Two rickshaws stopped at Lu Chunying’s doorstep. Two women alighted, one after the other, and entered the courtyard.
Xiao Yeci and Lu Chunying greeted them at the entrance. Seeing the two women arrive, Xiao Yeci quickly called out, "Sister!"
Lu Chunying added from the side, "Sister!"
SMACK!
Xiao Yeci slapped Lu Chunying aside and hurried to help He Yuxiu with her luggage.
He Yuxiu hadn’t brought much; Oil Peach was carrying all her daily necessities.
Oil Peach was very reserved, keeping her head bowed and not daring to speak.
Xiao Yeci smiled and said, "This must be Sister Tao’er. Chunying, call her ’Auntie’."
Lu Chunying looked at Oil Peach’s age, shook her head, and said, "Forget it, I’ll just call her sister."
Li Banfeng settled He Yuxiu at Lu Chunying’s place. By concentrating all the vulnerable individuals together, the focus for their defense strategy became clear.
Ma Wu thought this was absurd, but he couldn’t change Li Banfeng’s decision.
When it was time for dinner, Ma Wu sighed. "I’m just worried Chu Huaijun might suddenly send people over. If that happens, we’ll be..."
He Yuxiu cut him off. "Don’t worry. If he dares to set foot in this house, I’ll rip his head right off."
Ma Wu gave a wry smile. "Sister Xiu, don’t say such things in anger. Chu Huaijun has the Border Defense Envoy backing him now."
He Yuxiu shook her head. "I’m not speaking out of anger. I was supposed to die, to die in the Soda Kiln, and in a very humiliating way at that. Old Qi pulled me back from the gates of hell. I thought I’d never return to Greenwater City in this lifetime. But today, I’m back, and I can even live in a place like this. That Sister Yecai and Sister Chunying are willing to take me in is also all thanks to Old Qi."
Xiao Yeci laughed. "Sister, there’s no need to be so formal. Chunying and I aren’t exactly your ’little sisters’ in that regard."
He Yuxiu said, "Everyone in this house, myself included, belongs to Old Qi. If anyone dares to touch this house, I’ll fight them to the death, no matter who they are."
Xiao Yeci watched He Yuxiu stealthily, her heart pounding.
After dinner, Li Banfeng took He Yuxiu and Luo Zhengnan and stealthily made their way to the He Family Mansion.
Still half a street away from the mansion, the trio entered a civilian residence.
This residence, a small, two-story building without a courtyard, belonged to Luo Zhengnan.
Upon entering the first floor, He Yuxiu saw the walls plastered with colorful, unevenly arranged pieces of paper. They seemed to form some kind of pattern, but she couldn’t make out what it was.
"This is the work of a Sound Cultivator," He Yuxiu whispered to Li Qi. "Is it for soundproofing?"
Li Banfeng nodded slightly.
Luo Zhengnan went into the kitchen and poured a bucket of water into the sink. The water drained away immediately, its destination unknown.
He then added firewood to the stove and lit a fire, though there was no pot on it.
He Yuxiu looked at Li Banfeng and whispered, "Is this a Steam Engine?"
Luo Zhengnan then went upstairs and lifted the bedboard. Beneath it was an iron barrel, over half a meter long. Both ends of the barrel were connected downstairs, and numerous pipes protruded from it. Something inside was emitting a buzzing sound.
He Yuxiu was stunned.
She knew what this machine was, but it was extremely rare in Puluo State.
He Yuxiu asked Li Banfeng, "Isn’t this a generator?"
"You recognize this too?"
"Of course. It’s a steam turbine generator. I’ve seen one before. They’re common in the Outside Provinces, but not very useful in Puluo State. Here, the electricity generated dissipates before it can even travel from the front of the house to the backyard. It’s a case of excessive loss."
What He Yuxiu meant was excessive line loss—the electrical energy was entirely consumed by the transmission lines.
So, why not skip transmission and use electricity directly inside the house? Would that work?
Some had tried. Sophisticated electrical appliances, like televisions and computers, didn’t function normally in Puluo State. When powered on, screens would fill with static, occasionally showing fleeting, unidentifiable images.
Simpler electrical devices, like Light Bulbs, could be used.
However, generators were extremely noisy. Enduring the deafening sound, not to mention constantly adding coal and water, just to light a single Light Bulb, was far less practical than using a gas lamp.
He Yuxiu also loathed the noise. She covered her ears and asked, "What do we need this thing for?"
Li Banfeng replied, "That depends on an expert’s skill."
The output wires of the steam turbine generator were connected to a hemispherical, radar-like device.
Luo Zhengnan turned a dial, adjusting the radar’s direction. He then drew out two conductive wires and attached them to his temples.
Flipping a switch, electricity coursed through his body. Luo Zhengnan shuddered as he activated a Technique.
He Yuxiu exclaimed in surprise, "I’ve never seen this Taoist Sect before."
Li Banfeng smiled faintly. "Xiuer, there are more eye-openers to come!"
Luo Zhengnan straightened his back, his expression solemn. "Next, please listen to an excerpt from ’The Yang Family Women’s General’—’A Search for Valleys’: ’Men roar, Hujia pipes blare, mountains echo, valleys tremble, the din of battle shakes the heavens!’"
Li Banfeng applauded. "Xiuer, what do you think of this singing?"
He Yuxiu was unimpressed. "The voice is average, but the stage presence is acceptable."
Luo Zhengnan shook his head. "Wrong frequency."
He adjusted the radar’s direction again, waited a moment, then said to Li Banfeng, "There are three individuals with ’hooks’ near the He Family Mansion: one at the front gate, one at the back gate, and one on the roadside."
It was obvious these three were spies sent by the Border Defense Envoy.
Li Banfeng took a Music Box from his coat, opened the lid, and revealed a small golden figure on a tray.
He turned it slightly, making the little golden figure face Luo Zhengnan, then pressed the switch. The Music Box began to play.
The music was soothing and poignant; it was a fine item Ling Miaoying had given to Li Banfeng.
He Yuxiu and Li Banfeng were unaffected by the music because the golden figure wasn’t aimed at them.
But it affected Luo Zhengnan. He was very tired and on the verge of falling asleep, because the music he heard was different from what the others heard.
He had to transmit the music. He twisted his left ear, switching from receiving mode to transmitting mode.
The melody from the Music Box traveled via the radar to the ears of the three men with hooks. In less than a minute, all three fell asleep, one after another.
Luo Zhengnan fell asleep too; the Music Box’s power was immense.
Li Banfeng stopped the generator and packed up the equipment. He helped Luo Zhengnan to bed to rest, then took He Yuxiu back to the He Family Mansion.
"Brother Seven, did you make so many preparations just for me to return home?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "You’ll have to repay this favor. I’ll have you do some outrageous things."
He Yuxiu smiled. "If I must, I must. How outrageous can it be?"
"Once you get home, explain things clearly. After that, hurry back."
He Yuxiu nodded and headed towards the He Family Mansion.
...
Inside the He Family Mansion, Sheng Shanzhou, the accountant, was about to leave with a suitcase in hand when Yan Yulin, the He Family’s Lady, stopped him. "Old Sheng, you can’t go! Are you abandoning the family’s affairs?"
Sheng Shanzhou looked troubled. "Madam, I’m just an accountant. I don’t have the capability for more. I’m getting old and can’t handle it anymore. Please, let me go home and enjoy a few peaceful days."
Yan Yulin shook her head. "No, Old Sheng. If you leave now, how will we manage?"
"The head of the family isn’t here. What can I do? Madam, please just let me go."
"Who says the head of the family isn’t here?" He Yuxiu leaped in through the window, startling Yan Yulin so much that she almost cried out.
Sheng Shanzhou’s suitcase dropped to the floor. He quickly bowed to He Yuxiu. "Miss, you’re back! I was just..."
"You were just leaving?"
"I... I mean..." Sheng Shanzhou didn’t dare leave. Even if He Yuxiu permitted it, he wouldn’t dare step out the door. "I was going to fetch the account books to report to the head of the family."
"Enough. I don’t have time to listen to your nonsense. I have business matters to discuss with you. Listen carefully: all our businesses now have established shipping channels. For specific details, follow Ma Wu’s instructions. And sever all ties with the Chu Family completely..."
After concluding her business, He Yuxiu returned to Lu Chunying’s house, and Li Banfeng went back to Luo Zhengnan’s residence.
Once Luo Zhengnan was awake, he set up the equipment again and woke the three spies.
Li Banfeng asked, "They all fell asleep at the same time. Won’t that arouse suspicion?"
"Seventh Master, don’t worry," Luo Zhengnan replied. "They don’t know they fell asleep simultaneously; they only know they dozed off. They’re all People of Puluo State, working for the Outside Provinces. They’re just trying to make a living. Who would dare report that they dozed off in the middle of the night?"
Back at Xiaoyao Lodge, Li Banfeng was planning to have a drink with Ma Wu when Cao Zhida rushed in to report. "A young man came to the dance hall. He drank without paying and then demanded tea. Judging by his clothes and accent, he must be from the Three Heroes Gang."
Cao Zhida was very nervous, but Ma Wu dismissed it. With Qin Tianjiu in the Three Heroes Gang, they couldn’t cause any major trouble.
"Give him some money and send him away."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "I’ll invite this person for tea. Old Luo, come with me."
He took Luo Zhengnan along, fearing there might be spies—hooks—nearby.
Arriving at the dance hall, Li Banfeng saw the young man sprawled inelegantly on a chair, looking like he deserved a good thrashing.
Luo Zhengnan nodded slightly, indicating there were no ’hooks’ in the vicinity.
Li Banfeng sat down beside him and said in a low voice, "Looking for me?"
The young man was startled and was about to sit up straight when he heard Li Qi say, "Don’t move. Stay as you are."
The young man didn’t dare move. He whispered to Li Qi, "Seventh Master, our Copper Seal would like to invite you for tea tomorrow."
Li Banfeng gave the young man an Ocean Dollar, lowered the brim of his hat, and left the dance hall.
The next morning, Li Banfeng arrived at the teahouse. Little Fatty quickly ushered him into a private room.
"Brother Seven, Chu Huaijun, the head of the Chu Family, invited our Head of the family and third-in-command to dinner last night. He even gave our Head of the family a precious treasure."
"What treasure?"
"A pair of Judge’s Pens."
Li Banfeng started making connections.
"What’s the use of these Judge’s Pens?"
Little Fatty scratched his head. "I’m not sure what they’re used for, but I’ve heard they’re a prized treasure from the Chu Family’s collection."
Judging by its origin, this kind of Judge’s Pen seemed different from Li Banfeng’s. His had been snatched from a couple of street thugs.
"They invited your Head of the family and the third-in-command, but what about your second-in-command? Are they intentionally isolating him?"
Little Fatty nodded. "Our second-in-command was furious. Last night, he called me and our Silver Seal over. He drank and cursed for half the night. He didn’t dare curse the Head of the family, only calling the third-in-command a spineless coward. I mulled over what Brother Seven said before, and it seems his cursing was really meant for me to hear. He might genuinely want to team up with you, Brother Seven. Do you want to meet our second-in-command?"
"Don’t rush to meet him. First, send a gift to your second-in-command. Go to the Imperial Workshop, pick something good, something *he* would like. I’ll cover the cost."
Qin Xiaopang said, "If I deliver it, it won’t have much impact. It would be best if Brother Seven could send it personally."
Li Banfeng smiled. "If you deliver it, it’s as if I delivered it. He’ll understand."
...
"A pair of Judge’s Pens, a treasure from the Chu Family?" He Jiaqing frowned. "How come I’ve never heard of them?"
Wan Jinxian replied, "The news came from within the Three Heroes Gang. They’ve already been given to their Great Gold Seal. This is absolutely true."
"Old Wan, contact the Ghost Hand Sect. Tell them it’s my order to find a way to get those Judge’s Pens back for me."
...
"Judge’s Pens?" Luo Zhengnan wiped an antenna and put it back into its box. "He Jiaqing seems to like them a lot. I wonder if Seventh Master would be interested."
PS: Do Judge’s Pens really have relatives?