Chapter 401: Chu Family Head

At Chu Huaijun's private residence, Ma Wu sat in the courtyard smoking, accompanied by Aqin and Duan Wuchou.

The several enforcers originally present in the courtyard had all been injured in a bloody battle with the Three Heroes Gate. Dealing with them wasn't difficult, especially since Chu Er had also brought reinforcements.

The reinforcement was a woman who appeared to be in her thirties, but her cultivation level was high. Aqin estimated she was likely over fifty years old.

This woman wasn't the issue; Aqin, however, noticed that Ma Wu had feelings for another woman.

"The way you look at her is all wrong!" Aqin's voice trembled as she spoke.

Ma Wu paused for a moment and said, "Are you talking about the second Miss Chu? How could I possibly be interested in her? We have a grudge!"

Aqin snorted, "Who said anything about the second Miss Chu?"

With that, Aqin glared hatefully at Duan Wuchou.

Ma Wu's face flushed. "Well, how do I explain this..."

Duan Wuchou showed no particular emotion. The head on her neck wasn't hers; it was created by the Water Spring's Hundred Flowing Transformations technique, so it couldn't display any special expressions.

Soon after, Chu Er emerged from the residence.

She had changed her makeup, washing off her eyeshadow and blush, and now wore only a light touch of makeup. Dressed in a dark blue qipao, she stood before them.

Ma Wu examined her for a moment and almost didn't recognize Chu Er.

Chu Er bowed to Ma Wu and said, "Young Master Ma, thank you for your trouble today."

Ma Wu waved his hand repeatedly. "Don't mention it. How did your talk with your brother go? Smoothly, I hope?"

Chu Er nodded. "It went very smoothly. My brother tends to act without much thought and has caused a lot of trouble for everyone. I've made everything clear to him. The Hundred Delights Gate will continue to be managed by me and the Lu family; it won't be sold to the Garrison Commander. As for the Chu family's businesses, my elder brother no longer wishes to manage them; they've all been handed over to me from now on."

Ma Wu was surprised. "Second Miss, is that truly what he said? Do you need me to go back in and talk to Huaijun again?"

Chu Er shook her head. "No need. My elder brother is tired; he's just resting."

"Then we won't disturb him." Ma Wu looked at the woman behind Chu Er. She was carrying a satchel and stood silently beside Chu Er the entire time.

"How should I address this lady?" Ma Wu specifically asked.

Chu Er introduced, "This is my senior martial sister, Xiang Fenglan."

Ma Wu quickly bowed, and Xiang Fenglan returned the gesture. Their gazes met and lingered for a moment.

Chu Er pulled Xiang Fenglan, then reiterated her gratitude to Ma Wu. "Young Master Ma, my sister and I have just returned to Green Water City after a long and tiring journey. We'd like to go back and wash off the travel dust, so please excuse us for leaving tonight. If you happen to see Brother Li Qi, please tell him that my elder brother caused him a lot of trouble, and I will personally visit him later to apologize."

Ma Wu immediately took his leave. Chu Er also did not remain at the residence; she took Xiang Fenglan back to her own lodging.

On the way, Xiang Fenglan kept looking back, trying to catch another glimpse of Ma Wu.

Chu Er flexed her thumb and forefinger, then firmly twisted Xiang Fenglan's cheek.

"What was that for? That hurt!" Xiang Fenglan rubbed her cheek for a long time.

Chu Er said with a serious expression, "Senior Sister, you are not to see Ma Wu again from now on. If it's absolutely unavoidable, you still must not speak to him."

Xiang Fenglan frowned. "Why? Is he your lover?"

Chu Er shook her head. "He has a grudge against me and still resents me, which is understandable. He's very skilled at dealing with women, and I'm afraid you'll be taken advantage of, so I'm telling you to avoid him."

Xiang Fenglan didn't believe her. "I think he's your lover!"

Chu Er scoffed and offered no further explanation. "Granny Ku told me to keep an eye on you. Just listen to me."

On the way back to Carefree Village, Ma Wu found things strange.

He couldn't understand Chu Er's words and actions.

Being kind and courteous to others—was this truly Chu Er?

A year apart, and the change was immense.

At Carefree Village, Li Qi hosted a celebration feast, primarily to entertain the helpers who had come from the New Territory. Last time, he had heard from He Yuxiu that the mutton from the Three Heroes Gate was delicious, so Li Qi specifically had people buy sheep from Baimu Pasture. He had six sheep slaughtered first to make hotpot, ensuring it was fresh.

The mutton was indeed excellent; thinly sliced and cooked with cabbage, it tasted wonderful.

Ma Wu picked up a piece of mutton for Duan Wuchou. "Here, this piece is good. Be careful, it's hot."

Duan Wuchou took the mutton with her bowl, dipped it in sauce, ate it, then delicately wiped her navel with a napkin.

Li Banfeng never interfered with Ma Wu's private affairs, but when he went to relieve himself during the banquet, he still asked, "What is it about Duan Wuchou that attracts you?"

Ma Wu pondered for a moment before answering from the heart, "I like her eyes; they're very big. I especially like her gaze—it holds a profound sincerity and a stubborn determination!"

Li Qi asked, "Is it determination?"

Ma Wu replied, "Quite determined!"

"Is her gaze very deep?"

"Not deep, quite shallow."

"Does she usually wear glasses?"

"No, her eyesight is quite good."

Li Banfeng tried to understand Ma Wu, but even after finishing his urination, he still couldn't comprehend it.

Back at the table, Ma Wu continued his affectionate interaction with Duan Wuchou, while Liang Wucai persistently chatted with Li Banfeng.

Since it was a meal among their own people today, there was no need to conceal anything with the Hundred Flowing Transformations technique. Liang Wucai openly displayed both of her heads.

Liang Wu felt a strong affinity with Li Banfeng. "Seventh Master, I often heard Grandfather Qiu speak of you. He said you were a hero among heroes, one in ten thousand. At first, I didn't believe it, but now that I've met you, I realize it's not just one in ten thousand, but one in ten million. Seventh Master, I toast you with this cup of wine. I'll drink it all; you just take a sip."

Li Banfeng appreciated Liang Wu's straightforwardness and drained his cup.

Beside them, Liang Cai sighed softly, "Will this unparalleled man become our lover? If he cannot stay with us forever, it will only deepen our sorrow."

Li Banfeng didn't know how to respond to that.

Liang Wu frowned. "Seventh Master, don't mind her. She's not talking to you; she's talking to herself. When I was alive in the mortal world, I disliked pretentious people like her the most. Who would have thought that after dying and arriving in the New Territory, I'd be stuck with her?"

Liang Cai sighed again, "Whether we are together due to fate's arrangement or a fortunate coincidence, we can't truly say."

"If you can't explain it, then don't talk about it," Liang Wu said impatiently. "Seventh Master, let's have another drink!"

The two drank another cup. Liang Cai sighed, "Wine cannot extinguish your sorrows, but it can only add to my pain."

Liang Wu retorted angrily, "I'm drinking my wine; what pain are you talking about?"

Liang Cai sighed, "If you get drunk, won't I throw up too?"

Li Banfeng looked at Liang Cai and asked, "Miss, why do you keep sighing?"

Liang Wu was also annoyed by this. "Seventh Master, ignore her. She has hysteria. In the Outer States, people like her are called mentally ill!"

Li Banfeng quite liked Liang Wu's temperament; she would make a good confidante. However, Liang Cai was difficult to get along with. Li Banfeng had always been wary of mentally ill people who talked to themselves, as it was hard to predict what such individuals might do.

Everyone ate and drank freely. Bai Shoulian held twenty bowls, twenty spoons, and twenty teapots, serving soup, meat, and condiments to everyone.

Li Banfeng dipped a piece of meat and praised, "Your skills are good. Have you studied cooking before?"

Bai Shoulian laughed. "I was a chef in my youth, and after arriving in the New Territory, I often practiced my culinary skills. Someday, I'll prepare a couple of dishes for you all to try."

Bai Shoulian was a generous man. If he were brought to Li Banfeng's territory, he should get along very well with the chef cultivator there.

Li Banfeng highly appreciated all six helpers invited from the New Territory this time.

He truly wanted to keep these six people in Carefree Village permanently. Even if they had to return to the New Territory, Li Banfeng wished to discuss with Qiu Luoye whether these individuals could be released so he could bring them back to his own territory.

As long as there were enough people for development, Qiu Luoye should agree.

But how would he explain this?

Why did Li Banfeng have a territory? When did he become a local deity?

There would always be a way to explain it later. Li Banfeng instructed Ma Wu to gather a group of people and send another contingent to Zhengjing Village for development.

Everyone ate happily, except for the Food Cultivator girl, Chi, who barely touched her chopsticks.

Li Banfeng asked, "What's wrong? Is the mutton not to your liking?"

The girl was shy and didn't speak. Bai Shoulian, who was familiar with her, smiled and said, "Everyone, please eat first. She'll eat in a bit."

What did that mean?

Li Banfeng said, "There aren't so many rules here. Eat together, eat as much as you want!"

Chi looked at Bai Shoulian. Bai Shoulian then told Li Banfeng, "Seventh Master, if she eats as much as she wants, this much mutton won't be enough for us."

Ma Wu laughed, "Who said it's not enough? I've already had six sheep slaughtered; eat as much as you like."

Chi licked her lips, no longer able to control herself. She picked up a hotpot and poured its contents directly into her mouth. Gulp!

Chi wiped her mouth and smiled at everyone.

Li Banfeng asked, "Sister, was it delicious?"

Chi lowered her head, her face red, and said, "I ate too fast, I couldn't taste it."

Ma Wu quickly went to find the cooks and instructed them to prepare more sheep.

After the celebration feast, Ma Wu immediately had the newspaper office post a notice to recruit pioneers for development.

At the Garrison Hall, Secretary Ling Sujun reported to Garrison Commander Liao Zihui. Speaking of Sun Junfu, Ling Sujun said, "His emotions have stabilized somewhat, but he repeatedly requests to return to the Outer States. I have already submitted a report as you instructed, but there has been no response from the Outer States yet."

Liao Zihui pondered for a moment and said, "Let him go back. I'll explain for him when the time comes. Help him pack his belongings. Does he still need to wear diapers?"

"He probably doesn't need them anymore; he himself is somewhat resistant to it."

"Take them anyway, just in case."

After the luggage was packed, Liao Zihui prepared to personally escort Sun Junfu to the train station. Just as they reached the first floor of the Garrison Hall, a bodyguard approached Liao Zihui, holding a wooden box. "We were preparing the car just now and found this wooden box inside."

Liao Zihui had someone take the box to the disposal room first, intending to deal with it upon his return. Sun Junfu, however, believing he had found something incriminating against Liao Zihui, insisted on opening the box immediately for inspection. If he could uncover an issue with Liao Zihui, Sun Junfu would have something to account for upon his return, and the incident of soiling himself would appear less embarrassing.

Liao Zihui, helpless, went with Sun Junfu to the disposal room. Under Sun Junfu's supervision, a poison cultivator and a craft cultivator first performed an inspection to ensure the box itself contained no poisonous or mechanical dangers. Following the prescribed procedure, they then opened the box.

Inside the box was only one item: Chu Huaijun's head.

It was a neatly prepared and clean head.

Liao Zihui's expression was grave. The turn of events was worse than he had anticipated.

As he pondered his next move, a strange sound reached his ears.

Liao Zihui furrowed his brow. "Old Sun, did you soil yourself again?"

"Uh, uh..." Sun Junfu stared at the head, speechless once more.

Liao Zihui turned to Secretary Ling Sujun. "Where are the diapers?"

"I didn't... I didn't bring them..." Ling Sujun was very embarrassed.

"Didn't I tell you to have them ready? Go get them quickly!"

Thank you, dear readers, for your support and kindness. This gratitude, Shala will never forget.