Chapter 207: Xiaoyao Villa

Li Banfeng held Rong Yeguang's head, examining it carefully for a long time. He had never met Rong Yeguang, but this bandit leader had ordered his men to ransack Zhengjing Village. Li Banfeng was determined to avenge that. He just hadn't expected Sun Tiecheng to avenge him so readily. Was that the end of it?

No, that wouldn't do. Lu Xiaolan was still alive. This debt still needed to be settled.

Sun Tiecheng said to Li Banfeng, "In the eyes of the world, foolish cultivators have long been extinct. There shouldn't be any living foolish cultivators, and there absolutely must not be any. You went to Fool's City, came out alive, and even learned two techniques of the foolish cultivators. This must never be known by outsiders, or your life will be in danger."

There shouldn't be any living foolish cultivators in the world. Li Banfeng looked closely at Sun Tiecheng. "Are you a living foolish cultivator?"

Sun Tiecheng shook his head. "No, I'm not." Li Banfeng couldn't see any ghost fire on him, nor did he know what kind of being Sun Tiecheng was.

"Was the first person to pass the assessment a living foolish cultivator?"

Sun Tiecheng chuckled. "You shouldn't ask."

"Can I forgo the land plot in Fool's City and exchange it for something else? Even if I can't exchange it for anything, it's fine. I already received an extra technique; I shouldn't be too greedy."

Sun Tiecheng shook his head. "No, you can't." Evidently, this land was a bond between Li Banfeng and the foolish cultivators, like a contractual agreement. Sun Tiecheng had gone to such lengths to assess Li Banfeng precisely to find a suitable candidate and establish this connection.

"Visit Fool's City often when you have nothing else to do. In times of life and death, it will be a much more reliable sanctuary than the Shuichongquan territory." With that, Sun Tiecheng vanished.

On the way back, Li Banfeng didn't run too fast. He returned to Zhengjing Village at the same speed he had arrived. He remembered Sun Tiecheng's words: running too fast would make him lose the entrance to the Old Land. By the same logic, running too fast would also make him miss the exit from the Old Land. Li Banfeng suspected there were other ways to enter and exit the Old Land, but Sun Tiecheng, knowing he was a traveling cultivator, deliberately used speed to define the exit because traveling cultivators are most sensitive to speed.

Had he lost or gained from meeting this person? He had been tricked into Fool's City and nearly lost his life. But he had gained two techniques from him, killed an enemy, and acquired a territory whose usefulness was uncertain. Did this settle the score? Even if it didn't settle the score, there was nothing he could do. Li Banfeng knew the vast difference between himself and Sun Tiecheng. From the moment he was targeted, this encounter was inevitable. What level was he, exactly? Was he similar to that insect, a chieftain above the local deities? What kind of being was a chieftain?

The lazy cultivator's 'capital' hadn't fully dissipated, so Li Banfeng was too lazy to ponder further. He returned to his bedroom and immediately entered his Portable Abode.

"Husband, you're out of Fool's City?"

"Yes, I am." Li Banfeng collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

The gramophone's horn turned towards the Judge's Brush. "You lazy bum are quite useful."

"Hmph," the Judge's Brush turned away, too lazy to speak.

He Jiaqing's left ear remained deaf. Ling Miaoying had considered this, so when relaying messages, she made the timbre as rich as possible to create the illusion that He Jiaqing could hear with both ears.

"The Lu family's newspaper agency is gaining momentum. I don't understand the newspaper business very well, and the Lu family has poached some of Brother's best men."

He Jiaqing remained relatively calm, as this was within his expectations. "Have you found out about the newspaper office incident?"

"The current clues indicate that people from the Hundred Flowers Sect burned down the newspaper office. Brother's incident is also very likely related to them."

Ling Miaowen died from a strange piece of music, and He Jiaqing was also seriously injured by it. This music came from a gramophone bought by Ma Wu. The gramophone was bought from Ling Miaosheng, who wouldn't kill his own brother, so the gramophone must have been tampered with. Did Ma Wu do it? Did Ma Wu hire the Hundred Flowers Sect? He Jiaqing believed Ma Wu didn't have the means, nor did the Hundred Flowers Sect have the power. The Lu family. Only the Lu family had that kind of power!

"The Hundred Flowers Sect usually had no dealings with Miaowen. There's a mastermind behind this; it's almost certainly the Lu family. This revenge must be taken."

"How do you think we should avenge it?"

He Jiaqing said, "Contact Rong Yeguang, the chieftain of Iron Sheep Mountain. Have him gather his men and ransack all of the Lu family's businesses in Yaowanggou. Find a way to transfer Monkey Qiu to Yaowanggou. Without Monkey Qiu, Lu Yuanshan and Lu Yuanhai will be easy to deal with. Tell old man Lu Maoxian that now is the best time if he wants to become the head of the Lu family. Have him directly eliminate the Lu brothers."

Ling Miaoying agreed and immediately went to contact Iron Sheep Mountain.

That night, after the caregiver fell asleep, He Jiaqing received a message from Ling Miaoying. "It might be a bit difficult with Iron Sheep Mountain."

"Difficult how? Are you afraid Rong Yeguang won't agree? Offer him a higher price; we're not short on money."

"Money isn't the problem; it's the lack of a Rong Yeguang."

He Jiaqing frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Our people just sent word. Rong Yeguang met with an accident last night; his head was taken by someone unknown."

He Jiaqing lay in bed, speechless for a long time. Rong Yeguang, the great chieftain of Iron Sheep Mountain, was killed?

"Who did this?"

"It's still unknown. Iron Sheep Mountain is in chaos. The various 'Vajras' are fighting for the chieftain's position, and Lu Xiaolan is preparing to flee with her mother."

"She can't run! Make her stay. Make her fight for the chieftain's position." He Jiaqing hadn't yet recovered his senses; this was his immediate reaction.

"Jiaqing, the chieftain's position is not easy to contest. There are many ruthless people on Iron Sheep Mountain, and Lu Xiaolan is only a fourth-level Glimpse Cultivator."

"The Three Heroes of Iron Sheep are dead. The others aren't much stronger than Lu Xiaolan. She also has Spider Bin and her mother; both are fifth-level experts. Her mother goes without saying. For Spider Bin, just offer more money. We must help her seize the chieftain's position; these people from Iron Sheep Mountain are still useful!"

Ling Miaoying agreed, and He Jiaqing fell silent. Things were changing too quickly; He Jiaqing couldn't understand. "Who on earth could have killed Rong Yeguang?"

Ling Miaoying said, "Our initial suspicion is Ma Wu. Scouts from the New Land sent word that Ma Wu had inquired about the location of Iron Sheep Mountain, and then Rong Yeguang met with an accident."

"Ma Wu?" He Jiaqing scoffed. "The He family and the Lu family couldn't take down Iron Sheep Mountain, so who is Ma Wu? Who gave him that ability?"

"Jiaqing, Ma Wu is not what he used to be. It's said he opened a ten-mile plot in the New Land, something the Lu family and Chu family couldn't even achieve together! I suspect there's a formidable person behind him, and that person might very well be your friend."

"Li Banfeng? He killed Rong Yeguang? How could he? He's only been in Puro Province for a few days! Even with several more lives, could he have scaled Iron Sheep Mountain?"

Ling Miaoying sighed. "Jiaqing, Brother is gone, and the Ling family's situation isn't great. We need to be more careful in our actions. As for your friend, it's best to separate him from Ma Wu. I have a feeling those two will cause a lot more trouble."

"They should indeed be separated!" He Jiaqing agreed. "Have our people whisper in Ma Chunting's ear. It's time for Ma Wu to come home."

"Master Ma had decreed that Ma Wu should never enter the family home again. Bringing Ma Wu back now might be quite difficult."

He Jiaqing smiled. "The Ma family's main businesses are in Green Water City and Haichiling. The Haichiling business is nearly bankrupt, and the Green Water City business isn't doing well either. Ma Chunting is old and can't manage on his own. His other children are useless. Ma Wu is the only capable one. If he doesn't call him back, will he just watch the Ma family decline?"

Ling Miaoying still had some concerns. "If Ma Wu becomes the head of the Ma family, your friend's backer will become very powerful."

He Jiaqing said, "Ma Wu won't become the head of the Ma family. He's the Ma family's toilet paper—he's used to clean up the messes, but then he's deemed dirty and discarded."

Ling Miaoying considered Ma Wu's standing in the Ma family; He Jiaqing's words did make sense. "But what if Ma Wu refuses to go back?"

"He'll definitely go back. Eleven years ago, your business started to pick up, and your company was established. Various influential families sent representatives to your celebratory banquet. You remember that, right?"

"How could I forget? Our friendship started then."

"Ma Wu was also there that day. We were discussing important matters; guess what he was doing?"

"He was sleeping with the actress I had just promoted."

"He was only thirteen then, just thirteen. That's the kind of person Ma Wu is. He won't accomplish anything significant. He'll ultimately have to return to the Ma family to be their toilet paper. Just do as I say; it'll be done within a month."

Ma Wu was managing the accounts in Zhengjing Village when Xiao Chuanzi delivered a letter. "Fifth Master, this is from Fourth Master."

"Which Fourth Master?" Ma Wu opened the letter and saw it was from his older brother, Ma Junjiang. The letter clearly stated that if Ma Wu returned, sincerely kowtowed, and admitted his mistakes to their father, all past transgressions would be forgiven. Ma Wu put the letter aside, pretending not to have seen it.

A few days later, Ma Junjiang arrived in Lanyang Village and arranged to meet Ma Wu. The two met, exchanged pleasantries, and Ma Junjiang brought up the topic of returning home again. "Junyang, Father genuinely wants you back. As long as you are sincere, kowtow to Father in front of the whole family, and then kowtow to Third Brother, everything will be forgotten, and you'll still be the Fifth Young Master of the Ma family."

Ma Wu took a deep breath. "I still have to kowtow to Third Brother?"

Ma Junjiang frowned. "You slept with Third Sister-in-law; shouldn't you apologize for that?"

"Yes, I should," Ma Wu nodded. "But I have no face to go back. I've disgraced the Ma family completely. I have no face to enter the family home again in this lifetime."

Ma Junjiang's face darkened. "Fifth Brother, this isn't the time for theatrics."

"Fourth Brother, I'm not being dramatic," Ma Wu said, rising to see him off. "Go back and tell Father that since he said he had no son like me, then he truly has no son like me!"

After seeing off Ma Junjiang, Ma Wu dealt with the Lanyang Village business and was about to rush back to Zhengjing Village when Yang Yanzheng arrived. Ma Wu thought he was there to cause trouble and specifically called Zuo Wugang to his side. Yang Yanzheng wasn't there to make trouble; he was there to discuss business. Chu Er was focused on her cultivation in Kucai Village and couldn't manage her Green Water City businesses, so she wanted to sell Xiaoyaowu to Ma Wu.

Ma Wu was overjoyed. Xiaoyaowu was his brainchild. Shortly after he was expelled from the family, it was sold by the Ma family to the Chu family due to poor management. Even when he was scavenging for food in garbage piles, Ma Wu still longed for Xiaoyaowu. He thought he'd never have a chance to touch Xiaoyaowu again, but now he finally had the opportunity to reclaim the business. Chu Er asked for 150,000 silver dollars. This wasn't an exorbitant price, but it wasn't a small sum for him and Li Banfeng; they had to consult with Old Seven.

Ma Wu rushed back to Zhengjing Village that night and found Li Banfeng. Li Banfeng had heard Ma Wu talk about Xiaoyaowu more than once. In Ma Wu's descriptions, it was a veritable paradise on earth. This was good news.

"Do we have enough money in our accounts? If not, I'll go gather some."

Ma Wu waved his hand. "The money in the accounts is barely enough, but this really isn't a small sum. I'm worried..."

"Don't worry," Li Banfeng agreed. "Let's get it back first."

Ma Wu quickly found Yang Yanzheng, and the two families completed the transaction. Ma Wu paid, and Yang Yanzheng handed over all the property deeds and land deeds to Ma Wu. This was highly significant. It meant that Li Banfeng and Ma Wu had struggled and fought their way from Lanyang Village all the way to Green Water City.

The two arrived at Xiaoyaowu, and Li Banfeng looked around. Xiaoyaowu wasn't large: a three-story Western-style building, a large ballroom, and ten private rooms. It was more than one tier below the Paramount. Furthermore, Xiaoyaowu's location was much more secluded than the Paramount's.

Li Banfeng showed a hint of disdain. "Old Fifth, your 'paradise on earth' is a bit lacking."

"Don't be so quick to judge. All this vast empty land around us is ours. Give me a few years, and I guarantee Xiaoyaowu will become the next Paramount."

Li Banfeng was displeased. "Why 'next'? This is all our hard work. If we can't surpass the Paramount, what's the point of all this effort?"

The two celebrated at Xiaoyaowu all night. The next morning, Chuanzi woke Ma Wu. "Fifth Master, the accountant is here."

"Which accountant?" Ma Wu hadn't hired one yet.

"The accountant from the old family residence, Mr. Yu Zhihe."

Yu Zhihe was the Ma family's head accountant. What was he doing here? Ma Wu tidied his clothes and hurried to the accounting room. Upon entering, he saw Yu Zhihe sitting there, fiddling with an abacus, going through the accounts. Who gave him permission to touch the ledgers? Ma Wu became angry. "Uncle Yu, are you trying to..."

Yu Zhihe didn't stand up; he remained seated in his chair. "Junyang, Master sent me to look at the accounts and discuss business matters with you."

Ma Wu frowned. "You don't need to worry about business matters; I can handle them myself."

Yu Zhihe chuckled. "Junyang, Xiaoyaowu is the Ma family's business. Everyone in Puro Province knows that. I've always managed the business accounts. There's nothing to dispute about this, is there?"

Ma Wu gritted his teeth, thoroughly incensed. His father was forcibly taking over Xiaoyaowu. Li Banfeng wasn't angered. He stood at the door, quietly observing Ma Wu's reaction.

Late at night, Ma Wu found Li Banfeng to discuss a countermeasure. "Tomorrow, I'll go talk to Yang Yanzheng again. We'll sell Xiaoyaowu back to the Chu family. We absolutely cannot let my father just take it for free. Even taking a small loss on the price is fine. I just worry Chu Er won't want to get involved in my family's affairs."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "I can personally write to Chu Er. She can take it back at the original price; she's not one to shy away from trouble. But doing that is useless. Old Fifth, whether we have a little more or a little less business, it doesn't matter. But constantly enduring this humiliation is absolutely unacceptable. Today he sends an accountant to Xiaoyaowu, tomorrow he'll extend his hand to Lanyang Village. What then? We cannot give up Xiaoyaowu. If this puts you in a difficult position, then our brotherhood can split the business, and we'll part amicably."

Ma Wu was silent for a moment, then looked up. "Old Seven, I'll listen to you."

Li Banfeng smiled. "Tomorrow, we'll talk to that accountant and persuade him to go back. Just once."