Bao Yingchen, the first chief of Sanying Gate, held a pair of judge's brushes, turning them over and over in his hands.
Yang Xingbo, the third chief, stared at the judge's brushes for a moment before shaking his head. "Eldest Brother, not to dampen your spirits, but from where I'm standing, these are just an awkward pair of weapons."
Bao Yingchen channeled a bit of vigor into the brushes. Instantly, the foot-long brushes extended until they were over six feet long.
The pair of judge's brushes had become a pair of solid iron spears. In his sixties, Bao Yingchen wielded the long spears with agile form and fierce, incisive thrusts.
The third chief voiced his praise. "Splendid moves, Eldest Brother! But truthfully speaking, these weapons still aren't all that impressive."
Bao Yingchen withdrew his vigor, and the judge's brushes shrunk back to their original size. "Third Brother, you think these judge's brushes are no good?"
Yang Xingbo shook his head. "You've seen plenty of weapons that can change size. Tell me, what makes this pair special? Chu Huaijun's father, Chu Shaoqiang, is a craft cultivator—who knows how many such weapons his family has lying around? For him to try and fob you off with this? I'd say his sincerity is sorely lacking."
Bao Yingchen smiled and placed the brushes back into their box. "Xingbo, I think Chu Huaijun was quite sincere. These are treasures. Even if he couldn't explain their purpose clearly, I can feel it in my hands: they are indeed treasures. All these years, Chu Huaijun swallowed his pride and suffered in silence until he finally held out for a chance to turn things around. If we lend him a hand, we please the Garrison Commissioner and shore up our gang's position at the same time. Why shouldn't we?"
Yang Xingbo chuckled. "Eldest Brother, I'll follow your lead."
Bao Yingchen replied, "This time, it's not just my lead we need to follow; we have to follow Chu Huaijun's, too. Chu Huaijun sent us something good, so our return gift can't fall short. As for what to give in return, at the end of the day, that depends on the Garrison Commissioner."
Yang Xingbo said, "My guess is the Garrison Commissioner wants heads."
Bao Yingchen nodded. "Whose head do you think they want?"
Yang Xingbo thought it over and answered, "He Yuxiu. I heard that crazy woman is back in Lüshui City. Right now, she's a thorn in the Garrison Commissioner's side."
Bao Yingchen shook his head again. "All brawn and no brains—nothing more than a shrew. The He family was ruined in her hands. She should have died at the Garrison Commissioner's hands long ago; she only lived till today out of sheer dumb luck. We don't need to pay someone like her any mind."
"Then there's that girl, Lu Chunying. She's been stirring up trouble over the Paramount, putting Chu Huaijun in an awkward spot with the Garrison Commissioner."
Bao Yingchen shook his head. "What kind of storm can a wet-behind-the-ears girl kick up? She's just a bastard child Lu Dongliang sired on the outside. With a background like hers, she doesn't even have the right to stay in the Lu family."
Yang Xingbo pondered some more. "That leaves the Ma family. It depends on how you look at it. Ma Chunting is old and can no longer see things clearly, but that son of his, Ma Junyang, is no easy pushover."
Bao Yingchen let out a cold laugh. "I don't know about being a pushover, but he certainly saved on food—he almost starved to death in Lanyang Village! That boy won't stay cocky for long. Does he think pulling off a few speculative business ventures means he can carve out an empire in Puluo Province? He's suffered too little hardship and dreamed far too many dreams."
Yang Xingbo pondered for a long time, shaking his head repeatedly. "Eldest Brother, I can't think of anyone else."
"Indeed, it's not easy to figure out," Bao Yingchen said, rising to his feet. "Why is He Yuxiu still alive? Why is Lu Chunying still in the Lu family? Why didn't Ma the Fifth starve to death in Lanyang Village? Whose head the Garrison Commissioner really wants is something we must ponder very carefully."
***
Inside the Portable Abode, Li Banfeng asked the judge's brush very earnestly, "Does your family have any relatives out there?"
After waiting about ten minutes, the judge's brush responded, "Hmph~"
Taken literally, it probably meant...
Li Banfeng couldn't decipher it.
The gramophone offered a suggestion instead. "My dear husband, who cares whether it's related to our wretched brush? Since Old Luo found news of it, fetch it first and worry about the rest later! If it truly works as well as our judge's brush, that would be another pair of supreme treasures in hand."
Li Banfeng nodded. "I was thinking the same thing, but taking something from Sanying Gate's first elder might not be easy."
"Husband, you think too highly of Sanying Gate. Their gang certainly has a solid foundation, but the cultivation of their three chiefs isn't necessarily that high. Husband, you possess tier seven cultivation, and you're open for business across two paths! Even if you run into someone at tier eight, you can put up a fight. You don't have to fear him."
Li Banfeng bit his thumbnail. "Right. I have two dwelling spirits; I'm not afraid of him."
"Husband, the key is picking the right moment to strike. Dealing with a single gold seal isn't hard, but taking on the entire Sanying Gate won't be easy."
His wife made a good point: finding the right opportunity was tricky.
Even if he couldn't find an opportunity, it didn't matter. Snatching the pair of judge's brushes would be good fortune, but failing to get them wouldn't be a loss either.
Right now, there were many other important matters. Ma the Fifth was preparing to host a guest in his outer residence.
Usually, guests were received at Xiaoyaowu, but this guest was special and could not show his face openly.
"Old Seven, the friend we're meeting today is named Shan Baowen. He works in the Garrison Office. In the past, whenever we sent our people there for travel permits, we could get them processed in under an hour, all thanks to his help. For him to seek me out today, it must be about money. If he asks for a steep price, let's not pinch pennies."
"If it's money that should be spent, there's no need to consult me." Li Banfeng sat down in a corner of the room, intending to test the man's cultivation.
Before long, the guest arrived.
From his appearance, he looked forty-seven or forty-eight, of average build, slightly lean, wearing a pair of glasses, with a gentle, scholarly air.
Ma the Fifth rose to greet him, while Li Seven remained seated without moving.
If Shan Baowen noticed Li Seven, it would prove his cultivation was nothing ordinary, and Ma the Fifth would immediately introduce them.
As it turned out, Shan Baowen took no notice of Li Seven whatsoever.
His cultivation was low—in fact, he might not possess any cultivation at all.
After exchanging pleasantries, the two men took their seats. Shan Baowen wiped away his sweat and said, "I rushed all the way here, not even pausing for a sip of water."
Ma the Fifth hurriedly poured tea for him. "Brother Baowen, yesterday my men went to you for a travel permit, and you mentioned you had something to tell me. It kept me anxious and awake all night."
"It's nothing major," Shan Baowen said with a chuckle. "My son started a factory, but he didn't know how to run a business. He lost quite a sum of money and didn't dare tell me. I only found out yesterday when debt collectors showed up at my door. That boy just isn't cut out for business! When I scolded him, he even talked back. Young people these days—scant capability, yet plenty of temper. It gave me a bellyful of anger."
Ma the Fifth smiled. "Brother Baowen, you shouldn't put it that way. Skills in the business world are honed through trial and error. After stumbling a couple of times, he'll gradually find his footing."
Shan Baowen shook his head. "It still comes down to natural talent. He's about your age, but when it comes to ability, he's leagues behind you."
"You're too kind. How much does he owe?"
"I'm embarrassed to even say it. Only two months in business, and he lost a whole five hundred silver dollars."
"Is that all?" Ma the Fifth beamed. "I'll cover that money. Consider it tuition paid on my brother's behalf."
"How could I possibly accept..."
"There you go, standing on ceremony with me again!"
After trading a few more polite remarks, Shan Baowen lowered his voice. "Yesterday, when I went to deliver documents to the chief commissioner, he happened to be entertaining a guest. Guess who it was?"
Ma the Fifth shook his head. "I couldn't begin to guess."
"The eldest of the Chu family, Chu Huaijun! As I stepped in and out, I overheard half a sentence between them. They're planning to eliminate someone, and they'll make their move within the next few days."
Ma the Fifth was startled. "Who?"
"That I don't know. Walking past, that was all I caught."
Ma the Fifth pinched his chin, his brows tightly knit.
Shan Baowen said, "Junyang, I have business on my end, so I must hurry back."
Ma the Fifth immediately stood up and packed five hundred silver dollars for Shan Baowen. Not daring to see him all the way outside, he escorted him only to the stairwell before bidding farewell.
Returning to the room, Li Banfeng asked Ma the Fifth, "Did that man tell you everything?"
Ma the Fifth thought about it. "I believe he did. He's greedy. If he knew more, he would have demanded a bigger sum. Shan Baowen is a native of Puluo Province and holds no real rank. In the Garrison Office, someone at his level is the best we can buy off. Liao Zihui wants Chu Huaijun to get rid of someone—who could it be?"
Li Banfeng looked at Ma the Fifth. "What do you think?"
"If it's not He Yuxiu, it's Lu Chunying. It would be best to have them hide in the newland."
Li Banfeng lit a cigarette. "Could it be you?"
Ma the Fifth considered this. "I don't think I'd count. Aside from the newspaper agency matter, I haven't openly clashed with the Garrison Commissioner."
"Yet you're helping both He Yuxiu and Lu Chunying. The operation of their families' businesses relies heavily on you."
Ma the Fifth pressed his lips together, his cheeks twitching involuntarily.
*Old Seven has a point. It really could be me!*
"Old Seven, leave immediately and hide in the newland! I'll settle our business matters and join you right away. If I can't get away, keep a close watch on our businesses—whatever you do, don't let go of them! As long as we have the businesses, we have a foundation, and you can find an opportunity to avenge me later."
Li Banfeng smiled. "Who says someone can't get away? You, or Chu Huaijun?"
"Me, of course! How could it be him?" Ma the Fifth blinked, then asked, "You want to deal with Chu Huaijun? He has the Garrison Commissioner backing him; there's no telling how much strength he has now."
Li Banfeng took a drag of his cigarette. "No matter how much strength he has, we know they're going to strike, and we know who their targets are. Our chance has come, so we can't spare him."
Ma the Fifth shook his head. "It's still hard to say which of us he's aiming for."
Li Banfeng said, "He Yuxiu, Lu Chunying, and you—one way or another, it's one of the three of you. Why don't you all gather in one place? Move over to Lu Chunying's home right now, and take Ah Qin, Huo Ling, and Old Zuo with you. I'll recruit another batch of hands to clear wasteland in Zhengjing Village, and I'll consult Shui Yongquan to transfer a few capable fighters from the newland to concentrate all our firepower in one spot. No matter how many men Chu Huaijun sends this time, we won't let a single one get away. If Chu Huaijun comes in person, we'll take him down too. If the Garrison Commissioner comes, we'll take down the Garrison Commissioner along with him!"
"Even the Garrison Commissioner...?" Ma the Fifth felt Old Seven was losing his mind again. "Let's think this through. I can't help feeling we haven't considered everything. If I gather together with them, once a fight breaks out, wouldn't we just be serving ourselves up to be scooped up in one ladle?"
Li Banfeng shook his head. "A single ladle can't scoop us up. If they could, they would have done it already; their ladle isn't big enough."
Ma the Fifth said, "At the very least, let Lu Chunying hide in Zhengjing Village. Her cultivation is too low and she can't fight; keeping her around will only make her a burden."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "If we do that, we'll fall right into their trap! That's just waiting for them to defeat us one by one!"
Ma the Fifth argued, "But that's safer."
Li Seven still shook his head. "If we went by the safest approach, you should hide in Zhengjing Village too—you can't fight very well either. But if you hide, will Ah Qin, Huo Ling, and Old Zuo still put their backs into it? For whose sake would they risk their lives? If Lu Chunying hides, for whose sake will Tan Fucheng, Lu Yuanxin, and the others risk their lives? If we all hide, He Yuxiu will be the only one left. Once He Yuxiu falls, the Garrison Commissioner will turn to the next. By relying on this single dirty trick, they will forever hold our lives in their grip. If you're content to let them hold you by the throat, go to Zhengjing Village right now. If you're not, pack your things and head to Lu Chunying's home."
Ma the Fifth took a drag of his cigarette, looked up, and said, "Old Seven, I'll listen to you."
Chapter 391