Li Banfeng sat in the middle of the courtyard and questioned Lü Mosheng directly, "Why did you send someone to kill me?"
Lü Mosheng looked at Li Banfeng and the sleeping bondservant beside him, having already deduced the visitor's identity.
"Could you be Lord Li Qi?"
Li Banfeng smiled. "Knowing I'm Li Qi, you still sent someone to kill me?"
"Lord Li Qi's arrival brings great glory to my humble dwelling." Lü Mosheng gauged the distance between himself and Li Qi while considering what weapons outside could support him.
Li Banfeng said, "Cut the evasive nonsense. I asked why you tried to kill me."
A wave of overwhelming pressure swept over him, and Lü Mosheng abandoned all illusions.
There were three second-class weapons outside. Going all out would likely subdue Li Qi, but he himself would certainly be caught in the crossfire, and his entire family would probably perish. It simply was not worth it. Lü Mosheng decided to placate Li Qi first.
"Lord Li Qi, the one looking for you wasn't me, Lü, but the Sovereign of Wubian City."
"You mean the newly appointed sovereign, Lord Bao Yingjun?"
Lü Mosheng nodded.
Li Banfeng sighed. "Let's go pay him a visit. I heard from the Luo sisters that Bao Yingjun is quite decent. There might just be some misunderstanding between us."
Lü Mosheng readily agreed. "The Lord Marquis is at the Marquis Residence. If Your Lordship explains the matter in person, any misunderstanding will surely be resolved."
Li Banfeng showed a troubled look. "I've never been to the Marquis Residence."
"This old man will send someone to guide Your Lordship."
"Bao Yingjun and I don't know each other."
"This old man will send someone to introduce Your Lordship."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "Just sending any random person might seem lacking in sincerity."
"This old man will send a trusted confidant along with Your Lordship."
"Old donkey, why don't you make the trip with me?" Li Banfeng leaped onto Lü Mosheng's back.
Lü Mosheng was stunned. "You're riding me to the Marquis Residence?"
Li Banfeng said, "You're a man of status. I won't bother putting a bridle on you, will I?"
Lü Mosheng glanced back at Xi. Carrying people and cargo—that was bondservants' work!
Li Banfeng patted Lü Mosheng's head. "Have someone take good care of my friend. If anything happens to him, your life is forfeit."
In the back courtyard, being seen like this by his wives, children, and servants had already been humiliating enough. If he walked through the main courtyard for the entire household to see, where could he put his face?
Once out of the residence, he would have to take the streets. A dignified Senior Official carrying a man on his back—how could he ever keep his footing in Wubian City after this?
None of that was even the most critical danger. The truly lethal part was that if Lü Mosheng carried Li Qi out openly, Bao Yingjun would receive word in advance and send people to intercept and slaughter both of them on the road.
Li Banfeng was well aware of the danger too. "How about we disguise it? I'll turn into a wooden chest and lie on your back. How does that sound?"
Prompted by this, Lü Mosheng looked back at Xi in the courtyard. No wonder they couldn't find that second-class weapon on the servant earlier!
So Li Qi had disguised himself as a chest to slip into the manor!
And Li Qi clearly intended to repeat the trick, using Lü Mosheng to slip into the Marquis Residence.
Li Banfeng didn't want to go through all this trouble either, but Inner States weapons were too fierce. A single second-class weapon had nearly wiped out the five Luo sisters. Even after exhausting all his efforts to dismantle it, that weapon could still repair itself.
If he barged into the Marquis Residence by force, who knew how many such weapons awaited him? There might even be first-class weapons he had never seen before.
Lü Mosheng didn't want to risk his life with Li Qi, but he had no choice. Li Qi was right on his back and could end his life at any moment.
The pendulum applied rouge to Li Banfeng. Li Banfeng took off his suit jacket, draped it over himself, and the projector touched up the light and shadow. Lü Mosheng carried Li Banfeng and walked out of the residence.
In the main courtyard stood dozens of guards. Seeing Lü Mosheng carrying a chest draped in silk cloth on his back, they wondered:
What sort of precious treasure was this that Senior Official Lü had to carry it personally?
What happened in the back courtyard? Where did the bondservant Xi go? How was he dealt with?
Just as everyone was wondering, the Pekinese butler, supported by several people, came before Lü Mosheng.
Before speaking, the butler adjusted his breathing. His tone had to sound weak and frail, to let his master know how gravely injured he was, and that he had staked his life for the household.
While keeping his voice weak, he also had to speak clearly, making sure the master knew how despicable that bondservant Xi was, and how brave and loyal the butler had been, fighting fearlessly against a vicious brute.
"M-Master, I... I..."
Lü Mosheng asked, "Can you still walk?"
The butler shook his head with difficulty. "This old servant... cannot walk... This old servant fought that beast Xi with everything I had for you..."
Lü Mosheng said, "Xi has rendered meritorious service. I now confer upon him the rank of gentleman. Go inside, kowtow to him, and properly admit your fault. Serve him according to the etiquette for a gentleman. Even if you can't walk, have your subordinates do it right."
"I... I..." This time it wasn't an act; the butler nearly choked on his breath.
Lü Mosheng said no more. Carrying Li Banfeng, he strode toward the Marquis Residence.
Several attendants behind caught up. "Master, this isn't something you should carry. Hand it over to us..."
*Hee-haw!*
Lü Mosheng brayed loudly, frightening everyone into a shudder.
"Keep your hands off what's on my back! This is a gift for the Lord Marquis—I must carry it personally!"
The attendants dared not move further. Lü Mosheng carried Li Banfeng all the way to the Marquis Residence.
After the guards at the gate announced his arrival, Bao Yingjun summoned Lü Mosheng to the Mingxi Great Hall.
Just as Lü Mosheng went to walk in, a guard stopped him. "Senior Official Lü, what is that on your back?"
Lü Mosheng said, "A modest gift to present to the Lord Marquis."
With that, Lü Mosheng walked straight in. The cricket guards stopped him. "Senior Official Lü, if you wish to bring a gift inside, you must let us inspect it first."
Lü Mosheng shook his head. "The Lord Marquis gave orders. This matter involves top secrets; outsiders may not look upon it."
The guards still barred the way. "Since the Lord Marquis gave orders, please allow us to announce it again. Once we have the Lord Marquis's approval, we will invite Senior Official Lü into the Mingxi Great Hall."
Li Banfeng was very tense at this moment. The Marquis Residence was a perilous place; he could sense it.
If anything went wrong here and weapons of all sizes in the residence converged on him, he might not get a chance to escape.
Lü Mosheng, however, was quite calm. He lifted his donkey head, looked at the guards, and asked, "It was already announced just now. Why announce it again?"
A guard explained, "Just now we announced Senior Official Lü's audience, not the item on your back."
"Was I not carrying this on my back just now? Did you not see it? Why didn't you announce it to the Lord Marquis together?" Lü Mosheng's huge eyes widened. "Are you intentionally making things difficult for me?"
The guard quickly explained, "We didn't realize you intended to bring this chest inside earlier. Now that we want to inspect it, you refuse. We didn't mean to..."
*Hee-haw!*
Lü Mosheng brayed, and all the guards fell silent.
Li Banfeng felt his eardrums ringing. This old donkey's voice was so loud, yet his name had the character *Mo*—silent—in it!
Lü Mosheng looked at the guards and said, "I am a Senior Official enfeoffed by the Lord Marquis, toiling day and night in his service without complaint. Since when do petty scoundrels like you have the right to harass me?"
The guards dared not make a sound.
Lü Mosheng strode into the Marquis Residence, passed through the corridor, and turned into the front courtyard.
The guard captain, a cricket with golden wings and long antennae, came before the guards and asked, "Who was causing a commotion just now?"
A guard said, "It was Senior Official Lü. He brought a chest to see the Lord Marquis and wouldn't let us inspect it, just walking straight in."
"On what authority did you skip inspection? If something happens, who will take the blame?" The captain crossed the corridor, arrived at the entrance of the front courtyard garden, and spotted Lü Mosheng.
Lü Mosheng tried to pick up his pace, but it was too late; the captain was closing in fast.
If Li Qi on his back was exposed, his life was definitely finished—Li Qi would never spare him.
Yet now he couldn't hide it, nor could he bluff his way past; the guard captain wasn't someone who could be intimidated by a few words.
Sweat poured from Lü Mosheng as he ran frantically forward.
The guard captain bounded forward, leaping over a flowerbed, turning a corner, and leaping over a pond.
Lü Mosheng galloped with all his might. The captain realized something was amiss, and leaping with full force, he was about to land right in front of Lü Mosheng.
The projector suddenly whipped around, casting a beam of light that enveloped the captain.
Midair, the massive golden-winged cricket vanished in the blink of an eye.
The Withering technique!
Li Banfeng gave the projector a thumbs-up. Its release had gotten faster!
Lü Mosheng shuddered, nearly jolting Li Banfeng off.
"L-Lord Li Qi... is that... a first-class weapon?"
Did the Withering technique count as a first-class weapon?
Li Banfeng had never seen a first-class weapon and dared not make an arbitrary judgment, but if the projector could consistently output at such speed, its power was truly terrifying.
Li Banfeng patted Lü Mosheng, signaling him to hurry and not ask questions.
Lü Mosheng carried Li Banfeng into the Mingxi Great Hall.
"Senior Official Lü, you've returned," Bao Yingjun smiled. "Is the bondservant at your manor taken care of? I figured such a trivial matter wouldn't cause any trouble, would it?"
"Everything has been handled properly," Lü Mosheng answered vaguely, a pillar beside him trembling non-stop.
Bao Yingjun frowned. "Senior Official Lü, what are you afraid of? Afraid I'll punish you? What's that on your back?"
Steeling his nerves, Lü Mosheng placed the chest before Bao Yingjun. "My Lord, I've brought you a modest gift."
With that, Lü Mosheng retreated far back.
Bao Yingjun was startled, and before he could react, Li Banfeng leaped out.
The guards in the hall all carried close-combat weapons. Li Banfeng could sense danger pressing in from all sides.
There was no time for hesitation. Li Banfeng charged through the danger straight at Bao Yingjun.
Two guards raised their long sabers first, and Bao Yingjun drew the longsword at his waist.
Neither the sabers nor the sword were particularly large, but they were top-notch second-class weapons. If their full power was unleashed, Li Banfeng would never be able to hold them off.
At the critical moment between life and death, the Tang dao shouted, "Severing enemy heads with every strike!"
The heads of the two guards tumbled to the ground together, and the glove seized the opportunity to stash both sabers away.
Bao Yingjun's sword had just left its scabbard when Li Banfeng patted his cheek, signaling him not to move.
The sword was still gripped in Bao Yingjun's hand, ready to trigger at any moment.
The old teapot scalded Bao Yingjun. In agony, his grip loosened, and the glove snatched away the longsword as well.
Fortunately, the household possessed impeccable synergy; had they been even a fraction slower, Li Banfeng might have left his life here.
Everyone in the hall was dumbfounded, looking from Bao Yingjun to Lü Mosheng, and then to Li Banfeng.
Bao Yingjun's face was ashen, the leopard spots on his skin visibly fading.
Lü Mosheng trembled all over, keeping his head down in silence.
Li Banfeng wore a smile as he looked at Bao Yingjun. "You wanted to kill me?"
Bao Yingjun gasped, "Who are you?"
Li Banfeng squeezed the leopard head. "You invited me to a banquet, yet you don't even recognize me?"
It was Li Qi!
The danger still lingered; cold chills ran down Li Banfeng's spine.
Bao Yingjun looked toward the surrounding guards.
Holding their weapons, none dared act rashly. Li Banfeng said, "Tell them to step back!"
Bao Yingjun waved his hand, and the guards stepped back several paces.
After a brief standoff, Bao Yingjun regained some composure. "So it is Lord Li Qi. Instead of going to Zhaoge for the banquet, why did you come to my Wubian City?"
Li Qi smiled. "The journey was long and arduous. Passing through Wubian City, I only wanted to rest my feet. Who knew the Lord Marquis had such a fiery temper, sending people with weapons to kill me? What grudge do we have between us that warrants such heavy hands?"
"A misunderstanding, this is definitely a misunderstanding," Bao Yingjun explained. "Bandits appeared in Wubian City, and I ordered Senior Official Lü to send people to suppress them. Who knew he would accidentally harm Your Lordship? I apologize on Senior Official Lü's behalf."
Li Banfeng laughed. "So it was a misunderstanding! I figured there was something strange about this. Even if the Lord Marquis had a grudge against me, surely you wouldn't disregard your own flesh and blood? The five Luo sisters came with me. Does the Lord Marquis intend to wipe them out completely, or do you want to see them?"
"My five sisters came too?" Bao Yingjun feigned surprise. "Where might they be?"
Li Banfeng called out, "Senior Official Lü, please take my friend and have him lead you to invite the five Luo sisters here. Remember well: invite them, do not bind them! The Lord Marquis and I will wait for you right here!"
Lü Mosheng looked toward Bao Yingjun.
Bao Yingjun's face was iron-blue, offering no response.
Lü Mosheng saw his situation clearly: having brought Li Qi here, Bao Yingjun would never let him off anyway.
It was too late to say anything now; he could only do as Li Qi said.
Lü Mosheng cautiously left the Mingxi Great Hall. Once out the main gates, he immediately gathered his guards, returned to his compound, and found Gentleman Xi.
Following Gentleman Xi to Hu Chihong's outer residence, the five Luo sisters assumed Lü Mosheng had come to arrest them and prepared to fight to the death.
Luo Lijun gritted her teeth. "Li Qi was too reckless after all. He got us killed."
Luo Yanjun looked at Yujun and Xiujun. "We've dragged you sisters into suffering alongside our Luo family."
Yujun and Xiujun didn't hesitate. "Don't speak of such nonsense. Sisters for a day, sisters for a lifetime! We'll fight them to the finish!"
Shaojun said, "Brother Seven definitely has a plan. Let's see how things stand first."
Yujun gritted her teeth. "What's there to see? Killing one breaks even; killing two is a profit!"
Just as Luo Yujun was about to charge out, Lü Mosheng shouted, "Hold!"
His braying shout was truly terrifying. The Luo sisters knew this donkey made a racket, but they were still startled.
Luo Lijun knew she was in a desperate situation, but she didn't lose her imposing demeanor. "Old donkey, you have quite the nerve, shouting at me!"
Lü Mosheng entered the courtyard alone, looking cold as he swept his gaze across everyone. "Lord Li Qi has commanded me to invite you all to the Marquis Residence to speak."
Luo Shaojun beamed.
Luo Lijun looked at Lü Mosheng, not believing a word from the old donkey.
Composed and neither servile nor arrogant, Lü Mosheng turned and called, "Bring Xi here."
His men brought Gentleman Xi over. Xi nodded repeatedly to the Luo sisters.
Luo Lijun remained suspicious.
Lü Mosheng looked across the crowd, then suddenly dropped to both knees and bellowed, "Guilty minister Lü Mosheng respectfully welcomes the Marquis back to the manor!"
Back in the Mingxi Great Hall, the stalemate continued. Both sides spoke with outward composure, but every pillar in the hall trembled.
Everyone present was terrified.
Bao Yingjun's head was held in Li Qi's grip; he genuinely feared Li Qi might take his life on an impulse.
If Li Qi did kill him, the armed guards certainly wouldn't spare Li Banfeng either. Trading his life for Bao Yingjun's was hardly worth it.
When the five Luo sisters arrived, Li Banfeng breathed half a sigh of relief. Holding Bao Yingjun, he said, "Your sisters are here. Go greet them."
A crowd of guards held up their weapons, staring at Luo Lijun.
Seeing the situation in the hall, Luo Lijun found her confidence and barked, "You dare point weapons at me? What insolence!"
Half the guards in the hall had been brought by Bao Yingjun, while the other half originally belonged to the Marquis Residence.
At Luo Lijun's shout, the guards who had originally belonged to the residence lowered their weapons.
The remaining half hesitated, looking at Bao Yingjun, who dared not say a word.
Luo Yanjun snapped, "Are you blind or deaf? The Marquis has arrived—what are you doing still holding weapons?"
Under this intimidation, the other half of the guards also lowered their weapons.
Bao Yingjun cursed inwardly, but cursing was useless. Though he had brought those guards, how much stipend did they earn in a year? With Bao Yingjun not daring to utter a peep, why should the guards throw their lives away here?
Li Banfeng's heart finally settled completely.
Bao Yingjun lowered his head and said to Luo Lijun, "Sister, you've returned!"
Luo Lijun looked at Bao Yingjun. "Were you particularly terrified that I'd return?"
Bao Yingjun shook his head. "Sister, I've been hoping for your return all along! As for what the old donkey did, I truly knew nothing about it! We grew up together. We did fight often in the past—competing over martial arts, competing over poetry and literature. But no matter how much we competed, we never wavered when it came to external threats. If any outsider touched the Luo family, neither of us ever shrank back!"
Luo Lijun sneered. "Do you still count as part of the Luo family?"
Bao Yingjun sighed. "When I was fifteen, I was sent to the Bao family. That wasn't my choice! To this day, I have never changed my name. At all times, the Luo family is in my heart! When I heard Sister had fallen on hard times, I tried every possible means to take Wubian City into my hands, purely out of fear that our family's heritage would be snatched by outsiders! Sister, if you don't believe me today, kill me right here on the spot. I give this life to you, considered as repaying the Luo family's kindness in raising me!"
Bao Yingjun stretched out his neck, waiting for Luo Lijun to kill him.
Luo Lijun dared not act. It wasn't that she couldn't bear to kill Bao Yingjun.
Once she killed him, it meant killing a feudal lord—how could she answer to Qiao Yi? How could she expect Qiao Yi to help the Luo family make a comeback later?
Luo Lijun softened her tone first. "Yingjun, it's not that I want to seize your title. I only wish to use Wubian City to send Lord Li Qi to Zhaoge."
Bao Yingjun nodded. "With Sister's words, even if I am smashed to pieces, I will see you sisters safely to Zhaoge!"
The siblings had reconciled!
At least on the surface, everything looked fine!
It was time for the others in the hall to make their stance known.
Bai Liangchen knelt on his front legs. "Flesh-and-blood bonds are like the bedrock of towering peaks. So long as the bloodline endures, the mountains will never fall! For siblings to melt away past grievances is truly cause for great joy and celebration!"
The officials all offered their congratulations.
Lü Mosheng remained prostrate by the door, not uttering a word.
It was too early to celebrate. It was hard to say what twists lay ahead, or who the true master would end up being.
After chatting with his sister for a while, Bao Yingjun lowered his voice. "This is no place to talk. These officials all have their own motives. Family affairs cannot be overheard by outsiders; we should speak privately in the inner quarters."
Luo Lijun looked at Li Banfeng, unsure whether they should leave the Mingxi Great Hall.
Li Banfeng nodded slightly.
Everyone followed Bao Yingjun to the rear garden of the manor. Bao Yingjun chose a separate pavilion to converse with his sisters.
The pavilion was called Yucui Tower. Seeing the pleasant surroundings, Li Banfeng took a casual stroll upstairs and downstairs.
Bao Yingjun's heart leaped into his throat, terrified that Li Qi might spot something.
After taking over the Marquis Residence, he had renovated Yucui Tower and placed a first-class weapon inside.
This weapon possessed spirituality and could distinguish friend from foe. Once the right moment came, Bao Yingjun had only to give the command to wipe out Li Qi and all five Luo sisters together.
Now wasn't the right time; Li Qi was too close to him.
He had heard Li Qi was a Travel Cultivator and knew Travel Cultivators of Puluo Province were astonishingly swift, but Li Qi's lightning-fast strike in the hall had still terrified him.
He had to find a way to send Li Qi away, or at least put some distance between them; otherwise, Li Qi could preemptively take his life at any moment.
But how to divert Li Qi?
While Bao Yingjun was still pondering a strategy, Li Banfeng suddenly yawned. "This trip has really exhausted me. You all discuss things here first; I need to find a place to rest a bit."
Li Banfeng truly was tired. Constantly on edge and staking his life along the way had not been easy.
Bao Yingjun was overjoyed inside—the opportunity had finally come! "Lord Li Qi, other places aren't safe. Why don't you rest upstairs? I'll have someone tidy up the room for you."
Luo Lijun groaned inwardly. Li Qi's heart was truly too big—at a time like this, he could actually sleep?
Right now they were balanced over a fire; if Bao Yingjun turned on them, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Yet seeing how utterly exhausted Li Qi looked, Luo Lijun felt some sympathy.
She was very familiar with Yucui Tower too. When they were young, the sisters had often played here. Resting for a while should be fine. "Young Master Li, do as Yingjun says. Don't go far—just rest right here."
Li Banfeng nodded. "No need to tidy up. I looked up there earlier; there's a bed and quilts, all quite clean. I'll go up to sleep."
Luo Shaojun was worried. "Brother Seven, I'll keep you company!"
Luo Yujun frowned. "A big girl like you, don't you know any shame? What are you keeping a man company for while he sleeps?"
Bao Yingjun smiled. "Our younger sister is all grown up and beyond our control. Just let Shaojun accompany him."
As he spoke, Bao Yingjun picked up a handkerchief from the table, seemingly to wipe his hands, but secretly clutched it tight.
*Go ahead. The moment you go upstairs, I'll unleash the first-class weapon.*
*Then Luo Shaojun and Li Qi will die upstairs, and the rest will die downstairs.*
*Li Qi, to force me this far, you're quite something. No wonder your reputation in Puluo Province is so grand.*
*Pity you fell into my hands. You can only blame yourself for choosing the wrong opponent.*
*If there were medicine for regret in this world, I guarantee you wouldn't dare act presumptuously before me for the rest of your life. Li Qi, oh Li Qi, you really are—*
Where did Li Qi go?
Just as Li Qi reached the stairs, his figure suddenly vanished.
Bao Yingjun froze for a second, then began trembling violently in sheer terror.
He tried to shout the name of the first-class weapon, but before he could part his lips—*bang!* His body exploded into a burst of flesh and blood.
Bao Yingjun exploded!
Li Banfeng had also been waiting for an opportunity: an opportunity to take Bao Yingjun out while making it easy to handle the aftermath.
Earlier in the hall had definitely been inappropriate—there were too many people.
This Yucui Tower was perfect, personally chosen by Bao Yingjun himself.
Luo Lijun wiped the blood from her face and murmured in daze, "V-Viewing Flowers from Horseback..."
The crime of killing a feudal lord had been pinned down beyond doubt!
The five sisters looked up and saw Li Banfeng walking down the stairs step by step.
Luo Lijun cried out in horror, "Why did you kill him?! How are we going to account for this to Qiao Yi?!"
"Account, account, why do you need so many explanations?" Li Banfeng returned to the table and poured a cup of tea. The teapot was massive, and so was the tea bowl—one bowl was enough for Li Banfeng to wash his face.
And he truly did use the tea to wash his face, splashing water all over, even intentionally dotting droplets around his eyes.
Luo Lijun had no idea what he was doing. Li Banfeng, face covered in "tears," asked, "Your brother is dead. Aren't you going to cry?"
"Cry...?" Luo Lijun was completely baffled.
Li Banfeng said, "Yes, you have to cry! Tell the officials in the great hall that they all have to cry! After crying, Wubian City belongs to the Luo family once again!"
"The Luo family's..." Luo Lijun still hadn't wrapped her mind around it.
"Still standing there in a daze?" Li Banfeng urged. "Your family's territory—go take it back yourselves! Take it back weeping!"
Luo Shaojun was the first to snap back to reality. "Brother Yingjun! How could you die like this?!"
Luo Yanjun said, "Crying here is useless. Go cry in the great hall!"
The sisters all headed for the great hall together. Luo Yujun still didn't understand. "Why on earth are we crying?"
Luo Xiujun said, "Why do you ask so much? Master Seven told us to cry, so just cry!"
Li Banfeng folded his arms and squatted down, looking at Bao Yingjun's remains.
"Yingjun, you were always so ambitious since childhood. Seeing you blown apart like this breaks my heart too." Li Banfeng sniffled twice and shed actual tears.
As tears fell, a flurry of ash drifted down as well. Now Bao Yingjun was truly dead and gone.
Li Banfeng wanted something to wipe his tears, and happened to spot a silk handkerchief among the remains.
Li Banfeng picked up the handkerchief, dabbed at his tears, and casually checked the writing on it.
There were only three words written in a rather wild calligraphy. Li Banfeng examined it for a long while before recognizing them:
"Jiang Ling'er!"
"Here!"
Someone answered from within the room.
Chapter 670