Chapter 159: The End of Glory

Li Banfeng crushed a stone underfoot.

*Tapo Wanchuan*? The most difficult technique for a traveler cultivator? Had he learned it? How had he just done that?

Li Banfeng had no time to review the process. The enraged millipede, crawling on the ground, charged directly at him.

"If you stay low, it's easier to handle," he thought. "I won't even need to jump to hit you!"

Li Banfeng summoned his Tang saber, holding it in front of him, ready for a head-on collision.

The wine gourd acted first, spraying a mist of alcohol onto the millipede's head.

Just as the millipede's head was about to hit the saber's tip, it suddenly stopped.

Perhaps stimulated by the alcohol, the millipede's body began to tremble violently.

"Good opportunity!"

Li Banfeng raised his Tang saber, poised to chop down on the millipede's head.

The wine gourd stopped Li Banfeng. "Little brother, don't be reckless. Your saber can't cut through its shell. I've never seen this bug before, but it's very powerful. Even both of us together might not be a match for it."

Li Banfeng's initial assessment was correct; this millipede's combat strength was no less than Lady Suo'e's.

But if he couldn't chop it, what else could he do?

The wine gourd observed the millipede's drunken state and said to Li Banfeng, "You can tell a creature's character by how they hold their liquor. This bug handles its alcohol well, so it's probably not malicious."

*He could tell that?* Li Banfeng wondered.

The wine gourd truly wasn't wrong.

The millipede swayed its antennae, first attempting to get up, then wobbled and collapsed back onto the ground.

Was this millipede drunk? It didn't seem drunk; its two antennae twirled, looking very pleased, more like it was captivated by the taste of the fine wine.

The wine gourd said, "Brother, step aside and clear a path for it to pass."

Li Banfeng moved aside, but the millipede refused to leave. One of its antennae approached Li Banfeng, waving continuously in front of him.

*Why did it suddenly become so docile?*

In fact, this millipede was naturally docile; it was just a bit nervous around strangers and had been provoked by Li Banfeng's series of actions.

*Does this thing have sentience?*

Li Banfeng used his Spirit Voice Listening technique for a while and barely made out a muffled sound.

"Delicious, want to drink, want to drink more..."

*It wants more? Then give it another mouthful of wine.*

"Wait a minute!"

Why was this millipede moving so smoothly in the cave? Li Banfeng remembered something and unfolded the map Elder Yao had given him.

After looking at the map, Li Banfeng smiled. This cave had no forks.

"You want to drink, right?" Li Banfeng said. "Give me a ride, and I'll give you another taste of good wine."

Li Banfeng negotiated with the millipede. He wasn't sure if the millipede truly understood, but it lay motionless on the ground.

Li Banfeng carefully sat on the millipede's back.

The millipede's antennae twitched. It seemed uncomfortable, shook Li Banfeng off, and quickly moved away.

"You don't want to carry me? Then I won't give you any wine!" Li Banfeng was angry.

This millipede was very long; its head was already far from Li Banfeng, but its tail was still outside the cave.

Li Banfeng had the wine gourd spray another mouthful of wine. The fragrant, potent liquor sprinkled onto the millipede's body.

The millipede trembled again, paused for a moment, then all its legs began to move in reverse. It backed up.

"Delicious, want to drink..."

"So you'll give me a ride?"

Its antennae twitched up and down; the millipede seemed to be nodding.

Li Banfeng rode on the millipede's back for the second time. This time, the millipede didn't struggle and carried Li Banfeng forward.

Li Banfeng had the wine gourd spray a mouthful of wine, which the millipede thoroughly enjoyed.

"Drink this first as a down payment," Li Banfeng said. "When we get to our destination, there'll be more wine."

The millipede carried Li Banfeng for over five *li* and then stopped.

*He was supposed to give me a ride, and that's as far as he'll go? Isn't this leg of the journey too short?*

Just as Li Banfeng was about to ask, he vaguely heard the millipede say, "Rest for a while."

Traveling through this cave was difficult for the millipede too; only its strong physique allowed it to last longer than Li Banfeng. A short rest was fine; it was still faster than Li Banfeng walking on his own.

Inside the portable dwelling, his wife had sobered up and was washing Li Banfeng's clothes.

In the outer room, Honglian suddenly spoke. "Don't you think there's something off about this woman?" She was referring to the wine gourd.

The gramophone replied, "Something is indeed off. She shows no fear and must have seen a lot of the world."

"So you noticed too," Honglian said. "When that madman brought her back to this house, she just looked around without asking a single question. Later, when she met me, she also didn't ask much, and now that she's met you, she still doesn't ask much. Such a person must be hiding something in their heart."

"There's no need to worry; we'll just be a bit wary of her in the future." The gramophone finished washing a pair of trousers, steam-dried them, folded them neatly, and placed them in the wardrobe.

At Haichiling, Toudaoling, stood Lu Dongjun's residence.

The head of the Ma family, Ma Chunting, father of Ma Wu, was discussing business with Lu Dongjun.

"Dongjun, we're old friends," Ma Chunting said. "I've brought up the leather factory matter for two days now. You really should give me an answer."

Lu Dongjun casually blew on his tea and said to Ma Chunting, "Brother Ma, didn't I tell you before? For business matters, just talk to Old Wan. I'm busy with disaster relief and don't have time for these minor details."

Ma Chunting replied, "I've talked to Steward Wan several times, but he hasn't made any move. So, I had no choice but to come to you."

"Is that so? Impossible!" Lu Dongjun feigned surprise. "Is the price not right?"

Ma Chunting spread his hands. "It's all according to the price you offered. I didn't haggle at all."

Lu Dongjun smacked his lips. "That shouldn't be the case. Old Wan is just too petty. Leave this to me; I'll go talk to him."

Ma Chunting stood up and said, "Then I'm troubling you."

Lu Dongjun didn't stand up. "I'm busy, so I won't keep you."

Ma Chunting gave a dry laugh and left the Lu family mansion.

The leather factory he mentioned was originally the Ma family's business. When Haichiling suffered a famine, the leather factory went bankrupt and was left unattended. Wan Jinxian came to Haichiling and acquired the factory at an extremely low price.

Now that the bug infestation was under control, the leather factory had reopened. Ma Chunting wanted to buy it back but was told he could only buy shares, and the price had tripled. Ma Chunting was indignant and wanted to play hardball with Lu Dongjun. However, all the major and minor gangs in Haichiling supported Lu Dongjun, causing the Ma family to suffer a significant loss.

Ma Chunting conceded, and when he brought up buying shares again, Wan Jinxian proposed another price increase, from three times to five times the original price. Ma Chunting gritted his teeth and agreed, but to this day, Wan Jinxian still hadn't responded.

"Damn it!" Back at his residence, Ma Chunting gnashed his teeth in anger. "I'm giving Lu Dongjun money, and I still have to put up with his attitude!"

Ma Junjiang, standing by, said, "Exactly, Lu Dongjun is too arrogant."

Ma Chunting packed tobacco into his pipe, put it in his mouth, and said, "Lu Dongjun is just like that; I accept his arrogance. But what is Wan Jinxian? How dare he bare his fangs at me?"

Ma Junjiang nodded. "Exactly, Wan Jinxian is just a servant of the Lu family. What right does he have to be arrogant in front of us?"

The more Ma Chunting thought about it, the angrier he became. "Who knows what Wan Jinxian is busy with all day? I can't even get to see him. He's too arrogant!"

Ma Junjiang nodded repeatedly, "Exactly..."

"Is he what?" Ma Chunting smashed his pipe to the ground. "All this time, all you can say is 'exactly,' and nothing else. The leather factory was originally our family's business. Now that it's come to this, don't you feel disgraced? If Old Wu were here, would I have suffered such a huge loss?"

Having lost out in business, Ma Chunting missed Ma Wu.

This is how powerful families operate.

However, Wan Jinxian had indeed been busy recently; even Lu Dongjun found it hard to see him.

After sending for him several times, Wan Jinxian finally arrived at the residence that evening.

Lu Dongjun frowned. "Where have you been? I haven't seen you all day!"

Wan Jinxian explained, "There are simply too many business matters."

"I was just about to talk to you about business," Lu Dongjun said. "The Ma family wants to buy shares in the leather factory; do you know about this?"

Wan Jinxian nodded. "Ma Chunting mentioned it a few times, but I ignored him. I offered him three times the price before, and he didn't agree, even causing trouble. Now he's offering five times, so I plan to keep him waiting for a couple of days."

Lu Dongjun nodded. "Keeping him waiting for a couple of days is appropriate, but don't overdo it. The Ma family's foundation is still strong."

"As you wish, Master," Wan Jinxian said with a smiling nod.

"You need to pay more attention to business matters," Lu Dongjun continued, "and the bug situation can't be delayed either. It's time to act on Erdaoling."

"Master, rest assured, I've prepared everything. We'll act the day after tomorrow."

"Good!" Lu Dongjun nodded. "Get some rest soon. You've worked hard these past days; don't wear yourself out."

Wan Jinxian left the Lu family mansion. Instead of taking a carriage, he took a detour around Toudaoling to ensure no one was following him. He then walked to the "Food Heaven Restaurant" and entered a Western-style house near it.

Inside the Western-style house, Ling Miaoying, the third brother of the Ling family, had been waiting for a long time.

"Brother Wan," Ling Miaoying said, "everything is ready on my end."

"Thank you, Third Master."

Ling Miaoying entered with a man.

Wan Jinxian stared at the man for a moment, then nodded slightly. "I can't see any flaws. Let's get it done tonight."

At dawn, on Shaomai Street, Wonton Alley, Toudaoling, inside a residential house.

The mistress of the house woke early to light the fire and cook porridge.

Ever since the bug infestation in Haichiling, no household dared to open their rice bags. Any stored rice had to be locked away in chests. Even with such strict precautions, these mosquitoes couldn't be kept out.

But now, there was no fear. Second Master Lu of the Lu family had brought the bugs under control. Now, they could confidently open their rice bags, wash the rice, and put it in the pot. This rice was also a gift from Second Master Lu. No one in Haichiling didn't speak highly of Second Master Lu.

"Floating clouds disperse, the bright moon shines on people, reunion is beautiful, drunk today," the mistress hummed a tune as she washed rice, when a sharp buzzing sound suddenly reached her ears.

With a clatter, the mistress's hand trembled, and the basin of rice she was washing fell to the ground.

This sound was the nightmare of all Haichiling. Anyone living there would feel their entire body go numb upon hearing it.

*Was it a mosquito? No, it couldn't be...*

The mosquitoes in Toudaoling had been wiped out by Second Master Lu.

*What on earth was that sound? Did I mishear? I must have misheard.*

The mistress lowered her head and saw the rice grains scattered on the ground. She quickly picked up the rice grains.

A mosquito landed on a rice grain right in front of her.