Chapter 208: Xiao Yao Wu

Li Banfeng held Rong Yeguang's severed head in his arms, studying it closely for a long time.

He had never met Rong Yeguang, but this bandit chief had sent his men to raze an honest village—this grudge Li Banfeng must avenge.

He never expected Sun Tiecheng would so readily avenge it for him.

Is this matter truly over?

No, Lu Xiaolan is still alive.

This debt still needs settling.

Sun Tiecheng said to Li Banfeng: "To the world, the Fool Cultivators are already extinct; there should be no living Fool Cultivator, and there must never be one."

"You entered Fool City, survived, and learned two Fool Cultivator techniques—this must never become known to outsiders, or your life will be in peril."

There should be no living Fool Cultivator.

Li Banfeng studied Sun Tiecheng closely: "Are you a living Fool Cultivator?"

Sun Tiecheng shook his head: "No."

Li Banfeng saw no ghostfire on him and had no idea what kind of existence he truly was.

"Is the first person to pass the trial a living Fool Cultivator?"

Sun Tiecheng chuckled: "You shouldn't ask."

"Can I give up the land in Fool City and trade it for something else? Even if nothing can be traded, it's fine—I took one extra technique, I shouldn't be too greedy."

Sun Tiecheng shook his head: "No."

Clearly, this plot of land was the bond between Li Banfeng and the Fool Cultivators—a contract-like link; Sun Tiecheng went through so much trouble testing Li Banfeng precisely to find a qualified candidate to establish this bond.

"Visit Fool City often. In life-or-death moments, it's your refuge—far more reliable than the Water Gushing Spring's territory." With that, Sun Tiecheng's form vanished.

On the way back, Li Banfeng didn't run too fast; he returned to the Honest Village at the same speed he had used coming in.

He remembered Sun Tiecheng's words: run too fast, and you won't find the old soil's entrance.

By the same logic, run too fast, and you won't find the old soil's exit.

Li Banfeng suspected there were other ways to enter or exit the old soil, but Sun Tiecheng, knowing Li Banfeng was a Traveling Cultivator, deliberately defined the exit by speed—because Traveling Cultivators are most sensitive to speed.

Did he lose or gain by meeting this man?

He tricked me into Fool City and nearly got me killed.

But I gained two techniques, killed an enemy, and acquired a plot of land whose usefulness I don't even know—has this debt been settled?

Even if it hasn't been settled, there's nothing I can do; Li Banfeng knew the gap between himself and Sun Tiecheng too well—since the moment he was targeted, this encounter was unavoidable.

What level is he?

Is he akin to that insect, a chief above a Land God?

What kind of being is a chief?

The Fool Cultivator's foundation had not fully resolved; Li Banfeng didn't bother thinking further. He returned to his bedroom and immediately entered his Personal Dwelling.

"Husband, you've come out of Fool City?"

"I have." Li Banfeng collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

The phonograph's horn turned toward the Judge's Pen: "You lazy bastard is surprisingly useful."

"Hmph~" The Judge's Pen rolled over, too lazy to speak.

…

He Jiaqing's left ear had never heard a sound.

Ling Miaoying accounted for this; when transmitting messages, she made the tone rich enough to give He Jiaqing the illusion that both ears were hearing.

"The Lu family's newspaper is rising. I don't understand newspaper business well, and several of Brother's top men have been poached by the Lus."

He Jiaqing remained calm; this was within his expectations: "Have you clarified the newspaper office incident?"

"Current leads indicate the fire was set by the Hundred Flowers Sect; Brother's death is very likely tied to them too."

Ling Miaowen died from a strange piece of music; He Jiaqing was severely injured by the same music—this music came from a phonograph bought by Ma Wu.

The phonograph was bought from Ling Miaosheng; Ling Miaosheng could not have killed his own brother—the phonograph had been tampered with.

Was it Ma Wu?

Did Ma Wu hire the Hundred Flowers Sect?

He Jiaqing believed Ma Wu lacked the resources, and the Hundred Flowers Sect lacked the strength.

Only the Lu family had the power!

"The Hundred Flowers Sect never had dealings with Miaowen. There's a Muhou player—nine out of ten times, it's the Lus. This grudge must be repaid."

"What do you suggest?"

He Jiaqing said: "Contact Rong Yeguang, the boss of Iron Sheep Mountain. Have him gather men and wipe out the Lus' operations in Medicine King Gully. Get Monkey Qiu transferred to Medicine King Gully.

Without Monkey Qiu, Lu Yuanshan and Lu Yuanhai become easy targets. Tell Old Man Lu Mao that now is the perfect moment to seize the Lu family leadership—have him kill the two brothers outright."

Ling Miaoying agreed and immediately contacted Iron Sheep Mountain.

That night, after the nurse fell asleep, He Jiaqing received Ling Miaoying's message: "Iron Sheep Mountain might be difficult."

"Difficult how? Are you afraid Rong Yeguang won't agree? Raise the price—we don't lack money."

"We don't lack money, but we lack Rong Yeguang."

He Jiaqing frowned: "What do you mean?"

"Our people just reported: last night, Rong Yeguang was killed—his head was taken by someone unknown."

He Jiaqing lay in bed, silent for a long time.

The chief of Iron Sheep Mountain, Rong Yeguang, was dead?

"Who did it?"

"Unknown. Iron Sheep Mountain is in chaos—major Jingang are fighting for the chieftaincy. Lu Xiaolan is preparing to flee with her mother."

"Don't let her run! Make her stay—make her fight for the chieftaincy." He Jiaqing hadn't fully recovered from the shock—this was his first reaction.

"Jiaqing, the chieftaincy isn't easy to win. Iron Sheep Mountain has many ruthless people. Lu Xiaolan is only a Fourth-Stage Peek Cultivator."

"The Iron Sheep Three Heroes are dead. The others aren't much stronger than Lu Xiaolan. She has Spider Bin and her mother—both Fifth-Stage experts.

Her mother needs no explanation; Spider Bin just needs more money. We must help her win the chieftaincy—these people still have value!"

Ling Miaoying agreed. He Jiaqing fell silent.

Things were changing too fast. He Jiaqing couldn't understand: "Who? Who could have killed Rong Yeguang?"

Ling Miaoying said: "Initial suspicion points to Ma Wu. New Territory spies reported Ma Wu inquired about Iron Sheep Mountain's location—then Rong Yeguang was killed."

"Ma Wu?" He Jiaqing scoffed. "Neither the He family nor the Lu family could take Iron Sheep Mountain. What is Ma Wu? Who gave him this power?"

"Jiaqing, Ma Wu is no longer what he was. Rumor says he's opened a ten-li plot in New Territory—something even the Lus and Chu family together failed to do!

I suspect he has a ruthless backer—likely your friend."

"Li Banfeng? He killed Rong Yeguang? On what grounds? He's only been in Pulu Province for a few days! Even if he had ten lives, could he even climb Iron Sheep Mountain?"

Ling Miaoying sighed: "Jiaqing, Brother is gone. The Ling family's situation isn't good either. We must act carefully.

Your friend—best to separate him from Ma Wu. I feel they'll cause even more trouble together."

"We definitely should separate them!" He Jiaqing agreed. "Have our people whisper to Ma Chunting—it's time to bring Ma Wu home."

"When Ma's patriarch ordered Ma Wu never to return home, the decree was absolute. Now recalling him will be difficult."

He Jiaqing smiled: "Ma's main businesses are in Green Water City and Sea-Eat Ridge. Sea-Eat Ridge's operations are nearly bankrupt; Green Water City's aren't doing well either.

Ma Chunting is old and can't manage alone. His children are all useless—only Ma Wu is competent. If he doesn't recall him, will he just watch the Ma family decline?"

Ling Miaoying still hesitated: "If Ma Wu becomes Ma family patriarch, your friend's patronage will grow strong."

He Jiaqing said: "Ma Wu will never become patriarch. He's the Ma family's toilet paper—used to wipe the stubborn stains, then discarded as filthy."

Ling Miaoying considered Ma Wu's status in the Ma family—he was right. "But what if Ma Wu refuses to return?"

"He will return. Eleven years ago, your business took off, your company was founded, and every major family sent representatives to your celebration. You remember that, right?"

"How could I forget? That's when our friendship began."

"Ma Wu was there too. We were discussing major matters—what do you think he was doing?"

"He was sleeping with the new actress I just promoted."

"Thirteen, he was thirteen. Ma Wu is exactly this kind of man—he can't accomplish anything great. He'll always return to the Ma family as toilet paper. Do as I say—in a month, it'll be done."

…

Ma Wu was settling accounts in the Honest Village when Xiao Chuan delivered a letter: "Master Wu, this is from Fourth Master."

"Which fourth master?" Ma Wu opened the letter—it was from his brother, Ma Junjiang.

The letter was clear: if Ma Wu returned, knelt humbly before their father, and apologized, past offenses would be forgiven.

Ma Wu set the letter aside as if he'd never seen it.

A few days later, Ma Junjiang arrived at Blue Poplar Village and requested a meeting with Ma Wu.

They met, exchanged pleasantries, and Ma Junjiang brought up returning home again: "Junyang, Father truly wants you back. If you sincerely kneel before him and all family, and also kneel before Third Brother, this matter is settled—you'll still be the Fifth Young Master of the Ma family."

Ma Wu took a deep breath: "I have to kneel before Third Brother too?"

Ma Junjiang frowned: "You slept with your sister-in-law. Shouldn't you apologize?"

"Yes, I should," Ma Wu nodded. "But I have no face to return. I've shamed the Ma family beyond repair—I'll never have the face to enter the home again."

Ma Junjiang's face darkened: "Wu, this isn't the time for childish tantrums."

"Fourth Brother, I'm not throwing a tantrum," Ma Wu rose to see him off. "Tell Father—if he truly said he had no son, then let him believe it."

After seeing off Ma Junjiang, Ma Wu finished handling Blue Poplar Village's affairs and prepared to return to the Honest Village when Yang Yanzheng arrived.

Ma Wu assumed he'd come to cause trouble and had Zuo Wugang stand beside him.

Yang Yanzheng wasn't here to cause trouble—he was here to negotiate business. Chu Er was fully focused on cultivating in Bitter Cabbage Village and couldn't manage Green Water City's affairs; she wanted to sell Xiao Yao Wu to Ma Wu.

Ma Wu was overjoyed—Xiaoyao Wu was his own life's work; soon after being cast out of his family, he had lost it to the Chu family due to mismanagement.

Even while scavenging for food in the trash, Ma Wu had never stopped thinking of Xiaoyao Wu; he had believed he would never see it again, and now he finally had a chance to reclaim it.

Chu Er offered one hundred fifty thousand silver dollars—a sum not exorbitant, but still substantial for him and Li Banfeng, requiring consultation with Li Qi.

Ma Wu rode back overnight to Zhengjing Village and found Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng had heard Ma Wu speak of Xiaoyao Wu more than once; in Ma Wu's description, it was nothing short of paradise on earth.

This was good news.

"Do we have enough in the account? If not, I'll go gather more."

Ma Wu waved his hand. "The account barely suffices, but this isn't a small sum—I'm worried…"

"Don't worry. Get it back first," Li Banfeng agreed.

Ma Wu quickly found Yang Yanzheng; the two parties settled the transaction—Ma Wu paid, and Yang Yanzheng handed over the property and land deeds.

This matter was momentous—it meant Li Banfeng and Ma Wu had crawled and fought their way from Lan Yang Village all the way to Lüshui City.

The two arrived at Xiaoyao Wu, and Li Banfeng walked around, surveying it.

Xiaoyao Wu was small: a three-story Western-style building, a grand dance hall, ten private booths—far inferior to the Belle Gate.

Moreover, Xiaoyao Wu's location was far more remote than the Belle Gate's.

Li Banfeng sneered: "Old Five, your paradise on earth falls short."

"Don't rush. All this open land around us belongs to us. Give me a few years—I'll make Xiaoyao Wu the second Belle Gate."

Li Banfeng bristled: "Why second? This is our entire life's work. If we can't surpass the Belle Gate, what's the point of all this?"

The two celebrated all night at Xiaoyao Wu; the next morning, Chuan woke Ma Wu: "Master Wu, the accountant is here."

"What accountant?" Ma Wu hadn't hired one yet.

"The accountant from the old estate—Yu Zhihe, Mr. Yu."

Yu Zhihe was the head accountant of the Ma household. Why was he here?

Ma Wu tidied his clothes and hurried to the accounting office. Inside, he saw Yu Zhihe seated, fingers dancing over his abacus, sorting accounts.

Who let him touch the ledgers?

Ma Wu grew angry: "Uncle Yu, what are you—"

Yu Zhihe didn't rise, remaining seated: "Junyang, your father sent me to inspect the books and discuss business matters with you."

Ma Wu frowned: "I can manage the business myself. No need for your interference."

Yu Zhihe smiled: "Junyang, Xiaoyao Wu is a Ma family business—everyone in Pulu Province knows that. I've always managed its accounts. There's no dispute here, is there?"

Ma Wu gritted his teeth, furious.

His father was trying to seize Xiaoyao Wu by force.

Li Banfeng wasn't angry. He stood at the door, silently observing Ma Wu's reaction.

…

That night, Ma Wu found Li Banfeng to discuss a strategy: "I'll go see Yang Yanzheng again tomorrow. Let's sell Xiaoyao Wu back to the Chu family. We can't let my father just pluck the fruit."

"We can take a loss on the price—but I fear Chu Er won't want to get involved in my family's affairs."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "I can write to Chu Er myself. She'll buy it back at the original price—she's no coward. But this won't solve anything."

"Old Five, more or less business doesn't matter—but enduring this humiliation forever? Today he plants an accountant in Xiaoyao Wu, tomorrow he reaches into Lan Yang Village—what then?"

"We can't give up Xiaoyao Wu. If this puts you in a bind, let's split the business—amicably, and part ways."

Ma Wu fell silent for a long while, then looked up: "Old Seven, I'll follow your lead."

Li Banfeng smiled: "Tomorrow, speak to that accountant once—just once—ask him to leave."

PS: What if the accountant refuses?

(End of Chapter)