What kind of organization was the Flying General Battalion?
Who was their leader? Why were they impersonating his lady?
The whole thing sounded absurd, but it called for caution. Li Banfeng rewarded Kui Bafang and passed the word along to Old Luo, telling him to keep an ear out for any information concerning the Flying General Battalion.
Old Luo worried Daboynes might have backup plans. "Seventh Master, once Lu Dongliang's matter is settled, you'd best head back to Lushui City first. That fake foreign devil is tough to deal with, and he has far too many tricks up his sleeve in the newland."
Li Qi wasn't especially worried; he had plenty of experience in the newland himself. "A new dance hall opened on Shaping Road. Go look after the business."
Luo Zhengnan was taken aback. "You want me to look after a dance hall's business?"
Li Banfeng chuckled. "It's your business. Naturally, you ought to look after it yourself."
"My own business..."
Li Qi was giving Luo Zhengnan a dance hall—something Luo Zhengnan had rightfully earned.
Luo Zhengnan could hardly believe it. "Seventh Master, someone in my position can't show his face in broad daylight..."
"Who says?" Li Banfeng replied in all seriousness. "Old Luo, straighten your spine. If the Jiangxiang Gang dares lay a finger on you, we'll wipe out their entire family!"
Luo Zhengnan offered his thanks over and over. When he hung up the telephone, he pulled the antenna from the crown of his head and stored it in its box.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood on the balcony, his spine held straight as a ramrod.
***
Li Banfeng returned to the City of Fools. Because the entrance had shifted, the journey took two extra hours.
Upon reaching Changsan Shuyu, he found an empty room, stowed his key, and stepped into his companion dwelling.
Watching Li Banfeng haul corpses out toward the entrance, his lady asked, "Aiya, husband! That's the family's stored rations. Why are you carrying them outside?"
Li Banfeng smiled. "Coarse, low-grade fare like this isn't to your taste anyway. I'll carry them out first—there's a whole household of people outside waiting to eat."
"Huya, you madman!" the gramophone snapped in annoyance. "You keep another household out there? Is a whole family attending to you alone still not enough for you?"
"The two households are different."
"How are they different?"
"That household doesn't have a lady. My precious wife, I only have one of you. Don't begrudge them a few scraps!"
Lu Dongliang's subordinates didn't possess exceptionally high cultivation. Li Banfeng set aside one at the fifth layer for the red lotus to refine pills and kept another at the fifth layer to nourish the projector. The rest he carried out to the Shuyu.
Inside the brothel, the household was overjoyed. Yan Qing'er plucked out a pair of eyeballs first and fitted them into Tang Changfa's sockets.
Tang Changfa blinked. Feeling a bit of dryness and finding their movement stiff, he hurried to the kitchen for a small vial of vegetable oil, squeezed a few drops into his eye sockets, and felt much better.
As for the remaining flesh and bone, they divided it among themselves at their leisure. Li Banfeng had stored a vast amount of blood using the Hanxue Pendulum, specially reserved for Yan Cui'er.
This wasn't favoritism on Li Banfeng's part. Yan Cui'er's physique had been reconstructed using the Technique of Flesh Laying, allowing blood to circulate through her body; she was the only one who could make use of it.
Infused with fresh blood, the already plump and supple Yan Cui'er grew dewy, smooth, and exquisitely charming.
Yan Qing'er pouted, irritated. "Why does she get all of it? How come there's none for the rest of us?"
Li Banfeng said nothing. Yanhong was the cleverest among the girls and quickly chimed in, "When the boss was learning the technique, Cui'er put in the most effort. It's only right she receives a bit more tender care. If we serve the boss faithfully from now on, none of us will lack rewards. Seventh Master brought us so many fine things today—what is there to be dissatisfied about?"
Li Banfeng liked hearing that. The next time he used the Technique of Flesh Laying, he would give Yanhong a touch-up too.
Then again, Li Banfeng didn't actually know how to perform the Technique of Flesh Laying; he had simply used the paste Sun Tiecheng gave him.
Now that the paste had been gifted to his lady, he would have to find an opportunity to ask Old Sun for another box.
"Where did our City Lord run off to?"
Tang Changfa said, "I hear he's taken a sweetheart on the outside. Every morning at dawn, he spruces himself up spotless and heads out, not returning until well past midnight."
Li Banfeng scoffed. "With so many fine young women in this city, why sneak outside looking for sweethearts? Completely improper!"
Tang Changfa nodded in vigorous agreement. "Our boss is far more proper than him! Once you become City Lord, we'll find all our sweethearts right here in the city!"
While the others were still dividing the flesh and bone, Li Banfeng returned to the companion dwelling and brought back two boxes of rouge for each of the women.
Tang Changfa had rendered the greatest service, so Li Banfeng presented him with a scimitar.
This scimitar was a numinous artifact. Two veteran hunters from Zhengjing Village had captured a ferocious evil spirit, but finding it too unruly to carry around, they had hired a craft cultivator to forge it into a curved blade and sold it off in the village.
The scimitar had the power to reap lives. Once driven into a body, no matter where it struck, the blade's tip would automatically snake upward toward the head, swift and ruthless.
Tang Changfa accepted the blade, his face marked by shame. "Boss, all I tried to do back then was drive the Eldest Young Master away, and I couldn't even manage a little thing like that. Giving me such a precious gift doesn't feel right."
Li Banfeng replied in all seriousness, "It's perfectly right. Why wouldn't it be? Everything I have in this city depends on you to look after it. That merit alone deserves a heavy reward. Besides, when we open our doors for business, we run into all sorts. Whenever troublemakers come looking for a fight, we rely on you to deal with them. If you keep hacking people with a kitchen cleaver at the drop of a hat, people will gossip and think we run a sinister den, ruining our good name."
Tang Changfa didn't quite follow. "If I hack people with a scimitar, does that stop us from being a sinister den?"
Li Banfeng frowned. "Foolish! This scimitar is far handier than a cleaver. No matter where you strike, it cuts off their heads. Once their heads are gone, they can't speak—so how could they ruin our reputation?"
Tang Changfa thumped his chest. "Boss, rest easy! You're going to be the City Lord one day. If anyone dares speak ill of you, I'll be the first to hack them down!"
Yan Cui'er, Yanhong, and Yan Qing'er had also contributed greatly, so Li Banfeng gave each of them a piece of jewelry.
He didn't mistreat the other women either, arranging a new set of clothes for every one of them.
These women hadn't seen new clothes in years. Every single one was thrilled beyond measure. As the Shuyu buzzed with excitement, a vendor's shout suddenly drifted in from the street:
"Read all about it! Newspapers for sale!"
Yanhong turned to Tang Changfa coaxingly. "Brother Fa, on such a wonderful day, buy us a paper!"
Tang Changfa frowned. "Didn't I buy you one just last month? What's so good about those things? Haven't you had your fill?"
Yanhong shrank back, not daring to speak. Li Banfeng asked, "Is he selling a monthly gazette?"
Tang Changfa chuckled. "Not a monthly gazette, just ordinary papers—dailies, evening editions. I buy them one every month so they can know a little about what's happening outside."
Li Banfeng asked, "If there are dailies, why only buy one a month?"
Tang Changfa rubbed his hands together. "This paper vendor has a special arrangement. The City Lord permits him to buy newspapers outside the city and resell them inside. He charges a markup to make a profit—over a dollar a copy!"
Li Banfeng asked, "A silver dollar?"
"A Huanguo note."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Well... that's still quite a bit..." Tang Changfa smacked his lips, genuinely pained by the expense.
Only then did Li Banfeng recall that the Shuyu had no regular business and essentially no income.
Where did the Shuyu's money come from?
Sun Tiecheng disbursed it monthly—a meager sum, barely enough for them to buy food and drink.
Tang Changfa explained, "Boss, we have to eat a little something every day. If we go without eating entirely, our bodies stop working."
Food was an absolute necessity for sustaining their physiques and cultivation, as well as a necessity for preserving their will to live.
Yet why didn't Sun Tiecheng distribute grain directly instead of giving them cash?
It was to keep the concept of money alive in their minds, reinforcing their awareness of life.
Tang Changfa had to budget down to the last penny every month just to keep their bellies reasonably full. A newspaper was indeed an extravagance for them.
Li Banfeng returned to the companion dwelling, retrieved five hundred thousand in cash notes, and handed them to Tang Changfa. "I don't visit often. Take this money for your expenses. Eat and drink well, and read the papers. You need to know what's happening outside. If you're going to live, live properly!"
Tang Changfa tried to refuse, but Li Banfeng frowned. "What's wrong with investing a little money in my own family business? Go buy the newspapers first."
Tang Changfa hurried off to buy them. Reluctant to spend excessively, he bought two copies of the *Water City Evening News*.
The *Water City Evening News* was a prominent evening paper in Lushui City and one of the most famous publications under the Ling family's press.
Tang Changfa handed one copy to the girls to share and passed the other to Li Banfeng.
Li Banfeng usually only read the front page, but the women scrambled for the fourth page, preferring the serialized fiction in the literary supplement.
"Come quick, come quick! A new chapter of *Legends of the Gallant Hero* is out!"
*Legends of the Gallant Hero*? The title sounded rather plain.
The women crowded together just to read this installment. Intrigued, Li Banfeng flipped to the supplement and glanced over it.
It was a serialized story plucked from the middle, lacking beginning or end, and Li Banfeng couldn't make much sense of it.
Yanhong hastily explained to her boss, "*Legends of the Gallant Hero* tells the tale: 'Zhao Xiaowan, gallant heroine supreme, takes command to restore the Flying General Battalion's dream; her dancing spear strikes terror in the bandit crew, quelling the wicked and flaunting might anew!'"
The Flying General Battalion?
Daboynes had mentioned the Flying General Battalion as well.
This didn't necessarily prove anything. In fiction praising Zhao Xiaowan, the Flying General Battalion was frequently mentioned; regardless of which army Zhao Xiaowan had led in history, the novels almost always referred to it as the Flying General Battalion. It had become her defining symbol.
Yanhong's voice was resonant and rhythmic, prompting Li Banfeng to voice his approval. "Hong'er, have you ever considered becoming a storyteller?"
Yanhong had actually given it thought. "Boss, I really want to try! Listen to my delivery first! 'Now let it be told: the Flying General Zhao Xiaowan ventured alone into Qianzhu Mountain. Before that pack of ravenous wolves and ferocious tigers, not a shred of fear touched her face. With a single spear thrust, she took the bandit chieftain's head...'"
She recounted the tale of Zhao Xiaowan braving Qianzhu Mountain alone.
Stories about Zhao Xiaowan were common enough, but the piece Yanhong recited was of remarkable quality, boasting a gripping, dramatic plot.
The historical setting seemed to be the present day, and it mentioned a very specific location: Qianzhu Mountain.
A band of vicious bandits resided on Qianzhu Mountain. Li Banfeng had taken note of the place before, initially planning to "procure groceries" there to nourish his lady, but recent affairs had kept him from finding the time.
For it to be written into the story showed just how deeply Qianzhu Mountain was despised.
Li Banfeng asked, "How many bandit soldiers are on Qianzhu Mountain? If we brought them all back, would it be enough to give the entire city a fresh set of bones and flesh?"
Yanhong replied, "There were quite a few—over three hundred. But they're gone now. The Flying General already took care of them."
"She dealt with over three hundred men single-handedly?"
Yanhong praised with admiration, "The Flying General's divine valor is matchless under heaven!"
"Isn't this just made up for the novel?" Li Banfeng sounded skeptical.
Yanhong brought over a newspaper. "Boss, this is a real event! Look at the front-page news: 'Qianzhu Mountain Bandit Band Eradicated.'"
Li Banfeng read through it. It was an issue from around New Year's, a time when he had been busy handling Qiu Luoye's rebirth and had no leisure to follow the news.
The news report made no mention of Zhao Xiaowan; it merely stated that the bandit band had been wiped out to the last man, leaving no survivors.
Yet in the serial novel on page four, Zhao Xiaowan was repeatedly featured, recounting the exact story Yanhong had just told.
News on page one, a novel on page four—hadn't that followed suspiciously fast?
Li Banfeng folded the paper and tucked it away. Seeing Yanhong's reluctant expression, he consoled her, "From now on, there'll be all the newspapers you can read. Next time I come, I'll bring you extra rouge."
After sharing a meal in the City of Fools, Li Banfeng prepared to leave. The brothel's residents hated to see him go; in all these years, no one had ever treated them so well.
Li Banfeng smiled. "All of you cultivate well here and hone your skills. In the future, I'll still have to seek guidance from you."
Tang Changfa said, "You speak like a stranger, Boss. We're family—what's this talk of seeking guidance? I'll teach you the essentials of the Plea to Strike and Issue Challenge right now. Though I don't possess the City Lord's ability, so I don't know if you'll be able to master it."
The theoretical essentials could be taught, but Li Banfeng didn't belong to the Fool pathway and possessed no Fool Cultivator ranks. Without Sun Tiecheng's personal instruction, learning any number of essentials would be useless; he wouldn't be able to grasp the technique at all. Li Banfeng had already tested this with Yan Cui'er.
What special methods Sun Tiecheng possessed, Li Banfeng didn't know. Besides, Li Banfeng had no desire to learn a technique like the Plea to Strike and Issue Challenge, which relied on self-harm to intimidate enemies.
Returning to Zhengjing Village, Li Banfeng sought out Ma the Fifth and showed him the newspaper.
Ma the Fifth had been busy with business—first in Qiqiu City, then at Huangtuqiao. Apart from commercial reports, he paid little attention to other news.
"Qianzhu Mountain was flattened by Zhao Xiaowan? Could Zhao Xiaowan still be alive?" Ma the Fifth pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Someone is definitely doing things under her banner. Whether it's truly chivalry will require verification."
Li Banfeng said, "I'm on my way to verify it right now. The author of this novel goes by Sanzhumei. Have you ever had dealings with her?"
Ma the Fifth nodded. "A few, but nothing deep. Sanzhumei's real name is Shan Zhumei. She came out of Moxiangdian and serves as Shen Rongqing's capable right hand. The woman is aloof and proud, extremely difficult to get along with. She accompanied Shen Rongqing to two dinners with me, and I could barely get a word in with her."
If even Ma the Fifth couldn't strike up a conversation, what kind of woman was she?
Li Banfeng said, "Once we're back in Lushui City, arrange an invitation and meet with this Miss Shan."
Ma the Fifth shook his head. "I really have no wish to see her. You'd best not go either, or you'll only get a cold shoulder."
"We won't deal with her directly. I'll find someone to do it."
***
Upon returning to Lushui City, Li Banfeng booked a banquet at the Peace Hotel, and Ma the Fifth went to the newspaper office to invite Shan Zhumei.
On the first invitation, Shan Zhumei declined, claiming she was far too busy for social gatherings.
On the second invitation, Shen Rongqing stepped in personally, and Shan Zhumei reluctantly agreed, though on the condition that Shen Rongqing accompany her.
Fearing Ma the Fifth might feel awkward, Shen Rongqing tried to persuade her: "They invited you alone; there's no need for me to tag along."
Shan Zhumei answered right to Ma the Fifth's face, "For a woman like me to attend a banquet alone, I fear my reputation would be ruined."
Ma the Fifth frowned. "How would your reputation be ruined?"
Shen Rongqing mediated, "Let's not bicker over trifles. A'mei, I'll go with you."
When the day arrived, the host and guests took their seats—five in all. Shan Zhumei offered no greeting and didn't spare Li Qi or Ma the Fifth a second glance. Being treated to a meal seemed to put her in a mood as though they owed her money.
Though Shen Rongqing was proud, she understood social etiquette, and her words and conduct remained impeccable.
She knew Li Qi, and she knew Ma the Fifth very well. After exchanging greetings and pleasantries, her eyes drifted to the remaining woman at the table, whom she didn't recognize, waiting for an introduction.
The young woman was remarkably gorgeous—a delicate, ethereal beauty that made it impossible not to look twice.
Only on closer inspection did one realize that while her face was flawless, her figure surpassed even her face, commanding one's gaze entirely.
"And this young lady is?"
Li Qi introduced her, "This is Miss You Xuetao, a woman of great literary talent. We invited Miss You today specifically to discuss literature with you two."
Shen Rongqing smiled and nodded. "Splendid. Then tonight we shall speak only of literature and nothing else."
As they spoke, Shan Zhumei looked at Ma the Fifth first, her eyes brimming with undisguised disdain.
Shen Rongqing kept her gaze fixed on Youtao. "Miss You, what sort of literature do you favor most? Did you bring any of your work?"
Youtao lowered her head slightly, a faint blush dusting her cheeks—a blush carrying shyness, the shyness tinged with hesitation, and the hesitation wrapped in excitement and joy.
Ma the Fifth's cultivation was superior to Youtao's, yet he could never pull off an expression like that.
"Before two masters such as yourselves, how could I dare speak of my own work?" Youtao looked first at Shen Rongqing. "I am a devoted reader of you both, especially fond of Master Shen's essays and Master Shan's poetry."
Shan Zhumei, who had remained silent the entire time, suddenly spoke up, "I am hardly a master. I cannot be mentioned in the same breath as Master Shen."
Youtao lowered her head. "Forgive my presumption."
Shen Rongqing smiled. "Let us not call anyone 'master'; it only makes us sound old. Miss You, which of Zhumei's poems do you like best?"
It was a subtle probe to see whether You Xuetao was merely indulging in empty flattery.
Youtao lifted her head and gazed intently at Shan Zhumei. "'When my body plunges into the abyss, forever trapped within the demon's prison, I shall still gaze upon you, for you are my sole salvation in this life.'"
As she spoke, a light shimmered in Youtao's eyes.
A glimmer of crystal tears, reflecting the candlelight, conveyed her reverence, adoration, and yearning to the fullest.
Shan Zhumei stared in a daze for a long while. How could such a pure, endearing woman exist in this world?
Li Banfeng took a sip of wine. Who would have guessed that this pure, endearing woman had once stood on Bitter Mist Mountain, swinging her peaches incessantly at him?
Different people called for different methods. Ma the Fifth understood the principle, but his finesse couldn't hold a candle to Youtao's.
Yet despite such exceptional talent, Youtao had only managed to reach the second layer with He Yuxiu's assistance.
Throughout the meal, the three women discussed literature, barely leaving Li Qi or Ma the Fifth an opportunity to speak.
After dinner, Ma the Fifth suggested heading to the dance floor. Shen Rongqing offered no opinion, while Shan Zhumei refused with a darkened face.
Youtao kept her eyes on Shan Zhumei. Composing herself, Shan Zhumei stated that she was tired and wished to return home to rest.
Shan Zhumei departed in a car. Ma the Fifth sighed. "She's too difficult to handle. It'll probably take quite a bit of effort to break through. I'll arrange another dinner with her in a few days."
Youtao shook her head. "No need to wait a few days. Now that we know where she lives, I'll go find her tonight."
Ma the Fifth was surprised. "Miss You, there's no need to rush like this."
Youtao massaged her temples. "I'm in a rush. Just to accompany her through one meal, I spent three days reciting poetry collections with Xiao Yeci. That garbage she writes makes no sense at all; reading it made me sick to my stomach, yet they insisted I memorize it. If we wait for another dinner, I'm bound to slip up. Better to handle her tonight."
Li Qi appreciated Youtao's temperament. When handling major matters, one couldn't afford to leave things overnight!
***
Shan Zhumei returned home, feeling a twinge of desolation.
As an editor at a newspaper office, her income was respectable, yet hardly lavish. She lived alone in a secluded courtyard residence, unable to afford servants, without even a soul to talk to.
After lying in bed for a while, she felt an urge to write. Yet once she took up her pen, she didn't know what to put to paper.
After agonizing for an hour, she smoothed her bedding, intending to call it a night, when a sudden knock sounded at the door.
She opened it. Youtao was standing right outside.
Shan Zhumei's heart leaped into a frantic beat. As their eyes locked, she asked in a trembling whisper, "Who brought you before me?"
Youtao smiled. "Destiny."
Shan Zhumei asked again, "And who governs destiny?"
Youtao smiled once more.
Who was it again?
She had forgotten.
Shan Zhumei waited with bated breath for the answer.
Youtao slipped one arm around her waist, cradled the back of her head with the other, and sealed her lips.
***
Three days later, Shan Zhumei came to Xiaoyaowu, seeking to meet Li Qi and Ma the Fifth.
Meeting them wasn't simply a matter of wanting to.
Li Qi couldn't be bothered to entertain her.
Ma the Fifth was away, having gone to Huangtuqiao to manage business.
Shan Zhumei went to plead with Shen Rongqing, begging her to arrange a meeting with Li Qi.
Shen Rongqing refused to help. "A'mei, you gave them sour faces at the dinner table back then, and now you want me to beg a favor on your behalf? That wouldn't be right."
Helpless, Shan Zhumei turned to Zhang Xiuling. As it turned out, Zhang Xiuling was quite fond of Shan Zhumei and indeed lent her a hand.
When the foremost woman of letters in Puluo Province, Sect Master Zhang Xiuling of the Baihua Sect, personally visited Xiaoyaowu to see Li Qi, Li Qi had to give her face. "Fine. A meeting is fine, but it's improper for an unmarried man and woman to meet alone. Let the three of us share a meal together."
With the three of them dining together at Xiaoyaowu, Shan Zhumei found it awkward to bring up her inquiries. Once the meal concluded, she shamelessly pestered Li Qi for a private chat.
Zhang Xiuling teased, "A'mei, even if you've taken a liking to the Seventh Master, there's no need to be so impatient."
No matter how Zhang Xiuling jabbed at her, Shan Zhumei refused to let go. Li Qi reluctantly relented, having a private room opened to exchange a few words with her.
Shan Zhumei's request was simple: "I want to see Miss You again, but I can't find her."
"Finding Miss You is no problem. She admires you greatly. You wrote this article, didn't you?" Li Banfeng handed the newspaper to Shan Zhumei.
There was no need to look; she recognized her own writing instantly. "I wrote it."
Li Banfeng asked, "Have you ever been to Qianzhu Mountain? How did you write this?"
Shan Zhumei said, "I've never been to Qianzhu Mountain. I wrote it based on the news report."
"The news came out that very day, and you wrote it that very day?"
Shan Zhumei said, "I saw the news draft and rushed it out overnight."
Li Banfeng nodded. "Everything in the news, I see you wrote about."
"I copied from it. That's easy enough."
"And what wasn't in the news, you wrote about that too."
"I made that up."
Li Banfeng looked over the details and smiled. "Made it up to look just like the truth?"
Shan Zhumei pressed her lips together. "That is artistic embellishment."
Li Banfeng set the paper down. "Embellished to look just like the truth?"
Cold sweat broke out on Shan Zhumei's forehead. "I poured a great deal of effort into it."
Li Banfeng stared at her. "Poured effort into it to look just like the truth?"
The slope was steepening too fast; Shan Zhumei was beginning to lose control. "What exactly are you trying to ask?"
Li Banfeng asked calmly, "I'm asking if it's true or not."
"I never said it was true!"
"If it isn't true, why did you write it as though it were?"
Shan Zhumei snapped in frustration, "How do you know it looks like the truth? Did you see it with your own eyes?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "I saw it with my own eyes, which is why I know what you wrote looks like the truth. Did you see it with your own eyes?"
"I didn't..."
"If you didn't, how did you write it as though it were real?"
Shan Zhumei began slipping down the slope. "I... I heard it from someone..."
"Heard it from whom? Told to you as though it were real?"
Shan Zhumei drew a deep breath, feeling the strings in her mind snapping one after another. "Xie Mengjiao, the singer from the Paramount! She brought me the information. She recounted the entire incident to me and told me to write this piece."
"She told you to write it and you did? Why are you so obedient to her?"
"Because..." Shan Zhumei didn't know how to answer.
Li Banfeng answered for her: "Because both of you belong to the Flying General Battalion, don't you?"
Shan Zhumei fell silent for a long moment, then snapped her head up. "And what if we are? Following the Flying General to eradicate the wicked and bring peace to the good is something I will never regret in this life! Now that you've uncovered my identity, kill me or slice me as you please! I won't reveal a single thing about the Flying General Battalion, nor will I name a single person!"
"What about Xie Mengjiao?"
Shan Zhumei lowered her head. "Apart from her."
Li Banfeng said, "If I haul her in as well, and she names everyone else, will that count toward your score too?"
Shan Zhumei's features twisted.
The stubborn donkey had tumbled all the way down the slope; whatever Li Banfeng asked, she answered.
The Flying General Battalion had many members, though Shan Zhumei didn't know the exact count. She had met a dozen or so. The singer Xie Mengjiao was primarily tasked with delivering messages, the merchant Fang Guiquan with gathering intelligence, and her own duty was to chronicle the battalion's exploits.
"Publishing these deeds directly in the newspaper—weren't you worried about leaking information on the Flying General Battalion?"
"Those were the Flying General's orders. The General instructed me to spread word of these exhilarating triumphs."
"Have you seen the Flying General?"
"I have!" Shan Zhumei grew intensely excited. "Though I couldn't see her face clearly, from her silhouette alone, one could tell she is the most beautiful woman in this world!"
"Are you certain that was Zhao Xiaowan?"
"I am certain it was her! She is the very incarnation of beauty and wisdom! With a gentle sweep of her spear, everyone was struck with awe, not daring to meet her gaze! After eradicating the bandits at Qianzhu Mountain, the General immediately had Xie Mengjiao pass the news to me. Before the press received word, I had already taken up my pen, creating a work that will be the pride of my entire life!"
"Is there a next piece coming?"
"There is!" Shan Zhumei answered with proud conviction. "The General has already led her people to Luoyu Pass to eliminate the Jiangxiang thieves there."
Li Banfeng was startled. "Zhao Xiaowan is going to attack the Jiangxiang Gang?"
Shan Zhumei nodded. "The Jiangxiang Gang commits every atrocity under the sun; the Flying General Battalion is irreconcilable with them! Within three days, the Flying General Battalion will destroy the Jiangxiang Gang's hall at Luoyu Pass. That glorious feat shall be immortalized under my pen."
Li Banfeng blinked. This "Zhao Xiaowan" certainly maintained a high profile.
Was Shan Zhumei telling the truth?
It would be easy enough to verify: waiting three days would provide the answer.
Li Banfeng rose to leave. Shan Zhumei blocked his path. "Are you going to kill me to silence me? I do not cling to life—I only wish to see Miss You one more time."
Li Banfeng made no reply. Circling around her, he left the private room.
Shan Zhumei sat in the room, utterly drained of hope, tears streaming down her face.
After she had wept for quite some time, the door was pushed open. Youtao stepped inside and approached her.
Shan Zhumei clutched at Youtao's collar, as though catching a glimmer of hope.
Youtao stroked Shan Zhumei's hair. "We'll wait together for the General's victory report. I still want to read the stories you write."
***
Merely two days later, Luo Zhengnan was the first to receive the news. "The Jiangxiang Gang's hall at Luoyu Pass has been wiped out. Over three hundred gang members were killed or wounded—scarcely anyone was spared."
Youtao delivered news as well: "The Flying General Battalion plans to press their advantage and destroy two more of the Jiangxiang Gang's halls."
Li Banfeng returned to the companion dwelling, embraced the gramophone, and said, "Precious wife, someone is doing big things under your banner."
"Aiya, husband! What kind of big things?"
"Attacking the Jiangxiang Gang. That's a good deed—a proper, righteous good deed!"
***
At the Dark Star Bureau, inside the Director's office.
Xiao Zhenggong glared at Director Shen Jingye. "The Flying General Battalion wiped out three of my halls in succession. Are you people going to do something about this or not?"
Shen Jingye said, "The higher-ups are urgently looking into the matter. A course of action should be drafted shortly."
"A course of action? You just want to watch the Jiangxiang Gang go under!"
Shen Jingye offered no further explanation. He merely asked, "Do you still intend to use the Balancer's Seal?"
Xiao Zhenggong glared at him. "If I use the Balancer's Seal one more time, you people will swallow the Jiangxiang Gang whole. Without the Jiangxiang Gang, you probably won't have any use for me as the Balancer anymore either. You just want to replace the Balancer—am I right?"
Chapter 468