HUFF! PUFF!
The train entered Black Stone Slope station. There had been many trains these past two days, keeping the station staff very busy.
After Cheng Mingke left, transportation at Black Stone Slope had returned to normal. Factories of all sizes, previously waiting to ship their goods, frantically scrambled for carriages, and a large amount of grain was quickly transported into Black Stone City.
While order at Black Stone Slope had been restored, how would the issue of the child kidnappings be resolved?
It was the work of the Jiang Xiang Gang, as clearly stated on the notices from the Defense Agency, which claimed they had no dealings with the Jiang Xiang Gang and intended to eradicate them from Black Stone Slope in the future.
Of course, such empty words were ignored by the residents of Black Stone Slope. All they remembered was someone called Benefactor who helped them retrieve their children and had also provided them with rice.
Life at Black Stone Slope soon returned to a peaceful and happy normalcy, a fact which was clearly reflected in the newspaper sales. After the reopening of the publishing houses, sales for "Night-blooming Jasmine" remained high.
But hatred for the Jiang Xiang Gang hadn’t been forgotten; the newspapers had only just begun their condemnation of the gang.
Many old cases were revisited, with almost every newspaper running a column on the Jiang Xiang Gang.
Stacks of newspapers lay before Xiao Zhenggong. Having briefly skimmed through them, he said to Shen Jingye, the director of the Dark Star Bureau, "Why are you showing me this?"
Shen Jingye replied, "I want to remind you that the situation for the Jiang Xiang Gang is not looking good. If the gang still wishes to survive in Puluo State, then changes must be made."
Xiao Zhenggong, puzzled, asked, "Change how? Since its foundation, the gang has survived on these activities. If they lose this way of life, how will they maintain contact with the Saints? How will they balance the relations between Puluo State and the Outside Provinces?"
"We have our methods, and your traditional tactics must also change somewhat."
"Let’s hear it. What kind of changes can there be?"
Shen Jingye replied, "The plan is still being perfected. We will inform you once it is decided."
Xiao Zhenggong had already guessed their intention; they were continuing to whittle away at the Jiang Xiang Gang.
Reflecting on the process of using the Equilibrium Seal, Xiao Zhenggong had become a laughingstock in the eyes of others.
He had sent five Hall Entrances to the Border Defense Envoy.
Three more had been destroyed, and to this day, it was still unclear who was behind it.
The Jiang Xiang Gang, originally operating in the shadows, was now exposed to public scrutiny and subject to universal condemnation.
All he got was a lump of flesh and blood, claimed to belong to He Jiaqing, though the true circumstances were unverifiable.
The He Family’s assets had been frozen for a while. Under pressure and to distance themselves from the Jiang Xiang Gang, the Border Defense Envoy had unfrozen the He Family’s assets.
Not at all.
Shen Jingye said, "We have carefully considered the He Family’s attitude towards you. Taking into account your safety, we indeed need to take some necessary actions."
Xiao Zhenggong was confused. "What do you mean by that?"
"We have decided to eliminate He Yuxiu in the name of the Jiang Xiang Gang," Shen Jingye stated. "Currently, she is the head of the He Family. Removing her will greatly shock the He Family, and it will also bring you more security."
"Security for me?" Xiao Zhenggong laughed.
Ever since He Yuxiu became the Family Head, she had been in conflict with the Border Defense Envoy; Xiao Zhenggong was aware of this.
"So, it is you who want to eliminate He Yuxiu and then pin the blame on the Jiang Xiang Gang, isn’t it?"
Shen Jingye didn’t offer an explanation. "The duration of the Equilibrium Seal’s restriction has passed, and you are now free to move around," he continued. "I’ll remind you one more time: you can continue to work in the Public Security Brigade, but I advise you to choose a different position."
Xiao Zhenggong remained silent, stood up, and left the office.
「Back home」
Xiao Zhenggong sat on the sofa where two young women had prepared hot water. After testing the temperature, they helped Xiao Zhenggong take a bath.
When he reached the bedroom, Xiao Zhenggong sent the two women away and lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
The white clothing hanging on the rack spoke, "Senior Brother, you didn’t have to go to such lengths. When you were at the hospital, you should have listened to me and eliminated He Jiaqing. Now that you’ve used the Equilibrium Seal, your vital energy is greatly damaged, and the Jiang Xiang Gang has lost a large territory to the Outside Provinces. This deal has cost you dearly."
Xiao Zhenggong replied, "That’s all I’m capable of. You go back and report to the Master. In any case, He Jiaqing is already dead."
The white clothing sighed. "I’ll definitely relay the message accurately, but whether the Master rewards or punishes is not up to me."
「The next evening」
The white clothing left the estate quietly, and Xiao Zhenggong drove to the Dark Star Bureau.
He was never on time for work, but today was special—it was his turn to be on duty.
Chuuni was on duty with him today. Xiao Zhenggong knew he couldn’t send him away, so he ignored him and sat in his own office.
Close to midnight, Xiao Zhenggong lit a cigar. The strong scent of smoke drifted over. Chuuni rubbed his nose but didn’t seem too bothered.
Amidst the swirling smoke, Xiao Zhenggong’s figure had already drifted to the stairwell.
Chuuni didn’t witness this; in his field of vision, he saw Xiao Zhenggong still sitting in the office.
Xiao Zhenggong went down the stairs to the archives again, searched through several rows of shelves, and finally found the document he was looking for—information about the Boundary.
He Jiaqing had attacked him head-on, a Saint had cornered him from behind, and the white clothing had personally come to supervise. This matter needed a resolution.
But Xiao Zhenggong didn’t want to be the one to seek that resolution. He didn’t want to lose his position in the Public Security Brigade.
「...」
Li Banfeng ordered a bowl of lamb noodles at the noodle shop. The place was affordable, with generous servings of noodles and meat. Many workers came here to eat after their shifts. A bowl of noodles, a lamb bone club, and a bowl of liquor were rewards for a hard day’s work.
It might not have been lavish, but the meal was delicious.
After eating his fill, Li Banfeng wandered around the city and came across a jewelry stall. He squatted down and picked out a few pieces of jewelry.
The jade bracelets were made of stone, and the gold necklaces were made of copper. He bought about a dozen pieces for less than a hundred Huan Country Banknotes.
Previously in Greenwater City, Li Banfeng had spent two hundred silver coins on two Golden Hairpins for his wife. But she had tossed them into the junk drawer after examining them with a sewing needle, deeming them not bright enough.
Hong Ying always joked that his wife was tacky.
After selecting his goods, Li Banfeng offered to pay, but the girl selling the jewelry refused to take the money.
The girl stared at Li Banfeng for a long time, then lowered her voice and said, "You are the Benefactor, aren’t you? My family has eaten your rice."
Li Banfeng dropped two Huan Country Banknotes and left with his purchases.
「Back at the newspaper office」
Li Banfeng had Bai Qiusheng procure a Guide Token for him, and he headed for the train station that very evening.
At the ticket checkpoint, Li Banfeng turned back.
It appeared that the previous incident had not entirely blown over. Not long after leaving the train station, Li Banfeng felt like he was being watched.
Li Banfeng found a quiet place and returned to his Portable Residence.
Once inside, Li Banfeng pondered over which clothes would be suitable.
When he got to the Third Room, Li Banfeng changed into the long robe, donned a gray-white top hat, threw the suit on the ground, and pondered his next move.
While he was pondering, Li Banfeng suddenly heard a rustling sound coming from inside the suit.
He thought it was the Gloves, so he lifted the suit to look, and a small iron box slid out of an inner pocket.
Inside the iron box were screws given by Brother Tang. Li Banfeng did not lack throwing weapons; he rarely used this one, so it had stayed with him.
He didn’t expect that as soon as the box touched the ground, it disappeared into the ground.
Li Banfeng exclaimed with astonishment, "Old thing, what are you doing with my screws?"
"Good stuff!" the Portable Residence exclaimed with admiration.
"What’s so good about it? How is this thing useful?"
The Portable Residence didn’t respond.
While he was lost in thought, Li Banfeng noticed another item had slid out from the suit.
It was a mechanism he had gotten from a subordinate of the Jiang Xiang Gang Hall Master during a fight.
「In the dead of night」
Li Banfeng, holding a map of Black Stone Slope, dressed in the cyan long robe and the gray-white top hat, ran northward towards the Black Stone Slope border.
Crossing the city and passing the suburbs, after more than three hours, Li Banfeng reached the border of Black Stone Slope.
Identical to the familiar Border Line, it stretched endlessly in both directions, with no vegetation around it.
Li Banfeng pulled out the device, gripped the lever, and gave it a pull. On the Border Line, there was no visible reaction.
He threw a twig over. The instant the twig crossed the Border Line, it turned to ash.
「Back in the Portable Residence」
Li Banfeng continued to think of strategies when suddenly he heard an old voice whispering in his ear, "Come to the Third Room. I will help you modify it."
Li Banfeng went into the Third Room and placed the remote control on the ground.
Just like with the screws, the remote control was soon swallowed by the ground.
After waiting more than an hour, the remote control emerged from the ground again.
Li Banfeng picked it up and saw that it hadn’t changed at all.
"Can this thing be used on the Border Line?"
The voice of the Portable Residence rang out again, "That depends on if you have the guts."