Chapter 91: Uninvited Guest

It was eleven o'clock at night in the dungeon of the Lu Family Mansion at Greenwater Bay.

Lu Xiaolan sat in the cell, facing Lu Dongjun, Lu Dongliang's younger brother.

"Xiaolan," Lu Dongjun began, looking at Lu Xiaolan with a kind smile, "first tell your second uncle, how did you get to the He family's old residence?"

Lu Xiaolan shook her head. "I'll only tell my dad," she said. "Why isn't he coming to see me?"

Lu Dongjun sighed. "Xiaolan," he said, "your father has heard some rumors and there's a misunderstanding between you. Your second uncle is here to help you clear things up."

Lu Xiaolan turned her head away, unwilling to engage with Lu Dongjun.

Lu Xiaolan's mother, Zhuo Yuling, entered the cell. Frowning, she scolded Lu Xiaolan, "Xiaolan, don't be ill-mannered. You must answer truthfully whatever your second uncle asks."

"Mom..." Lu Xiaolan's eyes reddened upon seeing Zhuo Yuling.

"Good child, your mother believes you," Zhuo Yuling said, draping a piece of clothing over Lu Xiaolan. "Talk to your second uncle properly and tell him everything."

The dungeon guard felt this was against the rules, but he refrained from commenting, as it was merely a mother covering her daughter with a garment.

Lu Xiaolan sobbed, then, steadying her voice, she spoke to Lu Dongjun:

"He Jiaqing and I boarded the train together. We were in the same carriage, but as soon as he got on, he said he had to leave for something urgent. He exited the carriage and never returned.

When I went to look for him, I noticed many He family members on the train, all with cultivation levels above the fifth tier. They were clearly there to protect He Jiaqing.

With train attendants constantly moving about, I had no chance to kill He Jiaqing. So, I had no choice but to activate my backup plan and derail the train."

This was one of Lu Dongjun's most pressing questions. "How did you manage to derail the train?" he asked.

Lu Xiaolan was silent for a moment. "About fifty minutes after the train departed," she explained, "it would reach a fork in the tracks. One path allows normal travel, while the other was abandoned not long ago.

The worker responsible for switching the tracks that night was a confidant I'd cultivated for three years. I ordered him to divert the train onto the abandoned tracks. The tracks broke, and the train went off.

The train attendants were busy with rescue efforts, and the He family members were caught off guard. I seized the opportunity to find He Jiaqing and strike him down."

Lu Dongjun's face was a mask of astonishment. "You audacious girl!" he exclaimed. "Not only did you offend the He family, but you also angered the outer states! How dared you attack a train?"

Lu Xiaolan looked up at Lu Dongjun. "Whether or not I've offended the outer states, let's put that aside for now," she said. "But offending the He family—that's something that needs to be clarified.

Second Uncle, I ask you: if my father told me to kill He Jiaqing, why is he now afraid of offending the He family? Since relations are already severed, why am I being made the scapegoat?"

Lu Dongjun pursed his lips. "The situation was different back then," he replied. "At the time, everyone thought He Haiqin was on the verge of death. Who knew he would suddenly recover..."

Tears welled in Lu Xiaolan's eyes. "So, because something changed with the He family, it all falls on me?" she asked. "Isn't the Lu family supposed to govern the entire Pro Province? Is pushing a woman forward to take the blame all the Lu family is capable of?"

Lu Dongjun had no reply.

Zhuo Yuling sharply interjected, "Xiaolan, don't speak carelessly!"

After a moment of silence, Lu Dongjun continued, "Then why did you end up at the He family's old residence?"

Lu Xiaolan wiped away her tears. "He Jiaqing didn't die," she said. "I didn't realize he was so resilient. After I ambushed him, he was already unconscious, but a phone call from Li Banfeng woke him up.

He's a formidable fighter; in just a few moves, he broke all the hooks I had set outside.

Afterward, I don't know what magical artifact he used, but he pushed me, and I was sent flying.

I flew for a long time, and when I finally stopped, I was already at the He family's old residence. I tried to escape, but I couldn't; the mansion had a house spirit. I was trapped for several months, surviving on cats, weasels, and rats."

As she spoke, Lu Xiaolan couldn't help but sob once more.

Lu Dongjun was in no mood to comfort Lu Xiaolan; he was deeply contemplating the situation.

"He Jiaqing pushed Xiaolan, sending her to the He family's old residence, while simultaneously returning himself to his university dormitory. Does he really possess such a powerful magical artifact?"

Zhuo Yuling asked from the side, "Dongjun, have you ever seen such a magical artifact?"

Lu Dongjun shook his head. "No, I haven't," he replied. "I doubt even your elder brother has. Xiaolan, first tell your second uncle, did you fly back along the railway line?"

Lu Xiaolan shook her head. "The train had already taken the wrong track, and that section of the railway was a dead end," she clarified. "I didn't fly back along the railway line."

Lu Dongjun found this even more perplexing. "If you didn't fly back along the railway line, how did you cross all the border lines?" he pressed.

Without special means, border lines are impassable.

Lu Xiaolan shook her head. "I don't know," she insisted. "I really don't."

Lu Dongjun suspected Lu Xiaolan wasn't telling the whole truth.

"Xiaolan, tell your second uncle the truth," he urged. "Where is the Xuansheng Red Lotus now?"

"It's with Li Banfeng."

"How did it end up with him?"

Lu Xiaolan recounted the events. "The day before I left school, He Jiaqing borrowed my necklace," she began. "My necklace is a magical artifact that creates a false skin, which can mimic the physique, appearance, and voice of someone familiar.

He Jiaqing used my necklace to impersonate Li Banfeng and stored the Xuansheng Red Lotus in the school's supermarket.

After he borrowed the necklace, I secretly followed him. I witnessed this firsthand.

The locker in the campus supermarket is very unusual; it contains a highly potent magical artifact. That locker cannot be forcibly opened. What kind of artifact it is, or who left it there, I don't know.

He Jiaqing's method was very clever: only he knew the Xuansheng Red Lotus was hidden in the school supermarket, and only Li Banfeng's face could open the locker."

In other words, no one could open the locker without the consent of both He Jiaqing and Li Banfeng, unless they acquired Lu Xiaolan's necklace.

Lu Dongjun believed Lu Xiaolan on this point, as she indeed possessed such a magical artifact. He had personally tested it; it allowed him to transform into Lu Dongliang's likeness, and as long as the false skin remained intact, the disguise was nearly flawless.

"Then why didn't you use your necklace to go directly to the locker and retrieve the Xuansheng Red Lotus?" Lu Dongjun asked.

Lu Xiaolan continued, "I did consider it, but He Jiaqing refused to return the necklace to me, claiming he had lost it.

When I ambushed He Jiaqing, I managed to snatch the necklace back. Just then, Li Banfeng called, and his call remained connected even after He Jiaqing pushed me away.

I was terrified at the time. In desperation, I tried to sense He Jiaqing's phone, hoping to attach an 'eavesdropping ear' to myself. Unexpectedly, it attached to Li Banfeng's phone instead.

Through his call, I overheard some things: He Jiaqing went to the hospital, He Haisheng went to the hospital, and agents from the Dark Star Bureau found Li Banfeng.

I knew Li Banfeng was mentally unstable, and I also knew he had a deep connection with He Jiaqing. I used this to trick Li Banfeng into coming to Medicine King's Valley.

I asked him to bring the Xuansheng Red Lotus and then exchange me from the house spirit's grasp. But I don't know how he managed to escape from the He family's old residence.

He must be a cultivator, and not of a low level. The Xuansheng Red Lotus is still in his possession. I don't know where he went, but since he doesn't have a travel permit, he surely can't leave Medicine King's Valley."

After hearing Lu Xiaolan's account, Lu Dongjun's expression turned serious.

He still harbored doubts about Lu Xiaolan's story.

"A locker at your school, containing a magical artifact, yet it can't be opened?"

Lu Xiaolan nodded. "That supermarket is no ordinary place," she affirmed.

"Who exactly is this Li Banfeng? An agent from the Dark Star Bureau? Or a disciple of some sect?"

Lu Xiaolan shook her head. "He's nothing," she declared. "He's just a fatherless, motherless scoundrel!"

As she uttered the word "scoundrel," Lu Xiaolan gritted her teeth fiercely.

Lu Dongjun frowned. "I don't understand this," he said. "If Li Banfeng isn't with the Dark Star Bureau or a sect, where did he get a travel permit? Without one, how did he buy a train ticket, board the train, and arrive at Medicine King's Valley?

Don't even tell me you bought this ticket. You were trapped in that residence, unable to contact anyone; how could you possibly buy a train ticket for Li Banfeng?"

Hearing this barrage of questions, Zhuo Yuling grew anxious. If the train ticket situation couldn't be explained, no one would believe Lu Xiaolan.

Lu Xiaolan's explanation was: "He Jiaqing bought this train ticket in advance. I don't know why he bought a ticket for Li Banfeng, or why he chose that specific day's train.

I saw the ticket information on his phone, and that's how I tricked Li Banfeng onto the train and into coming to Medicine King's Valley."

Lu Dongjun shook his head in disbelief after hearing this.

From Lu Xiaolan's demeanor, it seemed she was telling the truth.

Yet, her words sounded utterly absurd.

He Jiaqing bought a train ticket for Li Banfeng in advance?

What did he want Li Banfeng to do in Medicine King's Valley?

Did he predict something would happen to him?

Lu Xiaolan looked at Lu Dongjun with a desperate expression. "Second Uncle, you don't believe me, do you?"

"Xiaolan, I will tell your father everything you've said," he promised. "As for whether he believes it, I can't say for sure. For now, you should rest."

With that, Lu Dongjun stood up and left the cell.

Zhuo Yuling looked at Xiaolan and sighed softly. "Xiaolan, don't be afraid," she said. "Your father certainly won't wrong you. Get some sleep, and I'll see you tomorrow."

Zhuo Yuling then left, with Lu Xiaolan still wrapped in the clothes her mother had given her.

She ran her hand over the clothes she wore, and once more, she heard her mother's voice in her ear: "Xiaolan, don't be afraid."

This was neither an illusion nor imagination; Lu Xiaolan truly heard Zhuo Yuling's voice.

There were hooks on the garment—eavesdropping hooks.

Clasping the clothes, Lu Xiaolan listened carefully. Soon, she heard her mother's voice again: "Your father wants the Red Lotus. As long as he hasn't found it, he won't touch you. He also doesn't know if the Red Lotus is still on you.

As long as I kill Li Banfeng first, your father will never be able to find the Red Lotus. Your mother will definitely find a way to get you out."

***

The famous detective Daboyins arrived in Ligou. After walking a short distance along Archway Street, he entered Fengji General Store.

Shopkeeper Feng greeted him with a smile. "What can I help you with?"

Daboyins lowered his voice. "I'd like to purchase some elixirs from you," he said.

Shopkeeper Feng raised an eyebrow. "You must have the wrong place," he replied. "This is a general store."

It wasn't that Shopkeeper Feng didn't sell elixirs, but he was cautious about selling to new customers.

Daboyins smiled. "Brother Zhang Liu from the Three Heroes Sect sent me," he said. "He mentioned that the elixirs here are of excellent quality."

Zhang Liuze was indeed a friend of Shopkeeper Feng and had purchased elixirs from Fengji General Store before.

With this connection established, Shopkeeper Feng's suspicions vanished. He handed over the front counter to Chunsheng and led Daboyins into the back room.

After preparing the tea, Shopkeeper Feng asked, "May I inquire what type of elixir you are looking for?"

"Snake Spot Elixir."

"How many would you like?"

"Could I see the quality first?"

Shopkeeper Feng produced a Snake Spot Elixir. Daboyins examined it, then nodded. "Excellent quality," he said. "Name your price."

"Fifteen thousand per pill." Shopkeeper Feng was experienced in selling Snake Spot Elixirs. His usual price was twelve thousand, but he quoted an extra three thousand for a new customer, to gauge their willingness to bargain.

Daboyins did not haggle. "Though a bit pricey," he conceded, "the elixir's quality is indeed excellent. I'll take it."

"How many would you like?"

"Twenty."

"Twenty pills will be three hundred thousand. This is quite a large transaction," Shopkeeper Feng remarked, casting a meaningful glance at his customer. For a deal of this size, he didn't accept credit.

Daboyins took a check from his jacket, wrote down the amount, and said, "Have your assistant go to Baocang Bank to cash this. Once the money clears, I'll take the elixirs."

"Excellent!" Shopkeeper Feng handed the check to Chunsheng. In less than half an hour, Chunsheng returned with three hundred thousand Huan Kingdom notes.

With the money in hand and the goods ready, Shopkeeper Feng found a wooden box, sealed the elixirs inside, and handed it to Daboyins.

Daboyins was very satisfied. "I have a friend who's interested in buying some Profound Blazing Pills," he inquired. "Do you have any in stock?"

Shopkeeper Feng nodded. "We do have Profound Blazing Pills," he replied. "How many does your friend want?"

Daboyins held up two fingers. "Twenty as well," he said.

Shopkeeper Feng's brow furrowed slightly. "Twenty pills?" he repeated. "Are you certain? A single Profound Blazing Pill costs two hundred fifty thousand."

This price was also set quite high; Shopkeeper Feng was still gauging the customer's disposition.

Daboyins smiled. "As long as the quality is sufficient, I will not haggle," he stated.

Shopkeeper Feng nodded. "Splendid," he said. "The shop doesn't have that many in stock, but I can make inquiries for you."

"Sounds good. I'll return in a couple of days and await your news then."

Daboyins left the general store. After only a few steps, he encountered a foreigner on the street.

Perhaps noticing Daboyins' gentlemanly attire, the foreigner approached him proactively. "Sir," he began, "this is my first time in Medicine King's Valley. I'm looking to buy some medicine. Do you know where a pharmacy might be?"

Daboyins looked the foreigner up and down, then smiled. "Medicine King's Valley is full of pharmacies," he said. "What kind of illness are you hoping to treat?"

The foreigner rolled up his sleeve, revealing a dense rash on his arm. "I've developed some strange herpes," he explained, "and I don't know what medicine might be effective."

Daboyins frowned, taking two steps back. He pointed to the end of Archway Street. "Ande Hall Pharmacy," he advised. "They have an excellent resident doctor. You should go see him."

"Thank you very much," the foreigner said, taking off his hat and bowing.

"You're welcome," Daboyins replied, doffing his own hat in return.