Chapter 351: The Jiangxiang Gang No Longer Has Luo Zhengnan

"Master Pei, how many years has it been since we last met!" Luo Zhengnan entered the parlor.

"Master Luo, this is my fault—these past few years, the branch has been plagued with scandals, and I never had the chance to pay you a visit."

"What visit? Are you mocking me? When did we become so formal with each other?"

Pei Yuzeng, branch master of the Jiangxiang Gang's Qingyan City branch, was known to those familiar with him by the nickname "Pei One Mouth."

He was a large, sturdy man with well-proportioned features and a friendly face, speaking gently, giving others an instant sense of familiarity.

After a few polite exchanges, both men sat down.

Pei Yuzeng got to the point: "Brother Luo, I've come with urgent business to discuss with you."

Luo Zhengnan quickly dismissed his subordinates and led Pei Yuzeng into the study: "Brother Pei, what's the matter?"

"Something major has happened in our gang—the Boss encountered a deadly enemy in the outer provinces."

Luo Zhengnan froze: "What enemy?"

Whoosh!

Pei Yuzeng suddenly spat a torrent of flame.

Luo Zhengnan, with no reaction at all, was instantly reduced to a pile of ash.

Pei Yuzeng took off his outer robe, rolled it around the room, and collected all the ashes—leaving not a single trace behind.

"Pei One Mouth"—kill without leaving ash—was his signature skill.

This skill was not complicated at all; in truth, it consisted of just three methods.

First, no warning: since his initiation into the Dao, Pei Yuzeng had trained this single technique relentlessly; before striking, his face showed no expression, his body no movement—he might be mid-sentence, mid-meal, or even standing side-by-side with you in the outhouse urinating, and then, without warning, he'd spit fire and send you straight to death.

Second, the flame was extremely fierce: if he didn't strike, he didn't strike at all; once he did, he was certain to reduce his target to ash. Fifth-rank fire cultivators could spit fire, but only Pei Yuzeng had perfected this technique to its utmost.

Third, no loose ends: besides killing the target, Pei Yuzeng harmed nothing else—just as now, not a single book in the study was damaged, not a single scorch mark remained on the walls, not even the smoke's odor was left behind—it had all been absorbed by his robe.

The room looked exactly as it had when he entered, exactly as it did when he left—except that Luo Zhengnan was gone, and nothing else had changed.

This was the pinnacle of simple techniques—but could such a method work on those who knew him well? Wouldn't they be wary?

Luo Zhengnan was a close acquaintance—why did he still fall for it?

Pei Yuzeng had ways to lower defenses—decades of experience, aided by various spiritual artifacts; before acting, he made meticulous preparations, weighing every word and gesture, accounting for every possible variable.

But what if the situation was unusual—someone refused to meet him, refused to speak to him, kept ten meters away, surrounded by guards—how would he handle that?

In such cases, Pei Yuzeng would not strike—that was why he had never failed.

Today, when he came for Luo Zhengnan, Pei Yuzeng had already prepared to walk away, for he knew Luo was an extremely cautious man.

Yet things went smoother than expected. Pei Yuzeng put on his robe, left the study, and headed straight for the main gate.

Sun Xingbing stepped forward: "Master Pei, are you leaving already?"

Pei Yuzeng sighed: "I had a slight disagreement with your Master Luo. Never mind—it's all internal gang business. Please, when you get the chance, persuade your master. Don't let this ruin our harmony."

His tone was perfectly measured—not the slightest suspicion stirred in Sun Xingbing.

Sun Xingbing truly feared damaging harmony; since Master Luo refused to see him off, Sun Xingbing escorted Pei Yuzeng out himself.

On the rooftop, Luo Zhengnan silently watched Pei Yuzeng's retreating back.

Wasn't he just burned to ash? How could he still be standing here?

Luo Zhengnan had not been burned—he had been burned was a puppet hidden in the room, crafted from bone and flesh.

This puppet could walk, move, and speak—but its face bore a subtle difference from Luo Zhengnan's.

He had dared to use it just now for two reasons: first, his subordinates, upon seeing the visitor, stood respectfully in the parlor, not daring to look directly at him.

Second, Pei Yuzeng hadn't seen him in years and couldn't detect the puppet's minor imperfections.

Now, Luo Zhengnan had an antenna inserted into his head, tracking the ashes on Pei Yuzeng's person.

Not long after, Luo Zhengnan heard movement.

"Boss, it's done."

"Well done. Heavy reward."

Pei Yuzeng was speaking to Xiao Zhenggong.

So it was Xiao Zhenggong who wanted me dead!

This grudge must be repaid—but I can't stay in the Jiangxiang Gang.

Where could I go?

Luo Zhengnan had thought of one place—not absolutely safe, but at least secluded.

The main question was whether that place would even accept him.

…

Li Banfeng arrived at Qiu's Pharmacy. Qiu Zhiheng was startled: "Old Seven, why are you back?"

It wasn't time for your shift change yet.

Li Banfeng said: "Brother Qiu, we don't need to stay on the mountain anymore—someone's taking over for Master Yao."

"Who?"

"Someone you'd never expect. Brother Qiu, every so often, go check on Master Yao—and get to know this master." Li Banfeng gave a general account, but did not reveal Xu Lao's identity—whether Qiu Zhiheng could meet Xu Lao depended on his own fortune.

That night, Li Banfeng stayed at the pharmacy. At dawn the next day, the clerk Ding Youming brought news: "Luo Zhengnan has vanished—the Jiangxiang Gang is frantic searching for him."

Qiu Zhiheng blinked: "How could Luo Zhengnan vanish?"

Luo Zhengnan was so shrewd, had lived in Yaowang Gou so long—few could outmaneuver him.

Qiu Zhiheng sent more men to investigate. By afternoon, the facts were confirmed.

Pei Yuzeng, branch master of the Jiangxiang Gang's Qingyan City branch, visited last night. He met Luo Zhengnan once—and Luo Zhengnan vanished without a trace.

"Pei Yuzeng—Pei One Mouth—kills without leaving ash." Qiu Zhiheng had heard his name. "Old Seven, the Jiangxiang Gang sent someone to kill Luo Zhengnan."

Li Banfeng thought for a moment: "Why kill Luo Zhengnan? Is it connected to Master Yao's matter?"

Was the leak of Master Yao's location also tied to the Jiangxiang Gang?"

Qiu Zhiheng lit a cigarette and sighed softly: "I can't make sense of this yet. It's a pity—finally, the Jiangxiang Gang produced someone with a human heart, and now he's gone."

"Old Seven, be extra careful these days. I fear the Jiangxiang Gang might be coming for us."

"I'm planning to leave Yaowang Gou. You be careful too."

A few days later, Li Banfeng arranged travel permits and train tickets for Xiao Genzi, sending him back to Lüshui City.

Genzi had always carried his bucket. Li Banfeng feared conflict with other passengers, so he bought him a private carriage.

Inside his carriage, Genzi was preparing golden fluid when someone smelled it and pushed the door open.

Genzi quickly hid the bucket, sat calmly, and asked: "What's the matter?"

The man who entered had a long face, small eyes, and thin cheeks, carrying a briefcase. He looked at Genzi: "You were just preparing golden fluid, weren't you?"

Genzi shook his head vigorously: "I don't have any golden fluid! You've got the wrong place—check the next carriage."

The man smiled: "Your bucket's still right there—how could I be wrong? Don't worry—I'm here to do business with you."

"Do business with me?" Genzi blinked. "What kind of business?"

The man stared at Genzi's bucket: "I want to buy one bucket."

"You want to buy this?" Genzi thought he'd misheard.

"Twenty thousand per bucket. If you think that's too little, we can negotiate." The man named his price.

Genzi frowned: "What are you going to use this for?"

Don't underestimate this bucket of golden fluid—a single spoonful could kill.

"Don't worry, I'm not doing anything illegal," the man chuckled. "I'm Zhang Wanlong, a cultivation farmer. If this deal goes through, we can do bigger business later."

"You're a cultivation farmer?" Genzi sized up Zhang Wanlong—he wore a gray-and-white plaid suit, hardly the look of a farmer.

"You don't believe me?" Zhang Wanlong pulled a small pot from his briefcase—smaller than his palm by two fists. He dropped a seed into it, watered it, and within five minutes, the seed sprouted, grew stems, leaves, and bloomed into a jasmine flower.

He expected Genzi to be astonished—but Genzi's expression remained calm.

He was a man of experience—he'd traveled with a cultivation farmer master. This trick meant nothing.

"Brother, I don't doubt you—but this trick doesn't prove you're a cultivation farmer."

Zhang Wanlong paused: "What do you mean? Are there other sects with this ability?"

"Yes—grass cultivators. Grass cultivators grow even faster than this!"

Zhang Wanlong raised his thumb: "Brother, knowing grass cultivators proves you've seen the world. Grass cultivators are one origin of cultivation farmers—their founder came from grass cultivators. They're hard to tell apart. Watch this!"

As he spoke, Zhang Wanlong dripped two drops of medicine onto the jasmine. After ten minutes, a sunflower bloomed where the drops had landed.

A sunflower blooming on a jasmine branch—that was beyond grass cultivators' ability.

But the real display came next: the sunflower's large face turned toward the window, and suddenly a mouth grew on it, laughing two giggles—like a young girl of seventeen or eighteen.

Genzi nodded in admiration: "Impressive, Brother Zhang. We can do this business."

…

Deep in the mountains, in Master Yao's house, Xu Lao sighed softly to himself:

"When fate arrives, no one can stop it. Whether he learns well or you learn badly—it's up to your own fortune."

…

Li Banfeng took the new route, following Master Yao's map to Tiemenbao.

The journey through Xin Di wasn't arduous—Master Yao's map helped him avoid most dangers; occasional strange creatures posed no threat to Li Banfeng.

But Li Banfeng didn't let his guard down—combat in Xin Di with strange creatures wasn't just about strength. Special entities like Feng Quweng and Xi Zhao Fu could easily trap the careless.

Arriving at Tiemenbao, Li Banfeng emerged from Peach Blossom Lake. Seeing no one around, he quickly returned to his portable dwelling to put on his clothes.

He came to Tiemenbao for one reason: to withdraw some money to repay the gloves, and to observe the fortress's condition.

Li Banfeng had even changed his appearance, dressing as a vegetable farmer, carrying two baskets of greens into Tiemenbao.

At the gate, the guard blocked Li Banfeng and asked, "Are you here to sell vegetables?"

Li Banfeng nodded.

"Have you paid the deposit?"

It was going well—the original rules were being enforced: anyone doing business in Tiemenbao had to pay a deposit; those who passed off inferior goods or cheated here would lose their deposit and be barred from entering the fortress again.

Li Banfeng feigned ignorance: "I've never been here before. I didn't know you had to pay a deposit to do business."

"You didn't know? Now you do. No deposit, no selling here."

Li Banfeng set down his vegetable basket: "Then I won't sell. I'll just go in and see if business is good."

That was fine—he could go in.

Li Banfeng entered the fortress. Tiemenbao was his favorite place; every street, every alley, every blade of grass and tree, he never tired of looking at.

The fortress had changed considerably: without the lord's exploitation, the Zhaixiu lived better; many families had renovated their homes, and some had even expanded them.

Of course, some things hadn't changed: a woman came to buy clothes and kept haggling down the price. Zhaixiu Li Zhijuan was an excellent seamstress, relying on this for her livelihood, and though the price had been squeezed nearly to zero profit, she still agreed.

The reason was simple: she had always done business with this woman, was used to it, and didn't want to ruin the harmony.

That was the Zhaixiu's flaw—they were bad at dealing with people.

Even after such a poor deal, she still cared about harmony!

Li Banfeng stepped forward to teach the clothing buyer a lesson, when suddenly someone called out: "Sir, fine sorghum wine—take a look."

Li Banfeng turned around and stared, stunned for a long moment.

Luo Zhengnan held up a jar of sorghum wine: "Lord, I've been waiting for you for days."

PS: Can Luo Zhengnan stay in Tiemenbao?

(End of Chapter)