Chapter 131: The Kui Xiu Clan

Li Banfeng sat in the wooden house, quietly reading the evening newspaper brought back by Ma Wu.

The report on Lu Dongliang’s attendance at the banquet had been published; according to the newspaper, Lu Dongliang was still alive and in good condition, capable of directly challenging He Yuxiu.

Ma Wu was deeply concerned: “Yesterday, private detective Daboyins came to see me, asking about you. He said Lu Dongliang is still alive.”

“I’d heard similar rumors before, but I thought they were just gossip—until today’s evening paper confirmed it: Lu Dongliang is truly alive. Daboyins is likely hired by him to track your whereabouts.”

Li Banfeng put down the evening newspaper.

He was certain Lu Dongliang was dead—he had consumed a Jin Yuandan yesterday, and theoretically, that pill was part of Lu Dongliang.

Where did the Lu Dongliang in the newspaper come from?

Clearly, someone was impersonating him.

But what method had they used to impersonate Lu Dongliang?

Li Banfeng’s first thought was Lu Xiaolan’s fake skin—when she had disguised herself as He Jiaqing, he had been unable to tell the difference by appearance alone.

As Li Banfeng pondered, Ma Wu reminded him: “Brother Li, don’t go to Lüshuicheng anymore.”

“If we don’t go to Lüshuicheng, how do we deliver the goods?”

“Don’t worry about delivery for now—Chu Er came into the village today and cleared out the warehouse.”

Seeing Ma Wu pull out several boxes of cash, Li Banfeng was delighted: “I told you—you two have real feelings.”

Ma Wu chuckled bitterly: “She brought reporters along too. This time, I’m fully caught in the mess.”

“Reporters?” Li Banfeng recalled something: “This is not unlike the time you slept with Seventeen Sister.”

Ma Wu lit a cigarette, drew deeply, and the pattern became clear: “Besides Third Brother, there are no other family members targeting me.

Judging from today’s situation, Chu Er has deep ties to the newspaper. When Third Brother set the trap for me, it was almost certainly Chu Er who ordered it.

Third Brother thought he’d succeeded, and Chu Er immediately sent reporters to expose the story, forcing me out of the Ma family gate entirely. As for Third Brother’s actual condition, Chu Er never cared.”

Li Banfeng disagreed: “I suspect Chu Er did care about your Third Brother—she wanted that fool to take over the Ma family and waste all its assets.”

Ma Wu flicked ash: “It doesn’t have to be Third Brother. After I was expelled, Second Sister took over my two dance halls—one’s already been sold to the Chu family; the next is expected to be sold next month.”

“So your second sister’s a fool too.”

Ma Wu nodded: “So it seems. Chu Er has been steadily acquiring Ma family businesses, and she’s using my name to create the illusion of an alliance between the Ma and Chu families, so she can infiltrate the Lu family’s operations. This woman is truly calculating.”

Li Banfeng thought for a moment, then lit a cigarette himself: “Actually, this is good.”

“How so?”

“Look at the recent supply trends, make a list, and notify Miss Chu to come collect the goods.

The Liu family won’t dare offend Miss Chu—they won’t dare move against you. If Miss Chu agrees, we won’t have to worry about delivery anymore.”

Ma Wu smiled: “If she refuses, I’ll spread the word—then the supposed alliance between Chu and Ma becomes pure fiction.”

Talking with a smart person requires no effort.

Ma Wu still had concerns: “I suspect Chu Er will agree—but what about Yufangzhai? We can’t cut off their supply. That’s He family business.”

The He family.

No matter where you go, you can’t escape these great clans.

Li Banfeng extinguished his cigarette and stood: “I’ll deliver the Yufangzhai goods myself.”

“Brother Li, Lu Dongliang is still alive. Please, heed my advice—avoid Lüshuicheng.”

Li Banfeng shook his head: “I want to see what kind of man Lu Dongliang really is.

Also, I don’t know if you’re aware—where do these newspapers come from? How dare they report on anything?”

Ma Wu actually knew: “Throughout Puluozhou, all newspapers are controlled by Ling Miaowen.”

Ling Miaowen—that name sounded familiar.

“What’s his relationship to Ling Miaosheng of the phonograph shop?”

“Ling Miaowen is Ling Miaosheng’s older brother. Ling Miaosheng has another younger brother named Ling Miaoying. The three brothers each specialize in different fields.

Ling Miaowen runs newspapers, magazines, and all kinds of books—anything involving text, he has his fingers in.

Ling Miaosheng publicly runs only phonograph shops, but in truth, most records produced in Puluozhou come from him. Singers, songstresses, bands, opera troupes—all the notable ones have dealings with him.

Ling Miaoying publicly sells only cameras and film projectors, yet he controls all films, cinemas, and stars in Puluozhou.

Simply put: if it’s written, go to Ling Miaowen; if it’s sound, go to Ling Miaosheng; if it’s images, go to Ling Miaoying. Their family’s roots run deep.”

Li Banfeng nodded: “Deep roots—no doubt their cultivation is high too.”

In Puluozhou, without real strength, you can’t survive in business.

Ma Wu nodded: “The Ling family is a Kui Xiu clan. Rumor has it all three brothers are no lower than Level Seven. Some even say they rank as the fifth great family in Puluozhou.”

When business grows large, real strength truly matters.

What is Li Banfeng and Ma Wu’s current real strength?

Cultivation-wise, Li Banfeng carries them all—Zhai Xiu Level Three, Lv Xiu Level Two.

Ma Wu’s cultivation is negligible; he can only rely on the Ma family’s reputation to bluff his way through.

With this level of strength, holding onto Lanyang Village is already a miracle.

Is there a shortcut to improve our strength?

There is—but the side effects are too severe.

“Brother Ma, do you know any way to neutralize pill toxicity?”

Ma Wu frowned: “It’s complicated. Different pills require different neutralization methods. Even pills from different pharmacies have different toxic properties.

The Xuan Chi Dan you gave me earlier was extremely pure—neutralizing that one isn’t difficult.”

Li Banfeng felt a spark of excitement: “Tell me how it’s not difficult.”

“Just wait. After taking the pill, sleep for a day. Don’t take any other pills for the next three days—the toxicity will slowly dissipate.”

Li Banfeng rubbed his forehead. That was no help at all.

He couldn’t afford to wait—he had to return to Suishenju every day. If he took pills carelessly, the phonograph would notice.

Seeing Li Banfeng silent, Ma Wu quickly added: “I’ll keep an eye out for other methods to neutralize pill toxicity. This isn’t written in books—I’ll ask some friends.”

Keep an eye out.

That meant nothing.

Li Banfeng placed a pill on the table before Ma Wu.

Ma Wu picked it up, glanced at it—the brilliant golden glow made his fingers tremble.

Even a wealthy young master would shudder upon seeing this Jin Yuandan.

“Brother Li, where did you get this pill?”

“A friend gave it to me. I’m giving it to you.”

Ma Wu waved his hands: “I can’t accept this. Such a treasure—even money can’t buy it.”

“I’m not giving it to you for free. Find me a way to neutralize the toxicity of this pill.”

Only under such a great temptation would Ma Wu truly take this seriously.

Back at Suishenju, Li Banfeng lay down to sleep, when suddenly the phonograph began to sing slowly:

“Brother, don’t forget me,

I’m your beloved Mei Niang,

I once sat on your window,

Chewing on your delicious lover.”

“Mei Niang’s Song.”

The last line used to be chewing betel nut—why did it change to chewing lover?

“Wife, did you sing it wrong?”

“Ah~ Husband, your humble wife didn’t sing wrong—you’re the one who forgot. I did eat well a few days ago, but my lord hasn’t bought groceries in many days.”

“Buying groceries is easy.”

“Lovers are delicious too.”

“Wife always speaks in jest.”

Li Banfeng placed his hand under the phonograph’s tray, gently scratching the wooden cabinet.

The phonograph giggled, exhaled a puff of steam, and curled up beside Li Banfeng to sleep.

…

The next morning, Liu Liangyi, the old shopkeeper of the Liu family’s paper horse shop, arrived at the Ma family mansion alongside Si Wennian, head of the Si family.

They were received by Ma Junjiang, the fourth son of the Ma family.

Liu Liangyi first presented a pair of jade ornaments as a gesture, then informed Ma Junjiang of Ma Wu’s seizure of Lanyang Village.

Ma Junjiang reacted with anger: “That troublemaking brute—he actually did something like this?”

Liu Liangyi sighed deeply: “We never meant to trouble Fifth Young Master. Lanyang Village was earned by him himself. We only followed protocol to collect monthly dues—but my son was beaten into a cripple, and over a dozen of my men died…”

His voice trembled; tears nearly spilled from his old eyes.

There was rhetorical skill here—but it failed to deceive Ma Junjiang’s ears.

“Mr. Liu, I didn’t quite catch it—did you say Junyang beat your son into serious injury and wounded over a dozen of your men? I know Junyang’s cultivation—he shouldn’t have that kind of power.”

Liu Liangyi lowered his head in silence. Si Wennian spoke the truth: “The one who injured Changyu was Chu Er. I don’t know what connection she has with Fifth Young Master, but she clearly stood up for him.”

Ma Junjiang asked: “So you’re saying Junyang went to Chu Er specifically to have her attack Liu Changyu?”

“This…”

Ma Junjiang wasn’t good at business, but his experience was deep. No rhetorical trick could fool him.

Liu Liangyi had no choice but to recount the entire incident in full detail.

Ma Junjiang shook his head and said, “Old Liu, I can’t help you with this. Your son blocked the road on the mountain and clashed with Miss Chu—go ask Miss Chu herself what grudge lies between you.

As for what relationship Junyang has with Miss Chu, I don’t want to know. He’s no longer a Ma family member; his actions have nothing to do with the Ma family.”

Having said this much, further Jiuchan was pointless. Ma Junjiang returned the pair of jade ornaments to Liu Liangyi, and the two parted on bad terms.

Outside the Ma family gate, Liu Liangyi gritted his teeth: “Go ask Miss Chu for an explanation? Is that even human speech? What could I possibly clarify with that demoness?”

Si Wennian urged, “Brother, don’t rush. Outsiders won’t understand this logic. Let’s go see the Second Master of the Lu family—they’re one of us!”

Liu Liangyi wasn’t optimistic: “If the First Master were here, this matter might be settled. But the Second Master…”

“Don’t say that when you meet the Second Master!” Si Wennian glared at Liu Liangyi.

In truth, Si Wennian’s worry was unnecessary—Liu Liangyi wouldn’t say the wrong thing before Lu Dongjun, because Lu Dongjun never saw him at all.

Last time he successfully impersonated Lu Dongliang, Lu Dongjun thought he’d paved his own path.

But he hadn’t expected that, just the other day, when he tried to audit the Lu family’s assets, Qiu Zhiheng wouldn’t even show him the ledgers.

Qiu Zhiheng was so brazen, yet still won the support of everyone in the Lu family. Lu Dongjun could no longer tolerate it—he’d been looking for a chance to strike back at Monkey Qiu these past two days, and had no interest in the Liu family’s mess.

Si Wennian tried to calm Liu Liangyi: “The Second Master’s in a foul mood today. Let’s come back another day to discuss it.”

Liu Liangyi snorted coldly: “Another day? Who knows when that’ll be!”

Si Wennian frowned: “Liu, if you’re going to talk like that, I don’t want to get involved in your family’s affairs anymore.”

Liu Liangyi gritted his teeth: “Fine. If no one will help, I’ll handle this myself! Didn’t Ma Junjiang say Ma Junyang isn’t his man? Then let him wait to collect his corpse!”

PS: Liu Liangyi is angry. In his rage, don’t make hasty decisions.

(End of Chapter)