Chapter 488: Fire at Just the Right Moment

Upon seeing Li Banfeng, Xiao Yeci would usually exclaim, "Benefactor!"

Sometimes she would call him "Seventh Master," but rarely "Seventh Brother," because Lu Chunying always called Li Banfeng "Seventh Brother."

Today, calling him "Seventh Brother" repeatedly clearly indicated something was amiss.

Li Banfeng, going along with the situation, asked, "Why do you insist on inviting me to dinner?"

"I just," Xiao Yeci's cheeks flushed crimson, "want to be with Seventh Brother, together..."

"Don't be nervous. Sit down and speak slowly," Li Banfeng said. He turned on the gramophone and played a soothing violin piece.

Xiao Yeci calmed herself, and said, word by word, "Seventh Brother, I've been thinking about you these past two days. When I open my eyes, I see you; when I close them, I still see you..."

Could these truly be words from Xiao Yeci?

"You miss me that much?" Li Qi chuckled. The violin piece playing on the gramophone was slightly off-key.

This gramophone was a gift from Ling Miaosheng to Li Banfeng. It was originally a hand-cranked model, but his wife had converted it into a wind-up gramophone, making it much easier to use.

The gramophone being off-key proved that Xiao Yeci was under the influence of a 'hook'.

Xiao Yeci lowered her head and said, "For a woman like me to say such things, I've truly lost all sense of shame.

Seventh Brother, I know you won't marry me, but can you please treat me differently from other women?"

Li Qi, very curious, asked, "How differently?"

Xiao Yeci stammered, "Even if you just let me be... your mistress, I would be so happy. I'd give Seventh Brother anything he wants."

Xiao Yeci repeatedly hinted that these were not words she should be saying, yet she said them anyway.

She was being held captive.

What leverage could be used to hold Xiao Yeci captive?

It could only be Lu Chunying.

What happened to Lu Chunying? Was she kidnapped?

Isn't that too difficult?

Lu Chunying is the head of the Lu family. With her current strength, how could she be kidnapped so easily?

Li Banfeng sighed and said, "Yeci, we're all family here. Speaking like this makes you seem like an outsider. It's just a meal. I'll have the kitchen prepare it immediately, and we can eat right here at Xiaoyaowu. We'll have some drinks with dinner, and once you've had enough, we can discuss things."

Xiao Yeci trembled with embarrassment, "Seventh Brother, can we not be at Xiaoyaowu..."

Li Banfeng paused, "What's wrong with Xiaoyaowu?"

Xiao Yeci lowered her head and said, "Too many people here know me. I'm really... too embarrassed."

Not being at Xiaoyaowu meant the other party had specified a location, and there was an ambush.

"Then you pick a place."

"I'd like to go to the Conqueror Restaurant. The sunset there is beautiful, and their stir-fried pork slices are delicious."

Conqueror Restaurant was a new Western restaurant opened by foreigners, serving Western cuisine.

Do they serve stir-fried pork slices at a Western restaurant?

She mentioned the beautiful sunset and delicious stir-fried pork slices.

She was likely referring to Duan Shaoxia.

Duan Shaoxia held Lu Chunying captive?

Does she have that ability?

This matter was certainly related to Duan Shaoxia, but her exact stance was difficult to ascertain.

"Alright, we'll go to the Conqueror Restaurant. Wait for me to change and get ready." Li Banfeng left the room, casually taking the record from the gramophone.

Back in his portable residence, Li Banfeng handed the record to his wife. She quickly listened to it once and relayed a crucial piece of information to Li Banfeng:

"Yeci, if you just lure Li Qi out, I'll immediately have them send Chunying back. From now on, Chunying will be your daughter alone, and I'll have no further connection to her.

Don't do anything foolish, and don't say anything stupid. If I hear you say one wrong word to Li Qi, Chunying's life will be forfeit."

As Li Banfeng had anticipated, Lu Chunying had been kidnapped.

Lu Chunying had braved many dangers with Li Banfeng, yet she was actually kidnapped by this woman.

The opponent was no small fry, so Li Banfeng needed to make more preparations.

His wife said, "Darling husband, this 'hook' is of ordinary quality. We can trace it back using 'Silken Threads'."

Li Banfeng was taken aback, "The Silken Thread earrings have this ability?"

"She's just learned it recently, so let her try. Send her to me."

Li Banfeng took out the earrings and gave them to his wife. She meticulously described the characteristics of the 'hook': "You can discern the hook's direction from its sound. If you listen carefully two more times, you should be able to generally identify it."

While his wife guided the Silken Threads, Li Banfeng retrieved cabbage seeds. After growing the cabbage-man, Li Banfeng exited his portable residence, found Ma Wu, and instructed him to immediately gather his people.

Twenty minutes later, Li Banfeng returned to the private room.

Xiao Yeci looked at Li Banfeng and asked, "Seventh Brother, are we really going?"

Li Banfeng nodded, a profound smile on his face.

Xiao Yeci was very nervous. After a long hesitation, she still led Li Banfeng out the door.

Reaching the roadside, Xiao Yeci hailed a rickshaw, which took the two of them to the Conqueror Restaurant.

Upon entering the private dining room, Xiao Yeci handed the menu to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng sat calmly, a profound smile on his face.

Seeing that Li Banfeng remained silent, Xiao Yeci whispered, "Then I'll order the dishes."

After the dishes were ordered, a waiter came to collect the menu. Although dressed in men's clothing, Xiao Yeci knew it was Duan Shaoxia.

Duan Shaoxia first glanced at Xiao Yeci, then at Li Banfeng, before leaving the private room.

"The dishes are coming!" Xiao Yeci glanced at Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng's smile remained profound.

Upon reaching the restaurant's main hall, Duan Shaoxia told the chef, "The dishes have been ordered."

The chef nodded, walked through the kitchen, into the restaurant's backyard, and entered a room, saying, "Bishop Mosonov, the dishes have been ordered."

A blond, blue-eyed middle-aged man turned around and said, "Our battle is about to begin. Remember, we only need those who can speak; nothing else matters. If Li Qi can speak but cannot walk, it will be even more advantageous for us. Go forth, my warriors, and may the Holy Light protect you."

He commanded a total of fifty-six people, all foreigners. Each had a different role and mission. Fifty of them were to go to the private room to capture Li Qi, while of the remaining six, five were tasked with protecting the Bishop, and one was to continue monitoring Xiao Yeci and Duan Shaoxia using a 'hook'.

Daboinz was not assigned any tasks. Equally awkward was Xiao Manli.

Mosonov did not speak to them. Daboinz felt it was inappropriate for him to stay there, so he proactively asked for instructions: "I'll patrol outside the restaurant to prevent irrelevant individuals from disrupting our operation."

Mosonov nodded, "Very good. Report to me immediately if there's any news. Manli, you go with Dabo."

Daboinz and Xiao Manli left the restaurant together. As they walked down the street, Daboinz lowered his voice and asked, "Did you tell Bishop Mosonov the information?"

Xiao Manli did not deny it. "He happened to bring people to Lushui City. After learning the news, I immediately sought him out. As a member of the Light-Seeking Group, this is my duty."

Daboinz said, "Now I understand why your reputation is so poor. You fundamentally don't understand the concept of trust. Cooperating with you was the most foolish decision I've ever made!"

Xiao Manli argued, "Our opponents are the powerful figures of Puro Province. It's impossible for just the two of us to complete this mission."

Daboinz sneered, "Why can't you be more honest? You're worried I'll take Red Lotus for myself, you're worried you won't get any benefits!"

Xiao Manli felt no shame. "Shouldn't I be worried? Shouldn't I receive what's due to me?"

Daboinz was not optimistic about this. "The promises weren't made to us, they were made to his subordinates. That bastard Mosonov never considered us as people; he won't give us anything..."

Daboinz stopped mid-sentence. The small spider he had placed outside had sensed something.

"Since we haven't gained anything, I don't think we need to bear too much responsibility." Daboinz quickly turned into a nearby alley, and Xiao Manli hurried after him.

"What exactly happened?"

Daboinz did not answer, merely offering a prayer for Mosonov: "May the Holy Light protect him."

On the street leading to the Conqueror Restaurant, He Yuxiu approached with dozens of people.

On the other side of the street, Chu Huaiyuan also approached with dozens of people.

The He family members wore white short jackets, while the Chu family members wore grey Western suits.

Ma Wu had arrived earlier than all of them. His subordinates were all dressed in black Zhongshan suits.

The owner of the Conqueror Restaurant stood at the entrance, intending to inquire about the situation. Before he could speak, He Yuxiu grabbed his hair, twisted his neck, and threw him onto the roadside.

Inside the private room, Li Qi smiled as he watched Xiao Yeci. Xiao Yeci, restless and constantly rubbing her hands, said, "Seventh Brother, if you don't like it here, let's just leave."

Li Qi remained silent, and Xiao Yeci grew increasingly worried.

She wasn't sure if Li Qi had understood her hints, nor if he had made the necessary preparations.

Li Qi's body suddenly began to sink, submerging into the wooden floor.

Xiao Yeci gasped in alarm and cried out, "Benefactor, quick, leave!"

A mud pit appeared on the floor, its depth unknown, its destination uncertain. Li Qi, still seated, rapidly sank further.

This meant a Mud Cultivator had made a move.

Xiao Yeci rushed forward, intending to pull Li Qi out, but a foreigner burst through the private room wall, grabbing Xiao Yeci with brute force.

Over a dozen foreigners stormed through the doorway and swiftly chopped off Li Qi's limbs. This was the Bishop's order: they only needed someone who could speak; nothing else mattered.

Another dozen or so foreigners arrived, carrying a metal cabinet, into which they stuffed Li Qi.

Xiao Yeci trembled all over, tears streaming down her face.

Duan Shaoxia had told her that Li Qi would understand the current situation and surely have a way to handle it, but she never in her wildest dreams imagined such an outcome.

She struggled to her feet, intending to fight desperately, but was firmly pinned to the ground by two foreigners.

In the restaurant's backyard, Bishop Mosonov was brewing tea with a few subordinates. While arranging the tea set, he remarked, "The culture of Puro Province is disgusting, but their beverages are truly astonishing.

Especially tea, this ancient Eastern drink, which exhibits a charm in its details. For instance, the water temperature: green tea like this isn't suitable for boiling water, otherwise it will severely affect the taste. People in Puro Province call this 'overcooked'.

But if the water temperature is below eighty-five degrees, the tea's aroma won't be fully released. So the optimal temperature is between eighty-five and ninety degrees."

A subordinate asked, "Bishop, do you need to use a thermometer to measure the water temperature?"

Mosonov smiled and shook his head, "Of course not. What we need is judgment, judgment based on common sense.

Just like when water makes a loud noise as it boils, does that mean its temperature is very high? Common sense tells us that the sound of water and its temperature are two different things.

Similarly, many people have told you that Puro Province is powerful, but reputation and strength are also two different things. While certain individuals might possess excellent combat abilities, against meticulous tactics and team coordination, they are vulnerable.

For example, this once-famous Li Qi and his ragtag group of subordinates, no matter how renowned they are, their true strength is as pathetic as street thugs.

The entire Puro Province is just as pathetic. Leaving such good land to these rabble is equivalent to sacrilege. When the time is right, this land will eventually belong to us.

The time is almost here, just like this pot of water. It's boiled just right now. Hand me the kettle."

Li Banfeng handed the kettle to Mosonov.

Mosonov froze for a moment, not taking the kettle, and looked at Li Banfeng beside him.

Li Banfeng, holding the kettle, said, "Do you want this water or not?"

"You, who are you..."

"I've already brought it; just take it." Li Banfeng poured a kettle of boiling water over Mosonov's head.

Mosonov let out a gut-wrenching scream. He turned to look at his six subordinates and found them standing in place, their heads resting at their own feet.

Hadn't they said Li Qi's limbs were chopped off and he was stuffed into a cabinet?

The foreigners who stormed the private room all believed this. One foreigner sealed the metal cabinet with a spell, cautioning those outside the room: "Immediately hand this person over to the Bishop. Heighten your vigilance; he might still try to escape."

He Yuxiu asked from outside the door, "Where is your Bishop? If you don't tell me, how can I deliver him?"

The foreigner froze for a moment, seeing He Yuxiu throw in a blond head. "I just asked him, and he said he didn't know. Do you?"

The group of foreigners was still stunned. He Yuxiu casually picked up a plate and sliced off half of that foreigner's skull.

A foreigner charged at He Yuxiu but suddenly collapsed onto the ground. He had been hit by Ma Wu's technique, causing his blood vessels to burst.

Chu Er was besieged by two foreigners. She drew a cut on her own face with a small knife, and two new cuts appeared on the faces of the two foreigners.

Chu Er's cut was less than an inch long, while the cuts on the two foreigners' faces were nearly half a chi, splitting from their cheeks all the way to the back of their heads.

A nearby foreigner was terrified, his feet unsteady. Tan Fucheng pulled up a chair and said, "Don't be scared. Have a seat. Do you know where our young lady is?"

The foreigner remained silent. Tan Fucheng placed a finger on the foreigner's eye socket. "Won't talk? Then I'll have to take something good from you."

Lu Yuanxin pulled a centipede out from the back of a foreigner's skull, then helped Xiao Yeci up from the ground.

Xiao Yeci tearfully rushed towards the metal cabinet, opened its door, and saw Li Qi with his limbs chopped off.

"Benefactor! Oh, Benefactor!" Xiao Yeci wished she could bash her head against the cabinet and die.

He Yuxiu watched for a moment, then pushed Xiao Yeci aside and said, "Stop wailing. That's just a cabbage."

This was a cabbage-man created by Li Banfeng, refined by his wife. Normally, He Yuxiu wouldn't have been able to tell.

But now that it was disfigured from being cut, He Yuxiu spotted the flaw from the wounds.

Chu Er wiped the blood from her face and asked, "Where did Seventh Brother actually go?"

Li Banfeng, using the Silken Thread earrings, traced the 'hook' back to the restaurant's backyard.

The chilling screams from the backyard startled everyone. Li Banfeng, clutching Mosonov's hair, pressed his right cheek against the wall and moved him rapidly forward.

The rough wall quickly abraded Mosonov's skin, exposing the bone. Mosonov's cries grew louder, and Li Banfeng warned him, "The volume of your voice will affect my mood. The louder you scream, the more you will suffer."

Mosonov dared not scream anymore. Li Banfeng asked, "Where is Lu Chunying?"

Mosonov said, "Unless you release me, I won't tell you."

"Releasing you is a bit difficult. I can, however, turn you over!" Li Banfeng pressed Mosonov's left cheek against the wall and continued the friction.

At the Border Defense Hall, Liao Zihui was preparing to leave work when he suddenly received an urgent report from Xia Shumin: "Commander, something major has happened! Mosonov and his party from Lavsha Nation are in conflict with Li Qi and others at the Conqueror Restaurant. Casualties have already occurred."

Liao Zihui was stunned, "How could something like this happen?"

Xia Shumin said, "The cause of the incident still requires further investigation, Commander. If Li Qi isn't stopped quickly, Mosonov and his party might all be killed, which could lead to a serious dispute."

Liao Zihui sighed, "This matter must be taken with the utmost seriousness. Gather all deputy commanders and key personnel from each department. Convene an emergency meeting immediately to discuss a resolution plan."

What? A meeting?

Xia Shumin suspected he had misheard.

Secretary Ling Sujun asked, "Several deputy commanders are currently away on business. Should we consult them for their opinions via emergency communication devices?"

Liao Zihui clicked his tongue and said, "Relying on communication devices, some details simply cannot be fully explained. Notify all personnel currently on business trips to return to the Border Defense Hall as soon as possible."

What? Still waiting for those on business trips to return?

Xia Shumin completely failed to understand Liao Zihui's actions.

"Commander, the conflict at the restaurant is still ongoing. Shouldn't we take some emergency measures?"

Liao Zihui nodded, "Yes, some emergency measures are needed. Immediately draft a report; the wording must be precise. At the same time, follow up on the latest developments of the conflict and report the information to your superiors as soon as possible."

Xia Shumin was speechless and went to write the report.

Liao Zihui opened the second drawer of his desk and pulled out a document.

"The Light-Seeking Society, setting your sights on Puro Province. I was just wondering how to deal with you, and now you're delivering yourselves to your deaths.

Of all people you could have picked, you picked Li Qi. This saves me trouble."

Mosonov's face was worn smooth, ground down to the bone. He agreed to reveal Lu Chunying's whereabouts, but on the condition that he personally lead the way, and only Li Qi could accompany him.

This was a trap. He Yuxiu repeatedly shook her head, signaling Li Qi not to go. Xiao Yeci wanted to go herself but was stopped by Duan Shaoxia.

Duan Shaoxia approached Mosonov and gently touched his skeletal cheek. "You once said you would help me find my child."

As their eyes met, a bloodshot vein appeared in Mosonov's eye.

He clutched Duan Shaoxia's hand and said, "My beautiful lady, as long as I live, the promises I made will certainly be fulfilled. Can you let me live?"

"I will certainly keep you alive. I will protect you with my life. Tell me where Lu Chunying is, and I will trade her for your life."

Mosonov hesitated. If he were in a normal state, he might have been able to resist Duan Shaoxia's technique.

But he was not normal now; he was barely clinging to life.

The two of them stared at each other for a full two minutes. Duan Shaoxia then leaned down and listened to Mosonov's whisper.

Duan Shaoxia stood up and said, "Lu Chunying is in a residence on Anxuan Road."

Li Banfeng couldn't quite discern Duan Shaoxia's true stance, and Duan Shaoxia offered no explanation.

Tan Fucheng and Lu Yuanxin, taking their people, went to the address provided by Duan Shaoxia and brought Lu Chunying back.

Lu Chunying was not afraid; instead, she felt some self-reproach: "Seventh Brother, I was careless and got caught by these foreign devils."

It was indeed Lu Chunying's carelessness this time. Upon learning that Xiao Yeci was being threatened by Xiao Manli, Lu Chunying had intended to eliminate Xiao Manli. However, a subordinate of Duan Shaoxia's unexpectedly arrived, catching Lu Chunying off guard.

Eager to settle the matter, Lu Chunying took two subordinates and followed the henchman to meet Duan Shaoxia. Little did she know, these two henchmen were members of the Light-Seeking Group. They led Lu Chunying into an ambush, capturing her and her subordinates alive.

Lu Chunying's disappearance left Xiao Yeci frantic. She rushed to the Lu family mansion to find Duan Shaoxia, only to discover that Duan Shaoxia herself was already under the Light-Seeking Group's surveillance and barely able to protect herself.

Fortunately, Madam Duan was insightful. She secretly informed Xiao Yeci to agree to Xiao Manli's terms and lure Li Qi out.

Xiao Yeci refused; she didn't want to harm Li Qi.

Duan Shaoxia, however, was confident. She believed Li Qi had a way to deal with the situation.

Xiao Yeci believed that even if she were to seek out Li Qi, she should first explain the situation. However, once at Xiaoyaowu, Xiao Yeci knew she was under the influence of a 'hook' and dared not speak plainly, only able to vaguely convey the situation to Li Qi through hints.

Duan Shaoxia's judgment was correct; Li Qi indeed had a way to deal with it. Over fifty members of the Light-Seeking Society were wiped out by him.

But where was Xiao Manli?

While everyone was cleaning up the scene, Li Banfeng and He Yuxiu found a quiet spot and asked Xiao Yeci, "What is Xiao Manli's relationship to you?"

Xiao Yeci replied, "She is my elder sister."

At this point, Xiao Yeci didn't want to say anything more.

He Yuxiu said, "Sister, speak. There are no outsiders here."

Xiao Yeci lowered her head and said, "I don't care, but I'm afraid someone will deny Nannan's identity again."

He Yuxiu chuckled, "Sister, identity isn't given; it's earned. If anyone dares to gossip about Chunying, we'll tear their mouths apart. Let's see who dares to bare their teeth after that."

This was a harsh truth, and Xiao Yeci naturally understood it. Her words gained a little more confidence: "I am from Yesongqiao. In Yesongqiao, our Xiao family's financial situation is quite good.

Xiao Manli is the eldest daughter of our generation. She was betrothed to the Yang family a long time ago, just waiting for the day to marry.

That year, she fell gravely ill and was confined to the courtyard for nearly a year. After she recovered, a child appeared in our home."

He Yuxiu chuckled, "You scholars really beat around the bush. It's clear she gave birth to a child, yet you talk about her being sick. This child is Chunying, isn't she?"

Xiao Yeci nodded, "This child is indeed Chunying. At the time, there were already rumors circulating that Lu Dongliang, the eldest son of the Lu family, had slept with my elder sister. My mother was afraid the Yang family would break off the engagement then, so she wanted to abandon the child."

He Yuxiu shook her head and said, "They probably wouldn't dare. This is Lu Dongliang's offspring. If Lu Dongliang didn't bother with it, the matter would pass. But if he did, your Xiao family would be ruined. He's ruthless. Would you dare gamble on this?"

Xiao Yeci shook her head, "We wouldn't dare gamble on it. My father thought for two days and then placed the child in my room to look after her first. I was only eleven then, not born of the legitimate wife, and my mother had died early. Whatever my father told me to do, I agreed. Who would have thought, they..."

He Yuxiu had already guessed the outcome: "They pinned this child on you."

Xiao Yeci sighed, "At first, they were secretive. Then, after two more years, they forced me to acknowledge the child. Another two years later, my father said I had disgraced the family and drove both me and the child out."

He Yuxiu sighed, "Your father must have seen through it. He probably determined that Lu Dongliang wouldn't pursue the matter further, so he simply washed his hands of it."

Xiao Yeci said, "Fortunately, I am literate. By doing copying and writing for others, I managed to raise Chunying. But I really am not..."

Lu Chunying chimed in, "You are my biological mother. Sister Xiu is right: anyone who dares to gossip will get their mouth torn. They'll quiet down after two tears."

Xiao Yeci lowered her head, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and said, "But Manli, she..."

Li Banfeng sighed, "There's no need to dwell on this. I think Ms. Xiao Manli is also a reasonable person. I'll find an opportunity to talk to her, offer her some more advice, and she should listen."

He Yuxiu said, "The key is, where is she?"

Zuo Wu entered and said, "Seventh Master, those foreign devils are all locked in the kitchen. How do you wish to deal with them?"

Li Banfeng thought for a moment and said, "You all go back to Xiaoyaowu and wait for me. I'll have a little chat with them."

Everyone left the Conqueror Restaurant. Li Banfeng sent all the foreigners into his portable residence.

"I have some things to discuss with you. Let's start with the Light-Seeking Group."

The group of foreigners lowered their heads in silence. Mosonov, exerting all his strength, said, "We are Lavsha people. Before you harm me, you must consider the consequences carefully.

Release us immediately, go to the Lushui City Border Defense Hall, and confess your crimes. There's still room for reconciliation."

Hong Ying stood up and said, "What nonsense is this guy spouting?"

The gramophone sang, "It seems they think we're not hospitable enough. Old Teapot, is the tea ready?"

Teapot chuckled, "The water just boiled, perfect for warming you all up."