Anything in her hands became a weapon, and an extremely good one at that.
He Yuxiu walked forward with her hands in her pockets, smiling cheerfully. "What else do you have? Show me something good."
The person in black tapped a toe on the ground, rapidly retreating backward, while He Yuxiu advanced, calmly chasing after her.
Was this person in black a Traveling Cultivator? Her speed was indeed fast.
Just as she was about to reach the door of the dance floor, the person in black suddenly felt an intense heat on her back.
Huoling suddenly appeared outside the door, spewing a jet of flames onto the person in black.
Engulfed in fierce flames, He Yuxiu stepped back. "Where did this madwoman come from? She nearly set me on fire."
With enemies front and back, the person in black had no way to escape. Just as Huoling was about to incinerate her, the flames dissipated, and the person in black vanished.
"Where did she hide?" Huoling bit her lip, her long hair transforming into serpents of fire that whipped around in all directions.
Ma Wu hurriedly persuaded, "Ling’Er, don’t burn down Xiaoyao Lodge!"
Xiaoyao Lodge was in chaos, and all the guests had fled.
He Yuxiu laughed. "Junyang, your security detail is useless. How could someone sneak in like this? Wearing such clothes, and no one noticed?"
Zuo Wugang’s face flushed with embarrassment.
Qiu Zhiheng said, "The person just now must be a high-level Craftsman Cultivator. She has an object that can make her invisible."
Outside Xiaoyao Lodge, across the street, He Jiaqing set the person in black down.
"That woman’s fire is really fierce." He Jiaqing waved his hand, a small flame appearing in his palm. "Not bad, it does have some use."
The person in black looked at He Jiaqing warily and asked, "Who are you?"
He Jiaqing replied, "I’m a friend of Ling Miaoying. Let’s find another place to talk."
The person in black took a step back. "I don’t know you."
He Jiaqing chuckled. "I know you. You’re the famous actress, Tu Yinghong."
Late at night, Li Banfeng returned to Xiaoyao Lodge, only to find it wasn’t open for business, and the dance floor was a complete mess.
"Old Five, what happened?"
"Someone came to our place causing trouble, said they were looking for you."
"Looking for me? What did this person look like?"
"They were wrapped up tightly, even their face was covered. Going by the voice, it sounded like a man, but the person should be a woman."
On this point, Li Banfeng trusted Ma Wu’s judgment. As long as it was a woman, Ma Wu would be able to tell.
While he was pondering, Qiu Zhiheng came out of a private room.
He Yuxiu was completely drunk and sleeping soundly.
Lu Chunying was struggling to keep her eyes open, but she perked up when she saw Qiu Zhiheng and said energetically, "Big Brother Qiu, I have some business matters I’d like to discuss with you."
Qiu Zhiheng smiled. "For business matters, you should talk to Junyang. I’ve taught you everything I can. Junyang is better at business than I am."
After saying this, Qiu Zhiheng glanced at Ma Wu.
Ma Wu laughed. "Big Brother Qiu, this is the young lady of the Lu Family. You can’t just leave her with me!"
"The Lu Family..." Qiu Zhiheng muttered under his breath.
Lu Chunying asked cautiously, "Big Brother Qiu, what’s wrong?"
"Nothing much. It’s time for me to go back." Qiu Zhiheng draped his coat over one arm, gave Li Banfeng a slight smile, and left Xiaoyao Lodge.
Thunder rumbled, and it started to rain.
Ma Wu looked out the window and sighed. "He’s in a tough spot. As the chief steward of the Lu Family, it’s difficult for him to deal with Duan Shaoxia. The attack we faced at Black Stone Slope was likely orchestrated by Duan Shaoxia."
Li Banfeng remained silent for a moment, then said to Ma Wu, "Old Five, go find the Border Defense Envoy."
In the Lu Family Mansion, Duan Shaoxia waited in the hall, her face stern.
When she saw Qiu Zhiheng return, Duan Shaoxia dismissed the servants and asked, "Xiao Qiu, do you still have this family in your eyes? Do you still care about me? Are you still one of the Lu Family’s members?"
Qiu Zhiheng fell silent for a moment, then looked up. "Not anymore."
Duan Shaoxia was stunned. "Xiao Qiu, what do you mean by that? Are you angry with your sister-in-law?"
"I’m not," Qiu Zhiheng calmly shook his head. "I’m leaving."
"Zhiheng, you can’t leave!" Duan Shaoxia’s voice trembled. "Do you know who that child is? Your sister-in-law didn’t mean to make things difficult for you. Huai Yi, that child is actually..."
Qiu Zhiheng said calmly, "I know, Madam. I watched Yuan Hai grow up from the time he was a child, and I know he is Yuan Hai."
Duan Shaoxia was left speechless.
Qiu Zhiheng let out a long sigh. "Madam, if you hadn’t done this, things could still have been salvaged. I would have found a way to cure Yuan Hai, no matter what.
"But the one lying there now cannot be cured, because he is not Yuan Hai. And the one standing, I cannot support him, because he is not a member of the Lu Family.
"Madam, I am powerless. I am leaving. My wife and child are already at the train station, and it’s time for me to go as well."
Duan Shaoxia blocked Qiu Zhiheng. "Zhiheng, don’t leave. I did all this for the Lu Family."
"I’ve done everything for the Lu Family as well," Qiu Zhiheng laughed. "In this half of my life, every single thing I’ve done has been for the Lu Family. I’ve done everything I could.
"When the old master picked me up, I had nothing. Today, as I leave, I am taking nothing with me.
"Over the years, I returned all my savings to the accounting office. I borrowed the money for train tickets and travel expenses. Even these clothes I’m wearing were bought with borrowed money. Everything the Lu Family gave me, I have returned to the Lu Family.
"Madam, I bid you farewell."
Qiu Zhiheng turned and left the hall.
Duan Shaoxia clenched her teeth. "Don’t go!"
A blood vessel in her eye burst.
This was the Emotional Root she had planted in Qiu Zhiheng.
Under normal circumstances, Qiu Zhiheng would certainly have turned back by now.
But Qiu Zhiheng did not turn back; he had long since removed the Emotional Root.
He walked out of the Lu Family Mansion with big strides.
The rain was heavy. Qiu Zhiheng stood at the entrance of the mansion.
He puffed out his chest and, in the pouring rain, made his way to the train station.
His wife and child were waiting for him in the ticket hall, with Tan Fucheng standing to one side.
Tan Fucheng had left the funeral early precisely to escort Qiu Zhiheng’s wife and child to the train station.
"Head Qiu, take great care on your journey." Tan Fucheng was concerned Duan Shaoxia might try something on the road, but then reflected that Qiu Zhiheng would surely be prepared.
"Brother Tan, you take care as well." Qiu Zhiheng thanked Tan Fucheng and then passed the ticket checkpoint with his wife and child.
WHOO! WHOO!
The whistle sounded as the train pulled into the station.
Qiu Zhiheng let his wife and child board first. Then, he saw someone on the platform looking at him.
The person was dressed in a black suit, wearing a top hat with the brim pulled down low.
Qiu Zhiheng approached and smiled. "You came to see me off? I’m no longer the steward of the Lu Family; there might not be much I can do for you in the future."
Li Banfeng held out a large cloth bag, handing it to Qiu Zhiheng. "Noodles. For the road."
Qiu Zhiheng was stunned.
Li Banfeng said, "They don’t sell instant noodles here, but dried noodles are pretty good too. These should last you half a month."
The rain was heavy. Qiu Zhiheng wiped the rainwater from his face and accepted the cloth bag.
Li Banfeng took out a Land Deed. "Ma Wu found out about your train ticket and learned you were going to Medicine King Valley. I actually have a favor to ask of you.
"I’ve always wanted to open a Medicine Shop in Medicine King Valley. However, I don’t understand medicine and worry about losing money. So, I’d like you to take over this shop."
Qiu Zhiheng looked down. "You want me to manage your business? I’m not doing that sort of thing anymore."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "Not to manage, but to partner with me. I’ll provide the capital, you contribute the effort. We’ll split the profits fifty-fifty. You have a big reputation, you can hold down the fort, and we’ll call the shop Qiu’s Pharmacy."
Li Banfeng held the Land Deed out to Qiu Zhiheng.
The rain was pouring heavily, and the paper quickly became damp.
Qiu Zhiheng took the Land Deed, looking at Li Banfeng without saying a word.
The whistle sounded again.
The train was about to depart.
"Take care." Li Banfeng lowered his hat brim further and turned to leave.
"Take care, Brother." Qiu Zhiheng watched Li Banfeng until his figure disappeared from view, then boarded the train and sat next to his wife.
His wife took out a handkerchief and wiped the rainwater from Monkey Qiu’s face.
There was a lot of rainwater on his face.
He handed the Land Deed to his wife.
She looked at it and asked, "What is this?"
"A business," Qiu Zhiheng wiped his face again, the rainwater never quite seeming to leave it. "This is the Qiu Family’s business."
PS: From today onwards, Qiu Zhiheng doesn’t need to stand behind anyone anymore.