Chapter 196: Listen to His Live Broadcast

Ma Wu sat in the wooden hut, still shaken from the ordeal.

He and Li Banfeng pondered together: where had they gone wrong today?

This time luck saved Ma Wu's life, but if they didn't figure out what happened, next time they might not be so fortunate.

Li Banfeng believed Ma Wu had brought too few men: "Only three went—only Qin was truly combat-capable."

Ma Wu thought it wasn't about manpower: "Assassinations—Ma family has done plenty. More men just become a burden."

"Qin and Xiao Chuan—one attacks, one defends. I can spot Lu Xiaolan, and at critical moments we can cover each other. Three of us is enough for this job."

"Today we failed because Da Boyins showed up, and because there's a traitor inside."

"How can you be so sure there's a traitor?"

"Old Seven, think carefully—I went to deal with Lu Xiaolan. Did she know about it?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "She probably didn't."

"Then why did Da Boyins find me the moment I left the plot—and take the initiative? That proves he knew where I was hiding."

Li Banfeng agreed: Da Boyins had indeed known Ma Wu's hiding spot in advance.

But this wasn't hard to explain.

"Lu Xiaolan is a Whisperer. You stayed beside her plot for three days—she must've heard you moving."

"How? Listen randomly all over? Do you think Lu Xiaolan has a radar on her? You've got this thing called radar in Waizhou—does she have one?"

"Without prior warning, Lu Xiaolan couldn't possibly find me by random searching."

"Qin isn't a novice. She's done stakeouts and kills countless times. She picked the location—how could it be so easily exposed?"

Ma Wu's logic held weight.

Li Banfeng asked: "Who could the traitor be?"

Ma Wu paused, then said: "Old Seven, do you know why I brought Qin this time and no one else? We've got another skilled hand right here."

Li Banfeng froze: "You mean Zuo Wugang? You suspect him of being the traitor?"

Ma Wu nodded: "He used to be with the Lu family."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "Don't guess blindly. Blind guesses only sow chaos."

Ma Wu's expression turned grim: "Lu Xiaolan is lurking outside, and inside there's a traitor watching. We're in deep trouble."

"Lu Xiaolan must die, and the traitor must be dug out. I think it's Zuo Wugang."

"He's got feelings for Qin. If Qin returned them, I'd support it—I don't lack for people."

"But Qin doesn't want him. He blames me for it, and wants to team up with Lu Xiaolan to kill me."

Li Banfeng was truly exasperated.

Two grown men arguing over a bug.

Fine young men, yet obsessed with insects—Li Banfeng despised them!

But Li Banfeng was certain Zuo Wugang was not the traitor.

Zuo Wugang had signed a covenant—a written contract. Unless he could nullify it, he'd already turned to rust.

But if not him, then who?

Ma Wu said: "Old Seven, leave Lu Xiaolan to me. You handle the traitor."

"This time it's serious—life or death. We can't afford to be soft!"

Softness wouldn't be an issue—but recklessness was dangerous.

Li Banfeng told Ma Wu: "I'll talk to someone first. Once I understand everything, we'll act."

Late at night, Li Banfeng returned to his own plot.

The ten-li plot had a traitor—anything could be leaked. His own one-li plot was safer.

Li Banfeng set up the offering table and waited quietly. A ghostly flame appeared above it.

"Brother Li Qi, there's something you might not realize—even the lord of a plot needs sleep."

"So that's it!" Li Banfeng realized. "Then when do you sleep?"

"I just… what do you want?"

Li Banfeng wanted to confirm something: "Those people have opened new land in Qiuluoye's plot. If we kill them later, will Qiuluoye not bother us again?"

"The new land is already established. As long as the killing doesn't happen within the plot, the plot lord's fate won't concern the land god. That's the logic—but this matter…"

"Forget logic today. You're reasonable. Qiuluoye doesn't seem to be."

Shui Yongquan sighed: "I'm worried too. Qiuluoye craves vitality—he's foolish, sees the land-reclaimers and becomes obsessed. But these land-reclaimers… they arrived too suspiciously."

Li Banfeng asked: "Do you think they're connected to those land-reclaimers who opened land on the border?"

The ghostly flame hovered before the table as Shui Yongquan thought.

"I think they're connected—but I can't say how."

"I'll go talk to Qiudaxiang, then to the other land gods. I don't know what I'll learn."

"Brother Li Qi, I feel something big is coming—not just in my hundred-li territory, but across the entire Puluo Province."

"I can't control Puluo Province's affairs. I only hope nothing happens on my land."

"I don't fight others. I came to this remote place just for peace. Brother, I want us all to have a few quiet days."

…

Quiet days were over.

In the council hall, Xiao Genzi, bruised and swollen, kept apologizing to Ma Wu: "Five Brother, I'm sorry. I fought with all my strength, but they were too strong—I couldn't win."

Xiao Genzi led a team to escort goods to Lanyang Village. The cargo was ambushed en route. Xiao Genzi barely escaped with his life and brought back the surviving escorts.

This wasn't the first shipment stolen. Yesterday, another was taken; several escorts were severely wounded.

Now Ma Wu dared not send out goods—Lu Xiaolan watched every shipment from her plot. She couldn't be avoided.

Ma Wu didn't blame Xiao Genzi: "You brought the men back—that's what matters."

He ordered treatment for Xiao Genzi and gave him a reward.

Zuo Wugang spoke up: "Five Brother, let me escort the next shipment."

"Fine, if you want to go, go," Ma Wu smiled. "I'll go take a walk—see how our neighbors are doing."

Zuo Wugang sensed Ma Wu's attitude was off—had been off for two days—but he dared not ask more.

Outside the council hall, Ma Wu walked to the plot's boundary.

He stared at Lu Xiaolan's plot.

He felt an urge—to rush in, drag her out, and kill her.

In a flash of thought, Ma Wu exhaled deeply.

Calm. Must stay calm.

Lu Xiaolan had Da Boyins beside her—and her mother, Zhuo Yuling.

She'd opened new land and enjoyed the land god's protection.

Dealing with her wouldn't be easy. Never act rashly.

Ma Wu took a deep breath, stood still a moment, then turned to leave—when he heard a voice behind him:

"Five Brother, you were looking for me?"

Ma Wu startled, whirled around—Lu Xiaolan was right behind him!

When had she arrived?!

How did she know I was here?!

"Five Brother, did you miss me?" Lu Xiaolan smiled, not crossing the plot boundary.

Ma Wu smiled: "How do you know I missed you?"

"We're soulmates, Five Brother. Whatever you think, I know." Her tone was playful, just like when they first met.

Ma Wu's gaze swept over Lu Xiaolan's eyes: "Guess what I'm thinking now?"

"I guess you hate me fiercely—just like I hated you back then, wishing I could kill you."

"You guessed right." Ma Wu prepared to activate his technique.

Lu Xiaolan shook her head: "Five Brother, you used to be straightforward. Why are you so timid now?"

"Whether you miss me or hate me—I'm right here. Why won't you come over?"

"If you want to kill me, get closer!"

Ma Wu drew a dagger.

Lu Xiaolan feigned surprise: "You'll kill me with this? Five Brother, do you think this thing can kill me?"

Ma Wu knew the dagger couldn't kill Lu Xiaolan.

He drew it to shed blood—to invoke the land god's protection.

Lu Xiaolan saw through him, smiling: "Five Brother, look at you—so pitiful. I don't want to kill you today, no need to worry."

"But next time? Who knows. If you're scared, stay here forever. Never step out again."

Lu Xiaolan left.

Ma Wu gripped the dagger tightly, head bowed.

No ally stood beside him. Had he taken one more step, he'd be dead.

…

Back in the council hall, Ma Wu looked at Zuo Wugang: "Guess what just happened? I wanted to visit the neighbor—she knew I was coming. She even came to my doorstep to meet me. Isn't that strange?"

Zuo Wugang didn't know how to answer—he didn't understand Ma Wu's meaning.

Ma Wu fell silent, then told Zuo Wugang to leave.

Sitting alone in the council chamber, Ma Wu repeatedly reminded himself to stay calm.

Zuo Wugang may not be the traitor; catching the traitor should be left to Old Seven.

But he couldn't calm down.

"Master Wu, the newspapers."

Xiao Chuan entered the council chamber with two newspapers—these had been brought back by Ma Wu's men from Green Water City.

Because of the long journey, the newspapers were three days old; Ma Wu saw his own name on the second page.

The Fifth Young Master of the Ma Clan still commands respect, making bold moves in the new lands of Lan Yang.

Making bold moves?

I can't even step out of my own gate.

Ma Wu let out a bitter laugh and tore up the newspaper.

The business he and Old Seven had worked so hard to build was about to be ruined by Lu Xiaolan.

……

In the Three Academies of Yuezhou, He Jiaqing lay alone in bed and chuckled.

"Ma Wu's been a bit irritable lately."

A voice replied at his ear: "After enduring so much hardship, he finally got a taste of comfort—and now that comfort's about to vanish. Of course he's upset."

He Jiaqing sighed. "I feel sorry for him. Have you found out Lu Xiaolan's cultivation level?"

"She might be hiding it deep. I've probed a few times—she's probably still at Level Four."

"Still at Level Four? That means the item isn't with her—it's with my friend."

"That Li Qi—is he your friend?"

"I heard his voice—I'm certain. He was my best friend during my four years at university."

"Who should we send to retrieve the item?"

"We can't send our own people. Find a way to make Lu Xiaolan go. Our identities must stay hidden."

"Can Lu Xiaolan get it back?"

"Yes. My friend is a reasonable man, and Lu Xiaolan very much wants that item. Just persuade her a little—she'll go. Let them settle it properly."

"Borrowed things must be returned. If he refuses, he'll suffer the consequences."

"If he still refuses after suffering, then someone will die."

"He's on good terms with Ma Wu—if Ma Wu dies over this, he'll grieve."

"So if he returns the item, we spare his life?"

"We'll see. Some things I can't predict. If you hear his voice again, forward it to me directly. In the outer provinces, they call this 'live streaming.' You understand?"

"I understand."

"I want to hear him speak. His voice is so interesting. I haven't seen him in so long—I miss him." He Jiaqing smiled and ended the connection.

PS: Old Zuo is truly wronged.

(End of Chapter)