Chapter 352: Lord Luo, Do You Plan to Hide for Life?

Luo Zhengnan has good eyesight; the cultivators in Tiemenbao didn't recognize Li Banfeng, but he did.

Li Banfeng knew Luo Zhengnan had gone missing; according to Qiu Zhiheng's speculation, the man should have been killed by Pei Yikou, yet who could have expected to see him in Tiemenbao?

If Luo Zhengnan isn't dead, why has he come to Tiemenbao?

"Lord Luo, what brings you here?" Li Banfeng grew wary.

"Lord, could we find a suitable place to talk?"

Li Banfeng took Luo Zhengnan to his own residence; before leaving, he had entrusted its care to Wu Yongchao, who managed the property with great care—it was spotless.

But Luo Zhengnan was also a careful man; he could tell the house had been unoccupied for some time.

The table in the parlor stood empty; tea pots, wine cups, fruit trays—all common guest items—had been put away.

"Lord, have you been away recently?"

Li Banfeng did not answer: "Don't concern yourself with my affairs—tell me yours first. Why are you here in Tiemenbao?"

This lord spoke as bluntly as ever; Luo Zhengnan was used to it and cut straight to the point: "I've come to join you."

Join me?

This was strange.

"Do we have that kind of bond?"

Luo Zhengnan shook his head: "We don't have deep ties—we only did that one deal. I'm joining you for two reasons:

First, I dare not seek out those with deep ties, because someone knows I'm looking for them.

Second, from that previous deal, I've seen you're a man of integrity—I trust you."

"Your position in Jiangxiangbang isn't low. Now you suddenly say you want to join me—explain the full reason."

"To be honest, the gang has turned against me. I faked my death to escape from Yaowanggou.

I don't know why this happened, but I swear to you: I've done nothing to betray the gang.

If you'll take me in, I'll serve you from now on. I won't say anything about dying ten thousand deaths—that's nonsense. I can only promise to serve you to the best of my ability.

If you won't take me, I'll leave immediately and cause you no trouble. I only ask one thing: don't reveal my whereabouts."

Talking to a clever man requires no wasted words—he's already thought through everything.

Luo Zhengnan was indeed clever; everyone in Jiangxiangbang would never guess he'd come to Tiemenbao.

But after much thought, Li Banfeng still shook his head: "I can take you in—but Tiemenbao cannot."

Luo Zhengnan froze: "Lord, I don't understand what you mean."

Li Banfeng was about to explain when Wu Yongchao burst in, frantic: "Who are you? What do you want? You… Lord, you're back?"

Wu Yongchao looked awkwardly at Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng gave a slight nod, signaling Wu Yongchao to wait.

Wu Yongchao didn't understand the signal, so Li Banfeng clarified: "Brother, go home and wait for me. I'll come find you soon."

After Wu Yongchao left, Li Banfeng said to Luo Zhengnan: "You've seen it—Tiemenbao is home to honest people. These honest folk can protect themselves with their cultivation, but they can't protect you. I don't want to bring disaster upon them."

Luo Zhengnan sighed: "Then, Lord, please point me in the right direction."

"I have two options. First: outside Tiemenbao lies Feiyingshan. You've heard of it—once a bandit stronghold, I wiped them all out. The mountain still bears the name of a Shanzhai, but in truth, it's now my territory. I can give it to you.

Once you take over Feiyingshan, you may run any business you like—tips are flexible; you decide what's fair. But don't become a bandit king, or we'll end up at odds."

Li Banfeng was genuinely offering Luo Zhengnan a way out—not for any other reason, but because of what he'd done in Yaowanggou. Such a man deserved Li Banfeng's help.

Luo Zhengnan pondered a moment and decided this was indeed a legitimate path.

But recruiting men and gathering forces on Feiyingshan wouldn't happen overnight.

Though his faked death had been discreet, Luo Zhengnan never relied on luck. If Jiangxiangbang discovered he was still alive and Feiyingshan had no forces, what would he use to defend himself?

"Lord, I'd like to hear the second option."

"Go to Lüshuicheng."

Luo Zhengnan doubted he'd heard right: "I'm trying to escape disaster—do you think Lüshuicheng is suitable?"

Li Banfeng had the most authority on this matter.

He himself had once fled Yaowanggou for Lüshuicheng to escape the Lu family's pursuit—and it had proven correct.

"Lord Luo, if Jiangxiangbang is watching Tiemenbao, they can easily find you—Tiemenbao is small.

But even if Jiangxiangbang knows you're in Lüshuicheng, they'll struggle to find you—it's far too large.

Once you arrive, my friends there will look after you. You know Jiangxiangbang's true colors—Lüshuicheng isn't a place they can act recklessly.

Does this path suit you?"

Luo Zhengnan was cautious; the idea of going to Lüshuicheng made him hesitate.

Li Banfeng knew Luo Zhengnan had his own thoughts and only reminded him: "Do you want to hide for a while—or for your whole life?"

If you want to hide for a while, Feiyingshan is best.

But what if you still want a future?

Luo Zhengnan asked Li Banfeng: "When I reach Lüshuicheng, which sect should I join?"

"How many days will it take you to get to Lüshuicheng?"

"Two days is enough."

That speed was indeed fast, since Luo Zhengnan dared not take the train—he'd have to walk from Xindi.

Li Banfeng said: "Leave today. When you reach Lüshuicheng, find lodging first. Then every morning at ten, go to Quanjian Teahouse. Within three days, someone will find you."

This was dangerous for Luo Zhengnan—if this "lord" meant to betray him, he could simply tell Jiangxiangbang to wait at the teahouse.

Li Banfeng understood Luo Zhengnan's concern: "Lord Luo, think carefully. If you don't trust me, don't show up. I'll act as if I never saw you."

Luo Zhengnan pondered long before saying: "I trust you—but shouldn't we…"

Li Banfeng pulled out a stack of contracts: "Shouldn't we draw up a written agreement?"

Talking to a clever man was effortless—they always thought alike.

…

Luo Zhengnan signed the contract, finalized the arrangement, and left Tiemenbao.

Li Banfeng summoned Wu Yongchao, who looked ashamed: "Lord, I didn't assign anyone to guard your house—I wanted to save on wages."

Tiemenbao needed wages for many things.

The steam gate at the entrance required maintenance by workers from Gongxiu—they had to be paid.

The former lord's mansion held Li Banfeng's six hundred thousand silver dollars—someone had to guard it, patrol regularly, and scout outside the fortress—all required wages.

These wages came from contributions by households; Wu Yongchao was reluctant to ask for more, and he hadn't touched a single silver dollar of the lord's money. Many tasks he paid for himself.

Li Banfeng went to the main mansion, dismissed others, and took out his gloves.

Looking at the room full of silver dollars, the five fingers of the gloves excitedly rubbed together for a long time.

Li Banfeng said: "Calculate the total—principal and interest."

"Why calculate with the boss? Whatever you give, I'll take."

Li Banfeng smiled and let the gloves take four hundred fifty thousand.

The gloves thanked repeatedly, happily taking the money: "Boss, if you find anything good next time, buy it without hesitation—if you're short on cash, just come to me."

Li Banfeng nodded: "If they won't sell, help me borrow it anyway."

"Easy enough—we say 'borrow' and that's… Boss, why did you add 'again' just now?"

"Did I? Must've slipped out."

Some things were particularly interesting.

Ling Miaoying lost her pistol, Tu Yinghong lost her iron ruler—almost simultaneously.

The pistol was stolen by the gloves. What about the iron ruler?

Why did Tu Yinghong specifically go to Xiaoyaowu to search for it?

Why did two new rails suddenly appear in Suishenju, directly transporting Li Banfeng to Heishipo?

Isn't this all strangely interesting?

The remaining one hundred fifty thousand silver dollars, Li Banfeng still entrusted to Wu Yongchao: "Use part of it to open a shop. If people in the fortress have goods to sell, we buy them. Outsiders who want to buy must come here—prices are fixed. No one may adjust them. Profits from the shop will cover wages; any surplus, you may use as you see fit."

Wu Yongchao was nervous—he'd never handled such a large business.

"Start small. Losing money at first doesn't matter—you'll learn how to make it."

…

He Jiaqing disguised himself as a cleaner and, while collecting trash, detached a suction cup from the bottom of a bin.

He had just tucked it away when the button on his chest vibrated.

He didn't respond immediately. He left the subway station, found a nearby hotel, booked a room, and reestablished contact.

"Jiaqing, the movie matter—I handled it poorly."

The truth about Blood Blade Detective's fake qinggen had been exposed by Ma Wu, and the news appeared in all his newspapers.

Did Ma Wu have proof?

No.

But he didn't need proof.

People wouldn't risk going to the cinema for a movie—even if Ma Wu's claim was rumor, most would avoid Blood Blade Detective.

But people eventually forget. Blood Blade Detective could simply change its name and studio logo, and continue production.

Yet Shen Rongqing and Ma Wu clashed head-on, using their newspapers to wage a war of words.

That's the scholar's habit—they excel at attacking with ink, but can't bear being attacked in return.

The "qinggen incident," which should have cooled, flared up again, and Ling's film studio was thrust back into the spotlight.

Shen Rongqing felt ashamed and came specifically to apologize to He Jiaqing.

If Ling Miaoying had done this, He Jiaqing would have exploded already.

But he knew Shen Rongqing's nature—this woman was fiercely proud; you couldn't force her, only gently coax her.

"This isn't your fault, Sister—only Ma Wu's cruelty is to blame."

"Jiaqing, what do you plan to do about Ma Junyang?"

He Jiaqing was about to speak, but the words turned in his mouth and he changed his phrasing: "What do you want to do with him?"

This was respect for Shen Rongqing—this woman was unlike any of his subordinates; He Jiaqing had to honor her thoughts.

"I don't want to kill him, but I will never allow him to stand against us again!"

He Jiaqing agreed, leaving the matter entirely in Shen Rongqing's hands.

Luo Zhengnan pulled the antenna off his head, put it back in the box, plugged his skull with a stopper, and carefully recalled the conversation's content.

The film "Blood Blade Detective" was operated by He Jiaqing.

Why did he run a film business? Just for the ticket money?

Was it him who planted the love roots in the films constantly mentioned on the radio recently?

Now he's going to deal with Ma Wu?

Who was the woman he spoke to?

This is quite interesting…

Thinking of this, Luo Zhengnan chuckled bitterly—what did it matter to him whether it was interesting or not?

Previously, for the Jiangxiang Gang, Luo Zhengnan had been investigating He Jiaqing; now he wasn't even part of the Jiangxiang Gang anymore.

I wonder what kind of person this man in Lüshuicheng is—if he won't take me in, where else can I go?

Luo Zhengnan sighed heavily, stayed awake all night, and the next day went to Quanjian Tea House. The tea house was somewhat isolated, quiet and empty, with little business.

From ten o'clock until half past ten, Li Banfeng sat down across from Luo Zhengnan.

Luo Zhengnan's eyes widened—he never expected his contact to be the Lord of the Fortress.

He didn't understand why the Lord of Tiemenbao had come to Lüshuicheng.

"Let's go to Xiaoyao Wu."

Luo Zhengnan stared in shock, dared not ask more, and followed Li Banfeng out of the tea house.

On the way, Luo Zhengnan kept thinking—wasn't Xiaoyao Wu Ma Junyang's business?

No, the radio had said it wasn't Ma Junyang's alone.

"Lord, are you the Seventh Master?"

This man was clever indeed.

Li Banfeng lowered his hat brim: "In Lüshuicheng, don't call me Lord."

Countless thoughts churned in his mind; Luo Zhengnan felt dizzy.

Li Qi was the Lord?

How could that be possible?

They arrived at Xiaoyao Wu. A cleaner was sweeping fallen leaves at the gate; Luo Zhengnan's cheek twitched as if shocked, and his swirling thoughts halted.

Li Banfeng had prepared a room for Luo Zhengnan in the back building. Once inside, Luo Zhengnan said to Li Banfeng: "Seventh Master, just now, the cleaner's broom had something on it."

Li Banfeng frowned and asked: "You mean the hook?"

Luo Zhengnan nodded.

PS: The mole He Jiaqing planted in Xiaoyao Wu has been caught.

Sha La is working tirelessly to write an extra chapter—tomorrow's guaranteed monthly votes go to Sha La!

(End of Chapter)