Chapter 399: Rivalry Among the Thief Brotherhood (Requesting Monthly Votes)

"Xiuling, something's off," Shen Rongqing whispered, "Bao Yingchen was barely clinging to life, yet he dragged himself back to the main hall—he should've at least called someone to help him detoxify."

Zhang Xiuling, busy scribbling in her notebook, brushed off Shen Rongqing with a reply: "Maybe the poison he took has no cure."

Shen Rongqing shook her head repeatedly: "Even if there's no cure, he made it back to his own territory—he still should've tried something."

Zhang Xiuling wrote faster: "Perhaps Grandmaster Bao had long since grown indifferent to life and death."

"What nonsense—that's life and death! You only get one life; who doesn't want to live? Instead of spouting last words here, at least give yourself a chance to survive."

Zhang Xiuling chuckled: "That's a matter of realm, Rongqing—do you even understand the realms here?"

Shen Rongqing genuinely couldn't grasp it: "Xiuling, tell me—what realms exist here? What kind of realm could truly make someone indifferent to life and death?"

"Realms are hard to explain," Zhang Xiuling suddenly lowered her voice, "if you haven't reached indifference toward life and death, don't say so much—"

"You're a merchant—you know too little about the brotherhoods. Keep talking, and your life might be in danger."

This was the difference between Zhang Xiuling and Shen Rongqing: both were talented women, but Shen Rongqing was a merchant, while Zhang Xiuling was the Sect Master of Baihua Gate.

Shen Rongqing still couldn't understand: "Xiuling, don't you want to know the truth?"

Zhang Xiuling used her "thousand words in one stroke" technique to write several lines on her notebook and held it up before Shen Rongqing:

"Rongqing, truths aren't all the same. Merchants value authenticity; brotherhoods value what's seen with one's own eyes."

"In the brotherhoods, what you see is real; what you don't see is false."

"Bao Yingchen is dead—you saw it. That's real."

"Shen Jinzhong wept—you saw it. That's real too."

"By protocol, the Second Gold Seal must now become the Great Gold Seal—the protocol is real, the seal is real."

"You've seen all this. What you see is real. Don't waste time guessing at what you can't see."

After reading those lines, Shen Rongqing fell silent.

What had just happened—everyone present had seen it. That made it real.

Compared to that, all her suspicions were meaningless—only a burden, even a death sentence.

Next, Shen Jinzhong had two tasks.

First: bury Bao Yingchen properly. Whether as sworn brother or subordinate, it was Shen Jinzhong's duty.

Second: deal with the traitor. Bao Yingchen had spoken his piece—the traitor was clearly Dong Kaiwen.

Dong Kaiwen was still dazed, unsure how to defend himself.

In truth, he didn't need to worry about defense—Shen Jinzhong wouldn't give him the chance.

Several disciples pinned Dong Kaiwen to the table; Shen Jinzhong raised his knife.

This was Li Qi's instruction: no hesitation, no mercy, no pause for argument or negotiation.

Dong Kaiwen had cultivation—he was a Fifth Layer Hardening cultivator.

He had followers—several close attendants stood in the hall.

He tried to use a technique to escape, but Shen Jinzhong subdued him instantly.

He called out to his men—each was already held at knife-point.

Dong Kaiwen screamed: "I knew nothing of what the Chu family did!"

It was too late. Shen Jinzhong slashed his head clean off.

Watching the blood spurt, He Yuxiu felt a pang of regret.

What a waste of good lamb.

Someone whispered at the table: "Was this really the Chu family's doing?"

Shen Jinzhong gritted his teeth: "The Chu family didn't even dare show up—if not them, who else?"

True—the Chu family hadn't come.

Shen Jinzhong had hosted a hotpot feast—he hadn't invited the Chu family. How could they come?

This wasn't the time for reason. Now, it was about sentiment and atmosphere.

Killing Dong Kaiwen avenged the Grandmaster—Shen Jinzhong had shown his sentiment; the atmosphere was perfect.

Next came the funeral. Guests who had come to eat the feast naturally wouldn't break etiquette—they filed past the coffin to pay respects.

As for autopsy? No one dared mention it. As Zhang Xiuling had said: Bao Yingchen was dead. Dead was dead.

Shen Jinzhong wore mourning robes, heartbroken, nearly fainting from grief.

He Yuxiu lit an incense stick before Bao Yingchen's body and said to Shen Jinzhong: "The accomplice is dealt with—what about the mastermind?"

"What kind of talk is that, Sister He?" Shen Jinzhong snarled. "The Three Heroes Gate and the Chu family are sworn enemies!"

"Good," He Yuxiu nodded. "I'll remember that. Old Bao's spirit will hear it."

Amid the flow of guests, a man in a suit and top hat entered the funeral hall.

He tapped Shen Jinzhong on the shoulder—without that tap, Shen Jinzhong wouldn't have known he was there.

"Seventh Master," Shen Jinzhong stepped to the corner and whispered, "the item you requested—I've sent men to find it. Should be here soon."

Li Banfeng nodded: "Everything go smoothly?"

"Smoothly. Once Brother is buried, the rest will be easy."

"Don't wait," Li Banfeng said, concerned. "Keep the funeral simple. Delay any longer, and the cabbage might get into trouble."

Shen Jinzhong was equally anxious: "Can't be tonight—I've already told the guests we'll bury him tomorrow."

…

"Tomorrow's burial?" Zhang Xiuling closed her notebook and sighed. "Shen Jinzhong's in a hurry."

Shen Rongqing whispered: "With a funeral this rushed, won't anyone suspect?"

Zhang Xiuling nodded: "Some do. More than one. But so what? They'll only think it in their heads."

Thinking won't change anything. This mystery may remain unsolved for decades—even a century."

But what difference does it make? The Grandmaster of the Three Heroes Gate now is Shen Jinzhong."

…

As Li Qi and Shen Jinzhong conversed in the funeral hall, Xie Juncong, Grandmaster of Guishou Gate, entered to pay respects.

"You must be Seventh Master?" Xie Juncong stepped forward to greet him.

Li Banfeng was surprised—few noticed him so quickly.

Shen Jinzhong stepped forward to introduce: "This is Xie Juncong, Grandmaster of Guishou Gate."

Hearing "Guishou Gate," Li Banfeng wanted to pin this kindly old man to the ground and beat him senseless.

But the timing and place were wrong—he held back. Xie Juncong sighed: "Old Bao, before he passed, said he'd accepted you as a friend."

"He was a true man. I admire him. From now on, I, Xie, accept you as a friend too."

"Senior Xie, your virtue and prestige are renowned—I've long admired your name…" Li Banfeng, deeply moved, spun a few lies with sincerity and brushed him off.

Bai Wusong, Grandmaster of Baihe Gang, entered the hall. He hadn't noticed Li Banfeng at first—but seeing him speak with Xie Juncong, he came over to chat.

"Seventh Master, Baihe Gang hasn't had much contact with you, but a friend of Old Bao is my friend, Bai Wusong."

Li Banfeng bowed in return. After Bai Wusong left, he asked: "What's the background of Baihe Gang?"

Shen Jinzhong replied: "In Puluozhou, Baihe Gang is a major brotherhood. All its members are Body Cultivators, divided into two factions: Transformation Body Cultivators and Metamorphosis Body Cultivators."

Li Banfeng knew little about Body Cultivators: "What's the difference between Transformation and Metamorphosis Body Cultivators?"

"Simply put: Transformation Body Cultivators turn into beasts; Metamorphosis Body Cultivators turn beasts into humans."

"Bai Wusong is a Transformation Body Cultivator. He just ascended last year. By rights, he shouldn't have become Grandmaster."

"He had a Metamorphosis Body Cultivator senior—a crane transformed into a man. Supposedly, he spent twenty years in seclusion and achieved great progress."

"A year ago, he emerged from seclusion, ready to take the Grandmaster seat—but vanished near Yaowang Gully."

A celestial crane vanished near Yaowang Gully.

Li Banfeng felt he'd seen this man before.

That man had slammed into the border—vanished into ash!

To become Grandmaster, this man must have had formidable cultivation.

Looks like I should avoid long seclusions. Too long, and people might do something insane.

As he pondered, Li Haoyun, head of Furong Zhai, entered the hall. Seeing Bai Wusong speak with Li Qi, he came over to greet him.

"Seventh Master, we're kin. Let's look out for each other!"

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Haoyun left. Li Banfeng asked: "What business is Furong Zhai in?"

"Bookhouse business," Shen Jinzhong raised an eyebrow. "Furong Zhai owns thirty percent of the bookhouses in Lüshui City—and plenty of operations in Kudai Kan."

Furong Zhai. Li Haoyun.

Li Banfeng felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity toward him.

A few more guests arrived. A subordinate approached Shen Jinzhong and handed him a redwood box.

Shen Jinzhong dismissed the man and handed the box to Li Banfeng: "Seventh Master, the item you requested—I've got it."

Li Banfeng took the box, opened it—and inside lay a pair of Judge's Pens.

Was this the gift Chu Huaijun had given Bao Yingchen?

Li Banfeng picked up the Judge's Pens, ran his fingers over them.

Indeed fine weapons—exquisite craftsmanship, premium materials.

But after listening closely, he heard no sound.

He possessed the skill to perceive spiritual resonance. If he heard nothing, the Judge's Pens had no spirit.

"Just a pair of weapons? Worth Bao Yingchen's life?" Li Banfeng didn't believe it.

Seeing Li Banfeng's expression, Shen Jinzhong hurried to explain: "Seventh Master, let me be clear—I handed this to you the moment I found it. I didn't touch it."

Li Banfeng glanced at the courtyard and saw Xie Juncong, head of the Ghost Hand Sect, walking toward the gate.

"How are the relations between the Three Heroes Sect and the Ghost Hand Sect?"

Shen Jinzhong sighed and said: "With a gang like that, how do you put it—

offend them, and you invite trouble; get too close, and the trouble grows even worse. You just barely coexist, enough to avoid open conflict, that's all."

Li Banfeng stepped up behind Xie Juncong and asked: "Master Xie, are you heading back? Let me see you off?"

Xie Juncong shook his head: "I'm not leaving tonight. I'm seeing Old Bao off one last time."

He said he wasn't leaving.

Then wasn't it him who took the item?

Li Banfeng asked no more and turned away.

Once Li Banfeng was far enough, Xie Juncong pulled a white silk glove from his sleeve.

He had taken this glove from Li Banfeng. Though he didn't know its purpose, as a thief cultivator with the ability to recognize treasures, he knew it was a magic treasure of immense value.

Xie Juncong silently mused: "Young man, to suspect me—that shows some wit. But to come here so casually to test me? He still lacks experience."

Xie Juncong checked the time, waited until just after two in the morning, and seized the moment when everyone was drowsy to slip away from the Golden Seal Hall.

A thief cultivator's strike depends entirely on timing.

What kind of timing is best?

The Golden Seal Hall of the Three Heroes Sect was heavily guarded; even Xie Juncong dared not claim full confidence in sneaking in under normal circumstances.

But now, Shen Jinzhong had invited him to hot pot, walking openly into the hall—this was the perfect moment.

As for whether Shen Jinzhong would seek revenge afterward, that was uncertain, but Xie Juncong knew priorities: He Jiaqing's assigned task mattered more to him.

As the saying goes, catch the thief with the stolen goods. Without proof, even if he came looking, Xie Juncong wouldn't admit a thing.

Besides, Shen Jinzhong had just become Grand Seal Keeper—his position was still unstable. Xie Juncong wasn't afraid he'd break the peace.

Back at his old house beside the City God Temple in Houtang, Xie Juncong pulled out a pair of Judge's Pens, ready to contact Wan Jinxian and hand the treasure over to He Jiaqing—when he suddenly noticed the Judge's Pens looked familiar.

It wasn't just familiarity—it was unmistakable. These were the Judge's Pens he'd had custom-made to swap out inside the Golden Seal Hall!

How had they been switched back?

Where was the real pair?

Xie Juncong froze for a moment, patted his inner pocket—and found the glove he'd taken from Li Banfeng was gone too.

…

Inside his body, the glove spat out the Judge's Pens and sneered: "This old fool dares to steal anything? At his age, still so reckless—

Boss, take a look—what's the quality of this thing?"

Li Banfeng smiled: "You're the expert. Whatever you pick is bound to be good."

He held the pair of Judge's Pens and walked over to his own Judge's Pen, whispering: "Bi, your two brothers came to visit you. Since you all look identical, I won't give you new names—

this one'll be Second Pen, the other Third Pen, and you keep being Cheap Pen. Deal?"

The Judge's Pen was asleep and ignored Li Banfeng.

The second-ranked Judge's Pen voluntarily swapped places with the third-ranked one—he didn't want to be called Second Pen.

After waiting a long while, the two new pens seemed to have no reaction with the original Judge's Pen.

Li Banfeng frowned: "What's going on here?"

Hum~

The Body Dwelling suddenly spoke: "Ah Qi, bring this to the Third Chamber. Let me take a look."

Li Banfeng brought the Judge's Pens to the Third Chamber.

The Body Dwelling's tone turned grave: "Ah Qi, put the pens down first. Let me examine them closely!"

"Put down…" the glove tensed.

"Ah Tao, don't speak!" The Body Dwelling's tone grew even sterner.

Li Banfeng placed the pair of Judge's Pens on the ground.

"Fine treasure! Hahaha!" The Body Dwelling burst into laughter—the two Judge's Pens instantly melted, seeped into the floor, and vanished.

Li Banfeng stared in shock, then roared: "Old thief, are you just stealing outright?!"

PS: Why did the Body Dwelling take this?

(End of Chapter)