Chapter 201

Lanyang Village, Dream Spring Garden.

Ma Wu brought people to dismantle the phonograph in the dance hall and handed it over to Li Banfeng for disposal.

Xiao Chuanzi felt heartache.

This was a masterpiece from the Wonderful Sound Phonograph Shop; such good craftsmanship was too hard to find in Puluo Continent.

"Fifth Master, without a phonograph, what is this still called a dance hall? Just dancing dry?"

Ma Wu turned his face to look at the corner of the dance hall: "Isn't the band practicing?"

He had gathered a small band in Lanyang Village, with violins, horns, and the ability to play Western music, as well as yangqin and pipa, which could also play folk music.

*Bang! Bang! Bang! Flutter~*

The trumpet bubbled.

Chuanzi shook his head repeatedly: "Fifth Master, can this be listened to?"

"There weren't many who could dance in the first place, just make do with listening," Ma Wu was open-minded, "You go to Green Water City, find the big steward Qiu, and tell him to watch out for the phonograph; there are hooks from the Ling family."

Hundred Joy Gate, Lu Yuanhai brought people to dismantle the phonograph. Yang Yanzheng was anxious: "Second Young Master, what are you doing?"

Lu Yuanhai said: "Phonographs have too much noise and don't sound right to the ears. Replace them all with bands in the future."

There was no phonograph in the big dance hall, and in such a large space, the phonograph's movement wasn't enough.

Lu Yuanhai had people dismantle the phonographs in the Round Dance Hall and the famous singer's private room.

Yang Yanzheng tried his best to dissuade him: "Second Young Master, it's better to discuss this with the Second Young Lady."

"No need to discuss; I've already hired the band for you."

"The Round Dance Hall is barely okay, but this famous singer's private room, it, it is special."

"How is it special?"

Yang Yanzheng was anxious: "You often come to Hundred Joy Gate. The famous singer's private room is where the song queen sings alone."

"Singing alone, she, she has to do things. She is doing things on this side, and bringing a band on that side—is this appropriate?"

Lu Yuanhai laughed: "Why isn't it appropriate? I'll show you in a moment. Having a band on the side has sentiment and strength."

It was useless for Yang Yanzheng to say anything; this was the order of the monkey Qiu.

The monkey Qiu stood in the main hall of the mansion, looking at the phonograph in the mansion.

When Lu Dongliang had an accident, by the time the monkey Qiu arrived, the phonograph was still playing music, playing "Dreamer," the song Lu Dongliang liked to listen to most.

He Yuxiu went to Thousand Joy Building to reason with Lu Dongjun. Lu Dongjun disguised himself as Lu Dongliang and went to Thousand Joy Building for a banquet. Thousand Joy Building was also playing music, playing "Moon Round Flower Good," which He Yuxiu liked most.

These were things the monkey Qiu had seen with his own eyes.

There was one more thing he had heard.

Lu Dongjun killed the manager at Jiangyuan Leather Factory and leaked his tracks. At that time, the manager's office was also playing music, playing a song called "Peaceful Spring."

More than half of the phonographs in Puluo Continent came from the Wonderful Sound Phonograph Shop.

Judging from the phonographs that came from their house, they all had hooks.

These things were all under the control of the Ling family.

Lu Dongliang and Lu Dongjun very likely both died at the hands of the Ling family.

How did the Ling family rise, after all?

Newspapers, singing and dancing, movies—how did these businesses all fall into the hands of the Ling family little by little?

Lu Dongliang might have known about these things, but the monkey Qiu really hadn't paid attention.

There was a piece of good news right now.

Ling Miaowen was dead.

Who dealt with him?

Hundred Flower Gate?

Did Zhang Xiuling have this strength?

The He family and the Ling family were not on good terms regarding the business at Sea-Eating Ridge. Could it be that the He family did it?

It's possible.

Being able to kill Ling Miaowen silently, in Puluo Continent, besides the Lu family, only the He family could do it.

Regardless of the cause of Ling Miaowen's death, the newspaper business had to be snatched over by Lu Yuanshan as soon as possible; this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The monkey Qiu ordered people to dismantle the phonograph. The eldest lady Duan Shaoxia walked down the stairs, sighed, and said: "Dongliang liked listening to music most before. If he saw that this phonograph was gone, he would definitely scold you a few words."

The monkey Qiu bowed: "No matter how the master scolds, I will listen, but this thing cannot be left."

Duan Shaoxia laughed and said: "I'm joking with you, and you took it seriously. How could the master possibly keep such a scourge?"

"This time, thanks to the child Junyang for sending the letter; otherwise, it's hard to say how much our family would have suffered in terms of things."

"Junyang is a good child. It's not easy for him to earn a few coins in that broken place of Lanyang Village."

"I heard he still owes a lot of debt to the Imperial Workshop. I guess it was just to scrape together that ten thousand big ocean for us."

"Zhiheng, I am a woman and shouldn't interfere in business matters. Today, I am thick-skinned enough to ask you once: don't collect Junyang's flower red in the future."

The monkey Qiu nodded: "Everything listens to the lady."

"Find time to call Junyang over for a meal." While speaking, Madam Duan helped Qiu Zhiheng tidy up his collar and turned to go upstairs.

This action was a bit strange, a bit overstepping the rules.

Qiu Zhiheng was stunned for a moment, and his cheeks turned red.

What is this?

How could I...

Qiu Zhiheng rubbed his forehead, trying his best to distract himself.

He thought of Ma Wu again and nodded slightly.

Ma Wu was indeed a good child; he should really invite him for a meal another day.

If that little brother could also come, it would be even better.

Li Banfeng sat in the Personal Residence, blowing wind beside the phonograph.

He dismantled two windmill phonographs, one of which was refined by Red Lotus and handed over to the wife, and the wife evolved a fan function.

The other phonograph wasn't refined and was left in the Personal Residence.

"Wife, what is this thing left for?"

"It has its uses. The hook on it has already been removed by me. In the future, husband can take this thing out to do some things for the little slave."

"This is just an ordinary phonograph; what can it do?"

"I left some spirituality on this phonograph, which can help husband clean up the land. The phonograph record I engraved before used ninety percent of the magic power; it's not enough to kill people anymore, but it's enough to remove hooks."

"Husband, as long as you push this phonograph and put on the previous record, walk around your territory, you can remove all the hooks."

"But after playing a song, this phonograph must rest for three days. If husband wants to remove a few more hooks, you have to walk faster."

"Walk faster, this... is quite difficult!"

Li Banfeng originally wanted to say this was easy, but when the words reached his lips, he swallowed them back in a hurry.

The phonograph uses a record to kill the enemy directly; this is one of her killer moves.

But Li Banfeng still hasn't figured out the principle of this killer move until now.

"Wife, what is the mystery of your killer move? Can you tell me?"

"Hey, husband, we are husband and wife and don't distinguish between each other; what can't be said? The mystery of this method lies in engraving a good record, following the hook to find back, and stabbing the opponent hard."

"Did you stab him to death?"

"Let the little slave smell it first." The phonograph needle wandered on the record, and the phonograph smelled for a moment and sang: "One died, and one is still alive."

"You can even smell this?"

"There is a bloody smell on the record."

Li Banfeng smelled the record for a long time but couldn't smell anything.

"Wife, if you want to use this technique again, how long will it take?"

"I have to let the little slave recover for a while. Thinking back to the past, when the little slave's physique was sound, two or three months were enough. Nowadays, it's hard to say; this still depends on husband's means."

Depends on my means?

Li Banfeng was startled. Is it possible that what the wife needs most is me? If the wife is served well, will the technique recover faster? Aren't the previous means enough? Do I have to learn some special techniques from Ma Wu? For example, heating the machine oil a bit hotter?

"Wife, what is the means you want..." Li Banfeng asked nervously.

"Hey, husband, you have to buy groceries. Only if the little slave eats well will she recover quickly."

"Good."

"Husband, what's wrong with you? Why is your voice so weak?"

"I'm quite good, really... Wife, teach me this technique."

"Husband, don't be anxious. You can't learn this technique now. It won't be too late for the little slave to teach you when your cultivation reaches the level."

One died, and one is still alive.

Who is the one alive?

Yuezhou Third Hospital, medical staff crowded the ward.

There were bloodstains on He Jiaqing's hospital bed. Where the bloodstains came from was still unknown.

The Dark Star Bureau received the news and asked Seeing Datou to come and take a look.

Seeing Datou asked the attending physician, and the physician's reply was: "He Jiaqing's vital signs appeared abnormal last night, and there were bloodstains on the hospital bed. The cause is unknown."

"You said the vital signs were abnormal; could it be that the medical equipment was interfered with?"

"I don't rule out this possibility, but I have confidence in the reliability of the equipment."

Seeing Datou nodded: "I will tell the bureau about this situation."

After the medical staff dispersed, Seeing Datou stayed in the ward for a while.

He Jiaqing, who was originally in a coma on the hospital bed, suddenly opened his eyes, and his eyeballs turned toward the park.

Seeing Datou didn't make a sound and left the hospital silently.

Late at night, Seeing Datou came to Flower Lake Park, walked to the back of the Western-style building, and walked step by step toward the woman who was crying.

The ground sank, and Seeing Datou dived into the water.

He didn't go to the bottom of the lake; he confirmed the direction and swam south all the way.

The physique of a fighter (Martial Cultivator) is amazingly good; he soon swam to the shore, sat on the shore, and gasped for breath.

This wasn't his first time coming ashore; He Jiaqing had taught him the method before.

Sitting on the shore and looking around, there was only darkness and desolation all around.

There was a campfire in the distance, and Seeing Datou walked toward the firelight.

He Jiaqing sat by the fire and laughed: "Thank you, you covered for me today."

Seeing Datou shook his head: "I'm afraid it can't be covered. The hospital called the bureau and told Captain Chen about your situation."

"He has been watching you for a long time; he might find a healer to investigate your situation."

"A healer? Are you talking about a Medicine Cultivator? What level?"

"According to the importance attached to you, it is estimated that the person coming won't be lower than the sixth layer."

"I'm not afraid of the sixth layer."

"You'd better be careful. I'm worried that the healer will bring forbidden items."

"Forbidden items—aren't they just magic treasures? That also depends on what level of magic treasure."

"The level won't be low. In short, be careful."

He Jiaqing sighed: "It seems I really have to get sick."

Seeing Datou was silent for a long time and persuaded He Jiaqing: "You'd better go back to Puluo Continent. Hiding like this is not a way."

He Jiaqing shook his head: "I can't go yet; I still have things to finish."

"What things?"

"I want people who should be decent to live decently, just like you."

"I, I'm quite good," Seeing Datou lowered his head, "The bureau treats me quite well. I am a special person, and the bureau has never discriminated against me."

"Why would they discriminate against you?"

"I am different, not a normal person. I accidentally killed someone in my work before. I didn't mean to, but I couldn't control myself."

"People like me are hidden dangers, are scourges, are threats in this world. People like me should be cleared away, but the bureau didn't abandon or give up on me and gave me a way out. What else am I dissatisfied with?"

He Jiaqing frowned: "Is that what the bureau taught you?"

Seeing Datou looked at He Jiaqing: "Isn't it right?"

"No!" He Jiaqing shook his head, "You are not a scourge, not a hidden danger, nor a threat. You are the elite of this world."

"You can't control your power because your talent is too good, and your talent hasn't received reasonable cultivation and guidance."

"You deserve the respect and decency you should have. You don't need others to give you a way out. This is what I want to do."

Seeing Datou didn't speak.

He Jiaqing laughed: "Looking at how haggard you are, you haven't slept well these two days, have you?"

"The place where my wife works is a bit far; I have to get up early every day to drive her to work."

He Jiaqing thought for a moment: "I heard that the hotel is going to distribute dormitories in two days. It's very close to the hotel. Let your wife pick a good location."

Seeing Datou's eyes lit up: "How big is the dormitory?"

"Around 120, three bedrooms and a living room. You all move there. Your child hasn't graduated from elementary school yet, but I heard the elementary school nearby is also good."

Seeing Datou's eyes dimmed again: "My child's school district is not there..."

"The hotel will solve the school district. Junior high school can be solved, and elementary school is even easier to talk about," He Jiaqing stood up, "Let's go, let's walk around. I'm not too familiar with this place either."

Distribute dormitories, distribute three bedrooms and a living room.

Elementary school degree is also solved.

Seeing Datou is not a fool.

He knows this is He Jiaqing helping him.

He looked up at He Jiaqing: "I, I can't anymore... I owe you too much."

"Don't talk about owing; don't talk about these things between brothers," He Jiaqing pulled Seeing Datou up, "I treat you as a brother, and I just want you to live decently."

Brother...

At Seeing Datou's age, this word made him feel a bit strange.

"That, I..."

He Jiaqing pointed to his own ear: "Can you speak louder in the future? I am deaf in one ear, completely deaf, and it can no longer be restored."

After dealing with Ling Miaowen's funeral, Ling Miaosheng returned to the phonograph shop, holding a feather duster, cleaning each phonograph one by one.

He had already received some news; it would be very difficult for his phonograph shop to have business in the future, and it might not even be long before the Lu family came to the door.

"Second brother, how do you plan to deal with the next things?" The third brother Seeing Ling Miaoying came.

"How do I plan?" Ling Miaosheng sneered, "Does it matter how I plan? When did you and big brother ever ask me when doing things?"

"Isn't this asking you now? Big brother is gone, and our Ling family is going to suffer."

Ling Miaosheng sighed: "I didn't let you hang hooks on my phonographs, but you didn't listen. Now my business is completely finished."

"What's wrong with doing business honestly? What are you doing making such a fuss about these things?"

Seeing Ling Miaoying sank his face: "Second brother, look at your conscience when you speak. If our brothers had always been honest, we would have starved to death on the street long ago."

"Big brother is gone, and it will soon be our turn. If you want to be honest, we'll wait for death here; if you've figured it out, go to the big mansion and find me!"

PS: Ling Miaosheng has seen Li Banfeng.

(End of chapter)