Chapter 298: Shadow Play

In Xiaoyao Wu, Li Banfeng patiently explained the events to Ma Wu: "You were preparing to ambush Ling Miaoying at the Lu household, but Ling Miaoying instead ambushed Xiaoyao Wu —that's taking advantage of vulnerability, luring the tiger away from the mountain, and feinting east while attacking west. Do you understand?"

Ma Wu nodded: "I understand."

"But he didn't expect me to be guarding Xiaoyao Wu —I caught him off guard and seized him. You follow that, right?"

Ma Wu nodded again: "I follow."

Li Banfeng said: "So, can you explain this clearly to Qiu Zhiheng and the others?"

Ma Wu shook his head: "I can't explain it clearly."

"How could you not explain it clearly?"

"Old Seven, let's be reasonable—what cultivation base does Ling Miaoying have? What methods does he use? His mind is meticulous. How could he be ambushed so easily?"

"The Lu family sent so many people, yet none could kill him. How could you just casually ambush and kill him?"

Li Banfeng also felt the combat power aspect was indeed hard to explain.

First, Ma Wu couldn't describe Li Banfeng's cultivation base.

Second, though Li Banfeng had a cultivation base of six plus five, defeating Ling Miaoying involved a fair bit of luck.

"Ling Miaoying wasn't killed by me alone—someone helped. But this person's identity is special; I can't reveal him lightly. Technically, he shouldn't even have come here." Li Banfeng spun a quick lie to stall Ma Wu.

To his surprise, Ma Wu took it seriously: "Was it a master from Xin Di?"

Xin Di? What did that have to do with it?

But as long as Ma Wu accepted it, it was fine.

"Yes, it was a master from Xin Di—a local deity, not one of the two we know. This local deity had a grudge against the Ling family and took this chance to kill Ling Miaoying. He helped us, and removed a thorn from his own side. He doesn't want his name revealed, but I can quietly tell you..."

Li Banfeng planned to make up a random name to fool Ma Wu—Xin Di had so many territories; Ma Wu couldn't possibly verify them all.

But Ma Wu waved his hands frantically: "Don't say it! Don't tell me! If he doesn't want his name revealed, don't say it—otherwise he might retaliate against us later."

Li Banfeng admired Ma Wu's nature.

Li Banfeng helped Ma Wu refine a few more details, and gradually Ma Wu pieced it together: "I'll tell Monkey Qiu the full story. I'll present this head as a grand gift—he'll find it useful!"

Li Banfeng smiled: "Then it's in your hands!"

Ma Wu returned to the dance hall and said to Lu Chunying, Qiu Zhiheng, and Tan Fu: "Brothers, Sister Chunying, please come with me to another private room."

The three were stunned, not understanding Ma Wu's intent.

They were already in a private room—the kitchen had prepared wine and dishes, and they were enjoying themselves. Why switch to another room?

Ma Wu added: "The other private room has better wine and food."

Now they understood.

There was something in the other private room.

The three immediately rose and followed Ma Wu to another room.

The room was also prepared with wine and dishes. Ma Wu dismissed the attendants, then pulled a box from beneath the table and lowered his voice: "Forgive me for spoiling your appetite, but this must be revealed now."

He opened the box—inside lay Ling Miaoying's severed head.

The three froze in shock.

Monkey Qiu remained silent for a long while. Tan Fu asked: "Old Five, where did this come from? Is it a wax statue?"

Ma Wu shook his head: "Brother Tan, touch it."

Tan Fu gently touched it, confirmed its texture, and looked at Monkey Qiu: "It's a real head!"

Qiu Zhiheng asked Ma Wu: "Junyang, what's going on?"

Ma Junyang laid out the lie in full:

"We had some grievances with Ling Miaoying—I'm sure you all know."

Monkey Qiu and Tan Fu knew this well—the conflict centered on shadow plays; the two factions had been competing for years. A few days ago, Ling Miaoying humiliated Ma Wu at the premiere, nearly sparking a brawl.

Ma Wu continued: "Last night, we went to Old Lord Lu's to plan revenge. We feared someone might exploit our absence, so we stationed several masters at Xiaoyao Wu as guards. And sure enough, Ling Miaoying came."

Tan Fu exclaimed: "Ling Miaoying came to Xiaoyao Wu last night?"

Ma Wu nodded.

Tan Fu couldn't comprehend: "He came himself to wreck the place?"

This was the hardest part to explain.

Ling Miaoying hated Ma Wu—inevitably. "Blood Spear Detective" had nearly destroyed "Blood Blade Detective," turning the latter from a cinematic miracle into an art-house film for niche audiences.

But no matter how much Ling Miaoying hated Ma Wu, given his cautious nature and the special nature of last night's event, he would never personally carry out such a reckless act.

Fortunately, Li Banfeng had prepared Ma Wu's explanation: "Ling Miaoying came last night for the film reels."

"I won't hide it from you brothers—my next shadow play is already half-finished. The reels are stored at Xiaoyao Wu. A little editing, and they can be screened."

Monkey Qiu and Tan Fu paused, confused—they didn't understand shadow plays well.

Lu Chunying suddenly cried out: "Good heavens! That was close! If he'd stolen them, the next 'Blood Spear Detective' would've become the Ling family's!"

With a prompter, things became much easier.

Now Monkey Qiu and Tan Fu understood.

They were fighting over this shadow play—just like competing for business.

But was one shadow play worth Ling Miaoying personally acting?

Perhaps it was—"Blood Spear Detective" was hugely profitable, and both Monkey Qiu and Tan Fu knew that.

But Tan Fu still couldn't grasp another point: "What kind of master did you hire to kill Ling Miaoying?"

Ma Wu hesitated: "Not a master we normally encounter."

Tan Fu, seasoned in the martial world, still didn't get it: "Then how do you meet one?"

Ma Wu hinted: "You need to find the local overseer."

Tan Fu was baffled: "Which local overseer?"

In Green Water Bay, he knew every local boss.

Monkey Qiu stopped Tan Fu, signaling him to drop the question.

He caught Ma Wu's implication—the overseer wasn't a local boss, but a local deity.

In Pu Luo Province, few cultivators had dealings with local deities—but Monkey Qiu was one of them, and he was close to several.

If Ma Wu had hired a master through a local deity, this could not be casually revealed—neither speaker nor listener would benefit.

Ling Miaoying's cause of death was now explained. Next came the matter of the head.

Monkey Qiu said to Ma Wu: "Junyang, I have a use for this—big use. Name your price—I'll buy it."

Ma Wu shook his head: "Brother Qiu, I brought this to you to give it to you. If you speak of buying, we'd be strangers."

Qiu Zhiheng shook his head: "I never ask for favors without payment. Just name your price."

Ma Wu had indeed considered this—he'd discussed it with Old Seven: "My business with Old Seven at Heishi Slope has just begun. We haven't opened many channels yet."

Qiu Zhiheng glanced at Lu Chunying.

Lu Chunying said: "In a couple days, I'll go with Brother Qiu to Heishi Slope—I'll learn the business ways."

Tan Fu inwardly praised her—she understood things without being taught.

The deal was settled. They resumed drinking.

Ma Wu slipped away and hurried to inform Li Banfeng—but when he entered the room, Li Banfeng was gone.

Li Banfeng had returned to Suishenju and was fast asleep in bed.

He'd run all night and fought a fierce battle with Ling Miaoying—he was drained and needed deep rest to recover.

His wife was also asleep. After consuming Ling Miaoying, she was gathering strength; once awake, she'd take Li Banfeng to the sixth level.

Honglian had devoured Ling Miaoying's corpse, and Wu Decheng's corpse had also been refined—yielding over eighty Xuan Chi Pills.

Honglian had once again burst Xuan Chi Pills, which greatly displeased Li Banfeng.

If Ling Miaoying's corpse also produced Xuan Chi Pills, Li Banfeng would have a serious talk with Honglian.

But these weren't the focus. The focus was Suishenju's current state.

Why had it suddenly appeared at Heishi Slope? It should follow the key—why had this trait changed?

Li Banfeng couldn't understand it, and he was worried.

What if one day, while inside Suishenju, I thought intensely of an outer province—could Suishenju directly return there?

Then how would I get back to retrieve the key?

Or worse—has Suishenju already changed its rule? Could I now carry the key inside it?

This thought lingered in Li Banfeng's mind for a long time.

In over a year in Pu Luo Province, one of Li Banfeng's greatest fears was the key.

Every time he entered Suishenju, a hidden dread lingered—he left his key outside.

His key had been stolen by a black bear, snatched by insects, picked up by Chu Er.

If he could carry the key with him at all times, this greatest threat would vanish.

Just before sleep, Li Banfeng stood at Suishenju's entrance holding the key for a long while—but he ultimately didn't bring it inside.

The Peddler had repeatedly warned him: never bring the key into Suishenju, or you'll be trapped inside.

Even if Suishenju had changed, would this iron rule change too?

Li Banfeng dared not gamble.

Moreover, he still couldn't understand why Suishenju had changed.

Who could tell him the answer?

As far as Li Banfeng knew, there were three people.

One was the Train Eunuch—he was in Neizhou, and Li Banfeng had no way to ask him.

There was also a peddler; finding him wasn't too hard, since his movements followed a pattern.

But would the peddler be willing to speak?

There was another person who might not know all the details, but certainly knew part of them, because Suishenju got along well with her and cooperated smoothly.

Would she tell me the truth?

As he pondered, Li Banfeng felt his consciousness gradually grow hazy.

He looked at Meng De on the wall and said, "Let me have a good dream."

Meng De nodded and played a soothing melody, sending Li Banfeng to sleep.

The moment Li Banfeng fell asleep, the glove silently slipped into the second room.

The third room was off-limits—it was too sinister; it had swallowed a perfectly good pair of iron rulers.

The second room held more magic treasures—the pendulum, gourd, and teapot were all there—so the glove crept into the fourth room.

Tang Dao was sleeping in the fourth room, so the glove moved on to the fifth room.

The fifth room was empty; the glove exhaled in relief and spat out the projector.

"A fine thing!" the glove exclaimed. "A truly fine thing!"

Click~

Rustle-rustle-rustle~

The projector's winding spring suddenly began to turn, and the lens cover opened.

Only then did the glove realize that inside the palm-sized projector was a candle.

The candle had been burning all along—and still hadn't gone out.

As the spring turned, an image appeared on the wall; with no other light source in the room, the image was strikingly clear.

"My heavens…" the glove gasped.

In the image, Ling Miaoying walked toward the glove.

The glove tried to flee, but the projector suddenly shifted its angle.

Ling Miaoying adjusted her direction accordingly, perfectly blocking the glove's escape.

…

Li Banfeng was dreaming peacefully in bed; in the dream, he stood on the deck of a passenger ship, quietly feeling the sea breeze beneath the setting sun.

His wife whispered softly, "Husband, this view is so beautiful."

Li Banfeng held up an oil can and said, "Wife, this view isn't bad either."

His wife scolded playfully, "Is this place even appropriate?"

"Perfectly appropriate! Why wouldn't it be?"

"Husband, be careful—don't let anyone see."

The oil was applied, and the phonograph was ready.

The glove let out a wail, waking Li Banfeng.

"Save me!"

This damned thief—what the hell is he yelling about now?

Li Banfeng followed the sound to the fifth room; as soon as he opened the door, he was startled.

There, Ling Miaoying gripped the glove, staring at Li Banfeng from inside the room.

The glove struggled as it shouted at Li Banfeng, "Master, I've been utterly loyal to you—don't you dare leave me to die!"

PS: Banfeng dreamed of oil.

(End of Chapter)