Chapter 368: Come If You Dare

Huff! Huff!

The train pulled into Black Stone Slope Station. These past two days the schedule had been packed, and the station staff were run ragged.

After Cheng Mingke left, traffic at Black Stone Slope returned to normal. The big and small factories that had been waiting to ship out their goods scrambled for rail cars, and large quantities of grain were quickly transported into Shicheng.

Order at Black Stone Slope was restored, but what about the matter of the kidnapped children?

This was the work of the Jiang Xiang Gang — the Garrison Office's notice stated it plainly. They claimed they had no dealings with the Jiang Xiang Gang, and that they would vigorously root out the Jiang Xiang Gang at Black Stone Slope in the future.

Of course, the residents of Black Stone Slope ignored all that nonsense. They only remembered that someone called "Benefactor" had helped them find their children and had even delivered rice for them to eat.

Black Stone Slope quickly returned to its peaceful, happy life. This was clearly reflected in newspaper sales — after the press reopened, the circulation of *Night-Blooming Jasmine* remained high.

But the hatred for the Jiang Xiang Gang would not be forgotten. The major newspapers' denunciations of the Jiang Xiang Gang had only just begun.

Many old cases were dug up, and nearly every newspaper had a column devoted to the Jiang Xiang Gang.

Stack after stack of newspapers were placed in front of Xiao Zhenggong. He flipped through them roughly and said to Shen Jingye, Director of the Dark Star Bureau: "Why are you showing me this?"

Shen Jingye said: "I want to remind you that the Jiang Xiang Gang's situation is not looking good. If this gang still wants to survive in Like Puluozhou, it must make some changes."

Xiao Zhenggong said, surprised: "What changes? Since the day the Jiang Xiang Gang was founded, it has lived off these rackets.

Without these rackets, how would we contact the Sage? How would we balance Like Puluozhou's relations with the other states?"

"We have our methods, and your traditional methods must also undergo some changes."

"Tell me then — what changes could there possibly be?"

Shen Jingye said: "The plan is still being refined. I'll notify you once it's finalized."

Xiao Zhenggong had already guessed part of it — they intended to keep nibbling away at the Jiang Xiang Gang.

Thinking back over the process of using the Balance Seal, in the eyes of others Xiao Zhenggong had already become a laughingstock.

He had handed five chapter houses over to the Garrison Commissioner.

Another three chapter houses had been wiped out — by whom, it still hadn't been determined.

The Jiang Xiang Gang had always operated in the shadows; now it had been dragged into the open, and everyone was baying for its blood.

But what had Xiao Zhenggong gained?

He had only gotten a lump of flesh and blood, claimed to be He Jiaqing's — the truth of which could not be verified.

The He family's assets had been frozen for a period. To draw a clear line between themselves and the Jiang Xiang Gang, and under pressure, the Garrison Commissioner unfroze the He family's assets again.

And that was that?

Not quite.

Shen Jingye said: "We have given the He family's attitude toward you careful consideration. From the standpoint of your safety, it really is necessary to take some action."

Xiao Zhenggong didn't understand: "What do you mean by that?"

"We've decided to eliminate He Yuxiu in the name of the Jiang Xiang Gang. He Yuxiu is currently the head of the He family. Eliminating her will be a heavy deterrent to the He family, and in terms of safety, it will also give you greater protection."

"Protect me?" Xiao Zhenggong laughed out loud.

Listen to how artfully that was phrased.

Since He Yuxiu took over as family head, she had been in constant conflict with the Garrison Commissioner — Xiao Zhenggong knew this.

"It's you who want to eliminate He Yuxiu, and then let the Jiang Xiang Gang take the blame, isn't it?"

Shen Jingye offered no explanation: "The Balance Seal's time restriction has already expired. You are now free to act as you wish.

Let me remind you once more — you may continue working at the Public Order Brigade, but I advise you to choose a different post."

Xiao Zhenggong said nothing. He rose and left the office.

Back home, Xiao Zhenggong sat on the sofa. Two young women drew a hot bath, tested the water temperature, and helped him bathe.

In the bedroom, Xiao Zhenggong sent the two women away, lay on the bed, and stared at the ceiling in a daze.

The white clothes hanging on the rack said: "Senior Brother, you didn't have to stake so much. Back at the hospital, you should have listened to me and eliminated He Jiaqing.

Now you've used the Balance Seal and your vital energy is badly depleted, and the Jiang Xiang Gang has had a big chunk taken by the other states. You've lost badly on this deal."

Xiao Zhenggong replied: "This is all I'm capable of. Go report back to the Master — He Jiaqing is dead anyway."

The white clothes sighed: "I'll certainly report exactly as things are, but whether the Master rewards or punishes is beyond my control."

The next evening, the white clothes left the residence without a sound. Xiao Zhenggong drove to the Dark Star Bureau.

He never showed up to work on time, but today was special — it was his turn on duty.

Zhong Er was on duty with him again. Xiao Zhenggong knew he couldn't shake him off, so he ignored him and sat in his own office.

Close to midnight, Xiao Zhenggong lit a cigar. The thick smoke drifted over; Zhong Er rubbed his nose but didn't complain too much.

Amid the swirling smoke, Xiao Zhenggong's figure had already drifted to the stairwell.

Zhong Er didn't see this. In his line of sight, Xiao Zhenggong was still sitting in the office.

Xiao Zhenggong went down the stairs again to the archives. After scanning several rows of shelves, he finally found the file — the file on the Boundary.

The Jiang Xiang Gang was about to cease to belong to Xiao Zhenggong.

So what?

Was the Jiang Xiang Gang really that important?

He Jiaqing had come at him face-to-face, the Sage had pressed against the back of his head, and the white clothes had come in person to oversee the battle. This whole affair demanded some kind of explanation.

But Xiao Zhenggong didn't want to seek that explanation himself — he didn't want to lose his position at the Public Order Brigade.

Using the Balance Seal had been a performance for the Sage to see.

Master the Boundary, and you master everything in Like Puluozhou.

……

Li Banfeng ordered a bowl of lamb noodles at a noodle shop. This place was generous — plenty of noodles, plenty of meat. Many workers came here after their shift. A bowl of noodles, a lamb bone, a bowl of wine — for a worker who'd toiled all day, it was a well-earned reward.

Maybe it wasn't that lavish, but the meal was delicious. No matter how long he stayed in Black Stone Slope, it never felt like enough.

After eating his fill, Li Banfeng wandered around the city. Passing a jewelry stall, he crouched down and picked out a few pieces.

The jade bracelet was made of stone, the gold necklace was made of copper—he bought over a dozen pieces for less than a hundred yuan.

Li Banfeng knew perfectly well what grade these things were, but his wife just liked this sort of thing.

Back in Green Water City, Li Banfeng had spent two big silver dollars having two gold hairpins made for his wife; his wife had used a phonograph needle to flick them up and tossed them straight into the junk cabinet—she thought they weren't bright enough.

The roadside stall stuff was bright and flashy in its make, and if it broke there was no heartache; every time his wife picked up a piece, she could fiddle with it for ages.

Hong Ying always laughed at his wife for being tacky.

So what if she's tacky? Bright red, vivid green—Li Banfeng found it quite a pleasing sight too.

Once the things were picked out, Li Banfeng was about to pay, but the Miss selling jewelry refused to take the money.

Why wouldn't she take it?

The Miss stared at Li Banfeng for a long while, then lowered her voice and said, "You're my benefactor, aren't you? My family has eaten your rice."

Li Banfeng tossed down two Huan Nation banknotes, picked up his things, and left.

Black Stone Slope was no place to linger—if people discovered that the benefactor was Night Boss, things would get troublesome.

Back at the newspaper office, Li Banfeng had Bai Qiusheng handle his travel pass for him, and that very night he went to the train station.

Arriving at the ticket checkpoint, Li Banfeng came back out again.

Today the travel-pass inspection was extremely strict—every single person had their name asked over and over.

Why ask the name over and over?

Could it be that there's that Virtue Cultivator magic treasure?

Li Banfeng never used his real name to get a travel pass—if he really ran into a Virtue Cultivator magic treasure, the trouble would be enormous.

It seemed the matter from before hadn't fully blown over; not long after leaving the train station, Li Banfeng sensed he was being tailed.

Why would they tail me?

Was it because I suddenly turned back right at the checkpoint?

That move was indeed suspicious, but as a seventh-layer Yu Zhaixiu, under normal circumstances it wouldn't draw attention—unless someone happened to see it.

Could there be another possibility—that it was this outfit of mine that aroused suspicion?

Black suit, black formal hat, brim pressed very low—the Garrison Bureau might have been watching people dressed like that.

He'd have to change clothes.

Li Banfeng found a secluded spot and went back into Leaving Leaving Suishenju.

Once inside the house, Li Banfeng considered which piece of clothing would be suitable.

White suit? Gray suit?

In Black Stone Slope, it was best not to wear a suit anymore.

He had once had a blue-green long gown custom-made in Green Water City; later he found wearing the thing troublesome, tossed it in the third room, and had hardly touched it since.

Arriving at the third room, Li Banfeng changed into the long gown, put on a grayish-white formal hat, threw the suit on the floor, and considered his next move.

Go back to the newspaper office and lie low for a while?

No good.

The newspaper office had also butted heads with the Garrison Bureau before—it was probably being watched too.

Go back through the New Land?

The difficulty was a bit high.

Yao Lao's map didn't mark the location of Black Stone Slope; even if Li Banfeng reached the New Land, he wouldn't know which way to go.

Besides, the New Land of Black Stone Slope had left Li Banfeng with a serious shadow—last time it was because he was looking for the New Land that he carelessly stumbled into Dream Pull Tower.

Was there any other approach?

Make a parcel himself and have someone from the newspaper office send it out.

This approach seemed safe, but right now it wasn't appropriate.

He'd considered it before—the newspaper office was very likely already being watched; if people from the newspaper office arrived at the station and the parcel failed to get on the train and was seized, Li Banfeng's situation would become dangerous.

While he was thinking, he suddenly heard a rustling sound from inside the suit.

Li Banfeng thought it was the gloves; he flipped open the suit and looked—a small iron box slid out from the inner pocket.

The iron box held the screws given him by Brother Tang; Li Banfeng wasn't short on hidden weapons, so the things had just stayed on his person, unused.

He hadn't expected that the moment the box touched the ground, it vanished into the floor.

Li Banfeng said, stunned, "Old thing, what are you doing with my screws?"

"Good stuff!" Leaving Leaving Suishenju let out a sigh of admiration.

"What's good about it? What's this thing useful for?"

Leaving Leaving Suishenju didn't answer.

Something given by the local earth god of Black Stone Slope ought to count as a treasure—and just like that it had been swallowed by the train.

Swallowed was fine too; he didn't need it anyway, and nobody else had profited either.

Having stocked the house with good stuff, the fortune was probably about to rise a notch.

While thinking, Li Banfeng noticed something else had also slid out of the suit.

A mechanism he'd taken from one of Jiang Xiang's hall master's underlings when he'd fought them.

Was this thing useful?

Li Banfeng hit upon an idea!

Late at night, Li Banfeng took a map of Black Stone Slope, wore that blue-green long gown and grayish-white formal hat, and raced northward all the way toward Black Stone Slope.

Through the city, past the suburbs, after more than three hours, Li Banfeng reached the border of Black Stone Slope.

Just like the familiar border line—a single line stretching off in both directions, no end in sight, not a blade of grass growing around it.

Li Banfeng took out the mechanism, gripped the lever and pulled; on the border line, there was no visible reaction at all.

He tossed a tree branch over, and the instant the branch crossed the border line, it turned to ash.

Seems like he was overthinking it.

The boundary line and the border line apparently weren't the same kind of thing—at the very least, this remote wasn't interchangeable between them.

Back at Leaving Leaving Suishenju, Li Banfeng kept thinking of a plan, when suddenly he heard an aged voice whispering in his ear: "Come to the third room, I'll modify it for you."

It was the voice of Leaving Leaving Suishenju.

Modify what?

The remote?

He could modify that too?

Li Banfeng went into the third room and set the remote on the floor.

Just like with the screw, the remote was quickly swallowed by the floor.

After waiting over an hour, the remote rose back up from the floor.

Li Banfeng picked it up and looked—no change from before.

"Can this thing be used on the border line?"

The voice of Leaving Leaving Suishenju sounded again: "That depends on whether you've got the guts."

PS: If you've got the guts, let's give it a try!

(End of chapter)