Chapter 298: Shadow Play

In Carefree Wharf, Li Banfeng patiently explained the whole affair to Ma Wu: "You lot were planning to ambush Ling Miaoying at the Lu family, but Ling Miaoying ambushed our Carefree Wharf instead. That's called striking at an empty house, that's called luring the tiger off its mountain, that's called feinting east to strike west. Understand?"

Ma Wu nodded: "Understood."

"But he didn't expect me to stay behind and hold down Carefree Wharf. When he struck, he wasn't on guard, and I caught him red-handed. You can follow that part, right?"

Ma Wu nodded again: "I can follow it."

Li Banfeng said: "So when you explain this to Hou Zi Qiu and the others, you should be able to make it clear, right?"

Ma Wu shook his head: "Can't make it clear."

"How could it not be made clear?"

"Seventh Brother, let's be reasonable here. What cultivation, what methods does Ling Miaoying have? The man's mind is meticulous — how could he be ambushed that easily?

So many people from the Lu family went after him and still couldn't kill him, yet you just casually ambushed him once and took him out?"

Li Banfeng also felt that the combat-power side of things really wasn't that easy to explain.

First, Ma Wu couldn't make clear Li Banfeng's cultivation.

Second, although Li Banfeng had a cultivation of six plus five, defeating Ling Miaoying also had an element of sheer luck.

"Ling Miaoying definitely wasn't taken out by me alone — someone helped out in the middle. But this person's identity is special, and I can't just casually reveal them. Logically speaking, they shouldn't have even come to our place." Li Banfeng casually spun a lie to fob Ma Wu off for the moment.

He didn't expect Ma Wu to take it seriously: "Was it a master from the New Land?"

New Land? What does this have to do with the New Land?

But as long as Ma Wu could accept it, it wasn't a bad idea.

"It really was a master from the New Land — a local earth god, and not one of the two we're familiar with. This earth god had some grudge with the Ling family, and seized the chance to kill Ling Miaoying. You could say it helped us out, and also removed a thorn in his own side. This earth god doesn't want to reveal his name, but I can quietly tell you…"

Li Banfeng planned to just make up some random name and trick Ma Wu with it — there were so many regions in the New Land, Ma Wu couldn't possibly verify each one.

He didn't expect Ma Wu to wave his hands repeatedly: "Don't say it, don't tell me. If the man doesn't want to reveal it, then don't say it, or he might take revenge on us later."

This was exactly the temperament he admired in Ma Wu.

Li Banfeng helped Ma Wu smooth over a few more details, and Ma Wu gradually sorted out his train of thought: "I'll tell Hou Zi Qiu the whole story from beginning to end, and present this head as a generous gift to him. In his hands, this thing is bound to be useful!"

Li Banfeng smiled: "Then I'll leave it to you!"

Ma Wu returned to the dance hall and said to Lu Chunying, Hou Zi Qiu, and Tan Fucheng: "Two elder brothers, Sister Chunying, please come with me to a private room."

The three were taken aback, not understanding what Ma Wu meant.

Right now they were already in a private room, and the back kitchen had all the food and drink prepared. The three were eating and drinking, quite comfortable — why switch to another private room?

Ma Wu added one more line of explanation: "The other private room has better food and drink."

This time they understood.

There was something in the other private room.

The three quickly rose and followed Ma Wu to the other private room.

That private room also had food and drink prepared. Ma Wu waved away the idle onlookers, pulled out a box from under the table, lowered his voice, and said to the three: "Don't blame Ma for spoiling everyone's appetite, but this thing has to be brought out right now."

With that, Ma Wu opened the box, and inside lay Ling Miaoying's head.

The three were instantly stunned.

Hou Zi Qiu was silent for a long while. Tan Fucheng, who cultivated reverence, asked: "Fifth Brother, where did this thing come from? Is it a wax figure?"

Ma Wu shook his head: "Brother Tan, feel it for yourself."

Tan Fucheng lightly touched it, confirmed the texture, and said to Hou Zi Qiu: "It's really a human head!"

Hou Zi Qiu asked Ma Wu: "Junyang, what on earth is going on?"

Ma Junyang told the tall tale in full detail:

"We had some grudge with Ling Miaoying before — I'm sure you all know that too."

This matter, both Hou Zi Qiu and Tan Fucheng knew about. The grudge mainly revolved around shadow plays; the two families had always been competing head-to-head in shadow plays. A few days ago, Ling Miaoying had shown up at the premiere to embarrass Ma Wu, and the two groups had nearly come to blows.

Ma Wu went on: "Last night when we went to Old Master Lu's place to plan our revenge, we were worried someone might take advantage of the opening, so we deliberately added defenses and invited several masters to hold down Carefree Wharf. We didn't really expect Ling Miaoying to actually show up."

Tan Fucheng said in astonishment: "Ling Miaoying came to Carefree Wharf last night?"

Ma Wu nodded.

Tan Fucheng couldn't quite grasp it: "He came to Carefree Wharf personally to wreck the place?"

This was the hardest part to explain.

Ling Miaoying hating Ma Wu was inevitable — "Blood Gun Detective" had nearly destroyed "Blood Blade Detective," turning "Blood Blade Detective" from a miracle in shadow-play history into an art-house film suited only for niche appreciation.

But no matter how much Ling Miaoying hated Ma Wu, given his cautious temperament, and given how special last night was, Ling Miaoying would absolutely never have come in person to wreck the place.

Fortunately, Li Banfeng had prepared a ready explanation for Ma Wu: "Ling Miaoying came last night for the shadow-play film reel.

I won't hide it from you two elder brothers — I've already shot more than half of my next shadow play, and the reel is stored at Carefree Wharf. Take it, do a little editing, and it can be released."

Hou Zi Qiu and Tan Fucheng were stunned for a moment — they didn't know shadow plays all that well.

Lu Chunying suddenly cried out: "My heavens, that was close! If he'd stolen it, the next 'Blood Gun Detective' would have become the Ling family's!"

With a straight man feeding the lines, things became much easier to handle.

This time Hou Zi Qiu and Tan Fucheng understood too.

So what they were fighting over was this shadow play — it was just like snatching business.

But was a single shadow play worth Ling Miaoying coming in person?

Perhaps it was — after all, "Blood Gun Detective" made a lot of money, and both Hou Zi Qiu and Tan Fucheng knew that.

But Tan Fucheng still couldn't figure out another thing: "What kind of masters did you hire, to be able to kill Ling Miaoying?"

Ma Wu pondered for a moment and said: "Not the kind of masters we usually run into."

Tan Fucheng, a seasoned hand, still didn't get what Ma Wu meant: "Then how would one go about meeting them?"

Ma Wu said obliquely: "You'd have to go through the local earth god's steward."

Tan Fucheng felt completely lost: "Which local earth god's steward are you talking about?"

As long as it's within Green Water Bay, there's not a single local boss on any territory that Tan Fucheng doesn't know.

Hou Zi Qiu stopped Tan Fucheng, signaling him not to ask any more.

He caught the unspoken meaning in Ma Wu's words — the Zhang Guanshi Ma Wu mentioned wasn't a local boss, but a Land God.

In Puluo Province, very few cultivators had dealings with Land Gods, but Hou Zi Qiu was one of them; his relations with several Land Gods were extremely close.

If Ma Wu had invited these experts through a Land God, this matter absolutely could not be casually leaked to others — no good would come to the one who spoke, nor to the one who listened.

Ling Miaoying's cause of death could be considered explained; next, it depended on how Ren Tou would be dealt with.

Hou Zi Qiu said to Ma Wu: "Ma Junyang, this thing is useful to me — very useful. Name your price, I'll buy it."

Ma Wu shook his head: "Brother Qiu, I brought this thing to you precisely to give it to you. If we talk about buying, that would make us strangers."

Qiu Zhiheng shook his head: "I never ask favors for nothing. Just name your price."

Ma Wu actually had an inclination — he had discussed this matter with Li Banfeng: "My business with Old Seven at Black Stone Slope has only just started; some connections haven't been opened yet."

Qiu Zhiheng looked at Lu Chunying.

Lu Chunying said: "In a couple of days, I'll go to Black Stone Slope with Brother Qiu — just the chance to learn a bit about doing business."

Tan Fucheng sighed in admiration inwardly — this girl, some things she just knows without being taught.

Once the matter was settled between them, they went back to drinking.

Ma Wu left midway and hurried to tell Li Banfeng the news, but when he entered the room, he found Li Banfeng gone again.

Li Banfeng had returned to Leaving Leaving Suishenju and was sleeping soundly in bed.

After running the entire previous night and then fighting a vicious battle with Ling Miaoying, Li Banfeng had expended too much; he needed a good sleep to recover.

His wife was also sleeping soundly. Having consumed Ling Miaoying, she was gathering her strength and would take Li Banfeng up to the sixth floor once she woke.

Did Honglian had eaten Ling Miaoying's corpse, and Wu Decheng's corpse had also been refined, producing over eighty Mystic Blaze Pills.

Did Honglian had once again burst the Mystic Blaze Pills, which left Li Banfeng extremely displeased.

If Ling Miaoying's corpse also burst Mystic Blaze Pills this time, Li Banfeng would need to have a serious talk with Did Honglian.

But none of that was the main point — the main point was Leaving Leaving Suishenju's current state.

Why had it suddenly run off to Black Stone Slope? It was supposed to follow the key — why had its behavior changed this time?

Li Banfeng couldn't figure it out, and was very worried.

Suppose one day, while inside Leaving Leaving Suishenju, I suddenly thought of an outer province — if I focused very intently, could Leaving Leaving Suishenju possibly return directly to that outer province?

Then how would I ever get back to retrieve the key?

Or perhaps Leaving Leaving Suishenju has already changed its trait of following the key, and from now on I can bring the key into Leaving Leaving Suishenju?

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

In over a year in Puluo Province, one of the things Li Banfeng worried about most was the key.

Every time he entered Leaving Leaving Suishenju, there was a faint hidden worry in his heart, because his key was still outside.

His key had been stuck onto by a black bear, had been rolled away by bugs, and had been picked up by Seeing Chu Er.

If he could carry the key on him at all times, this greatest hidden worry would be eliminated.

Just before sleep, Li Banfeng stood at the door of Leaving Leaving Suishenju holding the key for a long time, but in the end he did not bring the key inside.

When the Peddler handed Leaving Leaving Suishenju over to him, he had warned many times: the key must never be brought into Leaving Leaving Suishenju, or one would be trapped inside the house and unable to get out.

Even though Leaving Leaving Suishenju had undergone changes, would this iron rule change along with it?

Li Banfeng didn't dare gamble on it.

Moreover, Li Banfeng couldn't figure out the reason for Leaving Leaving Suishenju's changes either.

Who could tell him the answer?

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

One was Train Eunuch — he was in an inner province, and Li Banfeng had no way to ask him.

Another was the Peddler — finding the Peddler wasn't too hard, because his movements followed a pattern.

But would the Peddler be willing to speak about this?

There was one more person who might not know the full inside story, but would certainly know part of it, because Leaving Leaving Suishenju got along very well with her and cooperated very well.

Would she be willing to tell me the truth?

While pondering, Li Banfeng felt his consciousness gradually blurring.

He looked at the Mengde on the wall and instructed: "Let me have some pleasant dreams."

Mengde nodded, played a soothing melody, and let Li Banfeng fall asleep.

No sooner had Li Banfeng fallen asleep than the Glove silently slipped off to the second room.

The third room was off-limits — that place was too sinister; a perfectly good pair of iron rulers had been eaten by it.

The second room had more treasures — the pendulum, gourd, and teapot were all there — so the Glove secretly went on to the fourth room.

Tang Dao was sleeping in the fourth room, so the Glove ran off to the fifth room.

The fifth room was empty; the Glove let out a long breath and spat out the projector.

"Good stuff!" the Glove exclaimed. "Good stuff indeed!"

Click—

Clatter-clatter-clatter—

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

Only then did the Glove discover that inside the palm-sized projector, there was actually a candle.

The candle had been burning the whole time — and still hadn't gone out.

As the spring turned, an image appeared on the wall; since the room had no other light source, the image was exceptionally clear.

"My heavens…" the Glove drew in a cold breath.

In the image, Ling Miaoying walked toward the glove.

The glove tried to flee, and the projector suddenly changed its angle.

Ling Miaoying changed direction accordingly, cutting off the glove's escape route.

……

Li Banfeng was having a sweet dream in bed. In the dream, he stood on the deck of a passenger steamer, quietly letting the sea breeze blow through him in the afterglow of the setting sun.

His wife said softly, "Husband, what a beautiful scene."

Li Banfeng, holding an oil can, said, "Wife, the scenery here isn't bad either."

His wife pouted, "This place too?"

"Why not? Of course it works!"

"Be careful, husband, don't let anyone see."

The machine oil was all applied, and the phonograph was ready too.

A wail from the glove jolted Li Banfeng awake.

"Save me!"

What is that damn thing yelling about now?

Li Banfeng followed the sound to the fifth room, and the moment he opened the door, he got a fright too.

He saw Ling Miaoying clutching the glove, looking at Li Banfeng from inside the room.

The glove struggled as it shouted at Li Banfeng, "Master, I've been loyal to you — you can't just watch me die!"

PS: Li Banfeng had a dream, and dreamed of oil.

(End of chapter)