Balance Person

Xiao Zhengong stared at Big Head, the coin in his hand tumbling between his fingers.

Big Head is a fifth-level martial arts cultivator. Although he is exceptionally talented, his strength is not much stronger than Zhong Guoshu's.

Xiao Zhengong wanted to kill him, but it wouldn't take much effort; the coin in his hand was enough.

His tone suddenly softened, and he calmly asked, "Big Head, what exactly do you want to do here?"

Big Head replied, "The Team Leader sent me."

"You'd better be honest. The Team Leader never made you go to the hospital every day. There's something else going on."

Big Head shook his head and said, "I don't come to the hospital every day. I just came to take a look today."

"I'm asking you questions now as the vice- Team Leader. You know the rules of the Dark Star Bureau. If you don't cooperate, I won't be polite." The coin in his hand unconsciously flipped between his thumb and forefinger.

"I sent him." Team Leader Chen Changrui suddenly appeared at the door. "Zhenggong, collect the coins. You're playing with those one-yuan Steel Coin so enthusiastically. If others see this, they'll think we can't afford to pay wages."

Xiao Zhengong accepted the coins and said to Chen Changrui, "I now suspect that Detective Zou Guoming and He Jiaqing colluded to leak bureau secrets. Is it reasonable to ask him a couple of questions?"

Chen Changrui laughed and said, "No problem, feel free to ask. But it might not be convenient to ask here, and there are some things that are best left unsaid to outsiders. How about we go back to the station and ask them slowly?"

Xiao Zhengong sneered, "No need. I've asked everything I needed to ask and seen everything I needed to see. I'm just an outsider in the bureau. If I talk too much, I'll only make people dislike me."

After saying that, Xiao Zhengong left the ward. Chen Changrui and Big Head stayed in the ward for a while before returning to the station together.

In the evening, Big Head went to Flower Lake Park and entered Xindi.

In the wilderness, He Jiaqing sat by the fire and beckoned Big Head to come and sit down.

He Jiaqing was utterly baffled by Xiao Zhengong's actions. "Has your deputy Team Leader always had such a bad temper? If he really killed me today, do you think your bureau would let him off the hook?"

Big Head replied, "The bureau might not hold him accountable. Even if they do, he'll probably only get a disciplinary action at most."

"Disciplinary action?" He Jiaqing asked in astonishment. "Does your bureau look down on me that much? Am I not an important person?"

"You are an important person, but Xiao Zhengong's identity is very special."

"What is your identity?"

"As far as I know, he is Balance Person."

"What is Balance Person '?" He Jiaqing had never heard of this term before.

"This is a secret within the bureau. During one operation, Xiao Zhengong killed a colleague in his team. This colleague had a powerful background; his father was a very important figure. But the matter was ultimately dropped."

That important figure used many connections to investigate Xiao Zhengong in order to avenge his son. Because I participated in that operation with Xiao Zhengong, I was also implicated.

Later, thanks to Team Leader Chen's strong protection, I was able to escape that trouble. I've never understood this matter: Xiao Zhengong was the one who committed the murder, yet he doesn't have to bear any responsibility, while I, his subordinate, suffered a great loss.

Later, I learned from Team Leader Chen that Xiao Zhengong was Balance Person; that important figure couldn't touch him at all.

The so-called "Balance Person" is someone capable of balancing relations between Pro State and Outer State. Xiao Zhengong's status in Pro State is rather unusual, but I don't know his specifics.

"I know he's the Gang Leader of the Jiang Xiang Gang," He Jiaqing frowned slightly, "But the Jiang Xiang Gang isn't considered a big gang in Pro State. Why do Outer State think so highly of him?"

Big Head didn't know the reason either. "Anyway, you need to be more careful in the future. Since he's determined to kill you, he'll probably find another opportunity to do it in a few days."

"I'm not afraid of him, I'm worried about you. He framed you to your face, and your Team Leader heard it too."

Big Head wasn't worried. "The Team Leader trusts me a lot. He hates Xiao Zhengong and won't suspect me because of a few words from Xiao Zhengong."

He Jiaqing sighed, "This time, it's my fault for dragging you into this."

Big Head shook his head and laughed, "Am I not your brother? Why bother with such things between brothers?"

He Jiaqing took out a Golden Essence Pill and a packet of medicinal powder and handed them to Big Head: "Here, take this. Mix the pill with the powder and take it together to increase your cultivation."

"You mean, enhance dark abilities?" Big Head shook his head, returning the pill to He Jiaqing. "The bureau has rules: any enhancement of dark abilities must be reported to the bureau, and the process and methods of enhancement must be clearly explained."

I cannot take these kinds of drugs because I cannot explain the source of my enhanced abilities, and I will be severely punished if the department finds out.

He Jiaqing laughed, "Every time you improve your skills, do you have to report it truthfully to the bureau?"

Big Head thought this was perfectly normal, "It's the rule. Hiding your abilities is a very serious mistake."

"You told me Xiao Zhengong is a level three fighter, do you think he wasn't hiding anything?"

After thinking for a moment, Big Head said, "He is Balance Person, I can't compare to him. The bureau has special equipment that can test each of our true abilities."

He Jiaqing stuffed the pill into Big Head's hand. "Eat it without worry. There's no device in this world that can test your abilities."

Please remember that these two medications must be taken together. The pills are poisonous, and the powder is for detoxification. After taking them, make sure to get plenty of rest.

The future and prospects your department promised you are all false; only your own self-cultivation is real. You must always remember this.

He Jiaqing returned to his hospital bed and carefully went over the cause and effect of what had happened.

In the past, the only person He Jiaqing could take seriously in the entire Jiang Xiang Gang was Luo ZhengNan.

He realized that he had been neglecting Xiao Zhengong all along.

It's suspicious that a gang Gang Leader would come to the Dark Star Bureau as a deputy Team Leader.

Previously, He Jiaqing thought that Xiao Zhengong only wanted to use his position in Outer State to whitewash his identity, after all, the Jiang Xiang Gang had a terrible reputation.

However, it now seems that he oversimplified things.

The current situation has deviated significantly from the plan. Red Lotus and Zhao Xiaowan must be found as soon as possible. If this continues, all the previous efforts will be in vain once the major Lineage have recovered.

It's really difficult to make a move against Xiao Zhengong, so I can only turn to my old friend.

Ban Feng, where did you go?

You've suffered so much, and you've built such a large fortune, are you just going to throw it all away?

You must be reluctant to part with it, right?

He Jiaqing fumbled around on the buttons of his hospital gown, found the hook on the buttonhole, and contacted Ling Miaoying.

"How's the newspaper business going?"

"The situation is not bad. The foundation left by the eldest brother is good. Although it has been suspended for so long, it has still been able to win back many old customers."

"Very good," He Jiaqing praised, "Publish a news item for me."

Li Banfeng sat quietly in his Portable Abode, watching the record player and Hong Ying.

Hong Ying was steamed for a long time, and then listened to her Wife sing two songs.

Li Banfeng thought the two songs were very nice, but for Hong Ying, every lyric was like a whip, leaving her skin bruised and bleeding.

Even so, she didn't say another word to her Wife.

Hong Ying is not spineless; torture alone will not do her any good, and the Wife is well aware of this.

Following Li Banfeng's suggestion, it would be better to swallow Hong Ying's soul and hand over her body to Red Lotus for refining.

Red Lotus wholeheartedly agreed, but the record player refused.

She had to get to the bottom of some things, and this obsession made her very irritable; she even refused to put on Machine Oil.

Li Banfeng always felt uncomfortable having Hong Ying in the house. After all, he had tricked her into marrying him using special means, and he always felt a little guilty when he saw her.

Since he felt guilty, he tried to see her as little as possible. Li Banfeng lived very comfortably in Iron Gate Fort. Food, drink and other necessities were delivered to his door. He could also wander around the desolate mountains and wilderness to complete his Travel Cultivator.

After dinner that day, Li Banfeng was reading a novel in the mansion when Wu Yongchao rushed in, covered in sweat. "Master, I've bought it."

"What should I buy?"

"The newspaper, the one you often mention."

Li Banfeng had a habit of reading newspapers, but the House Cultivator of Iron Gate Fort did not; they didn't care about what was happening outside the fortress.

Wu Yongchao noticed that Li Banfeng always bought newspapers to read, and thought it was a very tiring task, so he wanted to run an errand for Li Banfeng today.

To buy a newspaper, Wu Yongchao walked dozens of miles of mountain roads, skipped two meals, and got lost several times along the way. Little did he know that for Li Banfeng, this was just a short walk.

It wasn't a big deal, but Li Banfeng appreciated it and hired Li Zhijuan, House Cultivator with excellent cooking skills, to cook a few dishes, heat up two pots of wine, and treat Wu Yongchao to dinner.

Wu Yongchao wolfed down his food, while Li Banfeng flipped through the newspaper. One piece of news caught Li Banfeng's attention.

The Ling and Ma families joined forces to reclaim the land in the new area.

It's common for large Lineage to reclaim land in new areas, but the photos in this news item bothered Li Banfeng a lot.

In the photo, Ling Miaoying and Ma Chunting are posing together on the Land Block, which is located in the Qiu Luoye's territory. Li Banfeng had been to this place before; it is less than three miles from Decency Village.

If he manages to develop this land, it will be just as disgusting as the land Lu Xiaolan reclaimed.

It might even be more disgusting, because the Ma family is involved.

Decency Village is the family business that Li Banfeng worked so hard to build, and he will not tolerate any threats from anyone.

Ling Miaoying, are you deliberately forcing me to go back?

It seems I can't avoid you anymore, so I'll stop avoiding you.

Ma Wu once said that the Ling family was Peeping Cultivator Family, and the three brothers' cultivation levels were all no lower than the seventh level.

Let's calculate based on seven floors first.

I have five levels of House Cultivator and forty levels of Travel Cultivator, which adds up to Ninth Layer. There's no need to be afraid of the seventh level if you're at the ninth Ninth Layer.

The Ma family is also a key factor.

What floor is Ma Wu's father on?

I remember Ma Wu mentioning that he was a scholar at the eighth level.

Eight floors plus seven floors make fifteen floors.

It's okay, I can do it in two sessions!

Li Banfeng knew that the levels couldn't be simply added or subtracted, but he had to rush back to Decency Village. Even if he couldn't defeat Ma Chunting and Ling Miaoying, he had to give it his all.

Even if he loses, Li Banfeng doesn't need to worry. He has a way out on that territory, a way out that is difficult for others to access.

Before leaving, he divided the 800,000 silver dollars into two parts: he took 200,000 silver dollars with him and left the remaining 600,000 silver dollars in Iron Gate Fort, entrusting Wu Yongchao with its safekeeping.

He trusted Iron Gate Fort, and he trusted this brother.

If something unexpected happens in the future, he can return to Iron Gate Fort for refuge.

If Iron Gate Fort encounters any misfortune, this money can be used for emergency relief.

Li Banfeng set off that evening, which terrified Wu Yongchao.

"My lord, I went out to buy a newspaper. Why did you leave? I should have known better than to go..."

Li Banfeng looked at Wu Yongchao and instructed him, "No matter what, remember three things, and never forget them."

Iron Gate Fort has only one lord, and his name is Lord Fortress.

Wherever he is, he is your lord.

Whether he is dead or alive, he is still your lord!

Got it?

Wu Yongchao remembered it, Iron Gate Fort remembered it too.

Their lord was called the lord, a House Cultivator would never forget in their lifetime.

When Li Banfeng arrived at Peach Blossom Lake, he left his clothes at Portable Abode, jumped in naked, lingered at the bottom of the lake for a while, then emerged from the water and arrived at a desolate plain.

Back at his Portable Abode, after drying himself off, Li Banfeng was getting dressed when Hong Ying suddenly spoke up, "Did you come in naked just now?"

The record player exclaimed in astonishment, "You bastard, you can see that?"

Hong Ying sneered, "I can't see it, but I can smell it."

"You can smell that?" the record player hissed, belching steam. "Are you crazy for men?"

"What business is it of yours if I want a man?"

"First, tell me why you hurt me in the first place?"

"I won't tell you. Kill me or torture me, it's all up to you."

"You bitch, don't cry when you get beaten up later!"

The familiar scene played out again. Li Banfeng was too lazy to watch any longer and quickly returned to the wasteland. Following Yao Lao's map, he sped all the way and arrived at the Qiu Luoye's Territory in less than a day.

When Li Banfeng arrived at the location of the news photo, he saw neither the land reclamation workers nor the glowing Land Block.

What's going on?

Is the news fake?

Is someone plotting against me?

Li Banfeng was not surprised, as the news was published in the Ling family's newspaper.

He stood on his Land Block and looked around. Lu Xiaolan, who was hiding on her own Land Block, had already heard his voice.

"Mom, he's here."

Hidden in the jungle, Zhuo Yuling used a hook on her belt to ask Lu Xiaolan, "Is now the right time to make a move?"

"No rush, he's heading in your direction. Let's wait until he enters the trap before we make our move."

Li Banfeng walked towards Decency Village. After walking about a hundred steps, he suddenly became interested and began to sing an old song:

"Beat the drums fast, beat the gongs slowly; stop the drums and gongs and listen to the song. I won't sing any idle talk; today I'll sing the eighteenth song..."

The simple folk song reached Lu Xiaolan's ears, causing Lu Xiaolan eardrums to ache terribly, and blood flowed out of her ear canal.

Is someone setting a trap for me?

You're lucky you haven't met your Wife yet!

P. S.: This little tune is quite simple and rustic. Dear readers, sing along with Salad.