Chapter 367: Don

Tang Shi controlled screws, dumping an entire carload of grain off the tracks, then unloading the remaining grain, coal, clothing, medicine, sundries... from the train.

When the unloading was done, Brother Tang waved his hand, and two rivets flew over from the locomotive, sinking into his arms.

These two rivets were the root cause of the train's loss of control; once removed, the train began to slow down, and Tang Shi and Li Banfeng both stepped off.

Walking along the road, Li Banfeng carefully observed this senior; from his words and actions, it was clear he was the local god of Heishipo.

But unlike other local gods, even when Li Banfeng activated his Golden Eyes' Microscopic Skill to its maximum, he saw not a trace of ghostly fire on him.

This proved he was not a spirit—he still had a physical body.

Arriving at an abandoned factory, Tang Shi picked up a bundle from beside a machine tool.

Unwrapping it, he found two lunchboxes inside: one filled with rice, the other with vegetables.

Tang Shi divided the rice and vegetables evenly, handing Li Banfeng one lunchbox: "Don't be picky—let's share a meal."

Li Banfeng had worked on construction sites before and felt an inexplicable fondness for lunchboxes.

There was only one pair of chopsticks; Tang Shi gave them to Li Banfeng and found two twigs to use as makeshift chopsticks.

"Young brother, those bastards from Waizhou are probably going to fight us for a while—we can't back down."

Li Banfeng nodded: "As long as Brother Tang doesn't back down, I'll fight them to the end!"

Tang Shi laughed: "You don't need to worry—I've never even learned how to write the word 'coward' since birth!"

According to Yao Lao's account, Heishipo originally belonged to the Train Eunuch, who later passed it to his disciple.

Could this Brother Tang be the Train Eunuch's disciple?

The two finished their meal happily, and Tang Shi handed Li Banfeng a box of screws: "Brother, take these. Even though you're not from my sect, these nails are useful—perfect as hidden weapons."

Li Banfeng didn't lack hidden weapons, but since Brother Tang gave them, he couldn't refuse.

Brother Tang added: "Those bastards from Waizhou are starving for loot—they'll try to seize it by force, and likely use underhanded tactics too."

"Forceful seizure? Don't worry—Heishipo is a place with guts. If this happens, don't interfere, and absolutely don't get involved."

"I'm worried they'll strike from the shadows—easy to dodge a spear, hard to avoid a hidden arrow. Stay extra careful."

…

Tang Shi was right—the eyes of the entire Guanfang Hall were turning green with hunger.

The canned food was gone, the biscuits were gone, and they'd been counting on this trainload of grain—only for the train to break down and return with not a single grain.

The next day, Cheng Mingke held a crucial meeting at Guanfang Hall, where he spoke and mentioned the word "reverence" nine times.

He wanted Puluozhou to revere Guanfang Hall, to revere the Guanfangshi, and above all, to revere him—the chief Guanfangshi.

During his speech, several people fainted from low blood sugar, which greatly annoyed Cheng Mingke.

"We only held the meeting for five hours, and these people couldn't even sit still—this is a classic issue of willpower."

Secretary Tong Lingzhu said: "Chief Cheng, many of them haven't eaten properly all day—it's a physical issue…"

"Don't give me objective excuses! Look for reasons within yourself! Look at the deputy Guanfangshis—has any one of them fainted?"

Tong Lingzhu paused, then looked up at Cheng Mingke: "That's because all the limited food in Guanfang Hall was given to the deputy Guanfangshis—they're full, so they don't faint."

Cheng Mingke stared at Tong Lingzhu in shock. This beautiful, capable secretary had always been his favorite—but now she dared to defy him.

Tong Lingzhu had held back for a long time; this new Guanfangshi knew nothing about Heishipo's situation.

Today she'd finally dug up Cheng Mingke's background—he didn't just know nothing about Heishipo; he barely understood Puluozhou at all.

This was his first posting in Puluozhou, and he was blindly applying Waizhou's methods to Heishipo.

Cheng Mingke wanted to fly into a rage—if this were Waizhou, he'd have screamed at this ignorant secretary until she doubted her own existence.

But today he didn't yell, because Tong Lingzhu kept staring at him.

When a subordinate stares directly at you, control your emotions—that was his years of experience.

He turned away, picked up his teacup, and calmly gazed out the window as usual.

He told Tong Lingzhu to leave—she was no longer usable; he'd find a chance to transfer her.

Worried about food? Worried Heishipo would spiral out of control?

With her limited vision and tactics, she's unfit for this job.

She disobeys orders—no matter how capable or beautiful she is, she can't be trusted.

Cheng Mingke immediately ordered Du Chaohui, the deputy in charge of logistics, to lead a team to buy grain.

The order was clear: no matter what methods, he must bring back grain—and he assigned two fifth-layer cultivators to accompany Du Chaohui.

The message was unmistakable: Du Chaohui had no choice but to seize it by force, or fail his mission.

But in Heishipo, forced purchases weren't easy.

The rice shop owner summoned all his staff, armed them, and stood at the shop's entrance facing Du Chaohui.

In cultivation level and equipment, the two sides were vastly unequal—these rice shop workers were no match for a Guanfangshi.

Yet the rice shop owner showed no fear, and none of his staff retreated.

Bystanders gathered, all eyes fixed on the rice shop owner.

The rice shop owner shouted to the crowd: "My shop has operated here for decades, thanks to your support.

Today we have no rice, yet someone insists on buying it, forcing me to stake my old life on this.

At my age, dying today would be worth it—I only ask you all to witness this: if anyone asks later, please speak the truth."

The crowd grew larger; Du Chaohui grew more tense.

His men moved to disperse them, but no one listened to their shouts.

As the situation escalated, one of Du Chaohui's cultivators, Chen Yusheng, a fifth-layer Wu Xiu, stepped forward.

He was sharp—he could read the situation clearly.

Driving off the crowd was impossible; the most effective move was to immediately knock out the core figure—the rice shop owner.

The strike must be hidden, leaving no trace of suspicion.

The action must be decisive, avoiding stalemate—otherwise, chaos would erupt.

The blow must be brutal: knock the owner half-dead on the spot, so he couldn't even cry out, instantly intimidating everyone else.

Chen Yusheng slipped silently behind the rice shop owner, his gaze darkening.

Li Banfeng reached out, grabbed Chen Yusheng's hair, and slammed him to the ground.

The strike was hidden—Chen Yusheng hadn't sensed a thing.

The action was decisive—after knocking him down, Li Banfeng immediately kicked.

The blow was brutal—Li Banfeng's approach differed from Chen Yusheng's; he used his foot.

The moment Li Banfeng moved, the rice shop owner attacked, and the bystanders joined in.

They had held back too long.

He kicked Chen Yusheng first; Chen tried to rise, but Tang Shi kicked him back down.

"Brother," Tang Shi whispered, "wasn't I told not to interfere?"

Li Banfeng kicked again: "I didn't interfere—I was just watching the show."

Tang Shi kicked again: "Don't worry, they can handle this themselves."

These two kicked too hard—Chen Yusheng was nearly unconscious after several blows.

Meanwhile, Du Chaohui was surrounded, his situation dire.

One of Du Chaohui's body cultivators easily shielded him: "Who dares come near?"

Brother Tang stepped forward, shoved the body cultivator to the ground, and said to Li Banfeng: "Come."

The two kicked the cultivator while chatting.

"Brother, go ahead—I'll handle this."

"I'll follow your lead."

Li Banfeng added two more kicks and left the rice shop.

…

At dusk, Du Chaohui, bruised and swollen, reported to Cheng Mingke—the grain still hadn't been secured.

Cheng Mingke placed his teacup on the desk and said to Du Chaohui: "Where are the guards I assigned you?"

"All severely injured—they're being treated in the infirmary."

"Both fifth-layer cultivators are wounded—something unusual is happening here! Someone is involved!

Fu Botai's disappearance is tied to these people—dig up the ground three feet deep and find them!

Gather every dark-energy user in Guanfang Hall, and have all deputy Guanfangshis who haven't been on field duty lead the operation—first go to the rice shop, seize the grain and bring back the shop's people.

These people are acting so brazenly—they must be under orders. Tonight, interrogate them harshly—get results.

Anyone who participated, even indirectly, will be punished as accomplices—arrest them and bring them to Guanfang Hall."

Cheng Mingke issued the order; Du Chaohui stood by, stunned.

Cheng Mingke frowned: "What are you waiting for? Go now!"

Du Chaohui asked: "Chief Cheng, aren't you coming?"

Cheng Mingke glared at Du Chaohui, who hurriedly left the office.

The sun was nearly set; Cheng Mingke stood by the window, gazing outside, calm and composed as always.

He took a sip of tea as Tong Lingzhu walked in.

Cheng Mingke frowned slightly—he didn't turn, but saw her reflection in the glass.

She didn't even knock—who let her get away with this?

Cheng Mingke turned, set down his teacup, and prepared to properly reprimand Tong Lingzhu.

Tong Lingzhu said: "The Chief Guanfangshi has arrived."

The teacup wasn't set down properly and fell to the ground; Cheng Mingke didn't bother to pick it up, rushing out to greet the Chief Inspector.

Strange—when did the Chief Inspector arrive? Why wasn't I notified earlier?

At the doorway, Liao Zihui, round and plump, entered with a warm smile.

Cheng Mingke hurriedly told Tong Lingzhu to brew tea, but Liao Zihui waved his hand: "No need for trouble—I'll be leaving soon. Xiao Tong, go attend to your duties. I have a few words to speak privately with Mingke."

Tong Lingzhu left the office. Liao Zihui sat on the sofa and said to Cheng Mingke: "Mingke, you've just arrived in Pulu Province—haven't you found it hard to adjust?"

There was meaning beneath his words. Cheng Mingke had weathered years of hardship—he couldn't miss it. He quickly explained: "Chief Inspector Liao, there's been a minor issue at Heishipō, but I've handled it promptly…"

Liao Zihui nodded—he already knew how Cheng Mingke had handled it—but offered no evaluation.

"Mingke, in Pulu Province, you mustn't rush things. I don't know if you've read the papers lately, but rumors are swirling—many are linking us to Jiang Xiang's gang, even tying us to human traffickers. It's damaging our reputation."

"These are all false rumors. We've always maintained a clear boundary with Jiang Xiang's gang," Cheng Mingke replied, prepared: "The newspapers spreading such lies have already been shut down by me."

Liao Zihui fell silent for a moment, then asked: "Mingke, you can shut down the newspaper at Heishipō—but can you shut down every newspaper in Pulu Province?"

Cheng Mingke weighed his words before answering: "Chief Inspector Liao, I believe such unscrupulous newspapers deserve harsh measures."

Liao Zihui sighed: "You still act too impulsively. Pack your things—you're coming with me to Lüshuicheng. I have some tasks there that need your assistance."

Cheng Mingke paused, stunned: "Leaving Heishipō now—wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"Mingke, someone else has already been assigned to take over your duties in Heishicheng."

Cheng Mingke shook his head: "Chief Inspector, I don't understand. What have I done wrong in my duties?"

Liao Zihui smiled: "This decision is also for your personal safety. Your resume says you're a Level-Two Dark Energy user—but I've heard you've only just reached Level One."

Cheng Mingke kept his expression calm. Among the Border Guards, falsifying one's level wasn't rare. He neither admitted nor denied it, replying coolly: "I believe a person's combat strength and actual ability aren't necessarily linked. I think—"

"You think?" Liao Zihui's smile vanished. His tone grew colder.

Cheng Mingke realized he'd spoken carelessly—certain words must be avoided before the Chief Inspector.

Liao Zihui asked: "Do you know how powerful Pulu Province really is?"

Cheng Mingke paused, then rephrased: "I believe their so-called strength is merely superficial. In reality—"

"Enough!" Liao Zihui cut him off. "You don't need to know how powerful they are. The key is they mustn't find out."

"If you keep acting like this, they'll find out soon enough."

PS: During the battle between Lu Chunying and Lu Mao, Liao Zihui had appeared and ended the fight.

(End of Chapter)