Chapter 287: Cultivation in the Image

Qiu Zhiheng had finished packing his luggage, and his wife and children had already gotten into the rickshaw ahead of him.

The task Duan Shaoxia had given him was an impossible mission to complete. She wanted to give Zhang Huaiyi an identity and make him a member of the Lu family, and she had asked Qiu Zhiheng to handle this matter. After much thought, Qiu Zhiheng decided that leaving the Lu family was the wisest choice.

As Qiu Zhiheng carried his suitcase downstairs, Duan Shaoxia rushed out and knelt directly in front of him. Qiu Zhiheng tried to help Duan Shaoxia up, but she refused to get up.

“Zhiheng, you cannot leave.”

Qiu Zhiheng simply knelt down in front of Duan Shaoxia as well: “Madam, I must go.”

“Zhiheng, if you insist on leaving, your sister-in-law will remain on her knees.”

“Madam, if you don’t let me go, I will crawl out on my knees.”

Neither could persuade the other.

Qiu Zhiheng was a respectable man, and he didn’t want things to escalate to this point. But Duan Shaoxia wanted to adopt her nephew as her son; Qiu Zhiheng had no way to handle such a matter.

Qiu Zhiheng’s wife stepped forward to offer a few words of persuasion, and Duan Shaoxia embraced her, bursting into tears. Her tears softened his wife’s heart.

“Zhiheng, the master and madam have both been kind to us. You can’t just leave like this.”

Qiu Zhiheng stood rooted to the spot, unsure of what to do.

Just then, Ma Wu arrived with his men to deliver the dividend. Qiu Zhiheng first had his wife take Duan Shaoxia back to the main residence, while he received Ma Wu in the smaller building.

Ma Wu handed over the dividend money, didn’t stay long, and got up to leave. Qiu Zhiheng suddenly called out to Ma Wu: “Junyang, have you already heard about certain matters?”

Ma Wu turned around, nodding slightly, and said: “It’s spread throughout Greenwater City.”

“If I told you these things are true, would you still deliver this dividend?”

Ma Wu replied: “Whether out of sentiment or duty, I should deliver this money.”

Qiu Zhiheng let out a bitter laugh: “Junyang, you need to plan for yourself in advance. The Lu family might not be able to look after you all anymore.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Uncle Qiu.” Ma Wu nodded slightly and then left the small building.

As he walked into the courtyard, he suddenly heard someone call out from behind him: “Old Wu!”

Ma Wu turned around and saw Zhang Huaiyi walking towards him. Ma Wu knew him, but they weren’t close. Being called “Old Wu” by him felt somewhat unfamiliar.

“Huaiyi, long time no see.” Ma Wu greeted him.

“It has been a while,” Zhang Huaiyi said, pointing to the main residence, “Want to come inside and sit for a bit?”

Ma Wu waved his hand and said: “I have a lot of business to attend to, so I need to leave quickly. Let’s catch up another day.”

After they parted ways, Ma Wu watched Zhang Huaiyi’s retreating back and muttered to himself: “How did this guy start acting like this is his home?”

On his way back, Ma Wu pondered the Lu family’s situation. News about Lu Yuanshan and Lu Yuanhai had already spread throughout Greenwater City. Previously, he couldn't discern if the rumors were true. But now, based on Qiu Zhiheng’s attitude, Ma Wu could confirm one thing: something had happened to the two brothers, and the backbone of the Lu family had collapsed.

If other children of Lu Dongliang could not be supported, Qiu Zhiheng would certainly be unable to withstand Lu Maoxian. If Lu Maoxian took over the Lu family, his and Li Banfeng’s lives would likely become difficult.

Should he help Qiu Zhiheng? He knew the whereabouts of one of Lu Dongliang’s daughters, whose identity had been recognized by Lu Dongliang. He couldn't act rashly. He had to discuss this with Old Seven.

Li Banfeng was still at Blackrock Slope. Recently, he had become fascinated with photography.

Grandpa Train had said that once journey cultivation reached a certain level, one no longer traversed physical ground. Li Banfeng was currently still traversing physical ground, but certain experiences had left a deep impression on him. While watching “Blood-Gun Detective III,” because the filming location was in Proper Village, it reminded him of many experiences in Proper Village. While watching the film, he felt completely immersed, as if he was wandering through the new lands near Proper Village. This state was not merely an illusion. Li Banfeng could clearly perceive that his journey cultivation was improving; though the progress was very subtle, it was undeniably advancing.

This gave Li Banfeng an idea. If he kept more visual records in the future, could he also cultivate at home? He bought cameras and camcorders. In Puluo Province, these devices were not light. A set of equipment weighed tens of kilograms, and film and negatives had to be accounted for separately.

Fortunately, journey cultivation excelled at bearing weight. While the rickshaw-pulling footwork was unsuitable for combat, it granted Li Banfeng extraordinary endurance during filming. Technically, Bai Qiusheng and Yuwen Qi were both excellent photographers, and every technique was personally guided by them. Within a few days, Li Banfeng had photographed almost the entire Blackrock City. He put immense effort into every set of photos and films.

“Come on, miss, smile a bit. Lower your waist, and raise your peaches higher!”

Li Banfeng gained much from this, and Little Chuanzi also made progress. He built a spring-wound projector for Li Banfeng. The biggest feature of this machine was its small size. It had a stand less than a meter high. The projector body on the stand, along with the film reels, was roughly the size of a pickle jar turned on its side. Among projectors in Puluo Province, this size was quite refined.

Li Banfeng inspected the projector and asked, “What is the cost of this projector?”

Little Chuanzi asked, “Does that include labor costs?”

“Yes!”

“Just under 20,000 Huan Kingdom notes.”

“That expensive?”

“Seventh Master, the spring, gears, bearings, and steel frame are all made from top-grade materials. The materials alone cost 18,000, and I estimated labor at 2,000.”

Li Banfeng shook his head and said: “What if we don’t use such high-quality materials?”

Little Chuanzi replied: “If the materials aren’t good, the machine won’t be durable. This machine will last you decades without a problem.”

Li Banfeng chuckled: “Silly boy, why would I need it for decades? Three years is enough. Simplify the craftsmanship, no need for such exquisite detail. Try to keep the cost under 3,000.”

“3,000?” Little Chuanzi shook his head, “That’s not even enough for the spring alone. This spring can run for five hours.”

Li Banfeng waved his hand and said: “No need for five hours; half an hour is enough.”

“Half an hour isn’t enough to play an entire film.”

Films in Puluo Province usually ran for about an hour.

“Just play half, and then wind it up again to play the other half!”

Chuanzi scratched his head and went back to ponder the projector.

Li Banfeng packed his bags and returned to Greenwater City. His main purpose for going to Greenwater City this time was to find Shui Yongquan and inquire about local deities. At the Dreamweaving Tower in Neizhou, Li Banfeng had seen many Tenth-Level cultivators. According to Grandpa Train, they were all striving for the chance to become local deities. Grandpa Train hadn't had time to explain what was truly involved.

Of course, Shui Yongquan might not be willing to tell Li Banfeng about this. Li Banfeng was still considering what terms to offer Shui Yongquan in exchange for the information.

As soon as he arrived in Greenwater City, Ma Wu first informed Li Banfeng about the Lu family’s situation. “No one in the Lu family can shoulder the main responsibility now. It seems only Lu Chunying can save them.”

Lu Chunying and Xiao Yeci were currently in Proper Village.

Li Banfeng pondered for a moment and said: “This matter needs to be discussed with the mother and daughter. If they agree, you should arrange it with Qiu Zhiheng beforehand and send them to the Lu family. If they refuse, immediately arrange for them to leave Proper Village to avoid trouble.”

Ma Wu sighed: “I hope this works out. If Lu Maoxian takes over the Lu family, I’m afraid we’ll lose our backing.”

“A backer will eventually become unreliable, but regardless, we can’t let that old dog Lu Maoxian off easy.” Li Banfeng pulled down the brim of his hat and returned to Proper Village with Ma Wu.

On the way, Ma Wu brought up Zhang Huaiyi: “He’s Lu Yuanshan’s cousin, but rumor has it he’s actually Lu Dongliang’s illegitimate son. And now he’s treating the Lu manor as his own home.”

Li Banfeng raised an eyebrow: “Is Madam Duan really that open-minded about this? Or is there another reason?”

Upon arriving at Proper Village, when the topic of going to the Lu family was brought up, Lu Chunying immediately refused: “What would I do at their house? Can’t I find food anywhere else? It’s perfectly fine for me to teach with my mother here in the village.”

Lu Chunying had borrowed some money from Li Banfeng and opened a school in Proper Village. As a matter of fact, hunters usually had some spare money, and they were eager to learn how to read and write, but due to their age, they felt too self-conscious to learn elsewhere. In Proper Village, there was no need to worry about appearances. Seventh Master didn't care much for appearances, and Fifth Master never considered them. The school business was doing very well. After deducting living expenses, the mother and daughter could earn one silver dollar every two days.

“I’ll just steadily teach here with my mother. When I have free time, I can wander around the new lands and cultivate my skills. Why should I go to the Lu family to endure their nonsense?”

Li Banfeng said: “If you’re unwilling to go to the Lu family, I’m afraid you won’t be able to stay in the village either.”

“Why?” Lu Chunying asked, feeling wronged.

“You interact with so many hunters every day. Your whereabouts will soon be leaked. Lu Maoxian will find out about you sooner or later, and he will kill you to silence you.”

Lu Chunying said with reddened eyes: “I don’t believe there’s no place for my mother and me in Puluo Province!”

Li Banfeng said: “There is a place for you, but it’s definitely not in Greenwater City. I can help you find another place, but you would have to live under assumed names for the rest of your lives, and I cannot guarantee absolute safety.”

Lu Chunying lowered her head, remaining silent.

Xiao Yeci bit her lip beside her and said: “Actually, this situation was fated from the moment we received that letter. Nannan, go to the Lu family. They won’t treat you badly.”

“Mom, what about you?”

Xiao Yeci smiled and said: “I’ll still be teaching here. Isn't that perfectly fine? Nannan, we are destined to have different statuses.”

Lu Chunying didn't agree. Xiao Yeci smiled and took Lu Chunying back to their wooden house. After discussing it all night, Xiao Yeci did persuade Lu Chunying. Lu Chunying agreed to go to the Lu family, but on certain conditions.

After hearing the conditions, Li Banfeng was quite impressed with Lu Chunying. “You’re a clever girl,” he said.

“Seventh Brother, if he agrees to these conditions, I’ll go to the Lu manor. Otherwise, I’ll open up a new piece of land myself and stay there with my mother.”

Li Banfeng nodded and said: “Your mother and I are of the same generation. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to call me Seventh Brother?”

Lu Chunying chuckled ingenuously: “We shouldn’t just look at generation; our relationship is what matters most.”

Early in the morning, a haggard-looking Qiu Zhiheng was sitting in the small building, when he suddenly heard a subordinate deliver an invitation. Qiu Zhiheng opened it and saw it was a message from Ma Wu, inviting him to a gathering at Xiaoyao Dock that evening. He tossed the invitation aside. How could he possibly be in the mood for Xiaoyao Dock now?

After a while, he picked up the invitation again. He noticed that at the bottom of the invitation, besides Ma Wu’s name, there was also the character for “Seven.”

Li Qi?

Qiu Zhiheng pondered for a moment, and then immediately burned the invitation.

That evening, Qiu Zhiheng arrived at Xiaoyao Dock. Ma Wu had prepared good wine in the private room. After two drinks and some polite exchanges, Ma Wu found an opportunity to leave the room, and Li Banfeng, with his hat brim pulled low, walked in.

“Brother Qiu, long time no see,” Li Banfeng said, sitting across from Qiu Zhiheng and pouring himself a glass of wine. “I invited you, Brother Qiu, because I have some news for you about the Lu family’s young lady, the one from the main lineage.”

“The young lady from the main lineage” referred to Lu Dongliang’s daughter.

Qiu Zhiheng frowned: “Is it Lu Xiaolan?” To this day, Lu Xiaolan was still considered a sinner by the Lu family. That status would not change.

Li Banfeng shook his head and said: “It’s news about Lu Chunying.”

Qiu Zhiheng was stunned for a moment, and his wine glass dropped to the floor.

“Where is Miss Chunying?” He looked at Li Banfeng eagerly, as if he had found a lifeline. “Brother, I’m not asking for this for free. Name your price!”

“Let’s not talk about prices yet; let’s discuss the conditions first. The Lu family’s young lady’s condition is that she can return to the Lu family, but not to the Lu family manor.”

“Does she mean to live separately?” Qiu Zhiheng said with a grave expression, “If that’s the case, I can’t guarantee her safety.”

Li Banfeng shook his head and said: “Brother Qiu, to be honest, if Lu Chunying lives in the Lu manor, can you guarantee her safety?”

Qiu Zhiheng did not answer. If Lu Maoxian wanted to kill Lu Chunying, Qiu Zhiheng could bring men to confront him directly. But if Duan Shaoxia wanted to kill Lu Chunying, Qiu Zhiheng would be completely helpless.

Weighing the pros and cons, Qiu Zhiheng agreed: “As she wishes, she won’t enter the manor.”

Li Banfeng nodded and said: “Now for the second matter. I heard that Lu Yuanshan’s cousin, Zhang Huaiyi, is also at the Lu manor. What’s the situation there? Is Madam Duan trying to adopt a son?”

Qiu Zhiheng nodded slightly.

“How do you plan to handle this?”

How to handle it? Qiu Zhiheng had a solution, but he didn't want to act directly. “It would be best if the news could be spread, but not from me,” he said.

Li Banfeng offered a suggestion: “Something happened to the two Lu brothers, and no one is managing the newspaper office. We have some experience running a newspaper in Blackrock Slope. Why don’t you entrust this business to us for now?”

Qiu Zhiheng thought for a moment, then nodded and chuckled, “You can have the business, but the name must be changed.”

“Don’t worry; our newspaper is called 'Evening Primrose.'”

“Then it’s settled.”

Li Banfeng pulled down the brim of his hat and produced the contract.