carry ability potions with him. Such a precious item, worth a fortune, was being given to Ban Xian? How wonderful it would be if it were given to him!
No one could remain calm in the face of an ability potion, not even Ban Xian. Dan Zhengming looked at the ability potion that had been presented before him, his body trembling slightly, unable to maintain his previous composure. At his age, he should have long since come to terms with life and death. He was already over eighty years old, though his body was still quite strong. He had seen the vibrant spring and the desolate winter. Now, death was a natural occurrence.
But now, after Shen Feng produced the ability potion, Ban Xian pondered whether drinking it would allow him to become an ability user and extend his life.
Dan Zhengming reached out and took the ability potion, asking hesitantly, "Is this really for me?"
"Of course. However, you cannot drink it now. We will depart for Yuzhou tomorrow morning! If you drink it now, you won't be able to offer me advice for the next few days!" Shen Feng quickly said.
It was merely an ability potion, but Shen Feng was willing to risk everything to reclaim what belonged to him!
Dan Zhengming looked at the ability potion in his hand, closed his eyes, and thought for a moment. Then, he handed the potion to Li Shen beside him and said, "City Lord, you have taken care of this old man for two years, and I have no way to repay you. Since this is your kind intention, please accept it as a gift!"
When Li Shen heard Ban Xian's reply, he was overjoyed. Just as he reached out, he thought of something and then looked at Shen Feng beside him, thinking, "Oh no, could this be the City Lord plotting against me?"
Seeing Li Shen's pleading gaze, Shen Feng said lightly, "Since it is Ban Xian's kind intention, you should accept it. Speaking of which, I will need to borrow some of your men. As for Ban Xian, I will be taking him with me. My apologies!"
"Not at all! Since Ban Xian is determined to leave, I cannot stop him. Please ask for any manpower you need, City Lord!" Li Shen said generously.
Li Shen greatly valued Ban Xian, as it was by following Ban Xian's decisions that he had reached his current position, never making a wrong step. Dodging Shen Feng's reckoning last night was also Ban Xian's idea, giving the invitation to Shen Feng to divert Shen Feng's hatred. Such a person was a true strategist.
However, now that he had obtained the ability potion, Ban Xian's importance had drastically decreased!
Li Shen knew that ability potions were coveted by everyone. Who wouldn't want one? These items were basically controlled by major powers, and ordinary people had never even seen them. It was said that the headquarters valued ability potions to an exaggerated degree. Every time they rewarded outstanding individuals with an ability potion, they had to arrange for powerful ability users to escort it, fearing robbery.
This was not unwarranted concern. In fact, there were indeed audacious individuals who fantasized about becoming ability users and achieving fame. Therefore, whenever there was an opportunity to snatch an ability potion, they would try, only abandoning the idea if there was no possibility at all.
Dan Zhengming had repaid his debt of gratitude and thus readily agreed to accompany Shen Feng to Yuzhou.
According to Dan Zhengming's thoughts, he wasn't unwilling to go to Yuzhou. After all, Yuzhou's safety was ranked among the highest in the country. Moreover, it was a crucial hub on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, allowing for escape along the river if the situation turned unfavorable. However, Dan Zhengming worried that Shen Feng was just talking, and perhaps taking him to Yuzhou was only a temporary need, and he might not be respected in the future, thus offending Li Shen would be detrimental.
Therefore, Dan Zhengming was initially unwilling to accept Shen Feng's request. After all, staying in Wanzhou allowed him to live out his remaining years peacefully, and no one could harm him. If he went to Yuzhou, he might be useful in the short term, but in the long run, he would not be valued. From a long-term perspective, there were no issues.
However, after Shen Feng handed the precious ability potion to Dan Zhengming, Dan Zhengming's thoughts immediately changed. The fact that Lord Shen Feng was willing to offer such a valuable gift as an ability potion as a condition clearly indicated his high regard for his position. For Dan Zhengming, who particularly favored self-preservation, long-term planning was the most important matter, and he immediately felt that following Shen Feng was a good choice.
"Lord Shen Feng, since you wish to reclaim what belongs to you but have not yet revealed yourself, you should enter Yuzhou City under a false identity and gather information. For the next three days, it would be best to find knowledgeable individuals to inquire about the situation. Once the situation is clarified, you can truly make your move!" Dan Zhengming said slowly.
"Thank you for your guidance, sir. This is also what I plan to do. Rest assured, I will not act impulsively. I will remain calm!" Shen Feng quickly replied.
Since Shen Feng had made his decision and his mind was somewhat settled, it was time to rest.
As he was leaving, Shen Feng said to Li Shen, "Tomorrow, I will depart with fifty soldiers from your side. Also, your daughter is named Li Zhenli, right? I will be taking her as well!"
Upon hearing this, Li Shen hesitated. He had only one daughter, whom he feared losing if he held her and melting if he put her in his mouth. If she were taken away, who knew if she would encounter danger? However, seeing the ability potion he had just acquired, he could only nod and say, "Alright!"
"Anyway, now that I have the ability potion in hand, whether it's a daughter or a son in the future, they can be born again. Isn't it said that ability users have long lives? What am I worrying about?" Li Shen comforted himself silently.
Upon returning home, Li Shen found his daughter Li Zhenli and spoke to her about the matter, earnestly instructing, "This time you are going to Yuzhou with the City Lord, you must not throw a tantrum. Do whatever the City Lord tells you to do! Do you understand?"
"Ah, why do I have to go to Yuzhou?" Li Zhenli asked in confusion.
"Because you are my daughter, and you represent me when you go out, which means you represent Wanzhou's stance. Also, it is to help the City Lord better conceal his identity. Do you understand?" Li Shen retorted.
Li Zhenli nodded, but still felt uneasy and continued to ask, "But what if the City Lord starts to dislike me?"
Li Shen replied seriously, "Therefore, you must absolutely not let the City Lord dislike you. Do whatever he tells you to do. Even if he asks you to warm his bed, you must obediently comply. This matter is very important and concerns the future honor and prosperity of our family."
After receiving this answer, Li Zhenli felt a wave of sadness. Having a high-ranking and powerful father indeed ensured a life of comfort and freedom from worry, but her personal freedom was completely beyond her control. Previously, she was confined at home and not allowed to wander, spending her days gazing at the outside world like a caged bird. When she was finally allowed to go out, her father arranged blind dates. Now, to curry favor with Shen Feng's power, her father was gifting her like a pet to someone else.
"It seems my life is destined to be tragic, my fate intertwined, like a small boat on the sea, merely drifting with the currents!" Li Zhenli thought helplessly to herself.
Overnight, countless people in Wanzhou City heard about what had happened at the banquet the previous night. A group of foolish officials at the banquet had provoked a powerful ability user, and most of them were killed. Upon hearing this news, many people gritted their teeth and cursed, "Serves them right! These beasts have been exploiting us for over two years. It's best they're dead!"
It was the same everywhere. Those in power could arbitrarily exploit ordinary people, extorting money, food, and even their bodies.
Therefore, the people of Wanzhou deeply resented the leeches above them. They themselves could barely afford thin congee, and their elders and children were malnourished and sickly, while these powerful individuals feasted daily, completely disregarding the lives of those below them. Dissatisfaction had been accumulating for a long time and was on the verge of erupting.
The next day, Shen Feng boarded a boat with over fifty people and headed towards Yuzhou. Gasoline was precious, especially in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The oil here could only be obtained through external input, but foreign oil supplies had been cut off, and the sea routes were difficult to navigate. The northern oil pipelines had not yet been connected, resulting in a nationwide shortage of gasoline.
Fortunately, Wanzhou had stored a certain amount of gasoline; otherwise, it would not have been so easy for Shen Feng to reach his destination in time with his entourage.
As they left the city, Shen Feng saw many makeshift shelters set up along the streets, distributing thin congee. Li Shen had arranged this overnight, knowing what Shen Feng liked and disliked. He had specifically set up congee stalls in conspicuous locations on the streets, and on that day, countless people lined up to receive the thin congee.
"He has some conscience, but I wonder if he'll quickly dismantle them once I'm gone!" Shen Feng thought silently to himself.
Shen Feng shook his head and dismissed the thought. At this moment, he was focused on contemplating his decisions after reaching Yuzhou. Fortunately, he had Ban Xian on the boat to offer advice and find people to discuss matters with!
"City Lord, the tea is ready. Please come in and have some tea!" As Shen Feng stood at the bow of the boat, feeling the sea breeze, Li Zhenli walked up to him and invited him into the cabin.
They were traveling on a slightly larger pleasure boat. The soldiers on board were fully armed, with rifles and pistols loaded, ready to engage in combat at any moment.
Shen Feng turned and pointed to the mask on his face, saying to Li Zhenli, "Do not call me City Lord. From now on, call me Shen Fuyao. My identity cannot be exposed now, do you understand?"
Li Zhenli quickly nodded and pointed towards the cabin, saying, "Please go inside and rest. The soldiers are guarding outside, so bandits and water thieves would not dare to rob us!" Li Zhenli said.
Shen Feng gently shook his head and replied, "I don't care about those bandits. The cold wind helps me clear my mind. You go into the cabin. For the next few days, do not wander around. Just stay put!"