He Jiaqing's Hand

After Duan Shaoxia calmed down, Qiu Zhiheng asked Tan Fucheng to explain the whole story in detail.

Tan Fucheng first explained something, "Chief Qiu, this isn't my fault. When the eldest young master came to me, the first thing he asked was, 'Who is the head of the Lu Family?'"

I am a member of the Lu Family, and I must obey the head of the family. I had no choice in this matter.

Duan Shaoxia couldn't stop crying, but Monkey Qiu remained calm and asked, "How did you get in touch with He Haiqin?"

"The eldest son was the one who set up the connection. I don't know the details, but I heard it was because of his son, He Jiaqing."

"Did He Haiqin make a move tonight?"

Tan Fucheng shook his head and said, "I've trapped the old master. The eldest young master is preparing to take action himself; he doesn't want us to watch. The second young master and I are guarding the alley entrance, He Haiqin is standing by the wall."

For some unknown reason, the young master's body suddenly disintegrated.

"The Shattering Wilderness Sword?"

"I have never seen the Shattering Wilderness Sword, but the eldest young master did have a sword in his hand at the time. After the second young master rushed over, he took that sword and was about to stab himself. I think he was being controlled by someone, and I used a technique to save him."

"What method was used to control it? Thought Cultivation Technique?"

Tan Fucheng pondered for a moment, "I can't tell. I suspect the eldest young master died in the same way."

Monkey Qiu gritted his teeth and said, "Why did we have to invite He Haiqin along?"

Tan Fucheng said, "Young Master said that with the He Family's Old Master, we can defend against the old master's ambush and ensure that there is no chance of failure. Qiu, this matter is really not my fault."

As they were talking, a servant climbed the stairs, and Monkey Qiu opened the door and asked, "What is it?"

"The old man is here!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Shaoxia was about to rush out of the house. "I'll fight him to the death!"

Monkey Qiu closed the door and stopped Duan Shaoxia, saying, "Madam, you can't do anything reckless. You can't see him."

"What am I afraid of? At worst, I'll lose my life!"

"Madam!" Monkey Qiu roared, "This is a matter of life and death; you must listen to me!"

Duan Shaoxia's eyes were bloodshot as she sat back down in her chair. Monkey Qiu asked Tan Fucheng, "Did anyone see you bring the Second Young Master back today?"

"There were several servants and a few assistants."

"Keep these people under control. Don't let them leave the mansion for the next few days. Don't make things difficult for them, and don't let them cause any trouble at home."

Tan Fucheng led everyone to a small building next to the main house and settled them in.

Monkey Qiu straightened his clothes, went outside, and greeted Lu Maoxian with the usual bow, saying, "Grandpa, what brings you here so late?"

"Little Qiu, you still acknowledge me as your elder, calling me 'Grandpa'? I'm already here, and you're just going to leave me standing at the door?"

Qiu Zhiheng smiled and said, "Madam has gone to bed, so it's not convenient for me to take you to the main house. Why don't you come and sit at my place for a while?"

"The way you put it makes it sound like I've been impolite. I've come today to see my two grandsons. Please call them into your house, I'll say a few words and then leave."

"You've come at a bad time. The two young masters said they were going to Sea Eat Ridge today and left by train at noon."

"Sea Eat Ridge?" Lu Maoxian sneered. "How come I heard it's still in Green Water City? Little Qiu, don't try to fool me. You know what's going on. Make those two come out to see me right now."

"Master, I truly don't understand this situation. The two young masters aren't home, yet you insist on seeing them now. Aren't you putting me in a difficult position?"

Lu Maoxian's face darkened. "Can't I make things difficult for you?"

Lu Maoxian was followed by dozens of people. Monkey Qiu recognized some of them. Among these people, none of them had a cultivation level lower than the third level.

Qiu Zhiheng remained calm. "In this place, you really can't make things difficult for me!"

"You're so arrogant."

"Why don't you give it a try!"

Monkey Qiu raised his voice slightly, and the entire mansion, from the front door to the backyard, echoed with a sound.

This was to tell Lu Maoxian that all the supports and decorations in the house were in place.

For a fleeting moment, Lu Maoxian really wanted to lead his men and rush in.

Seeing the expressionless Monkey Qiu, Lu Maoxian a little scared.

After Lu Dongliang disappeared, the Lu Family's medicine shop was taken over by Monkey Qiu.

Lu Maoxian had no idea how many pills this kid had consumed or what his current cultivation level was.

"Little Qiu, your temper is getting worse and worse. Since the two children aren't home, let's just let tonight's matter go."

I came here to tell them something: I've invited some famous performers to my house to sing for a few days. If they like my services, they'd like to come over and support me.

Monkey Qiu said, "I will definitely pass on the message when the two young masters return."

Lu Maoxian nodded and left with his men.

As he walked down the street, Lu Maoxian felt conflicted.

Why don't you dare to attack?

Why should I be afraid of a butler?

Why is this Monkey Qiu so difficult to deal with?

No problem. Wait a few days, gather more people, and come again. Let's see what other tricks he can use to fob me off!

Monkey Qiu returned to the mansion and entered Lu Yuanhai's bedroom.

Lu Yuanhai lay on the bed, his facial features distorted and twisted, showing no signs of improvement.

The doctor shook his head and said, "Steward Qiu, I'm really sorry, we can't find any symptoms."

The doctors were about to leave when Monkey Qiu stopped them, saying, "Please, stay here for a few days."

The doctor asked in a panic, "Steward Qiu, what do you mean by this?"

"Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you. We'll compensate you double for the expenses you've incurred these past few days." Qiu Zhiheng didn't say anything more to the doctor and directly instructed his men to settle the doctor in a guest room.

He found a medicine bottle, used a small spoon to scrape some skin flakes off Lu Yuanhai's face, and took some saliva from his mouth before putting it away.

He found Tan Fucheng and instructed him, "Brother, I'm leaving the affairs of the mansion to you before I return."

Tan Fucheng was somewhat troubled. He had his own property and business, and he was not usually at the mansion.

But apart from him, Qiu Zhiheng couldn't trust anyone else now, so Tan Fucheng had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

Qiu Zhiheng then instructed Duan Shaoxia: "Try not to see Lu Maoxian these days. As long as you don't leave the mansion, he won't dare to barge in."

Duan Shaoxia grabbed Monkey Qiu's hand. "Zhiheng, where are you going? You can't leave us, mother and son, behind!"

"Madam, I'm going to Medicine King Gully. I need to find a way to cure the young master's illness."

Lu Maoxian easy to deal with, but be very careful of He Haiqin; he's the real ruthless one.

If you suffer a loss in business, never hold it against him.

He Haiqin returned to the house, sat in the dining room, and devoured a lamb chop.

He Yuxiu entered the restaurant and asked, "Hai Qin, Lu Maoxian dead yet?"

He Haiqin shook his head and said, "No, I messed up. He had helpers with him, and I even suffered some minor injuries."

"Are you injured? Call a doctor right away."

"No need, it's just a superficial injury. Eating more will make up for it."

He Yuxiu sighed, "I told you you should have brought more people with you."

He Haiqin put down the lamb chop, wiped his mouth, and said, "Who are we taking? Can we let others know about this?"

"Take me with you! Don't you trust your sister?"

"If something happens to either of us, who will take care of things at home?"

He Yuxiu smacked her lips and said, "Or I could tell you to call the third brother back. That way, we'll have someone to help us if anything happens!"

"The third brother can't come back. He has to keep an eye on Jiaqing. Jiaqing is badly injured, especially his hand, which is badly hurt."

He Yuxiu was taken aback. "Jiaqing injured his hand? I don't remember the third brother mentioning that."

"Didn't the third brother mention it?" He Haiqin gulped down a bowl of wine. "Anyway, I saw it. His left hand was injured like that; it didn't even look like his."

After saying that, He Haiqin hugged the lamb chop and began to devour it.

He Yuxiu found He Haiqin rather strange. When talking about He Jiaqing's injuries, he didn't seem to care much, and even seemed somewhat resentful.

Li Banfeng sat in his Portable Abode, looking at a pile of Mystic Scarlet Pill in front of him, deep in thought.

The previous Broken Cocoon Chrysalis (Cong Shixiang) produced a Lotus Seed, which did not burst open for a long time after being peeled off.

The Lotus Seed burst open today.

Lu Dongliang, who was originally at the Ninth Layer, refined more than eighty Golden Essence Pill.

This Broken Cocoon Chrysalis has a cultivation level close to the Tenth Layer. Li Banfeng estimates that he can refine at least a hundred of them.

As a result, the Golden Essence Pill was not refined, but more than nine hundred Mystic Scarlet Pill were refined instead.

Li Banfeng doesn't eat this stuff because his cultivation progresses too slowly, Pill Poison is no less than that of the Golden Essence Pill.

Did Red Lotus do it on purpose?

Fortunately, there was a sufficient quantity of Golden Essence Pill, enough for Li Banfeng to consume up to the eighth level. But what to do with the remaining Mystic Scarlet Pill?

Let's give out bonuses.

Ma Wu was like family to Li Banfeng in everything. Whenever they made money, Li Banfeng always took the lion's Big Head, and he couldn't skimp on the elixirs.

Li Banfeng gave him twenty pills first. "Take it easy and be careful to detoxify."

Ma Wu has a sense of propriety.

Others received rewards ranging from one to ten, based on their contributions.

Zuo Wugang, Zhen Jincheng, and Cao Zhida are all familiar with elixirs and know the dosage. Not to mention the Street Scolding Woman and Aqin, they are all knowledgeable people.

Bai Qiusheng and Yuwen Qi were both first-level cultivators. They had never taken such a good pill before, but that didn't matter. They were both cautious people, so before taking the pill, they consulted Ma Wu about how to neutralize the Pill Poison's poison.

When it came to Little Chuanzi and Little Genzi, something went wrong.

Little Chuanzi received ten pills and, in his excitement, ate three of them. He immediately collapsed in the house. If Ma Wu hadn't discovered him in time, he would have lost his life.

Little Genzi also received ten pills, but he didn't eat any of them and returned them to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng didn't understand. "Why aren't you eating?"

Little Genzi, clutching the bucket, puffed out his chest and said, "I heard them say that after taking this pill, I'll have to lie down for at least a day. What am I going to do about my cultivation?"

"It won't make a difference if one more day comes, will it?"

Genzi shook his head and said, "We can't afford to waste even a day!"

When he first entered the Daoist sect, the Peddler had instructed Little Genzi that those who reached a higher level of cultivation should carry buckets for eight hours every day.

Little Genzi carried it for twenty-four hours a day, without ever missing a beat, regardless of the weather.

Aside from eating and sleeping, Little Genzi searched everywhere for materials and carefully prepared the golden sauce. Li Banfeng had never seen anyone as hardworking as him.

"Genzi, put the bucket down first!"

Li Banfeng earnestly advised, "You can't neglect your cultivation, but you also need to take elixirs, otherwise you'll be wasting your great talent."

After thinking for a moment, Little Genzi finally accepted the pill. "I'll take it when I find a suitable place."

The "suitable place" he mentioned, it couldn't be a latrine, could it...?

Li Banfeng didn't dare to ask any more questions.

The Qingshou Association no longer cause trouble for the movie theaters, and the matter of "Blood Spear Detective" is basically resolved.

Ma Wu took the opportunity to contact local merchants to discuss stone and coal business. He was an expert in this area, so Li Banfeng didn't need to worry about it.

A few days later, the business deal was basically finalized, and everyone prepared to return home.

The mission of "Night Fragrance" has been accomplished. There is no need to continue publishing newspapers and magazines now, and Bai Qiusheng and Yuwen Qi should go back.

But they didn't want to go back.

Bai Qiusheng said, "Seventh Master, when my brother and I were suffering in Black Stone Slope, we dreamed of leaving this place. Now, I don't want to leave anymore. We want to continue running 'Night Fragrance'."

Zuo Wugang said, "After we leave, how are you going to deal with the local gangs? We've offended them quite a bit."

Bai Qiusheng laughed and said, "Don't worry, our 'Night Fragrance' signboard is still up. We two brothers will deal with them first. If we can't handle it, then we'll ask Seventh Master for help."

Yuwen Qi said, "Seventh Master, don't worry, this is your business. We will hand over all the profits to you. You just need to pay us some wages."

"How can you do business like this?" Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "Let's split it in three parts. Thirty percent is for me as Bonus Money, thirty percent is for you to keep, thirty percent is for your subordinates' wages, and the remaining ten percent is for emergencies."

With the matter settled, Bai Qiusheng and Yuwen Qi expressed their deepest gratitude.

Ma Wu led his men back to Green Water City, Li Banfeng and Chuanzi stayed behind.

Chuanzi wants to continue his spiritual practice at Black Stone Slope, but he also needs someone to look after his stone and coal businesses.

Li Banfeng wanted to explore Black Stone Slope properly.

He liked the place called Black Stone Slope, and he liked the people there.

There was another place he really wanted to go; he wanted to see what this new land looked like.

P. S.: This new place is now accessible by train!