Nail

Li Banfeng put down his wine glass and coughed for a while before calming down.

"Do you know Lu Xiaolan?"

"I know them, we're acquaintances."

Li Banfeng picked up his wine glass and asked, "How well do we know each other?"

Ma Wu didn't know how to describe it. "If we're talking about the closest floor, she should be my fiancée."

Cough! Cough! Cough!

Li Banfeng choked again.

Fiancée?

Why have I never heard Ma Wu mention this before?

Actually, it's not Ma Wu's fault at this point; he didn't intentionally hide it.

This is due to their personalities; they never press each other about things the other is unwilling to talk about.

But this logic simply doesn't hold water.

Li Banfeng asked, "Lu Xiaolan is your fiancée, so what does He Jiaqing do? Don't tell me he's your fiancé."

Ma Wu retorted, "What fiancé? How could I possibly be caught in the middle of them? There's more to this than meets the eye."

Li Banfeng was very curious, but his tacit understanding with Ma Wu remained unchanged. "If you don't want to say, then forget it."

"I really didn't want to say this, but it's a very important matter, so I have to tell you. Lu Xiaolan is two years younger than me. She got engaged to me when she was thirteen."

In Pro State, engagements between wealthy families are very common.

However, even in marriage agreements, it is important to be appropriate.

Are Lu Xiaolan and Ma Wu a couple?

That's not right.

She, Ma Wu, and He Jiaqing are all not a good match.

The reason why she was able to get close to He Jiaqing later was because the Lu Family's power had risen.

Li Banfeng asked, "I remember you were born of the principal wife, Lu Xiaolan was born of a concubine, right?"

How is Ma Wu supposed to answer this question?

"I was the least favored one in the family..." Ma Wu said awkwardly, then continued, "When she was fifteen, it was almost time for her to get married. I spent some time with her, and the Lu Family and the Ma family almost fell out over it."

Why did they turn against each other?

"Lu Xiaolan and I are not the same kind of people. Every time we meet, we start arguing within three sentences."

I could no longer tolerate it and wanted to call off the engagement. She said I had humiliated her and almost killed me.

While cracking sunflower seeds, Li Banfeng asked, "How did you humiliate her?"

Ma Wu was a little embarrassed. "When you're young, you're always in bed..."

Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly. "You two are going to argue after just a few words, but it won't stop you from sleeping in the same bed."

Ma Wu sighed, "I was so young back then. If it were now, I would never have touched Lu Xiaolan. She was already a third-level cultivator at that time, while I was just a White Lamb. I almost died at her hands."

Later, the matter escalated, and the two families became estranged. It wasn't until Lu Xiaolan went to study in Outer State that the matter gradually subsided.

Lu Xiaolan already had three levels of cultivation before she went to Yuezhou?

How old was she before she went to Yuezhou?

"Sixteen."

"How can someone as young as sixteen have three levels of cultivation?"

Ma Wu took a sip of wine and said, "This is something most people don't know. Lu Xiaolan is different from other scions of prestigious families. She wasn't born to be a rich heiress; she was born to be an assassin."

She entered the Daoist sect before she was ten years old. As long as her body could withstand it, she constantly took elixirs and practiced martial arts, suffering a great deal for it.

This isn't just my guess; Lu Xiaolan told me herself.

Although I wasn't Joy Cultivator at the time, I still had talent. Under those circumstances, she would never lie.

I've seen the scars on her body, the calluses on her hands, and the marks left on her peaches from being beaten.

"You've seen so much..."

Li Banfeng regretted it!

He Jiaqing snatched the photos away so quickly that Li Banfeng didn't even notice all the details.

"Fifth brother, why are you still White Lamb at that age?"

How was he supposed to answer that?

As a scion of a wealthy family, Ma Wu entered the family too late.

"Because I'm the most unreliable one in the family..." Ma Wu said, blushing, "Lu Xiaolan is a ruthless person raised by her mother. You can never let your guard down around her."

She's now clearing land right next to ours; I reckon she's probably here for you.

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "That's not necessarily true. You were the one who betrayed me back then, so it's possible that he came after you."

Ma Wu took another sip of his drink. "Regardless of who this person is after, what are you planning to do with them?"

What do you think?

Ma Wu lowered his voice and said, "I plan to find an opportunity to get rid of her."

Li Banfeng smiled and said, "I want to do her right now."

Without hesitation, Li Banfeng lowered the brim of his hat and was about to get up when Ma Wu stopped him. "Seventh Brother, you can't handle this. Let me do it."

"What's there to be afraid of? My injuries have all healed." Li Banfeng really wanted to go. He had a deep grudge against Lu Xiaolan. He had almost died at Lu Xiaolan's hands when he first arrived at Medicine King Gully.

"I know you've recovered, but I've already shown myself to Lu Xiaolan. She knows I'm here, but she might not know you're here. For that reason alone, you shouldn't have made a move."

Even if she knew I was here, she couldn't do anything to me. My identity is plain for all to see; I'm just a discarded pawn of the Ma family.

"You're different. Your identity can't be known to the Lu Family, and Lu Xiaolan can't trick you into revealing yourself. So, I have to do this myself."

No matter what, Ma Wu could always consider things from Li Banfeng's perspective; he truly was a good brother.

But can Ma Wu kill Lu Xiaolan?

Before going to university, Lu Xiaolan was on the third floor, but now I heard she's on the fourth floor. Ma Wu, who's only on the second floor, is definitely no match for her.

If Ma Wu can't kill Lu Xiaolan alone, what should he do?

"Don't tell me you're taking Bagworm Moth Madam to kill Lu Xiaolan."

That would be quite a scene.

Ma Wu shook his head and said, "Yanzi and the others are too conspicuous. I'm going to take Aqin with me."

"And who is Aqin?"

Ma Wu led Li Banfeng to Aqin's room.

Aqin is playing the piano in her room.

Judging from her appearance, she seems to be a woman in her late twenties.

It should be a woman, right?

He has big eyes, thin eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and is quite handsome.

There is a tentacle on each of its two foreheads, but it does not affect the overall aesthetics.

Her lower body is a little muscular, but she has two long legs.

Those legs are really shapely, just a bit too thin.

Li Banfeng asked Ma Wu, "Is this a cricket?"

Upon hearing the word "cricket," Aqin became displeased and glared at Li Banfeng, saying, "Fifth Son, who is this person?"

Ma Wu reminded Li Banfeng to watch his tone, "Aqin is a senior, a genuine sixth-level body cultivator. She has cultivated in the Three-Headed Fork."

Body cultivation?

Did a human turn into a grasshopper, or a grasshopper turn into a human?

Li Banfeng lowered his voice and asked, "Was she originally a person?"

Ma Wu remained silent.

This is a difficult question to answer.

Aqin stands about 1.6 meters tall and looks very much like a human, but her original form is indeed a cricket.

Ma Wu then reminded Li Banfeng, "Senior Aqin has an unusual identity; she is Wen Hongyan's master."

Wen Hongyan?

Chu Er's Big Support?

In Li Banfeng's memory, Wen Hongyan was in her early forties. How old must this senior be?

How could you do this?

How should Wen Hongyan address Ma Wu from now on?

"Fifth brother, you're just asking for trouble."

Ma Wu told Aqin about it.

Aqin stretched her tentacles and said calmly, "When do we make our move?"

"The sooner the better."

Aqin got up immediately without making any preparations.

"Fifth Son, tell me who that woman is in a moment. You don't need to do anything; leave the rest to me."

Ma Wu was a little worried. "I'll take Lao Zuo with me."

"I don't need him. Zuo Wugang always stares at me, and I find him disgusting."

Has Zuo Wugang taken a liking to Aqin?

He was one of the most famous Big Support in Green Water City, and he had his eye on a cricket?

The type of master determines the type of support one receives.

This story will definitely make the front page of the newspaper if it gets out.

Ma Wu set off with Aqin. When they arrived at the reclaimed land, Ma Wu did not see Lu Xiaolan or the other reclaimers.

But he saw the Land Block light up.

Did the Qiu Luoye respond?

The response was surprisingly fast!

"It's alright," Ma Wu said through gritted teeth. "We'll make our move after they start clearing the land tomorrow. We absolutely cannot let them clear this Land Block."

Aqin shook her head and said, "Fifth Son, I can do whatever I want before the land reclamation is completed. After the land reclamation is successful, I can also find an opportunity to make my move. But I can't do anything reckless during the land reclamation. I have a contract with Qiu Luoye."

"What deed?"

"I am considered Qiu Luoye's subordinate. If someone is clearing land on his land, I can go and inspect it, but I need his permission. Otherwise, I cannot enter the Land Block at will."

Aqin's situation is the same as that of Wild Boar and House Centipede Woman. They can come and test Li Banfeng and Ma Wu, but only if the Shui Yongquan allows.

Can Aqin go and take the entrance exam for Lu Xiaolan?

It's highly unlikely that Qiu Luoye will be permitted.

The reclamation test is to assess whether a person has the ability to take on Land Block of land. A mile is not a large Land Block, and Qiu Luoye would not allow a sixth-level cultivator to test the reclamation person, as this would not be in accordance with the reclamation rules.

Aqin can't go, but Ma Wu has another idea. "I'll send Yanzi tomorrow. She's Wandering Monster and doesn't have to follow the rules for clearing land."

Aqin was worried. "Yanzi still young, that girl needs more experience, I'm afraid she won't handle this matter properly."

Ma Wu was taken aback. "Young? Lacking experience? Aqin, which Yanzi are you talking about?"

"Wen Hongyan, my disciple. When she was learning from me, she got beaten a lot. Her peaches are covered in scratches. I'll have her show you another day."

Ma Wu laughed, "I'm talking about our own Yanzi, not the Chu family's Zhiguai."

Aqin was displeased. "Why did you bring up that shameless slut again!"

Ma Wu quickly hugged Aqin and coaxed her, "We're all family, we should try to stay harmonious."

Aqin shrugged. "I can't get along with her."

"Alright, Aqin, don't worry about it. I'll go back and listen to you play the zither."

"Fifth Son, I couldn't help you with this, so you're not allowed to be angry with me."

"I'm not angry, but you have to make it up to me."

"Then you have to be more considerate of me."

The next day, the land clearing began.

Ma Wu took Yanzi and Aqin to the Land Block.

Lu Xiaolan may not be there, because the Land Block can hire someone to clear the land.

Ma Wu was prepared for this. If Lu Xiaolan personally cleared the land, he would have Yanzi kick her out and have Aqin take her place.

If Lu Xiaolan isn't around, let Yanzi ruin the land reclamation.

Aqin and Yanzi argued the whole way.

"Young man, why do you have to bring this cricket along? I can handle this myself."

Aqin snorted coldly, "Isn't it because I think you're stupid and I'm afraid you can't accomplish anything?"

"Woman, who are you calling stupid? Believe me or not, I'll break your legs!"

"You try it, I'll break your teeth first."

Ma Wu chuckled dryly, "Let's get down to business first, let's get down to business."

When they arrived near the Land Block, several pioneers were eating around a fire. Ma Wu didn't see Lu Xiaolan among them.

Ma Wu ordered, "Yanzi, drive them out!"

The land reclamation had to be disrupted. Lu Xiaolan was allowed to clear a plot of wasteland in front of her own house. Lu Xiaolan would keep an eye on things whenever she had nothing to do, and hide in her Land Block whenever something happened. This was like driving a thorn into the hearts of Li Banfeng and Ma Wu.

Yanzi rolled her eyes at Aqin: "Woman, it's not your turn this time."

Aqin twitched her antennae but remained silent.

The Yanzi slithered into the Land Block, startling the land reclamation workers who trembled with fear.

With a smile, Yanzi approached the group and used her tentacles to knock over one of the pioneers. "You young men are quite handsome. If I weren't already taken, I'd really like to have some fun with you."

"While I'm in a good mood, you'd better get out of here, or you'll be dead."

A group of pioneers scattered and fled. Yanzi returned to Ma Wu's Ma Wu and rubbed against him coquettishly.

Aqin lowered her head and remained silent, while Ma Wu stared at the Land Block and smiled slightly.

Lu Xiaolan, I don't believe you won't show up.

If you show yourself, I'll take your life!

That evening, Shui Yongquan came knocking on the door. "Brother Ma Wu, I heard you chased away the pioneers with a moth?"

Ma Wu neither admitted nor denied it. "Manager Shui, the 'Sleeping Moths' don't need to follow the rules of land reclamation. Regardless of whether this matter has anything to do with me, the 'Sleeping Moths' disrupting the land reclamation isn't a problem, is it?"

Shui Yongquan took a sip of tea. "That's the logic, but that's not how things are."

Li Banfeng, standing nearby, said, "Then can you give me some pointers? What exactly happened?"

Shui Yongquan said, "I finally managed to reach an agreement with Qiu Luoye that we would stop fighting. No one has ever successfully cleared land on his territory before. Now that someone has finally come to clear land, you're going to cause trouble again. Aren't you just forcing him to turn against us?"

Let me make this clear to you two: if Qiu Luoye really turns against you, he will definitely attack again. And if he attacks, you two will be the first to suffer. Brothers, I've said my piece; consider the consequences yourselves.

Not long after Shui Yongquan left, Chuanzi came running with a message: "Someone is clearing land again, in the Qiu Luoye's Territory."

PS: Why does the Local Earth God cherish those who pioneer the land so much?