Chapter 319: Tribulation Crossing

After settling the covenant matter, Li Banfeng still had to brief Meng Yu on several matters—this territory would now rely on Meng Yu to guard, while Meng Yu's territory would depend on Li Banfeng to lead teams in reclaiming it; they had many issues to resolve together.

Just like the aberrant creatures under Mount Ba's command, these were urgent problems needing resolution.

Li Banfeng made them sign the covenant on the spot, henceforth to obey Meng Yu's orders.

The aberrant creatures were easy enough—they followed whoever gave them orders.

The vine monster and the cook monster, two wandering creatures, were reluctant.

They had struggled for years to reach their current cultivation level, painstakingly earning their status as wandering cultivators specifically to escape the control of local earth gods—yet now Li Banfeng demanded they sign a covenant, and the two hesitated, dragging their feet, refusing to press their fingerprints.

Reluctance? Easy to fix. My wife may be full, but a little extra appetizer won't hurt to shove in.

Li Banfeng stared at the two wandering creatures, smiling: "Truly refuse?"

The two could not see Li Banfeng's face, only the lowered brim of his hat and the faintly upturned corner of his lips.

Before they could respond, Xi Zhao Fu blurted out: "I agree! I'm willing!"

"You?" Li Banfeng shook his head slightly. "You probably won't get the chance."

Before she could finish, Meng Yu twisted her neck from behind.

The other two wandering creatures had no further hesitation—they immediately signed the covenant.

…

In Yuezhou, the Garden Sports Arena, the male group concert had ended over three hours ago, yet many fans still refused to leave.

He Jiaqing waited until three in the morning before sneaking into the arena and descending underground.

After stamping the seal atop his head, He Jiaqing convulsed for a long time—this agony was unbearable.

He did not leave the seal in the cavern but carried it with him, sealed inside its box, then departed the arena.

He Jiaqing had set himself a rule: no more than two strikes in one location within a month.

I'll come back in a few days—though this truly is a good place.

After leaving the arena, He Jiaqing drove to a villa in Yuchong District.

The villa had long been neglected, thick with dust, bedding moldy.

He Jiaqing placed the seal inside a hidden compartment beneath the bed, pulled out an oil brush from his pocket, and brushed twice across the compartment's door—the door vanished.

After securing the seal, He Jiaqing went to the bathroom, stood before the mirror, and first lifted his feet.

Bones cracked; He Jiaqing grew three centimeters taller.

He pressed his palms to his face, loosened his skin, raised his cheekbones, elongated his nasolabial folds, deepened his forehead wrinkles, darkened his complexion…

After this manipulation, He Jiaqing transformed into the appearance of He Haisheng.

Dressed in a gray Zhongshan suit, He Jiaqing carried his suitcase out of the villa, hailed a taxi, and headed for Yuezhou East Station.

Two days later, He Jiaqing arrived in Lüshui City, took a rickshaw to the He Family Manor.

He Haiqin looked in good health; his once bulky frame had thickened several times over.

He was eating lamb in the dining hall when He Yuxiu chuckled: "Little brother, has your cultivation improved? You've already eaten six lambs!"

He Haiqin ignored He Yuxiu, staring at "He Haisheng": "Third brother, why are you back again?"

"He Haisheng" said nothing.

He Yuxiu frowned: "Is there something you can't tell your sister?"

He Haiqin wiped his mouth: "Enough. Come upstairs with me."

He Yuxiu waved her hand: "You don't need to go upstairs—I'm leaving. I'm going to play cards. I'm too lazy to listen to your nonsense!"

He Haiqin grabbed He Yuxiu: "Sister, you can't leave—I have something important to tell you soon."

"He Haisheng" followed He Haiqin upstairs; before "He Haisheng" could speak, He Haiqin guessed his purpose: "Did you find another elixir?"

"He Haisheng" nodded: "This time, twenty pills."

"Where did you find them?"

"Same place as before."

He Haiqin took the elixir box, smiled: "Jiaqing is a good boy, truly a good boy—"

"Third brother, you must take good care of him. I'm sincerely asking you."

"Brother, what are you saying? Jiaqing is my nephew—I care for him too."

He Haiqin counted out ten elixirs and handed them to "He Haisheng": "Brother, take them!"

"Brother, I can't accept these."

"Take them! Jinquan Casino's business is booming—I can't manage it all anymore. It's yours now."

"Brother, what are you trying to do…?"

"Don't ask. You've come back rarely—get your work done, then go to the outer provinces to look after Jiaqing."

"He Haisheng" left.

He Haiqin sat beside He Yuxiu, continued eating lamb, saying between bites: "Sister, let me tell you about our family business."

He Yuxiu blinked: "Why are you telling me this? I don't understand it."

"I'm going on a long journey. From now on, you'll manage the family business."

He Yuxiu was even more confused: "You want me to manage the business? Go ask Third Brother! Why tell me?"

He Haiqin shook his head: "He's not cut out for it."

He Yuxiu laughed: "I've lived this long, and this is the first time I've heard I'm cut out for business. Fine, speak—I'm listening."

…

Leaving the He Family Manor, He Jiaqing went to a residence in Chengdong, wiped his face in the mirror, and transformed into an ordinary-looking man in his thirties.

He donned a long robe and a straw hat, then went to Miaosheng Phonograph Shop.

The earlier turmoil had passed; the shop remained open, but with no customers. Ling Miaosheng sat in the back, dozing as usual. He Jiaqing tapped the counter gently and smiled: "Still doing business?"

Ling Miaosheng lifted his head, studied the man before him, and asked: "Are you buying a phonograph? Which one interests you?"

He Jiaqing shook his head: "None of your stock appeals to me. May I see the inventory in the back?"

Ling Miaosheng stood: "Let's clarify first—are you here to buy, or to seek revenge? If revenge, settle it here."

He Jiaqing smiled: "Do I even know you? Why would I seek revenge on you?"

Ling Miaosheng led He Jiaqing through the back door, opened a room filled with various phonographs.

He Jiaqing scanned each machine, speaking as he looked: "I'm a friend of Miaowen and Miaoying—from the outer provinces."

Ling Miaosheng pointed to a glossy black wind-up phonograph: "This is from Yinggeli —exquisite craftsmanship, flawless sound, but delicate. Requires constant maintenance."

He Jiaqing continued: "Miaowen and Miaoying must have mentioned me—I was like a brother to them."

Ling Miaosheng walked to a silver phonograph: "This is from Che Man. Durable, crisp sound—ideal for piano recordings."

He Jiaqing went on: "Miaowen is gone. Miaoying has vanished. The business can't just be abandoned."

"This one is from Xi Pan. Its sound has sharp edges, less suited for music, but exceptional for human voices."

"Miaosheng, you're the only one I can trust now."

"Sir, are you here to buy a phonograph?"

After a moment of eye contact, He Jiaqing smiled, put on his straw hat, and left the shop.

Ling Miaosheng saw him to the door, then returned behind the counter to nap.

Walking down the street, He Jiaqing sighed helplessly.

This man is impervious to persuasion.

Lao Wan said Ling Miaoying is still alive—but He Jiaqing wasn't sure if he truly was.

But some tasks still needed doing.

…

In a villa outside the city, Wan Jinxian was sipping tea in his study when a servant suddenly brought a chair and sat opposite him, pouring himself a cup.

Wan Jinxian stared, stunned—then the man wiped his face and smiled at him.

"Jiaqing!" Wan Jinxian exclaimed, startled and delighted, then rushed to open the door and glanced around, fearing someone had heard.

"Relax—everyone's asleep," He Jiaqing smiled. "They won't wake before I leave."

Wan Jinxian hurriedly asked: "Why are you back?"

"I missed you, old brother. Came back just to see you."

Wan Jinxian chuckled bitterly: "I'm not a young maiden—why would you miss an old man like me? You've got something urgent, don't you?"

He Jiaqing sipped his tea: "You told me once that Miaoying is still alive. Any news of him lately?"

Wan Jinxian shook his head: "Since he appeared last at Xiaoyao Wud, he hasn't shown his face again."

He Jiaqing set down his teacup: "I just went to the film studio—our movie production has halted."

Wan Jinxian said: "I don't understand the film industry. I asked around—they said they could finish shooting in two more days, but the female lead has vanished."

"You mean Tu Yinghong? Didn't you go look for her?"

"I sent people. They heard she appeared at Xiaoyao Wud too—likely with Ling Miaoying."

He Jiaqing frowned.

He had trusted Ling Miaoying too much before.

Did Ling Miaoying and Tu Yinghong really act together just to target Ma Wu?

Is Ling Miaoying even still alive?

If Ling Miaoying is dead, someone must replace him quickly.

If Ling Miaoying is alive, his actions with Tu Yinghong have clearly slipped beyond He Jiaqing's control.

"Find Tu Yinghong. Get her to finish the film. I can't stay in Pulu Province long—this must be settled quickly."

Wan Jinxian nodded: "I heard Lu Mao kept sending people to cause trouble on set, and your father sent people too—no one knows why Miaoying offended Master He."

He Jiaqing rubbed his chin: "Probably still about the Haichiling business."

"Otherwise, just make the Ling family give back some of Haichiling's profits to your father."

He Jiaqing shook his head: "Don't worry about my father's affairs—they'll be settled in a few days."

……

At the He family mansion, He Haiqin's wife Yan Yulin urged: "Haiqin, that's enough—you've eaten so much already!"

For three full days, He Haiqin ate mutton nonstop, sending out sack after sack of lamb bones.

His face slick with grease, He Haiqin snapped at Yan Yulin: "This is cultivation business—stay out of it. Have the kitchen rotate staff and roast lamb after lamb—don't stop."

"Haiqin, you can't eat any more!"

"You wouldn't understand!" He Haiqin stood up, intending to go to the kitchen himself—but got stuck at the doorway, unable to pass.

Yan Yulin stared at He Haiqin; his original form was now completely unrecognizable.

His massive torso had nearly swallowed his limbs, making his silhouette utterly round.

"Go check the kitchen yourself—I can't go!" He Haiqin growled. Yan Yulin hurried to the kitchen.

The chair was long gone—he sat on the floor and pulled five Jin Yuandan from his pocket.

He had struggled for decades in Puluozhou and had never seen elixirs of such purity.

These were the fine products of Xuan Sheng Honglian.

The world sought Xuan Sheng Honglian for precisely these fine products.

Jiaqing, I know what you're thinking.

You want to give me Jin Yuandan to help me cross Tribulation.

But even if I know, what can I do?

Three times the lifespan.

Who in the world wouldn't want to cross this threshold?

He Haiqin shoved all five elixirs into his mouth at once.

Jiaqing, you've helped me once—I won't shortchange you.

Your aunt knows nothing—easily take the business back from her.

Handle everything from now on.

Waves of poison surged upward; He Haiqin grabbed half a lamb, gnawing and swallowing it whole, forcing the poison down with mutton.

The next morning, urgent shouts jolted Yan Yulin awake.

"Madam, Master is in trouble!"

Yan Yulin rushed to the dining hall—half-solidified lamb fat had pooled across the floor, stretching into the corridor, causing He Yuxiu to slip and fall repeatedly.

When she burst into the dining hall, she saw a massive mound of fat piled against the wall, occupying nearly half the room.

Where did this fat come from?

"Where's Master!" Yan Yulin cried.

A bold servant stepped forward, reached into the fat, groped for a moment, and slowly a human face emerged from the grease.

Though the face was swollen beyond recognition, Yan Yulin still knew the familiar features.

"Master! Master, what happened to you!"

Yan Yulin flung herself beside the mound, clutching He Haiqin's face, wailing in grief.

PS: He Jiaqing was indeed a filial son.

(End of Chapter)