The Overlord of Puluo

Hiding inside the Pocket Dwelling might have seemed safe, but that plan would not work.

If Li Banfeng hid in the Pocket Dwelling and never came out, he would be completely cut off from the outside world. This would be even worse than hiding in the Yu Family Village. Without knowing how events were unfolding outside, he could not make any real preparations or responses. Unless he chose to remain in the Pocket Dwelling for the rest of his life, there was a chance he would die the moment he stepped outside.

Since passive defense would not work, he needed to change his strategy.

Li Banfeng looked down at the paper in his hand and asked, "What kind of places are Trailhead Inn, Elysian Melody Dancehall, and Azure Pond Teahouse?"

Shopkeeper Feng replied, "They are all businesses owned by the Jiangxiang Gang. They are on this very street and very close to the Yu Family Cloth Shop. I won't bother explaining the inn and the teahouse. As for the dancehall, it is a place of pleasure filled with singing and dancing."

Li Banfeng nodded. "Its name is Elysian Melody, so it must be a place devoted to studying music."

"Music… erm… how should I put it?" Shopkeeper Feng said, struggling to find the right words.

Li Banfeng took a sip of tea. "If they want to set an ambush on this street, it would be better to hide inside the Yu Family Cloth Shop."

Shopkeeper Feng shook his head firmly. "They can't do that!"

Had anyone else spoken such amateur words, Shopkeeper Feng would not have bothered to explain. However, as Li Banfeng was from the Outer Provinces, it was natural that he did not know certain rules. Shopkeeper Feng started explaining, "The Jiangxiang Gang's goal is to ambush Shopkeeper Yu. If they had people squatting inside the Yu Family Cloth Shop, they would need to go in and out for food and supplies. And if there was activity inside, would Shopkeeper Yu still return?"

Li Banfeng nodded. What Shopkeeper Feng said was reasonable. Yu Nan was extremely cautious and had stationed lookouts in Inner Gully, which meant that she would certainly know if anyone went in and out of the cloth shop.

Shopkeeper Feng added, "The Jiangxiang Gang is ruthless, yes, but they still play by the rules of the jianghu. This is about avenging the Geng Family Medicinal Trading House and not about stealing Shopkeeper Yu's shop. If they tried to seize the store while Shopkeeper Yu was away, they would never be able to justify themselves to the jianghu.

Seeing the incense stick about to burn down, Li Banfeng asked another question. "Where is the Branch Hall of the Jiangxiang Gang's Medicine King Hall Second Branch?"

"It's the Rising Prosperity Gambling House on Yuanping Street. It's a grand mansion that is very easily recognizable. It would be best if you take another route and stay away from it," Shopkeeper Feng said.

Li Banfeng nodded and handed Shopkeeper Feng five thousand in cash.

Shopkeeper Feng hurriedly waved his hands. "What are you doing? I was the one who wronged you before. I can't take your money for just a bit of information."

A small bit of information? That sheet of paper was worth over five thousand on its own.

Though Shopkeeper Feng refused, Li Banfeng shoved the money into his pocket. "Shopkeeper, I still have other purchases to make. Treat this as a deposit."

"What do you want to buy?"

Li Banfeng leaned in and whispered a few words into Shopkeeper Feng's ear.

Shopkeeper Feng frowned. "Trader Li, in Puluo Province, that might not work well. You'd best think it over."

Li Banfeng smiled. "The more you buy, the more chances one will be useful."

The Geng Family Medicinal Trading House is gone, and the Jiangxiang Gang is showing no sign of stopping. I have to fight again. If I can win, I'll fight. If I can't, I'll run. But can I win this time?

These thoughts ran through his mind. Still, Li Banfeng believed that if he chose the right opponent, he would win.

Hmm… that Martial Cultivator is too high level. It will be hard to face him head-on. As for that Ascetic Cultivator, I don't know how that cultivation works, Li Banfeng muttered inwardly. In the end, he set his sights on Du Hongxi.

The Nightfiend Cultivator is a very suitable target, he concluded.

Now that he had chosen an opponent, he would need to choose the right method. This method must hurt them so badly that they wouldn't dare to investigate him again.

***

Leaving the general store, Li Banfeng lowered the brim of his fedora and quickly left the Memorial Arch Street.

He made his way into Firewood Alley, where a small noodle shop caught his eye. Taking a seat, he ordered two bowls of mutton noodles and ate his fill.

He was about to return to the Pocket Dwelling when a young paperboy called out beside him, "Sir, want to buy some newspaper? Morning paper cost three mao and evening paper cost five mao."

There are evening papers sold in the Medicine King Gully? Li Banfeng thought.

The evening paper was printed later than the morning edition and carried more up-to-date news, which was why it cost more than the leftover morning copies.

Li Banfeng bought one. Printed across the front page was the headline He and Lu Families Clash, What Road Lies Ahead?

The article mentioned the bitter enmity between the He Family and the Lu Family. As Li Banfeng skimmed through it, he could not help but feel shocked.

The He Family believed that Lu Xiaolan, the concubine-born daughter of the Lu Family, had attacked their eldest son, He Jiaqing. As of now, He Jiaqing was still receiving treatments in a hospital in the Outer Provinces.

Lu Xiaolan, the concubine-born daughter of the Lu Family, had gone missing. The Lu Family denied the He Family's baseless accusations, saying they were still doing their utmost to search for Lu Xiaolan. They also promised that they would give the He Family an explanation.

Li Banfeng no longer needed to question if the man in the hospital was really He Jiaqing. The He Family had already confirmed it.

As for Lu Xiaolan, she was still missing and no one knew that she was now in the He Family's old residence.

Whether it was good or bad for Lu Xiaolan, no one could say. However, Li Banfeng thought it was good.

The Lu Family had to give the He Family an explanation. If they found Lu Xiaolan, they might very well make her the scapegoat. Living in humiliation within the He Family's old residence might not be the worst outcome for Lu Xiaolan.

Was this good or bad for Li Banfeng? He judged it to be good as well.

If Lu Xiaolan managed to escape from the He Family's old residence, the Lu Family would likely start looking for him as well.

What surprised Li Banfeng was not just the news itself, but that newspapers, a form of news medium that had already been dismissed as obsolete decades ago, still carried such a wealth of information.

Information… Li Banfeng muttered inwardly.