Chapter 175: The Queen of the Wind and Moon

"Hahahaha!"

Shangguan Xiao suddenly burst into laughter, her laughter filled with grief and indignation.

Li Fei watched her laugh in silence, able to understand her feelings.

"Do you know? My father valued this family more than anything in his life, yet in the end, he died at the hands of his own people!"

Shangguan Xiao restrained her laughter and said coldly.

"Actually, it could also be someone from the General Zhige Academy."

Li Fei offered a word of comfort.

It wasn't necessarily family members who could have long-term contact with Zhang Zongyang; people from the General Zhige Academy also had that possibility.

"If it really were someone from the General Zhige Academy, they should have already investigated and found results by now."

Shangguan Xiao shook her head, her gaze cold as she spoke.

She was very intelligent and had seen through the essence of the matter at a glance.

There couldn't be many people in the General Zhige Academy who could have long-term contact with Zhang Zongyang and had the motive to poison him; if it really were the work of someone from the General Zhige Academy, there should at least be a preliminary conclusion by now.

Since there wasn't, it meant that in all likelihood, it wasn't someone from the General Zhige Academy, but someone from the Zhang family!

After Zhang Zongyang's death, major factions were like a pack of wolves fighting over meat, all constantly "devouring" the Zhang family's assets, while the government maintained a tacit attitude toward this, which had actually led to many malicious conspiracy theories circulating among the public.

It was only because the Zhang family's assets being annexed were currently all being done in secret that the matter hadn't blown up.

Under these circumstances, if the government were to suddenly make public arrests and investigate people from the Zhang family, the matter would very likely head toward another extreme—

The government and the Jianghu factions joining forces to persecute the Zhang family! Persecuting the family of a helmsman who had just passed away!

Once the matter blew up, it could become extremely embarrassing, which was something the high-level figures of Datong Prefecture were unwilling to see.

Therefore, even though the General Supervisory Academy, the General Zhige Academy, and the General Inspection Academy had already obtained the autopsy results, they hadn't publicly investigated the Zhang family members.

They could only investigate in secret.

Li Fei guessed that the reason Xia Huan had Lu Mengyang tell him the autopsy results might also be because he wanted him to secretly tell Shangguan Xiao, letting Shangguan Xiao also investigate in the shadows.

After all, Shangguan Xiao was the least likely of all the Zhang family members to have plotted against Zhang Zongyang.

"Aunt-Master, what do you plan to do next?"

Li Fei hesitated for a moment before asking.

Knowing that it might have been a Zhang family member who killed Zhang Zongyang, would Shangguan Xiao still want to protect such a family?

Such a choice was too cruel.

Li Fei didn't know how he would choose if it were him.

Shangguan Xiao closed her eyes and remained silent for a long time.

Then she opened her eyes and said word by word: "I must at least fulfill his last wish!"

Li Fei nodded.

He understood; Shangguan Xiao still intended to help the Zhang family weather this crisis.

"With today's battle and the Chu family keeping vigil at the Zhang residence for three days, perhaps it can make the various factions hold back slightly; we can take advantage of this time to do something else."

Li Fei analyzed calmly.

Today's battle, combined with the Chu family keeping vigil, could at most make the various factions slightly wary, but it certainly wouldn't scare these people away.

In fact, even if Zhang Zongyang were still alive, if the six major factions among the "Seven Kings" joined forces against the Zhang family, the Zhang family still wouldn't be able to stop them; it was just that because Zhang Zongyang was there, the Zhang family could at least severely damage one or two factions.

Moreover, because of Zhang Zongyang's status, the Jianghu factions didn't dare to make a move against him at all; as long as he was alive, the Zhang family had a chance to make a comeback and a possibility of retaliating.

This was the reason why no one had dared to touch the Zhang family for the past few decades.

Now that Zhang Zongyang was dead, the Zhang family's deterrent power was greatly reduced, and it was highly likely they would just collapse, with no possibility of retaliation, so the major factions were naturally scrambling to "fight for the meat."

Therefore, if they wanted the Zhang family to weather this crisis, the most important point was to find a new, powerful support for the Zhang family, to make the major factions feel afraid, not just wary!

Shangguan Xiao looked at Li Fei; perhaps if she gave this nephew of hers a few more years, he could grow into such a figure and become a powerful support, but right now, it was far from enough.

"I plan to find a way to be transferred back to the prefecture city."

Shangguan Xiao stated her method.

She was the Chief of the Zhige Academy in Xingcheng; if she were transferred back to the Datong Prefecture city, even if it were a lateral transfer, it would actually be a loss, because "a local official is not as good as the one in charge"; being an 11th-rank official at the General Zhige Academy in Datong Prefecture city was not as good as being in charge of a region in Xingcheng.

According to the path Zhang Zongyang had paved for her before he died, she should have been the Chief in Xingcheng for at least five years, cultivating her own direct subordinates, operating the Xingcheng Zhige Academy as her "base camp," and only after arranging her "successor" would she be promoted to Datong Prefecture city.

This way, she would not only get a promotion but also have powerful support behind her.

But Shangguan Xiao planned to transfer back to Datong Prefecture city now; this was undoubtedly a choice that resulted in a huge loss!

But if she didn't return, being far away in Xingcheng, she simply couldn't provide powerful support to the Zhang family.

Therefore, this was the only way.

"Actually..."

Li Fei stopped mid-sentence.

"What is it?"

Shangguan Xiao looked at him.

Li Fei smiled: "Nothing, Aunt-Master, you should rest first. I'm going back to the academy; I will continue to gather information from the General Supervisory Academy."

"Alright, thank you for your hard work."

Shangguan Xiao nodded.

Afterward, Li Fei left the guesthouse.

He walked into a complex network of streets and alleys and began to circle around.

More than an hour later, confirming that no one was following him, he changed his outfit at a former stronghold left behind by the Hudao Gang—

A black martial robe, a green evil ghost mask, and the transformed Ghost-Slaying Blade.

After several months, the Green-Faced Ghost appeared in Datong Prefecture city once again!

Night fell.

Fenghua Street was filled with bright lights and colorful decorations; seventeen dance halls were lit up, with various colored lights flickering, making the night look colorful and brilliant.

These seventeen dance halls were all considered top-tier brothels, belonging to a type of "light singing small class."

These were all properties of one of the "Seven Kings," the "Queen" Feng Sanniang.

A few months ago, when Li Fei first entered Datong Prefecture city as the Green-Faced Ghost, after he entered the "Beast King's" Human-Face Manor alone and then walked out unscathed, Feng Sanniang had someone send him an invitation (see Chapter 137 of Volume 1).

At that time, Li Fei told the person who delivered the letter: If there was a chance, he would pay a visit.

For the following months, he had never gone.

Tonight, he intended to go.

To meet this queen of the pleasure quarters!

When Li Fei appeared on Fenghua Street in his Green-Faced Ghost attire, the news spread immediately.

In the largest dance hall on Fenghua Street, Feng Sanniang also received the news.

"Coming to see me at this time?"

She used her jade-like fingers to gently pick up a grape and put it into her mouth, saying somewhat lazily.

"Sanniang, do you want to see him?"

The beautiful woman who came to report asked.

Actually, in recent days, Feng Sanniang's forces had also been making moves against the Zhang family, and the Green-Faced Ghost seemed to be an ally of that Shangguan Xiao.

"See him, of course; the invitation was sent out, so naturally I must see him. Go and prepare."

Feng Sanniang smiled.

Over the years, anyone who had been received by her alone, as long as they didn't die, had without exception become a big shot in Datong Prefecture!

"Yes."

The subordinate withdrew.

A few minutes later, someone led Li Fei into the largest dance hall on Fenghua Street.

"Young Master Qing, please."

The young girl leading the way had skin as white as snow, looking like a piece of mutton-fat jade, making one's heart flutter.

She led Li Fei to an elevator, bowed slightly, and said to Li Fei.

"Young Master Qing?"

Hearing this title, a smile appeared on Li Fei's face under the mask.

The Jianghu people in Xingcheng called him the Green-Faced Ghost King, while the people from the Qingyuan City Management Company, under the influence of Liu Saner, called him Ghost Master.

This was the first time he had heard the title Young Master Qing.

He walked into the elevator, the elevator door slowly closed, and then it went up.

Reaching the top floor, the sixth floor, the elevator door opened, and Li Fei walked out.

Outside was a corridor covered with a dark red carpet; on the walls on both sides of the corridor hung various landscape paintings and calligraphy, and there were also pieces of porcelain that looked very valuable at a glance.

The young girl leading the way brought Li Fei to the end of the corridor, pointed to a white door in front, and whispered:

"Young Master Qing, Sanniang is waiting for you inside."

"Alright."

Li Fei nodded and pushed open the door in front of him.

Inside was a very spacious room, decorated very elegantly, with a guzheng, calligraphy and paintings, sandalwood tables and chairs, and bookshelves; there was even a small bridge, and below it was a pool of emerald green water, with many red koi swimming in the water.

The air was filled with a faint scent of incense, which made people feel relaxed subconsciously after smelling it.

Directly in front was a screen, and behind the screen sat a person.

She must be the "Queen" Feng Sanniang.

Li Fei looked at the figure behind the screen in front and thought to himself.

"Young Master Qing has finally come, please sit."

A somewhat lazy voice came from behind the screen.

Hearing this voice, Li Fei felt as if his heart had been scratched by something, itchy and somewhat restless.

"Is this her extraordinary ability?"

Li Fei guessed while walking toward a wooden chair and sitting down.

Feng Sanniang was able to control all the pleasure quarters in Datong Prefecture city and be called the "Queen," standing side by side with the other major factions; naturally, she was no weakling.

She was also a Dao Foundation realm powerhouse, and she could rank in the upper tier among the Dao Foundation realm.

Besides her own strength, what people admired most about this "Queen" was her ability to be socially adept and her power to charm people's hearts.

Her connections spanned the entire Datong Prefecture, and even the entire Feng Province!

From the Garrison Commander above to the Jianghu experts below, both black and white paths, she could talk to them all, and there were people willing to take action for her, even die for her.

This was actually the most formidable part of this "Queen"!

Many people guessed that besides her own charm, Feng Sanniang also possessed an extraordinary ability to charm people's hearts.

Otherwise, if she only relied on her beauty to entertain people, she couldn't have moved so many heroes and overlords.

Li Fei dared to come and see Feng Sanniang alone tonight because he relied on the Ten Thousand Blood Pearl.

He wasn't worried that he would be charmed.

"Young Master Qing, please have some tea; I brewed this tea myself."

Behind the screen, Feng Sanniang continued.

Beside the wooden chair where Li Fei sat was a wooden table, on which a full set of tea utensils was placed; tea had already been poured into the cup, and it was steaming.

"No need."

Li Fei said coldly, refusing directly.

"Young Master Qing doesn't seem to trust me; then why did you come to see me tonight?"

Feng Sanniang asked.

Her tone carried a hint of reproach, making people subconsciously feel pity and feel as if they had done something wrong.

Li Fei remained unmoved and asked: "Does Sanniang know why I came?"

"Coming to see me suddenly at this time, isn't it to discuss cooperation?"

Feng Sanniang asked.

Li Fei nodded: "It is indeed to discuss cooperation, but I am not here to represent the Zhang family to seek cooperation with you."

"Oh?"

Feng Sanniang's voice remained lazy, "Then are you representing the Qingyuan City Management Company? As far as I know, Yu Longqing just swallowed a batch of goods from your company, and now you should be worrying about what to feed those exotic beasts. Seeking cooperation with me, is it to solve this problem?"

Her information channels were very well-informed, and besides that, her connections were also very extensive.

If there was anyone in Datong Prefecture besides the "Beast King" Yu Longqing who had the ability to obtain a large amount of exotic beast feed, then it was most likely Feng Sanniang.

"I am seeking cooperation with you, not to ask you to help solve the problem of exotic beast feed."

Li Fei shook his head.

"Then what is it?"

Feng Sanniang finally showed some interest.

"I want to join forces with you to wipe out Yu Longqing!"

Li Fei said word by word.

"..."

The room fell silent.

Shangguan Xiao had advised Li Fei to bow his head to Yu Longqing so that business could continue, but Li Fei didn't think so.

His idea was to simply wipe out the "Beast King" directly!

This way, the problem would be solved permanently, and he wouldn't be manipulated by others again.

"They say that if you don't say something shocking, you won't stop; Young Master Qing has indeed shocked me."

Feng Sanniang smiled, "But the problem is, why should I leave the fat meat of the Zhang family uneaten and go to deal with the wild beast of Yu Longqing instead?"

Li Fei looked at the screen and slowly stated his reasons:

"Now that the Tiefeng Sect is sealed, the strongest 'Blade King' among the 'Seven Kings' shouldn't be able to move for a long time, and combined with the Zhang family's affairs, the current situation in Datong Prefecture is actually suitable for a reshuffle."

"Hmm."

Feng Sanniang agreed with Li Fei's point of view, but this reason alone was far from enough.

"Any major faction that wants to grow must possess the ability to cultivate exotic beasts itself, yet the 'Beast King' has always monopolized the exotic beast feed business, which is actually holding everyone's lifeline. Don't you want to take this lifeline back?"

Li Fei continued.

"..."

Feng Sanniang didn't speak.

Actually, the major factions certainly didn't want their lifeline to be held in someone else's hands, but it was just because the "Beast King" had taken the initiative and had long monopolized the exotic beast feed business, making it very difficult for them to make a move.

Over the past few years, Yu Longqing had never made things difficult for the major factions regarding exotic beast feed, and had even offered some discounts, allowing the major factions to save quite a bit of money.

He was very smart and wouldn't use this as a means of attack, only for self-protection.

Therefore, unless forced, the major factions wouldn't tear their faces with him either.

"I know everyone must want to keep the exotic beast feed business in their own hands, but they just can't find a suitable opportunity to make a move."

Li Fei said.

Feng Sanniang chuckled, her laughter charming to the bone:

"So Young Master Qing means that now is a very good time to make a move?"

"That's right."

Li Fei nodded very seriously.

"Why?"

Feng Sanniang asked.

"Because he provoked me."

Li Fei said word by word.

There is another chapter tonight.

(End of chapter)