Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Chapter 401 - 276: The Hand of He Jiaqing

Once Duan Shaoxia calmed down, Qiu Zhiheng had Tan Fucheng explain in detail what had happened.

Tan Fucheng first clarified one point, "Head Qiu, this isn’t my fault. When the Eldest Young Master found me, his first question was, who is the Family Head of the Lu Family. I belong to the Lu Family; I have to listen to the Family Head. I had no choice in this matter."

Tears fell ceaselessly from Duan Shaoxia’s eyes, but Monkey Qiu remained calm and asked, "How did you get involved with He Haiqin?"

"The Eldest Young Master made the connection. I don’t know the details, but it was said to be regarding his son, He Jiaqing."

"Did He Haiqin make a move tonight?"

Tan Fucheng shook his head. "I trapped the Old Master, and the Eldest Young Master was preparing to act himself. He didn’t want us to watch. The Second Young Master and I stood at the alley entrance, while He Haiqin stood by the wall. For some reason, the Eldest Young Master’s body suddenly disintegrated."

"The Shattered Wild Sword?"

"I haven’t seen the Shattered Wild Sword, but the Eldest Young Master did have a sword in his hand at that time. After the Second Young Master rushed over, he took that sword and was about to stab himself. It seemed like he was being controlled by someone. I used a Technique to save him."

"Controlled by what means? A Mental Cultivation Technique?"

Tan Fucheng pondered for a moment. "It wasn’t apparent. I suspect that’s how the Eldest Young Master died as well."

Monkey Qiu clenched his teeth. "Why did you have to involve He Haiqin?"

Tan Fucheng said, "The Eldest Young Master said that with Patriarch He’s assistance, we could fend off the Old Master’s ambush, ensuring complete success. Head Qiu, it really isn’t my fault."

As they were speaking, a Support went up the stairs. Monkey Qiu opened the door and asked, "What is it?"

"The Old Master is here!"

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

Monkey Qiu closed the door, stopping Duan Shaoxia. "Lady Duan, you can’t be rash. You cannot see him."

"What am I afraid of? At worst, I’ll give up my life!"

"Lady Duan!" Monkey Qiu shouted angrily. "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 said to Tan Fucheng, "Who saw you bring the Second Young Master back today?"

"A few Servants and several Supports."

"Confine these people. Don’t let them leave the residence for the next few days. Don’t make things difficult for them, and don’t disrupt the household."

Tan Fucheng took everyone to a small building next to the main residence and settled them in.

Monkey Qiu straightened his clothes, went outside, and greeted Lu Maoxian as usual, "Old Master, it’s so late. What brings you here?"

"Xiao Qiu, you still recognize me as an elder and call me Old Master. Since I’m already here, are you going to leave me standing at the door?"

Qiu Zhiheng smiled. "The Lady has gone to bed, and it’s not convenient for me to take you to the main residence. Why don’t you come to my place and sit for a while?"

"You speak as if I’m the one lacking manners. I came today to see my two grandsons. Call them to your small building. I’ll say a few words and then leave."

"You’ve come at an inconvenient time, Old Master. Both Young Masters said they were going to Hai Chi Ridge today and left by train at noon."

"Hai Chi Ridge?" Lu Maoxian scoffed. "How come I heard they are still in Greenwater City? Xiao Qiu, don’t play word games with me. You know exactly what’s going on. Bring them both out to see me right away."

"Old Master, I truly don’t understand the current situation. The Young Masters are not home, yet you insist on seeing them now. Isn’t this making things difficult for me?"

Lu Maoxian’s face darkened. "And what if I am making things difficult for you?"

Dozens of people followed behind Lu Maoxian. Among those Monkey Qiu recognized, not a single one had a cultivation level below the Third Layer.

Qiu Zhiheng remained composed. "Here, on my territory, you really think you can make things difficult for me? You can’t!"

"Such arrogance."

"Feel free to try!"

Monkey Qiu raised his voice slightly, and a sound resonated throughout the entire residence, from the front gate to the backyard.

This was a signal to Lu Maoxian that all the Supports in the residence were in position.

For a moment, Lu Maoxian truly wanted to charge in.

But seeing the expressionless Monkey Qiu, Lu Maoxian felt a twinge of fear.

After Lu Dongliang’s disappearance, Monkey Qiu had gained control of the Lu Family’s Elixir Pharmacy.

Lu Maoxian wasn’t sure how many Elixirs this young man had consumed or what his current cultivation level was.

"Xiao Qiu, your temper is getting worse. Since the children aren’t home, let’s drop the matter for tonight. I just came to tell them one thing: I’ve invited some famous performers to our home for a few days of private opera. If they still regard me as their great-uncle, they should come to my place and show their support."

Monkey Qiu said, "When the Young Masters return, I will certainly pass on your message."

Lu Maoxian nodded and left with his men.

Walking down the road, Lu Maoxian felt a surge of frustration.

Why didn’t I dare to charge in? What am I afraid of a mere steward for? Why is this Monkey Qiu so hard to deal with? Never mind. I’ll gather more men in a few days and come back. Let’s see what excuses he uses then!

「...」

Monkey Qiu returned to the main residence and entered Lu Yuanhai’s bedroom.

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

The doctor shook his head. "Butler Qiu, I’m truly sorry, but we can’t determine the cause of his condition."

These doctors wanted to leave, but Monkey Qiu stopped them. "I must trouble you all to stay for a few more days."

The doctors were flustered. "Butler Qiu, what do you mean by this?"

"Rest assured, I will not make things difficult for any of you. We will compensate you double for your time these few days." Qiu Zhiheng didn’t elaborate further with the doctors and simply ordered his men to settle them into guest rooms.

He found a medicine bottle, used a small spoon to scrape some skin flakes from Lu Yuanhai’s face, and collected some saliva from the corner of his mouth, storing them away.

He found Tan Fucheng and instructed, "Brother, I’m entrusting the affairs of the residence to you until I return."

Tan Fucheng was somewhat hesitant. He had his own territory and businesses and usually wasn’t at the main residence.

But aside from him, Qiu Zhiheng trusted no one else now, so Tan Fucheng reluctantly agreed.

Qiu Zhiheng also warned Duan Shaoxia, "These next few days, try to avoid Lu Maoxian. As long as you don’t leave the residence, he won’t dare to force his way in."

Duan Shaoxia grabbed Monkey Qiu’s hand. "Zhiheng, where are you going? You can’t abandon my son and me!"

"Lady Duan, I’m heading to Medicine King Valley. I must find a way to cure the Young Master’s illness. Lu Maoxian is manageable, but be extremely cautious of He Haiqin. He is the truly ruthless one. If you suffer business losses because of him, never argue about it."

「...」

He Haiqin returned to his residence and sat in the dining room, gnawing on a rack of lamb.

He Yuxiu entered the dining room and asked, "Haiqin, is that old codger Lu Maoxian dead?"

He Haiqin shook his head. "No, I failed. He had helpers, and I was slightly injured."

"Injured? Quickly, call a doctor to take a look."

"No need. It’s just a superficial wound. I’ll recover by eating more."

He Yuxiu sighed. "I told you, you should have taken more men with you."

He Haiqin put down the lamb rack and wiped his mouth. "Take who? Can this matter be known by outsiders?"

"Take me! Don’t you trust your own sister?"

"If something happened to both of us, who would manage the family’s affairs?"

He Yuxiu smacked her lips. "Then I should have told you to call Third Brother back. If something happens, we’d at least have some backup!"

"Third Brother can’t come back; he still has to watch over Jia Qing. Jia Qing’s injury is serious, especially his hand. It’s badly wounded."

He Yuxiu was startled. "Jia Qing’s hand is injured? Why don’t I remember Third Brother mentioning it?"

"Third Brother didn’t mention it?" He Haiqin GULPED down a bowl of wine. "Anyway, I saw it. His left hand was so badly injured, it hardly looked like his own."

After speaking, He Haiqin grabbed the lamb rack again and continued to devour it.

He Yuxiu found He Haiqin’s behavior somewhat strange. When speaking of He Jiaqing’s injuries, he didn’t seem very concerned; in fact, he even sounded somewhat resentful.

「...」

Li Banfeng sat in his Portable Residence, looking at a pile of Mysterious Red Pills with a troubled expression.

The Break Cocoon Chrysalis (Cong Shixiang) he had previously refined had produced a Lotus Seed. It took a long time to burst after being peeled.

Today, the Lotus Seed finally burst.

The Ninth-Layer Lu Dongliang had originally refined over eighty Gold Yuan Pills.

This Break Cocoon Chrysalis’s cultivation level was close to the Tenth Layer, so Li Banfeng estimated it should produce around a hundred Elixirs.

However, instead of Gold Yuan Pills, over nine hundred Mysterious Red Pills were refined.

Li Banfeng wouldn’t consume these. The cultivation increase was too slow, yet its Pill’s Poison was no less potent than that of a Gold Yuan Pill.

Was Red Lotus doing this deliberately?

Fortunately, he had enough Gold Yuan Pills to last him until he reached the Eighth Layer. But what was he to do with these remaining Mysterious Red Pills?

Distribute them as bonuses.

Ma Wu was like his own brother, always following Li Banfeng’s lead. Whenever they made money, Li Banfeng always took the largest share; he couldn’t be unfair to Ma Wu when it came to Elixirs.

Li Banfeng first gave him twenty Elixirs. "Take these slowly, and be sure to detoxify."

Ma Wu knew his limits.

Others received between one and ten Elixirs, depending on their contributions.

Zuo Wugang, Zhen Jincheng, and Cao Zhida were all familiar with Elixirs and knew the proper dosages. The Swearing Woman and Ah Qin, being worldly-wise, were even less of a concern.

Bai Qiusheng and Yu Wenqi were both First-Layer Literature Cultivators. They had never consumed such high-quality Elixirs before. However, that wasn’t an issue, as they were cautious people. Before taking the Elixirs, they first consulted Ma Wu on methods to neutralize the Pill’s Poison.

Trouble arose with Xiao Chuanzi and Xiao Genzi.

Xiao Chuanzi received ten Elixirs and, in his excitement, consumed three at once. He immediately collapsed in his room. If Ma Wu hadn’t discovered him in time, he would have died.

Xiao Genzi also received ten Elixirs, but he refused to take any and returned them to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng didn’t understand. "Why won’t you take them?"

Xiao Genzi, holding his bucket, puffed out his chest and said, "I hear that after taking these Elixirs, one must lie down for at least a day. What about my cultivation then?"

"Surely one day wouldn’t make a difference?"

Xiao Genzi shook his head. "Not even one day can be wasted!"

When Xiao Genzi first entered the Path Gateway, the Peddler had instructed him that a Gold Cultivator who had reached a certain level should carry the bucket for at least eight hours a day.

Xiao Genzi carried the bucket for twenty-four hours a day, regardless of summer heat or winter cold, never once slacking.

Aside from eating and sleeping, Xiao Genzi searched everywhere for materials and meticulously prepared his Golden Juice. Li Banfeng had never met anyone as diligent as him.

"Xiao Genzi, put the bucket down for a moment!"

Li Banfeng advised earnestly, "Cultivation can’t be delayed, but you also need to take the Elixirs. Otherwise, you’d be letting your great talent go to waste."

After some thought, Xiao Genzi finally accepted the Elixirs. "I’ll take them when I find a suitable place."

The ’suitable place’ he mentioned... surely it isn’t the latrine, is it?

Li Banfeng didn’t dare to ask further.

The Strict Law Society no longer troubled the movie theater, and the issues with "Blood Gun Detective" were mostly resolved.

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

A few days later, the business deals were mostly finalized, and the group prepared to return.

The mission of "Night-blooming Jasmine" was complete. There was no longer a need to publish newspapers and magazines. Bai Qiusheng and Yu Wenqi were also supposed to head back.

But they didn’t want to leave.

Bai Qiusheng said, "Seventh Master, when we brothers were suffering on Black Stone Slope, we dreamed of leaving this place. Now, I actually don’t want to leave. We want to keep ’Night-blooming Jasmine’ running."

Zuo Wugang said, "Once we’re gone, how will you deal with the local Gangs? We’ve offended quite a few of them."

Bai Qiusheng laughed. "Don’t worry. The ’Night-blooming Jasmine’ name still carries weight. We two will deal with them first. If we can’t handle it, then we’ll ask you for help, Seventh Master."

Yu Wenqi said, "Seventh Master, rest assured, this is your business. Any money we make, we’ll hand it all over. Just give us a small salary."

"That’s not how business is done," Li Banfeng shook his head. "Let’s do a three-way split: thirty percent will be my Hua Hong, thirty percent you keep for yourselves, and another thirty percent will be for the staff’s wages. The remaining ten percent will be kept for emergencies."

With the matter settled, Bai Qiusheng and Yu Wenqi expressed their profound gratitude.

Ma Wu led his men back to Greenwater City, but Li Banfeng and Chuanzi stayed.

Chuanzi wanted to continue cultivating on Black Stone Slope, and someone needed to oversee the stone and coal business.

Li Banfeng wanted to explore Black Stone Slope thoroughly.

He liked Black Stone Slope. He liked the spirit of its people.

There was also another place he was very keen to visit. He wanted to see what this New Land looked like.

PS: This New Land has a train connection!