Chapter 114: Brothers, Don't Fall Into My Hands

"Xing Qiushan, a junior pickpocket from Ghost Hand Sect, saw Li Banfeng on Yangting Road," Monkey Qiu repeated.

Lu Dongliang put down his paper and pen, looking at Qiu Zhiheng. "Do you think it's reliable?" he asked.

"Judging by his demeanor, he doesn't seem to be lying, but we can't confirm if the person he saw was indeed Li Banfeng yet."

Lu Dongliang asked Monkey Qiu to bring Xing Qiushan. It was Xing Qiushan's first time entering the Lu family mansion. He didn't dare to take a deep breath the entire way, nervously following Butler Qiu to Lu Dongliang's study.

Lu Dongliang scrutinized Xing Qiushan. "From the Ghost Hand Sect?"

Xing Qiushan nodded, deliberately pulling up his sleeves. "Master Lu, I... I came here, but I didn't lay a hand on anything."

Lu Dongliang chuckled. "Why are you saying that? Do you think I'm afraid you'll steal something?"

Xing Qiushan also realized it was an inappropriate remark, but facing one of Prozhou's most powerful men, he completely forgot what he was supposed to say.

Lu Dongliang asked, "What time did you see Li Banfeng last night?"

"A little past eleven last night..." Xing Qiushan recounted the entire incident, emphasizing, "Although the person had a beard, their facial features were identical to Li Banfeng's photo. Master Lu, I definitely couldn't have been mistaken."

Lu Dongliang glanced at Xing Qiushan. "Are you saying Li Banfeng went to Greenwater City and bought three phonographs?"

Xing Qiushan knew this behavior was illogical, but it was what he had witnessed firsthand. "Master Lu, if you don't believe me, you can ask the owner of Wonderful Sound Phonographs. He specially loaded them into a vehicle, and we followed him then."

Lu Dongliang didn't intend to verify the truth with Ling Miaosheng; Ling Miaosheng wouldn't easily reveal customer information, even to Lu Dongliang.

Lu Dongliang wasn't actually worried about Xing Qiushan lying; he just couldn't understand Li Banfeng's motive. "Why would he buy phonographs?"

Xing Qiushan shook his head. "I don't know that. I tried to take his phonographs, but he wouldn't let me, so we fought, and then..."

Lu Dongliang suddenly slapped his thigh, interrupting Xing Qiushan. He turned to Qiu Zhiheng. "I forgot something! You can't infer this person's actions based on common sense. He's mentally ill!"

Qiu Zhiheng was startled. "Master, are you saying he's crazy?"

Lu Dongliang nodded. "He is crazy. That's why he couldn't be found in Yaowang Gully. He's gone and run off to Greenwater City! I never thought he'd be wandering right under my nose!"

Qiu Zhiheng still didn't understand. "He has no travel permit. How did he get from Yaowang Gully to Greenwater Bay?"

Lu Dongliang stroked his chin, his brows slightly furrowed.

This was indeed difficult to comprehend.

Qiu Zhiheng suggested, "Could his cultivation be high enough for him to have crossed the border?"

Lu Dongliang looked at Xing Qiushan and asked, "You fought fiercely for over an hour, with six people, three dead and three injured?"

Xing Qiushan nodded.

Lu Dongliang then asked, "You're a junior pickpocket, how many cultivation levels do you have?"

"A two-level Thief Cultivator," Xing Qiushan replied without concealment.

"And your subordinates?"

"They're all from the Ghost Hand Sect, three at level one, and two with no level."

Lu Dongliang shook his head. "If Li Banfeng could bypass the border, not to mention an hour, these few people wouldn't last a single round against him."

After a moment of silence, Lu Dongliang gestured for Xing Qiushan to leave. Monkey Qiu escorted him out and instructed subordinates to find a place to settle him for now.

As Xing Qiushan walked towards the stairs, he happened to encounter Zhuo Yuling ascending. Seeing the servants bow to Zhuo Yuling, Xing Qiushan followed suit, even calling out, "Madam."

Zhuo Yuling casually asked, "And who might you be?"

Zhuo Yuling had merely asked out of politeness, but Xing Qiushan took it seriously. "I am Xing Qiushan, a junior pickpocket from the Ghost Hand Sect. I saw Li Banfeng on Yangting Road."

Upon hearing the name Li Banfeng, Zhuo Yuling's cheeks twitched.

There was news of Li Banfeng.

This meant Lu Dongliang would find Li Banfeng.

If Li Banfeng was found, the Profound-Life Red Lotus would be found, rendering Lu Xiaolan worthless to Lu Dongliang.

How would a worthless Lu Xiaolan be handled?

She would be made a scapegoat and handed over to the He family.

Zhuo Yuling had been on her way back to her bedroom, but upon hearing this news, she turned to go to the study, wanting to know Lu Dongliang's next steps.

Lu Dongliang glared at Qiu Zhiheng, who then exited the study and yelled to his subordinates, "Get him out of here, quickly!"

The subordinates immediately escorted Xing Qiushan away from the main residence.

Just as Zhuo Yuling reached the study door, she saw Qiu Zhiheng bow to her, then promptly close the door.

Zhuo Yuling, disheartened, returned to her bedroom. Lu Dongliang continued discussing tactics with Qiu Zhiheng.

"Master, according to Miss Xiaolan, He Jiaqing merely tapped her, and she flew all the way back to the He family's old residence. She didn't fly along the railway line. She was able to cross the border during flight, perhaps because He Jiaqing used some kind of magic treasure. It's possible Li Banfeng can also use such a treasure."

Lu Dongliang shook his head. "That's not a magic treasure; it's a technique."

Monkey Qiu was stunned for a moment, then shook his head. "I've never heard of such a technique."

Lu Dongliang looked up. "You haven't heard of it because you're not familiar with his sect."

Qiu Zhiheng had indeed inquired about this. "I heard from the He family that He Jiaqing cultivates both scholarly and martial arts."

Lu Dongliang scoffed. "That's utter nonsense."

"So, like his father, is he a Food Cultivator?"

Lu Dongliang shook his head. "Not that either."

Qiu Zhiheng pondered for a long time. "Master, I know a little about various techniques from different paths, but I've never heard of such a technique."

Lu Dongliang said, "That's because your cultivation isn't as high as his. You naturally wouldn't know the techniques at his level."

Monkey Qiu was even more disbelieving. "My cultivation isn't as high as his? How old is he?"

Qiu Zhiheng was a rare genius, in his forties with seven levels of Joyful Cultivation. He Jiaqing was only in his early twenties; how could his cultivation possibly surpass Qiu Zhiheng's?

Lu Dongliang sighed. "It's because He Jiaqing obtained the Supreme Profound-Life Red Lotus. He claimed to be studying in Yuezhou, but in reality, it was for the Red Lotus. In these four years, he gained an immeasurable amount of cultivation from it. Not to mention you, even the He family might not know what level he's at now."

Qiu Zhiheng still couldn't believe it. "Then why would he return to Prozhou? Why wouldn't he stay in the other provinces?"

Lu Dongliang said, "That should be related to the Red Lotus's cost."

"The Red Lotus has a cost?"

"Every magic treasure in the world has a cost. I once heard that the Red Lotus has a connection to the heavens. If you touch it, it sends a signal to the heavens, and the person who touched it is bathed in heavenly light. If this continues, He Jiaqing probably couldn't withstand it."

Bathed in heavenly light!

Qiu Zhiheng recalled someone.

Seeing Qiu Zhiheng in a daze, Lu Dongliang asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Qiu Zhiheng quickly replied, "I was thinking, if He Jiaqing truly has such high cultivation, how could Miss Xiaolan have injured him?"

Lu Dongliang's gaze suddenly deepened. "That's why this matter is strange. I don't know if Xiaolan told me the truth."

"Master, wasting time like this isn't a solution. Shall I invite a Virtue Cultivator master to ascertain whether Miss Xiaolan is lying?"

"If it were that simple, would I have waited until now?" Lu Dongliang's face darkened. "If Xiaolan meets a high-level Virtue Cultivator and lies, she might lose her life, and she can't die yet. If she tells the truth, wouldn't the matter be leaked? How would we deal with that high-level Virtue Cultivator? Silence him? That would cause too much commotion!"

Monkey Qiu felt he had been inconsiderate. After a moment's thought, he suggested, "How about I borrow a Virtue Cultivation magic treasure from the Border Control Commissioner?"

Lu Dongliang looked at Monkey Qiu, irritated. "I told you, it's not that simple. You can't trust magic treasures from other provinces. Those things can record what they've heard. If this matter spreads to other provinces, it will be even more troublesome!"

Qiu Zhiheng said, "Master, I'm concerned that the Profound-Life Red Lotus isn't in Prozhou at all, and Miss Xiaolan might have been lying to you all along."

Lu Dongliang chuckled at his words. "Little Qiu, among everyone in the Lu family, including my own son and brothers, you're the only one I can trust. I'm only telling you this: when a Traveler Cultivator reaches a certain level, they no longer travel the ground. I can see that the Red Lotus is in Prozhou, but as for its exact location, I cannot see that."

The more Qiu Zhiheng listened, the more confused he became.

Lu Dongliang offered no further explanation, pondering more crucial matters. "Why Li Banfeng bought the phonographs doesn't matter. How he crossed the border doesn't matter either. The fact that Li Banfeng fought to the death with the Ghost Hand Sect for three phonographs proves their importance; he certainly wouldn't abandon them easily. Carrying three phonographs, he couldn't move quickly and would be quite conspicuous. He can't carry them himself, so he must have hired a vehicle. This is the key. Gather all the Traveler Cultivators in the family and search all transportation routes. Anyone traveling with phonographs on the road should be brought back for questioning. Also, contact the Iron Wheel Gang, give them a reward, and have them gather all coachmen who transported phonographs from last night until today. Bring them back for questioning too. We must find Li Banfeng, even if we have to turn Greenwater Bay upside down!"

Qiu Zhiheng pondered for a moment. "Master, if we search the entire city for Li Banfeng, I'm afraid the other major families will become suspicious."

Lu Dongliang stood up. "I'll go talk business with them to keep them busy and out of our way. You just make sure to handle things properly and bring me news tonight. Once Li Banfeng is caught and we have the Profound-Life Red Lotus, we'll immediately hand Xiaolan's body over to the He family, and this matter will be settled."

Qiu Zhiheng deployed his men to search for Li Banfeng. As he reached the mansion's entrance, he glanced again at Li Banfeng's photo.

The person in the photo was almost identical to the young man who had given him food on the train.

He had long suspected this person was the young man from the train, but a faint doubt always remained.

Now that the heavenly light incident had surfaced, it virtually confirmed it was Li Banfeng.

Little brother, is this really you?

I consider your kindness repaid. I only hope you are blessed with good fortune and a long life, and that you don't fall into my hands.

Lu Dongliang returned to his bedroom to change clothes.

He went to Zhuo Yuling's room. When dealing with prominent families, he always wore his custom-made Ingrid yellow woolen coat; it was his habit.

Seeing Zhuo Yuling sitting idly in the room, he paid her no mind.

After changing, just as Lu Dongliang was about to leave, he suddenly heard Zhuo Yuling say, "Master, Xiaolan didn't lie. She never lied. Li Banfeng is still alive."

Lu Dongliang nodded. "I know. She didn't lie."

With that, Lu Dongliang exited the room.

In the garden, Lu Chunying was sprinting wildly around the flowerbed. Seeing Lu Dongliang approach, she quickly stepped forward and bowed. "Dad, look how fast I'm running! This is 'raising wind on flat ground,' isn't it?"

Lu Dongliang shook his head, smiling. "Girl, it's still too early for 'raising wind on flat ground.' After Dad finishes his work, I'll take you somewhere to pass the first barrier, and then I'll teach you techniques."

Standing by her bedroom window, Zhuo Yuling watched Lu Dongliang, his face full of smiles, and a surge of anger rose in her eyes.

Lu Dongliang had never smiled at Xiaolan like that.

He was about to find Li Banfeng.

Xiaolan would soon lose her life.

Over a dozen high-ranking guards watched Lu Xiaolan's door. Zhuo Yuling couldn't rescue her, not even with Daboyins' assistance.

She needed to find another helper. There was one suitable person, but would he help save Xiaolan?

He wouldn't save Xiaolan, but there was one thing he had always wanted to do.

Fortunately, Qiu Zhiheng had also left. As long as the butler was away, there was still time to make certain arrangements.

Shortly after Lu Dongliang left, Zhuo Yuling also departed from the mansion.

In another bedroom, Xiao Yeci watched anxiously from the window as Lu Chunying sprinted around the flowerbed.

Lu Chunying had agreed to escape with her tonight.

Lu Chunying was exercising her legs, while Xiao Yeci was gathering her courage.

Sara was poised for action, relying on the protection of the esteemed elders.