With the Many-Flavored Sublimity technique, Li Banfeng tracked a faint thread of incense lingering in the air until it led him straight to Liu Liangyi.

Liu Liangyi relied on that thread of incense to control the ghost servants, and he had been right about an ambush being the kind of attack that yielded the best results.

Relying on how easily a Homebound Cultivator was overlooked, and using the Pocket Dwelling to teleport part of the way, Li Banfeng crept up behind Liu Liangyi and stabbed the back of his head with a dagger.

Usually, a blow like that would have ended the fight.

However, Nightfiend Cultivators were different. As long as Liu Liangyi still had a breath left in him, he could counterattack through his ghost servants.

Ten ghost servants stood guard beside him, and they all lunged at Li Banfeng at once.

It was a troublesome situation. Li Banfeng could see the ghosts, but he could not hurt them.

Taking advantage of the moment, Liu Liangyi wrenched himself out of Li Banfeng’s grasp and pulled the dagger from his own skull.

He knew he might not survive, but he was determined to drag Li Banfeng into death alongside him.

A ghost servant swung a blade at the back of Li Banfeng’s head, but the Blood-Drinking Pendulum suddenly leapt out and slashed it several times. The ghost servant’s soul scattered instantly.

After drinking Lu Dongliang’s blood, the pendulum had evolved. She now possessed the power to wound even the dead.

As Liu Liangyi felt consciousness slipping away, he staked everything on a final gamble, pouring the last of his strength into summoning every wandering spirit in the vicinity along with all of his ghost servants.

Blue Poplar Village was a simple, honest place, yet bloodshed occurred every day. Wandering spirits filled the land.

The pendulum was about to be overwhelmed. Li Banfeng opened the Pocket Dwelling, and his wifey’s singing drifted out from the room.

「 In nights of red lanterns and green wine,

Warming ourselves by the stove against the cold,

Speak of love, and joy flows without end.

The light song drift and silky dances swirl,

Happiness… happiness greater than the immortals know… ♪」

The wandering spirits, long tormented in the desolate wilderness, moved in neat formation toward the alluring song. One by one, they stepped into the Pocket Dwelling, eager to flirt and whisper sweet nothings to the gramophone.

Liu Liangyi’s ghost servants held on for only a few seconds before they too followed the spirits into the Pocket Dwelling.

What enchanted artifact was this? Where were the ghost servants heading?

Liu Liangyi lit a candle, burned talisman paper, and used every method he had, yet he still could not stop the ghost servants from leaving.

Li Banfeng watched Liu Liangyi with a smile. The situation was now in his favor.

Liu Liangyi charged at Li Banfeng with a dagger, fighting desperately.

Even if he had not been injured, a level-four Nightfiend Cultivator without his ghost servants was no match for a level-three Homebound Cultivator working together with a level-two Wanderlust Cultivator.

Li Banfeng dodged the dagger, grabbed Liu Liangyi by the hair, and hurled him into the Pocket Dwelling.

Huff~

The gramophone gave a gleeful little laugh. “Another one? This dish is far from tender, but your little wifey has gone hungry for so very long. I shall not be picky tonight.”

The bronze lotus was displeased, and dew welled up across its petals.

In the whole room, the only thing edible was Liu Liangyi.

When the Chu Family’s second daughter tore the skin from Liu Liangyi’s son, fury consumed Liu Liangyi and he longed for revenge. He did not dare go after Miss Chu, so he vented his rage on Ma Wu instead.

Little did he expect that Liu Changyu, whose face had been peeled off, had actually been fortunate.

Now, although Liu Liangyi’s consciousness still lingered, his soul was being sliced apart thread by thread by the gramophone. Amid the agony, a single thought rose to the surface.

This is the man… This is the man who killed Song Jiasen. I misjudged everything. Ma Wu was never the one I should have feared…

***

Once Liu Liangyi entered the Pocket Dwelling, he lost control of all the ghost servants.

Inside Dreamspring Garden’s dance hall, the ghost servants wavered in confusion, and the paper effigies froze where they stood.

Seizing the moment, Ma Wu gathered everyone and followed Little Gen out of the hall.

Little Chuan ground his teeth. “Young Master, what about the dance hall? It opened today. Are we just abandoning it?”

“Then abandon it. There is still a long road ahead and plenty of opportunities. First, follow me to the large warehouse and hide.”

Ma Wu had no enchanted artifact of his own, but the warehouse held several spirit-bound items that might hold out for a while.

Everyone slipped into the warehouse and began rummaging for supplies. About ten minutes later, Little Gen suddenly poked his head out.

“Young Master, listen. There is movement in the dance hall.”

“What movement?” Ma Wu was worried that the paper effigies might be setting buildings on fire. If those paper effigies had set anything alight, the dance hall might burn, but so would the taverns, the inns, and the entire Lucky Celebration Troupe next door.

Ma Wu crept to the window and listened for a good while. To his surprise, he heard music drifting from the dance hall.

「 In last night’s dream,

Peach blossoms blossomed in the spring breeze,

A young man’s affection and a young lady’s love intertwined,

yet waking brought nothing but emptiness. ♪」

The song was called In Last Night’s Dream. It was Ma Wu’s favorite.

Who could be playing music in the dance hall at a time like this? It was Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng had placed the record his wifey engraved onto the windmill-powered gramophone.

The ghost servants slipped free from the paper effigies one after another and drifted toward the gramophone, settling around it to listen to the beautiful song.

Although the scene looked harmonious, the situation was extremely dangerous.

Since the level-four Nightfiend Cultivator was dead, the ghost servants had lost all control and could turn into vengeful spirits at any moment.

With an entire room full of uncontrolled ghost servants, even the smallest mistake could cost Li Banfeng his life.

A song lasted just over three minutes. As the track neared its end, Li Banfeng quietly opened the door to the Pocket Dwelling.

The music in the ballroom stopped, and all the ghost servants turned toward Li Banfeng. They were furious.

Li Banfeng wiped the sweat from his forehead and prayed his wifey would take over quickly.

The singing within the room rose at once.

「 Is it that you are foolish and slow,

Is it that you do not understand affection,

Do you love me or do you not,

Why must you make me wait in vain…” ♪」

The ghost servants, captivated by the wifey’s voice, rushed into the Pocket Dwelling one after another.

Li Banfeng let out a long breath, when suddenly his wifey shouted, “Heyaaaaaa~ Husband dear~ Shut the door quickly! I am dying from the foul smell!”

***

Li Banfeng put on his fedora and pushed open the dance hall doors. He walked to the warehouse, looked at Ma Wu by the window, and said, “Tell everyone to start cleaning.”

He dealt with an entire room of ghost servants? Ma Wu couldn’t believe it.

He wanted to ask another question, but he saw Li Banfeng lower the brim of his hat and slip swiftly into the night.

Little Chuan walked up beside Ma Wu and whispered, “What is this gentleman’s name? I wanted to ask but did not dare.”

“Just call him Seventh Master. Don’t ask anything else.”

“Seventh Master… is he your brother?”

“Did I not tell you already? Don’t ask anything!”

Ma Wu ordered everyone to clean the dance hall. Little Gen, carrying his bucket and clutching his ladle, marched proudly at the front.

“Little Gen!” Ma Wu caught up in two steps. “You don’t need to help clean. Go to the accountant’s office and collect five hundred silver dollars. You earned the most credit tonight.”

Little Gen collected his five hundred silver dollars and tucked them proudly into his chest. He gave the bucket on his back a fond pat, then his ladle, and strutted away with tremendous swagger.

He decided he would carry the bucket forever, even when he slept!

Little Chuan, who shared a room with him, immediately decided to move elsewhere.

***

Li Banfeng returned to the Pocket Dwelling and sorted through Liu Liangyi’s belongings.

Liu Liangyi had been a bandit that was rather famous on Greenwood Road. Even so, he had less than two thousand in cash and only a dozen silver dollars. Li Banfeng truly despised this.

Besides money, Liu Liangyi also carried many incense sticks and candles. Wifey gave a snort and said, “Heyaa~ Husband dear~ These are the tools Nightfiend Cultivators use to control ghost servants.”

“If you knew Nightfiend Cultivation techniques, these things would be very useful. Even if you don’t, you could still summon a few wandering spirits. That would save my dear husband the trouble of shopping for food.”

Since wifey said they were useful, Li Banfeng naturally kept them.

There was also a stack of yellow papers, covered in strange sigils.

The gramophone explained, “Husband, these are contracts between a Nightfiend Cultivator and his ghost servants. They often carry them. They are not particularly useful to you.”

Contracts? Li Banfeng froze. “When we took in Du Hongxi last time, why did we not see these?”

“They were there. That wretched Crimson Lotus ate them.”

Li Banfeng blinked and turned to Crimson Lotus. “Why did you eat such a thing?”

The Crimson Lotus did not respond, and even if she had, Li Banfeng would not have understood her.

Pop… crackle… pop~

However, the wifey answered for the Crimson Lotus. “Contracts hold spirit essence, even if they aren’t alive. The Crimson Lotus loves things like that the most. There’s no harm in her eating them as she can refine them into something useful. However, she ate far too few last time that it was not even enough to form one lotus seed.”

Du Hongxi had only fifteen ghost servants, so he had fifteen contracts.

Liu Liangyi had sixty ghost servants in total. If the Crimson Lotus devoured all sixty contracts, what she produced might be something wholly unexpected.

Li Banfeng was about to hand the contracts to the bronze lotus flower when he saw its petals already open.

Wifey cried out, “Hey! That wretch is stealing snacks!”

The lotus core spun up a cheeky little whirlwind and slurped down all the incense sticks Li Banfeng had only just finished sorting!

Before Li Banfeng could react, the bronze lotus ate the contracts from his hand as well.

Li Banfeng shouted angrily, “Such improper behavior! How can you eat without saying anything!”

The gramophone was furious as well. “That vile wretch deserves a beating. Husband dear, if you do not enforce family discipline, our household will fall into chaos.”

The gramophone was just about to rage, steam puffing from her vents, when the bronze lotus flower suddenly bloomed.

On the lotus core rested two lotus seeds: one was Liu Liangyi’s corpse still being refined, and the other had already fully ripened.

After Li Banfeng removed the ripe lotus seed, the lotus seed burst open, producing ten sheets of white paper.

Li Banfeng frowned. “What is this good for?”

The bronze lotus closed its petals and still gave no response.

Wifey studied the papers for a moment, then said in surprise, “Hey, husband, these are contract papers.”

“What are contract papers?”

Da-da-da~ Tai!

The gramophone tapped out a slow rhythm, released a puff of steam, and sang, “Aaaah~ treasures lost across the rolling years! Yet that wretched Crimson Lotus still knows the ancient craft to make them.”

Li Banfeng was puzzled. “What use do they have?”

“The use is great, oh the use is deep,

“Write a contract on contract paper, and the one who breaks it will be harshly punished.”

Li Banfeng became interested. “What kind of punishment?”

“That depends on what materials my husband uses. For example, if it is poison, you place the poison on the contract paper when writing the contract. The paper will swallow it. Then you have the other party leave a handprint. If they violate the agreement, the poison will kill them.”

Li Banfeng thought for a moment, then said to the gramophone, “I will write a contract later. From now on, we will live harmoniously as husband and wife. If you ever harm your own husband, then let this contract…”

Huff!

Before Li Banfeng could finish, a burst of steam shot out and burned his entire face red.

Huff! Huff!

“Husband dear~ How could you use that thing to guard against your little servant! Husband dear, you treat your little wifey so badly. Your little wifey will not sign such a contract. Absolutely not!”

“Then don’t. You didn’t have to do this.” Li Banfeng rubbed his cheek and put the contract papers away.

***

Three days later, Ma Wu brought back several newspapers and handed them to Li Banfeng.

“The old shopkeeper of the Liu Family, Liu Liangyi, has gone missing. The one who attacked us that night was probably him.”

Li Banfeng made no comment and instead asked, “The Si Family oversees the Liu Family. What kind of person is the head of the Si Family?”

“The head of the Si Family is called Si Wennian. They say he has fifth-level cultivation. I am not sure which Daoist path he follows, but he has many ruthless men under him.”

“Ruthless men…” Li Banfeng pressed his fingers to his forehead. “Have you taken that pill I gave you?”

Ma Wu shook his head and said, “Not yet. I am a bit afraid of pill poison.”

Li Banfeng gave a wry smile. “Hurry up and take it. After that, go find a girl and go cultivate. Brother Ma, you are good at making money, but with your current cultivation, how can you protect your home?”

With that said, Li Banfeng left.

It was a practical problem. Ma Wu was too weak, and Li Banfeng could not stay here forever to protect this house.

Ma Wu sat in the wooden hut and did not move for a long while as he thought, Li Qi is right. Things can’t continue on like this…

With that, Ma Wu retrieved the Golden Essence Pill from beneath the bed and swallowed it with a mouthful of water.

***

Si Wennian arrived at Lu Dongjun’s residence and sat in the gatehouse for more than an hour.

The gatekeeper advised him, “Shopkeeper Si, listen to me. Do not wait today. Second Master is too busy.”

Si Wennian sighed. “A major incident happened to the Liu Family. No matter how busy Second Master is, I must see him.”

The gatekeeper did not bother saying more. Another hour passed, and Strategist Wan Jinxian entered the gatehouse.

“Shopkeeper Si, Second Master invites you in.”

Si Wennian was delighted and quickly followed Wan Jinxian into the main hall. He greeted Lu Dongjun, but before he could speak, Lu Dongjun spoke first.

“Old Si, you came at the right time. I am going to the main house to see my Eldest Sister-in-law. Come with me.”

Si Wennian froze. He had come hoping Lu Dongjun would back him up, but in the end he was the one roped into doing Lu Dongjun’s tasks.

“Second Master, I came to talk about the matter in Blue Poplar Village…”

“What’s there to fuss about with Blue Poplar Village? That shabby little place is worth next to nothing. Handle this for me today, and I’ll let you open two more businesses in Greenwater City.”

Lu Dongjun lost his temper. Si Wennian didn’t dare utter a sound and followed him toward the Lu Family’s main residence.

Why did Lu Dongjun insist on bringing Si Wennian?

The truth was that he had never thought much of Si Wennian. If Wan Jinxian hadn’t mentioned him, Lu Dongjun wouldn’t have even remembered the man existed.

Even so, Si Wennian was an Ascetic Cultivator, and everyone knew that Ascetics naturally countered Hedonistic Cultivators.

Lu Dongjun was heading to the Lu Family’s main residence for one reason: Monkey Qiu. Wan Jinxian had suggested bringing Si Wennian along as an extra layer of protection.

Lately, Monkey Qiu shut down everything Lu Dongjun tried to do within the family.

The family’s behavior was equally peculiar. From the highest elders to the lowest servants, all deferred to Monkey Qiu. None seemed aware of who the true outsider was.

Today, he might as well settle things with Monkey Qiu once and for all.

Upon entering the main hall, Lu Dongjun first greeted and spoke with Lu Dongliang’s main wife, Duan Shaoxia.

Madam Duan had been crying day after day, and she had grown noticeably thin.

“Dongjun, do you have any news of Dongliang? If you do, you must tell me. Please don’t hide it from me.”

“Sister-in-law, I’ve been searching for Eldest Brother as well. Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to him.”

Seeing Duan Shaoxia’s tear-streaked face, Lu Dongjun felt his heart ache for her.

Lu Dongjun found it strange himself.

Why am I pitying her? She’s just a middle-aged woman.

Once the small talk was over, Lu Dongjun went straight to the matter at hand. “I’ve come to speak with Steward Qiu. With Eldest Brother away, the He, Ma, and Chu Families are all watching us closely. We cannot let our guard down.”

Upon hearing this, Duan Shaoxia quickly ordered the servants, “Summon Steward Qiu at once. Proper business must not be delayed.”

Qiu Zhiheng entered the main hall and first paid his respects to Lu Dongjun.

Lu Dongjun nodded, kept Qiu Zhiheng standing, and went straight to the point. “I reviewed the Paramount Club’s accounts yesterday. A large sum of money is missing. Monkey Qiu, did you know about this?”

Monkey Qiu froze, then shook his head slightly. “I have not heard about it.”

“You haven’t heard?” Lu Dongjun let out a short laugh. “Ever since the family ran into trouble, you have been handling all the business. You should know exactly where that money went.”

Qiu Zhiheng frowned slightly. “Second Master, are you suspecting that I took the money from the Paramount Club?”

Lu Dongjun looked Monkey Qiu over from head to toe, his expression darkening. “Is it wrong for me to ask you a question? Who runs this family? Where did you get such a big temper?”

Qiu Zhiheng remained silent and continued staring at Lu Dongjun’s wrist.

From the side, Duan Shaoxia interjected, “Dongjun, what is wrong with you? Steward Qiu hasn’t said anything out of line.”

Lu Dongjun waved Duan Shaoxia aside. “Sister-in-law, stay out of this. I need to settle this matter with him clearly today.”

Lu Dongjun had claimed he came to visit Duan Shaoxia, but then he suddenly turned on Monkey Qiu. He meant to catch Monkey Qiu off guard.

Duan Shaoxia didn’t stop Lu Dongjun, thinking he was merely venting his temper. She had no idea he had come this time to take Monkey Qiu’s life.

What would be the consequence of killing Monkey Qiu?

The consequences would be severe. The entire family would assume Lu Dongjun bore ill intent and might even cast him aside.

However, Wan Jinxian had analyzed the situation for him. If he did not kill Monkey Qiu, the outcome would be even worse.

Monkey Qiu restricted Lu Dongjun everywhere. With this man around, Lu Dongjun could never seize real authority in the clan.

And Monkey Qiu was secretly searching for Lu Dongliang, Zhuo Yuling, and Lu Xiaolan. If he found even one of them, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Monkey Qiu never expected Lu Dongjun to strike with killing intent. He didn’t care about being mocked a few times; his attention was fixed entirely on Lu Dongjun’s wrist.

At his cuff, a faint scar seemed to be visible.

Is this the price of using the necklace? Monkey Qiu thought. Then the Lu Dongliang who showed up before…was that actually Lu Dongjun in disguise?

Monkey Qiu wanted to take another look to confirm his suspicion, but Lu Dongjun suddenly spoke. “What are you staring at? I am talking to you. Did you hear me?”

Qiu Zhiheng’s eyelid twitched. Now he saw clearly: there truly was a scar on Lu Dongjun’s wrist.

Monkey Qiu hid his reaction. He planned to send Lu Dongjun away first, then discuss countermeasures with the key figures in the family.

However, Lu Dongjun had no intention of leaving. He suddenly threw a punch at Monkey Qiu. “Looks like you really forgot your place!”

Monkey Qiu was a level-seven Hedonism Cultivator. He wasn’t skilled in close combat, but his cultivation level was high. Moreover, whenever he faced Lu Dongjun, Qiu Zhiheng was instinctively on guard.

The punch never landed. Duan Shaoxia pulled Lu Dongjun back and said, “Dongjun, this isn’t right.”

In an instant, Qiu Zhiheng seized the opening and sprang back five meters from Lu Dongjun.

Lu Dongjun pushed Duan Shaoxia aside and pointed at Monkey Qiu, shouting, “Today! I will teach you the rules!”

That single finger, from over five meters away, pressed straight onto Monkey Qiu’s chest.

Monkey Qiu felt a sharp pain in his chest. He couldn’t breathe and his face started turning purple.

Lu Dongjun remained where he stood and kicked through the air. Monkey Qiu barely dodged, the attack grazing his chin and sending him stumbling.

Lu Dongjun lunged forward for another blow, but Monkey Qiu cast him a single glance. Lu Dongjun’s qi and blood roiled, and his strike stalled mid-motion.

Qiu Zhiheng immediately whistled, and a dozen Top Thugs rushed in from both inside and outside the hall.

Wan Jinxian pulled a stone lion from his robe, and Lu Dongjun removed a false tooth from his mouth and pressed it into the lion’s jaws.

The lion’s eyes lit up, and the dozen Top Thugs slammed into what felt like a bronze wall. Not a single one managed to enter the hall.

Monkey Qiu was shocked. He had never seen such an enchanted artifact.

The corner of Duan Shaoxia’s eye twitched, and a faint glint of coldness flashed in her gaze.

Author’s Note:

PS: The disguise at Qianyue Restaurant has been exposed.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep