Chapter 291: Family Thief

Deep night, Lu Maoxian staggered into the mansion, leaving the steward speechless with shock.

"Master, what happened to you…?"

Lu Maoxian pointed to his cheek, indicating he could not speak, then to his severed arm, signaling for immediate bleeding control.

The steward quickly summoned a physician to treat Lu Maoxian's wounds.

…

In a ward at the Three Institutes of Yuezhou.

While He Haisheng stepped out to smoke, He Jiaqing pinched the button on his chest and asked Ling Miaoying for an update.

Ling Miaoying kept her tone calm as she replied: "Jiaqing, the matter with Lu Maoxian is settled."

"You didn't kill him, did you?"

"No, I cut off one of his arms, stabbed two holes in his face, and killed a few of his men." As she spoke, Ling Miaoying's cheek twitched—he was deeply displeased.

He Jiaqing praised: "Well done. Spread the news of Lu Maoxian's severe injuries. Stay alert these days—watch for anyone coming to cause trouble. I'll arrange covert protection for you."

"Understood."

He Jiaqing severed the connection. Ling Miaoying turned and glanced at the cinema building, a surge of anger rising in his chest.

This cinema building had cost him immense effort and vast sums of money.

He Jiaqing had ordered him to spare Lu Maoxian's life; Ling Miaoying had agreed aloud, but he had no intention of obeying.

For months, whether openly or covertly, in newspapers or film circles, the Lu family had plagued him with trouble—he had long wanted to settle scores with them.

When the Lu family's main line still stood, Ling Miaoying had hesitated. Now that the main line was gone, eliminating Lu Maoxian would topple the Lu family's banner completely.

Then the Lu family would scatter like sand; Ling Miaoying could seize their business—and their status.

At that point, the Ling family would truly be reborn in Puluozhou.

The plan was perfect—but something went wrong.

He had been certain he could kill Lu Maoxian, but at the critical moment, Lin Zhixiao burst out of the building.

Logically, Lin Zhixiao shouldn't have been able to escape so soon—the building was filled with endless people and traps waiting for him.

Yet someone had opened a secret door and let Lin Zhixiao out.

Who was secretly aiding Lu Maoxian?

Several names surfaced in Ling Miaoying's mind, but none could be confirmed.

He had failed to kill Lu Maoxian, yet the cinema building's secrets had been exposed—this enraged Ling Miaoying.

The cinema building must be moved immediately and rebuilt.

The only good news: the outcome matched He Jiaqing's expectations—Ling Miaoying need not offer further explanation.

Lin Zhixiao's corpse still lay at his feet; Lu Maoxian's men remained loyal.

Tu Yinghong stared at the cinema building and said: "He came out from the second floor—I suspect the enemy left some trace."

Ling Miaoying shook his head: "Forget the clues. Move the building first."

Tu Yinghong nodded, pulled two iron rulers from her skirt, measured the distance, then placed them on the ground.

The two iron rulers melted into molten iron, seeping into the earth until they vanished completely.

Tu Yinghong held Ling Miaoying's hand, her voice tender: "I know you're upset, but you promised me you'd spend tonight with me."

"Alright." Ling Miaoying smiled with gentlemanly grace, took Tu Yinghong's hand, and entered the cinema building.

Soon after, the cinema building slowly faded into the night.

…

Inside the Portable Dwelling, Li Banfeng held a photograph from Heishipo, studying it closely.

One photograph could spark many associations; the deeper the associations, the better the cultivation effect.

The phonograph's horn turned softly and asked in a gentle voice: "Husband, you've been staring at this photo so long—what are you planning?"

Li Banfeng replied: "I say I'm cultivating—do you believe me?"

Chit-chit~

"Which sect are you cultivating? Peach Dao?"

Li Banfeng's expression turned serious: "We cultivate conscience."

"Yes, your conscience is quite large, husband. I have a private matter to discuss with you—lean closer."

Looking at the phonograph's glowing horn, Li Banfeng really didn't want to lean in: "Wife, there's no one else here—just speak plainly."

"Husband~" the phonograph pouted, "you just oiled me up—why are you suddenly distant?"

Li Banfeng sighed, set down the photo, and pressed his ear against the horn.

The phonograph whispered: "Husband, I've noticed your physical strength has improved greatly."

Li Banfeng's heart tightened; he turned to the phonograph: "Is that so?"

Could she have discovered his Travel Cultivation?

The phonograph pouted: "Husband, lean closer! If you stay so far, my heart grows cold."

Li Banfeng pressed his ear back to the horn. The phonograph sang slowly: "You said you fought Meng Qian—I never asked for details. Did you… have something with that wretch?"

"No!" Li Banfeng immediately clarified, "I only burned her clothes—never touched her."

"Oh my, husband, I'm not petty. Even if you had, I wouldn't care."

"Hohahaha, truly you don't care?"

"Hehehe, did you really?"

"I said no—don't you believe me?"

"Husband, I believe you, of course. Whatever the reason, your improved physique is good news—I'm thinking of adding another wife for you."

Li Banfeng sat up and gently stroked the phonograph's turntable: "You're so thoughtful, wife. When do you plan to add her?"

This addition was crucial.

After his journey through Neizhou, Li Banfeng had advanced his Travel Cultivation to Level Six, leaving him with ample time—Travel Cultivation now surpassed Residence Cultivation.

This meant Li Banfeng dared not take pills—if Travel Cultivation rose two levels above Residence Cultivation, he would face backlash again.

His wife had voluntarily offered advancement—he naturally wouldn't refuse. He tidied his hair, ready to enter the horn, when his wife stopped him: "Husband, wait a moment. To reach Level Six, we need a medicinal catalyst."

"What catalyst?"

"A fresh soul."

"Easy enough." Greenwater City was full of scum—grabbing one wouldn't be hard for Li Banfeng.

Just as he turned to leave, his wife sang slowly: "Husband, this catalyst isn't just any random one. Since I'm taking you to Level Six, you must bring back a Level Six catalyst."

Li Banfeng returned to her side, lowered his voice to the horn: "Wife, what's the use of a Level Six catalyst?"

She whispered back: "To address an urgent need."

Li Banfeng spoke even more mysteriously: "What urgent need?"

She replied just as mysteriously: "I'm hungry."

If she was hungry, just say so—why mention a catalyst?

Lately he'd bought less food—he felt guilty.

He pinched both small horns: "Wife, hunger's easy—I'll buy groceries. Why are you being picky? Why insist on Level Six or higher?"

The phonograph's voice sounded wounded: "This is critical—low quality won't do!"

What exactly was the urgency?

Before Li Banfeng could figure it out, Hong Ying burst out laughing: "This wicked woman's cultivation has recovered, and so has her appetite. Ordinary lifeforms—ten or eight—barely fill her teeth. To satisfy her, you'll need to put real thought into it. If she's not fed, she can't take you to Level Six. Marrying this wasteful woman—how will you ever afford her?"

The phonograph sniffled twice, unable to defend herself.

Hong Ying spoke truth: the phonograph's appetite had grown, yet she dared not tell Li Banfeng—she'd gone hungry often.

Li Banfeng gently stroked the needle: "Hungry? Why suffer? If you can't find a Level Six ingredient, ordinary ones will do."

The phonograph sniffled: "But that won't advance you."

"Advancement can wait."

The phonograph exhaled a cloud of steam, wrapping around Li Banfeng: "My husband truly cares for me."

"Wife, don't rush—I'll go buy groceries."

Li Banfeng stepped out of the Portable Dwelling, looking to find a scum to discuss prices, when a newspaper vendor caught his eye—he bought a copy of *Ye Lai Xiang*.

Unlike Heishipo, Greenwater City's *Ye Lai Xiang* was relatively conservative, focusing on legitimate news; only its four-page fiction section had any edge.

Greenwater's reporters were well-informed; as soon as the Ling family's paper broke news, *Ye Lai Xiang* followed suit—with the headline: Lu Maoxian Attacked.

"Lu Maoxian was badly hurt—he's a Level Seven Literary Cultivator, right? If I'd encountered him, how perfect!

Such a precious ingredient can't wait for him to come to me—should I place an order at his house first?

But he's surely on high alert now—if I just show up, the price won't be negotiable…"

Li Banfeng was muttering to himself when a man behind him pressed a knife to his spine: "Brother, lend me some cash."

In Puluozhou, quiet alleys always had men like this.

Li Banfeng asked: "How much do you need?"

The man countered: "How much do you have?"

Li Banfeng thought of his wallet: "About two thousand."

Li Banfeng thought about his wallet: "About two thousand or so."

Li Banfeng patted his suit's inner pocket—his wallet was gone.

Li Banfeng patted the inner pocket of his suit—his wallet was gone.

That's strange.

Li Banfeng rarely forgot his wallet; when he came home in the morning, it was still on him, and he hadn't changed clothes today either…

As he pondered, the man behind him grew impatient and prodded Li Banfeng with the tip of his knife: "Where's your money?"

"Come with me to get it."

"Where are you going?" the man panicked.

Li Banfeng suddenly slipped behind the man, seized his neck with one hand, and said: "Don't worry—come with me. I never owe for groceries; I'll pay you in a moment."

He brought the man into the Suishenju, and his wife swallowed the soul whole.

This man had no cultivation base—just as Hong Ying said, that one gulp wasn't even enough to fill a tooth gap.

Changji made no complaint; after all, it was her husband's hard-won purchase. Li Banfeng sat on the edge of the bed, pondering for a long while, then suddenly asked: "Wife, did you wash my clothes today?"

Huh-chi~

"Husband, are my clothes dirty? I'll wash them for you right away."

"The clothes aren't dirty—just missing something," Li Banfeng paused, then added: "Wife, where's that glove?"

"I've kept it. You don't need it yet, husband."

"Bring it to me first."

Changji opened the storage cabinet and lifted a wisp of steam from inside.

The steam rose and fell, as if Changji were sensing its weight.

"Hey, husband, the weight's wrong!" Changji cried out, dispersing the steam—only to find the glove gone.

Li Banfeng idly pulled out a feather duster and glanced around: "We've been robbed!"

PS: Why two iron rulers? Why two?

(End of Chapter)