Chapter 731: Withering Technique and Thirteen Knives

"Li Qi, you don't know how deep my foundation is in the Shang Kingdom. One hair moves the whole body. If you want to gain a foothold in the Shang Kingdom in the future, you must not move this old man!"

"Brother Yu, if you had said your foundation was deep earlier, I wouldn't have hanged you. I should have buried you alive."

"This old man has countless assets. As long as you spare my life, they are all yours!"

"Brother Yu, you underestimate Li. Even if I don't spare your life, those assets are still mine!"

Li Li Banfeng hanged Yu Yu Yunqiu at the gate of the Imperial City, and the Lady took the opportunity to collect his soul.

His corpse couldn't be sent home yet; he had to be left out here. Many people had to see it.

Returning to the Imperial City, Li Li Banfeng and Ba Ba Suan calculated Ao Ao Shuangqian's escape route together. The Lady shielded the palace and said to Li Li Banfeng: "The projector has a situation, he can refine pills."

Li Li Banfeng couldn't help but sigh: "A-Ji's art has finally bloomed. When the glove came to me for the key, he said he found pills. I thought the glove picked them up."

The glove shook his index finger: "Boss, it was indeed refined by the projector, the quality is quite good."

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "Since it was refined by A-Ji himself, let him eat it himself."

The glove praised: "Boss is generous!"

The Lady was somewhat helpless, not knowing if Li Li Banfeng was joking or serious: "It's not about who eats it, it's that the projector refining pills is not reasonable."

Li Li Banfeng didn't think so: "The projector's withering technique was originally somewhat similar to the way Did Honglian eats."

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan hadn't noticed this before. She knew the projector had the withering technique, but she rarely saw the projector use this technique.

Li Li Banfeng had seen it many times: "Actually, I long suspected he could refine pills, but this pill came out a bit late."

The glove thought for a while and it was really the truth: "He has eaten quite a few good things, why did he spit out a pill?"

Li Li Banfeng expressed understanding: "The projector ate things, and it's impossible for him to use them all for refining pills. He also has to grow his own body. This time he was bloated, so he made a pill."

The glove nodded: "Boss is right. Living under the same roof, who doesn't have a little selfishness?

As the saying goes, if the cook doesn't steal

The brothers burst into loud laughter, and Zhao Zhao Xiaowan said, "Then let's calculate carefully just how much the cook has stolen."

Li Li Banfeng waved his hand and said, "Let's not dwell on that. How much could our A-Ji possibly steal?"

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Glove chimed in from the side, "The boss is right. We're all our own people; there's no need to care about that."

"Husband, it's not A-Ji that Little Slave is talking about."

Glove stopped laughing: "The Mistress must be talking about Did Honglian. She's been stealing food at every meal for all these years; it adds up to quite a lot."

Li Li Banfeng said with a serious expression, "Now that you mention it, I do recall—Did Honglian is such a big eater, she really has gotten much fatter over these years."

Glove asked earnestly, "Has she really gotten fat? In any case, I've never touched her!"

Li Li Banfeng recalled carefully: "I think she has. When I first carried her on my back from the Outer Continent to Puluo Continent, I could manage, but now I can barely hold her!"

Glove and Li Li Banfeng laughed together again.

After the laughter, the two returned to a serious tone, and Li Li Banfeng asked, "Did Projector learn the Skill of Withering from Did Honglian?"

Glove stood before Li Li Banfeng, pointing his index finger upward: "Boss, Projector's Skill of Withering was something he figured out himself. I can testify to that for him.

He was quite angry at the time because he missed a meal, and he spent every day in the Fifth Room pondering techniques with the Fifth Miss.

He did indeed have a bit of a rift with the boss,

but if you're saying he had an affair with Did Honglian behind the boss's back because of this, I don't believe it. There isn't anyone like that among us brothers!"

Glove's logic was sound, and Li Li Banfeng trusted Projector, but this matter wouldn't pass so easily with the Mistress.

Did Honglian's power of refinement made everyone in the world covet her. If Projector could figure out such a powerful technique on his own,

how could Did Honglian still have such high value?

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan knew that Li Li Banfeng never suspected those around him, so she didn't want to be too blunt about it and kept it to herself for now.

Li Li Banfeng was still discussing with Glove how to find Ao Ao Shuangqian, and Glove took out a cage: "Boss, this is a good item. Although I don't know how to use it, I can tell its value.

Something this valuable certainly wouldn't be held by an ordinary person. As long as the boss makes him talk, perhaps we can find Ao Ao Shuangqian's whereabouts."

Li Li Banfeng exclaimed in admiration: "Brother, I'm always at ease when you handle things. This horse looks a bit familiar."

The Mistress said, "It is familiar. This is the horse that set fire to the Great Hall that night!"

"Good stuff," Li Li Banfeng smiled, "We must take this back and interrogate it properly."

Just as Li Li Banfeng was about to take the cage back to the Leaving Suishenju, Banfengzi quietly slipped under Li Li Banfeng's feet.

He presented everything he had seen and heard to Li Li Banfeng, scene by scene.

Li Li Banfeng put down the cage and looked at Zhao Zhao Xiaowan with a solemn expression: "Mistress, where did the Fifth Miss go?"

Phonograph said, "She was lying in ambush near the shipyard. I was the one who sent her. She is meticulous and has a good eye. Did she catch Ao Ao Shuangqian?"

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "Yes, she caught him."

The Mistress asked, "Did she catch him alive? A corpse would also do.

2

Ao Ao Shuangqian, like Yu Yu Yunqiu, could both give the Xiao Capital quite a shock.

"Whether he's alive or not is hard to say, but there's definitely no corpse left," Li Li Banfeng looked at Projector and said to Zhao Zhao Xiaowan, "Mistress, if the Fifth Miss also learned the Skill of Withering, would you believe it?"

Glove was stunned. This matter was too easy to explain: "He was researching techniques with the Fifth Miss at the time, but this technique shouldn't have been taught to him by the Fifth Miss..."

The Mistress wasn't surprised at all; some things were gradually connecting: "My precious husband, don't make a scene about this. When we get home, act as if nothing happened, and leave it to Little Slave to handle."

Li Li Banfeng said, "I'll leave family matters to the Mistress, but I still need to ask carefully about outside matters. The origin of this Hand-Foot Alliance is quite interesting. If He He Jiaqing is just a member of the Hand-Foot Alliance, then who exactly is the boss of the Hand-Foot Alliance?"

He He Jiaqing had just finished his shift, left the Wenyuan Pavilion, and was looking for a place to rest.

These past few days, he had been staying in the Wenyuan Pavilion. He had changed his identity several times, working shifts with the guards every day, just to steal the contract.

The contract was hidden in the Nameless Place. He He Jiaqing had been there twice and was very familiar with the route, but the lock on the door had been changed, and no matter what, He He Jiaqing couldn't open it.

This was within reason. He He Jiaqing had already tried to steal it twice; if Lan Qiao Yi didn't change to a better lock, it would truly be a joke.

But no matter how good the lock was, He He Jiaqing was determined to steal back what he wanted to steal.

He risked it all and simply moved into the Wenyuan Pavilion.

Although the Nameless Place couldn't be opened, the guards inside would definitely have to change shifts. He would have a chance to sneak in during the shift change.

But after waiting for so many days, he hadn't seen anyone change shifts. Could it be that there was no one guarding the Nameless Place anymore?

It might not be people guarding it; it might have been replaced by something else.

He He Jiaqing continued to wait. The imperial court couldn't possibly ignore these contracts; they would definitely send someone to check.

He guessed right. Lan Qiao Yi did indeed want to send someone to check the contracts. He still owed Li Li Banfeng ten pairs of contracts,

and if he didn't return them in ten days, he would have to add another pair.

But these contracts had to be carefully selected, and Lan Qiao Yi hadn't gotten around to it yet.

It was just as the Mistress said: if you can't afford clothes, don't think about a hat; if you can't afford pants, don't think about socks.

He had too many things to deal with right now and was overwhelmed from morning till night.

In the morning, "Three-Headed Lan Qiao Yi" was besieged by officials in the imperial court.

The main reason for this siege on Lan Qiao Yi came from Xiao Capital. Li Li Banfeng had abolished the slave system in Xiao Capital, and this news had spread.

Half of the people spreading the news came from the nobles who had fled Xiao Capital, and half came from the Luo sisters' propaganda.

Several ministers surrounded "Three-Headed Lan Qiao Yi" in the court and wouldn't let him leave.

"Xiao Capital is the former capital of the Great Shang; how can it be granted to an outsider?"

"The slave system is the ancestral system of the Great Shang; how can it be abolished so lightly?"

"Li Qi is acting recklessly. Slaves everywhere are rebelling and fleeing to Xiao Capital in countless numbers. If we don't deal with this soon, the foundation of the nation will be in jeopardy!"

There were many other arguments, but the most critical one was the third point.

Whether it was the ancestral system or the former capital, these were all superficial matters. But the fact that slaves were all running to Xiao Capital, including the slaves on the ministers' own fiefs—this was real, tangible pain. They truly couldn't endure this.

And this wasn't alarmist talk. The abolition of the slave system in Xiao Capital had made the entire Shang Kingdom anxious. The impact was far greater than the altar incident in Hao City; it was truly shaking the foundation of the Shang Kingdom.

"Three-Headed Lan Qiao Yi" made no response. He had no way to respond; he was an impersonator played by Xi Xi Zhao Fu.

But because he didn't respond, the ministers wouldn't let him leave. Xi Xi Zhao Fu could only hold on.

Being scolded by them was one thing, but several members of the royal family rushed up and started punching him. Xi Xi Zhao Fu suffered a great loss this time.

Fortunately, Nian Nian Shangyou was a martial artist by background and, relying on his good skills, rescued Xi Xi Zhao Fu.

Returning to the mansion and seeing the real Lan Qiao Yi, Xi Xi Zhao Fu cried: "I am absolutely not going to tomorrow's morning court!"

Lan Qiao Yi was furious: "If you don't go, who will?"

Xi Xi Zhao Fu was a stand-in arranged by Li Li Banfeng and had signed a contract.

Lan Qiao Yi couldn't move him, nor could he throw him away; he could only use him. It had been hard enough to train him to look the part during this time. Now that he wanted to quit, where was Lan Qiao Yi supposed to find someone else?

But Xi Xi Zhao Fu wouldn't comply, took off his official robe, and wailed loudly.

Since the hard approach didn't work, he tried the soft one. Lan Qiao Yi persuaded him with kind words: "Virtuous brother, disputes are inevitable in the imperial court. As a subject, how can one not suffer grievances?

Some things don't need to be taken to heart. Just muddle through them, and they'll pass."

Xi Xi Zhao Fu wiped his tears and said: "Tell me, how exactly do I muddle through?"

"Haven't I taught you all the words for muddling through?"

Lan Qiao Yi had indeed taught him, putting a lot of effort into it. Different types of government affairs had different types of responses. Without making substantive decisions, one could still show a certain attitude. Every word and sentence contained profound knowledge.

But Xi Xi Zhao Fu didn't buy it: "The things you taught are completely useless. They hit people; how do you expect me to muddle through that?"

Lan Qiao Yi sighed: "This bad habit really should be changed. Officials fighting in the imperial court—what kind of decorum is that? Virtuous brother, tomorrow's morning court requires the issuance of a government decree. You must prepare carefully."

"I'm not preparing, and I'm not going!" Xi Xi Zhao Fu was truly angry.

"Virtuous brother, don't act on impulse—" Lan Qiao Yi persuaded him for over an hour and finally managed to convince Xi Xi Zhao Fu.

The government decree to be issued this time was indeed important. Lan Qiao Yi wanted to send troops to the Tufang border to set up defenses.

Every autumn, Tufang would come to the Shang Kingdom to plunder. This had already become a convention between the two countries.

In the past, as long as they didn't go too far, they were just left to plunder.

But this time was different; Lan Qiao Yi wanted to send troops in advance.

Xi Xi Zhao Fu had been impersonating Lan Qiao Yi for so long that he had gained some insight. After reading the decree, he couldn't help but feel nervous: "Are you trying to start a war?"

Lan Qiao Yi nodded and said: "Tufang has bullied me too much. It is time to engage in some conflict with them."

Xi Xi Zhao Fu shook his head: "How could I dare to announce this kind of decree? Isn't this just waiting to be beaten to death?"

Lan Qiao Yi said: "Don't worry. Among the officials, there won't be many who oppose this decree, but there are quite a few who support it."

"What kind of logic is that?"

This matter wasn't easy to explain clearly. Regarding the attitude toward Puluo Continent and the Outer Continent, there were two factions: the pro-war and the pro-peace. The same was true for the attitude toward the Tufang Kingdom. The factions intersected and ran parallel, making the situation extremely complex.

Lan Qiao Yi didn't intend to explain it to Xi Xi Zhao Fu: "You don't need to understand the logic behind this. I'm going to see Prince Prince Pingyuan in a few days; he will certainly agree with my proposal."

Hearing that Li Qi was involved in this, Xi Xi Zhao Fu naturally took it to heart.

He had to take it to heart; Xi Xi Zhao Fu and Li Qi had signed a contract.

Lan Qiao Yi handed over all the essentials of the decree to Xi Xi Zhao Fu, and Xi Xi Zhao Fu went off to practice on his own.

Nian Nian Shangyou reminded him: "My lord, you can't go empty-handed to see Li Qi."

Thinking of this, Lan Qiao Yi felt a pang of heartache, but pain was useless.

He took out a list: "This is a list I drafted based on past intelligence. Because of the rush, it hasn't been carefully considered. You take it and verify it first."

Nian Nian Shangyou hurriedly took the list. Having him verify a list drafted by Lan Qiao Yi was a sign of his importance and trust.

Lan Qiao Yi further instructed: "If the verification is correct, collect the contracts within three days and accompany me to Xiao Capital."

Nian Nian Shangyou pursed his lips, speechless for a long time.

How was this verification?

Giving him only three days to collect the contracts was asking him to go kill people.

Nian Nian Shangyou looked at the list carefully. Fortunately, these people were relatively loyal to the Shang Kingdom, so it was relatively easy to take action against them. If he had encountered rebels, he might not have been able to kill even one in three days.

Lan Qiao Yi assigned a dozen helpers to Nian Nian Shangyou, and Nian Nian Shangyou went to Puluo Continent that same day.

Three days later, Nian Nian Shangyou returned with ten contracts. Lan Qiao Yi checked them and found no errors, then told Nian Nian Shangyou to go to the Wenyuan Pavilion to retrieve the other half of the contracts.

Nian Nian Shangyou went to the Wenyuan Pavilion. He He Jiaqing was patrolling the courtyard; he couldn't miss such a good opportunity.

He put a bracelet on his wrist and quietly followed Nian Nian Shangyou into the Library Pavilion. Nian Nian Shangyou had a dozen attendants with him, and not one of them noticed He He Jiaqing.

This bracelet was a magic treasure with a foundation in residential cultivation. He He Jiaqing had bought it at a high price before coming to the Inner Continent.

Entering the Library Pavilion, Nian Nian Shangyou took the ten contracts, turned around, and left. The Nameless Place was also locked.

He He Jiaqing didn't leave. In the time it took to open and close the door, He He Jiaqing had figured out the method to open the lock. Once Nian Nian Shangyou left, He He Jiaqing began searching for the contracts.

His previous speculation was correct: the reason no one was changing shifts was that there was simply no one guarding the Contract Pavilion.

Now he was the only one left in the Library Pavilion, but he must not relax his vigilance; there were definitely mechanisms and traps here.

The names of the thirteen Earth-Bound Gods were all in his mind. He He Jiaqing was familiar with the sorting rules of the Wenyuan Pavilion, and combined with his talent for theft, finding these contracts wasn't difficult.

He found Liu Liu Bufei's contract first, but just as he touched the iron tablet, He He Jiaqing felt a chill on his back. A sharp blade entered from behind his heart, and the tip of the blade emerged from his chest.

What kind of mechanism was this, so well-hidden?

Lan Qiao Yi had paid special attention to these thirteen contracts, using a first-class weapon to guard them specifically.

This first-class weapon recognized no one except Lan Qiao Yi. Even if it were Nian Nian Shangyou, if he had touched one of these thirteen contracts just now, this weapon would have killed him without hesitation.

The most troublesome part was that this weapon had residential cultivation attributes. A residential cultivator guarding a house not only had astonishing combat power but also countered thieves. He He Jiaqing was caught completely off guard and was seriously injured on the spot.

The knife rolled around inside his internal organs. He He Jiaqing could vaguely sense a man behind him, but he couldn't determine the man's exact position.

He He Jiaqing wanted to use the technique of "stealing the beam and replacing the pillar" to break free from the man's blade, but after trying several times, he didn't succeed.

This knife was stuck in He He Jiaqing's body; no matter how he shook, he couldn't shake it off.

Unless the person stealing the contract died, this first-class weapon would absolutely not let go.

He He Jiaqing's consciousness gradually blurred, his eyes still fixed on Liu Liu Bufei's contract.

What to do?

What should he do if he couldn't shake off this knife?

He He Jiaqing hugged the contract, rolled his eyes, collapsed to the ground, and stopped breathing.

The person stealing the contract was dead, and the first-class weapon stopped.

This first-class weapon was indeed a man, of medium build, with ordinary features, almost completely unremarkable.

After waiting for more than a minute, a slit more than an inch long cracked open on He He Jiaqing's belly.

The first-class weapon turned a blind eye; he wouldn't react to someone who was already dead.

The slit grew larger and larger, spreading more and more; below, it reached his toes, and above, it reached the top of his head.

The first-class weapon still stood there silently.

He He Jiaqing's body shattered completely, and another He He Jiaqing crawled out from the broken shell.

He wasn't dead. He had just used the thief's technique, "Golden Cicada Forms a Pupa," forming a layer of cicada slough on his body. After pupating, he was indistinguishable from a corpse.

And now he used "Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell" again, drilling out of the slough.

His injuries were still there, and He He Jiaqing's footsteps were unsteady.

It was okay; it wasn't a wasted trip. At least he had gotten Liu Liu Bufei's contract.

He He Jiaqing held the contract and walked toward the door. Walking past two rows of shelves, He He Jiaqing stopped.

He saw Xin Ruoshuang's contract.

Xin Ruoshuang was also one of these thirteen Earth-Bound Gods. Should he take her contract?

He He Jiaqing looked at the man standing by the wall and calculated in his heart.

If he touched the contract again, would it trigger this first-class weapon again?

It shouldn't.

This weapon had already acted once, and now that it was certain the person stealing the contract was dead, it shouldn't act a second time.

Moreover, even if it wanted to act, he could keep an eye on it. He He Jiaqing was a thief above the clouds and had great confidence in his own eyesight.

He He Jiaqing performed a sleight of hand and immediately took Xin Ruoshuang's contract.

Holding the cold iron tablet in his hand, He He Jiaqing's heart turned cold.

The man standing by the wall was gone.

He He Jiaqing's deduction was wrong. He had touched the contract a second time, and as a result, he received a second knife.

The position of this knife was right next to the first one, and the blade also remained in the wound, stirring back and forth.

He He Jiaqing's vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground.

More than ten minutes later, the Nameless Place was opened. Nian Nian Shangyou walked in, followed by a disguised Lan Qiao Yi.

Once the first-class weapon was triggered, Lan Qiao Yi would receive the information. He immediately checked the thirteen contracts. After verifying them, he wouldn't need to worry about the contracts anymore.

Because these thirteen contracts had all been stolen; not a single one was left.

Lan Qiao Yi was now very worried about the Earth-Bound Gods. He immediately told Nian Nian Shangyou to contact Shu Shu Fangjuan to protect the safety of these thirteen Earth-Bound Gods with all their might.

Who exactly stole the contracts?

Nian Nian Shangyou saw no bloodstains, nor did he see any signs of a fight.

He saw the first-class weapon standing silently in the book pavilion.

The first-class weapon seemed never to have moved, and the knife in its hand was also clean.

Who had such brilliant means to steal the contracts right under his nose?

Outside the first layer of the city wall, He He Jiaqing lay on a coal pile, breathing with difficulty.

There were thirteen holes in his body.

He had used the "Golden Cicada Forms a Pupa" technique thirteen times and taken thirteen knives, each one in a vital spot.

After stealing the thirteen contracts, He He Jiaqing used the thief's technique, "Fire Extinguished and Smoke Vanished," to wipe away all traces, focusing on wiping away his own bloodstains.

Wiping away bloodstains could prevent tracking and also guard against the Inner Continent's curses.

He He Jiaqing wanted to stand up from the coal pile, but he had no strength in his body.

He couldn't stay here too long; this coal was the food of the Inner Continent people.

He He Jiaqing knew the habits of the Inner Continent people: they could eat water and rice, fruits and vegetables, and drink wine and tea, but their staple food was coal and grease.

Inner Continent people would come to transport food in a while, and He He Jiaqing would definitely be exposed. He had to leave the coal pile as soon as possible.

He took out the thirteen contracts and counted them seriously one by one. With every number he counted, he became a little more clear-headed.

"I earned it," He He Jiaqing laughed, his mouth full of blood foam, "Hand-Foot Alliance, how many generations of virtue did you accumulate to find me? Handing the name of the Hand-Foot Alliance to me—you guys earned big!"

In the Leaving Suishenju, Zhao Zhao Xiaowan touched the Fifth Miss's cheek and exclaimed in admiration: "Look at how lovely this girl is. Sister Did Honglian has made so many puppets, but the Fifth Miss is the prettiest."

Luo Luo Yuni leaned close to Zhao Zhao Xiaowan and shook her skirt: "Mistress, don't you think I'm pretty?"

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan smiled and didn't speak. The Ninth Miss was braiding Xiang Xiang Hongying's hair; she looked at Did Honglian and praised: "Pretty, everyone is pretty. Did Honglian's craftsmanship is indeed excellent."

Xiang Xiang Hongying snorted coldly: "What good is craftsmanship? In the end, it's not your own body."

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan sighed: "We can't compare to you. Having a puppet body gives the heart a place to rest. Sister Did Honglian, please make a few more puppets."

Did Honglian opened her lotus leaves and said: "Easy. I'm full from this meal, so making a few more is no problem."

It was rare for Did Honglian to be so generous. Zhao Zhao Xiaowan said: "That's good. We'll reward based on merit; everyone will get one.

Glove has made significant contributions and should be first."

Glove shook his index finger: "Thanks for the Mistress's kindness, but I don't want to become human right now. Being a glove is quite good; my body is flexible, and it's convenient for doing things. When I want to be human one day, I'll discuss it with the Mistress."

"Ungrateful! When you want to be human, Did Honglian might not be willing to serve you," Zhao Zhao Xiaowan glared at Glove. "Brother A-Ji, do you want a human body?"

Projector flickered its lights and thought about this question seriously: "Mistress, I still want to explore more on the path of art."

"Go explore slowly. You're all so unreasonable," Phonograph looked at the Wine Gourd. "Sister Gourd,

you have the best figure in the house. Do you want a puppet?"

Gourd smiled: "Sister, you flatter me. How can my figure compare to yours? Even if you travel all over the Wansheng Continent, you won't find anyone with a better figure than you."

Everyone was stunned.

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan asked: "What place is Wansheng Continent?"

"What Wansheng Continent?" Gourd was also stunned. "My tongue slipped. I meant Puluo Continent. Sister heard wrong. Since Sister is thinking of me, I'll shamelessly accept. I want this puppet."

"Refreshing!" Zhao Zhao Xiaowan raised her voice. "Seventh Room, do you want a body?"

The Seventh Room replied: "Since the Mistress is rewarding based on merit, I have no merit and cannot accept the reward. I don't want it."

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan said: "You've also made quite a few contributions recently."

"Have I?" The Seventh Room's tone was quite disdainful. "I only helped the Mistress identify a weapon; it's nothing important. I really can't accept this reward."

Eight Calculation whispered a reminder: "Brother, don't be so serious."

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan smiled: "Being able to identify that radio really helped my husband a lot. Just accept this puppet body."

The Seventh Room was quite stubborn; he just didn't want to give Zhao Zhao Xiaowan this face: "I can't accept it. I really don't deserve it."

Xiang Xiang Hongying put down her powder puff and walked toward the Seventh Room: "I seem to have been too polite to you lately."

PS: Why must the Seventh Room be rewarded with a puppet?