Chapter 485: The Flying Tangyuan

Li Banfeng looked at Tangyuan, considering how to lead her on. She was a trained agent, so a straightforward approach might not work with her.

Tangyuan sat opposite Li Banfeng, striving to remain calm. From the day she joined the Dark Star Bureau, she had been mentally prepared that one day she might fall in battle during a mission. How would she face the end of her life before falling in battle? When she was alone, Tangyuan had often imagined such a scenario. Especially in the bathroom, she would hold the showerhead and spray herself, pretending to have sustained a fatal injury. Then, she would imagine using her last ounce of strength to take down the enemy with her.

Of course, she had received professional training; if injured, she knew how to save herself. While self-preservation was ideal, if that wasn't possible, she would at least exhaust all efforts to deliver her final message. Her final words wouldn't be extensive, just four simple ones: "I did it!" Every time she imagined this scene, Tangyuan would be moved to tears. Now, she was again on the verge of tears, but this time, it was from fear, not emotion. Reality was completely different from her imagination. She wasn't as brave as she thought, and falling in battle was far more terrifying than she had envisioned.

Li Banfeng offered Tangyuan a glass of water. "You don't need to be so nervous," he said.

Tangyuan took the glass and sincerely asked, "Is it poisoned?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "I didn't poison it."

Tangyuan raised the glass to her lips, her teeth chattering against the rim.

After watching Tangyuan drink the water, Li Banfeng said, "I put in a laxative."

Tangyuan's body tensed, and a faint flush gradually returned to her pale face. How could he do such a thing...? Tangyuan felt a warm surge in her abdomen and instinctively clenched her muscles.

Li Banfeng continued, "This medicine works very quickly, so we don't have much time. First, tell me, you once attended a banquet here at Xiaoyao Dock with Dick Chen. Why did you dare to sneak back in as a singer? Why did you think I wouldn't recognize you?"

Tangyuan answered truthfully, "I used a disguise technique. You shouldn't have recognized my face."

"Why didn't you alter your voice?"

My voice? He recognized me by my voice?

"I thought you wouldn't notice my voice."

Li Banfeng possessed the skill of subtle auditory perception, and with the aid of his Kinesis earrings, he was exceptionally sensitive to sound. Tangyuan had spoken at the banquet, and Bulb later revealed her identity. Naturally, Li Banfeng had paid attention to Tangyuan's voice. Her unpracticed performance on stage then quickly made Li Banfeng suspect something was amiss.

"Did you come to Xiaoyao Dock to monitor me?"

Tangyuan nodded.

"Have you gathered any useful information?"

"Not yet."

"Who exactly is Dick Chen, the one who accompanied you earlier?"

Tangyuan hesitated to answer. The previous questions had concerned only herself, and revealing her own information was psychologically acceptable to Tangyuan. However, the questions now touched upon classified information from the Dark Star Bureau and the Customs and Defense Office, and Tangyuan had no desire to become a traitor.

Getting her to talk proved difficult. Seeing Tangyuan remain silent, Li Banfeng said, "I warn you, the laxative is very powerful. Your body might just lift off the chair."

Why would my body lift off the chair? From the expulsion?

Tangyuan gritted her teeth. Her stomach rumbled. So what? She wasn't even afraid of death; why would she fear something like this?

Li Banfeng looked at Tangyuan. "Is Dick Chen from Purozhou, Huan Kingdom, or is he a foreigner?"

Tangyuan replied, "He's a foreigner. He mentioned it himself during your negotiations."

"Does he know you're a Dark Star Bureau agent?"

"Yes."

"Would the Dark Star Bureau reveal an agent's identity to a foreigner?"

"That's because his identity is highly unusual."

"In what way is it unusual?"

Grrr... Tangyuan's stomach rumbled once more. She struggled to maintain her focus, hoping to avoid any slip-ups in her answers, but she found it incredibly difficult. She quickly realized what was happening. Li Qi wasn't threatening her with the laxative; he was using it to break her concentration.

This was a specialized interrogation technique Tangyuan had studied: using methods that were not severely harmful but created intense, sustained urgency to disrupt the subject's thought process and concentration, thereby causing them to make repeated mistakes in their responses.

Under immense self-restraint and endurance, Tangyuan gave her pre-prepared answer: "Dick Chen is a businessman, appointed by the Customs and Defense Office. My mission at the time was to ensure his safety."

Li Banfeng asked, "What kind of commercial activities does he primarily engage in?"

"You should know, he previously interfaced with Ma Junyang." Tangyuan was still clear-headed enough to remember that avoiding detailed answers was a crucial interrogation strategy.

Li Banfeng paused for a long time, silently observing Tangyuan's reaction.

Grrr...

Tangyuan's face was slick with sweat; she no longer seemed as lucid.

Li Banfeng continued, "Why would Outland entrust classified matters to a businessman, especially a foreign one? What makes this foreign businessman so special?"

"He..." Tangyuan gasped, the cramping in her abdomen clouding her mind. "I... I don't know much about his background; it's outside my scope of duty. If you want me to answer your questions, at least ask about things I know..."

Tangyuan was close to breaking.

"Then I'll ask you something you *do* know," Li Banfeng asked earnestly. "The tide at Yellow Dragon Gate is rising. Tell me, young lady, how will you hold it back?"

"First, tighten the sluice gates..." Tangyuan took a deep breath, shaking her head. She was deeply ashamed, unsure why she had blurted out something about sluice gates to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng smiled; the "slope" was becoming smoother. She was about to tell the truth.

"Ms. You Xuehan, you've been lying this entire time. Every single lie was riddled with errors. Dick Chen's identity will be revealed sooner or later. In fact, I've already uncovered a great deal of information about him. I merely need your confirmation and further details. Just tell me his identity truthfully, and this will be over. Why put yourself through this?"

Tangyuan shook her head. "You can kill me. I'm not even afraid of death. Do you think this current humiliation and torment means anything to me?"

"It's not that simple." Li Banfeng moved the flower stand next to the coffee table, revealing a hidden camera.

Li Banfeng adjusted the camera's angle. "You've investigated me, so you should know I own a film and television company. I just told you that you might fly off that chair. That's a rare special effects shot, and I'll use it in my films. I can also tell you, quite responsibly, that I won't use it just once."

Tangyuan gritted her teeth, sweat dripping from her hair. "I don't care," she said. "I am true to my mission."

Li Banfeng nodded. "I know you are true to your mission. You can even believe yourself a hero. But some things are inescapable. The image of you soaring into the air, perhaps on a golden dragon, will circulate for many years—likely far longer than your own life."

Tangyuan's trembling intensified.

Li Banfeng completed the "slope." "As I told you, I know most of Dick Chen's background. He's balancing relations between various regions, and his identity will be revealed sooner or later. What you tell me won't affect him in the slightest. Such a simple act could free you from your current predicament. But if you insist on remaining silent, the consequences for you will be severe. Losing your reputation, you could lose everything. The restroom is right over there. Don't pay an irreversible price for trivial people and trivial matters."

Another wave of cramps assaulted her. The pressure at the "sluice gate" had reached its absolute limit.

Tangyuan, her face drenched in sweat, looked up and quickly blurted out, "Dick Chen's real name is Chen Weixin, and he's the new Deputy Director of the Dark Star Bureau."

Li Banfeng looked surprised. "The previous Xiao Zhenggong was only a vice-captain. Why did Chen Weixin get such a high position?"

Tangyuan shook her head. "That's not something I'm privy to, but I've heard rumors that Balance Humans can choose their own positions. Xiao Zhenggong could have held a higher rank, but he insisted on remaining with the team."

"Go on."

Tangyuan's eyes were fixed on the restroom, filled with longing as she spoke. "Chen Weixin is the new Balance Human after Xiao Zhenggong. He was born in Qishuicao and studied in countries such as Amican, Austrilli, Spanni, Ingli, and French, before living for an extended period in Lafusha. He was classmates with Director Shen Jingye. Since taking office, he has established contact with Innerland, and negotiations between Innerland and Outland, which had been suspended for years, have now resumed."

"What kind of negotiations?"

"Outland will help Innerland open certain routes leading to Purozhou, and Innerland will provide Outland with high-purity dark energy carriers."

"Are these 'dark energy carriers' you're referring to spiritual artifacts?"

"No, not spiritual artifacts," Tangyuan said, clutching her stomach and looking at Li Banfeng with reddened eyes. "They're incredibly scarce ores. These ores can be used to create special equipment and weapons; their precise applications are known only to top-level personnel. Such materials are extremely rare in Purozhou and non-existent in Outland."

Li Banfeng's cheek twitched slightly upon hearing this. "They're only restarting negotiations, right? The deal hasn't been finalized yet?"

"It's almost finalized," Tangyuan said, her words coming faster and faster. "Dick Chen is highly efficient, and communication between both sides has been very smooth."

Li Banfeng's eyes gleamed with cold fury. "Do you realize what Innerland people do when they come to Purozhou? Don't you understand that in their eyes, the lives of Purozhou's people are no different from dirt? Outland is trading with Innerland for these ores, and ultimately, it's Purozhou that will suffer? What do you take Purozhou for?"

Tangyuan, tears welling in her eyes, trembled as she said, "This isn't something I can decide..."

"Then what *can* you decide?"

"The sluice gates... I can still decide about the sluice gates now, but soon I won't be able to..." Tangyuan broke into sobs.

Li Banfeng raised a hand, gesturing for Tangyuan to go to the restroom.

Tangyuan sprinted away. Judging by the sounds from the restroom, she seemed to have experienced a brief "takeoff."

Li Banfeng felt he should inform Sun Tiecheng about this. The technique of "Riding the Slope Down" could, if the "slope" was perfectly laid, evolve into a new technique: "Unstoppable Flow." This new method was clearly far more efficient.

Over ten minutes later, Tangyuan returned to Li Banfeng, her expression calm, and sat back on the chair. The sweat in her hair had not yet fully dried.

Li Banfeng said, "Go back and rest for a bit. Tonight, I've arranged a solo for you. You'll need to discuss the repertoire with the band. Remember to choose a song you're best at; forgetting your lyrics during a solo is quite embarrassing."

Tangyuan stared at Li Banfeng in astonishment. He wants me to go back and sing? Is he insane? Does he even know what he's saying?

"You don't need to interrogate me further?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Not for now."

"You won't kill me to silence me?"

"Not at the moment, no."

"Then, can you let me go?" A flicker of hope rekindled for Tangyuan regarding her own life.

Li Banfeng nodded. "I can let you go, but not unconditionally, and you'll need to wait a bit longer. If I let you return now, your sudden abandonment of the investigation without any visible progress would surely draw suspicion from both the Dark Star Bureau and the Customs and Defense Office."

Tangyuan agreed with Li Qi's assessment. If she returned now, Liao Zihui would certainly not let her off lightly. She would face a series of investigations and might even be permanently expelled from the agency. But was it too soon to be thinking about all this? Could Li Qi truly let her go?

She gazed nervously at Li Qi, only to hear him suggest, "You should really adjust your diet from now on."

Tangyuan froze. "Diet... is something wrong with it?"

Li Banfeng pointed to the glass. "There was no laxative in the cup."

"Then, why did I just...?"

Li Banfeng said nothing. Because he had created a very steep "slope" for her.

Dispirited, Tangyuan made her way backstage. A singer approached her. "How was Master Qi?" she asked, with a suggestive tone. Another woman nearby remarked, "Oh dear, why are your eyes so red? Did Master Qi go too far?"

Tangyuan remained silent, walking to the dressing table to apply her makeup. Manager Zhang approached her. "Miss Peach Red," he said, "Master Qi has arranged for you to perform a solo tonight. Please let me know which song you'd like, and I'll inform the band."

Tangyuan's gaze was blank, and she didn't speak for a long moment. Several other singers whispered nearby:

"What can *she* sing? Yesterday, during the six-person chorus, she was off-key from the start, forgot her lyrics halfway through, and eventually just stopped singing altogether."

"Well, she's been in Master Qi's room, and now she has a solo tonight. What are you going to do about it?"

"Let her sing. A solo will be even more embarrassing. I don't know what Master Qi sees in her!"

"Can't you tell? Look how fleshy her behind is; she could carve two indentations into a wooden chair just by sitting on it."

"Fine, let's see if she can sing with her backside then."

Tangyuan hadn't intended to choose a song; she wanted to cancel her solo performance for the night. She was there to investigate Li Qi, not to be a performer. She had just leaked crucial classified information. She had just narrowly escaped a nightmare, and now she was in no mood to compete for attention or beauty with these crude singers.

Yet, for some reason, hearing the other singers' remarks ignited a fierce anger within Tangyuan. She turned to Manager Zhang. "Please tell the band that tonight, I'm singing 'Full Moon and Beautiful Flowers'!"

"Full Moon and Beautiful Flowers" was one of the few Purozhou songs Tangyuan was still somewhat familiar with. As soon as they heard she planned to sing "Full Moon and Beautiful Flowers," the other singers burst into laughter.

"She has no sense! Is 'Full Moon and Beautiful Flowers' a song for *him*?"

"Just because she's been in Master Qi's bed, she thinks she's hot stuff."

Manager Zhang also looked a bit awkward. "Miss Peach Red, you really should choose a different song."

Tangyuan frowned. "I want to sing 'Full Moon and Beautiful Flowers.' Is that a problem?"

Manager Zhang explained, "You're new here, so you might not be aware of all the rules. Here at Xiaoyao Dock, 'Full Moon and Beautiful Flowers' is Miss Jiang Mengting's exclusive song."

Tangyuan sighed, about to choose another song, when she saw Jiang Mengting push open the door to the dressing room. Jiang Mengting had her own dressing room, but she had heard everything said outside. Jiang Mengting looked at Tangyuan and smiled. "Let Peach Red sing it," she said. "We don't have so many rules here at Xiaoyao Dock. Good songs are for everyone to sing."

Tangyuan glanced back at Jiang Mengting. Jiang Mengting's smile was friendly, but her eyes held a hint of coldness. After so many years as a secretary, Tangyuan was naturally perceptive. She knew Jiang Mengting was far from pleased with her.

After Jiang Mengting returned to her dressing room, Manager Zhang quietly advised, "Miss Peach Red, perhaps choose a different song."

Change it? Tangyuan gritted her teeth. She couldn't go to the restroom, and now she couldn't even sing a song? Was this how they treated people? It was bad enough being bullied by Li Qi, but why should she let these *bitches* bully her too? Forgetting reason, forgetting her identity, forgetting all the missions resting on her shoulders, all she wanted now was to rip these women's faces apart!

Tangyuan lifted her chin. "No! I'm singing 'Full Moon and Beautiful Flowers'!"

Li Banfeng called Luo Zhengnan, instructing him to investigate Chen Weixin's background in Qishuicao. With matters settled, Li Banfeng left Xiaoyao Dock, intending to ascertain the Customs and Defense Office's progress through other channels. Outland's plan to help Innerland construct a passage had to be thwarted. Another exit for Innerland meant another catastrophe for Purozhou.

Just as he stepped out the main gate, Li Banfeng faintly heard a ringing sound. The sound was so faint that Li Banfeng initially wondered if he had imagined it. But his Kinesis earrings alerted him: "Master, the sound is coming from the base of the wall."

Li Banfeng followed the wall for a moment and found a small bell hanging on a wild blade of grass. The bell was palm-sized. Li Banfeng felt he had seen it somewhere before, but couldn't place it immediately. He examined the bell thoroughly, noticing three characters inscribed on its inner surface: "Iron Gate Fortress."

What had happened at Iron Gate Fortress? And who had sent this bell? Li Banfeng held the bell, lost in thought.

*Ding-a-ling!*

A guest emerged from Xiaoyao Dock and stepped into a rickshaw. The rickshaw puller shook his carriage bell and set off.

Tangyuan truly put in the effort. She borrowed a private room from the manager and practiced every word for the entire afternoon. By the time she stepped onto the stage that evening, Tangyuan was drenched in sweat, and her stomach was rumbling again. Had she truly eaten something bad? Not necessarily. Whenever she felt nervous, Tangyuan's stomach would also feel a bit uneasy.

Don't think about her stomach now; focus on the singing. Tangyuan stood center stage, all lights and eyes fixed on her. As a secretary, she typically walked behind her superiors. Only when opening elevator doors or car doors was she permitted to go first—just enough to let her superior know she was there, but ideally, no one else. Now, she was standing at the very front. She felt a touch of fear, yet also a thrill of excitement.

The prelude began. Where was Li Qi? Had he not come to hear her sing tonight? Where had he gone?

"Where did the Fortress Lord go? When will he be back?" Wu Yongchao sat at home, pinching his chin, his face etched with worry.

The female Dwelling Cultivator, Li Zhijuan, asked, "If that phony Westerner truly defeats the Fortress Lord, are we expected to obey him from now on?"

Dwelling Cultivator Hu Fangyuan replied, "What else can we do? They've challenged us right on our doorstep."

Dick Chen arrived at Iron Gate Fortress with Daboiens, calling for the Fortress Lord to come out for a sparring match. The Dwelling Cultivators genuinely believed it was a martial arts challenge. Since the Fortress Lord was absent, they even offered to spar in his place. Only after clarifying the situation did they understand their opponent's true intentions. They hadn't traveled all this way for a martial arts contest; they were here to seize territory. Dick Chen's condition was that if he won, Iron Gate Fortress would become his, and he would be its new Fortress Lord. If he lost, he would surrender his entire family fortune of six hundred thousand silver dollars.

The situation was so sudden it caught the Dwelling Cultivators completely off guard. It wasn't that the Dwelling Cultivators were naive; anyone would have been caught unprepared by such a situation, because this sort of thing simply shouldn't happen at Iron Gate Fortress. Iron Gate Fortress was geographically secluded, and its Dwelling Cultivators were not adept at commerce. Beyond sustaining their daily lives, they possessed only meager savings. While years of persistent effort might yield some small profit, risking six hundred thousand silver dollars there made no sense whatsoever.

Was Iron Gate Fortress even worth six hundred thousand silver dollars? Regardless of its worth, the challengers had arrived, and the Fortress Lord was absent. How were they to respond?

The elder Dwelling Cultivator, Jin Yuankang, stated, "If they challenge us at our doorstep and the Fortress Lord doesn't answer, it's automatically considered a loss. By tradition, the one named Chen will be our Fortress Lord from now on."

Everyone exchanged glances, agreeing that Jin Yuankang had a point. But Wu Yongchao didn't agree. "You just said 'by tradition,' but whose tradition are you talking about?"

Jin Yuankang replied, "Isn't that the established rule in the Jianghu?"

Hu Fangyuan said, "The elder has traveled the Jianghu and gained much experience. He surely knows more about these rules than us."

"Nonsense!" Wu Yongchao suddenly snapped, his mind clearing at the mention of rules. "This isn't the Jianghu! This is Iron Gate Fortress! Jianghu rules don't apply here. We have our *own* rules!"

Li Zhijuan nodded. "That's right. Our Fortress Lord established our rules."

Outside the house, Li Banfeng pulled down his hat brim and silently vanished into the night.

In a village outside the fortress, Dick Chen had rented a civilian house. He was organizing his spiritual artifacts, preparing for the battle ahead. Daboiens found it hard to understand Dick Chen's reasoning—why he insisted on moving against Iron Gate Fortress.

With action against Iron Gate Fortress planned for the next day, Dick Chen finally revealed the full story to Daboiens. "I came here for that top-tier weapon you acquired," he stated.

"Are you referring to the Long Spear Zhao Xiaowan?"

Dick Chen nodded. "So far, this weapon has displayed astonishing power, but it hasn't revealed its full combat potential to me."

Daboiens explained, "That's because the weapon's inherent level is too high; there are some powers we cannot yet fully control."

Dick Chen smiled. "Daboiens, I've told you before, we are close comrades-in-arms. When we encounter problems, there's no need to rush to defend yourself. I've never had any doubts about your abilities. The Long Spear Zhao Xiaowan holds extraordinary significance for us. Many of our upcoming operations will revolve around this weapon. The reason I came here is to ascertain this weapon's origin, verify its authenticity, and also learn how to use it. Xiao Zhenggong purchased the Long Spear Zhao Xiaowan from Iron Gate Fortress at a high price. As for how Iron Gate Fortress acquired this spear, that investigation must begin here.

"I don't know the newly appointed Fortress Lord of Iron Gate Fortress, but I do know he killed the previous Fortress Lord, Zhou Anju, and also eliminated a band of brigands from Flying Eagle Mountain. Such a person won't readily cooperate with our investigation, so we'll need to employ some extraordinary measures. His current absence from Iron Gate Fortress presents a perfect opportunity for us. I intend to first seize Iron Gate Fortress, and then, once he returns, question him about the spear's origin."

"If this Fortress Lord is willing to tell the truth, will you return Iron Gate Fortress to him?"

"Not necessarily," Dick Chen replied, shaking his head with a smile. "This group of Dwelling Cultivators at Iron Gate Fortress also has a certain utility value."

Daboiens expressed some concern. "Iron Gate Fortress is easy to defend and difficult to attack. The process of seizing it might not go very smoothly."

Dick Chen sighed. "Daboiens, I've told you many times: we need to rebuild a brand new Purozhou. But first, you must have a thorough understanding of the current Purozhou. Why is Iron Gate Fortress easy to defend yet difficult to attack? Is it merely due to its geographical conditions?"

Daboiens replied, "The main reason is the Dwelling Cultivators within the fortress. Their Taoist sect inherently specializes in defense."

Dick Chen nodded. "Precisely. The key lies with these people. But do you know the origins of the Dwelling Cultivators of Iron Gate Fortress? They are Dwelling Cultivators who couldn't survive anywhere else. With a Fortress Lord present, they can form a formidable fighting force. But with no Fortress Lord here, they are nothing. A few words of intimidation will be enough to severely deter them. We'll see the results tomorrow. This battle won't be difficult; Iron Gate Fortress can be completely captured in a few hours. Should any unexpected issues arise, I have a contingency plan. I've invited a helper, and he should be arriving soon."

A little after 5 AM, the sound of a rickshaw bell echoed from outside the civilian house. Dick Chen pushed open the door and smiled at the rickshaw puller outside. "Come in and rest for a bit?"

The rickshaw puller shook his head. "No need. I can sleep in the rickshaw. Just call me when it's time to work."