Chapter 391

Two rickshaws stopped at Lu Chunying's doorstep; two women got out one after the other and entered the courtyard.

Xiao Yeci and Lu Chunying met them at the door; seeing the two women arrive, Xiao Yeci quickly greeted them: "Sister!"

Lu Chunying added beside her: "Sister."

Slap!

Xiao Yeci slapped Lu Chunying aside and hurried to take He Yuxiu's luggage.

He Yuxiu hadn't brought much luggage; her daily necessities were all kept at You Tao's place.

You Tao was extremely nervous, keeping her head lowered and saying nothing.

Xiao Yeci smiled: "This must be Sister Tao, right? Chunying, call her Auntie."

Lu Chunying glanced at You Tao's age and shook her head: "Never mind, I'll just call her Sister."

Li Banfeng had placed He Yuxiu in Lu Chunying's house, gathering all unsafe individuals in one location to pinpoint the focus of defense.

Ma Wu thought this was absurd, but since Li Banfeng had decided, there was nothing he could do to change it.

At dinner time, Ma Wu sighed: "I'm afraid Chu Huaijun might suddenly send someone over—we'd be in trouble then…"

He Yuxiu cut him off: "Don't worry. If he dares come to this house, I'll rip his head off."

Ma Wu chuckled bitterly: "Sister Xiu, don't talk like that. Chu Huaijun now answers to the Frontier Commissioner."

He Yuxiu shook her head: "I'm not joking. I was meant to die at the soda kiln, and I would've died a pitiful death. Old Seven dragged me back from the gates of death."

"I thought I'd never return to Lüshuicheng. Today I'm back—and even moved into this place. Yeci and Chunying took me in, all thanks to Old Seven."

Xiao Yeci smiled: "Sister, don't be so formal. Neither I nor Chunying count as little sisters."

He Yuxiu said: "Everyone in this house—including me—is Old Seven's. Whoever lays a hand on this house, I'll fight them to the death, no matter who they are."

Xiao Yeci stole glances at He Yuxiu, her heart pounding.

This woman was more formidable than any man!

After dinner, Li Banfeng took He Yuxiu and Luo Zhengnan to the He family mansion.

Half a street away from the mansion, the three entered a private residence.

The residence belonged to Luo Zhengnan—no courtyard, just a two-story house.

Inside the first floor, He Yuxiu saw colorful paper scraps pasted on the walls, uneven and staggered, as if forming some pattern, yet indiscernible.

"These are Wu Xiu artifacts," He Yuxiu whispered to Li Qi. "Are they for soundproofing?"

Li Banfeng gave a slight nod.

Luo Zhengnan slipped into the kitchen, poured a bucket of water into the sink, and the water immediately drained through, disappearing somewhere below.

He added firewood to the stove, lit it—but no pot sat atop.

He Yuxiu glanced at Li Banfeng and whispered: "This is a steam engine, isn't it?"

Sharp eyes, Xiu'er.

Luo Zhengnan climbed to the second floor, lifted the bedboard, revealing a half-meter-long iron barrel beneath. Both ends connected to the floor below, covered in numerous tubes, humming with unknown contents.

He Yuxiu froze.

She knew what it was—but such a thing was extremely rare in Pulu Province.

He Yuxiu asked Li Banfeng: "Isn't this a generator?"

"You recognize this?"

"Of course. A steam turbine generator. I've seen them. They're common in outer provinces, but useless in Pulu Province—electricity fades from front room to backyard. That's called excessive line loss."

He Yuxiu meant line loss—the complete dissipation of electrical energy along transmission lines.

So why not generate electricity directly inside the house?

Someone had tried. Precision devices like televisions and computers couldn't function normally in Pulu Province; upon startup, screens filled with static, occasionally flickering images of unknown origin.

Simple devices like light bulbs could still work.

But generators were deafeningly loud. To power a single bulb, you endured ear-splitting noise, had to constantly add coal and water—far better to use gas lamps.

He Yuxiu also hated the noise. She covered her ears and asked: "What's the point of this thing?"

Li Banfeng replied: "It depends on the expert's skill."

The generator's output connected to a half-spherical device resembling radar.

Luo Zhengnan turned the wheel, adjusted the radar's direction, pulled out two wires, and attached them to his temples.

He flipped the switch. Current surged through his body; he shuddered and activated his technique.

He Yuxiu exclaimed: "I've never seen this sect before."

Li Banfeng smiled calmly: "Xiu'er, you haven't seen anything yet!"

Luo Zhengnan straightened his posture, solemnly declaring: "Now listen to an excerpt from 'The Yang Family Heroines'—'Probing the Valley.' The people cry, the huja wails, mountains echo, valleys tremble, battle cries shake the heavens!"

Li Banfeng applauded: "Xiu'er, what do you think of that vocal style?"

He Yuxiu was unimpressed: "Voice is average, posture's decent."

Luo Zhengnan shook his head: "Wrong channel."

He adjusted the radar's direction, waited a moment, then told Li Banfeng: "There are three hook-bearing men near the He mansion—one at the front gate, one at the back gate, one by the roadside."

No need to ask—these three were spies sent by the Frontier Commissioner.

Li Banfeng pulled out a music box from his pocket, opened the lid, revealing a small golden figure on the tray.

He turned it slightly to face Luo Zhengnan, then pressed the switch. The music box began playing.

The melody was gentle and moving—Ling Miaoying's gift to Li Banfeng.

He Yuxiu and Li Banfeng felt nothing, for the golden figure wasn't aimed at them.

But Luo Zhengnan was affected—he grew drowsy, on the verge of sleep, because the music he heard differed from what others heard.

He needed to transmit what he heard. He twisted his left ear, switching from receive mode to transmit mode.

The music box's tune traveled through the radar and reached the ears of the three hook-bearing men. Within less than a minute, all three fell asleep.

Luo Zhengnan also fell asleep—the music box's power was too great.

Li Banfeng shut off the generator, packed up the equipment, carried Luo Zhengnan back to bed, and returned with He Yuxiu to the He family mansion.

"Seven Brother, you went to all this trouble just to help me return home?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "You owe me this favor. I'll make you do something extreme."

He Yuxiu smiled: "Fine, I'll do it. What could possibly be too extreme?"

"Go home, explain everything clearly, then come back right away."

He Yuxiu nodded and walked toward the He family mansion.

He Yuxiu nodded and walked toward the He family mansion.

Inside the He family mansion, the accountant Sheng Shan Zhou was leaving with a suitcase when Madame Yan Yulin blocked him: "Old Sheng, you can't leave. Who'll manage the household affairs?"

Sheng Shan Zhou looked distressed: "Madam, I'm just an accountant. I lack the ability. I'm old, worn out. Let me go home and enjoy a few peaceful days."

Yan Yulin shook her head: "No, Old Sheng. If you leave now, what will we do?"

"The master is gone. What can I do? Madam, please let me go."

"Who says the master is gone?" He Yuxiu leapt through the window, startling Yan Yulin into nearly screaming.

Sheng Shan Zhou dropped his suitcase and bowed hastily: "Miss He, you've returned! I was just…"

Sheng Shan Zhou's box fell to the ground; he hurriedly bowed to He Yuxiu and said, "Miss He, you've returned—I was just…"

"I—I was just… going to fetch the ledgers to report to the master."

"Enough. I haven't time for your sermons. Listen: all business outlets now have designated shipping points. Details follow Ma Wu's orders. Cut all ties with the Chu family completely…"

After finishing, He Yuxiu returned to Lu Chunying's house; Li Banfeng went back to Luo Zhengnan's residence.

Once Luo Zhengnan woke, he reassembled the equipment and roused the three spies.

Li Banfeng asked: "They all fell asleep at once—won't they suspect something?"

"Seven Master, rest assured. They don't know they all fell asleep simultaneously. They only know they fell asleep."

"They're Pulu locals working for outer provinces. They're just earning a living. No one would admit to dozing off at night."

Back at Xiaoyao Wu, Li Banfeng planned to have a drink with Ma Wu when Cao Zhida reported: "A young man showed up at the dance hall, drank alcohol without paying, and demanded tea. His attire and speech suggest he's from San Ying Men."

Cao Zhida was tense; Ma Wu dismissed it—San Ying Men had Qin Tianjiu; nothing serious would happen.

"Give him some money and send him away."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "I'll invite him for tea. Lao Luo, come with me."

Bringing Luo Zhengnan was to check for hidden hooks.

At the dance hall, Li Banfeng saw the young man sprawled half-reclined in a chair, looking insolent.

Luo Zhengnan gave a slight nod—no hidden hooks nearby.

Li Banfeng sat beside him and whispered: "Looking for me?"

The youth startled, about to sit up straight—when Li Qi said: "Don't move. Stay just like before."

The youth didn't dare move. He whispered: "Seven Master, our Bronze Seal wishes to invite you for tea tomorrow."

Li Banfeng handed the youth a silver dollar, pulled down his hat, and left the dance hall.

The next morning, Li Banfeng arrived at the teahouse; Xiao Pan hurriedly led him to a private room.

"Seven Brother, Master Chu Huaijun hosted our Grand Master and Third Master for dinner last night—and gifted our Grand Master a treasure."

"Seventh Brother, Chu Huaijun, head of the Chu family, invited our Grand Boss and Third Boss to dinner last night and gave our Grand Boss a treasure."

"A pair of Judge's Pens."

Judge's Pens?

Judge's Brush?

Li Banfeng made some connections.

Could this be a relative of my family's Judge's Pen?

"What's the use of this Judge's Pen?"

Little Fat scratched his scalp: "I don't know exactly what it does, but I heard it's one of the Chu family's best-kept treasures."

Judging by its origin, this Judge's Pen is quite different from Li Banfeng's—he got his from two hooligans.

"You've invited your boss and your third boss—where's your second boss? Are you deliberately isolating him?"

Little Fat nodded: "The second boss was furious—he called me and our Silver Badge last night, drank while cursing. He dared not curse the boss, only called the third boss a coward, and went on for half the night."

I thought about what Seventh Brother said earlier—his cursing was really meant for me. He probably truly wants to team up with you, Seventh Brother. Should we meet the second boss?"

"Don't rush to meet him. First, send him a gift—go to Yufangzhai, pick something nice, something your boss likes. I'll pay."

Qin Xiaoqiang said: "If I send it, it won't mean much. It'd be better if Seventh Brother himself delivered it."

Li Banfeng smiled: "If you send it, it's the same as me sending it—he knows."

…

"A pair of Judge's Pens? The Chu family's treasure?" He Jiaqing frowned. "I've never heard of it."

Wan Jinxian said: "The rumor came from San Ying Gate—it's already been sent to their Great Gold Seal. This is definitely true."

"Old Wan, contact Gui Shou Men. Tell them it's my order—they must find a way to get this pair of Judge's Pens back for me."

…

"Judge's Pens?" Luo Zhengnan wiped his antenna and put the box away. "He Jiaqing seems to like them. I wonder if Seventh Master does too."

PS: Do Judge's Pens really have relatives?

(End of Chapter)