In the Chu family manor, Second Miss Chu placed a nail against her knee and tapped it in bit by bit with a hammer.
Steward Yang Yanzheng knocked and entered the room, keeping his voice low. "Miss, the matter has been verified. Ma the Fifth drove out the Song family and made himself master of Lanyang Village."
Second Miss Chu pulled the nail from her kneecap and sighed. "I don't blame you for this. Song Jiasen was just too useless of a fool."
Yang Yanzheng felt displeased inside. What do you mean, you don't blame me? There was no reason to blame me in the first place—the idea was yours.
Naturally, he couldn't argue about it.
Second Miss Chu sighed once more. "The Song family was good for nothing, and the Liu family hasn't made a move either. Are they truly willing to swallow their losses in silence?"
Yang Yanzheng shook his head. "We don't know what the Liu family intends just yet."
"Forget it. No point relying on that bunch of useless trash." Second Miss Chu placed the nail against the arch of her foot and picked up the hammer by her hand. "Go prepare some gifts. Pick a suitable day, and I'll go pay Ma the Fifth a visit myself."
***
Early in the morning, Li Banfeng left the village to deliver another shipment.
Truth be told, Ma the Fifth had no idea what method Li Banfeng used to transport goods. All he knew was that whenever goods were sent to Li Banfeng's room the previous evening, they vanished by the next morning.
Li Banfeng would head out that morning and return the next day with the money.
Regardless of what means Li Banfeng employed, Ma the Fifth knew better than to ask—nor should he. His job was to keep the economy of Lanyang Village running smoothly.
Lanyang Village was different from before. Those without savings went hunting in the wilderness, while those with a bit of capital did everything they could to run their businesses well. On ordinary days, nobody even spared a thought for brawling or picking fights.
As Ma the Fifth watched the ledger grow thicker and thicker, calculating the purchase prices for the next stage, a strange scent suddenly hit his nostrils in the midst of his busy work.
Ma the Fifth had been bitten by a spider when he was young, making him exceptionally sensitive to the scent of spiders.
He stood by the window and watched for a moment, then turned back and told Xiao Chuanzi, "Go invite that fake foreign devil outside to come in."
The moment Xiao Chuanzi stepped outside, he saw a middle-aged man dressed in a black tailcoat, wearing a top hat, and holding a walking stick, who smiled at him.
Once the man was ushered inside, Ma the Fifth had already brewed tea. "Great Detective, what brings you to a dump like this?"
He knew Daboyins. Back in Lüshui City, Daboyins had done work for the Ma family.
Daboyins remained gentlemanly. "I heard Fifth Young Master was making a fortune in Lanyang Village, so I came especially to see for myself."
"What fortune? I'm buried in debt. Great Detective, let me be clear with you upfront: I have no intention of hiring you, nor do I have the money to."
"Fifth Young Master, there's no need to speak as if we're strangers. I came today looking to inquire about a person." Daboyins handed Ma the Fifth a photograph. "Have you seen this man?"
Ma the Fifth took it and looked. It was a photograph of Li Banfeng. "Why are this man's clothes so strange? Is he from the Outer States?"
"Fifth Young Master has a keen eye."
Ma the Fifth studied it closely for a good while. "Doesn't ring a bell. I definitely haven't seen anyone like this recently. I did see someone from the Outer States three years ago, but what he looked like, I couldn't tell you anymore."
Daboyins added, "Fifth Young Master, you know I never expect anyone to work for nothing. If there is any news of this person, I certainly won't treat you poorly."
"Really?" Ma the Fifth's eyes lit up. "Then tell me, if I find this man, how much can you offer?"
"A hundred thousand silver dollars. Do you find that sum suitable?"
"Not bad at all!" Ma the Fifth nodded. "I'll keep the photo and keep an eye out for him. As soon as there's word, I'll let you know."
That was clearly not the answer Daboyins wanted. "Fifth Young Master, if you don't mind, may I ask around among the others?"
"Go right ahead. Whoever has the skill makes the fortune—who am I to stop them?" Ma the Fifth smiled, then added, "Only one thing: I've only just gained a firm footing here. When you ask around, you'd better show some restraint. Don't go stirring up panic. You know my situation; getting a foothold in any business isn't easy."
"Of course, of course," Daboyins nodded repeatedly.
Ma the Fifth suddenly brought up another topic: "Something happened to the Lu family—have you heard? Lu Dongliang's whereabouts are still unknown."
Daboyins's heart tightened, though the smile on his face never wavered. "I know about that. I also heard Lu Dongliang showed his face a few days ago at Qianyue Tower, confronting He Yuxiu face-to-face. He claimed it was He Yuxiu who attacked and injured him."
Ma the Fifth was startled. "Is that so? You mean Lu Dongliang is still alive? Then you have nothing to worry about!"
Daboyins froze. "Fifth Young Master, what do you mean by that? Why would I be worried?"
Ma the Fifth grinned. "Do I really need to spell it out? It's as plain as day!"
Daboyins's heart pounded like a drum, but his face remained calm. "Fifth Young Master, I still don't understand. What exactly is as plain as day?"
Ma the Fifth feigned surprise. "Weren't you always opening newlands on behalf of the Lu family? If something happened to Lu Dongliang, wouldn't that cut off your business?"
"So that's what you meant. That hardly matters; all the accounts that needed settling have been settled." Daboyins stood up. "I don't expect Li Banfeng will show up in Lanyang Village either, so I won't disturb you any longer. Fifth Young Master, farewell."
Ma the Fifth saw Daboyins to the door and instructed Xiao Chuan to follow behind him.
He knew Xiao Chuan couldn't keep tabs on Daboyins, but it was a declaration of his stance: he didn't want Daboyins causing trouble on his turf.
Watching Daboyins's receding figure, Ma the Fifth fell into deep thought.
Even the Lu family has stopped searching for Li Banfeng, so why is he still obsessing over this?
Is Lu Dongliang truly still alive?
He came to me first instead of investigating Lanyang Village directly, which proves he still doesn't want to offend the Ma family.
Yet that doesn't mean he won't come back.
Brother Li, don't rush back to the village. Whatever you do, don't rush.
***
Daboyins did not linger in Lanyang Village. Leaving the village, he headed straight to Taiming Town and found Zhuo Yuling in a private residence.
Zhuo Yuling asked hurriedly, "Any news of Li Banfeng?"
"None." Daboyins shook his head.
Zhuo Yuling frowned. "Didn't you suspect earlier that Li Banfeng was in Lanyang Village?"
Daboyins shook his head. "It wasn't just a suspicion before. Even now, I still believe Li Banfeng is in Lanyang Village."
"Then why haven't you investigated?"
"Because that is Ma Junyang's territory. I've already offended the Lu family; I cannot afford to offend the Ma family as well, or there will be no way left for me to survive in Puluo Province."
Zhuo Yuling grabbed Daboyins's hand. "No matter what, we must find Li Banfeng. Only he can prove Xiaolan's innocence."
Daboyins pushed her hand away. "Whether your daughter is innocent or not stopped mattering long ago. You moved against Lu Dongliang, and now that Lu Dongliang is still alive, do you think he'll still tolerate you two mother and daughter?
"You want to find Li Banfeng for nothing other than the Supreme Red Lotus. To tell the truth, I want that treasure very much as well, but I cherish my own life even more.
"Take your daughter and leave. Best if you leave Puluo Province immediately. You should still have travel permits in hand. The sooner you leave, the better; the faster, the better. That is my advice to you."
Zhuo Yuling tugged at Daboyins. "Help me. I can give you money—name your price!"
Daboyins shook his head with a chuckle. "Do you still think of yourself as the Lu family's madam? You are nothing now. Wouldn't it be better to hold on to some money for your old age?"
"I have other savings—a figure beyond your imagination. Do you truly not want it?" Zhuo Yuling gripped Daboyins's hand tightly. "Spider Bin, I know you better than anyone. Without getting your hands on the Red Lotus, there is no way you will give up."
Daboyins pondered for a moment. "I'll go take another look at Lanyang Village, then."
***
Two alleyways away from the residence, Critick leaned down, picked up a strand of spider silk, and rolled it between his fingers.
"Spider silk this resilient is rare. Looks like I found the right place."
True to his word, Daboyins went to Lanyang Village the following day. This time, he didn't greet Ma the Fifth, slipping into the village in secret.
However, Li Banfeng hadn't returned.
In Lüshui City, Li Banfeng ran into a bit of an accident, and that accident stemmed from a piece of good news.
After delivering the goods, Li Banfeng took the money back into the Portable Abode, intending to stroll around Lüshui City, only to unexpectedly discover that the bronze lotus had blossomed.
Just one Lu Dongliang took the bronze lotus this long to refine?
In fact, the pills had been finished long ago. It was only out of fear that Li Banfeng might act rashly that the bronze lotus had withheld the lotus seed.
Seeing that Li Banfeng's mood had remained relatively stable recently, the bronze lotus finally permitted him to peel off the seed.
As a result, the moment the lotus seed burst open, Li Banfeng's mood grew unstable once more.
Eighty-one Golden Origin Pills burst out from that single seed.
What did eighty-one Golden Origin Pills signify?
Eight thousand one hundred days of cultivation.
Eight thousand one hundred days was equivalent to twenty-two years.
If Li Banfeng swallowed all these pills, it meant he could advance straight to tier four.
Of course, swallowing eighty-one Golden Origin Pills at once also meant he might drop dead on the spot.
Return to the Portable Abode and ask his wife to detoxify him?
He had brushed off the last time he took pills; how was he supposed to explain it this time?
If his cover was blown and his identity as a journey cultivator was exposed, how would he survive his wife's wrath?
Forget it. If he couldn't explain it, he wouldn't explain it at all.
Eating eighty-one at once was definitely out of the question, but eating just one at a time shouldn't pose any problem!
Li Banfeng consumed one Golden Origin Pill and then found an eatery to have a meal.
Halfway through the meal, Li Banfeng sensed something was wrong.
First, the food and wine lost their flavor—even the chili powder in his dipping sauce tasted like nothing.
Next came the numbness. No matter how much force the girl kneading his shoulders and beating his back applied, Li Banfeng felt neither pain nor relief.
The sensation was not unfamiliar: he was likely about to lose sensory perception of his body again.
Li Banfeng decisively paid the bill and checked into a nearby inn.
He lay in the inn from afternoon all the way until dawn the next day before barely recovering. The potency of the pill poison was truly terrifying.
Did recovering mean the poison had been fully cleared?
Could there be residual toxins?
Li Banfeng couldn't be certain.
He rushed back to the Portable Abode. If any residual poison lingered, the house should be able to cleanse it completely.
Yet the moment he stepped inside, the gramophone flew into a towering rage: "You madman! Where were you out gallivanting last night?! Gone for a whole day and night without returning home—what do you take cultivation for?! What did you take my earnest reminders for?!"
Yesterday, his Dwelling Cultivator practice had fallen by the wayside, though running from Lanyang Village to Lüshui City meant his journey cultivator cultivation had hit the mark.
Li Banfeng was just about to explain to his wife: "I had an urgent matter yesterday..."
A plume of steam stroked him up and down as the gongs and drums softened.
*Clang-clang-clang-clang~ Tai~*
"Aiya~ Husband, what is this scent on you?"
Oh no!
Had his wife caught the scent of the pill poison?
Sweat poured down Li Banfeng's face. "Wh-what scent could there be?"
"Hmph, hmph, hmph~" The wife laughed thrice in succession, and immediately all three large horns began billowing smoke together. "You still dare lie to me! You reek of rouge and cosmetic powder! Which wanton little hussy were you out fooling around with?!"
Li Banfeng was scalded bright red all over.
Out in the outer chamber, the bronze lotus broke out in a cold sweat all over.
Chapter 128