Chapter 809: Little Furnace

A few small dishes, a pot of hot wine, discuss business, talk about the martial world.

Yu Nan brought the entire Yu Family Gang to Lüshui City: “When I first arrived, I was blind as a bat, didn’t know a soul, spent money to buy this shop, only to be cheated—the deed to the building was real, but the land deed was fake.”

The landowner told me to tear down the shop and get out within three days, or he’d send people to burn it to the ground.”

Li Banfeng took a sip of wine and said: “Did you try to fight him, or talk to him?”

Yu Nan said: “At first I wanted to talk to him—I figured being cheated meant I was useless, so I thought I’d pay extra to buy his land rights.”

But this bastard demanded triple the price—enough to buy another shop outright—and no matter how I negotiated, he wouldn’t budge; I was forced to fight him.”

Li Banfeng looked around the shop: “I heard your business is doing well—you must’ve won.”

Yu Nan shook her head: “I didn’t win exactly—we traded blows many times, but in the end, he still refused to give me the land rights.”

Because of his harassment, I couldn’t open for business; sitting on my savings won’t last forever, and I really considered moving—but then I heard he died at Luo Zhengnan’s hands.”

Li Banfeng didn’t understand: “What connection did he have with Luo Zhengnan?”

Yu Nan gave a sly smile: “Thanks to you!”

Li Banfeng blinked: “Thanks to me? You never told me you were doing business in Lüshui City.”

Yu Nan poured Li Banfeng another cup of wine: “Isn’t it lucky? The landowner and the building owner were actually the same gang.”

They were both former disciples of the Jiangxiang Gang—when you shattered the gang, they took its assets, split the land deeds from the building deeds, and used a few shops to swindle outsiders out of their money.”

Luo Zhengnan found out and led a raid to wipe out the remnants of the Jiangxiang Gang—and just happened to hit this group head-on.

Both of them were taken care of, and the land deed ended up in Luo Tangzhu’s hands.”

I thought getting the deed from Luo Zhengnan wouldn’t be easy—he’d probably demand just as much as the last guy—and after being in Lüshui City so long without earning a single copper, barely able to afford food and drink, I couldn’t complain in public, but I cried privately countless times.”

But I never expected Luo Zhengnan to deliver the deed himself—he said it was Seventh Master’s order.”

I thought you were giving me special treatment, but later I learned every outsider cheated by the Jiangxiang Gang got their deeds back—so tell me, isn’t this thanks to you?”

Li Banfeng gave a slight shake of his head, then asked: “Once you had the deed, did business go smoothly?”

“I opened, but not smoothly,” Yu Nan sighed heavily. “A dozen or more gangs came demanding tribute.”

When I asked who their bosses were, they were all big names—I couldn’t offend any of them—but if I paid them all, I’d never recoup my capital; even now, thinking back on those messes makes me want to cry.”

Li Banfeng said: “You cried so much, yet never thought to find me? Fine, if you didn’t want me, go find Qin Xiaopang—he’d help you.”

Yu Nan fell silent for a moment, then looked at Li Banfeng with a mysterious expression: “Do you know what they call me now in Lüshui City’s cloth trade?”

Li Banfeng shook his head: “Can’t guess.”

“They call me ‘Nan Pozi’!”

Li Banfeng picked up the wine pot and refilled Yu Nan’s cup: “Yu Brother, let’s swear brotherhood!”

Yu Nan smiled, raised her cup: “Li Brother, cheers!”

The pot of wine was finished, and Li Banfeng was ready to leave.

He wrote a check for Yu Nan, instructing her to deliver all clothing and fabric to Xiaoyao Wharf.

Yu Nan stared at the check, stunned for a long while: “Seventh Master, you’re not joking, are you? You really want to empty my shop?”

Li Banfeng said: “Didn’t I just explain clearly? I want everything you have.”

Realizing he wasn’t joking, Yu Nan grew tense: “Seventh Master, year-end’s coming—this is a big sale, sure, but if I empty the shop, I can’t do business anymore. Can’t you wait till I restock and turn over inventory?”

Li Banfeng picked up his hat, his face grim as he stared at Yu Nan: “Deliver the goods within three days—or I’ll burn your shop down.”

But if the shop is emptied out, business can’t continue—let me restock and turn over the inventory first, alright?

Li Banfeng stared at her for a moment, then suddenly laughed: “Am I being too tyrannical? Too ignorant of martial world rules?”

+

Yu Nan exhaled deeply and laughed too, half-annoyed, half-reluctant.

The snow fell heavily; Li Banfeng pulled his hat low and left the cloth shop.

Yu Nan braved the snow, seeing him off to the door, silently watching his back recede.

Would she ever see him again?

Should she just refuse to deliver the goods and wait for him to burn the shop?

Yu Nan thought for a moment, woke the bookkeeper and warehouse keeper, and ordered them to prepare the goods immediately.

When Li Qi burned the Geng Family Pharmacy, everyone thought it impossible—but he did it.

Some things are best not tested on Li Qi.

After buying fabric, Li Banfeng went to Miaosheng Phonograph Shop to buy a phonograph; Ling Miaosheng clung to a hand-cranked machine: “This phonograph’s been with me over twenty years!”

Li Banfeng said: “No one buys twenty-year-old junk anymore—I’m paying you full price, isn’t that a bargain?”

Ling Miaosheng blocked the door, shouting: “You can’t buy them all—this is my life!”

Li Banfeng grew angry: “You opened the shop, you set the price—I pay to buy, yet you refuse to sell? Are you even in business?”

Ling Miaosheng’s eyes welled with tears: “You can’t do business like this!”

After buying dozens of phonographs, Li Banfeng went to Heishipo and bought a pile of film projectors and reels.

Feeling he’d bought enough, he returned to Lüshui Bay, went to his residence at Yuanzhu Fang, dug up the Earth Seal, and drained its qi.

Then he took a cart full of goods to Fool’s City.

Three miles from the city, Li Banfeng found an open space, unloaded the goods from his personal dwelling, then deactivated his unobtrusive talent, and walked straight toward the city gate.

Fool’s City is Li Banfeng’s home—he must return with dignity!

As soon as he saw the city walls, Li Banfeng sensed Fool’s City had changed—every brick and tile radiated new vitality.

When he reached the gate, whether illusion or not, the gate seemed refurbished, no longer carrying its old, decaying aura.

Watching the crowds moving through the gate, Li Banfeng saw clear changes in them—they carried an unmistakable joy and contentment of peace and prosperity.

“One silver dollar entry fee!”

Bam!

Li Banfeng slapped the old man and sent him flying.

Not everyone had visibly changed, but that didn’t matter—Li Banfeng felt it clearly: Fool’s City was different!

“Sir, would you like flowers?” A young girl, cheeks flushed, approached Li Banfeng with a shy smile.

Buying flowers made sense—the flower vase in the study had held fake blooms; now it needed real ones.

“How much for these?” Li Banfeng eyed a bouquet of peonies.

“Three silver dollars.”

Not expensive!

Such vibrant peonies—three silver dollars was a steal!

“I’ll take one!”

“Very good, sir. Total: three hundred ninety-six silver dollars.” The girl handed him a bouquet of baby’s breath.

Li Banfeng froze: “Wasn’t it three silver dollars?”

“Three silver dollars per flower—honest pricing.”

Bam!

Li Banfeng slapped the girl and sent her flying.

A burly young man approached, holding a bull gallbladder: “Sir, you’re clearly a connoisseur—this is the gallbladder of six bears I just hunted on new land. You’ve seen two-headed bears, maybe even three-headed ones—but have you ever seen one with six heads—”

Bam!

The young man was also slapped, flying ten meters and landing beside an old woman.

The old woman immediately sat on the ground, clutching the boy and wailing: “My child! How could you leave your mother—”

The boy didn’t know the woman, but sensing the scene, he lay down, closed his eyes, and went still.

The old woman pointed at Li Banfeng: “Everyone, look! Don’t let this cruel man escape—he stole my son’s gallbladder and beat him—”

Bang!

Li Banfeng stepped forward and kicked the old woman and the boy into an alley.

Fool’s City is good!

At Sun Tiecheng’s home, Sun was delighted and immediately ordered wine served.

Li Banfeng said: “Brother, I brought back some goods—they’re unloaded outside the city. Send some men to bring them in.”

Sun Tiecheng clasped his hands and grinned: “This is your own home—why be so formal? Gui Gui, take the ghost servants and bring the goods back.”

Gui Jianchou didn’t want to go: “This trivial task is for me? Just hire more people in the city to carry it!”

Sun Tiecheng frowned: “Nonsense—if you send others, what’s left for me? Last time a cart arrived, I sent people to unload it—and I didn’t even see the cart afterward.”

Gui Jianchou grumbled but went anyway.

Li Banfeng asked: “Brother, where’s your little furnace? Let me see it.”

Sun Tiecheng pointed to the back courtyard: “It’s right there—I’m studying it.”

Li Banfeng crouched beside Ai Yi and examined the little furnace together.

The little furnace looked exactly like the Bronze Lotus—the only difference: it was constantly moving.

Its lotus leaves opened and closed continuously; its center occasionally blew a gust of wind.

Ai Yi asked Li Banfeng: “Can you see the pattern?”

Li Banfeng nodded: “It reminds me of the great furnace.”

Ai Yi asked again: “Have you seen the great furnace?”

“Yes.”

“Did you see it inside or outside?”

Li Banfeng looked at Ai Yi: “What do you think? If I went inside the great furnace, could I even get out?”

Ai sighed softly, pouting: “Then it’s not interesting at all. I want to know what’s inside this thing—I want to take it apart, but my big brother won’t let me.”

Li Banfeng thought for a moment and asked: “Can you put it back together after you take it apart?”

“Putting it back the same way is boring—I can assemble all kinds of new designs.” Ai reached to touch the leaf of the small furnace, but Sun Tiecheng stopped her.

“What are you doing?! Didn’t I tell you touching it summons heavenly light?”

Ai frowned: “I can handle it.”

“Even if you can handle it, don’t act recklessly. Just look at it here—don’t break this thing. It’ll be crucial later.”

Ai snorted, then turned to Li Banfeng: “Zhao Xiaowan told me once she went inside the great furnace. Bring her here—we can study it together!”

Li Banfeng found an empty room and used Lian Kuo Dongfang to bring out his wife, then explained the situation.

His wife was afraid. Since meeting Li Banfeng, some of her memories had returned, giving her a degree of resistance to matters of Neizhou.

In the past, just mentioning Neizhou could send her into a frenzy, let alone seeing the great furnace.

Now, being asked to look at this small furnace so similar to the great one, she wasn’t sure if she could keep control.

The moment she saw the small furnace, her body trembled slightly.

Li Banfeng feared for her safety and was about to send her back, but she quickly calmed down.

“This thing looks quite elegant,” she said, reaching to touch the lotus leaf, wondering if its texture matched the copper lotus at home—but remembering the heavenly light, she refrained.

Ai didn’t ask where Zhao Xiaowan came from; she only cared about what she wanted to know: “Xiaowan, what was it like inside the furnace?”

Zhao Xiaowan stared at the small furnace for a long while, expecting to recall something upon seeing something identical to the great furnace—but she remembered nothing.

Ai asked carefully: “Xiaowan, you don’t need to remember anything else—just tell me which hole in the lotus heart you were in. I’ll check if the small furnace’s lotus heart matches the great one.”

“Maybe it’s been too long—I really can’t recall,” she rubbed her forehead. “Or maybe because I’ve died twice more, I’ve forgotten things I shouldn’t have.”

Realizing she couldn’t remember, Zhao Xiaowan recommended another person to Li Banfeng: “Husband, Ling’er has stayed in Neizhou since leaving the great furnace, serving as a first-class weapon. She never faced life or death again—she must remember more than I do.”

Ai and Sun Tiecheng had both met Jiang Linger during their time in the Dangkou Camp, so there was no need to hide this. Li Banfeng handed the key to Zhao Xiaowan and used Lian Kuo Dongfang to go to Yucui Tower and bring out Jiang Linger.

Jiang Linger glanced at the small furnace, then leapt onto Zhao Xiaowan and refused to let go.

“Ling’er, don’t be afraid!” Zhao Xiaowan hugged her. “This isn’t the great furnace—look closely. The great furnace wasn’t this small. Do you remember which hole in the lotus heart you were in? Ling’er, Ling’er—”

Jiang Linger’s breathing grew rapid, then stopped entirely.

She fainted.

Zhao Xiaowan said: “Quickly take Ling’er back to Yucui Tower to rest. Never mention the furnace again.”

Li Banfeng brought Jiang Linger back.

Back at Yucui Tower, Jiang Linger woke up, curled under the covers, speaking to no one.

Yucui Tower was upset: “Son-in-law, you took my daughter out for just a moment and turned her into this. You owe me an explanation.”

Li Banfeng didn’t know how to explain: “I took her to see the great furnace—not the real great furnace—”

Jiang Linger let out a shriek and buried herself completely under the quilt.

Yucui Tower scolded: “Why did you take her to see that thing? Do you know how much suffering she endured inside the great furnace? Even as a joke between spouses, you can’t play like this!”

Li Banfeng helplessly stayed with Jiang Linger until she calmed down. He never mentioned the great furnace again and returned straight to Yuren City.

Throughout this, Li Banfeng kept wondering: his wife also came from the great furnace—why didn’t she react this way?

Was it because she saw the red lotus every day at home and got used to it?

Back in Yuren City, Zhao Xiaowan was discussing with Ai: “Can you show this to your mother?”

Ai shook her head: “Better not. The red lotus was made by the Heavenly Maiden. My mother has an obsession with anything she created.”

Li Banfeng said: “What if you showed it directly to the Heavenly Maiden?”

Ai froze: “That’s the same as showing it to my mother, isn’t it?”

Zhao Xiaowan understood Li Banfeng’s meaning—he didn’t mean the Heavenly Maiden beside Ai Yu, but the copper lotus itself.

“Husband, don’t act rashly about this.”

The red lotus at home was fake; this one was real. No one knew what would happen if the true and false lotuses met. The lotus leaf of the small furnace slowly unfurled, and the wind in the lotus heart grew suddenly stronger.

Ai looked at Zhao Xiaowan: “Gui Jianchou is here.”

The great furnace had strong awareness of spirits; the small furnace retained this trait. Gui Jianchou now carried many dead-cloud souls.

His wife didn’t want to meet Gui Jianchou, so Li Banfeng used Lian Kuo Dongfang to send her back.

Gui Jianchou entered the back courtyard and smiled at Li Banfeng: “Old Seven, you brought back some fine things. Old Sun is overjoyed—he doesn’t even know how to divide them. Go see for yourself.”

Li Banfeng was about to head to the front courtyard when Ai asked: “Brother, do you think this lotus heart is round?”

Gui Jianchou thought she was calling him: “You can’t call me brother—you must call me Uncle. This thing is round, of course it’s round—”

“It’s rounder than the glutinous rice balls on the street!”

Li Banfeng wasn’t a Gong Xiu and wasn’t sensitive to dimensions, but since Ai asked, he activated Jin Qing Qiuhao.

He studied it carefully.

“Sister, do you think it’s oval?”

Ai gestured with her fingers. Gui Jianchou gasped: “Don’t touch it! Heavenly light isn’t a joke!”

“Brother, I don’t think it’s even oval,” Ai estimated the dimensions. “The shape of this lotus heart is very unusual.”

Li Banfeng’s greatest fear was this: “Do you think its shape resembles the Great Totem?”

Gui Jianchou shook his head: “Old Seven, you’re stretching it. The Great Totem is round, but you can’t say anything round resembles it. This lotus heart has seven holes—the Great Totem is just a circle, empty inside.”

Ai nodded: “You’re right. The peddler told me the Great Totem’s shape can’t be replicated. I must’ve been seeing things.”

Shang State, Chaoge City.

Xiang Qiaoyi led Nian Shangyou on a tour of the city. The plague had largely vanished; those who survived had endured it, and royal members who fled outside were gradually returning.

They had all fled to Bozhou. Yu Zhuo’s newly established Pavilion there had just begun to take shape, and a new monarch had been selected—but who could have imagined that after going to Yin Du, Yu Zhuo simply vanished?

Xiang Qiaoyi issued an edict: any royal member returning to Chaoge within a month would be pardoned for past offenses.

Those who had left Chaoge with such determination now hesitated not at all—they all turned back. The new Pavilion collapsed within days; opposition to Xiang Qiaoyi vanished.

The situation gradually returned to normal. Nian Shangyou planned to rest for a few days, but upon returning to his residence, Xiang Qiaoyi ordered him to go to Puluo State.

“Go tell Li Qi to immediately take Cui Ti away. If he refuses, let him suffer the consequences!”

Nian Shangyou truly didn’t understand what Xiang Qiaoyi intended.

The plague was over—why now demand Li Qi take Cui Ti away?

And why would Li Qi listen to him?

“Suffer the consequences”? How many consequences had Great Shang already endured? Did Li Qi even have any consequences left to suffer?

Nian Shangyou didn’t want to go, but he needed a plausible excuse.

Saying he feared Li Qi was unacceptable; saying Li Qi wouldn’t listen would make Xiang Qiaoyi reply: “You haven’t even tried to persuade him.”

He couldn’t use Li Qi as an excuse—he’d use Cui Ti instead.

“Lord, why make Li Qi take Cui Ti back? Why not keep Cui Ti permanently in Chaoge?” Nian Shangyou brought his hand down in a slashing gesture.

“Kill him?” Xiang Qiaoyi studied Nian Shangyou. “Are you certain you can?”

Nian Shangyou bowed deeply: “Yes.”

This wasn’t boasting—he truly could kill Cui Ti. Cui Ti was no fighter; with a few first-class weapons, he’d be dead.

He hadn’t been killed before because they feared he’d trigger a catastrophe in Chaoge.

But now the catastrophe was over. Chaoge was already ruined—what was there to fear? Why wait?

But Xiang Qiaoyi’s response was: “Killing an imperial envoy undermines His Majesty’s dignity and damages the court’s reputation. This is inappropriate.”

What’s this talk of the new monarch’s dignity now?

Shang and Puluo State are already enemies—does the new monarch even matter anymore?

Even if he does, killing an envoy won’t harm the court’s reputation. How many people did this envoy kill? Every Shang official wants him dead!

Killing Cui Ti would be a relief to everyone!

“No need to say more!” Qiao Yi drafted a letter and handed it to Nian Shangyou. “When you meet Li Qi, persuade him gently. If he refuses to see reason, return and report to me.”

“Enough!” Xiang Qiaoyi drafted a letter and handed it to Nian Shangyou. “Speak kindly to Li Qi. If he refuses, return to me.”

Nian Shangyou had no choice—he departed for Puluo State that same day.

That night, the messenger He Shengdong requested an audience.

He Shengdong looked about fifty, but he was He Caiyuan’s father, He Jiaqing’s great-grandfather—his actual age exceeded a hundred.

He entered the study bowing low, held the letter tube above his head, and presented it to Xiang Qiaoyi, then stepped back several paces and stood rigidly opposite the desk.

Throughout, He Shengdong’s eyes never left his own shoe tips—he never looked directly at Xiang Qiaoyi.

Xiang Qiaoyi didn’t open the letter immediately. He looked at He Shengdong: “Your He family descendant has done quite a thing.”

He Shengdong dropped to his knees, bowing his head repeatedly: “He Jiaqing is utterly wicked, his crimes beyond pardon. I beg Your Lordship to order me to cleanse the family.”

Xiang Qiaoyi sighed: “His crimes are grave—he should have been executed long ago. But out of respect for your loyalty, I’ll spare him once more. He erred by coveting territory—I’ll grant him territory to become a regional magnate. I’ve shown him such mercy—if he repents, he may still be worth cultivating.”

“Thank Your Lordship for your great mercy!” He Shengdong bowed again and again, his head striking the floor with thuds.

Xiang Qiaoyi waved his hand: “No need to thank me. Serving the court faithfully is your repayment. Rest now.”

He Shengdong crawled out on his knees, leaving the study.

Once he was gone, Xiang Qiaoyi dismissed everyone and opened the letter tube.

The secret note contained only one line: “The Great Totem is seventy-five percent restored—that is the limit.”

Xiang Qiaoyi tapped his fingers on the desk and nodded slightly: “Seventy-five percent—enough.”