After the Contract Book matter was settled, Li Banfeng still had some matters to explain to Meng Yuchun. From now on, Meng Yuchun would be responsible for guarding this territory, while Li Banfeng would lead people to clear the land within Meng Yuchun’s territory. There were numerous issues the two had to address.
Like the group of Strange Monsters under the Mountain-Uprooting Master, they were an urgent problem to resolve.
Li Banfeng made them sign the Contract Book on the spot, to listen to Meng Yuchun’s commands from then on.
Strange Monsters were easy to deal with; they would follow anyone.
The Vine Monster and Chef Monster, these two Wandering Monsters, were somewhat unwilling.
They had reached their current cultivation level with great difficulty, finally obtaining the status of Wandering Monsters so as not to be governed by Local Deities. Now, Li Banfeng was making them sign a contract, and they hesitated, unwilling to press their handprints.
Li Banfeng thought.
Li Banfeng stared at the two Wandering Monsters, smiling faintly. "Do you truly refuse?"
The two Wandering Monsters couldn’t see Li Banfeng’s face, only the lowered brim of his hat and his slightly upturned lips.
Before either could state their position, the Playful Matron rushed to say, "I agree, I am willing!"
"You?" Li Banfeng shook his head slightly. "I’m afraid you don’t have the opportunity anymore."
"I truly..." Before the Playful Matron could finish her words, Meng Yuchun snapped her neck from behind.
The other two Wandering Monsters did not hesitate for a second longer and immediately signed the contract.
...
In Yuezhou, at the Garden Stadium, over three hours had passed since the boy band concert ended, and many fans still refused to leave.
He Jiaqing waited until three in the morning, then sneaked into the stadium and made his way underground.
Pressing the seal to his forehead, He Jiaqing convulsed for a long time. The intense pain was truly unbearable.
He did not place the seal within the earth pit but rather kept it with him in its box and left the stadium.
He Jiaqing had set a rule for himself: in one place, he would strike no more than twice a month.
he thought.
Upon leaving the stadium, He Jiaqing drove to a villa in the Yucong District.
The villa had not been maintained for a long time, and dust was everywhere, with the bedding all moldy.
He Jiaqing placed the seal in a hidden compartment under the bed, took a paintbrush from his pocket, and brushed twice over the compartment door, making it disappear.
After securing the seal, He Jiaqing went to the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror, first stretching his ankles.
His bones cracked and popped as He Jiaqing grew three centimeters taller.
He covered his face with his palms, loosened his skin a bit, kneaded his cheekbones higher, extended his smile lines, deepened his forehead lines, and darkened his complexion...
After the alterations, He Jiaqing had transformed into the appearance of He Haisheng.
Changing into a gray Sun Yat-sen suit, He Jiaqing carried a suitcase out of the villa, hailed a taxi, and headed to Yuezhou East Station.
Two days later, He Jiaqing arrived in Greenwater City and took a rickshaw to the He Family Mansion.
He Haiqin looked in good spirits; his already large frame had thickened considerably.
He was eating mutton in the dining room while He Yuxiu laughed beside him, "Little brother, has your cultivation level improved? You’ve already eaten six sheep!"
He Haiqin ignored He Yuxiu and looked at "He Haisheng." "Third, why have you come back again?"
"He Haisheng" said nothing.
He Yuxiu frowned. "Is there something even your sister can’t know about?"
He Haiqin wiped his mouth and said, "Alright, come upstairs with me to talk."
He Yuxiu waved her hand. "You don’t need to go upstairs. I’m leaving; I’m off to play cards. I really don’t feel like listening to your nonsense!"
He Haiqin grabbed He Yuxiu. "Sister, you can’t leave. I have something important to discuss with you in a bit."
"He Haisheng" followed He Haiqin upstairs. Before "He Haisheng" could speak, He Haiqin had already guessed his intention. "Did you find more Elixirs?"
"He Haisheng" nodded. "This time I found twenty."
"Where did you find them?"
"The same place as before."
He Haiqin took the Elixir Box and smiled. "Jia Qing is a good kid—truly a good kid. Third brother, you must take good care of him. I’m asking you this from the bottom of my heart."
"Brother, why are you saying this? Jia Qing is my nephew; I care about him too."
He Haiqin counted out ten Elixirs and handed them to "He Haisheng." "Brother, take these!"
"Brother, I can’t accept this."
"If I tell you to take it, just take it! Business at Golden Spring Casino has been good recently. I can’t handle it all by myself, so it’s yours now."
"Brother, what are you planning to do..."
"Stop asking. It’s rare for you to come back. Hurry and finish your business, and then go to the Outside Provinces to look after Jia Qing."
"He Haisheng" left.
He Haiqin sat next to He Yuxiu, continued gnawing on the lamb, and said while eating, "Sister, let me talk to you about our family business."
He Yuxiu was taken aback. "Why tell me this? I wouldn’t understand anyway."
"I have to make a long trip, and I’m leaving the family business in your care from now on."
He Yuxiu was even more confused. "You want me to manage the business? You should ask Third Brother about that! Why are you telling me?"
He Haiqin shook his head. "He’s not cut out for it."
He Yuxiu laughed. "Damn, this is the first time in my life I’ve heard I’ve got the makings of a businesswoman. Fine, go ahead, I’m listening."
...
After leaving the He Family Mansion, He Jiaqing went to a residential house in the east of the city. Looking in the mirror, he wiped his face, transforming into a nondescript man in his thirties.
He changed into a long robe, put on a coolie hat, and headed to the Beautiful Voice Record Player Shop.
The previous tumult had passed, and the Phonograph Shop was still open for business, but it had no customers. Ling Miaosheng sat in the back, nodding off as usual. He Jiaqing gently knocked on the counter and smiled. "Are you still open for business?"
Ling Miaosheng lifted her head and looked at the man in front of her, asking, "Are you here to buy a Phonograph? Which model are you interested in?"
He Jiaqing shook his head. "I don’t fancy any of the goods here. Can I have a look inside?"
Ling Miaosheng stood up. "Let’s get things straight first. Are you here to buy something, or to seek revenge? If it’s revenge, let’s settle it right here."
He Jiaqing laughed. "Do I even know you, to seek revenge?"
Ling Miaosheng led He Jiaqing through the back door and into a room where various Phonographs were displayed.
He Jiaqing scanned each Phonograph, saying as he browsed, "I’m a friend of Miaowen and Miaoying, a friend from the Outside Provinces."
Ling Miaosheng pointed to a shiny black wind-up Phonograph. "This one is produced by Ingrid. It’s very delicately made, and the sound quality is beyond reproach. It’s just that it’s rather delicate and needs regular maintenance."
He Jiaqing continued, "Miaowen and Miaoying must have mentioned me. I’m as close to them as siblings."
Ling Miaosheng then approached a silver Phonograph. "This one is from Cheman Country. It’s quite robust and durable, with a clear sound, perfect for playing piano music."
He Jiaqing continued, "Miaowen left, Miaoying disappeared without a trace. The family business can’t just be left idle."
"This Phonograph is made by Xi Panni," Ling Miaosheng said. "Its timbre is somewhat harsh; it’s a bit lacking when playing music, but it renders human voices especially clearly."
"Miaosheng," He Jiaqing said, "the only person I can trust now is you."
"Sir, are you here to buy a Phonograph?"
After exchanging glances for a moment, He Jiaqing smiled, put on his straw hat, and left the Phonograph Shop.
Ling Miaosheng escorted him to the door, then returned behind the counter and dozed off.
Walking down the street, He Jiaqing shook his head helplessly.
Old Wan said Ling Miaoying was still alive, but He Jiaqing wasn’t sure if he truly was.
But some tasks still needed to be done.
...
Outside the city, in a manor, Wan Jinxian was drinking tea in his study when a servant suddenly moved a chair to sit opposite him and poured himself a cup of tea.
Wan Jinxian stared blankly for a long time, then saw the person across from him wipe his face and smile.
"Jiaqing!" Wan Jinxian exclaimed, both shocked and delighted. He pushed open the door and looked around, worried someone might hear the noise.
"Don’t worry, everyone at home is asleep," He Jiaqing smiled. "They won’t wake up before I leave."
Wan Jinxian quickly asked, "Why are you back?"
"I missed you, big brother, so I came back especially to see you."
Wan Jinxian gave a wry smile. "I’m no maiden. Why would you miss an old man like me? Is there something important?"
He Jiaqing took a sip of tea. "You told me before that Miaoying was still alive. Have you heard any news about him recently?"
Wan Jinxian shook his head. "Ever since he appeared in Xiaoyao Lodge, he has never shown his face again."
He Jiaqing set down his teacup. "I just went to the Shadow Play Company. Our film has stopped shooting."
Wan Jinxian said, "I really don’t understand the film industry. I had someone ask, and they said it could wrap up in two more days, but the actress has disappeared."
"Are you talking about Tu Yinghong? Didn’t you go look for her?"
"I sent people. I heard she also showed up in Xiaoyao Lodge, probably together with Ling Miaoying."
He Jiaqing furrowed his brows.
"Find Tu Yinghong and get her to finish the film. I can’t stay in Puluo State for too long; this needs to be dealt with quickly."
Wan Jinxian nodded. "I’ve heard that Lu Maoxian often sends people to create trouble at the set, and your father has sent people there as well. I have no idea why Miaoying would offend Elder He."
He Jiaqing stroked his chin. "It’s probably over the business at Hai Chi Ridge."
"Otherwise, just have the Ling Family give up some of the Hai Chi Ridge business and return it to your father."
He Jiaqing shook his head. "You don’t need to worry about my father’s side of things; it can be resolved in a few days."
...
In the He Family Mansion, He Haiqin’s wife, Yan Yulin, urged, "Haiqin, that’s enough. How much have you eaten already?"
For three whole days, He Haiqin incessantly ate mutton, sending out bag after bag of sheep bones.
He Haiqin, his face covered in oil, impatiently said to Yan Yulin, "This is a matter of cultivation, so mind your own business. Tell the kitchen to work in shifts. Have them keep roasting one after another for me, and don’t stop."
"Haiqin, you can’t eat any more!"
"You don’t understand!" He Haiqin stood up, intending to go to the kitchen himself, but he got stuck in the doorway and couldn’t get through.
Yan Yulin looked at He Haiqin; his body shape was now beyond recognition.
His huge torso almost engulfed his limbs, making his entire silhouette increasingly round.
"Hurry to the kitchen and see! Do I really need to go there myself?" He Haiqin was angry, and Yan Yulin hurried off to the kitchen.
Chairs had long become too small for him, so He Haiqin sat back down on the ground and pulled out five Gold Yuan Pills from his pocket.
He had struggled in Puluo State for decades and had never seen Elixirs of such quality.
He Haiqin stuffed all five Elixirs into his mouth at once.
The Pill’s Poison surged intensely. He Haiqin grabbed half a sheep and devoured it, using the meat to forcefully suppress the poison.
The next morning, a series of urgent shouts woke Yan Yulin.
"Madam, the Master has had an accident!"
Yan Yulin rushed to the dining room. Semi-congealed sheep fat flowed all over the floor and into the corridor, causing He Yuxiu to slip and fall repeatedly.
When she burst into the dining room, Yan Yulin saw a huge mass of fat piled up against the wall, taking up nearly half of the room’s area.
"Where’s the Master!" Yan Yulin shouted.
A Support, who was very brave, approached the fat, reached into it, and fished around for a moment until a human face slowly emerged from the mass.
Although the face was swollen beyond recognition, Yan Yulin could still make out the familiar features.
"Master, Master, what’s happened to you!"
Yan Yulin threw herself next to the pile of fat, holding He Haiqin’s face, and began wailing loudly.
PS: He Jiaqing truly is a filial child.