Chapter 277

After Duan Shaoxia calmed down, Qiu Zhiheng had Tan Fucheng explain the full story in detail.

Tan Fucheng first clarified one thing: "Chief Qiu, this is not my fault. When the eldest young master came to me, the first thing he asked was who the head of the Lu family was.

I am a member of the Lu family and must listen to the head of the family; I had no choice in this matter."

Duan Shaoxia wept incessantly, while Monkey Qiu remained calm and asked: "How did you make contact with He Haiqin?"

"The connection was made by the eldest young master. I don't know the details; I heard it was for the sake of his son, He Jiaqing."

"Did He Haiqin make a move tonight?"

Tan Fucheng shook his head: "I trapped the old master, and the eldest young master prepared to do it himself. He didn't want us watching. The second young master and I stood at the entrance of the alley, and He Haiqin stood by the wall.

I don't know how it happened, but the eldest young master's body suddenly shattered."

"Shatter-Desolation Sword?"

"I have never seen the Shatter-Desolation Sword, but the eldest young master did indeed have a sword in his hand at the time. After the second young master rushed over, he took that sword and wanted to stab himself with it. I saw that he seemed to be controlled by someone, so I used a technique to save him."

"What means were used to control him? A thought-cultivation technique?"

Tan Fucheng pondered for a moment: "I can't tell, but I suspect the eldest young master died the same way."

Monkey Qiu gritted his teeth and said: "Why did you have to call He Haiqin?"

Tan Fucheng said: "The eldest young master said that with the help of the eldest master of the He family, we could defend against the old master's ambush and ensure nothing would go wrong. Chief Qiu, this really isn't my fault."

While they were talking, a subordinate went up the stairs, and Monkey Qiu opened the door and asked: "What is it?"

"The old master is here!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Shaoxia wanted to rush out of the room: "I'll fight him to the death!"

Monkey Qiu closed the door and blocked Duan Shaoxia: "Madam, you cannot act recklessly; you must not see him."

"What do I have to fear from him? At worst, I'll just lose this life!"

"Madam!" Monkey Qiu shouted angrily, "This is a matter of life and death; you must listen to me!"

Duan Shaoxia's eyes were bloodshot as she sat back in her chair. Monkey Qiu said to Tan Fucheng: "Who saw you bring the second young master back today?"

"A few servants and a few subordinates."

"Keep these people under guard. Do not let them leave the residence for the next few days. Do not make things difficult for them, and do not let the situation in the house fall into chaos."

Tan Fucheng took the group to the small building next to the main residence and settled them in.

Monkey Qiu straightened his clothes and went outside the door. Seeing Lu Maoxian, he bowed as usual and said: "Old Master, it is so late, why have you come?"

"Little Qiu, you still recognize me as an elder and still call me Old Master. Now that I have come, are you going to make me stand at the door?"

Qiu Zhiheng smiled: "Madam has gone to sleep, and it is not convenient for me to take you to the main residence. Why don't you sit at my place first?"

"You say it as if I have lost my manners. I came today to see my two grandsons. You call them both to your small building, and I will say two words and leave."

"You have come at an inconvenient time. The two young masters said today they wanted to go to Hai Chi Ridge and left by train at noon."

"Hai Chi Ridge?" Lu Maoxian sneered, "How did I hear they were still in Green Water City? Little Qiu, don't play word games with me. There are some things you know clearly; let them come out and see me immediately."

"Old Master, I truly do not understand the matter at hand. The two young masters are not at home, and you insist on seeing them now. Isn't this making things difficult for me?"

Lu Maoxian darkened his face and said: "Is it not allowed for me to make things difficult for you?"

Behind Lu Maoxian followed dozens of people. Monkey Qiu recognized some of them, and among those he recognized, not a single one had a cultivation base lower than the third layer.

Qiu Zhiheng remained calm: "In this place, it truly is not allowed for you to make things difficult for me!"

"You have a big mouth."

"You might as well try!"

Monkey Qiu raised his voice slightly, and the entire residence, from the front gate to the backyard, emitted a sound.

This was to tell Lu Maoxian that all the subordinates in the residence were in position.

For a moment, Lu Maoxian really wanted to take his men and charge in.

But seeing the expressionless Monkey Qiu, Lu Maoxian felt a bit intimidated.

After Lu Dongliang went missing, the Lu family's elixir room was under Monkey Qiu's control.

Lu Maoxian had no idea how many elixirs this kid had consumed or what his current cultivation base was.

"Little Qiu, your temper is getting bigger and bigger. Since the two children are not at home, let tonight's matter be as it is.

I came just to tell them one thing: I have invited a few famous actors to the house to perform a few private shows. If they still respect me as their great-uncle, they should come to my place and sit for a while to support me."

Monkey Qiu said: "When the two young masters return, I will certainly pass on the message."

Lu Maoxian nodded and took his men away.

Walking on the road, Lu Maoxian felt a tangle of emotions.

Why didn't I dare to attack?

What am I afraid of from a butler?

Why is this Monkey Qiu so difficult to deal with?

It doesn't matter. I'll wait a few days, gather more men, and come back. I'll see what other methods he has to put me off!

Monkey Qiu returned to the mansion and entered Lu Yuanhai's bedroom.

Lu Yuanhai lay on the bed, his features crooked and twisted, showing no signs of improvement.

The physician shook his head: "Butler Qiu, I am truly sorry, we cannot identify the illness."

These physicians wanted to leave, but Monkey Qiu stopped them: "I must trouble you all to stay here for a few days."

The physicians said in a panic: "Butler Qiu, what do you mean by this?"

"Rest assured, Qiu will not make things difficult for you all; we will double the compensation for your expenses during these days." Qiu Zhiheng did not say more to the physicians and directly ordered his men to settle them in the guest rooms.

He found a medicine bottle, used a small spoon to scrape some skin flakes from Lu Yuanhai's face, took some saliva from the corner of his mouth, and put them away.

He found Tan Fucheng and instructed: "Brother, until I return, the affairs of the residence are left to you."

Tan Fucheng was in a difficult position; he had his own territory and business and did not usually stay at the mansion.

But except for him, Qiu Zhiheng could not trust anyone else right now, so Tan Fucheng had to reluctantly agree.

Qiu Zhiheng also instructed Duan Shaoxia: "During these days, try not to see Lu Maoxian. As long as you don't leave the residence, he won't have the guts to break in."

Duan Shaoxia grabbed Monkey Qiu's hand: "Zhiheng, where are you going? You cannot abandon the two of us!"

"Madam, I am going to Medicine King Gully. I must find a way to cure the young master's illness.

Lu Maoxian is easy to deal with, but be extremely careful of He Haiqin; he is the truly ruthless one.

If you suffer a loss in business matters, do not argue with him."

He Haiqin returned to his residence, sat in the dining room, and gnawed on a lamb chop.

He Yuxiu entered the dining room and asked: "Haiqin, is that old thing Lu Maoxian dead yet?"

He Haiqin shook his head: "No, I missed. He had helpers by his side, and I even suffered a minor injury."

"You're injured? Hurry and call a physician to take a look."

"No need, it's just a superficial wound; eating a bit more will make up for it."

He Yuxiu sighed: "I told you that you should have brought more men."

He Haiqin put down the lamb chop, wiped his mouth, and said: "Bring who? Can this matter be known to others?"

"Bring me! Do you still not trust your sister?"

"If both of us run into trouble, who will manage the family affairs?"

He Yuxiu smacked her lips and said: "That's why I told you to call the third brother back; if we run into trouble, we'll have someone to support us!"

"The third brother cannot come back; he still has to watch over Jiaqing. Jiaqing is not lightly injured, especially that hand; the injury is quite severe."

He Yuxiu was stunned: "Is Jiaqing's hand injured? Why don't I remember the third brother mentioning it?"

"The third brother didn't mention it?" He Haiqin drank a bowl of wine in one gulp, "Anyway, I saw it; his left hand was injured to that extent, it didn't even look like his own."

After finishing, He Haiqin picked up the lamb chop and continued to gnaw away.

He Yuxiu felt He Haiqin was a bit strange; when speaking of He Jiaqing's injury, he didn't seem to feel much heartache, and even seemed a bit resentful.

Li Banfeng sat in the Suishenju, looking at a pile of Profound Scarlet Pills in front of him, feeling troubled.

The previous broken cocoon (Cong Shixiang) had refined a lotus seed, which had not burst for a long time after being peeled.

Today, the lotus seed burst open.

Back then, the ninth-layer Lu Dongliang had been refined into over eighty Golden Origin Pills.

This broken cocoon's cultivation base was close to the tenth layer, and Li Banfeng estimated it should refine at least around a hundred.

As a result, no Golden Origin Pills were refined, but over nine hundred Profound Scarlet Pills were.

Li Banfeng did not eat this stuff; the cultivation growth was too slow, and the elixir poison was no less than that of the Golden Origin Pills.

Was Red Lotus doing this on purpose?

Fortunately, the quantity of Golden Origin Pills was sufficient, enough for Li Banfeng to eat until the eighth layer, but what were these remaining Profound Scarlet Pills for?

Give them out as bonuses.

Ma Wu was his own brother and listened to Li Banfeng in everything. Every time they made money, Li Banfeng took the lion's share, so he couldn't treat him poorly regarding elixirs.

Li Banfeng first gave him twenty: "Eat them slowly, and pay attention to detoxifying."

Ma Wu had his own sense of proportion.

Others received from one to ten, rewarded according to their merits.

Zuo Wugang, Zhen Jincheng, and Cao Zhida were all familiar with elixirs and knew the dosage; needless to say, the scolding woman and A-Qin were both people with experience.

Bai Qiusheng and Yuwen Qi were both first-layer literary cultivators who had never eaten such good elixirs, but that didn't matter; they were both cautious people, and before eating the elixirs, they first asked Ma Wu for methods to neutralize the elixir poison.

When it came to Little Xiao Chuanzi and Little Xiao Genzi, trouble arose.

Little Xiao Chuanzi got ten elixirs and was so excited that he ate three at once, immediately collapsing in the room. If Ma Wu hadn't discovered it in time, his life would have been lost.

Little Xiao Genzi also got ten elixirs, but he didn't eat a single one and returned them to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng didn't understand: "Why don't you eat them?"

Little Xiao Genzi hugged his bucket and puffed out his chest: "I heard them say that after eating these elixirs, one has to lie down for at least a day. What about my cultivation?"

"It's not like one day makes a difference, right?"

Xiao Genzi shook his head: "Not even one day can be delayed!"

When he first entered the Daoist gate, the peddler had once instructed Little Xiao Genzi that a metal cultivator who had reached a certain level had to carry the bucket for eight hours every day.

Little Xiao Genzi carried it for twenty-four hours a day, regardless of cold or heat, and had never delayed it once.

Except for eating and sleeping, Little Xiao Genzi searched everywhere for materials and carefully prepared the metal juice. Li Banfeng had never seen anyone as hardworking as him.

"Xiao Genzi, put the bucket down first!"

Li Banfeng advised earnestly, "Cultivation cannot be delayed, but you must also eat the elixirs, otherwise you'll be doing a disservice to your great talent."

Little Xiao Genzi thought about it and finally accepted the elixirs: "It won't be too late to eat them after I find a suitable place."

The suitable place he mentioned couldn't be the outhouse, could it...

Li Banfeng didn't dare to ask more.

The Qing Shou Society no longer bothered the cinema, and the matter of "Blood Gun Detective" was basically resolved.

Ma Wu took the opportunity to contact local merchants for stone and coal business; he was an expert in this, and Li Banfeng didn't need to worry.

A few days later, the business was basically finalized, and everyone prepared to return.

The mission of "Night Fragrance" had been completed, and there was no need to continue publishing newspapers and magazines; it was time for Bai Qiusheng and Yuwen Qi to go back.

But they were unwilling to go back.

Bai Qiusheng said: "Brother Seven, when we brothers were suffering in Black Stone Slope, we dreamed of leaving this place, but now I don't want to leave; we want to keep 'Night Fragrance' running."

Zuo Wugang said: "After we leave, how will you deal with the local gangs? We've offended quite a few of them."

Bai Qiusheng smiled: "Don't worry, the brand of 'Night Fragrance' is still there. We brothers will deal with them first, and if we can't handle it, we'll ask Brother Seven for help."

Yuwen Qi said: "Brother Seven, don't worry, this is your business; we will turn over all the money earned, just give us some wages."

"That's not how business is done," Li Banfeng shook his head, "Let's split it three-three-three-one; three parts for me as profit, three parts for you to keep, three parts for wages for the subordinates, and one part left for emergencies."

The matter was settled, and Bai Qiusheng and Yuwen Qi were extremely grateful.

Ma Wu took his men back to Green Water City, but Li Banfeng and Xiao Chuanzi did not leave.

Xiao Chuanzi wanted to continue his cultivation in Black Stone Slope, and the stone and coal business also needed someone to look after it.

Li Banfeng wanted to wander around Black Stone Slope properly.

He liked Black Stone Slope; he liked the character of the people here.

There was also a place he really wanted to go; he wanted to see what the new land here looked like.

PS: The new land here has a train!

(End of chapter)