The Overlord of Puluo

Yingchun House was part of Chu Huaijun's domain. He had given half of the shares to Commissioner Liao Zihui, so there was no place more suitable to invite Liao Zihui for dinner.

In the private room on the third floor, delicacies from land and sea were laid out on the table before Liao Zihui, but he barely touched his chopsticks. Beautifully dressed young ladies sat beside him, singing and playing instruments. Liao Zihui wore a small smile, but he remained mostly silent.

At Chu Huaijun's signal, one of the women who was singing sat down on Liao Zihui's lap. Chu Huaijun had thought this would ease the awkward atmosphere, but unexpectedly, even the small smile on Liao Zihui's face disappeared.

Liao Zihui seems different today, Chu Huaijun thought.

Seeing Liao Zihui slowly furrow his brows, Chu Huaijun hurriedly gestured for everyone to leave. Once Liao Zihui and Chu Huaijun were the only ones left in the private room, Liao Zihui took the fountain pen from his shirt pocket and placed it on the table.

What is this pen for? Chu Huaijun wondered.

He looked at the fountain pen and then at Liao Zihui. He realized then that there were some things Liao Zihui could not say and some things he could not do.

Chu Huaijun searched Liao Zihui's expression for the answer to his unasked question, but the man was practically expressionless.

"Huaijun, don't be so nervous. I already know about what happened with the Three Heroes Sect. You're not entirely responsible for what happened, but you were not cautious enough in your handling of certain matters. I need to give an explanation to the higher-up about those matters, but speaking personally, the trust I have in you has not changed."

Liao Zihui's tone and attitude sent a chill down Chu Huaijun's spine. What does that mean? Has he come to hold me accountable?

Chu Huaijun had thought Liao Zihui would discuss the next step with him. He had been intending to use the opportunity to propose a plan to eradicate the Three Heroes Sect. However, Liao Zihui had no intention of discussing anything with him. In just a few words, Liao Zihui made Chu Huaijun feel an intense sense of crisis and terror.

Chu Huaijun redirected his train of thought and spoke to Liao Zihui in a tone as close as possible to that of someone from the Outer Provinces. "Commissioner Liao, there is a conspiracy behind what happened with the Three Heroes Sect, and many people are involved. The Three Heroes Sect's new Great Golden Seal, Shen Jinzhong, has already become their puppet. We must eliminate the Three Heroes Sect to prevent this conspiracy from succeeding!"

Liao Zihui nodded. "Since you say it is a conspiracy, I hope you can uncover the details of the entire course of events."

Chu Huaijun was very nervous. He wanted to light a cigarette, but seeing Liao Zihui's attitude and the tense mood, he did not dare take one out of the pack.

"I am still investigating this matter, but before the situation gets out of hand, the Three Heroes Sect must—"

Liao Zihui cut him off. "Then wait until you have figured it out before saying anything else. The Three Heroes Sect is a major sect, with tens of thousands of disciples spread throughout Puluo. If something happens to this sect, these tens of thousands of disciples will become a huge threat to Puluo. We do not want to see such a threat."

Chu Huaijun explained, "Commissioner Liao, I am doing this precisely to eliminate that threat."

Liao Zihui gave a slight nod. "I can see your efforts, but everything the Border Control Office does must have a clear goal and a clear approach. From what you have done so far, I cannot see your goal, nor can I understand your approach. I think you should sort out the difficulties you are currently facing and focus your efforts on solving the root of the problem. Of course, this is not an easy matter. If this is too difficult for you, I can consider choosing someone more capable to establish a new cooperative relationship."

He then picked up the fountain pen, put it back into his shirt pocket, and left the private room.

The sound of a steam automobile starting rang out downstairs. Liao Zihui was leaving.

Chu Huaijun took out a cigarette and held it between his teeth.

What exactly is going on today? And what was with that fountain pen?

He was puzzled as to why he could not quite understand what Liao Zihui had said.

***

It was not just Chu Huaijun who failed to understand. Even Liao Zihui himself did not really understand what he had said.

Despite that, it was unimportant. Liao Zihui had held a post in the Outer Provinces in the past, and he often had to give speeches, during which he had no idea what he was even talking about. Nonetheless, he had always managed to produce the intended mood and results. The important point was that speaking this way was the safest.

In the steam automobile, the seat behind the front passenger seat had always belonged to Liao Zihui, but another person was sitting there today. This person was Sun Junfu. He had come from the Outer Provinces, and his rank was on par with Liao Zihui's, but his identity this time was special. He was there as an inspector to check the work that was being done.

Sun Junfu was very dissatisfied with Liao Zihui's recent work, especially with how certain matters in Blackstone Slope had been handled. The former Border Controller of Blackstone Slope, Cheng Mingke, was Sun Junfu's subordinate—one he favored. Through Sun Junfu's repeated recommendations, Cheng Mingke had finally obtained the valuable opportunity to hold a post in Puluo. Yet, soon after Cheng Mingke took up his post, Liao Zihui had sent him back to the Outer Provinces.

Sun Junfu kept a stern expression the entire way and said to Liao Zihui, "Commissioner Liao, we can be considered old acquaintances, so I'll be a little more direct with you about this. I think there are serious problems with your attitude toward your work. I think Chu Huaijun suggested a very good approach to the issue at hand. Forces like He Yuxiu and the Three Heroes Sect have openly challenged us, so they should be eliminated as soon as possible. Why have you repeatedly chosen to compromise and retreat instead?"

He even called them "forces." It's obvious he has no understanding of Puluo's situation.

Liao Zihui smiled humbly. "Puluo has special circumstances, and regarding this—"

Sun Junfu interrupted Liao Zihui. "Old Liao, we all know Puluo has special circumstances. Let's not talk about objective reasons. If you are daunted by difficulties and even react in a cowardly manner, how can you be worthy of the trust placed in you? How can you be worthy of the heavy responsibility entrusted to you? Regarding the problems in this area, I think the main concerns are the following three points..."

This bastard talks just like his disciple.

Liao Zihui really wanted to beat Sun Junfu up. He even wanted to make this person disappear from Puluo.

However, he could not do that. The fountain pen in his shirt pocket recorded every word and action he made during Sun Junfu's inspection. Then once the inspection ended, Sun Junfu would take the fountain pen with him when he returned to the Outer Provinces.

When would the inspection end? In about a month.

Liao Zihui felt something major was bound to happen if this fastidious but incompetent fool stayed in Puluo for a month.

Bang!

Just as Sun Junfu began talking about the second concern, the steam automobile's tire suddenly exploded. The four bodyguards in the vehicle, which included the driver, immediately prepared for battle.

Sun Junfu thought there had been a traffic accident and looked angrily at the driver. "What is going on? Do you people have no safety awareness when you drive?"

Bang!

The driver exploded into a mass of flesh and blood.

The flesh and blood splattered onto Sun Junfu's face. He trembled badly, and his face crumpled in horror.

"Uh, uh, uh..." Sun Junfu squeezed some sounds out of his throat, but no one knew what he wanted to say.

This driver was a level-five cultivator, yet he had died just like that, and no one at the scene had even gotten a glimpse of the assassin.

The bodyguard in the front passenger seat was a level-seven cultivator and the strongest among the bodyguards. He immediately moved into the driver's seat. While controlling the steering wheel, he pulled out a lever beneath it and moved it up and down twice.

The entire steam automobile disappeared.

Is that teleportation? Li Banfeng wondered.

He activated his Keen-Eyed Perception and could still see the outline of the vehicle in the darkness of night.

It was not teleportation but invisibility. This vehicle contained many secret mechanisms. No wonder the Border Controllers always rode steam automobiles wherever they went. They were not only symbols of status; they also ensured the safety of the Border Controllers.

The vehicle sped toward the Border Control Office, while Li Banfeng followed behind it without haste.

Soon after, the two level-six bodyguards sitting in the very rear seats exploded in succession. Even now, Liao Zihui still had not seen even a glimpse of the assassin.

Is this assassin insane? Does he not know who is sitting in the vehicle? This is a Border Controller's vehicle. Does he really intend to wipe us all out?

Liao Zihui curled up inside the steam automobile and held down Sun Junfu, who was utterly terrified. He tore open the leather cover on the back of the front passenger seat, pulled out a wheel, and turned it clockwise three times.

Buzz~

The Border Controller's steam automobile disappeared.

This time it had truly disappeared. Even after using Keen-Eyed Perception at maximum power, Li Banfeng could not see any trace of the vehicle.

Is it really teleportation this time? Have they already returned to the Border Control Office?

Commissioner Liao, you really have quite a fortunate life. Consider today a greeting. We will meet often in the future.

Li Banfeng lowered the brim of his fedora and disappeared into the night.

Unbeknownst to Li Banfeng, Liao Zihui and Sun Junfu had not returned to the Border Control Office. They were still in the same spot, but they had entered a space that Li Banfeng could not see.

This space was pitch-black, and Liao Zihui could not see the situation outside either. He could only wait. Based on his experience, waiting until dawn was the wisest choice.

However, after waiting ten minutes or so, Liao Zihui changed his mind. A suffocating smell had drifted into his nose.

Liao Zihui looked at Sun Junfu and asked, "Did you shit your pants?"

Sun Junfu's face was deathly pale. Trembling, he said, "I want to go back. Take me back immediately. I want to go back..."

Liao Zihui took the fountain pen from his shirt pocket, held it near his mouth, and shouted, "Old Sun, you actually shit your pants? Are you worthy of the trust placed in you? Are you worthy of the heavy responsibility entrusted to you?"

In truth, Liao Zihui was also quite frightened.

I only came out for a meal. Just what kind of lunatic came here and struck with such brutality? This attack even forced me to use the hidden dimensional space.

***

Chu Huaijun sat inside Yingchun House, smoking one cigarette after another.

His strategist, Yuan Xionghui, said, "Master, the food's getting cold. Please have a bite."

Chu Huaijun shook his head. "I've been thinking about it for so long, and I still can't figure out what the Border Controller meant."

"We shouldn't speculate about this matter," Yuan Xionghui warned cautiously. "Tomorrow, we should send someone to find out whether something has happened at the Border Control Office."

Chu Huaijun's expression turned grave. "I'm not afraid something has happened to them. I'm afraid something will happen to our side. Commissioner Liao is dissatisfied with me, but even now I still don't know what exactly I did wrong. We've done so much for the Border Control Office. How can we let someone else reap the rewards at a time like this?!"

The more Chu Huaijun thought about it, the worse he felt. He had completely lost his appetite, so he put on his coat and left Yingchun House.

A rickshaw was waiting downstairs. The moment Chu Huaijun got into the vehicle, a series of whistles rang out incessantly around him.

"It's the Three Heroes Sect!" Yuan Xionghui exclaimed. He could understand the whistle signals of the Three Heroes Sect.

Chu Huaijun remained calm. "Let's talk things through with them first. If they have something to say, let them say it. Don't play these underhanded tricks in front of me!"

Yuan Xionghui had intended to negotiate with them, but the more he listened to the whistles, the more he felt something was wrong.

"Master, they intend to kill you!"

Chu Huaijun let out a cold laugh. "This is Yingchun House. This domain belongs to the Chu Family and the Border Control Office. I want to see whether they really have the guts."

At the next moment, Shen Jinzhong walked across the street, with dozens of elite members of the Three Heroes Sect in tow.

Yuan Xionghui stepped forward and called out, "Great Golden Seal Shen, come inside and have a teeth sprinkling[1]. Let's talk things over slowly."

"Talk your mother's ass! Get the hell away from me. I'm here for your master." Shen Jinzhong looked at Chu Huaijun and beckoned him over. "I've already picked out a stone for you to use as your grave marker. Give me your birth date and time. After I collect your corpse, I'll bury you right away."

While speaking, Shen Jinzhong had continued walking forward with his men. One of his subordinates was indeed carrying a large stone.

Chu Huaijun was no longer as composed. The Three Heroes Sect was truly here to do it for real.

He had known there would be some friction with the Three Heroes Sect, so he had made some preparations and brought some men with him. However, there were not that many.

Today, he had invited the Border Controller to dinner. Who would dare cause trouble in front of him?

Besides, Shen Jinzhong had only just secured his position. Some conflict was understandable, but how could he dare launch a deadly attack against the Chu Family, which held so much power?

This was Li Qi's suggestion. It was true Shen Jinzhong had not yet established his footing. Killing Chu Huaijun would allow him to firmly establish himself in the jianghu. Moreover, if he could take the opportunity to send a warning to the Border Controller, his position would become even more secure!

Chu Huaijun looked at Yuan Xionghui and whispered, "Call for reinforcements. Hurry!"

There were still some men inside Yingchun House, but they had yet to come out. It was unclear whether they were unaware of what was happening or simply not in a hurry.

Shen Jinzhong yelled, "Today, I'm only looking for Chu Huaijun. This has nothing to do with anyone else!"

There was still no movement from Yingchun House. The people around Chu Huaijun began looking at one another.

Chu Huaijun panicked. After his father died, he had killed his way out from among his own siblings. He knew exactly what it meant when his subordinates began looking at one another.

***

At 2 AM, Yuan Xionghui was covered in wounds as he still helped Chu Huaijun back to his secondary residence. They didn't dare return to the main residence. The Three Heroes Sect did things thoroughly; there were certainly ambushes waiting there.

This secondary residence was well hidden, and not many people knew about it.

Yuan Xionghui tended to Chu Huaijun with simple treatments. Then he gritted his teeth and said, "Master, just wait. Tomorrow, I'll gather our men and wipe out the Three Heroes Sect!"

Chu Huaijun waved his hand. "We'll talk about that later. Tomorrow, we'll sign a document and first hand half of the Paramount Club over to Commissioner Liao."

"Hand it over?" Yuan Xionghui froze. "Master, do you mean we don't even want our original investment back?"

"What investment are you talking about?! If the Border Controller truly abandons us, we're finished. The Three Heroes Sect, the He Family, the Lu Family, and even Li Qi and Ma Wu—which one of them wouldn't come after us with everything they've got? What is half of the Paramount Club worth compared to that? If we have to give it away, then so be it!"

"Is that yours? You think you can just give it away?" said a woman from outside the front door.

Yuan Xionghui sprang to his feet, but Chu Huaijun signaled for him not to move yet.

The door creaked open, and a woman stepped into the residence, one slow step at a time. She wore a white dress hat with a black veil and a black-and-white floor-length qipao. Her face was covered in pale makeup, her eyes shaded dark blue-black, and her lips painted a deep red.

At this late hour, among all the people Chu Huaijun knew, there was only one person who would dress like this.

"Huaiyuan, listen to me. I did this for the sake of our family—"

"Elder Brother, we aren't a family anymore. We split up long ago." Miss Chu, Chu Huaiyuan, lowered her head and raised her gaze to look at Chu Huaijun. "What's mine is mine. If you take my things, then you're the one in the wrong."

Chu Huaijun let out a cold laugh. "Huaiyuan, is this really an appropriate way to speak to me?"

Miss Chu chuckled. "Then how do you think I should speak?"

Chu Huaijun lit a cigarette. "Fine, I took something of yours. What are you going to do about it?"

Miss Chu said nothing.

Yuan Xionghui tugged lightly at Chu Huaijun from the side.

There were originally several support hooks standing guard outside the door, but they still had yet to make a single move.

1. Slang: “a cup of tea” ☜