Chapter 290: House Thief

Late at night, Lu Maoxian stumbled into his mansion, terrifying the butler speechless.

“Master, what happened to you…?”

Lu Maoxian pointed to his cheek, indicating he couldn’t speak, then to his broken arm, gesturing for immediate help to stop the bleeding.

The butler quickly summoned a physician to treat Lu Maoxian’s injuries.

***

At Yuezhou Third Hospital, in the ward.

While He Haisheng was out for a smoke, He Jiaqing fiddled with a button on his chest and asked Ling Miaoying about the situation.

Ling Miaoying replied, maintaining as calm a tone as possible: “Jiaqing, Lu Maoxian’s matter has been handled.”

“You didn’t kill him, did you?”

“No, I didn’t. I cut off one of his hands, poked two holes in his face, and killed a few of his subordinates.” At this, Ling Miaoying’s cheek twitched, feeling quite displeased.

He Jiaqing praised him: “Well done. Spread the news of Lu Maoxian’s severe injuries. Be extra careful these days, and see if anyone comes looking for trouble. I’ll arrange for someone to protect you discreetly.”

“Understood.”

He Jiaqing ended the call. Ling Miaoying turned to look at the Shadow Play Building, a wave of annoyance rising in his heart.

This Shadow Play Building had cost him a great deal of effort and money.

He Jiaqing had told him to spare Lu Maoxian’s life, and Ling Miaoying had verbally agreed, but he never intended to do so.

During this period, the Lu family had caused him much trouble, both openly and covertly, in the newspaper industry and film industry. He had long wanted to settle accounts with them.

When the main branch of the Lu family was still intact, Ling Miaoying had been wary. Now that the main branch was gone, if he seized this opportunity to eliminate Lu Maoxian, the Lu family’s banner would fall completely.

At that point, the Lu family would become scattered, and Ling Miaoying could take over their businesses and, subsequently, their status.

Only then would the Ling family truly be reborn in Pro Province.

The plan was good, but something unexpected happened.

He had been certain he could kill Lu Maoxian, but unexpectedly, at the crucial moment, Lin Zhixiao rushed out of the building.

Logically, Lin Zhixiao shouldn't have been able to escape so quickly; there were countless people to kill inside the building, along with many traps awaiting him.

But someone unknown had opened a secret door in the building, letting Lin Zhixiao out.

Who exactly was secretly helping Lu Maoxian?

A few names came to Ling Miaoying’s mind, but he couldn’t be sure.

Not killing Lu Maoxian this time, and having the secret of the Shadow Play Building exposed, infuriated Ling Miaoying.

The Shadow Play Building had to be moved immediately and remodeled.

The only good news was that the outcome met He Jiaqing’s expectations, so Ling Miaoying didn’t need to offer any further explanations.

Lin Zhixiao’s body still lay at their feet. Lu Maoxian’s subordinates had proven quite loyal.

Tu Yinghong looked at the Shadow Play Building and said, “He ran out from the second floor. I assume they must have left some clues.”

Ling Miaoying shook his head. “Forget the clues for now. Let’s get this building moved.”

Tu Yinghong nodded, pulled two iron rulers from her skirt, measured the distance, and placed them on the ground.

The two iron rulers seemed to melt into molten iron, seeping into the ground until they completely disappeared.

Tu Yinghong held Ling Miaoying’s hand, her face full of tenderness. “I know you’re upset, but you promised me you’d spend the night with me.”

“Alright.” With a gentlemanly smile, Ling Miaoying took Tu Yinghong’s hand and entered the Shadow Play Building.

Before long, the Shadow Play Building slowly vanished into the night.

***

Inside the Portable Abode, Li Banfeng meticulously examined the photos taken at Black Stone Slope.

A single photo could spark many associations, and the deeper the associations, the better the cultivation effect.

The phonograph turned its horn towards him and softly asked, “My dear husband, you’ve been staring at this photo for so long, what exactly are you trying to do?”

Li Banfeng replied, “If I told you I was cultivating, would you believe me?”

“Which path are you cultivating? The Peach Path?”

Li Banfeng said with a serious expression, “We cultivate conscience.”

“Yes, your conscience is not small. Husband, I have a private matter I’d like to discuss with you. Come closer and let me whisper.”

Gazing at the phonograph’s heated horn, Li Banfeng genuinely didn’t want to lean in. “My dear, there are no outsiders here. Just speak plainly.”

“Husband,” the phonograph cooed playfully, “You just had your oil changed, why are you being so distant from me?”

Helpless, Li Banfeng put down the photo and pressed his ear to the horn.

The phonograph lowered its voice. “Husband, I’ve recently noticed that your physique has improved quite a bit.”

Li Banfeng’s heart tightened. He turned to the phonograph and asked, “Is that so?”

She hasn’t found out about the travel cultivation, has she?

The phonograph playfully chided, “Husband, lean in quickly. If you stay far from me, my heart will grow cold.”

Li Banfeng again pressed his ear to the horn. The phonograph, in a slow tempo, asked, “You once said you fought with Mengqian, and I didn’t ask for details then. Did my husband have something with that hussy…?”

“No!” Li Banfeng immediately clarified. “I just set her clothes on fire; I didn’t touch her once.”

“Oh, dear husband, I’m not a narrow-minded person. Even if you did, let alone if you didn’t, I wouldn’t mind.”

“Hmph hmph, my dear, are you truly not bothered?”

“Hehehe, did my husband truly…?”

“When I say no, it’s no. Why don’t you believe me?”

“Oh, my dear husband, of course I believe you. Whatever the reason, your improved physique is ultimately a good thing. I intend to add another room for you.”

Li Banfeng sat up, gently stroking the phonograph’s platter. “My dear, you’re so thoughtful. When are you planning to add this room?”

This room was crucial.

After a trip to Neizhou, Li Banfeng’s travel cultivation reached the sixth level, and he had plenty of time left. His travel cultivation had already surpassed his home cultivation.

This meant Li Banfeng dared not consume any elixirs now. If his travel cultivation continued to advance and exceeded his home cultivation by two levels, Li Banfeng would once again face cultivation backlash.

Since his dear one had proactively suggested an advancement, Li Banfeng naturally wouldn’t refuse. He tidied his hair, ready to slip into the horn, when he suddenly heard her stop him: “Husband, wait a moment. To advance to the sixth level, a special ingredient is still needed.”

“What kind of ingredient?”

“A fresh soul is needed.”

“That’s easy.” There were plenty of scoundrels in Greenwater City. Catching just one would be no trouble at all for Li Banfeng.

As Li Banfeng was about to leave, he heard his dear one sing in a slow tempo again: “Husband, this ingredient cannot be found just anywhere. Since I’m taking you to the sixth level, you must at least bring back a sixth-level ingredient.”

Li Banfeng returned to his dear one’s side, lowered his voice, and asked into the horn, “My dear, what’s the purpose of this sixth-level ingredient?”

His dear one whispered back, “To resolve an urgent matter.”

Li Banfeng, speaking even more mysteriously, asked, “What urgent matter is there right now?”

His dear one replied just as mysteriously, “I’m hungry.”

If she was hungry, why didn't she just say so, instead of talking about ingredients?

Li Banfeng felt a bit guilty, as he hadn’t bought much food recently.

He squeezed the small speakers on either side. “My dear, being hungry is easily fixed; I’ll just go buy food. Why are you being so picky, insisting on level six or above?”

The phonograph’s voice sounded wronged. “This is a crucial moment; an inferior grade might not work!”

What exactly was this crucial moment?

Li Banfeng still couldn’t understand the situation when he suddenly heard Hong Ying burst into laughter: “It’s that wicked woman. Her cultivation has recovered quite a bit, and her appetite has changed. Ten or eight ordinary living beings are barely enough for her to pick her teeth. To make her full for one meal, you’ll have to put in some effort. If she’s not full, she can’t take you to the sixth level. I wonder how you’ll manage to support this extravagant woman after marrying her into your home!”

The phonograph sobbed twice, unsure how to defend herself.

What Hong Ying said was true: the phonograph’s appetite had indeed grown, but she hadn’t dared to tell Li Banfeng, and had been quite hungry recently.

Li Banfeng gently stroked the stylus. “If you’re hungry, why hold it in? If good sixth-level ingredients aren’t available, ordinary ingredients can still do the trick.”

The phonograph sniffled. “But then I can’t help my master advance.”

“Whether to advance or not, we’ll talk about it later.”

The phonograph exhaled a puff of steam, circling Li Banfeng. “My master still cares for me.”

“Don’t worry, my dear. Wait for your husband to go buy some food.”

***

Li Banfeng stepped out of the Portable Abode, intending to find some scoundrel to discuss food prices with, when he saw a newspaper vendor ahead. He casually bought a copy of 'Night Jasmine'.

Unlike Black Stone Slope, Greenwater City’s 'Night Jasmine' was relatively conservative, focusing primarily on legitimate news, with only the fourth section being slightly more impactful.

Greenwater City’s reporters were well-informed. After the Ling family’s newspaper published the news, 'Night Jasmine' quickly followed suit, with the headline being the attack on Lu Maoxian.

“Lu Maoxian is badly injured. He must be a seventh-level Scholar Cultivator, right? How wonderful if I had met him! Such precious ingredients can’t wait for him to be delivered to my doorstep. Should I place an order at his house first? The crucial thing is, he’s definitely tightened his security now. If I just go like this, I fear the price might be difficult to negotiate…”

As Li Banfeng muttered to himself, a man behind him pressed a knife against his back. “Brother, lend me some money.”

In Pro Province, one could always find such people in secluded spots.

Li Banfeng asked, “How much do you want?”

The man retorted, “How much do you have?”

Li Banfeng thought about his wallet. “Around two thousand-odd yuan.”

“Hand it over.”

Li Banfeng felt his inner suit pocket; his wallet wasn’t there.

That’s odd.

Li Banfeng rarely forgot his wallet. It was still on him when he returned home this morning, and he hadn’t changed clothes today…

As he pondered, the man behind him grew impatient and poked Li Banfeng with the knife tip. “Where’s the money?”

“Come, follow me to get it.”

“Where are you trying to go?” the man snapped.

Li Banfeng suddenly circled behind the man and gripped his neck with one hand. “Just trust me and come along. I never owe money for groceries. I’ll give it to you in a bit.”

He led the man into the Portable Abode, and his dear one swallowed his soul in one gulp.

The man had no cultivation, so as Hong Ying said, that mouthful wasn’t even enough to pick her teeth.

The phonograph didn’t complain, as it was, after all, her husband’s hard-earned purchase. Li Banfeng sat by the bed, pondered for a long time, then suddenly asked, “My dear, did you help me wash my clothes today?”

“Husband, are your clothes dirty? I’ll wash them for you right away.”

“The clothes aren’t dirty, but something is missing,” Li Banfeng said after a moment of silence. “My dear, where is that glove?”

“I’ve put it away. My husband doesn’t need it right now.”

“Just bring it out and let me see it first.”

The phonograph opened a storage cabinet and lifted a wisp of steam from inside.

The steam wavered up and down; the phonograph seemed to be gauging its weight.

“Oh, dear husband, the weight is wrong!” the phonograph exclaimed, dispersing the steam, only to find the glove was gone.

Li Banfeng casually pulled out a feather duster, looked around, and declared, “We have a thief in the house!”