"Don’t you dare slander me!" Wu Decheng was still unwilling to admit it.
Li Banfeng smiled and said, "You’re already here with me, yet you still can’t be honest? I’ll tell you the truth: if you hadn’t escaped so quickly today, your corpse would be lying in the street."
Wu Decheng fell silent.
Li Banfeng, holding the Teapot, walked over. "Why so quiet? Throat parched? Care for a cup of tea?"
Wu Decheng suddenly sprang up, trying to fight Li Banfeng to the death. A phonograph needle was attached to his leg, and he still intended to engage in close combat. But this was a Home Cultivator’s residence; he had no chance to make a move.
Li Banfeng didn’t even sit up from the bed; he just lifted a foot and kicked him to the floor.
Wu Decheng rose again, his right hand fumbling inside his robes, as if to pull out a Weapon.
Li Banfeng drew his Sickle and swiftly made several cuts on Wu Decheng’s body. As poison seeped in, Wu Decheng couldn’t move anymore.
The Phonograph praised, "My Husband is so brave! You handled this old geezer without even needing me, your Little Servant, to lift a finger."
The Old Teapot said, "This scoundrel still isn’t behaving. Offer him some hot tea to warm him up."
Li Banfeng poured some tea over Wu Decheng’s body.
Wu Decheng immediately cried out in pain.
Li Banfeng looked at Wu Decheng and said, "I’ll ask you a few questions. Answer truthfully, and perhaps you can keep your life. First, tell me, why did your Strict Law Society target the ’Blood Gun Detective’? It’s just a movie; how did it offend you?"
Wu Decheng gasped for a moment, then said, "Because that movie corrupts public morals..."
Before he could finish, Li Banfeng doused him with another splash of tea. "Corrupts public morals? Just for that, you trashed the movie theater?"
Wu Decheng shouted, "What I said is the truth! It was Elder Lu’s command."
"Elder Lu? Lu Maoxian? You’re an elder, he’s an elder, and Tang Peigong is also an elder. What gives him the right to order any of you around?"
"The status among elders differs. Elder Lu is the Great Elder; his status is above ours, and Tang Peigong’s status is above mine."
"How many elders does the Strict Law Society have?"
"I don’t know the exact number. Generally, there are two elders in one place, one civil and one military, with the civil elder’s status usually being higher than that of the military elder. Some small places might only have a single elder. A large area like Greenwater City has three elders, all of whom are Great Elders, with Lu Maoxian holding the highest status."
"So, that means Lu Maoxian is the leader of the Strict Law Society?"
Wu Decheng shook his head. "The leader of the Strict Law Society is the Sage."
Li Banfeng’s nose wrinkled, not just from Wu Decheng’s stench, but also from the word ’Sage’ itself, which felt just as foul.
"Which Sage are you talking about? The one from Cheap Person Ridge?"
Wu Decheng said, "I have never met the Sage. I have been with the Strict Law Society for twenty-one years and have never seen the Sage."
Li Banfeng continued to ask about Black Stone Slope and the Strict Law Society, and Wu Decheng answered all truthfully.
The Strict Law Society and Black Stone Slope were Lu Maoxian’s most important assets. Black Stone Slope was especially crucial, as nearly half its factories and mines were under his control. This was the main reason he could contend with the two young masters of the Lu Family. But the residents of Black Stone Slope were quite peculiar. According to Wu Decheng, these people were difficult to govern and hailed from one of the most fiercely independent regions in Puluo State. Moreover, hidden among the residents were Cultivators of considerable cultivation levels. If pushed too far, the situation could become unmanageable. Therefore, to resolve disputes in Black Stone Slope, the Strict Law Society usually opted for overt methods like hosting tournaments; underhanded tactics like Wu Decheng’s were rare.
Wu Decheng looked at Li Banfeng and said, "A gentleman’s word is his bond. I’ve answered all your questions. Let me go. Tang Peigong is already a cripple. From now on, I’ll be in charge of Black Stone City! You can screen any movie you like, print any newspaper you wish. All the book and newspaper business in Black Stone City will be yours. What do you say?"
As Wu Decheng finished speaking, Li Banfeng seemed genuinely moved.
He sat back on the bed, his lips curling up, a smile appearing on his face.
Wu Decheng had used a Technique.
The Phonograph was furious, and scalding Steam erupted, covering Wu Decheng in blisters.
Li Banfeng stopped the Phonograph and suddenly began to speak, "I think this old man isn’t so bad; let’s let him go."
"Indeed, he’s already said the book and newspaper business in Black Stone City will be ours, and that business makes quite a profit."
"Shouldn’t one show mercy where it is due? Let’s let him go. You like Black Stone Slope too, so you can stay here in the future. Having an extra person to look out for things wouldn’t be bad, right?"
Li Banfeng had this profound discussion with himself, leaving Wu Decheng dumbfounded.
The Phonograph was terrified and said to Li Banfeng, "My Lord, what’s wrong? Were you injured by this old scoundrel?"
"No!" Li Banfeng replied, still continuing his internal debate while also able to speak to his Wife.
Once the discussion concluded, Li Banfeng approached Wu Decheng. "I’ve thought it over, and I’ve decided not to let you go. Black Stone Slope really is a great place, and without wretches like you, this place will become even better! Wife, it’s time to eat!"
As his words fell, the Phonograph gave a fierce smile and began to eat.
Wu Decheng screamed for a moment, and then gradually went silent.
After consuming the Soul, his Wife asked Li Banfeng whether to leave the Spirit Attribute.
Li Banfeng felt nauseated at the sight of people from the Strict Law Society and initially didn’t intend to leave the Spirit Attribute, but the Blood-Thirsty Pendulum suddenly spoke up, "Master, he is a high-level Mental Cultivator, after all. It would be a waste to discard it. Why not leave it for me?"
His Wife laughed. "You little hussy! Has your cultivation level improved since following My Lord?"
The Clock Pendulum respectfully answered, "To be honest, Lady, it is indeed somewhat different than before. It seems I’ve recovered some Techniques. I shall ask for your guidance another day, Lady."
The Clock Pendulum was a smooth talker, and the Phonograph, pleased, sent a wisp of Steam to deliver the Spirit Attribute to it. "You lucky hussy! This is your gain!"
The remaining corpse couldn’t go to waste, so Li Banfeng moved Red Lotus over.
Red Lotus had been waiting for a long time, with several layers of dew formed on her. However, upon smelling Wu Decheng’s odor, Red Lotus felt some disgust and was reluctant to open her petals.
The Phonograph became annoyed. "You wretch, getting picky now, are you? This person’s cultivation level is not low! Such a good find isn’t available every day."
Li Banfeng snorted. "If you don’t eat, then starve!"
After hesitating for a moment, Red Lotus still consumed the corpse.
Ripples of a Light Halo emanated as Red Lotus started Alchemy. Li Banfeng, wanting some intimacy with his Wife and finding Red Lotus an eyesore, casually tossed her into the Second Son.
Inside the Second Son, Red Lotus sprayed a couple of dewdrops and continued Refining the corpse.
Moments later, Red Lotus shuddered. Within the Second Son, there seemed to be a vague thought, though what it was remained unclear.
PS: