CHAPTER 424: CHAPTER 297 SHADOW PLAY

In Xiaoyao Lodge, Li Banfeng patiently explained the situation to Ma Wu, "You were preparing to ambush Ling Miaoying at the Lu Family, but instead, Ling Miaoying launched a sneak attack on our Xiaoyao Lodge. This is called seizing an opportunity when we’re vulnerable, luring the tiger from the mountain, and creating a diversion. Do you understand?"

Ma Wu nodded, "I understand."

"But he didn’t anticipate that I would stay behind at Xiaoyao Lodge. When he made his move without taking precautions, I caught him red-handed. You can understand this process, right?"

Ma Wu nodded again, "I understand."

Li Banfeng said, "So, you should be able to explain this clearly to Qiu Zhiheng and the others, right?"

Ma Wu shook his head, "I can’t explain it clearly."

"How can you not explain it clearly?"

"Old Qi, let’s be reasonable. What kind of cultivation level does Ling Miaoying have? What kind of methods? And he’s so meticulous. How could he be ambushed so easily? So many people from the Lu Family tried to kill him but couldn’t, yet you managed to kill him with a casual ambush?"

Li Banfeng also felt that explaining it in terms of combat power was indeed difficult.

First, Ma Wu couldn’t clarify Li Banfeng’s cultivation level.

Secondly, although Li Banfeng’s cultivation was substantial, defeating Ling Miaoying also involved elements of luck and coincidence.

"Of course, I didn’t kill Ling Miaoying alone; someone helped me. It’s just that this person has a special identity, and I can’t easily reveal who it is. Truthfully, he shouldn’t even be here," Li Banfeng said, hastily fabricating a lie to stall Ma Wu.

To his surprise, Ma Wu took it seriously, "Is it a master from the New Land?"

New Land? What does this have to do with the New Land? But as long as Ma Wu could accept it, it wasn’t out of the question.

"Indeed, it was a master from the New Land. That Local Deity isn’t one we’re familiar with. This Local Deity had some conflict with the Ling Family, took advantage of the opportunity to kill Ling Miaoying, helped us out, and also eliminated a major threat for himself. This Local Deity doesn’t wish to reveal his name, but I can tell you in secret..."

Li Banfeng considered inventing a random name to deceive Ma Wu; after all, with so many territories in the New Land, Ma Wu wouldn’t be able to verify each one.

Unexpectedly, Ma Wu waved his hands repeatedly, "Don’t say it, don’t tell me. If the person doesn’t want to reveal it, don’t disclose it, lest they seek revenge on us later."

Li Banfeng appreciated this temperament of Ma Wu.

Li Banfeng then helped Ma Wu flesh out more details, and Ma Wu gradually organized his thoughts, "I’ll tell Monkey Qiu the whole story. This head will be a generous gift for him. In his hands, it will certainly be useful!"

Li Banfeng smiled, "Then I’ll leave it to you!"

Ma Wu returned to the dance hall and said to Lu Chunying, Qiu Zhiheng, and Tan Fucheng, "Brothers, Sister Chunying, please follow me to another private room."

The three were startled, not understanding Ma Wu’s intention.

They were already in a private room where the kitchen had prepared food and drinks. The three were eating and drinking comfortably; why move to another room?

Ma Wu explained further, "The food and drinks are better in the other room."

This time they understood. There was something in the other private room.

The three of them quickly got up and followed Ma Wu to the other private room.

Food and drink had also been prepared in this private room. Ma Wu dismissed the attendants, took a box out from under the table, and said to the three in a low voice, "Don’t blame Master Ma for ruining your appetite, but this thing must be brought out now."

After speaking, Ma Wu opened the box. Inside lay Ling Miaoying’s head.

The three of them were immediately stunned.

Monkey Qiu was silent for a long moment. Feng Cultivator Tan Fucheng asked, "Old Wu, where did you get this? Is it a wax figure?"

Ma Wu shook his head, "Brother Tan, feel it for yourself."

Tan Fucheng gently touched it, confirmed its texture, and then looked at Monkey Qiu, saying, "It’s really a human head!"

Qiu Zhiheng asked Ma Wu, "Junyang, what exactly is going on?"

Ma Junyang rattled off his fabricated story:

"We had a bit of a feud with Ling Miaoying, as I’m sure you all know."

Both Monkey Qiu and Tan Fucheng were aware of this feud, which mainly revolved around their films. The two families had been competing in the film industry, and Ling Miaoying had embarrassed Ma Wu at a premiere a few days earlier, nearly leading to a fight between their groups.

Ma Wu continued, "Last night, we went to Old Master Lu’s to plan our revenge. Fearing someone might take advantage of our absence, we arranged for extra security, hiring a few experts to guard Xiaoyao Lodge. Unexpectedly, they actually managed to catch Ling Miaoying."

Tan Fucheng was astonished, "Ling Miaoying came to Xiaoyao Lodge last night?"

Ma Wu nodded.

Tan Fucheng couldn’t understand, "He personally came to Xiaoyao Lodge to cause trouble?"

That was the most difficult part to explain.

It was inevitable that Ling Miaoying hated Ma Wu; "Blood Gun Detective" had almost ruined "Blood Blade Detective," turning it from a cinematic marvel into an art film appreciated by only a niche audience.

But no matter how much Ling Miaoying detested Ma Wu, given his cautious nature—and especially on such a critical night—he would never personally engage in something as blatant as crashing their establishment.

Fortunately, Li Banfeng had prepared an explanation for Ma Wu: "Ling Miaoying came last night for the film reels. To be honest with you, brothers, I’ve already shot more than half of my next film. The reels are stored in Xiaoyao Lodge, just needing a little editing before release."

Monkey Qiu and Tan Fucheng were taken aback for a moment; they didn’t know much about films.

Lu Chunying suddenly exclaimed, "Oh my goodness, that was close! If he had stolen it, wouldn’t the next ’Blood Gun Detective’ have become the Ling Family’s property?"

With someone backing him up, things became much easier.

This time, Monkey Qiu and Tan Fucheng understood. So, they were competing for this film, much like vying for business. But was a film really worth Ling Miaoying’s personal intervention? Perhaps it was. After all, "Blood Gun Detective" was very profitable, a fact both Monkey Qiu and Tan Fucheng knew well.

However, Tan Fucheng still couldn’t fathom another matter: "What kind of experts did you hire who could kill Ling Miaoying?"

Ma Wu pondered for a moment before saying, "They’re not the kind of experts we usually encounter."

Tan Fucheng, a veteran of the Jianghu, still didn’t grasp Ma Wu’s meaning. "Then how does one meet these experts?"

Ma Wu said cryptically, "You’d have to find the manager of the local territory."

Tan Fucheng felt he was in a fog. "Which territory’s manager are you talking about?"

Tan Fucheng knew every territory boss in Greenwater Bay.

Monkey Qiu held Tan Fucheng back, signaling him to ask no further.

He had picked up on the insinuation in Ma Wu’s words. The ’manager’ Ma Wu referred to was not a territory boss, but a Local Deity.

In Puluo State, cultivators who had dealings with Local Deities were few and far between, but Monkey Qiu was one of them. His relationships with several Local Deities were extremely close.

If Ma Wu had indeed hired experts through a Local Deity, such a matter couldn’t be disclosed carelessly—the one who spoke of it wouldn’t benefit, nor would the one who listened.

The cause of Ling Miaoying’s death seemed to have been explained. What remained was to decide what to do with the head.

Monkey Qiu said to Ma Wu, "Junyang, this item is very useful to me, extremely useful. Name your price, and I’ll buy it."

Ma Wu shook his head, "Big Brother Qiu, I brought this to you as a gift. If we talk about buying it, that would make us strangers."

Qiu Zhiheng shook his head, "I never ask for favors for free. Just name your price."

Ma Wu did have something in mind, something he had discussed with Li Banfeng: "Old Qi and I have just started our business at Black Stone Slope, and we haven’t established all the necessary connections yet."

Qiu Zhiheng glanced at Lu Chunying.

Lu Chunying said, "In a couple of days, Big Brother Qiu and I are going to Black Stone Slope. It’ll be a perfect opportunity to learn the ropes of the business."

Tan Fucheng was inwardly impressed. This girl has good sense, figuring things out without needing to be taught.

Having settled the matter, they continued drinking.

Midway through, Ma Wu left hastily to relay the news to Li Banfeng, only to find that upon entering the room, Li Banfeng had vanished once again.

Li Banfeng had returned to his Portable Residence and was lying in bed, sleeping soundly.

After running around all last night and engaging in a fierce battle with Ling Miaoying, Li Banfeng was utterly drained and needed a good sleep to recover.

His wife was also deep in slumber. Having consumed Ling Miaoying, she was accumulating strength to take Li Banfeng to the Sixth Layer upon waking.

Red Lotus had consumed Ling Miaoying’s corpse. Previously, Wu Decheng’s corpse had also been refined, yielding over eighty Mysterious Flame Pills.

Red Lotus had another incident of Mysterious Flame Pills exploding, greatly displeasing Li Banfeng. If Ling Miaoying’s corpse also resulted in exploding Mysterious Flame Pills this time, Li Banfeng would have to have a serious talk with Red Lotus.

But these weren’t the main concerns. The most pressing issue was the current state of the Portable Residence.

Why had it suddenly moved to Black Stone Slope? It was supposed to follow the key, so why had its trait changed this time? Li Banfeng was confused and worried. If, one day, while inside the Portable Residence, I were to think intently about the Outside Provinces, could the Residence transport me there directly? Then how would I come back for the key? Or perhaps, had the Portable Residence’s trait of following the key changed, meaning I could bring the key inside from now on? This thought lingered in Li Banfeng’s mind for a long time.

During his year and more in Puluo State, one of Li Banfeng’s biggest worries had always been the key.

Every time he entered the Portable Residence, a sense of unease lingered because his key remained outside.

His key had been snatched by a black bear, carried off by insects, and picked up by Chu Er.

If he could always carry the key with him, this greatest worry would be eliminated.

Before falling asleep, Li Banfeng stood at the door of the Portable Residence for a long time, holding the key, but ultimately, he didn’t bring it inside.

The Peddler had warned him many times when handing over the Portable Residence that under no circumstances should he bring the key inside, or he would be trapped inside, unable to get out.

Even though the Portable Residence had changed, would this ironclad rule change as well?

Li Banfeng didn’t dare to gamble. And he couldn’t fathom the reason for the Portable Residence’s change either. Who could give him the answer? As far as Li Banfeng knew, there were three people. One was Grandpa Train, who was in the Inner State, so Li Banfeng couldn’t ask him. Another was the Peddler. Finding him wasn’t too difficult, as his movements followed a pattern. But would the Peddler be willing to talk? There was one more person. She might not know everything, but she would definitely know some details, as she and the Portable Residence got along very well, cooperating smoothly. Would she be honest with me?

As Li Banfeng pondered, he felt his consciousness grow fuzzy.

He looked at Meng De on the wall and instructed, "Let me have some beautiful dreams."

Meng De nodded, played a soothing piece of music, and Li Banfeng drifted off to sleep.

No sooner had Li Banfeng fallen asleep than the Gloves silently made their way to the Second Room.

The Third Room was no longer an option. That place was too sinister; it had consumed a fine pair of Iron Rulers.

The Second Room housed more Magical Treasures, like the Clock Pendulum, the Gourd, and the Teapot. The Gloves then stealthily moved to the Fourth Room.

The Tang Sword was asleep in the Fourth Room, so the Gloves scampered off to the Fifth Room.

With no one in the Fifth Room, the Gloves breathed a sigh of relief and spat out the Projector.

"What a treasure!" the Gloves exclaimed admiringly. "Such a wonderful item!"

CLICK.

WHIRR.

Suddenly, the Projector’s spring wound, and the lens cap opened.

Only then did the Gloves realize that there was an actual candle inside the palm-sized projector.

The candle had been burning continuously and had remarkably not gone out.

As the spring turned, an image was projected onto the wall. With no other light sources in the room, the image was exceptionally clear.

"My god..." the Gloves gasped.

In the projection, Ling Miaoying was walking towards the Gloves.

The Gloves tried to flee, but the Projector suddenly changed its angle.

Ling Miaoying shifted accordingly, blocking the Gloves’ escape route.

...

Li Banfeng was in bed, having a sweet dream. In the dream, he stood on the deck of a cruise ship, silently enjoying the sea breeze in the twilight of the setting sun.

His wife whispered lovingly, "Husband, this scenery is so beautiful."

Li Banfeng, holding an Oil Pot, replied, "My dear, the scenery here isn’t bad either."

His wife reproached gently, "Is this really appropriate here?"

"Of course, why wouldn’t it be!"

"Be careful, husband, don’t let anyone see."

The oil had been applied, and the Phonograph was ready.

A wail from the Gloves jolted Li Banfeng awake.

"Save me!"

This damn scoundrel, what’s he kicking up such a fuss about now?

Li Banfeng followed the sound to the Fifth Room. The moment he opened the door, he too was startled.

He saw Ling Miaoying gripping the Gloves, looking at him as he stood in the doorway.

Struggling, the Gloves yelled at Li Banfeng, "Boss, I’ve been completely loyal to you! You can’t just watch me die!"

PS: Ban Feng had a dream, and he dreamed of getting oiled up.