Chapter 413: He Is Still Alive (May Guarantee, All for Salad)

Chu Er came to reclaim wasteland.

This left Ma Wu utterly at a loss for what to say next.

"Second Miss, don't joke— if you really want to reclaim land, go by yourself. Come to us, and we can't afford to pay you a reward."

Chu Er's expression was solemn, her tone serious: "Young Master Wu, I'm not joking. I don't want your reward. I'll reclaim the land, and I'll give every plot to Li Qi—that's my repayment to him."

Chu Huaiyuan had truly changed, so much that Ma Wu felt uneasy, unable to even muster a jest with her.

Chu Er continued: "Young Master Wu, I'm not yet familiar with the areas you plan to reclaim. Could you tell me about them? If you're too busy, it's fine—I'll ask someone else."

What nonsense, Ma Wu said with a gesture inviting her inside: "Second Miss, please come in."

Chu Er followed Ma Wu into Xiaoyao Wu, and a man in a gray-white overcoat slipped in silently behind them.

Inside the private room, Ma Wu unfolded a map and outlined the key features of the Qiulu Ye territory.

After weighing her options, Chu Er selected a plot one li square.

After choosing, she felt slightly embarrassed: "I've taken up so much of your time for such a small plot—if I finish one li, we'll reclaim three more."

"No matter. As long as it's done, I'll thank you on behalf of Old Qi."

While Ma Wu was still considering whether his words were appropriate, Chu Er had already risen to take her leave.

Outside the private room, as they passed through the grand dance floor, a drunken guest bumped into Chu Er, knocking off her sleeve button.

The drunkard cursed: "Are you blind? Can't you watch where you're going?"

Ma Wu frowned and waved his hand, summoning Zuo Wugang from behind him.

Do you really need Zuo Wugang to deal with a drunkard?

It depends on the situation.

Standing beside Chu Er were Yang Yanzheng, Wen Hongyan, and her senior sister, Xiang Fenglan.

With so many skilled cultivators nearby, for someone to bump into Chu Er and knock off her sleeve button—that man was no ordinary person.

Wen Hongyan had just stepped in front of Chu Er when the drunkard's fierce expression suddenly dulled; his steps grew dreamlike, stumbling toward the exit.

Ma Wu sent Zuo Wugang after him. By the time they reached the entrance of Xiaoyao Wu, the man had vanished.

As everyone remained on guard, a man in a gray-white overcoat picked up the fallen sleeve button and handed it to Chu Er.

"Miss, this is yours."

Chu Er stared at the man for a long moment before taking the button and murmuring thanks.

The dance music began; guests paired up and took to the floor. The man turned and disappeared into the crowded dance hall.

Ma Wu's nerves tightened—Xiaoyao Wu seemed to have attracted many dangerous people today.

Chu Er warned: "Young Master Wu, be careful."

Ma Wu nodded: "Go back first. I'll handle things here."

Outside Xiaoyao Wu, Yang Yanzheng said: "Miss, that man looked familiar."

Chu Er nodded: "I think I've seen him too, but I can't recall where."

As soon as Chu Er left, Ma Wu summoned the manager: "Next song—have Jiang Mengting sing 'When Will You Return?' Once she finishes, dismiss everyone. We're closing early tonight."

At the entrance of Xiaoyao Wu stood a beggar.

Others couldn't see him, but he saw a man—in a gray-white overcoat.

"He's now reached Cloud Ascension cultivation," the green beggar rubbed his eye corner, "I thought he was dead. Turns out he went to Neizhou to be a dog."

Wan Jinxian beside him said: "Master, the man with Zhong Huaien is him."

"He's from Neizhou, came with Zhong Huaien—what's he doing in Lüshuicheng?" The green beggar squeezed a pus-filled boil; green pus oozed out.

Wan Jinxian dodged the spurting pus and whispered: "I overheard him speaking with Zhong Huaien. They've been watching the land reclamation closely, saying it's almost ready."

The green beggar nodded: "Almost ready—yes, it's almost ready. So many people reclaiming land, Qiudaxiang's territory is nearly cleared."

"I always thought Li Qi had no reason to do this—turns out Neizhou ordered him. Neizhou has long wanted its own legitimate land."

"They once wanted Lüshui Bay. They even consulted me several times—I kept stalling. Now they act without telling me at all."

Wan Jinxian didn't know the green beggar's ties to Neizhou, but the man's words sent chills down his spine.

The green beggar muttered to himself: "That woman on Jianren Gang must've realized I won't help him, and is looking for a new ally."

"But why Li Qi? What connection does Li Qi have with him?"

"Because of the benefactor—He Jiaqing is the benefactor, right?"

The green beggar turned to Wan Jinxian, who shook his head frantically: "I've never regarded He Jiaqing as my benefactor. My only benefactor is you."

"Only me?" The green beggar smiled. "What proof do you have?"

Wan Jinxian regretted it instantly.

I should've gotten a tattoo on my chest just now!

"I, uh, I, in my heart…"

He didn't know what to say. The green beggar didn't care to listen—he was still thinking.

"The benefactor is He Jiaqing. Li Qi wants to eliminate He Jiaqing. Jianren Gang wants to eliminate the benefactor. They share the same enemy."

"That's why this whole thing felt so suspicious—they're in cahoots. How did I never see it?"

Wan Jinxian couldn't see it either. He didn't know what to say.

The green beggar looked at the long line of applicants for land reclamation—stretching an entire street.

The green beggar smiled: "They come to my territory without telling me, siphoning off so many reclaimers—lower-tier cultivators are all gone."

"What about the higher-tier ones? The major clans are now cozy with Li Qi—also gone.

"Once they've drained all the cultivators, they'll go after the White Lambs. With enough people, they'll turn Qiudaxiang into Lüshui Bay. Then what? What will they do to me?"

"They don't trust me, and they think I know too much. It's about time they kill me to silence me."

"This whole mess is thanks to your junior brother—if not for him, I'd never have suspected. But then again, you've heard all this. Shouldn't I kill you too, to silence you?"

As he spoke, the green beggar seized Wan Jinxian's face.

Wan Jinxian didn't dare struggle, gasping: "Master, I'm utterly loyal. I swear I won't tell anyone about today."

"Of course—you just want to tell He Jiaqing, don't you?" The green beggar squeezed Wan Jinxian's face. "Tell him. And add this: business is business—see what price he's willing to pay."

Wan Jinxian said: "Whatever you command, I'll deliver the message."

"Not yet. First, deal with these two scum," the green beggar grinned, teeth clenched. "Almost forgot—three, not two. That white-clad one's no easy target."

…

Outside Lüshuicheng, in a wasteland.

The man in the gray-white overcoat slapped the drunkard's face.

The drunkard woke up, saw the man, and scrambled backward: "Sir, who are you? What are you doing?"

The man's face was blank: "Why did you provoke Chu Huaiyuan in Xiaoyao Wu?"

"Who's Chu Huaiyuan?" The man shook his head. "I don't know her."

The man shook his index finger. A dull thud— the drunkard's right arm severed cleanly at the shoulder. No blood, only a gray-white wound.

The drunkard screamed in terror but felt no pain: "Sir, what sorcery is this? I swear I don't know Chu Huaiyuan!"

The man flicked his finger again—the drunkard's left arm also severed.

"Sir, please spare me! This is too terrifying!" The drunkard nearly wept.

"You think this isn't real? Because it doesn't hurt?" The man made a slicing motion with his hand— the drunkard's legs severed at the roots.

The drunkard broke down.

Though painless, his limbs were numb—he feared this wasn't an illusion.

"Sir, please! I'll tell the truth—I'm from Guanfangshi. He ordered us to cause trouble in Xiaoyao Wu to keep Ma Wu occupied."

"You?"

"There are three others—two in the grand dance hall, one in the private room ready to set fire."

"Them?" The man pointed to the side.

The drunkard saw three more men beside him—his comrades—all limbs severed, staring blankly on the ground.

"Sir, what are you doing? Grandfather!" The drunkard screamed in despair.

The man asked: "Why did they want to keep Ma Wu occupied?"

"I really don't know, sir! We were only given this one task!"

The man's face remained expressionless: "Truth?"

"I swear it's true!"

"Go."

The man waved his hand—the four men's limbs reattached to their bodies, leaving not a single scar.

The drunkard trembled as he rose; the other three crawled up.

The drunkard said: "Then… we'll go."

"Go quickly," the man nodded.

The four men bolted away, feeling as if they'd just survived a nightmare.

Not far away, all four collapsed—their limbs detached again, blood gushing out.

Not a dream?

Real!

All four screamed in terror. Zhong Huaien said to the man: "Master Chu, they may truly be from Guanfangshi. This punishment may damage relations between our factions."

"Guanfangshi? Liao Zihui?" The man knew the Chief of Guanfangshi well. "He's no good."

"I know you have a grudge with the Chief, but right now…"

"You think I'm using my position to settle personal scores?" The man looked at Zhong Huaien.

Zhong Huaien shook his head rapidly: "That's not what I meant."

The man said coldly: "These people didn't tell the truth. If they wanted to delay Ma Wu, they could've acted anytime—there's no way it's just coincidence that they happened to collide with Huaiyuan."

Zhong Huaien froze: "You mean…"

"Liao Zihui already knows I'm here—he's received word. He's using Huaiyuan to dig up information. That bastard always operates this way."

Zhong Huaien grew even more uneasy; from Liao Zihui's attitude, the Waizhou Society wasn't friendly toward them: "Master Chu, we've been in Lüshui City for two days—should we tell Lüshui Beggar about this?"

The man shook his head: "I didn't come here just to investigate the reclamation. I'm also investigating Lüshui Beggar. I've heard he handled certain matters very poorly."

Zhong Huaien nodded: "Indeed. Especially in the matter of Lu Mao—Lüshui Beggar went through the motions but did nothing. It greatly displeased our Master."

The man sighed: "Lüshui Beggar is fickle. It's hard to say whether he's connected to that benefactor. This matter must be cleared up."

"Find someone who can speak to Huaiyuan and persuade her. I have only one daughter left—I can't let her get dragged into this."

…

Cui Ti came to Lanyang Village, entered the new land, and pulled the nail from the heel of his boot.

It was a magic treasure borrowed from Wan Jinxian—fast indeed, but Cui Ti was exhausted; the boots drained his strength severely.

And the nail piercing his heel was genuinely painful.

Cui Ti saw a beggar begging by the roadside, noticed the row of bumps on the beggar's face.

He recognized those bumps—they were Lüshui Beggar's mark.

Lüshui Beggar ordered him to kill someone here—who exactly was he meant to kill?

…

Inside the portable dwelling, Li Banfeng sat on the edge of the bed, muttering to himself.

"Yuan Shoulu blocked my path—I can't let this slide."

"If I can't let it slide, I'll have to kill him."

PS: Dear readers, in April, the Lord of Proletariat surged forward, with average subscriptions surpassing twenty thousand—all thanks to your votes pushing Shala forward.

Your kindness is beyond repayment—I'll add an extra chapter tonight at midnight. Dear readers, please give Shala your guaranteed monthly votes.

Also, the next chapter is nuclear.

(End of chapter)