Chapter 329: The Peddler

"Seventh Brother, high-layer Craft Cultivators can change their appearance. The woman you caught last time had such cultivation.

It's a pity she died and didn't give her a chance to display it. Next time you catch a live one, let me discuss it with her properly; I definitely won't fail your expectations.

Seventh Brother, Seventh Brother, what are you doing?"

Li Banfeng was reading the newspaper.

He spread the newspapers all over the floor again, looking for news about Tu Shumei.

Ten years ago, Tu Shumei's reputation was indeed not small. There was news about her in the newspapers of Green Water City, and she even acquired two paper mills from the Ma family.

But three years ago, Tu Shumei suddenly went downhill, and the factories were sold off one by one. The newspaper didn't record in detail who they were sold to or what price they were sold for.

After all, this was a newspaper from Green Water City, and Tu Shumei was a wealthy merchant from Black Stone Slope.

Turning back to look at Tu Yinghong's news.

One year ago, Tu Yinghong emerged in Ling Family Shadow Play, filmed several shadow plays in succession, and quickly became a popular movie star.

By the fourth part of "Blood Blade Detective," Tu Yinghong replaced Xiao Xiufei's position, became the female lead, and also became the movie queen of Puluo Continent.

Because "Blood Blade Detective" didn't beat "Blood Gun Detective" in attendance, Tu Yinghong's process of becoming queen wasn't considered outstanding.

The context of the whole matter was sorted out. Tu Shumei's business failed at Black Stone Slope, she sold off her family property, and went to Green Water City to become a movie queen.

But why did she want to be a movie queen?

According to a normal person's way of thinking, as a high-layer Craft Cultivator, even if she left Black Stone Slope, she should have changed to another place to continue opening a factory.

Was it because she had the talent to film shadow plays?

Putting aside age, Tu Yinghong was considered a beauty, but Ling Miaoying didn't lack beauties around him.

According to Ma Wu's statement, Tu Yinghong wasn't too good at acting, and was even inferior to Xiao Xiufei, who came from a singer background.

What did she rely on to become the movie queen?

From business decline to making a fortune in Green Water City, what exactly did she experience during this period?

Li Banfeng asked Bai Qiushu to investigate this matter, but Bai Qiushu didn't quite understand.

At Black Stone Slope, there were countless merchants opening factories, and business success and failure were like daily occurrences. Why care about this matter?

But since it was Seventh Master's instruction, Bai Qiushu naturally didn't dare to be negligent, and he really found the result.

"Seventh Master, Tu Shumei had an accountant named Lü Yuesan who followed Tu Shumei for many years and should know some inside information.

After Tu Shumei sold off her family property, she dismissed him. Lü Yuesan has changed many places over the years, but because his hands and feet weren't clean, he hasn't been able to stay long anywhere.

Two days ago, he was dismissed by his employer again and ran to us to beg for a living. I dealt with him for a few words and let him go home to wait for news."

"Hands and feet weren't clean?"

"The kid relies on accounting methods to take advantage of his employer."

Li Banfeng said: "He has been an accountant for so many years; doesn't he even have any savings?"

Bai Qiushu shook his head: "The kid loves to gamble. He earns some money at the beginning of the month, and within half a month, he gambles it all away.

For the remaining half of the month, he has no food to eat, so he steals from his employer. Once he gets used to stealing, he goes out to gamble again. Who would dare to use such a person?

Ordinary accountants wouldn't dare to talk about their former employers, but this kid doesn't have that kind of integrity. I'll give him a few silver dollars in a while, and I guarantee that whatever you ask him, he will say."

Li Banfeng nodded, and Bai Qiushu had people call Lü Yuesan over.

Lü Yuesan thought Night Fragrance wanted to hire him and arrived at the newspaper office happily.

Hearing the newspaper workers say that Boss Night had come, Lü Yuesan was quite good at handling things. Seeing Li Banfeng, he called him "Boss" with every sentence, as if Li Banfeng had already hired him.

Li Banfeng didn't beat around the bush and asked directly about Tu Shumei. Lü Yuesan heard this—this wasn't hiring him, but finding him to ask about things. He laughed dryly: "You shouldn't ask about this; it's not according to the rules."

Bai Qiushu stuffed five silver dollars to him and said with a smile: "Brother Lü, whatever you said to Boss Night, I don't know anything about it, and there won't be a third person who knows. You can just speak boldly."

After saying this, Bai Qiushu left the room.

Lü Yuesan immediately told the whole story.

"When Tu Shumei's business was at its biggest, she had two paper mills and five printing plants under her hands, and she also did business in porcelain, iron smelting, coal, and ore. At Black Stone Slope, at that time, except for the four great families, the biggest business belonged to Boss Tu."

"Then how did she fall into decline?"

"She didn't fall into decline; the business was always prosperous. It was just that later she bought an item and spent a lot of money, spending all her family property."

"What kind of item did she buy that could spend all that family property?"

Lü Yuesan looked at Li Banfeng and smiled without speaking.

This was wanting money again.

Li Banfeng gave Lü Yuesan another 30 silver dollars.

Lü Yuesan still shrugged his eyebrows, indicating it wasn't enough.

Li Banfeng poured out all the silver dollars in his pocket, together with the Huan State banknotes, and stuffed them all to Lü Yuesan.

Lü Yuesan thanked him repeatedly and then said: "Tu Shumei bought a weapon. Specifically what kind of weapon, I don't know."

Tu Shumei is a Craft Cultivator; what kind of weapon could she not make herself? What kind of weapon was worth her spending all her family property to buy?

No need to think, it was that pair of iron rulers!

"Who did she buy the weapon from?"

"Feng Chongli, a merchant who walks the dark path. Ordinary people don't know him, but I have seen him once!"

"Do you know how to contact him?"

"This is not easy to find; he doesn't have a fixed residence."

"Such a big merchant, no fixed residence?"

Lü Yuesan shrugged his eyebrows and didn't speak again.

Li Banfeng gave Lü Yuesan another 20 silver dollars.

Lü Yuesan still shrugged his eyebrows, indicating it wasn't enough.

Li Banfeng poured out all the silver dollars in his pocket, together with the Huan State banknotes, and stuffed them all to Lü Yuesan.

Lü Yuesan thanked him repeatedly and then said: "He is a merchant with a sect, just like the Peddler, who likes to walk everywhere."

"Just like the Peddler? What sect?"

"I heard Tu Shumei say it; it should be called the Business Cultivator. This sect cultivates by doing business. The more business they do, the higher their cultivation."

Business Cultivator?

Is this the Peddler's sect?

Li Banfeng looked at Lü Yuesan and said: "What else do you know? Name your price, and then tell me everything."

Lü Yuesan asked Li Banfeng for another 50 silver dollars.

Li Banfeng nodded and agreed: "Go to the account to withdraw the money in a while."

"Boss Night, I really don't know where Feng Chongli is, but Feng Chongli has a younger brother named Feng Xincheng, who opened a grocery store at Medicine King Gully's Inner Gully."

Li Banfeng said: "Are you talking about Feng's Grocery Store?"

"Boss Night, you know this place?"

Li Banfeng nodded.

"Then I have nothing more to say."

Li Banfeng asked: "How did you know about these things?"

"There are some circumstances here." Lü Yuesan rubbed his hands and wanted money again.

"It's okay, just name your price."

Lü Yuesan asked for another 50 silver dollars and said to Li Banfeng: "When Tu Shumei first saw Feng Chongli, she took a fancy to that weapon and gave the deposit directly. I am the accountant, so I naturally knew about the money withdrawal.

Later, Tu Shumei sold factories everywhere, but couldn't sell them for a while. Feng Chongli had other business, so he returned the deposit and left Black Stone Slope.

Tu Shumei was anxious and inquired about Feng Chongli's whereabouts everywhere. Tu Boss had been mixing in the path for many years, and her information was really well-informed, so she really found out about Feng Xincheng's matter.

At that time, I went to Medicine King Gully with Tu Shumei and found Feng Chongli through Feng Xincheng. During that period, I helped Tu Boss transfer money from various banks. After the matter was done, Tu Boss disappeared, and I lost my livelihood."

Tu Shumei spent all her savings, bought the iron rulers from Feng Chongli, then changed her appearance, became a movie queen, and turned into Tu Yinghong.

The process was explained clearly, but there was a problem with the matter.

This matter was Tu Shumei's biggest secret. Since this accountant knew about it, why didn't Tu Shumei kill him to silence him?

Was what this accountant said true or false?

Li Banfeng smiled: "Good, what else do you have to say?"

Lü Yuesan shook his head: "Nothing left. Boss Night, whatever I know about the things you asked, I've said it all!"

Li Banfeng stood up and said: "Don't tell anyone about what you said to me today, including the fact that you saw me."

"Don't worry, I will definitely keep my mouth shut!"

"I believe you," Li Banfeng smiled, took out a contract paper, and said, "But you have to sign a contract."

Lü Yuesan was a white lamb who didn't recognize the contract paper. He had signed many contracts and didn't take it to heart. He took a pen, wrote his name, and pressed his thumbprint.

Li Banfeng let him go to the account to withdraw money. Bai Qiushu reminded him: "Seventh Master, should we kill this person?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "I paid for his information. As long as the information he provided is true, there is no reason to kill him, and there will be many things to verify with him in the future."

"I'm afraid he will go out and talk nonsense later."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "He won't be able to say it. If he really dares to talk, he can help me with one more thing."

Lü Yuesan returned to his residence, counted the two hundred-plus silver dollars he got from Night Fragrance twice carefully, and pondered how to live his future days.

This sum of money was not small, enough for him to open a business at Black Stone Slope.

But Lü Yuesan knew that doing business wasn't easy, and he didn't want to spend that effort.

First buy food, then buy clothes. His previous clothes were all pawned, and the set on his body was already infested with lice; it was time to change.

Keep the remaining money for now. In the future, find a suitable game, get back his previous capital, and he wouldn't have to worry for the rest of his life.

He was just thinking about the game when he heard someone knocking on the door.

Opening the door, it was Ai Chixiang from the Qing Shou Society.

Ai Chixiang was a disciple of Tang Fu, an elder of the Qing Shou Society, and a person with very high status at Black Stone Slope. It was just that after being splashed with golden juice by Little Genzi last time, and then beaten up on the ring, his status had clearly dropped quite a bit.

Ai Chixiang said, "I heard you just went to the *Fragrance at Night* newspaper office?"

Lü Yuesan felt a chill in his heart.

How did he know about this?

Given Ai Chixiang's status, it was impossible for him to be keeping tabs on a small fry like Lü Yuesan.

It looked like he had been targeting that Boss Ye for a long time.

Lü Yuesan said without thinking:

"I'm just out of work, so I wanted to find a job at the newspaper office. It turned out they told me they didn't need an accountant, so I didn't find a job."

Ai Chixiang nodded: "Who did you see at *Fragrance at Night*?"

"I saw the person in charge, his name is Bai Qiusheng. You know him too; he came out of Black Stone Slope."

"You only saw him?"

"There were a few others working underneath him, but I didn't remember them."

Ai Chixiang frowned and said: "Tell the truth!"

"I am telling the truth! How would I dare to lie to you!"

Ai Chixiang took out twenty silver dollars and stuffed them into Lü Yuesan's hand: "Do you think I don't know you? Who else did you see? Did you see their boss?"

Lü Yuesan took the silver dollars, gave a dry laugh, and said: "Nothing can be hidden from you, Master Ai. I actually did see their boss once."

"That one surnamed Ye?"

"Yes, everyone calls him Boss Ye."

"What did he want with you?"

Lü Yuesan rubbed his hands and said: "This, I really can't..."

Ai Chixiang took out another twenty silver dollars.

Lü Yuesan felt it wasn't quite enough: "Master Ai, this amount is afraid... afraid... afraid it is..."

While speaking, Lü Yuesan had a coughing fit.

Ai Chixiang was startled and took two steps back.

Lü Yuesan coughed for a long time, a rattling sound coming from his throat, as if he had coughed up a mouthful of phlegm.

When he spat out the phlegm, it was actually a mouthful of rust-colored water.

Ai Chixiang was terrified and turned to leave.

Lü Yuesan clutched his chest, coughing and wheezing incessantly.

He was in too much pain and couldn't help but hammer his chest with his hand.

Bang!

A dull thud.

His hand shattered, and his chest shattered too.

Lü Yuesan was dazed for a moment, then his body collapsed to the ground, scattering into a pile of rust residue.

Ai Chixiang jogged all the way to Tang Peigong's residence.

"Master, the matter has been investigated clearly. The news sent by the spy was correct. That person surnamed Ye really came to Black Stone Slope. Lü Yuesan saw him at the newspaper office."

Tang Peigong was worried the news might be wrong and asked again: "Did you bring Lü Yuesan?"

"I wanted to bring him, but the kid seems to have been poisoned; he was spitting yellow water from his mouth."

Tang Peigong nodded and said: "This person surnamed Ye is Li Qi. He is killing to silence witnesses.

Get the magic treasure; I will send a message to Elder Lu. Are the men all prepared?"

"They have been prepared for a long time."

Tang Peigong said: "Remember Elder Lu's instructions. According to the plan we set, take men to drag Li Qi down; you must not let him leave Black Stone Slope!"

PS: Is Tang Peigong crazy? What does he want to do?

(End of chapter)