Carefree Dock

Li Banfeng held Rong Yeguang's head and examined it carefully for a long time.

He had never met Rong Yeguang, but this bandit leader had his men wipe out Decency Village, and Li Banfeng was determined to avenge this.

He just didn't expect Sun Tiecheng to avenge him so readily.

Is that all there is to it?

That won't do; Lu Xiaolan is still alive.

This debt still needs to be settled.

Sun Tiecheng said to Li Banfeng, "In the eyes of the world, foolish cultivators have long been extinct. There should be no living foolish cultivators in the world, and there must never be any living foolish cultivators."

"You went to the Fool's City, came out alive, and even learned two techniques of foolish cultivation. This must never be known to outsiders, or your life will be in danger."

There should be no living fools in this world.

Li Banfeng looked Sun Tiecheng over carefully. "Wouldn't you be considered a living, breathing foolish cultivator?"

Sun Tiecheng shook his head and said, "That doesn't count."

Li Banfeng couldn't see any ghostly flames on him, nor did he know what kind of being he was.

"Is the first person to pass the exam a living example of foolishness?"

Sun Tiecheng chuckled, "You shouldn't have asked."

"Can I give up the Fool's City Land Block and trade it for something else? It's okay if I can't trade it for anything. I just wanted an extra skill. I shouldn't be too greedy."

Sun Tiecheng shook his head and said, "No."

Clearly, this piece of land serves as a link between Li Banfeng and Yu Xiu, much like a contract. Sun Tiecheng went to great lengths to scout Li Banfeng in order to find a suitable candidate to establish this link.

"Come back to Fool's City more often. In a life-or-death situation, it's a safe haven for you, much more reliable than the Shui Yongquan." With that, Sun Tiecheng vanished.

On the way back, Li Banfeng didn't run too fast. He ran back to Decency Village at the same speed he had come.

He still remembered Sun Tiecheng's words: if you run too fast, you won't be able to find the entrance to the Old Land.

Similarly, if you run too fast, you won't find your way out of the Old Land.

Li Banfeng suspected there were other ways to enter and exit the Old Land, but Sun Tiecheng deliberately used speed to define the exit because he knew Li Banfeng was a member of the Travel Cultivator, since the Travel Cultivator was most sensitive to speed.

Did I gain or lose by meeting this person?

He tricked me into going to Fool's City, and I almost lost my life.

But I learned two techniques from him, killed an enemy, and got a piece of land that I don't know if I can use. Does that mean we're even?

There was no way to settle things amicably. Li Banfeng knew how big the gap was between him and Sun Tiecheng. From the moment Sun Tiecheng set his sights on him, this encounter was inevitable.

What level is he exactly at?

Is it similar to that insect, the leader above the Local Earth God?

What kind of entity is the leader?

Since the cost of his Lazy Cultivator had not been completely eliminated, Li Banfeng was too lazy to think about it further. He returned to his bedroom and immediately went to his Portable Abode.

"My lord, you've emerged from Fool's City?"

"I'm out." Li Banfeng collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

The phonograph's speaker turned towards the Judge's Brush: "You lazy bum, you're actually quite useful."

"Hmph~" Judge's Brush turned around, too lazy to say anything.

He Jiaqing has never been able to hear anything in his left ear.

Ling Miaoying had taken this into account, so when transmitting the message, she tried to make the tone of her voice as rich as possible, giving He Jiaqing the illusion that he could hear it with both ears.

"The Lu Family's newspaper is gaining momentum. I don't know much about the newspaper business, and the Lu Family has also poached several of my brother's best employees."

He Jiaqing remained relatively calm, as this was within his expectations. "Has the matter with the newspaper been investigated thoroughly?"

"Based on the clues we have so far, the people who burned down the newspaper office were from the Hundred Flowers Gate, and it's very likely that my brother's matter is also related to them."

Ling Miaowen died from a strange piece of music, and He Jiaqing was also seriously injured by the same music, which came from a record player that Ma Wu bought.

The record player was bought from Ling Miaosheng. Ling Miaosheng couldn't have killed his own brother, so the record player must have been tampered with.

Was it made by Ma Wu?

Did Ma Wu hire the Hundred Flowers Gate?

He Jiaqing believed that Ma Wu didn't have the resources, Hundred Flowers Gate didn't have the strength either.

The Lu Family —only the Lu Family has that kind of power!

"The Hundred Flowers Gate doesn't usually have any dealings with Miaowen. There's more to this than meets the eye. It's almost certainly the Lu Family's doing. This revenge must be taken."

"How should we report it?"

He Jiaqing said, "Contact Rong Yeguang, the leader of Iron Sheep Mountain, and have him gather his men to wipe out the Lu Family's business in Medicine King Gully. Also, find a way to transfer Monkey Qiu to Medicine King Gully."

Without Monkey Qiu, Lu Yuanshan and Lu Yuanhai are easier to deal with. Tell Lu Maoxian that now is the best time to become the head of the Lu Family, and let him directly eliminate the two Lu Family brothers.

Ling Miaoying agreed and immediately went to contact Iron Sheep Mountain.

That evening, after the caregiver had fallen asleep, He Jiaqing received a message from Ling Miaoying: "Things at Iron Sheep Mountain are probably going to be a bit difficult."

"What's the difficulty? Are you afraid Rong Yeguang won't agree? Offer him a higher price; we're not short of money."

"We don't lack money, but we lack a Rong Yeguang."

He Jiaqing frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Our people just sent word that Rong Yeguang got into trouble last night, and someone took his head."

He Jiaqing lay on the bed, silent for a long time.

Was Rong Yeguang, the big boss of Iron Sheep Mountain, killed?

"Who did this?"

"Unbeknownst to many, Iron Sheep Mountain is already in chaos, with the various powerful figures vying for the position of chieftain. Lu Xiaolan is preparing to flee with her mother."

"Don't let her run away! Let her stay and fight for the position of chieftain." This was the first thing He Jiaqing could do before he had even come to his senses.

"Jiaqing, the position of chieftain is not easy to compete for. There are many ruthless people on Iron Sheep Mountain. Lu Xiaolan is only a fourth-level novice cultivator."

"The Three Heroes of Iron Sheep are dead. The others aren't much stronger than Lu Xiaolan. She still has Spider Bin and her mother, both of whom are top-tier fighters at the fifth level."

Needless to say, her mother can get more money from Spider Bin; he has to help her win the position of chieftain. Those people from Iron Sheep Mountain are still useful!

Ling Miaoying agreed, and He Jiaqing fell silent.

Things changed too quickly, and He Jiaqing couldn't understand. "Who exactly, who could have killed Rong Yeguang?"

Ling Miaoying said, "Our initial suspicion is that it was Ma Wu. Our spies from Xindi sent us news that Ma Wu had inquired about the location of Iron Sheep Mountain, and as a result, Rong Yeguang got into trouble."

"Ma Wu?" He Jiaqing scoffed. "Even the He Family and the Lu Family couldn't take Iron Sheep Mountain, so what is Ma Wu? Who gave him that ability?"

"Jiaqing, Ma Wu is not the same as before. It is said that he opened a ten-mile Land Block in Xindi, which even the Lu Family and the Chu family could not open together!"

I suspect he has a ruthless backer, and that person is very likely your friend.

"Li Banfeng? He killed Rong Yeguang? What gave him the right? He's only been in Pro State for a few days. Even if he had a few more lives, could he even make it to Iron Sheep Mountain?"

Ling Miaoying sighed and said, "Jiaqing, my eldest brother is gone, and the Ling family isn't in a good position either. We need to be more cautious in our actions."

You'd better separate your friend from Ma Wu; I have a feeling the two of them are going to cause a lot more trouble.

"It definitely should be separated!" He Jiaqing agreed. "Let our people whisper in Ma Chunting's ear; it's time to let Ma Wu go home."

"Back then, Master Ma ordered that Ma Wu was never to set foot in the house again. Now, it will be quite difficult to get Ma Wu to come back."

He Jiaqing smiled and said, "The Ma family's main businesses are in Green Water City and Sea Eat Ridge. The business in Sea Eat Ridge is almost bankrupt, and the business in Green Water City isn't doing very well either."

Ma Chunting is old and can't handle things on his own. His children are all incompetent; only Ma Wu is capable. If he doesn't call him back, is he just going to watch the Ma family decline?

Ling Miaoying still had some concerns. "If Ma Wu becomes the head of the Ma family, your friend will have a much stronger backer."

He Jiaqing said, "Ma Wu can't become the head of the Ma family. He's the toilet paper of the Ma family. He has to clean the places that can't be cleaned properly, but after he's done cleaning, people still think he's dirty and have to throw him away."

Ling Miaoying thought about Ma Wu's status in the Ma family, and He Jiaqing's words did make sense. "But what if Ma Wu refuses to go back?"

"He'll definitely go back. Eleven years ago, your business started to pick up, the company was completed, and all the major Lineage sent people to your celebration banquet. Do you remember that?"

"How could I not remember? Our friendship started from that time."

"Ma Wu was there that day too. We were discussing something important. Guess what he was doing?"

"He's messing with the actress I just promoted."

"Thirteen, he was only thirteen that year. Ma Wu is just that kind of person. He can't do anything great. In the end, he will still have to go back to the Ma family to be toilet paper. Just do as I said, and the matter will be settled within a month."

Ma Wu was tidying up the accounts in Decency Village when Little Chuanzi delivered a letter. "Fifth Master, this is from Fourth Master."

"Which Fourth Master?" Ma Wu opened the letter and saw that it was his brother, Ma Junjiang.

The letter clearly stated that as long as Ma Wu went back and honestly kowtowed to his father to admit his mistakes, the past could be forgiven.

Ma Wu put the letter aside and pretended not to see it.

A few days later, Ma Junjiang arrived at Blue Poplar Village and arranged to meet Ma Wu.

When the two met, they exchanged a few pleasantries, and Ma Junjiang brought up the matter of returning home again. "Jun Yang, Dad really wants you to come back. As long as you are sincere and kowtow to Dad in front of the whole family, and then kowtow to Third Brother, this matter will be over, and you will still be the Fifth Young Master of the Ma family."

Ma Wu took a deep breath and said, "Do I have to kowtow to Third Brother?"

Ma Junjiang frowned and said, "You slept with your sister-in-law, shouldn't you apologize for that?"

"Yes, I should," Ma Wu nodded, "But I have no face to go back. I have disgraced the Ma family. I will never have the face to step into the house again in my life."

Ma Junjiang's face darkened as he said, "Fifth Brother, now is not the time to throw a tantrum."

"Fourth Brother, I'm not being temperamental," Ma Wu stood up to see the guest out. "Go back and tell Dad that since he said he didn't have me as a son, then let's just pretend he really didn't!"

After seeing Ma Junjiang off, Ma Wu dealt with the business in Blue Poplar Village and was about to rush back to Decency Village when Yang Yanzheng arrived.

Ma Wu thought he was here to cause trouble, so he specially called Zuo Wugang to his side.

Yang Yanzheng wasn't there to cause trouble; he was there to discuss business. Chu Er was focused on her cultivation at the Bitter Vegetable Manor and couldn't manage her business in Green Water City, so she wanted to sell Carefree Dock to Ma Wu.

Ma Wu was overjoyed. Carefree Dock was his own creation. Not long after he was kicked out of his home, it was sold to the Chu family by the Ma family due to poor management.

Even while scavenging for food in the garbage dump, Ma Wu was still thinking about Carefree Dock. He thought he would never run into Carefree Dock again in his life, but now he finally had the chance to get that business back.

Chu Er asked for 150,000 silver dollars, which wasn't expensive, but it wasn't a small amount for him and Li Banfeng, so they had to discuss it with Seventh Brother.

Ma Wu rushed back to Decency Village overnight and found Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng had heard Ma Wu mention Carefree Dock more than once; in Ma Wu's description, it was a paradise on earth.

This is a good thing.

"Do we have enough money in the account? If not, I'll go out and gather some more."

Ma Wu waved his hand and said, "The money in the account is barely enough, but it's really not a small amount. I'm worried..."

"Don't worry, let's get it back first," Li Banfeng agreed.

Ma Wu quickly found Yang Yanzheng, and the two families settled accounts. Ma Wu paid the money, and Yang Yanzheng handed over the house deeds and land deeds to Ma Wu.

This event is of great significance, as it means that Li Banfeng and Ma Wu have struggled all the way from Blue Poplar Village to Green Water City.

The two arrived at Carefree Dock, Li Banfeng looked around.

Carefree Dock was not large, consisting of a three-story Western-style building, a large dance hall, and ten Bai Le Men boxes, making it far inferior to the Paramount.

Moreover, Carefree Dock is located in a much more remote area than Bai Le Men.

Li Banfeng said with a hint of disdain, "Fifth brother, your paradise on earth is a bit lacking."

"Don't rush, this whole area of open land is ours. Give me a few years, and I guarantee Carefree Dock will become the second Bai Le Men."

Li Banfeng objected. "Why should we be second? This is all our hard work. If we can't beat the Bai Le Men, what's the point of all this effort?"

The two celebrated all night at Carefree Dock. The next morning, Chuanzi woke Ma Wu up. "Fifth Master, the accountant has arrived."

"Which accountant?" Ma Wu hadn't hired an accountant yet.

"The old house's accountant, Mr. Yu Zhihe."

Yu Zhihe is the head accountant of the Ma family. What is he doing here?

Ma Wu tidied his clothes and hurried to the accounting room. Upon entering, he saw Yu Zhihe sitting inside, fiddling with an abacus and organizing the accounts.

Who gave him permission to access the account books?

Ma Wu got angry. "Uncle Yu, what are you trying to do...?"

Yu Zhihe didn't get up, but remained seated in the chair. "Jun Yang, the master asked me to come and look at the accounts, and also to tell you about the business."

Ma Wu frowned and said, "Don't worry about business matters, I can handle them myself."

Yu Zhihe laughed and said, "Jun Yang, Carefree Dock is a business owned by the Ma family. Everyone in Pro State knows that. I've always been in charge of the business accounts, so there's nothing to argue about, right?"

Ma Wu gritted his teeth, extremely annoyed.

His father is trying to forcibly take over Carefree Dock.

Li Banfeng wasn't annoyed. He stood at the door, quietly watching Ma Wu's reaction.

Late at night, Ma Wu found Li Banfeng to discuss countermeasures. "I'll go talk to Yang Yanzheng again tomorrow. Let's sell Carefree Dock back to the Chu family. We absolutely can't let my father reap the benefits for nothing."

"I'm willing to accept a slightly lower price, but I'm afraid Chu Er doesn't want to get involved in my family's affairs."

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "I can write to Chu Er myself, and she can buy it back at the original price. She's not one to back down from trouble, but doing so won't work."

Fifth Brother, it doesn't matter if there's a little more or less business, but it's absolutely not okay to keep swallowing our anger like this. If he sets up an account in Carefree Dock today, what will we do if he extends his reach to Blue Poplar Village tomorrow?

"We can't give up Carefree Dock. If this puts you in a difficult position, let's split the business amicably."

Ma Wu remained silent for a while, then raised his head and said, "Seventh Brother, I'll listen to you."

Li Banfeng laughed, "I'll talk to that accountant tomorrow and try to persuade him to go back. Just this once."

P. S.: What if the accountant doesn't listen to advice?