Chapter 329: The Peddler

"Seven, high-level Gong Xiu can alter their appearance; the woman you brought back last time had this level of cultivation.

Too bad she died—never got the chance to let her demonstrate. Next time, bring me a live one, and I'll negotiate with her properly; I won't let you down.

Seven, Seven, what are you doing?"

Li Banfeng was reading a newspaper.

He had spread the paper all over the floor, searching for news about Tu Shumei.

Ten years ago, Tu Shumei was indeed well-known; her name appeared in Green Water City's newspapers, and she even bought two paper mills from the Ma family.

But three years ago, Tu Shumei suddenly declined, selling off her factories one by one; who bought them and for how much, the newspapers didn't record in detail.

After all, these were Green Water City newspapers, and Tu Shumei was a wealthy merchant from Black Rock Hill.

Turn to Tu Yinghong's news instead.

A year ago, Tu Yinghong rose to prominence at Ling Family Studios, starring in several films and quickly becoming a popular movie star.

By the fourth installment of "Blood Blade Detective," Tu Yinghong replaced Xiao Xiufei as the female lead and became the Film Queen of Pu Luo Province.

Since "Blood Blade Detective" didn't outperform "Blood Spear Detective" at the box office, Tu Yinghong's rise to queen wasn't particularly dazzling.

The whole story is clear: Tu Shumei failed in business at Black Rock Hill, sold off her assets, and moved to Green Water City to become a film queen.

But why become a film queen?

Logically, as a high-level Gong Xiu, even if she left Black Rock Hill, she should've opened another factory elsewhere.

Could it be she had a talent for acting?

Setting aside age, Tu Yinghong was beautiful, but Ling Miaoying had no shortage of beauties.

According to Ma Wu, Tu Yinghong wasn't a good actress—even worse than Xiao Xiufei, who started as a singer.

Then how did she become queen?

Between her business collapse and rise in Green Water City, what exactly did she go through?

Li Banfeng sent Bai Qiusheng to investigate. Bai Qiusheng didn't quite understand.

In Black Rock Hill, there were countless merchants running factories; success and failure were as common as meals. Why focus on this case?

But since it was Seventh Master's order, Bai Qiusheng dared not neglect it—and he actually found something.

"Seventh Master, Tu Shumei had an accountant named Lü Yue San who served her for many years—he likely knows something.

After Tu Shumei sold her assets, she fired him. Lü Yue San has moved around a lot, but because he's dishonest, he never stays long.

Two days ago, he was fired again and came here begging for work. I gave him a few words and told him to go home and wait."

"Dishonest?"

"He uses his accounting skills to cheat his employers."

Li Banfeng said: "He's been an accountant for so long—doesn't he have any savings?"

Bai Qiusheng shook his head: "This kid gambles. He earns money at the start of the month, and by mid-month he's lost it all.

For the rest of the month, he's starving, so he steals from his employer. He's gotten so used to it, he steals, then gambles again—who'd hire him?

Most accountants won't talk about their former bosses, but this guy has no morals. I'll give him a few silver dollars—he'll tell you anything you ask."

Li Banfeng nodded. Bai Qiusheng sent someone to bring Lü Yue San over.

Lü Yue San thought Yelai Xiang was hiring him, and arrived at the newspaper office happily.

When he heard the boss of Yelai Xiang had come, Lü Yue San was quick to flatter; he addressed Li Banfeng as "Master" as if he'd already been hired.

Li Banfeng cut straight to the point: he asked about Tu Shumei. Lü Yue San realized this wasn't about hiring—he was being questioned. He laughed awkwardly: "You shouldn't ask this. It's against protocol."

Bai Qiusheng slipped him five silver dollars and smiled: "Brother Lü, whatever you tell Night Boss, I won't know—and no third party will ever hear it. Speak freely."

After speaking, Bai Qiusheng left the room.

Lü Yue San immediately told the whole story.

"When Tu Shumei's business was at its peak, she owned two paper mills, five printing factories, and dealt in porcelain, iron smelting, coal, and ore. In Black Rock Hill, only the Four Great Families surpassed her in business size."

"Then how did she fall?"

"She didn't fall. Her business stayed prosperous. But then she bought something—spent all her fortune on it."

"What could cost that much?"

Lü Yue San looked at Li Banfeng and smiled without speaking.

He wanted more money.

Li Banfeng gave him another thirty silver dollars.

Lü Yue San took the money and lowered his voice: "Tu Shumei bought a weapon. I don't know what kind."

Tu Shumei was a Gong Xiu—what weapon couldn't she make herself? What weapon was worth bankrupting her?

Without thinking—it had to be the iron rulers!

"Who did she buy it from?"

"Feng Chongli—a shadow merchant. Ordinary people don't know him, but I met him once!"

"Do you know how to contact him?"

"Hard to find. He has no fixed residence."

"A merchant this big has no fixed home?"

Lü Yue San raised his eyebrows and fell silent again.

Li Banfeng gave him twenty silver dollars.

Lü Yue San still raised his eyebrows—signaling it wasn't enough.

Li Banfeng emptied his pockets—silver dollars and Hengguo banknotes alike—and shoved them all into Lü Yue San's hands.

Lü Yue San thanked him repeatedly, then said: "He's a merchant of the Dao Gate—like a peddler, he loves to travel."

"Like a peddler? What Dao Gate?"

"Tu Shumei told me—it's called the Merchant Dao. They cultivate through business; the more they trade, the higher their cultivation."

Merchant Dao?

So this was the peddler's Dao?

Li Banfeng looked at Lü Yue San: "What else do you know? Name your price—and tell me everything."

Lü Yue San asked for another fifty silver dollars.

Li Banfeng nodded: "I'll have it paid from the accounts."

"Night Boss, I don't know where Feng Chongli is, but he has a younger brother named Feng Xincheng who runs a general store in Yao Wang Gou Li Gou."

Li Banfeng said: "You mean Feng's General Store?"

"Night Boss, you know this place?"

Li Banfeng nodded.

"Then I have nothing more to say."

Li Banfeng asked: "How did you learn all this?"

"There are some details," Lü Yue San rubbed his hands, again hinting for money.

"Go ahead—name your price."

Lü Yue San asked for another fifty silver dollars and said: "When Tu Shumei first met Feng Chongli, she immediately wanted the weapon and paid the deposit. As her accountant, I handled the payment—I knew.

Later, when Tu Shumei tried selling her factories but couldn't find buyers, Feng Chongli had other business and returned the deposit, then left Black Rock Hill.

Tu Shumei panicked and searched everywhere for Feng Chongli. Having been in the trade for years, her connections were sharp—she found out about Feng Xincheng.

I went with her to Yao Wang Gou, helped her locate Feng Chongli through Feng Xincheng, and transferred the money from various banks. After the deal was done, Tu Shumei vanished—and so did my job."

Tu Shumei spent all her savings to buy the iron rulers from Feng Chongli, then changed her identity and became Tu Yinghong, the film queen.

The sequence is clear—but something's wrong.

This was Tu Shumei's biggest secret. Why didn't she kill Lü Yue San to cover it up?

Is this accountant telling the truth—or lying?

Li Banfeng smiled: "Good. What else do you have to say?"

Lü Yue San shook his head: "That's all, Night Boss. I've told you everything I know!"

Li Banfeng stood up: "What you've told me today—including that you've seen me—don't tell anyone."

"Rest assured—I'll keep my mouth shut!"

"I believe you," Li Banfeng smiled, pulling out a contract paper, "but you must sign it."

Lü Yue San was an ignorant fool—he didn't recognize contracts. He'd signed too many to care. He took the pen, wrote his name, and pressed his thumbprint.

Li Banfeng told him to collect his payment from the accounts. Bai Qiusheng reminded: "Seventh Master, should we eliminate him?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "I paid for his information. If it's true, there's no reason to kill him. Besides, I'll need him to verify things later."

"I'm worried he'll talk after."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "He won't talk. If he dares to speak, he'll help me again."

…

Lü Yue San returned home. He'd received over two hundred silver dollars from Yelai Xiang. He counted them twice, carefully, thinking about his future.

This sum was substantial—enough to start a business in Black Rock Hill.

But Lü Yue San knew business was hard. He didn't want to bother.

First, buy food, then clothes. He'd pawned all his old clothes; the ones he wore now were crawling with lice. Time for a change.

Keep the rest. When I find the right opportunity, I'll recover my old capital—and I'll never worry again.

He was pondering this when someone knocked.

He opened the door—it was Ai Chixiang of the Qing Shou Hui.

Ai Chixiang was a disciple of Tang Pei, elder of the Qingshou Association, a man of considerable status in Heishipo, but after being doused with a bucket of golden excrement last time and then beaten senseless on the fighting platform, his standing had clearly plummeted.

Even after so much time, the stench on Ai Chixiang's body had not yet fully faded; Lu Yuesan wanted to cover his nose, but dared not.

"Master Ai, you sought me…" Lu Yuesan held his breath and struggled to greet him.

Ai Chixiang said: "I heard you just went to the Yelai Xiang newspaper office?"

Lu Yuesan's heart tightened.

How did he know about this?

With Ai Chixiang's status, he could never be watching someone as insignificant as Lu Yuesan.

It seemed he had been watching that Night Boss all along.

Without hesitation, Lu Yuesan said:

"I had no livelihood, so I went to the newspaper office looking for work, but they told me they didn't need a bookkeeper—I didn't get the job."

Ai Chixiang nodded: "Who did you meet at the Yelai Xiang?"

"I met their manager, Bai Qiusheng—you know him, he's from Heishipo."

"Only him?"

"A few underlings too, but I didn't remember their names."

Ai Chixiang frowned: "Tell the truth!"

"I'm telling the truth! How would I dare lie to you?"

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

Lu Yuesan took the silver dollars and gave a forced laugh: "Nothing escapes Master Ai's eyes—I did meet their boss, just once."

"That Night fellow?"

"Yes, everyone calls him Night Boss."

"What did he want with you?"

Lu Yuesan rubbed his hands: "This… I really can't…"

Ai Chixiang pulled out another twenty silver dollars.

Lu Yuesan felt it wasn't enough: "Master Ai, this amount… it's probably… probably…"

As he spoke, Lu Yuesan burst into a fit of coughing.

Ai Chixiang startled, stepping back two paces.

Lu Yuesan coughed for a long time; a gurgling sound came from his throat, as if he'd spat out phlegm.

When he finally spat it out, it was rust-colored fluid.

Ai Chixiang was horrified and turned to flee.

Lu Yuesan clutched his chest, coughing and gasping uncontrollably.

He was in unbearable pain and couldn't help pounding his chest.

Thud!

A dull sound.

His hand shattered. His chest shattered.

Lu Yuesan stared blankly for a moment, then collapsed to the ground, crumbling into a pile of rusted debris.

…

Ai Chixiang ran all the way to Tang Pei's residence.

"Master, the matter is confirmed—the spy's report was correct. That Night man really came to Heishipo. Lu Yuesan saw him at the newspaper office."

Tang Pei, wary of misinformation, asked: "Did you bring Lu Yuesan with you?"

"I wanted to, but the boy seems poisoned—he's spitting yellow fluid from his mouth."

Tang Pei nodded: "That Night man is Li Qi. He's eliminating witnesses."

"Bring the magic treasure. I'll send word to Elder Lu. Are our men ready?"

"Long prepared."

Tang Pei said: "Remember Elder Lu's orders. Follow our plan. Hold Li Qi in place—do not let him leave Heishipo!"

PS: Has Tang Pei gone mad? What is he planning?

(End of Chapter)