Late at night, Lu Maoxian stumbled into the mansion, startling the butler so much he could hardly speak.
"Master, you..."
Lu Maoxian pointed to his own cheek, signaling that he couldn’t speak, and then pointed to his severed arm, gesturing for them to quickly stop the bleeding.
The butler hurriedly called for a Doctor to treat Lu Maoxian’s injuries.
「In the Yuezhou Sanatorium, inside a sickroom.」
Taking advantage of He Haisheng stepping out for a smoke, He Jiaqing pinched the button on his chest and inquired of Ling Miaoying about the situation.
Ling Miaoying tried to keep his tone steady as he responded, "Jia Qing, I’ve handled the matter with Lu Maoxian."
"You didn’t kill him, did you?"
"No, I chopped off one of his hands, stabbed two holes in his face, and also killed a few of his men." As he said this, Ling Miaoying’s cheeks twitched; he was clearly very displeased.
He Jiaqing praised, "Well done. Spread the news of Lu Maoxian’s severe injuries. Be extra careful these days and see if anyone comes looking for trouble. I will have someone protect you in secret."
"Alright."
He Jiaqing terminated the contact. Ling Miaoying turned back to look at the Shadow Play Building, feeling a wave of irritation.
He had put a lot of effort and money into this Shadow Play Building.
He Jiaqing had asked him to spare Lu Maoxian’s life, and although Ling Miaoying had verbally agreed, he didn’t intend to follow through.
In recent times, whether openly or in secret, whether through the newspapers or the film industry, the Lu Family had caused him much trouble, and he had long wanted to settle accounts with them.
When the Lu Family’s main lineage was still influential, Ling Miaoying had been rather wary. But now that they were gone, eliminating Lu Maoxian would completely topple the Lu Family’s influence.
Then, the Lu Family would become scattered, and Ling Miaoying could take over their businesses and, subsequently, their status.
At that time, the Ling Family would truly undergo a complete transformation in Puluo State.
The plan was perfect, but something unexpected happened.
He had been confident he could kill Lu Maoxian, but at the critical moment, Lin Zhixiao burst out of the building.
In theory, Lin Zhixiao shouldn’t have been able to escape so quickly. The building was filled with countless people to kill and many traps waiting for him.
Somehow, someone had opened a secret passage in the building and let Lin Zhixiao out.
Several names crossed Ling Miaoying’s mind, but he couldn’t be certain.
He had failed to kill Lu Maoxian this time, and the secrets of the Shadow Play Building had been exposed, which deeply annoyed him.
The Shadow Play Building had to be moved immediately, and it needed to be remodeled as well.
The only good news was that the outcome matched He Jiaqing’s expectations, so Ling Miaoying didn’t have to make any further explanations.
Lin Zhixiao’s corpse still lay at his feet; Lu Maoxian’s men were quite loyal.
Tu Yinghong looked at the Shadow Play Building and said, "He ran out from the second floor. I reckon the other side might have left some clues."
Ling Miaoying shook his head and said, "Forget the clues for now. Let’s get the building moved first."
Tu Yinghong nodded, took out two Iron Rulers from her skirt, measured the distance, and then placed them on the ground.
The Iron Rulers seemed to melt into liquid iron, penetrating the ground until they completely disappeared.
Clasping Ling Miaoying’s hand with a tender look, Tu Yinghong said, "I know you’re upset, but you promised me that you’d spend tonight with me."
"Alright." Ling Miaoying, with a gentlemanly smile, took Tu Yinghong’s hand and entered the Shadow Play Building.
Before long, the Shadow Play Building slowly vanished into the night.
「Inside the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng was holding photographs taken at Black Stone Slope, scrutinizing them closely.」
A photo could trigger many thoughts, and the deeper the associations one made, the better the cultivation effects.
The Phonograph turned its horn and asked in a soft, delicate voice, "Husband, you’ve been staring at this photo for so long. What exactly are you planning to do?"
Li Banfeng said, "What if I said I’m cultivating? Would you believe me?"
PFFT.
"Which Taoist Sect are you cultivating? The Peach Blossom Path?"
Li Banfeng said with a serious expression, "I am cultivating Conscience."
"Yes, and it seems your ’Conscience’ isn’t small either, husband. Your Little Servant has a private matter to discuss with you. Please lean your ear closer."
Looking at the Phonograph’s fervent horn, Li Banfeng really didn’t feel like getting closer. "My lady, there’s no one else here. Just say it."
"Husband~" the Phonograph cooed. "You just applied oil to me a moment ago. How can you be so distant with your Little Servant now?"
Li Banfeng, feeling helpless, put down the photograph and brought his ear close to the horn.
The Phonograph whispered, "Husband, lately I’ve noticed that your physique has improved considerably."
Li Banfeng’s heart tightened, and he turned to look at the Phonograph. "Is that so?"
The Phonograph cooed playfully, "Husband, come closer. You being so far makes your Little Servant’s heart grow cold."
Li Banfeng once again pressed his ear to the horn, and the Phonograph asked in a slow, deliberate tone, "You said you had fought with Meng Qian before, but Little Servant didn’t inquire about the details. Could it be that you... had something with that vile woman?"
"No!" Li Banfeng immediately clarified. "All I did was set her clothes on fire; I didn’t touch her at all."
"Oh my, husband, Little Servant is not the jealous type. Never mind if you didn’t; even if you had, Little Servant wouldn’t mind."
"Hohoha, my lady, you truly wouldn’t mind?"
"Heeheehee, husband, did you really?"
"If I say there’s nothing, there’s nothing! Why don’t you believe me?"
"Oh, husband, Little Servant naturally trusts you. No matter the reason, the improvement in your physique is ultimately a good thing. I intend to help you take another wife."
Li Banfeng sat up and gently caressed the turntable. "My wife is so thoughtful. When do you plan on this addition?"
After a trip to the Inner State, Li Banfeng’s Traveling Cultivator level had advanced to the Sixth Layer. He still had a considerable surplus from it, and his Traveling Cultivation had already surpassed his Home Cultivation.
This was why Li Banfeng now dared not consume Elixirs. If his Traveling Cultivation continued to advance and exceeded his Home Cultivation by two layers, Li Banfeng would once again face a cultivation backlash.
Since his wife took the initiative to propose advancement, Li Banfeng naturally wouldn’t refuse. He straightened his hair and was about to dive into the horn when he suddenly heard his wife say, "Husband, wait a moment. To advance to the Sixth Layer, we still need a Medicinal Primer."
"What kind of Medicinal Primer?"
"We need a fresh Soul."
"That’s easy to handle."
Just as Li Banfeng was about to leave, he heard his wife singing slowly, "Husband, this Medicinal Primer can’t be just any random one. Since your Little Servant is taking you to the Sixth Layer, you need to bring back at least a Sixth Layer Medicinal Primer."
Li Banfeng returned to his wife’s side and whispered into the horn, "Wife, what use is a Sixth Layer Medicinal Primer?"
His wife replied in a low voice, "To resolve an urgent need."
Li Banfeng became even more intrigued. "What urgent matter is there to deal with now?"
His wife’s answer was also very mysterious: "Your Little Servant is hungry."
They had bought less food recently, and Li Banfeng felt a bit guilty.
He pinched the small horns to his left and right. "My dear, if you’re hungry, that’s easily solved. I’ll just go buy some groceries. Why have you become so picky now, insisting on something at the Sixth Layer or above?"
The Phonograph responded in a grieved tone, "This is a crucial moment! If the quality is poor, I’m afraid it won’t do!"
Li Banfeng still didn’t understand the situation when suddenly Hong Ying burst out laughing, "It’s because this wicked woman’s cultivation level has recovered somewhat, and her appetite has changed. Ordinary living beings, even ten or eight of them, are barely enough to fill the gaps between her teeth. If you want her to have a full meal, you’ll have to put some thought into it. If she isn’t satisfied, she won’t be able to take you to the Sixth Layer. Having married this spendthrift into your home, I wonder how you’ll afford to keep her in the future!"
The Phonograph sobbed twice but didn’t know how to defend herself.
Hong Ying was speaking the truth; the Phonograph’s appetite had indeed grown. She did not dare to mention this to Li Banfeng, resulting in her having to endure quite a bit of hunger recently.
Li Banfeng gently stroked the needle. "If you’re hungry, why endure it? If we can’t find good Sixth Layer ingredients, we can make do with ordinary ingredients."
The Phonograph sobbed once. "But that won’t allow me to help my lord advance."
"Advancement can be discussed later."
The Phonograph exhaled a puff of Steam that wrapped around Li Banfeng. "It’s still you, my lord, who cares for me."
"My dear, don’t worry. Wait for me to buy groceries."
Li Banfeng left the Portable Residence, intending to find some scum to ’negotiate the price of groceries’ with, when a newspaper seller appeared in front of him. Li Banfeng bought a copy of "Night-blooming Jasmine."
Unlike the situation at Black Stone Slope, Greenwater City’s "Night-blooming Jasmine" was relatively conservative, focusing mainly on legitimate news; only the four-page fiction section was slightly more sensational.
The journalists of Greenwater City were very well-informed. As soon as the Ling Family’s newspaper published the news, "Night-blooming Jasmine" followed closely behind. The headline reported Lu Maoxian being attacked.
As Li Banfeng was talking to himself, a man came up behind him, pressing a knife against Li Banfeng’s back. "Brother, lend me some money."
In Puluo State, whenever one ventured into a more secluded place, such people were never in short supply.
Li Banfeng asked, "How much money do you want?"
The man countered, "How much do you have?"
Li Banfeng thought about his wallet. "Around two thousand."
"Hand it over."
Li Banfeng felt inside his suit pocket, but his wallet wasn’t there.
Li Banfeng seldom forgot his wallet. It had been with him when he returned home that morning, and he hadn’t changed his clothes today either...
As he pondered, the impatient man behind him poked Li Banfeng with the tip of his knife. "Where’s the money?"
"Come with me to get it."
"Where do you think you’re going?" the man asked anxiously.
Suddenly, Li Banfeng circled to the man’s back, grabbing his neck with one hand. "Just follow me. I never default on payment for ’groceries’; I’ll give it to you in a moment."
After bringing the man into the Portable Residence, his ’wife’ gobbled up the man’s Soul in one bite.
The man had no cultivation, just as Hong Ying had said—he wasn’t even enough to fill a gap between her teeth.
The Phonograph didn’t complain. After all, it was her husband who had gone to the trouble of acquiring him. Li Banfeng sat on the edge of the bed, pondering for a long time before suddenly asking, "My dear, did you wash my clothes today?"
HUFF.
"Husband, are your clothes dirty? Your Little Servant will wash them right away."
"The clothes aren’t dirty, it’s just that something is missing," Li Banfeng paused for a moment before adding, "My dear, where are those Gloves?"
"Your Little Servant has been keeping them. You don’t need them right now, husband."
"Let me have a look at them first."
The Phonograph opened the cabinet of odds and ends, lifting up a puff of Steam from inside.
The Steam swayed up and down as if the Phonograph were sensing its weight.
"Oh, husband, the weight isn’t right!" exclaimed the Phonograph. Upon dispersing the Steam, she found the Gloves were gone.
Li Banfeng casually pulled out a feather duster and scanned the room. "We’ve got a thief in the house!"
PS: Why are there two Iron Rulers, why two of them?