Chapter 86: Let

Li Banfeng kicked Zhong Desong into the boiling water.

Steam rose violently, scalding Li Banfeng, who quickly pulled his foot back.

A two-layer Zhai Xiu plus one-layer Lv Xiu, with Li Banfeng’s current cultivation base, felt searing pain from just a touch—let alone Zhong Desong, fully submerged.

Zhong Desong struggled to surface; Li Banfeng pulled out his iron ruler and stabbed it into Zhong Desong’s skull, forcing him under the water.

The iron ruler glowed red-hot; Li Banfeng yanked it back and kicked Zhong Desong’s head again.

Zhong Desong swam toward the opposite wall, trying to break the surface.

Li Banfeng leapt to the opposite wall and kicked his head again.

Zhong Desong tried several times to escape the hot tea bath, but Li Banfeng never gave him an opening.

He had been submerged for nearly five minutes.

Ku Xiu could endure pain beyond ordinary imagination.

But this pain was beyond what a two-layer Ku Xiu could bear.

Li Banfeng held the teapot, unsure how to control this magic treasure, and could only wait patiently.

Only when the spout stopped spewing water did the tea, hotter than molten iron, slowly recede.

Zhong Desong lay sprawled on the ground, his skin entirely peeled away, his flesh fully cooked, yet not a drop of blood remained.

Li Banfeng sighed lightly and taught Zhong Desong: “It is said that only by enduring the harshest hardships can one withstand the deepest suffering within hardship,

this suffering is not wasted—clench your teeth, hold on a little longer, and you’ll meet Old Lady Han.”

Li Banfeng collected the teapot, lifted Zhong Desong, and prepared to take him back to his personal dwelling to serve his wife hot-pot meat.

Before he could open his personal dwelling, Li Banfeng suddenly noticed sparks flickering from Zhong Desong’s chest.

What is he trying to do?

Could he have explosives on him?

Li Banfeng startled, immediately flinging Zhong Desong far away.

He had no explosives—only two signal flares.

These two flares were wrapped in oil film, untouched by water; Zhong Desong used his last ounce of strength to ignite them.

In Puluozhou, explosives were unreliable.

This time, Zhong Desong was lucky—one of the two flares actually worked.

Boom! Hssss!

The signal flare shot into the sky and exploded into a golden flower.

Li Banfeng rushed forward, dragged Zhong Desong into his personal dwelling.

Zhong Desong’s eyes were cooked shut—he saw nothing, didn’t know where he was, or what Li Banfeng intended to do to him.

With his nearly shattered body, he clung desperately to Li Banfeng and screamed:

“Little thief, you won’t escape, you can’t go anywhere,

you think the dance hall incident is over? You think Du Hongxi and Zhou Yujuan’s matter is over?

Little thief, I sent word to the Helmsman—he’s coming right now. You’ve offended the Jiang Xiang Gang—you’ve already stepped one foot into the netherworld!”

Li Banfeng kicked Zhong Desong away and said to the singing machine: “My wife, it’s time to dine.”

Hssss~

The singing machine sobbed twice: “Husband, after starving this servant for so many days, you finally offer food—feed me~~”

Li Banfeng snapped: “Don’t speak like that in front of outsiders—it sounds like I’ve starved you!”

A wisp of steam surged forth, tearing Zhong Desong’s soul into fragments.

Li Banfeng sat on the edge of the bed, pondering Zhong Desong’s words.

Zhong Desong said the Helmsman of the Jiang Xiang Gang has been searching for me—is that true?

Li Banfeng believed it was highly likely true.

From the moment Li Banfeng destroyed the Xianle Dance Hall to the Jiang Xiang Gang’s surrender and the use of Jia Quansheng as a scapegoat, it took only one day.

The Jiang Xiang Gang acted too swiftly—even in Yuezhou, handling such matters couldn’t possibly be this efficient.

They rushed to quell this so quickly because they were covering up a purpose—your purpose.

Looking for me!

They’re still looking for me!

This isn’t over!

Li Banfeng rubbed the singing machine’s armpit: “My wife, do you think I’m right?”

Hssssss~

The singing machine giggled with itchiness:

“What’s right or wrong, husband?”

“I’m thinking about what’s happening outside.”

“This servant never leaves the inner chambers—how would I know what’s happening outside?”

Li Banfeng sat silently on the bed, suddenly feeling warmth in his chest.

He pulled out the teapot, hearing it whisper repeatedly: “Are you cold? Tell me—are you cold?”

The teapot grew hotter; Li Banfeng quickly tossed it aside.

Hssss~

The singing machine wrapped the teapot in steam; the voice inside grew fainter, then vanished.

“Hey, husband, where did this teapot come from?”

Li Banfeng looked at the ground where Zhong Desong lay: “Took it from him.”

“This magic treasure is extraordinary—its inherent level is high, yet it’s been spoiled by indulgence. If you use it once, you’ll suffer once; one misstep, and you may lose your life.”

Use it once, suffer once.

The cost is too great.

Consider its ability—it creates an extreme combat environment, indifferent to friend or foe.

Li Banfeng’s expectations for the teapot dropped sharply; the singing machine sang softly: “Husband, this magic treasure is a treasure for Ku Xiu, but useless for Zhai Xiu. In my view, better destroy it.”

Destroy it?

Li Banfeng shook his head: “Too much of a waste.”

My wife is right—this teapot was designed for Ku Xiu; it worked in Zhong Desong’s hands, but holds no value for Zhai Xiu.

Yet battlefield endurance is Lv Xiu’s specialty—if terrain is chosen wisely, that pool of hot tea gives Lv Xiu even greater advantage than Ku Xiu.

The only unbearable cost is the price of using it.

Hssss~

“If you can’t bear to part with it, this servant has two solutions:

one, give it directly to Honglian to reforge—but Honglian’s temper is unpredictable; after reforging, it may no longer be a magic treasure, or it might even become two pills,

two, store it away for now; when your cultivation advances, perhaps you’ll be able to wield it.”

Li Banfeng thought a moment: “Then store it away for now.”

“This servant obeys husband’s will.”

As the singing machine prepared to seal the teapot in steam, Li Banfeng called out: “My wife, wait—I still need to use this.”

“When?”

“Now.”

“So soon?” Hssss~ The singing machine sounded worried: “Husband, after using it, return home quickly and hand it to this servant—never linger in battle.”

Li Banfeng nodded: “How do I use this teapot?”

“Rub it repeatedly against his body until the water inside boils—then pour the tea out.

Keep rubbing, and the spout will keep flowing; the tea on the ground will keep surging.

Remember, the tea rises higher and higher—don’t let it scald you.

If you stop rubbing, wait five or six minutes—the spout will cease, and the tea will vanish.

After the tea vanishes, the teapot will ask if you’re cold—never say yes, never delay—return home immediately.”

…

In a deep alley, Shi Boyu, Second Helmsman of the Jiang Xiang Gang’s Yaowang Hall, arrived with Red Stick Xiang Guicheng.

They saw the signal flare and rushed over—but the alley was empty, only puddles of water covering the ground, as if a heavy rain had just passed.

Xiang Guicheng gritted his teeth: “Old Zhong’s in trouble—definitely the man-wife and Qin Fatty’s gang.”

His confidant Sun Xiaoan lifted his water pipe: “Don’t jump to conclusions—speak carefully.”

Xiang Guicheng snapped: “No conclusion? Old Zhong went to Fuwang Baozi Shop tonight to drink, celebrating Qin Fatty’s breakthrough to the next level—Zhang Liuze invited him. Now he’s missing—how can Qin Fatty be innocent?”

Sun Xiaoan shook his head: “I can’t guess Qin Fatty’s motives, but Zhang Liuze has roamed the Jianghu for decades—he wouldn’t do something so foolish.

If he invited Old Zhong to dinner, he wouldn’t strike him—it would bring disaster on himself and shame to the Three Heroes Gate.”

Xiang Guicheng sneered: “Zhang Liuze isn’t as clever as you think—he’s a brute. Better to go ask him than waste time guessing.”

Shi Boyu nodded, preparing to lead men to find Zhang Liuze.

Sun Xiaoan stepped forward, blocking the Helmsman, lowering his voice: “We can’t go to Zhang Liuze tonight.”

Shi Boyu frowned: “I’m just asking him questions—why can’t I go?”

“You can ask questions—but you can’t accuse. This hour isn’t for questioning—it’s for accusation.”

In the dead of night, storming a banquet table? That’s not questioning—it’s charging with guilt.

Shi Boyu said nothing, and Sun Xiaoan continued: “Old Zhong is missing now, and we can’t say for sure if he’s in trouble—our priority is to find him first.”

“Boss, you go back to the headquarters and wait for news. Brother Xiang, I’ll join you to gather the men—we’ll start searching right away.”

Xiang Guicheng was deeply dissatisfied, but before he could speak, Shi Boyu spoke first: “Do it that way.”

Shi Boyu turned and left; Xiang Guicheng, helpless, followed Sun Xiaoan to gather the men.

“You’re acting like an old woman—no man’s got that kind of spine. What kind of boss is he? We shouldn’t have spared those bastards in the first place!” Xiang Guicheng grumbled all the way.

Sun Xiaoan drew on his water pipe: “Brother Xiang, our boss never intended to spare them—just that we must act with restraint and discipline.”

Across the alley, Li Banfeng heard every word clearly through his thread-earring.

As expected, this matter isn’t over.

You don’t plan to let me go?

Looks like you still haven’t been hurt enough!

Shi Boyu is returning to headquarters.

Fine—I know where your headquarters is. Let’s see who gets there first!

PS: Dear readers, have a pleasant weekend.

Shala is happily typing away on the weekend; as long as she sees your replies, she can’t stop.

(End of Chapter)