Chapter 272: Thoughts

Wu Decheng wiped the filth from his face and quietly watched Shopkeeper Ye.

His goal today was to kill this man named Ye, earn credit from Lu Maoxian, reclaim Tang Peigong's lost reputation, and seize his own position in the Qing Guard Society.

He had lost the fight in the arena, but killing the person named Ye now still seemed opportune.

Yue Qingsong, a fourth-level poison cultivator, reminded him from the side: "Master, the other disciples have also arrived. We can act anytime."

Wu Decheng clenched his fists but ultimately calmed down. He had people take the injured disciples and left the arena.

He had previously decided to kill Shopkeeper Ye, so how did he change his mind so quickly?

Wu Decheng had experience in the jianghu; he understood the situation clearly.

He didn't care about others' accusations. He knew very well that victors become kings, and the defeated become villains.

But Wu Decheng knew it would be difficult to kill the person named Ye now.

The premise for wanting to kill him earlier was Wu Decheng's certainty that the person named Ye would be unprepared.

As it turned out, not only was the person named Ye not unprepared, he had also set a trap to ensnare him.

The two lean men in the arena were not to be trifled with.

The person named Ye seemed to have brought no backup, but his allies were likely hidden within the crowd.

Continuing to entangle himself here would yield no advantage, so Wu Decheng retreated very decisively.

Seeing his opponent flee in haste, Li Banfeng pulled down his hat brim and smiled.

A gentle breeze swept by, and Li Banfeng stopped smiling. He gathered his people and turned to leave.

The smell in this place was too strong; it was very unfavorable for the Hundred Flavors Exquisite skill.

The fighters had left, and the spectators had dispersed.

A few people remained to clean up the arena, worrying silently.

"Is this arena still usable?"

"Let it air out for a couple of days; it'll be fine."

Back at the newspaper office, Bai Qiusheng was busy rushing his manuscript, while Ma Wu was busy printing newspapers.

After the evening paper was distributed, Li Banfeng had people buy food and drinks and set up several tables in the factory.

Surprisingly, the factory's dining hall wasn't small, and the atmosphere was good. Today's celebration was mainly for the three who had fought.

Little Genzi said with a look of shame: "I didn't do much; it was mainly the two sisters' credit."

Li Banfeng said with approval: "Genzi, first put down that bucket. Today, all three of you deserve the top credit. Eat, drink, and be merry as much as you like. You'll also get red envelopes shortly."

Aqin looked at Ma Wu, then lowered her head and said, "I don't want a red envelope."

The scolding woman spat and said, "Shameless girl! If you don't want a red envelope, what do you want? Relying on a man for sustenance, will that fill your stomach?"

Aqin angrily retorted, "Old hag, why do you say such unpleasant things! Today is a great day; I'm not in the mood to argue with you!"

Indeed, it was a good day. Everyone ate and drank to their heart's content and only went to sleep around two in the morning.

Another hour passed. When it was almost four in the morning, a certain smell drifted into Li Banfeng's room.

He's here.

I knew he would come tonight.

I knew he wouldn't give up.

He lost too much face; I knew he couldn't stand it.

The filth Little Genzi threw at him in the arena was precisely to guard against this moment!

Li Banfeng stood at the doorway, quietly opening his Portable Abode.

Wu Decheng silently ascended the stairs, looked around for a moment, and arrived at Li Banfeng's door.

Pushing open the door, the room was pitch black. Wu Decheng vaguely saw some mist.

Strange, why would there be mist in this room?

Wu Decheng's heart tightened. Just as he was about to retreat outside the door, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his calf. A sharp object had hooked onto his shinbone.

Wu Decheng tried to break free, but the other party's strength far surpassed his. As he struggled, Wu Decheng was forcibly dragged into the room.

Thud!

The door closed.

Li Banfeng struck a match and lit a cigarette.

He then casually lit the candle beside him.

By the candlelight, Wu Decheng saw the room's furnishings clearly.

A very small room, furnished with a bed and a phonograph.

The phonograph's needle had hooked Wu Decheng's shinbone. With a sudden yank backward, Wu Decheng fell to the ground.

Li Banfeng sat on the bed, quietly watching Wu Decheng: "The arena fights are over. Why are you still looking for me?"

Wu Decheng gritted his teeth and said, "You despicable wretch, you betrayed my trust! You deserve to die!"

"Oh? Tell me, how exactly did I betray your trust?"

"What was our original agreement?"

"It was clearly stated then that there would be three arena fights: you would win the first, I would win the second, and the third would be a draw. I didn't agree. I said I had to win the first round, and you agreed to let me have the first round. Isn't that right?"

Wu Decheng said, "I already let you have the first round!"

"Yes, you let me have the first round. Now it's my turn to win the second, and the third is a draw. What's wrong with that?"

"Nonsense! If I let you have the first, then you should let me have the second!"

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "That's not how I see it. This is your fault for not being clear."

"It was obvious. Did it need to be spelled out?"

Li Banfeng chuckled: "You, sir, just don't like to speak clearly. When it came to the first fight, whether it was a scholarly or martial bout, you deliberately weren't clear, taking advantage of me as an outsider who didn't understand the rules. With Tang Peigong, I assume you also didn't clarify the minor details. He made a fool of himself at the cinema and was eager to regain his reputation. You vaguely led him into your trap. You used my hand to beat him severely. He lost face, and you would regain your prestige in the second round. Is that the logic?"

Wu Decheng sneered: "So what if it is? It didn't cause you any loss!"

Li Banfeng continued: "Then for the second round, you still weren't clear whether it was a fight to the death or just to determine victory. You brought ruthless individuals to deliver killing blows. You wanted to catch me off guard and kill me completely, didn't you?"

"Don't slander me!" Wu Decheng still didn't want to admit it.

Li Banfeng chuckled: "You're already here with me. Can't you be a bit more honest when you speak? To be frank, I thought the same. If you hadn't run so fast today, your corpse would be lying in the street."

Wu Decheng fell silent.

Li Banfeng walked over with a teapot: "Why the silence? Thirsty? Care for some tea?"

Wu Decheng suddenly sprang up, intending to fight Li Banfeng to the death.

The phonograph needle was still hooked to his leg.

He also needed to fight hand-to-hand.

And this was a Dwelling Cultivator's home.

He had no chance to attack.

Li Banfeng didn't even sit up from the bed. He simply raised a leg and kicked Wu Decheng to the ground.

Wu Decheng got up again. His right hand fumbled in his chest, seemingly reaching for a weapon.

Li Banfeng pulled out his scythe and quickly opened several cuts on Wu Decheng's body. Poison seeped in, and Wu Decheng became immobilized.

The Phonograph exclaimed in admiration: "My husband is truly valiant. You don't even need this humble servant to deal with this old wretch."

The Old Teapot said: "This old rascal is still dishonest. Let's give him some hot tea to warm him up."

Li Banfeng poured some tea water onto Wu Decheng.

Wu Decheng immediately cried out.

This old wretch's cultivation level wasn't low, but he couldn't withstand that attack.

Wait a minute, it wasn't just about cultivation. The teapot's tea seemed hotter than before.

Is this Old Teapot still cultivating?

I need to have a good talk with him someday.

Li Banfeng looked at Wu Decheng and said: "I'll ask you a few questions. Answer truthfully, and perhaps I'll spare your life. First, tell me, why did your Qing Guard Society target *Blood Pistol Detective*? It's just a movie. How did it offend you?"

Wu Decheng gasped for a long time and said: "Because that film was immoral..."

Before he finished speaking, Li Banfeng poured tea all over Wu Decheng again: "Immoral? For that reason alone, you trashed the cinema?"

Wu Decheng yelled: "I'm telling the truth; this was Elder Lu's order."

"Elder Lu? Lu Maoxian? You're an elder, he's an elder, Tang Peigong is also an elder. Why does he get to give you orders?"

"There are different ranks among elders. Elder Lu is the Grand Elder, his status is above ours, and Tang Peigong's status is above mine."

"How many elders does the Qing Guard Society have?"

"I don't know the total number. Generally, each area has two elders, one scholarly and one martial. The scholarly elder's status is usually above the martial elder's. Some smaller areas might only have one elder, while larger places like Lushui City have three elders. All three of these are Grand Elders, with Lu Maoxian holding the highest position."

"So, Lu Maoxian is the leader of the Qing Guard Society?"

Wu Decheng shook his head and said: "The leader of the Qing Guard Society is the Sage."

Li Banfeng's nose wrinkled, not just because of the smell emanating from Wu Decheng, but also because the word "Sage" itself had a strong flavor.

"Which Sage are you referring to? The one from Scum Hill?"

Wu Decheng said: "I've never seen the Sage. I've been with the Qing Guard Society for twenty-one years, and I've never once seen the Sage."

Even at his rank, he still hadn't met the Sage.

The Sage was so difficult to meet. This reminded Li Banfeng of the scene on Sage Peak, where a crowd of people knelt, waiting to see a saint.

Li Banfeng asked a few more questions about Blackrock Slope and the Qing Guard Society, and Wu Decheng answered everything truthfully.

The Qing Guard Society and Blackrock Slope were Lu Maoxian's most important assets. Especially Blackrock Slope, where nearly half of the factories and mines were under Lu Maoxian's control. This was also the main reason he could contend with the two young masters of the Lu family.

However, the residents of Blackrock Slope were unusual. According to Wu Decheng, these people were uncultured, and it was one of the most rugged and unyielding areas in Puro Province. Especially since there were cultivators with considerable cultivation levels hidden among the residents. If pressured too much, things could become uncontrollable. Therefore, to resolve disputes in Blackrock Slope, the Qing Guard Society usually adopted overt methods like arena fights, while underhanded tactics like Wu Decheng's were rare.

Wu Decheng looked at Li Banfeng and said: "A gentleman's word is his bond. I've told you everything you asked. Please let me go. Tang Peigong is now a cripple. From now on, Blackrock City will be mine to command. You can screen movies as you please, print newspapers as you please, and all book and newspaper businesses in Blackrock City will be yours. How about that?"

As Wu Decheng finished speaking, Li Banfeng seemed genuinely tempted.

He sat back on the bed, with the corners of his mouth upturned, a smile on his face.

Wu Decheng used a technique.

The Phonograph was enraged, and scalding steam covered Wu Decheng's body in blisters.

Li Banfeng stopped the Phonograph and suddenly began to speak.

"I think this old man isn't so bad. Let's let him go."

"Yes, he said all the book and newspaper businesses in Blackrock City would be ours. That's quite a profitable business."

"It's best to show mercy when one can. Let's just release him. You like Blackrock Slope too. Staying here in the future, with more people to look after us, wouldn't that be good?"

Li Banfeng engaged in a deep discussion with himself, leaving Wu Decheng dumbfounded.

The Phonograph was frightened and looked at Li Banfeng, asking: "Master, what's wrong? Has this old wretch harmed you?"

"No!" Li Banfeng continued his discussion while still talking to his wife.

After the discussion concluded, Li Banfeng walked over to Wu Decheng: "I've thought this through. I've decided not to let you go. Blackrock Slope is indeed a good place. Without you scoundrels, this place will be even better! Wife, dinner time!"

As he finished speaking, the Phonograph grinned menacingly and began to "eat."

Wu Decheng screamed for a moment, then gradually fell silent.

With the soul consumed, his wife asked Li Banfeng if she should preserve the spiritual essence.

Li Banfeng felt sick whenever he saw someone from the Qing Guard Society. He hadn't originally intended to preserve the spiritual essence, but the Blood-Bearing Pendulum suddenly spoke:

"Master, this is a high-level Spirit Cultivator, after all. It would be a pity to waste it. Why not let me have it?"

Li Banfeng was startled. He knew the Pendulum could absorb blood, but when did it learn to consume spiritual essence?

His wife chuckled: "You clever imp! Following your master, has your cultivation improved?"

The Pendulum respectfully replied: "To tell you the truth, Madam, it is indeed a bit different from before. It seems I've recovered some techniques. Perhaps Madam could give me some guidance another day."

The Pendulum's pleasant words pleased the Phonograph, and with a puff of steam, it sent the spiritual essence to the Pendulum: "You got lucky!"

The remaining corpse shouldn't be wasted, so Li Banfeng moved Red Lotus closer.

Red Lotus had been waiting for a long time, and several layers of dew had formed on her.

But when she smelled the scent of Wu Decheng, Red Lotus felt a bit disgusted and wasn't keen on opening her petals.

The Phonograph was annoyed: "You hussy, are you being picky now? This person's cultivation isn't low; good stuff like this doesn't come every day."

Li Banfeng snorted: "If you don't eat, you'll starve!"

Red Lotus hesitated for a moment but still consumed the corpse.

Layers of aura rippled. Red Lotus was refining a pill. Li Banfeng wanted to be intimate with his wife for a bit, finding Red Lotus a distraction, so he casually tossed her into the second room.

Red Lotus sprayed out two mouthfuls of dew in the second room and continued refining the corpse.

A moment later, Red Lotus suddenly shivered.

Inside the second room, there seemed to be a faint thought, but what kind of thought it was, remained unclear.