Chapter 538: Principal and Interest

Li Li Banfeng escorted Lu Lu Dongjun into the third room; that night, no one in the household disturbed the old man, who spoke at length with Lu Lu Dongjun.

The next morning, the old man woke Li Li Banfeng: "Ah Qi, let's talk."

Li Qi entered the third room but did not see Lu Lu Dongjun.

The old man said: "He's still in our home. Some things he must not know, some things he must not remember, but some things still require his involvement."

"What things?"

"He carries a mark, buried very deep."

Li Qi murmured: "A mark buried deep—Old Man, how did you find it?"

Leaving Suishenju said: "That's not important. What matters is, it's an Neizhou mark. Once we reach Neizhou, pull out Neizhou's map, and this mark will lead us to a specific location."

"The reason I let Lu Lu Dongjun live this long is because I believe this mark is crucial. Ah Qi, who do you think left this mark?"

Li Li Banfeng said: "I think it was the high cultivator who released him from Neizhou."

"Ah Qi, who do you think that high cultivator is?"

Li Li Banfeng said: "I think that high cultivator is Train Eunuch."

Leaving Suishenju fell silent for a long while: "You think so too?"

"I went to Neizhou once—not in person, but in a dream."

Upon hearing this, Leaving Suishenju recalled: Li Li Banfeng had wandered dazedly at Heishi Slope, riding the bus for three days without returning home.

Leaving Suishenju said: "Back then, I guessed you met Old Train in Neizhou."

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "He pulled me out of Neizhou—from the cracks between dreams. Lu Lu Dongjun also emerged from those cracks. The method is too similar. So I believe it was Train Eunuch."

"It was him—you think so too—" Leaving Suishenju trembled; all thirteen rooms shook. "If this mark truly came from Old Train, once we enter Neizhou, we can rescue him."

Li Li Banfeng said: "I promised Train Eunuch I'd find a way to rescue him from Neizhou. I'm planning to investigate—starting with that nightclub in the Undercity."

"What are you looking for in a nightclub?"

"There's a ruthless man there. I suspect he's connected to Lu Lu Dongjun, yet Lu Lu Dongjun never mentioned him."

"He must hold critical clues about Train Eunuch. Through him, we might find the entrance to Neizhou."

Li Li Banfeng was about to rise when Leaving Suishenju called out: "Ah Qi, don't go."

"Why not?"

"When you went to the Undercity, I went with you. Though we'd never met, his methods made it clear—he's ruthless. You're not ready to provoke him. I questioned Lu Lu Dongjun—he knows nothing about this man. Wait until we learn more before approaching him."

Li Li Banfeng thought a moment: "I'll first investigate the Chamomile Witch Association. They summoned Lu Lu Dongjun with a covenant—this can't be coincidence. Behind it may be Train Eunuch's arrangement."

A handsome man, and a man named Jun—sounds like mere coincidence, yet if you think carefully,

there's much mystery here.

Train Eunuch discovered Lu Lu Dongjun in the kiln, assessed his strength, lent him power, and gave him a trial.

Lu Lu Dongjun passed the trial, escaped the kiln, and reached a relatively safe place.

Meanwhile, Train Eunuch, through his agents in Waizhou, made a series of arrangements, ensuring they summoned Lu Lu Dongjun through a special ritual.

Lu Lu Dongjun carries Train Eunuch's coordinates—this is the viable path to rescue him.

Of course, all this rests on Li Li Banfeng's deductions. To verify them, we must begin with the Chamomile Witch Association.

Li Li Banfeng was about to head to the Dark Star Bureau when Leaving Suishenju stopped him: "This could be Old Train's arrangement—or it could be Neizhou's. They might be fishing. Ah Qi, don't take the bait."

"Old Man, what's gotten into you? Why the hesitation? Don't you want to save Old Train?"

"I do—more than anyone. But I won't sacrifice you to save him."

Li Li Banfeng said: "You care that much about me?"

"I care, just as I care about Old Train," Leaving Suishenju suddenly smiled. "I don't know why I care—you were a peddler who botched his business and pawned me off to you. I can't fathom how this bond formed."

After a moment of silence, Li Li Banfeng and Leaving Suishenju both laughed.

After laughing, Li Li Banfeng went to the Dark Star Bureau.

The matter needed investigating, but caution was necessary.

The Chamomile Witch Association members remained detained. Li Li Banfeng questioned them; most queries were trivial, but one was critical: "Where did you get your spirit-summoning covenant?"

After days in detention, Chairman Cheriviko's demeanor had calmed. He no longer resisted interrogation and answered Li Li Banfeng's questions truthfully: "I've answered this before. This covenant was transferred to me by another witch association in our country."

According to him, the matter seemed large, implicating multiple factions across nations.

But Li Li Banfeng disagreed—he noticed Cheriviko deliberately omitting details: "When you say 'transferred,' do you mean purchased?"

Cheriviko nodded.

Li Li Banfeng was unsatisfied: "Be specific. Did you buy it from Lavsha, or from Da Huan?"

Cheriviko hesitated: "From Da Huan."

"Did you buy it from Lavsha people—or from Da Huan people?"

Cheriviko lowered his head: "From Da Huan people."

His answer clarified the situation.

Cheriviko quickly added: "But he was indeed a member of another witch association—he showed me their emblem, proving his identity."

Li Li Banfeng said: "He showed only an emblem? No introduction? No other proof?"

Cheriviko said nothing. Li Li Banfeng was right.

Li Li Banfeng brought paper and pen, handed them to Cheriviko: "Write down his name. If you can't write, we'll have to move to a different room—and talk longer."

Cheriviko could write Da Huan characters. He wrote the man's name.

His name was Tong Tong Yousan—a name not typical of a Waizhou person.

Li Li Banfeng put away his notebook, returned to his office, and summoned Shen Shen Jingye.

Shen Shen Jingye entered excitedly: "Li Ju, did you find that high-level martial artist?"

"How easy is that to find?" Li Li Banfeng motioned for Shen to sit. "Xiao Shen, what do you plan to do with the Chamomile Association members?"

"Hand them over to judicial authorities. They endangered public safety—no leniency."

Li Li Banfeng found this acceptable.

"What about the person who supplied the covenant?"

Shen Shen Jingye shook his head: "I don't think we need to trace it. These covenants flood the market. I've seen one sold for as little as sixteen yuan."

"Some buy them to study seriously; others buy them for fun. They're no different from fortune-telling, divination, or fengshui manuals sold on the street. If we crack down on every one, we'd arrest countless people."

Shen Shen Jingye knew the covenants came from the black market—he simply didn't want to pursue it further.

His approach was correct. To ensure these people faced proper punishment, the case must not be expanded—otherwise, it would be diluted and vanish.

Li Li Banfeng understood Shen Shen Jingye's reasoning: "I investigate matters, but I don't arrest lightly. This covenant is genuine—not those crude forgeries. It might lead us to the spirits' whereabouts."

With Li Qi solely responsible for locating the spirits, Shen Shen Jingye took every one of his requests seriously: "Li Ju, you don't need to handle this yourself. Let Mijian go. His name is Tong Tong Yousan, right? I bet I can find him in half a day."

Many thought Shen Shen Jingye didn't care about frontline operations, but he knew the strengths of nearly every member of the Public Order Squad.

In the squad, besides Seeing Datou, Mijian knew the black market best. She indeed found Tong Tong Yousan's identity within half a day: "He runs a bookstore on Nanshan Kou Pedestrian Street in Jia District. Secretly, he deals in covenants and other items—he's somewhat known in the black market."

Li Li Banfeng asked: "Is he connected to Lavsha people?"

Mijian smiled faintly, a dimple appearing on her left cheek: "Whether he's connected depends on who the customer is. If the customer is from Lavsha, he's a Lavsha Witch Association member—he speaks fluent Lavsha."

"If the customer is from Ingri, he's a member of the Ingri Royal Mage Corps—he carries an emblem, a certificate, speaks fluent Ingri."

Li Li Banfeng smiled: "A talent. I'll meet him."

Mijian took Li Li Banfeng to Sanyou Bookstore. The owner, Tong Tong Yousan, was organizing shelves and paid them little attention.

The two walked to the third bookshelf. Mijian picked up a copy of *Medieval Dark Magic*, flipped through a few pages,

and said to Li Li Banfeng: "This book is meaningless—nothing real inside."

Tong Tong Yousan glanced at them, stepped forward, and asked: "What real thing are you looking for?"

"You tell me," Mijian waved the book. "We came all this way—not to buy children's fairy tales."

Tong Tong Yousan laughed: "These books are meant for children. Who takes them seriously?"

Mijian lowered her voice: "Boss Tong, we're professionals. We're here to buy real goods."

Tong Tong Yousan looked confused: "My books are authentic. Isn't that what 'real goods' means?"

Mijian frowned: "That's not how this works."

Tong Tong Yousan looked baffled: "What do you mean? I have many books—if this one's boring, pick another."

Mijian grew irritated, preparing to force the issue.

Li Li Banfeng bought the book *Medieval Dark Magic* and left the store with Mijian.

Back in the car, Mijian felt ashamed—this was her first solo mission with Li Ju, and she'd botched it. "He usually operates openly. Why such suspicion today?"

Li Li Banfeng was satisfied with the outcome: "Suspicion is good. It proves he's no ordinary man."

That night, after closing, Tong Tong Yousan sat behind the counter, smoking one cigarette after another.

His wife brought him tea: "Maybe we should run."

"Where to?" Tong Tong Yousan sighed. "As long as we're in Da Huan territory, we can't escape the Dark Star Bureau. If we stay still, we might avoid trouble. If we move, we'll be arrested immediately."

His wife sighed: "Our travel permits are still valid. Why not return to Pulu Province?"

"How?" Tong Tong Yousan smiled bitterly. "How do we repay Zhang Zhang Gunli?"

"We've earned plenty these years. We borrowed fifty thousand silver dollars—pay him back a hundred thousand, won't that be enough?"

"A hundred thousand?" Tong Tong Yousan shook his head. "You don't know how he calculates interest. A hundred thousand won't even cover the interest!"

Li Li Banfeng stood beside the bookstore, silently listening to the conversation inside.

He was from Pulu Province.

Who was Zhang Zhang Gunli? How much did he owe him?

"No amount matters!" Feng Feng Chongli sighed. "Zhang Zhang Gunli is a bastard—he can turn a single copper coin into a mountain of gold."

Mu Yuejuan brought a painting and gave it to Feng Feng Chongli: "Nine out, thirteen back—he must follow the rules. I put a lot of effort into this painting; it's worth something. Take it to settle your debt."

"Thank you for your kindness," Feng Feng Chongli returned the painting to Mu Yuejuan, "but my debt is too large, and Zhang Zhang Gunli's interest is crushing. This painting won't even make a dent—it's useless."

Mu Yuejuan touched Feng Feng Chongli's cheek: "I offer you my goodwill, and you won't accept it. If not for the time we rowed together and built something real, I wouldn't care if you lived or died."

Feng Feng Chongli froze: "You and I have feelings?"

"What else?" Mu Yuejuan pinched his nose. "You're not strong—you can't even last a few rounds in battle. If not for our feelings, what else could I possibly see in you?"

"Before, I might've admired your status in Snowflake River. But now I don't understand—how did Snowflake River sink so low? How did a merchant like you end up borrowing from Zhang Zhang Gunli?"

Feng Feng Chongli sighed: "Don't say you don't understand—even I don't understand. Since I entered Snowflake River, my life has never been good."

"Why not find another patron?"

Feng Feng Chongli shook his head: "It's hard. Snowflake River isn't a place you can just leave. Zhang Zhang Gunli's collection day is coming again—I need to scramble these next two days, at least cover the interest. If I can't, I'll need another plan. I don't even know where that bastard Zhang Zhang Gunli has vanished to."

Mu Yuejuan smiled: "I might have a suggestion—but it depends on whether you want to hide from him or find him."

Feng Feng Chongli stiffened: "How could I possibly want to find him?"

"You really want to find me?" At 7:11 p. m., in a private room at Heping Building, Zhang Zhang Gunli stared across at Shen Shen Rongqing.

Shen Shen Rongqing nodded: "I've decided. I'll borrow eight layers of combat power—for two days."

Zhang Zhang Gunli rolled a walnut in his hands: "May I ask why you need combat power?"

Shen Shen Rongqing sipped tea, then looked up: "You shouldn't be asking that."

"True—I wouldn't ask if it were anyone else," Zhang Zhang Gunli turned the walnut twice. "You might not believe this, but in your eyes I'm probably just a vulgar commoner. Yet I read your books. I admire your talent. When something like this happens, I want to warn you."

"If you have an enemy, you should hire an assassin. If you can't find a suitable one, I can point you to a path."

Shen Shen Rongqing shook her head: "The man I want to kill—no assassin will take the job."

"Then please name him."

Shen Shen Rongqing said: "Ma Ma Junyang, the fifth son of the Ma family."

Zhang Zhang Gunli rolled the walnut for a long while, then sighed: "This man is difficult. Those he protects are too powerful to touch him; those who can touch him—you can't afford."

Shen Shen Rongqing said: "So I must do it myself."

Zhang Zhang Gunli placed the walnut on the table: "Think carefully. Borrowing eight layers of cultivation for two days—this debt won't be easy to repay."

Shen Shen Rongqing said: "If I can't repay it, I'll give myself to you. Do whatever you want with me."

Seeing Shen Shen Rongqing was resolute, Zhang Zhang Gunli said no more: "Which Dao sect do you want to borrow from?"

"Cultivator of Letters."

"Just combat power, or the techniques too?"

"Both combat power and techniques."

"Do you want it settled today, or shall we arrange another time?"

"Today."

"Good!" Zhang Zhang Gunli pulled out a loan agreement. "Please place your fingerprint."

Shen Shen Rongqing glanced at the amount on the agreement. Though prepared, she still trembled.

Zhang Zhang Gunli's price was brutal. If she had to pay in gold, she could never repay it.

But without gold, what else could she offer? Only herself.

Zhang Zhang Gunli gave one final warning: "You can still back out now!"

"No regrets!" Shen Shen Rongqing pricked her fingertip with a needle and pressed her fingerprint onto the agreement.

Zhang Zhang Gunli held the agreement. Thick clouds of mist rose from it, swirling around Shen Shen Rongqing.

"Miss Shen, from now on, you are an eight-layer Cultivator of Letters. In two days, the full cultivation will be yours. Tell me where to find you for repayment."

Shen Shen Rongqing said: "Come to my residence. You know where it is."

"Miss Shen, when I come for you, stay home. If you're even half a day late, the interest recalculates. Don't think you can hide—I'll find you anywhere."

That night, Ma Wu was settling accounts at Xiaoyao W Wu when Zuo Wu entered: "Fifth Master, Miss Shen is here to see you."

Ma Wu's face darkened, then brightened: "Bring her in."

Shen Shen Rongqing entered, bowed: "Long time no see, Fifth Young Master. Are you well?"

Ma Wu quickly returned the bow: "Thanks to your blessings, I've been fine. Though I've missed you day and night."

Shen Shen Rongqing's cheeks flushed: "Really? You miss me?"

"Truly." Ma Wu gazed deeply at Shen Shen Rongqing.

This was a test for Ma Wu—he preferred blunt honesty, but with Shen Shen Rongqing, he had to learn subtlety.

Their earlier pleasantries were playful. Now, locked in gaze, Shen Shen Rongqing stirred with emotion—he had to match her rhythm.

"Fifth Young Master, I made some lotus seed soup at home. Eating alone feels too lonely." Shen Shen Rongqing extended the invitation.

Ma Wu set down his ledger: "If you'll allow it, let me have a bowl tonight."

Shen Shen Rongqing took Ma Wu's hand.

Ma Wu followed Shen Shen Rongqing out of Xiaoyao W Wu.

At her residence, no servants were present. She had indeed prepared lotus seed soup and served him a bowl.

Ma Wu took a spoonful—tasted good. He reached for a second when Shen Shen Rongqing embraced him from behind:

"Ma Junyang, I want you."

"Shen Rongqing, I want you too."

Cheeks touching, a vein of blood appeared in Ma Wu's eye.

The root of desire had taken hold—ready to be planted.

Ma Wu fell easily into the body—but not easily into the mind.

She came to me in the dead of night—there must be a reason.

"Ma Junyang, we've known each other so long—do you trust me?" Shen Shen Rongqing kissed Ma Wu's cheek.

"I trust you." Ma Wu nodded slightly.

Shen Shen Rongqing held him tightly: "If you trust me, I have something to discuss."

Ma Wu nodded: "Good. Let's talk slowly."

He glanced at the window.

Beneath it lay Shen Shen Rongqing's garden.

Zuo Wu stood silently in the garden, watching the light from the second floor.

Two days later, Ma Ma Chunting finished dinner, swallowed a pill, and returned to his room to rest when Ma Ma Junjiang burst in: "Father, Fifth Brother is dead. Someone saw his body outside the city."

Ma Ma Chunting fell silent, his expression blank: "I knew this day would come. Is the body truly his?"

Ma Ma Junjiang said: "I'm going to verify it now."

"Go," Ma Ma Chunting lay back on his bed. "Collect his body. He's still a Ma."

He He Yuxiu was overseeing land reclamation when her accountant, Sheng Sheng Sheng Shanzhou, delivered news: "Miss He, Fifth Master is dead."

He He Yuxiu froze: "Who did it?"

"Rumors say it's connected to Shen Shen Rongqing."

"That bitch is insane!" He He Yuxiu immediately set off for Lüshui City.

The cook called: "Miss He, you can't leave the reclamation work!"

"Leave it for now—Fifth Master's dead, I can't ignore this. Have you told Seventh Master?"

Sheng Sheng Sheng Shanzhou said: "We shouldn't tell Seventh Master. The people at Xiaoyao W Wu may or may not have told him."

"Is it really Fifth Master?" Bai Le Men, Chu Er stared at Yang Yang Yanzheng, skeptical.

Yang Yang Yanzheng said: "Wait for the Ma family to verify the body—it's probably accurate."

"Does Li Qi know?"

"He's out of state. He hasn't heard yet."

Chu Er stood: "Gather our people—we're going to see."

"No way! How could Fifth Young Master die?!"

"Mother, don't go yet—we don't know the situation. I'll go with Xin Ge first."

"I must go! Fifth Young Master is our friend! What if the Benefactor finds out? Has anyone told the Benefactor?"

Li Ban was chatting with Tong You San at San You Bookstore: "Was that deed really from Lafusha?"

Tong You San still held firm: "It's from Lafusha, no lie."

"Have you ever been to Lafusha?"

"I have. I studied abroad there. My Lafusha dialect is perfect—ask a Lafushan to confirm."

Li Ban nodded: "That explains why your speech is so fluent. Are you a Cultivator of Words?"

Tong You San's mental defenses were crumbling. The projector whispered to Li Ban: "The simple phone just rang."

"Let's talk later," Li Ban said, stepping outside to answer Luo Zhengnan's call.

"Seventh Master, I just heard—Fifth Master is dead. His body is outside the city."

Li Qi's head throbbed.

He didn't return to San You Bookstore. He sprinted straight to Huahu Park. At the lake's edge, Li Ban stumbled—

nearly fell.

Li Li Banfeng felt he hadn't woken up yet, unsure where he'd had such a nightmare.

His body is outside the city.

Li Ban felt like he hadn't woken up—like this was some nightmare.

【201】 He had just jumped into the lake when the projector said: "Seventh Director, the simple phone is ringing again."

【202】 Li Ban returned to the surface and answered the call.

"Old Seven, it's me."

Li Li Banfeng blinked, wiped his face, listened to the phone, and left Huahu Park.

Tong Tong Yousan thought the guest had left; he'd just caught his breath when he saw the man, drenched in water, return.

"Where did you just go?"

Li Li Banfeng said casually, "Nothing. I was feeling sleepy, so I washed my face. Let's continue— are you really a Yan Xiu?"

"What Yan Xiu sect? Are you joking?"

"Then which sect are you from? When did you join? Was it when you studied abroad in Lafusha? Does Lafusha even have a sect?"

Zhang Zhang Gunli arrived beneath Shen Shen Rongqing's building, rolled walnuts in his hands, and checked his pocket watch.

Shen Shen Rongqing certainly couldn't pay back the money, and Zhang Zhang Gunli had no intention of demanding it.

He spoke a truth: he admired Shen Shen Rongqing, admired her talent; having a woman like her by his side wasn't bad.

Would Shen Shen Rongqing agree?

Zhang Zhang Gunli didn't mind if Shen Shen Rongqing resisted; the more she resisted, the more he liked it—he loved the stubbornness in scholars.

At 7:11, Zhang Zhang Gunli entered the door.

Shen Shen Rongqing sat silently in the living room, expression vacant.

Zhang Zhang Gunli pulled out the IOU: "Miss Shen, the time is up."

Shen Shen Rongqing nodded.

"I heard about Ma Wu. Since you've settled the matter, I suppose you have no regrets."

"Yes, no regrets." Shen Shen Rongqing looked up at Zhang Zhang Gunli.

Zhang Zhang Gunli said, "You know the amount due. Have you prepared the money?"

"I've prepared it." He He Jiaqing walked down the stairs from the second floor.

A wisp of mist swirled in the hall, then took shape as He He Haiqin, blocking the doorway.

Zhang Zhang Gunli smiled: "Young Master He, what are you doing?"

To be honest, Zhang Zhang Gunli hadn't expected it—Shen Shen Rongqing's act was too convincing.

But it seemed he didn't need to expect it.

"I'm here to reason with you," He He Jiaqing lit a cigarette, drew deeply, and exhaled smoke. "When I borrowed your life, I repaid you on time, principal and interest—did I ever short you?"

Zhang Zhang Gunli nodded: "You didn't short me. You even gave extra."

He He Jiaqing added: "I called you 'senior' every time, dealt with you properly, didn't neglect any courtesy, did I?"

"You didn't neglect courtesy. You truly understand the rules."

He He Jiaqing drew another puff: "Since I followed the rules and owe you nothing, why did you sell my information to Mu Yuejuan? What logic is that?"

Zhang Zhang Gunli smiled: "That logic is hard to explain—but I don't need to explain it to you. You two uncle and nephew—why should I listen to you?"

"If you won't reason, this becomes easier." Feng Feng Chongli pushed open the door and entered the living room.

Zhang Zhang Gunli was startled—he hadn't expected Feng Feng Chongli to be here.

He He Jiaqing smiled: "It's time we settled accounts. Principal and interest, all together."

PS: Zhang Zhang Gunli picked the wrong person.