Chapter 511: Snowflake Bay

Ma Wu's face was grim as he looked at Shen Jinzhong, the "Great Golden Seal" of the Three Heroes Gate, across the wine table in the actor's private room at Free and Easy Dock. Ma Wu was a businessman who believed in cordial relations for prosperity. He rarely showed displeasure at the table, but today, he was genuinely angry.

"Shen Jinzhong," Ma Wu began, "you're a difficult man to get hold of. I sent several invitations, and you've finally decided to show up today."

Shen Jinzhong gave a dry laugh. "Fifth Master, I did have some matters to attend to recently. Please accept my apologies."

Shen Jinzhong's humble demeanor somewhat eased the tension. Ma Wu asked, "You knew the reason behind Qin Tianjiu's disappearance all along. Why didn't you tell us?"

Shen Jinzhong quickly explained, "Fifth Master, I did hear some rumors, but I couldn't confirm them, so I didn't dare to speak carelessly."

"What couldn't you confirm? Isn't that man named An Zongding your friend?"

At the mention of An Zongding, Shen Jinzhong fell silent, his gaze shifting uneasily.

Ma Wu understood his implication and instructed his subordinates to leave.

Once they were alone in the room, Shen Jinzhong finally spoke. "Fifth Master, An Zongding isn't really my friend; he's more like my grand-master."

Ma Wu knew that Shen Jinzhong was a martial cultivator. The two paths of cultivation—civil and martial—had many practitioners, and their methods and techniques were generally open knowledge. Therefore, neither civil nor martial cultivators placed much emphasis on direct lineage.

"Shen Jinzhong, don't try to fob me off with just any excuse. You claim he's your grand-master, but I'd like to know who your actual teacher was."

Shen Jinzhong waved his hand. "I'm not talking about a cultivation sect, but a gang. An Zongding is one of the founders of the Three Heroes Gate."

Ma Wu paused, surprised. How old was the Three Heroes Gate? While Puluo Province lacked a written history, the Three Heroes Gate had been the largest gang in the province since Ma Wu's father, Ma Chunting, could remember.

"How old is An Zongding?"

Shen Jinzhong shook his head. "I don't know. No one in the Three Heroes Gate knows, not even the late Bao Jingzhong. Elder An's cultivation is beyond this earthly realm, and his age is not something I can ascertain."

An Zongding was a Cloud Realm cultivator. Cloud Realm cultivators were indeed not to be trifled with, but that alone wouldn't intimidate Ma Wu. When it came to influential Cloud Realm figures, Ma Wu also knew quite a few, such as Feng Daiku, Qiu Luoye, and Shui Yongquan.

"So, the Three Heroes Gate is still under An Zongding's control?"

Shen Jinzhong still shook his head. "He doesn't usually concern himself with gang affairs. He's mainly focused on managing the business at Snow Flower Bank now."

"Snow Flower Bank?" Ma Wu was stunned.

Shen Jinzhong nodded. "Fifth Master, you should understand my predicament now. I can't tell you about this matter. My only option was to find a way to get Little Nine back."

Ma Wu stroked his chin, silent for a long time.

***

Inside the Companion Dwelling, Li Banfeng and his Lady were relaxing by listening to music. The gramophone would play a tune, and Li Banfeng would guess its title. If he guessed wrong, Li Banfeng would apply rouge to his Lady. If he guessed correctly, he would tickle her belly. Knowing Li Banfeng was somewhat competitive, his Lady chose songs that weren't too difficult, allowing him to win several rounds.

However, when it was Li Banfeng's turn to tickle, he showed no mercy. His fingers danced so skillfully that the gramophone repeatedly "laughed" until it sputtered.

"Stop, husband!" the gramophone pleaded. "This little servant can't take it anymore! You can't tickle me any further; I can't even catch my breath!"

Only when the gramophone repeatedly pleaded did Li Banfeng stop, and a puff of steam shot out from its horn.

The gramophone gasped for a moment, then suddenly noticed something amiss. "Husband, check on the Fifth Chamber. That wretch in there is stirring."

This was the House Spirit's ability; she could perceive every change within the residence.

When Li Banfeng went to the Fifth Chamber, he indeed saw a light flickering on the wall, and an image appeared before him. Through this image, Li Banfeng saw what was happening outside the Companion Dwelling. Inside Li Banfeng's residence, the projector's light flickered continuously, as if it urgently needed to find him.

Li Banfeng asked, "How did you know the projector was looking for me?"

The scene shifted, and a field appeared on the wall. The beautiful Fifth Chamber girl, clad in a gauze dress, was picking flowers in the field. "I didn't know he was looking for you," she said. "I just missed him, and when I looked out the window, I noticed he was very anxious."

The Fifth Chamber girl was hard to figure out; with so many magical artifacts in the house, why did she have such a singular fondness for the projector?

When Li Banfeng left the Companion Dwelling, the projector immediately said, "Seventh Director, you have a call. It's Luo Zhengnan, and he's called several times. It sounds urgent."

Li Banfeng took the phone, connected the dial pad, and called Luo Zhengnan. Luo Zhengnan answered, said little, and immediately transferred the call to Ma Wu.

Once connected, Ma Wu told Li Banfeng, "Old Seven, it's best if you stop investigating An Zongding."

Li Banfeng frowned. "Why shouldn't I?"

Ma Wu pondered for a moment. "This person has too significant a background."

Hearing Ma Wu hesitate, Li Banfeng frowned. "What kind of background could scare you like this?"

Ma Wu thought for a long time. "Have you heard of Snow Flower Bank?"

"No, I haven't."

"How should I explain it to you?" Ma Wu mused. "Do you have any silver dollars on you?"

Li Banfeng usually carried some silver dollars. "Yes," he replied.

"Take one out and look at it."

Li Banfeng took out a silver dollar. The front was engraved with the characters "Puluo," and the back featured a snowflake. All silver dollars in Puluo Province were of this design, and Li Banfeng had never questioned the snowflake's specific meaning.

Ma Wu said, "Old Seven, all the silver dollars in Puluo Province are produced by Snow Flower Bank. You should realize how special that place is."

Li Banfeng held the silver dollar, turning it over in his hand for a moment. "Is this An Zongding the leader of Snow Flower Bank?" he asked. "Where is Snow Flower Bank? I'd like to go talk to him."

Ma Wu was at a loss for words.

"Old Seven, that place is truly not somewhere we can afford to provoke. Little Fatty was lucky this time; we managed to rescue him, and his wife is back. He won't need to return to the Three Heroes Gate anymore; we can look after him ourselves. Let's just drop this matter here."

Li Banfeng still didn't grasp the situation. "Just tell me where Snow Flower Bank is," he said. "I'll go check it out when I have a moment."

"Snow Flower Bank is a place that cannot be named," Ma Wu explained. "No one can pinpoint its exact location. The people from Snow Flower Bank rarely show themselves, and we usually avoid discussing them. If you talk too much, they might hear you. Old Seven, listen to my advice: you cannot pursue this matter any further."

What was wrong with Ma Wu? Why was he so cautious even when speaking?

Li Banfeng returned to the Companion Dwelling and asked the gramophone, "Lady, what kind of place is Snow Flower Bank?"

"It's where money is minted; all the silver dollars in Puluo Province come from there."

"So, the people who work there must be quite special, right?"

"Naturally, those who control Puluo Province's currency are no ordinary individuals. The people of Puluo Province don't dare to openly discuss them, and this little servant doesn't know much about them either."

Li Banfeng then turned to the Companion Dwelling itself. "Old man, have you ever been to Snow Flower Bank?"

The old man's answer was entirely expected: "I should have been there, but I've forgotten where it is."

Hong Ying didn't even grasp the concept of Snow Flower Bank, and while other artifacts had heard of it, none knew more than the Lady.

Li Banfeng now had a crucial question: "Snow Flower Bank's influence is so vast, and their people rarely show themselves. Why did they suddenly appear this time, and why have they suddenly set their sights on me?"

Compared to the others, Red Lotus knew more. "The people from Snow Flower Bank rarely reveal their identities; it doesn't mean they always stay within Snow Flower Bank. They frequently travel throughout Puluo Province to assess its conditions, which helps them determine how much currency to mint and how to distribute it."

Distribute the money?

Li Banfeng noted that phrase.

Red Lotus continued, "The 'not revealing their identities' part means that the people from Snow Flower Bank won't easily show who they are. If someone reveals their identity, there must be a special reason behind it."

An Zongding was from Snow Flower Bank. He was investigating me and had sent the lingering spirits I'd interacted with to another province. Chu Zikai took these spirits and resold them to the black market. Could he also be connected to Snow Flower Bank?

Does the Dark Star Bureau have any information on Snow Flower Bank? There was too much information to check, and the Dark Star Bureau had many files that couldn't be digitized. Flipping through them one by one would take an indefinite amount of time.

"Look at the time! He still has the mind to be looking through files?"

"He hasn't done anything wrong, so he must be confident."

***

The next morning, Zhong Er returned to his workstation, picked up a dark ability tutorial for fighters, and read it meticulously, word by word. He was indeed reading very carefully; from 8:30 to 10:00, he remained on the same page, never turning it. He was very nervous, currently only able to disguise his anxiety through studying.

Shen Jingye had sought permission from his superiors, who had agreed to use the dark ability testing device. The device would be activated at 3 PM, subjecting him to a comprehensive test of his dark ability growth over the past year. He had secretly taken the "Harmonizer" several times, and imagining his ability growth curve, Zhong Er couldn't help but shiver.

*Thump! Thump!* His shiver was so intense that it made the surrounding tables tremble.

Ming Xing asked, surprised, "What's wrong? Urgent bathroom?"

Zhong Er nodded. "A little, yes. I'm going to the restroom."

He had just stood up when the desk phone rang. Li Qi asked him to come to his office.

In Director Li's office, Zhong Er still couldn't stop trembling as he sat on the sofa. Li Banfeng produced a lab report and told Zhong Er, "The powder you confiscated from that black market dealer earlier? Its composition has been identified. It's not the Harmonizer."

Zhong Er was startled. "But it *is* the Harmonizer! After I took it, I could feel my cultivation improving."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Those powders sold by the black market dealer contain many hallucinogenic ingredients. That's how he makes money. If you don't believe me, look at the lab report."

Zhong Er took the lab report and examined it. The report listed the sample number, its main characteristics, and clearly stated that the sample contained hallucinogenic components.

Zhong Er was astonished for a long time. "But after I took that powder, I experienced clear symptoms of dizziness and fatigue! Those are all caused by the Harmonizer's side effects!"

Li Banfeng said, "Those aren't side effects of the Harmonizer; they're caused by the powder's toxicity. Look at the lab report again; it states that this powder is toxic."

The lab report indeed stated: "Sample possesses a certain toxicity; toxic components unconfirmed. Further testing required."

Zhong Er held the lab report, speechless for a long time. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. *I was cheated by a black market dealer, but that dealer actually saved my life!*

"Wait," he thought, "it's not over yet."

Zhong Er said, "Director Li, I told you that I've taken the Harmonizer more than once. The doses I took previously weren't from *him*; those should have been real Harmonizer."

Li Banfeng asked, "Where did those previous doses come from?"

"They were all obtained from the Culture Palace black market. Some I saved up to buy, others I confiscated while on duty."

Li Banfeng said, "You can rest assured about that. I've investigated the Culture Palace black market. For the past few years, all the Harmonizer they've sold has been of this type."

"All fake?" Zhong Er asked, disbelieving. "Are you saying I've been deceived this entire time?"

"Yes, you were deceived. You never acquired any true Harmonizer. The money you were conned out of certainly can't be recovered, and as for the emotional investment you lost, you'll just have to find somewhere to shed a private tear."

Li Qi's voice echoed in Zhong Er's mind. "You were deceived... you never acquired any true Harmonizer..."

Zhong Er rubbed his forehead, suddenly feeling a sense of relief. *If I never took the Harmonizer, what is there to worry about?*

He repeatedly bowed in thanks to Li Banfeng, then straightened his chest and walked out of the office.

Li Banfeng placed the lab report into a file box. This lab report had nothing to do with any Harmonizer Zhong Er might have taken; it wasn't a Harmonizer lab report at all. During his fight with the Centipede Workshop, Li Banfeng had collected fragments from the main steam pipeline and submitted them to the lab for analysis. These fragments possessed certain toxicity and hallucinogenic properties, but the lab report only listed the sample number. Zhong Er, affected by the Foolish Cultivation technique, overlooked many details and took this report as irrefutable proof. Armed with this "irrefutable proof," Zhong Er was now convinced he had never taken the Harmonizer.

***

By 2 PM, after a thorough search confirmed he was not carrying any dark energy carriers, Zhong Er was led into the testing chamber. The testing chamber was divided into inner and outer layers. Zhong Er was in the inner layer, which was less than two square meters, stuffy, hot, and completely dark. He sat there for a full hour. This was clearly designed to weaken the test subject's psychological defenses.

Had it been yesterday, Zhong Er would have already broken down, as at this very time yesterday, he still believed he had taken the Harmonizer. But now, Zhong Er felt remarkably calm. Whatever he might have subjectively done or thought before didn't matter. What mattered was the objective fact that he had never illegally taken the Harmonizer, because he had never acquired any *true* Harmonizer.

A strong beam of light pierced the room, shining directly into Zhong Er's eyes. He squinted, suddenly feeling the chair beneath him begin to vibrate violently.

The test had begun!

Shen Jingye and a group of directors stood outside the testing chamber, expressionlessly watching Zhong Er inside. After a period of shaking, broad beams of light passed through Zhong Er's body. The light beams seemed to have a physical presence, giving Zhong Er the sensation of being pierced by a thousand arrows, and for a moment, he even felt as if he were being dismembered.

Shen Jingye glanced at Li Qi and sighed lightly. "I've always maintained that truly important matters shouldn't be left to machines, because machines lack flexibility. I genuinely wanted to provide Qin Minghui with a fallback, ensuring he'd have a stable job and a peaceful life even if he left the Dark Star Bureau. But you, personally, have cut off that path for him."

Li Qi looked at Zhong Er, then surveyed the complex array of instruments and equipment surrounding the testing chamber. He turned to Shen Jingye. "How long does this thing take to produce results?"

"Once the test is complete," Shen Jingye replied, "the results are immediate. There's no room for leniency whatsoever."

Li Banfeng nodded. "Good. Let's make this clear: if the test shows Zhong Er illegally took the Harmonizer today, I'll resign from my director's position, go wherever you assign me, and no longer interfere with the bureau's affairs."

Shen Jingye smiled. "Director Li, I've heard of your reputation in Puluo Province. Since you've spoken, your words must hold true!"

Li Banfeng nodded. "Rest assured, I never go back on my word. But let's also be clear: if the test *doesn't* show Zhong Er illegally took the Harmonizer today, you personally approve a batch of Harmonizer for him, enough to promote him to a Second-Tier Fighter, as compensation."

Shen Jingye frowned. "That's against regulations."

Li Banfeng scoffed. "Is wronging an innocent colleague in line with regulations, then? Director Shen, do you dare to gamble or not? If you dare, sign the contract now. If you're chickening out, just say so!"

With a group of directors watching, Shen Jingye shook his head. "I strongly dislike your rough-and-tumble ways, but today I'm willing to take this gamble with you. My aim is to admonish your arrogance and ignorance!"

To be honest, Shen Jingye had held back for a long time. Due to Li Qi's special status as a Balancer, he couldn't simply remove him from the Dark Star Bureau. However, if he could alter Li Qi's duties and prevent him from meddling in the bureau's affairs, Shen Jingye wouldn't miss the opportunity.

Li Qi had genuinely prepared the contract, and he pressed his handprint first. Shen Jingye didn't equivocate; he pricked his fingertip and also pressed his handprint.

Li Banfeng reminded him, "Other provinces have their own methods, and Puluo Province has its own means. If you try any tricks and fabricate false test results to frame Zhong Er, don't blame me for turning hostile."

Shen Jingye scoffed. "Jianghu people have their rough habits, and decent people have their proper rules. Since I agreed to this wager today, I intend to make you lose thoroughly and convincingly!"

After waiting for half an hour, the light inside the testing chamber gradually faded. Zhong Er, drenched in sweat, heard a voice question him: "Have you ever taken the Harmonizer?"

"Yes!" Zhong Er replied uncontrollably.

Shen Jingye looked at Li Qi. "Director Li, he's admitted it to our faces. What do you have to say now?"

Li Qi said calmly, "Let him finish first."

Shen Jingye emphasized, "As long as Qin Minghui has *illegally* taken the Harmonizer, you lose, regardless of how many times. The number of doses doesn't affect the conclusion."

The questioning voice echoed again in the testing chamber: "When did you take the Harmonizer?"

"On the eighth of this month."

"Where did you obtain the Harmonizer from?"

"It was issued by the Bureau!"

This answer was flawless; Li Qi had secured a reward for the Public Security Team, which was indeed the Harmonizer.

Li Banfeng looked at Shen Jingye. "You ordered this Harmonizer to be distributed. Taking Harmonizer that *you* issued isn't a violation, is it?"

Shen Jingye looked at Zhong Er and smiled faintly. "The truth is about to surface; there's no hiding it. Why play these games and prolong this?"

Another question came: "Aside from the Harmonizer issued by the Bureau, when else have you taken it?"

Zhong Er replied, "I have not."

"Repeat that."

"I have *not* taken it!"

The detection device asked the question from several different angles, but Zhong Er's answer remained consistent. The chair's vibrations ceased. The test was over.

Outside the testing chamber, the group of directors had already seen the results. Shen Jingye stared at Zhong Er in the testing chamber, astonished. Before entering the testing chamber, staff had specifically checked Zhong Er, confirming he wasn't carrying any dark energy carriers. Given Zhong Er's cultivation level, how could he possibly have withstood such a test without the aid of a dark energy carrier?

A faint smile touched Li Qi's lips. Through this test, he learned two things. First, the so-called dark ability testing device was nothing but a bluff. These instruments possessed lie-detection capabilities, their core functionality likely stemming from a Virtue Cultivation artifact, similar to the methods employed by border guards along the frontier. Since Qin Minghui was affected by Li Banfeng's Foolish Cultivation technique and firmly believed he hadn't illegally taken the Harmonizer, the Virtue Cultivation artifact was naturally useless against him. Second, the Dark Star Bureau knew very little, if anything, about the Foolish Cultivation technique. To date, they had developed no effective preventive or counteractive measures.

Li Banfeng smiled. "Director Shen, since Zhong Er didn't illegally take the Harmonizer, he's due his compensation."

Shen Jingye pondered for a moment. "This matter requires further investigation. Dark ability testing is a very complex process, and we've only completed the first stage today..."

Li Banfeng picked up the contract. "Shen," he said, "you might not fully grasp the concept of a contract, nor the consequences of breaking one."

Shen Jingye had some understanding of Puluo Province. He knew that contracts were highly valued there, and breaching one could lead to severe retribution. He also knew about "Contract Paper," a special material in Puluo Province that could itself punish contract breakers. Shen Jingye was filled with regret. He couldn't fathom why he had impulsively signed the contract with Li Qi just now; such an action was completely out of character for him. Now that the contract was signed and the results were out, what was to be done?

Shen Jingye recalled the rule for dealing with Li Qi: never provoke him over trivial matters. Was this matter trivial? In fact, it could be handled flexibly. Qin Minghui was an insignificant person to begin with; if he hadn't allowed himself to be compromised, Shen Jingye wouldn't have even needed to deal with him. As for the Harmonizer, it wasn't a difficult issue for Shen Jingye. The only concern was finding a plausible reason for its distribution. Losing a bet was clearly not a suitable justification, and a proper reason would take time to formulate.

"I'll honor my word; I'm willing to lose this gamble," Shen Jingye conceded, then left the testing chamber.

Zhong Er rushed into Li Qi's office, excitedly stammering, "Director Li, I... I... I don't know how to express my gratitude to you, I..."

"I suggest you express it through action," Li Qi said, handing him a file bag. "The Ruisheng Textile Mill case still has many unanswered questions. Review these recent operations; for specific details, you can ask Light Bulb and Tangyuan."

Qin Minghui took the file bag. Li Qi then produced two more file boxes. "These are files on the artist Chu Zikai. I now suspect he's a high-level dark ability user and involved in black market dealings. See if you can find any clues in these documents. Additionally, I need some investigation done regarding Puluo Province. The Dark Star Bureau has extensive, but disorganized, information on Puluo Province, more than I can go through. I'm entrusting this to you as well. Specifically, please look out for information on an organization called Snow Flower Bank."

Zhong Er took the files and began working excitedly, unaware of how late it had become.

Big Head was on duty that night. Seeing Zhong Er still there, he asked with concern, "It's so late. Aren't you going home to rest?"

Zhong Er had been working under Big Head since joining the Bureau, so he quickly stood up and exchanged a few casual words with him. Big Head glanced at the files on the desk and smiled. "You can't finish all the work in one day. Don't push yourself so hard; it's nearly time to go home."

Zhong Er was indeed tired. He locked up the files and left the office.

Big Head returned to the duty room, took out a face mask, applied it, then placed two cucumber slices over his eyes, beginning his skincare routine. Fifteen minutes later, Big Head removed the cucumber slices. The mask rapidly extended across his face, first enveloping his hair, then his entire head, and finally his whole body. Big Head continuously adjusted his breathing, keeping his body relaxed. The mask tightened relentlessly. The once sturdy Big Head grew noticeably thinner, his head visibly smaller, his hair volume decreased, his hairline receded, and his facial features slowly reshaped.

After another five minutes, Big Head stood up from the chair and left the duty room. He reached the elevator doors and saw Mianjian, who was about to head home. Mianjian saw Big Head and quickly greeted him. "Director, you're still here?"

Big Head had transformed into the likeness of Shen Jingye. He nodded to Mianjian, a smile on his face, but said nothing.

Inside the elevator, Mianjian felt both nervous and awkward. "Director, are you heading home? I can drive you."

Shen Jingye shook his head and pressed the first-floor button. "You go on ahead. I'm just going out for some fresh air."

After exiting the elevator, Big Head walked a circuit around the lobby, then re-entered the elevator. He ascended to the eleventh floor, exited, entered the stairwell, and climbed to the twelfth floor. The twelfth floor housed the archives. Taking the elevator to the twelfth floor led to the main archives, where normally accessible documents could be found. However, taking the stairs to the twelfth floor led to a different archive, one containing highly sensitive information.

Outside the stairwell was an iron door with no keyhole, fingerprint scanner, or keypad. Only two small lights glowed. These lights weren't for illumination; they were for retina scans. Big Head approached the iron door and fixed his gaze on the small lights. The main system inside the door automatically registered an entry: "Shen Jingye, access granted."

It was Big Head's first time entering this archive. Unfamiliar with the proper method for locating files, he could only scan each shelf individually. A special, pungent disinfectant was sprayed throughout the archive, making Big Head want to cough. He absolutely couldn't cough. Even a slight exertion could rupture the mask covering his body. The mask on his body would last two hours. Big Head needed to find the information he sought within that time, and he also had to hope the duty phone wouldn't ring.

He was lucky; an hour later, he found a file box. Medical Cultivator, Kang Zhenchang's files. If any Medical Cultivator could save He Jiaqing, this person might be the only hope currently available.

***

The next day, Big Head, with dark circles under his eyes, left the duty room. According to regulations, he had two days off. As he reached the building's entrance, Big Head happened to encounter Li Qi. They exchanged greetings. As they passed, Li Banfeng caught a faint, yet pungent, scent. He used his Hundred Flavors Exquisite technique to confirm that the scent indeed originated from Big Head.

Li Banfeng wasn't the only one who smelled it; the glove in his pocket also picked up the scent.

"Boss," the glove's voice echoed, "I think I've smelled that scent on him somewhere before."