CHAPTER 89: CHAPTER 75: JIANG XIANG’S SUB-RUDDER

Shopkeeper Feng poured tea for Li Banfeng and mused for a moment before saying, "As for what exactly is inside this phonograph, I can’t be clear. The phonograph was handed over to me by a businessman from Greenwater Bay. He asked for 180,000. I checked the product: the brand was genuine, the craftsmanship excellent, and it was almost new—definitely worth the money. I didn’t haggle and took the item. Who would have thought that within less than three days of bringing it home, something would happen? When I went to find that businessman afterward, he had already left Medicine King Valley.

Greenwater Bay is where many wealthy families reside, so tracking down a person there isn’t too difficult. I asked a friend from Greenwater Bay to look into this person’s background. I later learned that this person was originally from a moderately wealthy family in Greenwater Bay. After connecting with the Lu Family, he made several big deals and earned a lot of money, so much so that he moved into a large mansion. However, just after they moved into the new place, a dozen of his family members died unnaturally.

I suspect this matter is related to the phonograph, but I can’t produce any evidence. Even if I had evidence, it would be useless. Before the transaction, if I had found anything strange about the phonograph, I could have told him to get lost on the spot. But once the deal was done, it was too late to say anything. I can only blame my own lack of discernment."

Li Banfeng asked, "Can you tell me the name of this businessman?"

Shopkeeper Feng shook his head. "I can’t do that. I know his name, but I cannot tell you. Just like I took your Snake-Patterned Pill but would never tell the buyer your name. This is the rule among businesspeople."

Li Banfeng did not press Shopkeeper Feng further; in this matter, Shopkeeper Feng had done nothing wrong.

"You’ve told me quite a bit, so the reward must still be given." Li Banfeng took out 2,000 and gave it to Shopkeeper Feng, but Shopkeeper Feng pushed the money back.

"Boss Li, I wronged you in this matter. To take more money from you would be truly unscrupulous."

Shopkeeper Feng firmly refused to accept it, so Li Banfeng directly inquired about another matter. "I would like to get a Guide Token for the Outside Provinces. Do you have a way?"

"Going to the Outside Provinces..." Shopkeeper Feng furrowed his brow. "That’s a tricky one. I have to make some inquiries. You’ll have to wait a couple more days; it’s hard to get news so quickly."

Having a way was enough; Li Banfeng could wait, but he needed to be clear on the price.

"Shopkeeper Feng, how much does the Guide Token cost?"

Shopkeeper Feng stroked his beard. "Boss Li, I won’t deceive you. For this business, I can forgo making a profit from you, but without 20 million, I’m afraid it won’t be possible to get it done."

It really is that amount. Yu Nan was telling the truth, Li Banfeng thought, but he still wanted to ask why. "Why is the Guide Token for the Outside Provinces so expensive?"

Shopkeeper Feng laughed. "I am a businessman; I only talk business. If I could scrape together 20 million, I would certainly make a trip to the Outside Provinces. There are many good things in the Outside Provinces that Puluo State doesn’t have, and Puluo State also has many good things that the Outside Provinces don’t have. This exchange could yield a big profit, certainly recouping the 20 million. If the business is done right, making several times more is not out of the question."

Yes, why didn’t I think of it? There’s a big business opportunity here!

I also have a Portable Residence! I can bring all the rare treasures of Puluo State to the Outside Provinces.

After this deal, I won’t have to work like a laborer anymore!

Money! I really need money now!

He took out a red Elixir and handed it to Shopkeeper Feng. "Please appraise this for me."

Shopkeeper Feng examined it carefully for a long while and nodded slightly. "This is a Mysterious Flame Pill, top quality. Boss Li, are you planning to sell this Elixir?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "If the price is right, naturally I’ll sell it."

Shopkeeper Feng took out a handkerchief, laid it on the coffee table, and placed the Elixir in its center. This was his rule: for business not yet agreed upon, the items must be laid out in sight.

"Boss Li, this Elixir could sell for 200,000 on the market, but I can’t buy it. My shop deals in various goods, and I can’t guarantee a smooth sale for such a precious Elixir. It can only be consigned with me. If you trust me, leave the Elixir here. If the deal is made, I take a 20% commission. If not, I will return the item untouched. Does that sound acceptable to you?"

"Acceptable!" Li Banfeng agreed on the spot and then took out the only purple Elixir he had, handing it to Shopkeeper Feng.

"Please take a look at this one too. What’s the origin of this Elixir?"

Shopkeeper Feng looked at it for a long time and then returned the Elixir to Li Banfeng. "With my limited discernment, I cannot recognize this Elixir. When I meet an expert, I will ask for you."

Li Banfeng said, "Why not leave it with you as well, for consignment?"

Shopkeeper Feng shook his head. "That won’t do. My shop dare not accept items whose price I do not know. In case something goes wrong, I wouldn’t know how to compensate."

Li Banfeng despised messy rules, but he very much respected Shopkeeper Feng’s rules. The logic of the world was that simple: clarify things in a couple of sentences, and naturally, there would be no misunderstandings.

Having asked all the important questions, Li Banfeng was ready to buy some fuel and oil for the phonograph. Shopkeeper Feng had his clerk, Chun Sheng, prepare these sundries while he asked Li Banfeng to sit a while longer. Shopkeeper Feng felt guilty about the phonograph incident and wanted to offer Li Banfeng some form of recompense.

"Boss Li, you’ve asked what you wanted to ask, and I’ve said what I had to say. There is one more thing I know a bit about. Would you like to hear it?"

"Whose matter?"

"The matter of the Geng Family Medicine Shop and the Yu Family Cloth Store."

Why would Shopkeeper Feng take the initiative to bring this up? Li Banfeng wondered, remaining expressionless but nodding slightly.

Shopkeeper Feng instructed Chun Sheng to bring over the incense burner. A red copper incense burner was placed on the low table. Shopkeeper Feng struck a match and lit the incense; a light fragrance filled the inner room. Li Banfeng’s nose was very sensitive. He carefully distinguished the scent of the smoke and did not detect any danger.

Shopkeeper Feng smiled and said, "Boss Li, please don’t take offense. I’m just taking precautions against eavesdroppers."

Using incense to guard against eavesdroppers? Li Banfeng gained some new insight.

Shopkeeper Feng refilled the teapot and began to talk about the affairs of the Geng and Yu Families.

"Boss Li, you must have heard the whispers. The Geng Family and the Yu Family are at odds. Some say this started because of Boss Qin, but in reality, their strife began the year before last. In the past two years, the Geng Family Medicine Shop has allied with the Jiang Xiang Gang and become increasingly domineering in business. They set their sights on Manager Yu’s cloth store and have been after her territory for a while now. Manager Yu is a strong-willed person and has always refused to hand over the shop. The Geng Family often sends people to cause trouble, and Manager Yu has suffered quite a bit over the past two years.

Last year, the Geng Family’s Support, Rong Jin’an, wreaked havoc in the cloth store, killing two of the Yu Family Cloth Store’s clerks. Last month, Rong Jin’an smashed up the Yu Family Cloth Store, injured several people, and harassed two female clerks. Manager Yu has been suppressing her anger for too long. Using the incident with Boss Qin as a pretext to kill Rong Jin’an—that’s reasonable. Young Master Geng lured Boss Yu to the Spring View Tower and killed a dozen or so of his men—that too is within reason.

Following that, the Geng Family Medicine Shop was set ablaze, and Geng Zhiwei disappeared without a trace. Now the Geng Family is frantically searching for Manager Yu, vowing to tear her to pieces. This part has become quite peculiar."

Li Banfeng asked, "Does the Geng Family believe that Manager Yu is behind this?"

Shopkeeper Feng nodded. "They do. Logically, it should indeed be Manager Yu’s doing, but I suspect someone else."

Li Banfeng took a sip of tea. "Why do you say that?"

"Because the matter is quite unusual. Boss Yu had a feud with Rong Jin’an, so seeking revenge on him is understandable. However, Manager Yu and Boss Qin had no prior dealings. After taking revenge, there was no need to rescue Boss Qin. Moreover, burning down the Geng Family Medicine Shop isn’t something Manager Yu is capable of. Setting aside whether she has the ability, she simply doesn’t have the mindset for it. Manager Yu’s actions are not that ruthless or absolute. She always believes in moderation. If she truly had the heart to be ruthless, she wouldn’t have suffered so many losses over the years."

Li Banfeng put down his teacup and asked, "Shopkeeper Feng, who do you think is behind this?"

Shopkeeper Feng looked at Li Banfeng and shook his head. "I’m not sure about that. But I have something here that I’d like Boss Li to see."

With that, Shopkeeper Feng took out an envelope and handed it to Li Banfeng. Li Banfeng opened the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper. Three individuals’ names were written on it:

Xiang Guicheng, a Third-Layer Martial Cultivator, Hong Gun of the Second Helm of Medicine King Hall, located at Luyuan Inn.

Zhong Desong, a Second-Layer Bitter Cultivator, Sage of the Second Helm of Medicine King Hall, found at Qingtang Teahouse.

Du Hongxi, a Second-Layer Nightmare Cultivator, Xunfeng of the Second Helm of Medicine King Hall, staying at Xianle Dance Hall.

As Li Banfeng read the letter, Shopkeeper Feng explained, "Three experts from the Jiang Xiang Gang’s Medicine King Hall have been dispatched expressly to handle the Geng Family Medicine Shop affair. These three experts are now lying in wait near the Yu Family Cloth Store, eagerly anticipating Manager Yu’s appearance. Helm Master Shi Boyu and his confidant Sun Xiao’an remain at the helm platform, ready to lend support at any moment."

"What’s a helm platform?" With so many new terms, Li Banfeng was momentarily confused.

Shopkeeper Feng, knowing Li Banfeng was from the Outside Provinces, patiently explained, "The Jiang Xiang Gang has a total of twenty-two Hall Entrances in Puluo State, with Medicine King Hall being one of them. Under Medicine King Hall, there are eight sub-helms. The Main Helm and the Second Helm are in Li Gou, and the other six sub-helms are in Waigou. The helm platform is where a sub-helm gathers to discuss matters. Each is led by a Helm Master, accompanied by a confidant, a Hong Gun, a Sage, and a Xunfeng—these are all leaders within the sub-helm. Each leader has over twenty disciples under them, making a total of around one hundred and twenty people in a sub-helm."

High cultivation levels and numerous members, Li Banfeng thought. I hadn’t expected the Jiang Xiang Gang to mobilize such a force.

Li Banfeng inquired, "What are the cultivation levels of the Helm Master and his confidant?"

"That’s currently unclear."

Li Banfeng glanced over the descriptions of Sage Zhong Desong and Xunfeng Du Hongxi, asking, "What kind of Taoist Sects are Bitter Cultivation and Nightmare Cultivation?"

"Nightmare Cultivators can command Ghosts. Xunfeng Du Hongxi has over a dozen Ghosts under his control, always at his beck and call. The Bitter Cultivation Taoist Sect is unique; its practitioners can endure suffering—the kind of suffering others cannot bear."

Li Banfeng scratched his head; this Bitter Cultivation was difficult to grasp. Since when was the ability to endure suffering counted as a skill?

Shopkeeper Feng refilled Li Banfeng’s teacup. "Boss Li, I know this matter has little to do with you. But I’ve also heard that the Jiang Xiang Gang has been searching everywhere for People from other provinces. I’m not sure what the reason is, but I wanted to give you a heads-up. Medicine King Valley is rather unsettled recently, so please be extra cautious."

Li Banfeng understood Shopkeeper Feng’s implication: Yu Nan had rescued Qin Xiaopang, but Qin Xiaopang had no dealings with Yu Nan, whereas his interactions with Li Banfeng were frequent. Coupled with the Jiang Xiang Gang searching for People from other provinces, Shopkeeper Feng suspected Li Banfeng was involved in this affair.

But in fact, they were two separate matters.

The Jiang Xiang Gang blamed Yu Nan for burning down the Geng Family Medicine Shop and mobilized an entire sub-helm for it. The search for outsiders was an order from Xiao Zhenggong to the entire Jiang Xiang Gang, aiming for the Copper Lotus Flower.

The Jiang Xiang Gang probably hasn’t realized that the same person is responsible for both incidents.

But just because they haven’t figured it out yet doesn’t mean they can’t find out.

If Shopkeeper Feng could detect clues from Qin Xiaopang, the Jiang Xiang Gang are no fools; they would surely trace Qin Xiaopang’s trail and uncover my real identity sooner or later.

Thinking about the private detective, Da Boyins, who had previously sought him out, Li Banfeng realized the Jiang Xiang Gang might be very close to the truth.

It’s a good thing I didn’t keep hiding in Yu Family Village and made a trip back to Li Gou.

If the Jiang Xiang Gang discovers I’m the one who burned down the Geng Family Medicine Shop and stole the Copper Lotus Flower, they’ll surround Yu Family Village at all costs. Escape would be impossible, even if I had wings.

Now Li Banfeng faced two options:

The first option was to stock up on enough food, ensure an ample supply of water, and hole up inside the Portable Residence without coming out.

This choice seems secure, but is it feasible?