Chapter 307: Who Is Behind the Scenes?

Madam didn't know what Li Banfeng had said to the house.

Li Banfeng wanted to show Madam the oil Suishenju had stolen, but in the blink of an eye, all the oil from the third room was gone. Was it taken by the train? Li Banfeng was currently on the train. To be precise, the oil wasn't taken by the train; it was transported by the third room. Where was it transported to? The locomotive? And where was the locomotive?

Since arriving at Yaowanggou, joining the Daoist sect, and the day the peddler gave Li Banfeng the key, Suishenju had always followed him. Li Banfeng had never deeply investigated Suishenju's origins, nor had he pondered its characteristics much. Suishenju moving with him was an incredible phenomenon. However, there were too many inexplicable things in Purozhou, leaving Li Banfeng no time to dwell on it. Now, it seemed he had to think carefully.

The Lu family's special train was heading for Heishipo. Sitting in such a luxurious carriage for the first time, Lu Chunying felt a little out of place. She sat primly on the sofa, trying to maintain the demeanor of a young lady from a prominent family. Tan Fucheng ambled back and forth in the carriage, finding everything new. "I'm benefiting from Miss Chunying's prestige," he said. "Before, with my status, I wouldn't have been qualified to enter this carriage."

Ma Wu had ridden on the Lu family's special train before, and the Ma family also had their own. He didn't find it unusual, but Monkey Qiu's state puzzled him. Throughout the journey, Monkey Qiu didn't chat, read newspapers, eat, or smoke. He simply stared out at the scenery. What was so interesting about the scenery? Monkey Qiu had worked with Lu Dongliang for half his life; he should have seen enough of this route's scenery by now.

The train had just left Lvshuiwan and entered the Huangshiqiao area when it suddenly stopped. Ma Wu was surprised. A special train didn't need to stop midway, except for passing other trains or taking on water. Looking out the window again, it didn't seem like a station.

Monkey Qiu said to everyone, "Let's go down and buy something to eat. Huangshiqiao's meat pies are famously delicious." Huangshiqiao's meat pies were indeed delicious, and there were people outside the train calling out, selling them. The four of them got off the train together. Ma Wu looked around and realized it was a railway maintenance depot. People sold food even at a railway maintenance depot? Buying a meat pie shouldn't require so many people to get off the train. Couldn't they just send a servant? Ma Wu didn't ask further; he knew Monkey Qiu had other plans.

Monkey Qiu bought five jin of meat pies and whispered a few words to the vendor. After the vendor left, Monkey Qiu led everyone across two railway tracks and boarded another train. Monkey Qiu chose to switch trains mid-journey as a precaution against foul play.

The condition of this train was significantly worse. It was a freight train, and one of the carriages was empty, with no ventilation or light. The four of them were cooped up inside, eating meat pies with a kettle of hot water. Once the train started moving, Tan Fucheng finally spoke. "Chief Qiu, who are you guarding against?"

Monkey Qiu smiled faintly. "It's just a precaution, not against anyone specific. It's Miss Chunying's first business trip, so it's better to be careful." After speaking, Qiu Zhiheng glanced at Lu Chunying. Lu Chunying nodded slightly. She not only approved of Monkey Qiu's actions but could also guess his intentions.

Monkey Qiu's move was definitely aimed at someone. Ma Wu suspected he was guarding against Lu Maoxian, but he also felt it was illogical. The Lu family's special train was heavily guarded. Would Lu Maoxian even have an opportunity to act? Besides Lu Maoxian, who else could it be?

"Junyang," Qiu Zhiheng said, looking at Ma Wu, "I heard about the Lanyang Village incident. Find an opportunity to tell Li Qi to halt the investigation at Song Zhigang for now, and not to rush into further inquiries."

Li Banfeng stretched, then sat up from the bed. He had stayed inside Suishenju for three full days without going out. Going out had to be done with caution, because once he left, he didn't know when he would be able to return.

Last night he dreamt of Waizhou. In his dream, he returned to his high school days, reliving a series of unpleasant memories like picking up trash and sleeping under bridges. For this, Li Banfeng had Hongying punish Mengde. Compared to Madam, Hongying was gentler in this regard. She pulled Mengde out of the calendar, pressed him onto her knee, and spanked him on the bottom.

Li Banfeng calmly accepted the fact that Hongying had grown limbs. Hongying wasn't a gun; Madam said she was a young lady and should look like one. Not only had the 'gun body' changed, but the 'gun tip' was also slightly different: it was longer, wider, and more rounded than before. Following this trend, Hongying would probably grow a face soon.

Li Banfeng didn't care about Hongying's transformation; what truly concerned him was the nightmare. He dreamt of the sea, and Suishenju took him to the Oil Lake. Now he had dreamt of Waizhou; where would Suishenju take him?

Li Banfeng still dared not bring the key into the house. Under the current circumstances, he had to adapt to Suishenju's changes. He turned on the projector, playing the footage recorded in the warehouse before he entered Suishenju. The footage was short, just over two minutes long. Li Banfeng watched it ten times repeatedly, ensuring the warehouse scene was cycling through his mind before carefully opening the door.

With one foot inside and one foot outside the door, Li Banfeng gradually caught the unique scent of dust from the warehouse, then he stepped out of Suishenju. Indeed, he was still in the Xiaoyaowu warehouse. Li Banfeng retrieved the key, confirming his hypothesis. Suishenju's movements had a clear connection to his consciousness. Previously, when he thought of Heishipo, he went to Heishipo. Now, thinking of the warehouse, he emerged right into the warehouse. As for why he went to the Oil Lake last time, there was another misunderstanding involved, but as long as he used this characteristic properly, Li Banfeng could still accurately return to the spot where he entered.

After a couple of drinks at Xiaoyaowu, Cao Zhida told Li Banfeng that Ma Wu had already gone to Heishipo with Qiu Zhiheng. Leaving Xiaoyaowu, Li Banfeng went to Dongping Teahouse, ordered a pot of tea, and drank it for half an hour. A moment later, a waiter approached and whispered, "Sir, please come upstairs to talk."

On the second floor, Qin Tianjiu was already waiting in a private room and quickly invited Li Banfeng to sit down. When he had nothing to do, Little Fatty Qin spent most of his time at Dongping Teahouse. Unless there was a special circumstance, Li Banfeng could find him by waiting a bit longer at the teahouse.

It had been a while since they met, and Qin Tianjiu had lost quite a bit of weight. Li Banfeng pulled out a stack of banknotes and pressed them into his hand. "If you need money, find me at Xiaoyaowu. If you can't find me, ask Ma Wu. Don't be shy about eating!"

Qin Tianjiu, blushing, said, "Seventh Brother, I... I'm not short on money..."

"Stop bullshitting, just take it. Any news on Lu Maoxian lately?"

"Actually, yes!" Little Fatty Qin nodded. "Lu Maoxian invited Qiu Zhiheng to dinner yesterday, saying it was about the Lanyang Village incident. Two of his subordinates caused trouble in Lanyang Village, but Lu Maoxian claimed it had nothing to do with him and that these two had already been delisted from his service. He even specifically asked our boss to witness it, but Monkey Qiu didn't seem to be in Lvshuicheng, so the dinner didn't happen."

Lu Maoxian was the Lu family's elder patriarch. If he had truly instigated this, he wouldn't need to concede to Monkey Qiu. It seemed he genuinely wasn't aware beforehand. So who was the true mastermind? It certainly wasn't the butler's own idea.

Little Fatty Qin added, "Seventh Brother, there's another thing on the Lu family's side. Madam Duan adopted a son, did you know?"

Li Banfeng nodded, "I know about that. It's Zhang Huaiyi, her nephew."

Qin Tianjiu continued, "Duan Shaoxia has been promoting this godson quite a bit lately. Last night, she even brought him to a banquet with the Lu family!"

This was understandable. Duan Shaohong's son was Duan Shaoxia's nephew. Compared to Lu Chunying, Duan Shaoxia was more accepting of Zhang Huaiyi, so it was a normal move to use this opportunity to build connections for her nephew.

Wait a moment… Duan Shaoxia. Li Banfeng rubbed his forehead as a clue popped into his mind. Could the mastermind behind the Lanyang Village attack be Duan Shaoxia? Is it possible she bribed Lu Maoxian's butler, making him falsely convey Lu Maoxian's orders and instigate Song Zhigang to cause trouble in Lanyang Village?

Her purpose in doing so wasn't to intensify the conflict between me and Lu Maoxian, but to intensify the conflict between Monkey Qiu and Lu Maoxian. Monkey Qiu strongly supported Lu Chunying. Duan Shaoxia could draw Lu Chunying into the center of the conflict, ostensibly isolating Lu Chunying. Covertly, she could even kill Lu Chunying and pin the blame on Lu Maoxian. Was such a possibility there? Yes! This tactic could indeed eliminate Lu Chunying and clear the path for Zhang Huaiyi.

How did Monkey Qiu counter it? Monkey Qiu didn't counter. He went to Heishipo. He took Lu Chunying and went into hiding. Duan Shaoxia's scheme was essentially in vain. However, her scheme also carried significant risk. Following these two subordinates would lead to Lu Maoxian's butler, and continuing the investigation from the butler would lead to Duan Shaoxia.

On another note, how did Duan Shaoxia bribe Lu Maoxian's butler? The butler was so loyal; could he be bought with just money? There's no need to overthink this matter for now. First, he needed to consider his next move.

"Little Fatty, how long have you been making these 'empty code' copper seals? When can you make a proper copper seal?"

Qin Tianjiu shook his head. "Seventh Brother, I've only been working on copper seals for a few months and haven't accomplished anything major. Master Yin Zhang says my qualifications aren't enough, so getting a territory now would be too difficult."

"Qualifications, that's about having assets first, then experience. Discuss it with your Master Yin Zhang, preferably with a clear price. Just tell me the amount of money."

The Sanying Gate connection couldn't be loosened; it was very useful.

Back at Xiaoyaowu, Cao Zhida handed Li Qi an invitation. "Madam Duan sent this. It says there's a banquet at Yuelai Tower tomorrow, and she'd like to invite you." Seeing the invitation, Li Banfeng could almost certainly conclude that his suspicion was correct. He naturally wouldn't attend the banquet; otherwise, he might never return.

Li Banfeng had Cao Zhida reply to the person who delivered the invitation: "We have an urgent matter and can't make it tomorrow."

Cao Zhida rubbed his hands. "Seventh Master, Madam Duan is the principal wife of the Lu family. Just saying 'urgent matter' might not be enough to get rid of her."

"What do you mean 'get rid of her'? We truly have an urgent matter. We're going to the new territory to open up land. Call a few trustworthy brothers to come along; we'll leave tonight." What was promised had to be done; Miss Meng was still waiting!

Zuo Wugang, Zhen Jincheng, and Huoling had all gone to Heishipo with Ma Wu, leaving few capable fighters in Xiaoyaowu. Cao Zhida spent a long time counting available people, then told Li Banfeng, "Seventh Master, we'd best take Genzi with us. He's an expert at developing new land."

"Take him, absolutely. We also need to help Genzi prepare some materials."

Genzi was cultivating in Lanyang Village. His scoop had broken, so he made a new one himself, but it wasn't very convenient to use. The golden liquid in the village was almost depleted, so Genzi went to the new territory. An old man who was farming there waved at Genzi.

"Young man, are you a Gold Cultivator? I'm short on golden liquid here."

Farming in the new territory? This should be a Cultivation farmer, and of no low rank either. Little Genzi stepped forward with his bucket and gave the old man a scoop. The old man looked at the golden liquid, shook his head, and said, "The quality is poor."

"Poor?" Genzi frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

The old man laughed, "What do I mean? I'm saying it plainly. Poor means poor!"