CHAPTER 421: CHAPTER 294: SETTING THE FLAG

Li Banfeng looked at Bai Qiusheng in surprise.

Everyone looked at Li Banfeng in surprise.

The girl beside them covered her peach in surprise.

How did it come to this?

Li Banfeng’s first reaction was that someone had taken the key and brought him to Black Stone Slope.

He searched the factory but found no key.

"Who has been here today?" Li Banfeng, in his eagerness, spoke unclearly. The key was one of the items he cared for most.

"Quite a few people came..." Bai Qiusheng was bewildered and unsure how to respond. He waited for Li Banfeng to calm down a bit before he understood what he meant.

"Seventh Master, let’s find a place to talk alone."

A room was still kept for Li Banfeng in the rear building, and it was cleaned regularly.

Once in the room, Bai Qiusheng said, "Seventh Master, everyone who came to the newspaper office today is a familiar face. Even the models for the photoshoot are familiar; they’ve collaborated with us many times before."

"Did anyone return from out of town?"

"No, Seventh Master. I’ve been at the factory taking photos all day long; I can vouch for that."

Li Banfeng couldn’t understand. If no strangers had come, then who brought the key here?

Could it be that the key wasn’t brought here at all? Could it still be at Xiaoyao Lodge? How did the Portable Residence get here then? Isn’t the Portable Residence always supposed to follow the key? I should go back to the Portable Residence and check if anything’s wrong.

Li Banfeng sent Bai Qiusheng away. He was about to go back to the Portable Residence, but after groping in his trouser pocket for a long time, he came up with nothing.

I must be going mad, my mind isn’t working. The key is gone, so how can I return to the Portable Residence?

Li Banfeng tried to remain calm, pondering the reasons.

There were only two possibilities for the key’s whereabouts: it was either brought to Black Stone Slope, or it was still at Xiaoyao Lodge.

Li Banfeng called Bai Qiusheng back. "Get me a Guide Token and buy a train ticket. I need to go back to Greenwater City immediately!"

Bai Qiusheng was taken aback. "Buy a train ticket now?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "The sooner, the better."

Bai Qiusheng did not dare to delay and hurried to make arrangements.

Li Banfeng also entrusted him with another matter: "Make a list of everyone who came into the newspaper office today. Not a single person can be missed."

「At seven o’clock in the evening」

Nearly a hundred people from the Lu Family’s main and branch houses gathered at Lu Maoxian’s residence, preparing to seek revenge for him.

Monkey Qiu looked at the crowd and frowned slightly.

That so many people responded to Lu Maoxian’s call was within his expectations. After all, Lu Maoxian was at the height of his influence, and this was a rule of the Lu Family. However, gathering everyone at the Lu Family Mansion was beyond his expectations. Normally, a few key members of the main family would stay in the mansion to coordinate and make decisions, while others would act according to their assigned duties. Now that everyone was at the mansion, making such a show of force, weren’t they afraid of information leaking?

It seems this old man wants more than just revenge; he also wants to plant his flag. External affairs are decided by the Border Defense Envoy, while internal matters are determined by the flag. Lu Maoxian intends to firmly establish the Lu Family’s flag within his own branch. If Lu Chunying hadn’t been brought here today, the main lineage of the Lu Family wouldn’t have anyone to present, and Lu Maoxian would have truly succeeded! But even if Lu Chunying came, would Lu Maoxian acknowledge her?

Lu Maoxian’s eldest son, Lu Dongtang, stood in the center of the hall, surveying the crowd with the air of a Family Head. Today was about avenging his father, so it was normal for him to exhibit some semblance of authority, and the other families did not comment.

Lu Dongtang’s gaze lingered on Lu Chunying, and he deliberately asked, "Who is this girl?"

Lu Dongtang’s younger brother, Lu Donghui, said from the side, "This is Eldest Brother’s daughter, Lu Chunying."

Lu Dongtang recognized Lu Chunying. She was the biological daughter acknowledged by Lu Dongliang, and Lu Dongtang had met her before with the rest of the family. He asked this question intentionally to embarrass Lu Chunying.

"The daughter of some disreputable woman dares to come here? Has the main lineage run out of people?" Lu Dongtang sneered.

Monkey Qiu frowned. Before he could speak, Lu Chunying looked squarely at Lu Dongtang and retorted, "Today is about avenging your father. I came to show him respect. It’s not your place to make pointed remarks."

Lu Dongtang’s brow shot up. "Who are you talking to?"

"To you!" Lu Chunying was fearless. "I am willing to speak with you; consider it an honor!"

Lu Dongtang was furious and took a step forward, but he suddenly felt his temples throb and a wave of dizziness wash over him.

Am I this enraged? Surely not?

Lu Dongtang sensed something was wrong and saw Qiu Zhiheng looking at him coldly.

"What’s this supposed to mean? You’re using a Technique on me?" Lu Dongtang ground his teeth as he stared at Monkey Qiu.

Qiu Zhiheng lit a cigarette, his expression calm as he said, "Chunying is the young lady of the main lineage. Watch your words."

Lu Dongtang suppressed his anger. In terms of cultivation level and techniques, he was no match for Monkey Qiu.

Turning away, his gaze fell on Lu Yuanxin.

Lu Yuanxin was Lu Dongjun’s son. Due to Lu Dongjun’s past misdeeds, Lu Yuanxin’s situation within the Lu Family was terrible. Not only had he lost all his family property, but his status in the Lu Family was even lower than that of a branch family member.

Lu Dongtang looked at Lu Yuanxin and said, "You’re here too? Who let you come?"

Lu Yuanxin, head bowed and face flushed, replied, "Aunt Dongchun asked me to come..."

Lu Dongtang laughed. "She asked you to come, so you came? You actually have the gall to show up?"

Lu Yuanxin felt deeply humiliated. Before Lu Dongjun’s downfall, Lu Yuanxin had been a proper young master of the Lu Family. Gifted with talent and supplied with abundant Elixirs, he had already reached the Third Layer of Insect Cultivation in his early twenties, a genuine young talent. Comparing reputation and substance, Lu Yuanxin had never been outdone by his peers. Now, though he had fallen on hard times, he had come tonight for the sake of the family, yet he was subjected to this humiliation.

Lu Yuanxin turned to leave but then heard Lu Chunying say to Lu Dongtang, "Did you ask us here today to avenge your father, or to boost your own prestige? If you look down on us, we’ll just leave!"

Lu Dongtang’s brow tensed again; the young girl’s words hit him like successive slaps to the face. Actually, Lu Chunying wasn’t wrong. Lu Dongtang had put on this grand display precisely to gain face. Now that he couldn’t maintain his dignity, he strode directly towards Lu Chunying.

Monkey Qiu snuffed out his cigarette, quietly watching Lu Dongtang.

Just as it seemed they were about to clash, Lu Dongchun came down from upstairs. "Brother, Father wants to see you."

With a face full of resentment, Lu Dongtang ascended the stairs and entered Lu Maoxian’s bedroom.

Lu Maoxian’s complexion was fairly good. His injuries had healed by five or six tenths, but his right hand had not regenerated. As he was getting old, he didn’t want to risk going to Three-Head Fork and decided to find another solution later.

"Dongtang, I heard that a girl from the main lineage has come?"

Lu Dongtang said bitterly, "An inexperienced young girl, some brat Lu Dongliang acknowledged from goodness knows where."

"Lu Chunying," Lu Maoxian recalled her. "I thought Monkey Qiu would bring Zhang Huaiyi. I didn’t expect him to bring this girl. Don’t provoke her for now. In this situation, arguing with her, whether we win or lose, won’t benefit us."

Lu Dongtang said, "Father, this girl is truly awful, the spawn of some disreputable woman..."

Lu Maoxian glared at Lu Dongtang. "Are you not listening to what I’m saying?"

Lu Dongtang didn’t dare to speak further. Lu Maoxian asked, "Has Tan Fucheng arrived?"

"He has."

"He rarely shows himself in public. Are you sure you didn’t mistake someone else for him?"

Lu Dongtang said, "My subordinates have seen him. He was standing right beside Ma Wu. There’s no mistaking it."

Lu Maoxian sighed. "That scoundrel ambushed me back then, and today he dares to enter my home! It looks like this was Monkey Qiu’s arrangement, to support that girl. And Ma Wu is here too—he’s a formidable character. Lu Chunying’s backing is not shallow."

Lu Dongtang whispered, "Instead of letting her become a future threat, it would be better to just..."

"It needs to be done, but not rashly," Lu Maoxian said calmly. "Our big move tonight is to use Ling Miaoying to establish our flag. If Lu Chunying’s head is to be taken, it must also be blamed on Ling Miaoying. If we can avenge me and uproot the main lineage, then our flag will be firmly established. Understand?"

「Lu Dongtang returned to the main hall」

He addressed everyone: "Today, I’ve invited you all here for the sake of the Lu Family’s flag, for the Lu Family’s honor! My father, who holds the highest seniority in the Lu Family, was ambushed by that bastard from the Ling Family, their third son! Today, this debt must be repaid!"

Lu Dongtang’s cousin, Lu Donggen, said, "The debt must be claimed, but we need to understand the situation first. I’ve heard about Third Brother Ling’s methods. If we fight him on his own territory, we might be at a disadvantage."

Lu Dongtang said, "Rest assured, everyone. We won’t fight him on his territory. Tonight, he’s at Yuelai Restaurant hosting the Border Defense Envoy for dinner. After his party ends, we’ll ambush him on the road. This is my father’s affair, so our family will naturally take the lead. I trouble you all to provide support and guard all escape routes. We must not let him get away. Tonight, we must take that bastard’s life!"

The atmosphere in the hall was heated, and everyone was agitated. Tan Fucheng spoke quietly, "Master Wu, look at this. It’s turned into a complete stage show! Can doing things this way actually work? That old man is really staking everything on establishing his flag!"

Ma Wu smirked and said nothing.

There were other things on his mind. Where had Old Qi gone?

Before setting out tonight, he had searched everywhere for Li Banfeng but couldn’t find him.

It’s probably for the best that I didn’t find him. Given the current situation, it’s better if Old Qi doesn’t get dragged into this mess.

「Li Banfeng paced anxiously at Black Stone Slope.」

Bai Qiusheng had compiled the list of everyone who came to the newspaper office today. They were all acquaintances; no one had come from out of town. He had searched the entire newspaper office several times, but the key was indeed not there.

Li Banfeng could only hope the key was still at Xiaoyao Lodge.

At a little past eight o’clock, Xiao Chuanzi came running over, out of breath. "Seventh Master, there’s an express train to Greenwater Bay tonight."

Li Banfeng asked eagerly, "Really? Is there a ticket?"

Xiao Chuanzi shook his head. "It’s not a passenger train; it’s a freight train carrying coal. And it doesn’t go to Greenwater City, only to the railway operations section on the Greenwater Bay border."

"That’ll do. What time does it leave?"

"Five in the afternoon."

"Five in the..." Li Banfeng fumed. "That train already left! What are you telling me for?"

Xiao Chuanzi looked helpless. "Seventh Master, you asked for a train today. That was the only one today."

The train left at five in the afternoon. Maybe it wasn’t too late!

Li Banfeng stood up to leave. Xiao Chuanzi asked, "Seventh Master, I’ve managed to reduce the cost of the Projector to two thousand. Shall I show it to you?"

"No need to look. Reduce it further, down to one thousand five hundred." With that, Li Banfeng immediately left the newspaper office and sped away into the night.

「At Yuezhou Sanatorium」

A button on He Jiaqing’s chest vibrated.

Taking advantage of He Haisheng’s absence, He Jiaqing pressed the button, and Wan Jinxian’s voice reached his ear:

"Jiaqing, I’ve caught wind that the Lu Family is seeking retribution against Ling Miaoying tonight."

This was within He Jiaqing’s expectations. No problem. As long as Ling Miaoying stays hidden, the Lu Family won’t find him.

"Ling Miaoying isn’t hiding," Wan Jinxian continued. "He’s at Yuelai Restaurant, hosting the Border Defense Envoy for dinner."

He Jiaqing frowned. What is he seeking out the Border Defense Envoy for?

Before Wan Jinxian could explain, He Jiaqing smelled smoke.

He Haisheng had returned.

He Jiaqing quickly cut off the connection.

He Haisheng entered the hospital room, intending to check on He Jiaqing briefly before going to his hotel to rest.

He stood beside the hospital bed for a moment and noticed that one of the buttons on He Jiaqing’s shirt was loose.

PS: Ban Feng is off to chase the train.