Chapter 120: Lu Dongliang Attends a Banquet

Ma Wu accepted the invitation but did not agree to attend the banquet.

Yang Yanzheng glanced at the stairs and smiled slightly: "Fifth Master, I heard you have a capable friend visiting. Would you be able to introduce me?"

Ma Wu shook his head: "My friend isn't here today. Please come back another time."

Yang Yanzheng nodded and chuckled: "It seems your friend is indeed quite capable. Young Master Wu, I'll be expecting you on Miss's birthday."

After leaving Lanyang Village, Yang Yanzheng hurried back to Lushui City, reaching it in less than fifteen minutes. This demonstrated the power of a Tier 4 Traveler Cultivator.

Upon arriving at the residence of Miss Chu Huaiyuan, Yang Yanzheng recounted the entire conversation.

Miss Chu pricked her fingertip with a silver needle, slowly withdrew it, and then sucked the blood from her finger. She then switched to another finger and pricked it again: "He didn't agree on the spot and said he'd 'consider it'?"

Yang Yanzheng nodded: "That's what he said."

Miss Chu scoffed: "Does he think killing those thugs means the matter is over? He's supposed to be intelligent; does he need me to teach him such a basic principle? If he doesn't show up on my birthday, tell Song Jiasen that Ma Wu is hunting in the Xindi area of Lanyang Village and isn't selling his goods through him. I have evidence."

Yang Yanzheng bowed slightly and respectfully said: "Song Jiasen is obsessed with money. If we tell him this, Young Master Wu might not escape unharmed."

Chu Huaiyuan sneered: "That old dog Song Jiasen wouldn't dare kill Ma Wu, but he'll make his life half-miserable. I gave Ma Wu a chance, but he didn't take it, so he deserves what he gets. Some people need to suffer a bit to appreciate what's good."

Li Banfeng sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes.

The more he rubbed, the more excited he became, unwilling to stop even when his eyes were red.

His body had regained sensation; his eyes had sensation, and so did his hands.

The record spun slowly on the platter, and the phonograph gently sang: "My dear husband, why did you consume so many elixirs yesterday?"

This question required a careful answer.

Li Banfeng said with a serious expression: "Elixirs are powerful tonics. I figured there would be no harm in taking them."

Da da da da tai! A burst of gongs and drums sounded, and the phonograph continued to ask: "My dear husband, why do you need tonics?"

"Because of excessive work lately."

"My dear husband, what kind of work causes you such fatigue?" the phonograph pressed on.

"It's all for supporting the family."

"My dear husband, with your current financial resources, is it still difficult to make ends meet?"

In the outer room, the Bronze Lotus, who was refining elixirs, broke out in a sweat.

She was worried for Li Banfeng.

He absolutely couldn't reveal anything about Traveler Cultivation!

Otherwise, Li Banfeng would die on the spot, and no one would ever be able to leave again!

Li Banfeng calmly replied: "My dear wife, do you think I just stumbled upon a Tier 9 Traveler Cultivator like Lu Dongliang by chance?"

Da da da da tai! The phonograph's tune softened: "Such precious ingredients can't simply be found; my husband must have fought hard for them. Your humble servant has been too talkative, please don't be offended, my husband. It's just that your sudden consumption of so many Golden Yuan Elixirs truly puzzles your humble servant."

Li Banfeng's tone was calm: "Last night, I encountered a formidable enemy. I couldn't defeat him, nor could I escape him. In desperation, I consumed thirty-eight Golden Yuan Elixirs, hoping to raise my cultivation by one tier and then fight him. However, after taking the elixirs, I was poisoned by them. Instead of becoming stronger, I became immobilized. Thankfully, I had the 'Homeward Bound' technique, which allowed me to rush back home."

As he spoke, steam continuously swirled around Li Banfeng, detecting no abnormalities.

She was testing whether Li Banfeng was lying.

In fact, everything Li Banfeng said was true.

The formidable enemy was his cultivation backlash.

The phonograph gently stroked Li Banfeng's cheek: "My good husband, your humble servant has told you many times that elixirs are useless for a House Cultivator's cultivation. Why won't you believe me?"

Li Banfeng scoffed: "Other sects consume elixirs, so why can't I? I always feel like you're deceiving me."

The steam gently circled Li Banfeng's body: "My foolish husband, is there anyone else in this world who truly cares for you like your humble servant? Although these Golden Yuan Elixirs are useless for your cultivation, they can at least strengthen your body. The elixirs refined by Red Lotus are much purer than ordinary ones, and their toxicity isn't severe, so it's fine that you took them. But please, my husband, never consume elixirs refined elsewhere. Some elixir poisons are not so easy to resolve. My husband, you must listen to your humble servant; I am only looking out for your best interests. Your humble servant is devoted to you..."

Amidst the soft whispers, there was a hidden murderous intent. The phonograph was constantly probing to see if Li Banfeng was telling the truth.

But the steam, circling downwards to his waist, suddenly stopped.

"My husband, have you satisfied yourself again?"

Li Banfeng sighed lightly: "With my wife caressing me like this... I couldn't help myself."

"Wasn't this pair of pants just washed the day before yesterday?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "I've worn them for two days; it's time to change."

"It's easy for you to say! But you're not the one washing them!" The phonograph became furious, steam filling the room. "You keep talking about consummating our marriage, but with your meager abilities, what could you possibly accomplish if we actually did?"

Li Banfeng quickly changed his clothes and left the portable residence.

"Across the vast lands and oceans, searching for a kindred spirit..." The phonograph sang a little tune as it began washing Li Banfeng's clothes.

In the outer room, the dew drops on the Bronze Lotus gradually dissipated.

Tang Dao snorted coldly and muttered to himself: "So, there are some things the Mistress doesn't know."

He often fought alongside Li Banfeng outside, and he suspected that Li Banfeng might also be practicing Traveler Cultivation.

The petals of the Bronze Lotus slowly unfolded, and a whirlwind arose from its core.

Tang Dao flinched, shrinking into a corner and saying: "I don't know either; I don't know anything."

Back in the wooden house, Li Banfeng checked the sky and realized he had slept a whole night in the portable residence.

He went downstairs and saw Ma Wu silently sitting in the living room, looking troubled.

Li Banfeng looked at the newspaper on the table and feigned surprise: "So something happened to the Lu family!"

More than just 'something happened'; Lu Dongliang was dead, though no one knew it yet except Li Banfeng.

Ma Wu spread out the newspapers one by one and said to Li Banfeng: "Something happening to the Lu family means something big is about to happen to the entire Pu Luo Prefecture. This is news about the He family; from He Haiqin's attitude, it seems the He family intends to fight the Lu family to the end. It's said that even his brother, He Haisheng, has returned from outside the prefecture."

He Haisheng? Isn't that He Jiaqing's third uncle? His return indicates that He Jiaqing is largely unharmed.

Ma Wu then picked up another stack of newspapers: "This is news about the Ma family; it's all about land development and acquisition. The Ma family now wants to withdraw all their businesses and money to avoid involvement with the Lu family as much as possible. This is news about the Chu family; unlike the Ma family, the Chu family is looking to expand their business. Miss Chu is reaching into the Bailumen; she's trying to fish in troubled waters."

After looking at the newspapers, Li Banfeng nodded and said: "The situation is chaotic, but it seems to have nothing to do with us."

"It does matter, and it matters a lot!" Ma Wu pulled out the invitation. "Miss Chu's birthday is the day after tomorrow, and she's invited me to a banquet at her home. Should I go or not?"

Li Banfeng was stunned: "She's still pestering you? She must truly care for you!"

"What feelings could she possibly have for me? She wants to use me to drag the Ma family into this, Brother Li, can't you see that?"

Li Banfeng genuinely couldn't see it: "Weren't you disowned by the Ma family?"

"But my surname is still Ma, after all!"

"Then just grit your teeth and take my surname, Li!" Li Banfeng's surname came from the gatekeeper of the orphanage, so he didn't attach much importance to what his surname was.

"What surname I have isn't the point," Ma Wu struggled to articulate his current predicament. "I don't want to..."

Li Banfeng said: "You don't want to drag the Ma family into this?"

Ma Wu shook his head: "I'm not thinking about the Ma family; I'm not worthy of that. I'm thinking about myself. With two powerful families fighting, I'd be nothing but a puppet on strings in the middle, Brother Li. You know the consequences: if either family exerts even a little pressure, I'll be torn to shreds."

Li Banfeng could imagine Ma Wu's dilemma at that moment, so he simply placed the invitation on the table into a candle flame and burned it: "Since you've thought it through, then don't go."

Ma Wu looked at the invitation: "Yang Yanzheng, the Chu family's steward, came. He said if I don't go, I'll have to suffer all the hardships I endured before, all over again."

Li Banfeng was startled: "Coming to extort money again? Is this Miss Chu really that difficult?"

Ma Wu sighed: "I've thought all night, but I still haven't come up with a way to deal with her."

"Then stop thinking about it. Pack up and let's go hunting in Xindi. We can handle even Madam Suo'e, so what's there to fear about dealing with her?"

At the Chu family mansion, Miss Chu's birthday celebration was underway, and guests waited in the main hall.

But Ma Wu didn't show up.

Chu Huaiyuan sat in her bedroom, looking into the mirror, and first applied a streak of blush.

Then, aiming at the blush, she plunged a dagger into her face.

Steward Yang Yanzheng reminded her from the side: "Miss, you'll be seeing guests soon."

"It's fine," Chu Huaiyuan said. She pulled out the dagger, wiped the blood from her face, and used a layer of special fragrant powder to stop the bleeding and cover the wound.

She glanced back at Yang Yanzheng: "What are you standing there for? Go to Lanyang Village!"

Lu Dongjun sat silently in his mansion all night.

He Yuxiu had sent him an invitation, requesting his presence at a banquet at Qianyue Restaurant tomorrow to confront him face-to-face about who harmed Lu Dongliang.

Lu Dongjun called for a family meeting to discuss this, but he waited until dawn without a single person responding.

Some rumors were true: Lu Dongjun's status within the family was even lower than that of Monkey Qiu!

The strategist Wan JinXian reminded him: "Master, if you are absolutely confident, there's no harm in going to Qianyue Restaurant. But if you're not, you absolutely must not go."

Lu Dongjun wasn't confident, but could he afford not to go? How would he establish himself in the Lu family in the future?

He turned to Wan JinXian and smiled: "Old Wan, I'm tired and want to rest for a while. Please guard the door for me; don't let anyone into my room, and you don't even need to send me food."

Wan JinXian was startled: "Master, are you going to..."

"Just do as I say." Lu Dongjun returned to his bedroom, took out a stone lion about a foot tall from the closet, and placed it at the doorway.

He took out a false tooth from his mouth and placed it in the lion's mouth, and the lion's two eyes lit up.

As long as the false tooth wasn't removed, the lion's eyes would remain lit, and no one else could easily enter or exit the room except Lu Dongjun.

After setting up his defenses, Lu Dongjun took out a necklace.

At noon, He Yuxiu booked the entire Qianyue Restaurant, waiting for Lu Dongjun to arrive for the banquet. Many prominent members from both families also attended.

He Yuxiu sat at the head of the table, wearing a fur cloak, and ordered her subordinates to play a song.

A subordinate took a record, placed it on the phonograph, and played "Full Moon and Beautiful Flowers."

She wanted to calm her anger, but even after several songs, her fury did not subside.

If Lu Dongjun told the truth today, there might still be room for reconciliation. But if he dared to frame He Yuxiu again, she was prepared to take his life.

After waiting for more than fifteen minutes, He Yuxiu looked at the Lu family members and said: "Is Lu Dongjun even a real man? If he dares not show up today, it means he's guilty, and Lu Dongliang damn well died by his hand!"

Before she finished speaking, a subordinate came forward to relay a message: "Esteemed Aunt, the Lu family's eldest master has arrived."

"Good, let him come up quickly, let him..." He Yuxiu paused, stunned. "Who did you say arrived?"

"The Lu family's eldest master, Lu Dongliang!"