Yuan Youshang returned home and waited a full six hours before heading to Qiao Yi's manor.
He did this specifically to avoid the runner delivering the message to Qiao Yi.
The messenger carried news regarding the Great Totem. His ghost servant had caught only a few stray words, but if the Great Totem truly was seventy percent restored, the matter would hold immeasurable significance for the entire Shang State—the balance of power across the eleven provinces and three thousand states could well undergo a drastic shift.
The seal on the letter cylinder had been opened, and Qiao Yi was very likely to investigate the matter thoroughly. However, the messenger did not know Yuan Youshang. As long as the two never crossed paths, the blame would not fall on him.
Six hours later, Yuan Youshang arrived at Qiao Yi's manor. Nian Shangyou was present as well.
Yuan Youshang kept his eyes downcast, doing his best to avoid contact with Nian Shangyou.
The atmosphere was somewhat awkward, but Qiao Yi smiled and said, "Shangyou, Youshuang, all past grievances are behind us now. Drink these two cups of wine and set aside your personal feud. In the face of our current crisis, the two of you are my right-hand men. You must unite your efforts to turn the tide and support the crumbling mansion."
Qiao Yi poured a cup of wine for each of them. Nian Shangyou drank his, but Yuan Youshang held his cup, his head lowered in silence.
"Youshuang," Qiao Yi stepped forward and urged him, "Shangyou has already explained the circumstances of what happened before. In the battle at Daogui Ridge, you were not at fault. With He Jiaqing and Critic joining forces, it was only natural that you were outnumbered and outmatched. As for Xiaoyaowu, you did your utmost to keep watch over Ma Junyang. Lu Xiaolan acted rashly, which not only failed to achieve anything but dragged you into the mess. Tracing cause and effect, Lu Xiaolan ought to have been severely punished, but now that she has died at Ma Junyang's hands, there is no way to pursue the matter further."
Holding his cup, Yuan Youshang still did not drink.
Qiao Yi was papering over the cracks, dumping the blame onto Lu Xiaolan—which, in the end, amounted to nothing more than a declaration of Yuan Youshang's innocence.
This was clearly not the outcome Yuan Youshang wanted. Nian Shangyou had tried to kill him, yet Qiao Yi had not breathed a single word about that.
Nian Shangyou's whiskers twitched and his face darkened, feeling that Yuan Youshang was refusing to accept the face being offered to him.
Qiao Yi understood what Yuan Youshang was thinking. He brought out an official document and handed it to him. "This was just drafted and hasn't been stamped with the seal yet. Take a look first and see if anything is amiss."
Yuan Youshang took it and looked. It was a document creating him a viscount. Not only did it confer the noble rank, but it also granted him a mobile city.
Qiao Yi had finally put something substantial on the table.
Yuan Youshang hurriedly offered his thanks, raised his cup, and drained it in one gulp.
Qiao Yi smiled with pleasure, then sighed deeply. "Dingye was just attacked, and now Chaoge has been struck by pestilence. In such calamitous times, there are many heavy responsibilities for you to shoulder. If you dwell on the past and miss the golden opportunity to render service, I fear you will regret it later."
Yuan Youshang bowed once more. "Rest assured, my Lord. Through a thousand perils and ten thousand hardships, your subordinate will not utter a single word of complaint."
Seeing this, Nian Shangyou could not fall short on etiquette. He poured Yuan Youshang a cup of wine as well. "Brother Yuan, there were many misunderstandings between us before. It was all my fault for acting too rashly. Please, do not take it to heart."
Yuan Youshang quickly drank the wine and toasted Nian Shangyou in return. "Lord Nian, your humble servant is blunt and foolish. If I have caused any offense, please forgive me."
The tension finally eased. The three sat in the study discussing business. Qiao Yi had originally intended to send Yuan Youshang back to Puluo Province to investigate Li Qi's movements, when a messenger requested an audience, reporting that he had a confidential letter to deliver.
In the past, Qiao Yi would have had Nian Shangyou receive such confidential letters in private, never dealing with them before others.
Yet once Qiao Yi glanced at this messenger's waist tag, he did not send Nian Shangyou to handle it. Instead, he had the messenger enter the study to present the secret letter in person.
The moment the messenger stepped through the door, Yuan Youshang's heart gave a violent jolt.
This runner was the very man he had saved on the road.
Yuan Youshang had waited a full six hours precisely to avoid running into this messenger at Qiao Yi's manor. He had assumed the messenger would have long since left, never expecting him to arrive even later than himself.
As it turned out, the messenger had fallen ill mid-journey and collapsed in a daze by the roadside. With the epidemic raging through Chaoge, bystanders assumed he had died of the plague. Seeing his commoner attire, they carried him to a pile of corpses to await burial.
However, the messenger possessed respectable cultivation and a robust constitution. Aided by the medicinal pill Yuan Youshang had given him, he slept for a few hours, crawled out from the pile of corpses, and rushed straight to Qiao Yi to deliver his dispatch.
As he presented the letter, the messenger cast a discreet glance at Yuan Youshang, then handed the cylinder to Qiao Yi.
Qiao Yi took the cylinder but did not open it immediately. He dismissed the messenger first, chatted with the two about government affairs for a short while, and then dismissed Yuan Youshang. "Youshuang, you've had an exhausting journey. Head back and get some rest first."
Relieved, Yuan Youshang rose, bowed his farewell, and left the Qiao Manor.
Nian Shangyou stepped closer to Qiao Yi and asked, "My Lord, where is this secret letter from?"
Qiao Yi shook his head. "Nothing important. Shangyou, you've worked hard these past few days as well. Go back and rest. Take good care of your health."
Nian Shangyou left the study, a chill gripping his heart.
What on earth could it be that Qiao Yi wouldn't even trust him?
In this matter, Qiao Yi trusted no one.
The Shang State had many means of communication, but on the subject of the Great Totem alone, Qiao Yi used no devices whatsoever, relying solely on his most trusted confidants to deliver messages.
Today's circumstances were especially peculiar. The moment he received the cylinder, Qiao Yi noticed that its lid had been opened.
He summoned the messenger and asked calmly, "Who touched the secret letter?"
The messenger did not dare hide anything. "Your servant contracted the illness as soon as I arrived in Chaoge and collapsed twice along the way. The first time I collapsed, the cylinder accidentally fell to the ground, and its lid came off. Someone helped pick it up for me."
Qiao Yi's tone held not the slightest trace of blame or impatience. "Who was that person?"
The messenger lowered his head. "Your servant does not know him."
This was the truth; the messenger truly did not know Yuan Youshang.
"When you entered the study, why did you look toward Yuan Youshuang?" Qiao Yi pointed to the seat Yuan Youshang had just occupied.
The messenger pursed his lips. "Because... the man who helped me up bore some resemblance to him."
Qiao Yi nodded slightly and dismissed the messenger.
After waiting a moment, Qiao Yi sent someone to summon Nian Shangyou.
Nian Shangyou had only just returned home, his mind still dwelling on why Qiao Yi had lost trust in him.
Could it be because of Yuan Youshang?
Had his handling of Yuan Youshang provoked Qiao Yi's displeasure?
While he was fretting anxiously, Qiao Yi summoned him back.
Trembling with unease, Nian Shangyou arrived at the study, only to hear Qiao Yi ask, "Shangyou, what do you think about Yuan Youshuang?"
He was holding him accountable to his face!
Nian Shangyou scrambled to admit fault. "Your subordinate was thoughtless in my actions and harbored too much suspicion toward Yuan Youshuang. But from beginning to end, I was acting solely for your sake, my Lord; there was not the slightest personal malice involved."
Qiao Yi nodded. "I trust you. I have trusted you from beginning to end. Now, take some men to Yuan Youshuang's home and bring me his head."
Nian Shangyou was stunned. Hadn't Qiao Yi just talked about conferring a title on Yuan Youshuang? Hadn't he just spoken of entrusting him with vital duties?
Seeing Nian Shangyou still dazed, Qiao Yi took a wooden box down from the bookshelf, opened it, and showed it to him.
Inside lay a severed head—the messenger who had just delivered the secret letter.
Qiao Yi closed the box and told Nian Shangyou, "There must not be the slightest slip-up in this matter. I want his head, I want his soul, and I want every single ghost servant on his person."
His whiskers trembling, Nian Shangyou hurried off to rally his assassins.
Having returned home, Yuan Youshang lay in bed resting, but the thought of that messenger filled him with mounting dread.
A martial cultivator ghost servant advised, "We should leave right now. Don't wait until Qiao Yi turns hostile."
A mind cultivator ghost servant urged, "Lord Qiao has already issued the conferment document. If we leave now, won't all these years of suffering have gone down the drain?"
A scholar cultivator ghost servant said, "The document hasn't been stamped with a seal yet, so it doesn't count. If that messenger spills the beans, we won't be able to clean up the mess. If you ask me, we should leave."
A contrarian cultivator ghost servant argued, "I'm not just being argumentative; I'm talking sense to you all! If we run now, wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting we saw the secret letter? We'd never be able to clear our names!"
Each ghost servant clung to their own view, squabbling until Yuan Youshang's head pounded.
A concubine entered the room carrying a quilt and said to Yuan Youshang, "Master, it's chilly. Let me add another cotton quilt."
Yuan Youshang pointed to the side of the bed. "Put it there."
The concubine laid the quilt on the bed, pulled a short blade from inside it, and severed Yuan Youshang's head with a single slash.
Yuan Youshang's severed head stared with wide, round eyes. He had brought this concubine with him from Puluo Province. She had no cultivation, knew no martial arts, worked diligently, and rarely spoke. He never could have imagined she would strike at him.
Was this even his concubine?
Clang!
The door flew open. Nian Shangyou barged in with his men, holding an iron bell that he slammed down over Yuan Youshang's body.
Yuan Youshang had no idea how Nian Shangyou had gotten in. Numerous ghost servants were supposed to be patrolling around his residence—how had there not been a sound?
The iron bell trapped all of Yuan Youshang's personal ghost servants. Nian Shangyou tapped the bell lightly and ordered, "Count the tally."
Before long, the iron bell responded, "Three hundred and thirty-one."
Nian Shangyou shouted toward the doorway, "Report your counts!"
An officer holding a compass called out, "Captured five!"
Another officer holding an iron box called out, "Captured three!"
There were fifteen officers in all, carrying fifteen weapons, every single one the bane of deceased spirits.
Before the "concubine" made her move, Nian Shangyou had already led his men to sweep away all the patrolling ghost servants.
This "concubine" was also an assassin in disguise, striking right when Yuan Youshang was distracted and distressed, succeeding in a single blow.
Wuwu~
Two sobs drifted from within the iron bell, seemingly coming from Yuan Youshang.
Nian Shangyou sniffled and began weeping as well.
It was not out of sympathy for Yuan Youshang, but because Nian Shangyou had been struck by a crying cultivator technique. Sorrow welled up in his chest, and he couldn't help bursting into tears.
This was Yuan Youshang's final struggle, but alas, it came too late.
Nian Shangyou ordered his subordinates to carry the iron bell back to Qiao Yi's manor.
Qiao Yi tapped the iron bell and heard Yuan Youshang's weeping plea: "What did your subordinate do wrong? Please enlighten me, my Lord!"
Listening from the side, Nian Shangyou also wanted to know what fault Yuan Youshang had committed.
But Qiao Yi was in no mood to offer any explanation.
He had the iron bell hoisted up, fetched a bell mallet, and struck the bell.
Bong~
A long, resonant toll echoed.
A drift of ash spilled out from beneath the iron bell, looking no different from the ashes in an ordinary household stove.
Every soul inside the iron bell was completely annihilated.
Nian Shangyou was still wiping away tears when Qiao Yi cast a glance at him.
Nian Shangyou hurriedly explained, "My Lord, I was hit by a crying cultivator technique."
Qiao Yi asked, "None of Yuan Youshuang's ghost servants slipped through the net, right?"
"None!" Nian Shangyou answered with absolute certainty. "Your subordinate inspected thoroughly. Every single one of Yuan Youshuang's ghost servants was netted."
Qiao Yi trusted Nian Shangyou and believed he would not bungle this.
However, he overlooked one issue: the Great Crucible was damaged, and the deceased spirits in Chaoge were numerous.
Near the harbor, many victims of the epidemic had died, their corpses falling into the sea.
One corpse resembled an eel. Half of its body had been eaten away by other fish, while the remaining half crawled with shellfish and worms.
The corpse's sole remaining eye slowly opened.
***
Li Banfeng gathered a batch of human vitality in Xiaodu. Because not much time had passed since his last harvest, the vitality gathered this time was not enough to advance to the fifth tier.
The backlash of the Dwelling Cultivator path remained intense. Although Li Banfeng did not wish to leave home, he nevertheless went to Yuezhou. He needed not only to look into certain matters but also to attend to a momentous undertaking—one almost unimaginable for Puluo Province.
This great undertaking had been planned by Li Banfeng for a long time, and now he was finally going to see it through.
He returned to the Dark Star Bureau building. Work here had originally ground to a halt, and the staff had been sent home on leave; Li Banfeng had assumed the building would be completely repurposed. Coming here today to check, he found everything at the Dark Star Bureau operating as usual.
The various departments functioned normally, and Li Banfeng's phone even received operational updates from the security squad.
Taking the elevator from the building entrance all the way up to his office, not a single person across the entire Dark Star Bureau was able to notice him.
Chen Changrui had no idea Li Banfeng was back either. After A'yu left, there was no one to deliver messages to him, leaving him unable to track Li Banfeng's whereabouts.
Having obtained the companion dwelling's consent, Li Banfeng brought out Second Room. Zhao Xiaowan had originally wanted Red Lotus to craft a puppet body for Second Room, but Second Room declined, deeming it unnecessary.
Transforming into a pool of shadow on the floor, clinging to the ground level, he followed Li Banfeng out the door. Looking closely, his silhouette was noticeably different from Li Banfeng's—shorter, leaner, with a much rounder face.
Li Banfeng took Zhao Xiaowan and Second Room to the stairwell, toured every floor, and then the three returned to the office.
Zhao Xiaowan shared her deduction: "There are Shadow Cultivator methods at work in this building. It also has a projection in a university, in the form of a locker. That is my preliminary assessment."
Second Room looked left and right, peered around for a good while, and lowered his voice. "General Hong isn't here, is she?"
Zhao Xiaowan nodded. "Yingying isn't here. Speak freely."
Second Room said cautiously, "General Zhao, I don't think you're right."
Zhao Xiaowan frowned. "Which part isn't right?"
Second Room said, "I think that locker you mentioned cannot possibly be a projection of this building."
Zhao Xiaowan's face chilled. "You haven't even seen the locker, and you're already saying it's impossible?"
Realizing he had spoken without enough tact, Second Room hurriedly apologized. "I spoke too hastily. Why don't we go take a look at the locker?"
Zhao Xiaowan turned to Li Banfeng. "Husband, let's head to the supermarket now."
Li Banfeng took out his pocket watch and checked the time. "You two go ahead. I still have some business here."
His lady took Second Room to the supermarket. Li Banfeng called Chen Changrui. "Old Chen, is there urgent business today?"
"Yes!" Chen Changrui's voice actually trembled. "Director Li, we've finally hoped you back!"
Li Banfeng chuckled. "Are you hoping for me, or is someone else?"
"We all are."
"Are you coming alone, or bringing someone with you?"
Seeing this, Chen Changrui concealed it no longer. "Director Gao would also like to see you."
Li Banfeng agreed. "Then let her come!"
Half an hour later, Chen Changrui brought Gao Yina to Li Banfeng's office.
Unlike before, Gao Yina's face showed none of her former conflict and embarrassment; her smile overflowed with joy and excitement.
"Dean Li, during the time you were away, we did extensive work addressing the hardships confronting Puluo Province. Allow me to give you a brief report first—"
Li Banfeng waved his hand. "My time is limited. Let's get straight to the point."
Gao Yina put away her speaking notes, maintaining her earnest smile. "Regarding the various difficulties facing Puluo Province, we have conducted an in-depth analysis and research, and formulated corresponding solutions for specific issues—"
Li Banfeng emphasized once more, "The point. As fast as you can."
Gao Yina deliberated over her words. "The purpose of my visit today is to restore order to Puluo Province as quickly as possible, on the premise of balancing the interests of all parties—"
Li Banfeng interrupted her. "What order are you trying to restore?"
Though mentally prepared, facing the core issue right off the bat still made Gao Yina a little nervous. "The foremost priority in restoring order is to get the Customs Office running again."
Li Banfeng smiled. "That's an easy task. It can be done today. Isn't Liao Zihui still in Puluo Province? Give him a call and tell him to do his job properly."
Gao Yina felt she had not explained clearly. "We aren't talking about the skeleton crew remaining at the General Customs Office. What we mean is that personnel from local Customs Offices across the board are preparing to re-enter Puluo Province."
Li Banfeng nodded. "That's even easier to handle. They don't need to enter. From now on, no part of Puluo Province needs a Customs Office."
Gao Yina's smile slowly froze. She glanced at Chen Changrui.
Chen Changrui remained expressionless. Having arranged for Gao Yina to meet Li Banfeng, his job was already finished.
Gao Yina pursed her lips. "Dean Li, I know certain previous events may have given rise to misunderstandings on your part..."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "There are no misunderstandings. It's all business."
Gao Yina's tone shifted slightly as she handed a folder of materials to Li Banfeng. "Dean Li, I hope you understand that in transportation and other key sectors, we possess comprehensive management procedures. The vital significance of the Customs Office lies in..."
"It has no significance," Li Banfeng pushed her materials aside. "From this day forth, transportation and other sectors in Puluo Province have nothing to do with the Outer States."
Gao Yina grew anxious, her pitch rising slightly. "Dean Li, you should know full well that every single railway line in Puluo Province was built by us."
Li Banfeng conceded that point. "And every single railway line in Puluo Province earned back thousands of times its cost in profits for you. Now, it's time to gift the railways to Puluo Province."
Gao Yina pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed the sweat from her forehead. "Dean Li, I urge you to stay calm. Transportation in Puluo Province doesn't refer solely to the railways; it also encompasses Puluo Province's trade..."
"Speaking of trade, there's another matter I must inform you of: going forward, Puluo Province will establish relatively fair trade relations with the Outer States."
Gao Yina hurriedly rummaged through her bag for documents. "Our trade with Puluo Province has always been established on the basis of fairness, equity, and mutual benefit. I have ample data here—"
"Don't talk to me about data." Li Banfeng produced a Puluo Province shadow-play machine. "Ever seen this?"
Chen Changrui nodded. "Yes, a film projector. I bought one once too. Good quality, with a very vintage feel."
Li Banfeng smiled. "Did you buy it at Black Rock Slope?"
Chen Changrui's cheeks turned slightly red, and he nodded.
Li Banfeng stroked the projector's casing. "The shadow-play machines from Black Rock Slope are fine quality, and the films are even better. But do either of you know why this projector is made of wood?"
Gao Yina tried to change the subject. "That's likely a characteristic of Puluo Province's craftsmanship. What we are here to discuss today is—"
Li Banfeng pushed the projector right in front of Gao Yina. "I don't know if you're genuinely confused or playing dumb. You certainly know that plastic products are lighter, easier to mold, and more corrosion-resistant. You should also know full well what price plastic goods fetch in Puluo Province."
Gao Yina knew that the price of plastic in Puluo Province was outrageously high. "That is not our fault. Puluo Province's overall environment is unsuitable for the manufacturing and processing of plastic goods. As scarce commodities, they naturally carry a certain premium."
Li Banfeng said, "I know Puluo Province isn't suited for producing plastic, and I know many other manufacturing processes are unsuited for it as well. But we can establish fairer trade channels. If such channels cannot be established, we will look for new trading partners. Business can be done with anyone. Speaking of trade, there is also Santoucha. The trade relations of the Underground City must change, and many places outside the Underground City must change as well—especially the City of Sinners and the Sinless Army. In the future, none of them will remain under the jurisdiction of the Outer States."
Sweat beaded across Gao Yina's forehead, and her words became jumbled. "These matters... they aren't as simple as you make them sound. There are so many—"
"I know it isn't easy. I've done many things far harder than this." Li Banfeng looked at Gao Yina, radiating waves of chill that caused her cold sweat to dry up slightly.
Gao Yina knew full well in her heart that the Shang State had recently suffered a series of devastating blows—blows deeply connected to Li Banfeng.
"I will relay your thoughts to higher-ups. As for the final outcome of their discussions, I cannot make any promises to you."
"I don't need promises." Li Banfeng lifted his teacup.
Seeing this, Chen Changrui hastily rose to see the guest out.
After the two left the office, Li Banfeng took out his simple telephone and called Ma the Fifth. "Old Fifth, organize men immediately to take over Puluo Province's railways."
"Huh?" On the other end of the line, Ma the Fifth froze for more than ten seconds. "Take over the railways? Haven't the railways... stopped running?"
Li Banfeng said, "Now we take control of the railways, and then we get the trains running."
Ma the Fifth still couldn't wrap his head around it. To almost everyone in Puluo Province, this was something untouchable.
"Old Seven, if you want to take over the railways, shouldn't you check with the Customs Office first?"
"Pay no attention to the Customs Office. Going forward, the affairs of Puluo Province have nothing to do with them."
"B-but the stations are theirs, the trains are theirs, and the staff are theirs—"
"The stations and trains are ours now. As for staff, we hire them. Experienced ones take priority, but if they don't have experience, that's fine too—they can learn."
Ma the Fifth took several deep breaths. Even as a cultivator above the clouds, even as a commercial genius, the sheer impact of this matter was simply overwhelming.
"B-but, I... what about ticket prices? How do we set them?" Ma the Fifth's mind went completely blank, feeling at a loss as to where to even begin.
Li Banfeng said, "Set ticket prices as low as possible. It's enough as long as we make a small margin."
Ma the Fifth then thought of another crucial question. "What about the price of travel permits? Do we still follow the Customs Office's rules?"
Li Banfeng enunciated every word: "Old Fifth, listen closely. From this day forth, there will be no travel permits within Puluo Province. The people of Puluo Province, walking upon the soil of Puluo Province, will no longer need travel permits."
P.S. The first time he heard the concept of a travel permit, Li Banfeng was furious; see Chapter 40 for details.
Chapter 785