Chapter 234: Balancing Man

Xiao Zhenggong looked at Da Tou, a coin flipping between his fingertips.

Da Tou was a fifth-level martial cultivator. Though exceptionally talented, his strength wasn't significantly greater than Zhong Guoshu's.

Xiao Zhenggong could kill him with minimal effort; the coin in his hand would be enough.

His tone suddenly softened, and he calmly asked, "Da Tou, what exactly are you doing here?"

"The captain sent me," Da Tou replied.

"You'd better be honest. The captain never told you to come to the hospital every day. There's something else going on here."

Da Tou shook his head. "I don't come to the hospital every day. I just came to check in today."

"I'm asking you as the deputy captain now. You know the Dark Star Bureau's rules. If you don't cooperate, I won't be lenient." The coin in his hand had unconsciously flipped to rest between his thumb and index finger.

"I sent him." Captain Chen Changrui suddenly appeared at the doorway. "Zhenggong, put that coin away. It's just a one-dollar coin; playing with it so enthusiastically, people might think we can't afford to pay salaries."

Xiao Zhenggong pocketed the coin and said to Chen Changrui, "I suspect agents Zou Guoming and He Jiaqing are colluding and leaking classified information. Asking him a few questions about it isn't a problem, is it?"

Chen Changrui smiled. "No problem, ask away. But it might not be convenient here, and some things are better kept private. How about we go back to the bureau and ask him there?"

Xiao Zhenggong sneered. "No need. I've asked everything I needed to ask and seen everything I needed to see. I'm just an outsider in this bureau, and saying too much only makes me unwelcome."

With that, Xiao Zhenggong left the hospital room. Chen Changrui and Da Tou remained for a short while before returning to the bureau together.

That evening, Da Tou went to Huahu Park and entered the New Territory.

In the wilderness, He Jiaqing sat by a bonfire and motioned for Da Tou to join him.

He Jiaqing was puzzled by Xiao Zhenggong's actions. "Is your deputy captain always so temperamental? If he had really killed me today, would your bureau just let him off?"

"The bureau might not hold him accountable," Da Tou replied. "Even if they did, it would probably just be a disciplinary action at most."

"Disciplinary action?" He Jiaqing exclaimed in surprise. "Does your bureau think so little of me? Am I not an important figure?"

"You are important, but Xiao Zhenggong's identity is very special."

"What identity?"

"As far as I know, he's a 'Balancer.'"

"'Balancer'?" He Jiaqing had never heard that term before.

"It's a bureau secret. During one operation, Xiao Zhenggong killed a colleague from our team. That colleague had a very powerful background; his father was an important figure. However, the matter was eventually dropped. The powerful figure used many connections to investigate Xiao Zhenggong to avenge his son. Since I participated in that operation with Xiao Zhenggong, I was also affected by the incident. It was only with Captain Chen's strong protection that I managed to escape the repercussions. I've always wondered about it: Xiao Zhenggong committed the killing and bore no responsibility, while I, as a subordinate, suffered greatly. Later, I learned from Captain Chen that Xiao Zhenggong is a 'Balancer.' That powerful figure couldn't touch him at all. A 'Balancer' is someone capable of maintaining equilibrium between Prolia Province and the outside provinces. Xiao Zhenggong's status in Prolia Province is unusual, but I don't know the specifics of his identity."

"I know, he's the leader of the Jiangxiang Gang," He Jiaqing said, frowning slightly. "But the Jiangxiang Gang isn't a major faction in Prolia Province. Why would outside provinces hold him in such high regard?"

Da Tou didn't know the reason. "In any case, you need to be very careful from now on. Since he's determined to kill you, he'll likely look for another opportunity to act in the coming days."

"I'm not afraid of him. I'm worried about you. He openly implicated you, and your captain heard it."

Da Tou wasn't concerned. "The captain trusts me deeply. He dislikes Xiao Zhenggong, so he won't suspect me just because of a few words from him."

He Jiaqing sighed. "It's my fault you got involved this time."

Da Tou shook his head and smiled. "Aren't I your brother? There's no need to be concerned about such things between brothers."

He Jiaqing produced a Golden Essence Pill and a packet of medicinal powder, handing them to Da Tou. "Here, take this. Consume the pill with the powder; it's for cultivation growth."

"You mean to enhance dark abilities?" Da Tou shook his head, returning the pill to He Jiaqing. "The bureau has a rule: any increase in dark ability must be reported, and the process and method of enhancement must be clearly explained. I can't take this kind of medication because I wouldn't be able to explain the source of the power increase. If the bureau finds out, I'll be severely punished."

He Jiaqing chuckled. "Do you report every single ability increase to the bureau truthfully?"

Da Tou considered this perfectly normal. "It's a rule. Concealing one's abilities is a very serious offense."

"You told me Xiao Zhenggong is a third-level fighter. Do you think he's not concealing anything?"

Da Tou pondered for a moment. "He's a Balancer; I can't compare myself to him. The bureau has special equipment that can test everyone's true abilities."

He Jiaqing pressed the pill into Da Tou's hand. "Go ahead and take it without worry. There's no equipment in this world that can detect your true abilities. Remember this: you must take both medications together. The pill is poisonous, and the powder is the antidote. After taking them, make sure to get plenty of rest. The future and prospects your bureau promises you are false. Only your own cultivation is real—you must always remember that."

He Jiaqing returned to his hospital bed and carefully considered the chain of events.

Previously, Luo Zhengnan was the only person in the entire Jiangxiang Gang whom He Jiaqing truly respected.

He realized he had consistently overlooked Xiao Zhenggong.

The leader of a gang becoming a deputy captain in the Dark Star Bureau was inherently suspicious.

He Jiaqing used to think Xiao Zhenggong merely wanted to use his position from an outside province to legitimize himself, given the Jiangxiang Gang's notorious reputation.

Now, however, it seemed he had underestimated the situation.

The current situation significantly deviated from the plan. He needed to find either Honglian or Zhao Xiaowan as quickly as possible. If he continued to delay, all his previous efforts would be in vain once the major families recovered.

Xiao Zhenggong was indeed difficult to handle, so he would have to seek out an old friend.

Ban Feng, where are you?

After all the suffering you've endured, are you really just abandoning such a vast inheritance?

You must be reluctant to let it go, right?

He Jiaqing felt for a button on his hospital gown, found the hook on the button line, and contacted Ling Miaoying.

"How's the newspaper office doing?"

"It's doing quite well. Big Brother left a solid foundation. Even after being out of print for so long, we're still winning back many old customers."

"Excellent," He Jiaqing praised. "Publish a message for me."

Li Banfeng sat in his Portable Residence, quietly observing the record player and Hong Ying.

Hong Ying had been subjected to steam for a long time and had listened to the Lady sing two more songs.

Li Banfeng found the songs beautiful, but for Hong Ying, every lyric was like a whip, flaying her skin.

Even so, she didn't utter another word to the Lady.

Hong Ying was no pushover; torture alone wouldn't be effective against her, a fact the Lady well knew.

Following Li Banfeng's suggestion, it would be better to simply swallow Hong Ying's soul and hand her body over to Honglian for refinement.

Honglian strongly agreed, but the record player refused.

There were some things she absolutely had to get to the bottom of. This obsession made her extremely irritable, to the point of refusing oil.

Li Banfeng always felt uneasy with Hong Ying in his home. After all, he had tricked her using special means, and he always felt a pang of guilt whenever he saw her.

Feeling guilty, he tried to see her as little as possible. Li Banfeng lived very comfortably in Iron Gate Fort, with food and supplies delivered to his doorstep. He could also wander freely in the wilderness, completing his travel cultivation.

One evening after dinner, as Li Banfeng was in his residence, Wu Yongchao ran in, covered in sweat. "Fort Lord, I bought it!"

"Bought what?"

"The newspaper you often mention."

Li Banfeng had a habit of reading newspapers, but the Home Cultivators of Iron Gate Fort didn't; they weren't concerned with matters outside the fort.

Wu Yongchao noticed that Li Banfeng always bought newspapers to read, considering it a troublesome task. Today, he wanted to run the errand for Li Banfeng.

To buy the newspaper, Wu Yongchao had run dozens of miles through mountainous terrain, missed two meals, and gotten lost several times along the way. He didn't realize that for Li Banfeng, it was merely a stroll.

It wasn't a major issue, but Li Banfeng appreciated the gesture. He hired Li Zhijuan, a Home Cultivator with exceptional cooking skills, to prepare a few dishes and warm two pots of wine, treating Wu Yongchao to dinner.

Wu Yongchao devoured his meal while Li Banfeng flipped through the newspaper. One piece of news caught Li Banfeng's attention.

The Ling family and the Ma family were jointly developing new land.

It was common for prominent families to develop new land, but the photo accompanying the news deeply bothered Li Banfeng.

In the photo, Ling Miaoying and Ma Chunting were standing together on the land. This plot was in Qiu Luoye's territory, a place Li Banfeng had visited, less than three li from Zhengjing Village.

If he successfully developed this land, it would be as repulsive as Lu Xiaolan's initial reclamation efforts.

It might even be worse, because the Ma family was involved.

Zhengjing Village was the legacy Li Banfeng had fought desperately to establish; he absolutely would not tolerate any threats to it.

Ling Miaoying, are you deliberately forcing me to return?

It seems I can't avoid you, so I won't.

Ma Wu once said that the Ling family was a lineage of Observation Cultivators, with none of the three brothers having a cultivation level below the seventh tier.

Let's assume seven tiers then.

I am a fifth-tier Home Cultivator and a fourth-tier Travel Cultivator, making a combined total of nine tiers. A ninth-tier cultivator has no reason to fear a seventh-tier one.

The key is the Ma family.

What tier was Ma Wu's father?

Ma Wu seemed to have mentioned that he was an eighth-tier Literary Cultivator.

Eight tiers plus seven tiers makes fifteen tiers.

No matter, I can fight them in two separate bouts!

Li Banfeng knew that cultivation tiers couldn't be simply added and subtracted like that, but he had to rush back to Zhengjing Village. Even if he couldn't defeat Ma Chunting and Ling Miaoying, he had to fight.

Even if he lost, Li Banfeng wouldn't worry. In that area, he had a retreat, a fallback difficult for others to access.

Before leaving, he divided his 800,000 silver dollars into two portions: he took 200,000 with him and left the remaining 600,000 at Iron Gate Fort, entrusting Wu Yongchao with its safekeeping.

He trusted Iron Gate Fort, and he trusted this brother.

If unforeseen circumstances arose in the future, he could return to Iron Gate Fort for refuge.

If Iron Gate Fort faced a crisis, they could also use this money for emergencies.

Li Banfeng set off that very evening, which greatly alarmed Wu Yongchao.

"Fort Lord, I just went out to buy a newspaper, and now you're leaving? I wouldn't have gone if I'd known..."

Li Banfeng looked at Wu Yongchao and instructed, "Always remember three things, no matter what, and never forget them:There is only one Fort Lord of Iron Gate Fort, and his name is Fort Lord.No matter where he is, he is your Fort Lord.No matter if he is alive or dead, he is your Fort Lord!Do you understand?"

Wu Yongchao remembered, and all of Iron Gate Fort remembered.

Their Fort Lord was named Fort Lord, a fact that group of Home Cultivators never forgot for the rest of their lives.

Li Banfeng arrived at Peach Blossom Lake, left his clothes in his Portable Residence, and dove naked into the water. After lingering at the bottom for a moment, he emerged onto the surface and found himself on a desolate plain.

Back in his Portable Residence, Li Banfeng was drying off and getting dressed when Hong Ying suddenly spoke: "Did you just come in naked?"

The record player retorted in surprise, "You wretch, can you see?"

Hong Ying scoffed. "No, I didn't see. I smelled it."

"You can smell that?" The record player hissed, spewing steam, and demanded sharply, "Are you so desperate for a man you've gone mad?"

"If I'm desperate for a man, what's it to you?"

"First, tell me why you harmed me back then?"

"I refuse to tell you. Kill me or flay me, do as you please."

"Wretch, don't you dare cry when you get beaten in a moment!"

The familiar drama unfolded once more. Li Banfeng, disinclined to watch, quickly returned to the plain and, following Elder Yao's map, sped all the way, reaching Qiu Luoye's territory in less than a day.

Arriving at the location shown in the news photo, Li Banfeng saw no developers, nor did he see the land glowing.

What was going on?

Was the news fake?

Was someone plotting against him?

Li Banfeng wasn't surprised; the newspaper that published the news belonged to the Ling family.

He stood on the plot of land, looking around. Lu Xiaolan, hiding on her own plot, had already heard his voice.

"Mom, he's here."

Zhuo Yuling, hidden in the bushes, used the hook on her sash to ask Lu Xiaolan, "Is it the right time to act?"

"Not yet. He's heading in your direction. Wait until he's in the trap before making your move."

Li Banfeng walked towards Zhengjing Village. After about a hundred steps, he suddenly felt inspired and began singing an old folk song:

"Beat the drum fast, strike the gong slow; stop the gong, stop the drum, listen to the singing. Other idle tales I won't sing; today I'll sing of eighteen..."

The simple tune reached Lu Xiaolan's ears. Her eardrums throbbed with pain, and blood began to flow from her ear canals.

You set a trap here to scheme against me?

You're lucky you didn't encounter the Lady!