"Qi Lang, the upper echelon of Craftsman Cultivation can change their appearance. The woman you captured last time had such a cultivation level; unfortunately, she died before we could give her a chance to display it. Next time, capture one alive for me to have a proper discussion with. I shall not let you down. Qi Lang, Qi Lang, what are you doing?"
Li Banfeng was reading newspapers. He spread the newspapers out on the floor, looking for news about Tu Shumei.
Ten years ago, Tu Shumei was indeed quite famous. Her news was also in the newspapers of Greenwater City, and she even bought two paper mills from the Ma Family. But three years ago, Tu Shumei’s business suddenly went downhill. She sold off her factories one by one. The newspapers didn’t detail who she sold them to or for what price. After all, these were newspapers from Greenwater City, and Tu Shumei was a wealthy businesswoman from Black Stone Slope.
Then he looked at the news about Tu Yinghong. A year ago, Tu Yinghong had made a name for herself in Ling Family Film Industry, starring in a series of movies and quickly becoming a popular movie star. By the fourth installment of *Blood Blade Detective*, Tu Yinghong replaced Xiao Xiufei as the leading lady, becoming the Best Actress of Puluo State. Because *Blood Blade Detective* had not surpassed *Blood Gun Detective* in box office sales, Tu Yinghong’s crowning was not particularly dazzling.
The whole timeline became clear: Tu Shumei failed in business at Black Stone Slope, sold off her assets, and went to Greenwater City to become a top actress.
According to normal reasoning, as a high-ranking Craftsman Cultivator, even if she left Black Stone Slope, she should have just moved and started a new factory elsewhere.
Leaving age aside, Tu Yinghong was considered a beauty, but Ling Miaoying was not lacking in beauties around her. According to Ma Wu, Tu Yinghong wasn’t especially good at acting, even less so compared to the singer-turned-actress Xiao Xiufei.
Li Banfeng had Bai Qiusheng investigate the matter, but Bai Qiusheng didn’t quite understand.
But since it was a command from Seventh Master, Bai Qiusheng naturally didn’t dare to neglect the order and indeed found some results.
"Seventh Master, Tu Shumei had an accountant named Lu Yuesan. He’d been with her for many years and should know some inside information. After Tu Shumei liquidated her assets, she dismissed him. Lu Yuesan has been moving from place to place over the years due to his dishonesty, never holding a job for long.
"A couple of days ago, he was fired by his Boss and came here looking for work. I put him off with a few words and told him to wait for news at home."
"Dishonest?" Li Banfeng asked.
"He exploited his bookkeeping skills to profit at his Boss’s expense," Bai Qiusheng explained.
Li Banfeng said, "He’s been an accountant for so many years and still has no savings?"
Bai Qiusheng shook his head. "The kid is addicted to gambling. He makes some money at the beginning of the month, but within half a month, he’s sure to gamble it all away. For the rest of the month, when he has no food, he steals from his Boss. Having gotten used to stealing, he then goes out to gamble again. Who would dare to hire someone like that?
"A normal accountant wouldn’t dare speak about their former Boss, but this guy has no scruples. Give him a few Ocean Dollars later, and he’ll tell you whatever you want to know."
Li Banfeng nodded, and Bai Qiusheng had someone bring Lu Yuesan over.
Lu Yuesan thought Night-blooming Jasmine was willing to hire him and happily went to the newspaper office. Upon hearing that Boss Ye had arrived, Lu Yuesan tried to curry favor, addressing Li Banfeng as "Boss" as if he had already been hired.
Li Banfeng didn’t beat around the bush and directly asked him about Tu Shumei. Lu Yuesan, realizing he wasn’t being offered a job but was being questioned, chuckled. "You shouldn’t ask about this; it’s against the rules."
Bai Qiusheng stuffed five Ocean Dollars into his hand, smiling. "Brother Lu, whatever you and Boss Ye discuss, I’ll know nothing, and no third person will know. Just speak boldly and confidently."
After speaking, Bai Qiusheng left the room.
Lu Yuesan immediately explained the whole situation. "At the height of her business, Tu Shumei had two paper mills and five printing plants. She was also involved in porcelain, iron smelting, coal, and mineral businesses. In Black Stone Slope, aside from the Four Great Families, the biggest business belonged to Boss Tu."
"How did she fall on hard times then?" Li Banfeng asked.
"She didn’t fall on hard times; her business was flourishing. It’s just that later on, she bought something that cost a lot of money and spent her entire family fortune on it."
"What did she buy that could cost her entire family fortune?"
Lu Yuesan looked at Li Banfeng, smiled, but remained silent.
Li Banfeng gave Lu Yuesan another ten Ocean Dollars.
Lu Yuesan took the money and whispered, "Tu Shumei bought a Weapon. Exactly what kind, I don’t know."
"Who did she buy this Weapon from?"
"Feng Chongli. He’s a merchant who operates in the underworld, not known to ordinary people, but I’ve met him once!"
"Do you know how to contact him?"
"That’s not easy. He doesn’t have a fixed residence."
"Such a big merchant, without a fixed residence?"
Lu Yuesan shrugged and stopped talking again.
Li Banfeng gave him twenty Ocean Dollars.
Lu Yuesan still shrugged, hinting it wasn’t enough.
Li Banfeng emptied all the Silver Yuan and Huan Country Banknotes from his pocket and stuffed them into Lu Yuesan’s hands.
Lu Yuesan thanked him repeatedly and then said, "He is a merchant from a Taoist Sect, like a Peddler, who likes to travel."
"Like a Peddler? Which Taoist Sect?"
"I heard Tu Shumei mention it. It should be called Business Cultivator. This Taoist Sect improves their cultivation by conducting business. The more business they do, the higher their cultivation level."
Li Banfeng looked at Lu Yuesan. "What else do you know? Name your price, then tell me everything."
Lu Yuesan asked Li Banfeng for another fifty Ocean Dollars.
Li Banfeng nodded in agreement. "I’ll arrange for payment from the accounts later."
"Boss Ye, I truly don’t know where Feng Chongli is. But Feng Chongli has a younger brother named Feng Xincheng, who opened a grocery store in the Li Gou of Medicine King Valley."
Li Banfeng asked, "Are you talking about Feng’s Grocery Store?"
"Boss Ye, you know of this place?"
Li Banfeng nodded.
"Then I have nothing more to say."
Li Banfeng inquired, "How do you know about these matters?"
"There are some reasons behind it." Lu Yuesan rubbed his hands together, wanting more money again.
"It’s alright. Just name your price."
Lu Yuesan requested another fifty Ocean Dollars and said to Li Banfeng, "When Tu Shumei first saw Feng Chongli, she took a fancy to that Weapon and paid the down payment on the spot. I’m the accountant, so naturally, I knew about the payment.
"Later, Tu Shumei was trying to sell her factories everywhere but couldn’t find a buyer for a while. Meanwhile, Feng Chongli had other business, so he returned the down payment and left Black Stone Slope.
"Tu Shumei was anxious and inquired everywhere about Feng Chongli’s whereabouts. Boss Tu had mingled in the underworld for many years and was very well-informed; she actually managed to find out about Feng Xincheng.
"At the time, I went with Tu Shumei to Medicine King Valley, and through Feng Xincheng, we found Feng Chongli. During that period, I helped Boss Tu transfer the money from various Silver Shops. After the deal was done, Boss Tu disappeared, and I lost my livelihood."
Tu Shumei spent all her savings to buy the Iron Ruler from Feng Chongli. Then she changed her identity, became a movie queen, and turned into Tu Yinghong.
Li Banfeng laughed. "Alright, is there anything else you want to say?"
Lu Yuesan shook his head. "That’s all, Boss Ye. I’ve told you everything I know!"
Li Banfeng stood up. "The things you’ve told me today, including the fact that you’ve seen me—don’t tell anyone."
"Don’t worry, my lips are sealed!"
"I trust you," Li Banfeng smiled, pulling out a Contract Paper, "but you need to sign a Contract Book."
Lu Yuesan was a White Lamb, unfamiliar with Contract Paper. He had signed many Contract Books before and didn’t take them seriously, so he simply wrote his name and even pressed his handprint on it.
Li Banfeng instructed him to withdraw the money from the accounts. Bai Qiusheng reminded, "Seventh Master, should we eliminate this man?"
Li Banfeng shook his head. "I paid him for information. As long as the information he provides is true, there’s no reason to kill him. Besides, I will need to verify many more things with him in the future."
"I’m just worried that he might blab afterwards."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "He won’t be able to talk. If he dares to speak out, he can help me one last time."
「...」
Lu Yuesan returned to his lodging, having received more than two hundred Ocean Dollars from Night-blooming Jasmine. He counted the money twice, pondering how to live in the days to come. This sum was substantial, enough for him to start a business on Black Stone Slope. But Lu Yuesan knew business wasn’t easy, and he didn’t want to put in that much effort. First, he’d buy food, then clothes—his old clothes had been pawned, and the set he was wearing was infested with lice. It was indeed time for a change. The remaining money he decided to save, waiting for the right gamble to recoup his former capital so he wouldn’t have to worry for the rest of his life.
As he was thinking about finding the right gamble, he suddenly heard someone knocking at his door.
Upon opening, it was Ai Chixiang from the Strict Law Society. Ai Chixiang was a disciple of Elder Tang Peigong from the Strict Law Society and a person of considerable status in Black Stone Slope. However, his status had clearly declined after Xiao Genzi doused him with Golden Juice and he was later battered in the arena. Even after all this time, an unpleasant smell still lingered around Ai Chixiang. Lu Yuesan wanted to cover his nose but didn’t quite dare.
"Master Ai, you were looking for me..." Lu Yuesan held his breath and greeted with difficulty.
Ai Chixiang said, "I heard you just went to the Night-blooming Jasmine newspaper office?"
Lu Yuesan’s heart tightened.
Without thinking, Lu Yuesan said, "I was out of a job, so I thought I’d find a position at the newspaper office. But they told me they didn’t need an accountant, so I didn’t get the job."
Ai Chixiang nodded. "Whom did you see at Night-blooming Jasmine?"
"I met their manager, Bai Qiusheng. You know him too; he’s from Black Stone Slope."
"Only him?"
"And a few others working there. I didn’t get their names."
Ai Chixiang frowned. "Tell the truth!"
"I’m telling the truth! I wouldn’t dare lie to you!"
Ai Chixiang pulled out twenty Ocean Dollars and stuffed them into Lu Yuesan’s hands. "Do you think I don’t know you? Whom else did you see? Did you also meet their boss?"
With the money in hand, Lu Yuesan chuckled. "Nothing can escape Master Ai’s eyes. I did indeed catch a glimpse of their boss."
"The one surnamed Ye?"
"Yes, they all call him Boss Ye."
"What did he want from you?"
Lu Yuesan rubbed his hands. "That, I really can’t..."
Ai Chixiang took out another twenty Ocean Dollars.
Lu Yuesan felt it wasn’t quite enough. "Master Ai, I’m afraid this amount... it might be..."
While talking, Lu Yuesan began to cough. Ai Chixiang was startled and stepped back two paces. Lu Yuesan coughed for a long time, a rattle in his throat indicating he was about to cough up phlegm. When he spat it out, it turned out to be a mouthful of rusty water.
Ai Chixiang was horrified and turned to leave.
Lu Yuesan clutched his chest, coughing incessantly. He was in such discomfort that he couldn’t help but pound his chest with his hand.
THUMP!
A muffled sound. His hand shattered, and so did his chest.
Lu Yuesan stood dazed for a moment, then toppled to the ground, scattering into a pile of rust flakes.
「...」
Ai Chixiang trotted all the way to Tang Peigong’s residence.
"Master, I’ve verified everything. The Spy’s message was correct: that man surnamed Ye really came to Black Stone Slope, and Lu Yuesan saw him at the newspaper office."
Tang Peigong, worried about the accuracy of the information, asked, "Did you bring Lu Yuesan with you?"
"I wanted to bring him, but it seems the kid was poisoned, spitting yellow water from his mouth."
Tang Peigong nodded. "That man surnamed Ye must be Li Qi. He’s silencing a witness by killing him. Bring the Magical Treasure. I’ll send a message to Elder Lu. Is everyone prepared?"
"They’ve been ready for a long time."
Tang Peigong instructed, "Remember Elder Lu’s orders. Follow the plan we’ve set. Take our men and hold Li Qi. We absolutely cannot let him leave Black Stone Slope!"
PS: Has Tang Peigong gone mad? What is he planning?