Chapter 558: Sudden Good News

Hua Manchun’s first action upon returning to Flower Fairy Manor was to summon his old servant, Ruyu. Thirty years ago, Ruyu was one of the most favored women in the manor. Now old and past her prime, she remained by Hua Manchun’s side, serving as his housekeeper. Ruyu was fortunate.

Hua Manchun extended his index and middle fingers in front of Ruyu, moving them left and right like scissors for a moment. An ordinary person might have thought Hua Manchun was reaching for a cigarette, but Ruyu understood his intent: he was holding a deep-seated anger that needed to be released.

As a “Joyful Cultivator” and the master of Flower Fairy Manor, Hua Manchun had specific methods and resources to vent his anger. The manor housed over three thousand people in total, and apart from Hua Manchun himself, all were women. Over five hundred women resided in the central part of the manor. These were young women in their prime, Hua Manchun’s most favored. Ruyu certainly wouldn’t use them to help him vent, as less than half might survive the process.

Over a thousand women lived on the outskirts of the manor. Some were older, others had offended Hua Manchun, and all had fallen out of his favor. They were relegated to performing miscellaneous chores around the estate. Their duties included making beds, folding quilts, sweeping, dusting, and heavy labor like grinding grain and pushing carts. Compared to them, Ruyu was truly fortunate. Ruyu couldn’t use these out-of-favor women for his venting either, as they might only intensify Hua Manchun’s rage.

Another five hundred-plus women lived outside the manor. These were cultivators responsible for patrolling, standing guard, and ensuring the manor’s security. They were vital to the estate and even less suitable for his purpose. Finally, a thousand women remained. They were neither favored nor disfavored; Hua Manchun would remember them if he saw them, but forget them if he didn’t. These were the most suitable.

Ruyu selected thirty of these women and sent them to Hua Manchun’s residence. These thirty knew what was about to happen. Standing in the main hall, they trembled and sweated profusely. With a wave of Hua Manchun’s hand, Ruyu quickly exited the hall, taking others to guard the courtyard. It was wise to keep a distance from the enraged Hua Manchun, who was capable of killing at any moment.

Hua Manchun shouted towards the courtyard, “Ruyu, have you forgotten the rules?” Ruyu’s heart fluttered. Lowering her head, she stammered, “Master, I... I’ve done everything as you instructed.”

“Do I need to instruct you on everything? Get water for my bath!”

“Still b—” Under extreme tension, Ruyu blurted out the words before quickly catching herself. “This old servant spoke out of turn. I’ll go heat the water for you now, Master.”

“Wait!” Hua Manchun stopped Ruyu. “‘Still b-’ What does that mean? Have I already bathed?”

Ruyu froze for a long time, then lowered her head and replied, “This old servant is confused. I remember incorrectly. Master hasn’t bathed. I will heat the water for you—”

Ruyu wasn’t the only one reacting unusually; the other maids in the residence also seemed off. Hua Manchun shouted, “No one leaves! Explain clearly, what exactly happened?” Everyone stammered, then explained what occurred.

According to Ruyu and the others’ accounts, Hua Manchun had returned two hours earlier, taken a bath, and then left again for an unknown reason. Hua Manchun was astonished. “What did that person look like? How could you mistake them for me?”

Hearing the words “mistaken identity,” Ruyu’s legs gave way. “Master, this old servant is blind. I truly couldn’t tell the difference. That person looked exactly like you.” When questioned, the other maids’ answers were consistent with Ruyu’s: “That person was indeed identical to Master. We served him during his bath, and not only his face but his body was the same! Every scar, every mole—not a single detail was off.”

Hua Manchun was initially furious, then fell into deep thought. Someone had impersonated him so perfectly; it must have been an Illusion Cultivator. But what was this Illusion Cultivator’s purpose? Ruyu claimed the person had simply bathed and left, doing nothing else. Dozens of maids corroborated this account.

Hua Manchun didn’t believe it. He had Ruyu and the dozens of maids tied up and whipped. Yet, Ruyu never changed her story, nor did the maids’ testimonies waver. Could they be telling the truth? If he couldn’t discern the impostor’s intentions, this matter would be difficult to handle.

The next morning, Hua Manchun’s anger was vented. Ruyu had the bodies of several women removed from the manor and buried. Hua Manchun tidied himself, then went alone into the deep mountains, stating he was going to attend to his business. While Flower Fairy Manor sounded like a small place, it was actually no smaller than Haichi Ridge. Large tracts of mountainous land surrounding the manor all belonged to Hua Manchun, and there was indeed much business conducted on these mountains. However, no one, including Ruyu, knew exactly what kind of business Hua Manchun was involved in.

Hua Manchun left in the morning and returned at dusk. He asked Ruyu, “Was there any trouble at home?” Having been beaten just yesterday, Ruyu truly didn’t know how to respond. She nodded and said, “Nothing out of the ordinary.”

Still uneasy, Hua Manchun returned to the main hall, intending to summon everyone involved and question them thoroughly. As soon as he sat in his chair, Hua Manchun suddenly noticed a new painting behind him. It depicted three beautiful women: one holding a calligraphy brush, one holding a long sword, and one holding needle and thread. These were Hua Manchun’s three most favored women: Yuping, skilled in poetry and prose; Yujun, who had practiced martial arts since childhood and was a Level 3 martial cultivator, also serving as Hua Manchun’s personal bodyguard; and finally, Yuwan, most skilled in needlework.

Hua Manchun asked Ruyu, “Where did these three paintings come from?” Ruyu immediately knelt on the ground. “This old servant is blind. I mistook Master again. I deserve to die. Please punish me, Master.” Dozens of maids also knelt. They didn’t know if they had truly made a mistake or if their master was intentionally testing them. In any case, the past two days had been unsettling; their master was disavowing things he had personally done.

Hua Manchun said to Ruyu, “I won’t punish you. Answer my question carefully: when did you see me return?”

“You returned at noon, had your meal, and then said you wanted to paint. I quickly made arrangements for you. Yuping, Yujun, and Yuwan were all personally chosen by you, and you also instructed them what to hold.”

Hua Manchun gazed at the ink painting, silent for a long time. Someone had impersonated Hua Manchun and entered Flower Fairy Manor twice in a row. The first time conveyed a message: the impostor could accurately mimic Hua Manchun’s appearance, physique, and demeanor, enough to fool his closest servants. The second time conveyed another message: this impostor was also very familiar with Hua Manchun’s inner circle, knowing which women were favored and what their specialties were.

To say he wasn’t afraid would be a lie, but Hua Manchun remained composed. He summoned someone and had Ruyu beaten severely again. Beyond that, there seemed to be no better way to react. For the next three days, Hua Manchun remained indoors, guarding his home. During these three days, the impostor did not reappear.

On the fourth day, Hua Manchun left again, still claiming to attend to his business. Ruyu dared not inquire, thinking, “At a time like this, he still insists on going out. Is Master truly that short on money?” Hua Manchun was indeed short on money; now was a time when he needed it most.

Before leaving, Hua Manchun instructed Ruyu: “If you see me return, first ask, ‘Has business been profitable?’ If I tell you I’ve made a profit, enough to earn two golden mountains, that will prove it’s truly me. If the reply is not that sentence, it proves the person is fake.”

Hua Manchun once again entered the deep mountains, but he returned before noon. As soon as he reached the manor entrance, Ruyu’s legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the ground. A maid nearby cried, “How can there be another Master?”

There was already a “Master” inside the residence, drinking tea in the study. He had returned before Hua Manchun. When he entered, Ruyu had indeed asked, “Has business been profitable?” The other party replied, “I’ve earned two golden mountains.” The answer was identical to what Hua Manchun had instructed. This code phrase had been given by Hua Manchun to Ruyu alone. If even this secret code was leaked, there were no more secrets that could be kept around Hua Manchun.

Hua Manchun had overcome countless challenges over the years but had never encountered a situation like this. Yet, he remained calm, walking directly into the study and facing the other “Hua Manchun” seated behind the desk.

“My friend, I, Hua, am unaware of any offense I may have caused, but I offer my apologies upfront,” Hua Manchun said, bowing.

The fake “Hua Manchun” rose and returned the bow, saying, “Senior, please don’t be like that; you flatter me too much. I, He, have indeed offended you, and I am here today precisely to beg for your forgiveness.”

The other party revealed his surname was He. Hua Manchun quickly deduced, “Are you Young Master He, He Jiaqing?”

He Jiaqing clasped his fists and replied, “That is correct.” Hua Manchun’s heart skipped a beat; he hadn’t expected He Jiaqing to possess such formidable skills. But his face remained calm, as if reasoning with a friend: “Young Master He, I have no grievances with you. What is the meaning of this elaborate prank?”

He Jiaqing chuckled, “Senior Hua, you certainly have no personal enmity with me, He, but you have a deep feud with my friend, Chu Yaoxian. My sister here is a bit straightforward in her ways and may have offended you quite a few times. I hope Senior will be magnanimous and, for my sake, grant my sister a way out.”

His words were humble, but his methods were assertive. He Jiaqing’s three consecutive intrusions into Flower Fairy Manor demonstrated a strategy of “force first, then courtesy,” proving his strength and forcing Hua Manchun to reassess his own position during negotiations.

Hua Manchun genuinely made a concession: “Miss Chu and I have no real enmity. Our two territories are adjacent, and there have been occasional frictions, plus a few minor past incidents that others have exaggerated into major issues. As long as we can talk things through, there’s no significant feud whatsoever.”

As he spoke, Hua Manchun produced a cosmetic box and handed it to He Jiaqing. “This is a precious item Miss Chu lost, which I, Hua, found. I was just about to return it to her. Since she is Young Master He’s sister, I’ll trouble Young Master He to deliver this cosmetic box to Miss Chu.”

He Jiaqing accepted the cosmetic box. Hua Manchun continued, “Young Master He is a rising talent, and I, Hua, would very much like to befriend you. However, Flower Fairy Manor has rules: men cannot enter or exit freely. I hope Young Master He will respect our customs and not put me in a difficult position again.”

“Naturally,” He Jiaqing apologized again. “If I am to visit Senior again in the future, I will seek another arrangement. I bid you farewell.”

Upon arriving at Chu Yaoxian’s residence, He Jiaqing took out the cosmetic box. Chu Yaoxian’s face lit up with surprise. “This box is my magic artifact! Hua Manchun snatched it from me during our last encounter. Brother He, how did you get it back?”

He Jiaqing smiled, “On the surface, it was strategy, but in reality, it was skill. Sister, you no longer need to fear Hua Manchun. After this lesson, he won’t dare trouble you again.”

Chu Yaoxian called him “Big Brother He,” and He Jiaqing called her “Sister,” and they got along very well.

This lesson was a painful one, but Hua Manchun had not conceded defeat. In front of He Jiaqing, his words were very polite, but the fire in Hua Manchun’s heart burned even fiercer. He was currently pondering a question: was He Jiaqing doing this purely to stand up for Chu Yaoxian, or were there other reasons? Prior to this, Hua Manchun had just been humiliated by Li Qi. Could this matter also be related to Li Qi? Dealing with He Jiaqing alone was already difficult; if Li Qi were to make a move as well, Hua Manchun might truly be unable to cope.

He summoned Ruyu and asked, “How many years have you been with me?” Ruyu trembled as she replied, “Master, I have been with you for forty years.”

“I remember I even favored you back then.”

Ruyu nodded. “I will remember Master’s kindness my whole life. My actions these past few days were wrong. I am ashamed to remain by Master’s side. Please allow this old servant to do some heavy chores and contribute what little I can with these old bones.”

“When facing such a ruthless person, how could you possibly guard against them?” Hua Manchun chuckled. “This is not your fault. Call Xiuyan.”

Xiuyan was watering flowers in the courtyard and could be heard with a simple call. However, in front of Hua Manchun, Ruyu dared not speak loudly. She walked to the main hall’s entrance and waved to Xiuyan. Xiuyan looked up and saw Ruyu bleeding from all seven orifices, collapsing outside the door.

“Elder Sister—” Xiuyan gasped, cautiously approaching the door to check on her. Ruyu was already dead; she had fallen victim to Hua Manchun’s technique. Hua Manchun had told Ruyu to call Xiuyan, and Xiuyan had come, summoned by Ruyu. In Hua Manchun’s eyes, this meant Ruyu had completed her final task. Regardless of He Jiaqing’s strength, to Hua Manchun, mistaking the master three times in a row meant Ruyu deserved death long ago.

Hua Manchun wrote a letter and handed it to Xiuyan: “Go outside the manor, find Yuan Chunping, give her this letter, make sure she reads it in front of you, then burn it.” Xiuyan nodded repeatedly, took the letter, and rushed out of the manor.

In the camp outside the manor, she found Yuan Chunping. This woman was not truly part of Flower Fairy Manor, as she was not the master’s woman; she was considered the master’s guest. Yuan Chunping opened the letter and read two lines: “Li Qi and He Jiaqing are planning to join forces against me. Find a way to send Li Qi away so we can defeat them one by one.”

Xiuyan asked, “Miss Yuan, have you finished reading the letter? Master instructed you to burn it immediately after reading.” Yuan Chunping nodded and burned the letter using the candlelight. The flame from the letter illuminated Yuan Chunping’s face, making her appear exceptionally beautiful.

Xiuyan gazed at Yuan Chunping, her heart fluttering. She felt a surge of fire rise within her, making it difficult to control herself. “Miss Yuan, I—” Smoke began to emanate from Xiuyan.

Yuan Chunping exclaimed, “What’s wrong with you?”

“I... I just feel hot.” Xiuyan burst into flames, literally. Yuan Chunping cried out, “Quick, get some water!” Not a single woman around dared to move. They knew this was Hua Manchun’s technique. They simply watched Xiuyan, as she slowly burned to ashes.

Hua Manchun had no intention of keeping Xiuyan. He wanted to get rid of every maid in his residence. “Mistaking the master, regardless of the reason, is a capital offense,” Hua Manchun said, looking at the corpses in the courtyard, his resentment slightly diminished. “Li Qi, you can live a few more days. He Jiaqing, I’ll send you on your way first.”

Hua Manchun planned to deal with Li Qi a few days later, but Li Qi wanted to find Hua Manchun now. Ma Wu’s new territory was thriving. Li Banfeng consulted Feng Daiku: “Hua Manchun is your neighbor, and he’s a decent person. Last time we met, things were too hectic, and I didn’t get to properly greet him. Would you mind arranging for us to meet again?”

Feng Daiku knew Li Qi’s temperament and his true intentions. She knew Li Qi was no ordinary person, and she had indeed suffered a lot at Hua Manchun’s hands. This was a good opportunity for revenge. However, Feng Daiku still managed to dissuade Li Qi: “Young Master Li, this matter is not urgent at this very moment.”

Li Qi shook his head. “I am urgent. I feel restless if I don’t see Master Hua for even a day.”

Feng Daiku said, “Young Master Li, Hua Manchun and I have battled for years. I am very familiar with his tactics. Not only is his own combat power extremely high, but he has also befriended some ruthless individuals. The origins of these individuals are still unknown. Give me some time to investigate their background. Then we can devise a foolproof plan before making a move; it won’t be too late.”

Feng Daiku genuinely cared for Li Qi. Although this was an excellent opportunity to eliminate Hua Manchun, in Feng Daiku’s eyes, Li Qi was absolutely not someone to be exploited. He was a friend, a true friend, a comrade-in-arms. But Li Qi was not so easily persuaded. Hua Manchun was already on his “ingredient list,” and naturally, Li Qi intended to include him in his procurement plan.

Through Feng Daiku, Li Banfeng gained more insight into Flower Fairy Manor. He planned to first observe Hua Manchun’s mysterious businesses before inviting him to his home. Hua Manchun had worked painstakingly for years, which wasn’t easy. If he were gone and his businesses fell into ruin, Li Qi would feel quite bad about it.

Just as he was about to make a trip to Flower Fairy Manor, Liao Zihui suddenly arrived at the New Territory. Liao Zihui claimed he came to offer congratulations and indeed presented Ma Wu with a congratulatory gift. Afterwards, he found Li Qi, stating he had an urgent matter to discuss.

After several collaborations, the animosity between them had significantly diminished. Li Banfeng arranged a private spot for them to talk. “Brother Li, I received a message, though I’m not sure if it’s good news. The higher-ups have agreed to send you another twenty thousand three-headed people, supposedly to help you expand your influence.”

Li Banfeng chuckled, “This is good news! But why would they want to strengthen my forces?”

“From what I’ve gathered, the higher-ups believe you’ve effectively fulfilled your duties as a balancer in several missions. They see you as the most outstanding balancer among all previous ones. Therefore, the higher-ups hope you’ll acquire greater influence in Pruro State so you can play a more significant role in the future.”

Li Banfeng looked at Liao Zihui and asked, “Are they really thinking that?”

Liao Zihui shook his head. “I don’t know what they’re truly thinking, which is why I said I’m not sure if this is good news. But since I received this message, it would be wrong of me not to convey it to you. And if conveying this message leads to some misunderstanding on your part, then my actions would be even more wrong.”

Liao Zihui was always cautious, and he was especially careful with this matter. Li Banfeng pondered for a moment, then returned to Yuezhou the next day.

At the Dark Star Bureau, Shen Jingye also delivered the same news: “Director Li, the higher-ups intend to enhance your power. They want to send you another batch of people from Sinner City.”

Li Banfeng stroked his chin. “No reward without merit. Receiving such a large contingent of people suddenly makes me a little worried.”

“I also feel this came too suddenly,” Shen Jingye said, giving Li Banfeng a meaningful glance. “But I also heard something else: the higher-ups are extremely dissatisfied with the Birch Hermitage Society and hope we can clean out this organization.”

Li Banfeng deliberately asked, “What kind of organization is this?”

Shen Jingye briefly introduced the nature of the Birch Hermitage Society, emphasizing its recent status: “Their leader seems to have been missing for some time, and many of the Birch Hermitage Society’s activities were suspended. But recently, for some unknown reason, some of their activities have become increasingly frequent, especially in the black market, where they are conducting large-scale transactions, with very frequent buying and selling.”

The Birch Hermitage Society had revived. Migalov could not have been resurrected. His soul had been collected by Madam, and the rest of him had long been disposed of. It now seemed they had a new leader. Had this new leader made such big moves right after taking office? Was this true?

“Xiao Shen, are you implying that the higher-ups want me to dismantle the Birch Hermitage Society, and in return, they’re willing to give me another batch of three-headed people?”

Shen Jingye shook his head. “I didn’t say that. I said nothing. I merely pointed out that the timing of these two events is a little coincidental.” After speaking, Shen Jingye left. He spoke even more cautiously than Liao Zihui, which didn’t surprise Li Banfeng. But his intention was largely consistent with Liao Zihui’s: they were conveying a subtle hint, one that carried danger yet couldn’t be explicitly stated.

Was Shen Jingye trying to warn him about the Birch Hermitage Society? Li Banfeng summoned Chen Changrui and asked about previously assigned tasks: “Have there been any recent activities from ‘Yellow Flower Leaf’ or ‘Night Wanderer’s Green Shade’ or other dark ability enthusiast groups?”

Chen Changrui shook his head. “They’ve all been quite quiet. Yellow Flower Leaf has almost completely ceased all activities recently.” Judging by this, the Birch Hermitage Society didn’t seem to have revived, or perhaps Chen Changrui’s information source wasn’t accurate.

Late at night, Li Banfeng contacted Tang Changfa: “Have there been any movements from the Ferry Gang or the Birch Hermitage Society in the black market recently?”

Tang Changfa shook his head. “I haven’t heard anything about Birch or the Ferry Gang. However, I have seen some foreigners constantly moving about in the black market.”

The clues were confusing, as if the answer lay within the Cultural Palace black market. Should he investigate what exactly the Hermitage Society was trying to do in the black market?

Two days later, Shen Jingye came to see Li Banfeng: “Director Li, there’s an order from the higher-ups for us to prioritize this month’s black market inspection.”

Li Banfeng asked, “Doesn’t the Dark Star Bureau regularly inspect the black market? What’s special about this time?”

“I don’t know what’s special, which is why I’m specifically notifying you. Do you want to participate in this inspection? The operation is scheduled for the day after tomorrow.”

“First, let me check my schedule—”

After Shen Jingye left, Li Banfeng had an in-depth discussion with the other Banfengs. Investigating the black market under the name of the Dark Star Bureau was indeed a good opportunity, but it came very suddenly. Not only was this opportunity sudden, but a series of events had also been rather abrupt. The day after tomorrow. Should he go or not?

Late at night, Teacher Song’s phone rang. Teacher Song looked at the caller ID, then answered the phone. “Lin Fujiao, this is new. You’re calling me on your own accord.” “I have an urgent matter, I can’t afford not to. Someone is laying bait here, and I don’t want to get dragged into it—”

After hanging up with Lin Fujiao, Teacher Song pondered for a moment, then called Li Banfeng: “Banfeng, there’s an academic conference at the school discussing wormholes, with two professors, one old and one new, debating. Can you attend?”