The Overlord of Puluo

At Chu Huaijun's secondary residence, Ma Wu sat smoking in the courtyard with Qin and Miss Severed-No-Grudge beside him.

Several support hooks had once been stationed there, but after their bloody clash with the Three Heroes Sect, every one of them had been left wounded. Clearing them out had not taken much effort, especially since Miss Chu had brought along some help of her own.

Her helper was a woman who looked to be in her thirties. Qin, however, could tell that her cultivation level was very high and guessed she was probably over fifty.

The woman herself was of little concern. What bothered Qin was discovering that Ma Wu had another woman in his heart.

Qin's voice was even trembling slightly when she scolded, "The expression you have when you look at her is different!

Ma Wu froze. "You mean Miss Chu? How can I possibly have feelings for her? She and I are enemies!"

Qin gave a cold snort. "Who said I was talking about Miss Chu?"

Immediately, Qin turned and looked resentfully at Miss Severed-No-Grudge.

Ma Wu's face reddened. "W-Well... how should I put this..."

Miss Severed-No-Grudge showed no particular expression. The head on her neck was not her own. It had been created through Shui Yongquan's ability Hundred Transformations with Hundred Streams, and it was not capable of making much of an expression in the first place.

Soon, Miss Chu came out of the house.

She had washed away her eyeshadow and rouge and replaced them with only the lightest touch of makeup. She stood before everyone in a dark blue qipao.

Ma Wu studied her for a while and almost didn't recognize her.

Miss Chu bowed to Ma Wu. "Young Master Ma, thanks for going through all that trouble today."

Ma Wu waved his hand. "No need to be courteous. How did it go? Did your talk with your brother go smoothly?"

Miss Chu nodded. "Quite smoothly. My brother has never been very good at thinking things through, and he has caused all of you a great deal of trouble. I explained everything properly to him. The Paramount Club will continue to be run by the Lu Family and me. We will not sell it to the Border Control Office. My eldest brother no longer wants anything to do with the Chu Family's businesses either, so he has handed them all over to me."

Ma Wu looked at her in surprise. "Miss Chu, is that really true? Should I go inside and have another word with Huaijun?"

Miss Chu shook her head and said, "No need. My brother is tired. He just went to rest."

"Then we will not disturb him," Ma Wu said. He glanced at the woman behind Miss Chu. She stood quietly at her side with a bundle on her back and had not uttered a single word.

He made a point of asking, "And how should I address this lady?"

Miss Chu introduced her. "This is my senior martial sister, Xiang Fenglan."

Ma Wu hurriedly bowed, and Xiang Fenglan returned the courtesy. Their eyes met and lingered on each other for a moment longer.

Miss Chu gave Xiang Fenglan a small tug, then thanked Ma Wu once more. "Young Master Ma, my senior sister and I have only just returned to Greenwater City. It has been a long and tiring journey, and we would like to go home and wash off the dust of the road, so please excuse us for leaving you tonight.

“If you see Brother Li Qi, please tell him that I will visit him another day and apologize in person for the great deal of trouble my eldest brother had caused him."

Ma Wu promptly left. Miss Chu didn't stay in this secondary residence, but went back to her own place with Xiang Fenglan.

On the way back, Xiang Fenglan kept looking over her shoulder, hoping to catch another glimpse of Ma Wu.

Miss Chu flexed her thumb and forefinger, then reached over and gave Xiang Fenglan's butt such a vicious twist that she nearly turned it into a fried dough twist.

"What was that for? That hurt!" Xiang Fenglan rubbed the sore spot.

Miss Chu gave her a stern look. "Senior Sister, you are not allowed to see Ma Wu again. If you have no choice but to run into him, you must not speak to him again."

Xiang Fenglan frowned. "Why? Is he your lover?"

Miss Chu shook her head. "He and I are enemies. He still holds a grudge against me, and I cannot blame him. He is very good at dealing with women, and I am afraid you will suffer if you get involved with him. That is why I want you to stay away."

Xiang Fenglan didn't believe a word she said as she responded, "HE'S YOUR LOVER!"

Miss Chu gave a scornful laugh and did not bother explaining further. "Granny Bitter told me to keep an eye on you. Just do as I say."

***

At Freewind Wharf, Li Qi held a victory banquet, mainly to thank the helpers who had come from the New Land.

On the way back to Freewind Wharf, Ma Wu could not help feeling puzzled. He could not make sense of Miss Chu's words or behavior.

Miss Chu had been kind and courteous to everyone. Was this really the same Miss Chu? They had not seen each other for only a year, yet she had changed so much.

***

At Freewind Wharf, Li Qi held a victory banquet, mainly to thank the helpers who had come from the New Land.

He Yuxiu had once mentioned that the Three Heroes Sect served excellent mutton, so Li Qi had specially sent someone to buy sheep from Hundred Herds Plain. He had six slaughtered first and served them in a hotpot while the meat was fresh. The mutton was indeed delicious, especially when cooked together with the cabbage.

Ma Wu placed a piece of mutton in Miss Severed-No-Grudge's bowl. "Here! This piece is good. Be careful, it is hot."

Miss Severed-No-Grudge dipped the mutton in the sauce and ate it, then primly dabbed her belly button with a napkin.

Li Banfeng never interfered in Ma Wu's private affairs. However, when they stepped outside to relieve themselves during the banquet, he couldn't help but ask, "What exactly do you like about Miss Severed-No-Grudge?"

Ma Wu thought for a moment, then answered from the bottom of his heart. "I like her eyes. They are such big eyes, and I especially like the look in them. Her gaze carries this deep sincerity, along with this stubborn kind of resolve!'

Li Qi asked, "Stubborn kind of resolve?"

Ma Wu answered, "Very!"

“Does she have that deep, faraway look in her eyes?”

“Not at all. They are more close-up than faraway.”

"Do you usually wear glasses?"

"No. My eyesight is excellent."

Li Banfeng tried very hard to understand Ma Wu. By the time he had finished relieving himself, he still couldn't understand at all.

Back at the table, Ma Wu went right back to being lovey-dovey with Miss Severed-No-Grudge, while Trusty-Doubty kept Li Banfeng busy with their chatter.

Everyone at the banquet was one of their own, so the twins had no need to conceal themselves with the Hundred Transformations with Hundred Streams ability. They openly displayed both heads without the slightest concern.

Trusty and Li Banfeng hit it off particularly well. "Master Qi, Great Master Qiu often speaks of you. He told me you were a fine man found only once in ten thousand, but at first, I did not believe him. Now that I have met you, I realize he did not praise you nearly enough. Forget one in ten thousand. You could search among tens of millions and still not find another man like you. Master Qi, allow me to cheers to you. I will drink it all, but you need only take a sip."

Li Banfeng liked Trusty's hearty, straightforward manner. He raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.

Doubty sighed beside them. "Will this one-in-ten-thousand man become our lover? If he cannot remain by our side forever, he will only add to our sorrow."

Li Banfeng had no idea how to respond to that.

Trusty frowned. "Master Qi, pay no attention to her. She was not speaking to you. She was talking to herself. When I was still alive, I could not stand sentimental people like her. Who would have thought that after I died and came to the New Land, I would end up having the same body as her?"

Doubty sighed again. "Is it the workings of fate or some fortunate coincidence that placed us in the same body? In fact, neither of us can explain it clearly."

Trusty, feeling thoroughly fed up, cut her off. "If you cannot explain it, then stop talking about it. Master Qi, let us have another drink!"

The two drank another cup while Doubty sighed and said, "Alcohol cannot take your sorrows and bitterness away. All it does is add to my pain and suffering."

Trusty was mad. "Why the heck would you be in pain and suffering when I am the one drinking?"

Doubty sighed again. "When you get drunk, wouldn't I throw up too?"

Li Banfeng looked at her. "Miss, why do you keep sighing?"

Trusty found her constant sighing irritating as well. "Master Qi, pay no attention to her. She has hysteria. In the Outer Provinces, people like her are labeled as mentally ill!"

Li Banfeng rather liked Trusty's straightforward nature. Having someone like her as a close friend would not be bad at all.

Doubty, however, was far more difficult to deal with. Li Banfeng had always been wary of mentally unstable people who muttered to themselves. There was no telling what someone like her might do.

Everyone ate and drank to their hearts' content. Mr. Hundredhands handled twenty bowls, twenty spoons, and twenty pots at once, serving soup, adding meat, and mixing dipping sauces for everyone at the table.

Li Banfeng dipped a piece of meat into the sauce and nodded in approval. "You are quite good at this. Did someone teach you?"

Mr. Hundredhands smiled. "I worked as a cook when I was young. After I came to the New Land, I kept experimenting and improving my skills. One of these days, I will make a few proper dishes for everyone to try."

Mr. Hundredhands was a hearty and generous fellow. If Li Banfeng brought him back to his own territory, he would probably get along splendidly with the Cook Monster there.

Li Banfeng was deeply impressed by all six helpers from the New Land and really wanted them to stay at Freewind Wharf permanently. Even if they eventually had to go back to Qiu Luoye, he still wanted to negotiate with Qiu Luoye about handing them over to him. He really wanted to take them back to his own territory.

As long as Li Banfeng found enough people to continue activating the land, Qiu Luoye would probably agree. The real problem was how he would explain everything. Why did he have a territory of his own, and when had he become a land deity? He would surely be able to find a way to explain it. He would just need to think about it later on.

For now, Li Banfeng had Ma Wu gather a group of men and send another crew to Properfolk Village to activate the land.

Everyone was eating heartily except Madam Gobble-the-World. The Gourmandism Cultivator had barely touched her chopsticks.

Li Banfeng noticed. "What's wrong? Is the mutton not to your liking?"

The young woman was too shy to answer. Mr. Hundredhands knew her well and smiled. "You all go ahead. She'll eat later."

Li Banfeng could not understand what he meant. "There aren't so many rules at my table. Eat with us and have your fill!"

Madam Gobble-the-World glanced at Mr. Hundredhands, and Mr. Hundredhands explained, "Master Qi, if you really let her eat her fill, this little bit of mutton won't be nearly enough."

Ma Wu laughed. "Who says it won't be enough? I had six sheep slaughtered. Let her eat as much as she likes!"

Madam Gobble-the-World licked her lips. She could hold back no longer. Picking up an entire pot, she tipped everything straight into her mouth.

Gulp!

She wiped her mouth and gave everyone a bashful smile.

Li Banfeng asked, "Little sis, was it good?"

Madam Gobble-the-World lowered her head. Her cheeks turned red as she said, "I ate it too quickly. I didn't taste anything."

Ma Wu hurried off to find the cook and told him to prepare and cook a few more sheep. As soon as the victory feast ended, he had the newspaper publish a notice recruiting workers for land activation.

***

At the Border Control Office, Secretary Ling Sujun was giving Commissioner Liao Zihui his report. When the conversation became about Sun Junfu, Ling Sujun said, "He has calmed down a little, but he keeps insisting on returning to the Outer Provinces. I submitted the report as you instructed, but there has been no reply yet."

Liao Zihui considered this for a moment. "Let him go. When the time comes, I will explain the situation on his behalf. Help him pack his things. Does he still need the diapers?"

"Probably not. He seems to be a bit against wearing them."

"Pack them anyway. Better to have them in case he needs them."

Once the luggage was packed, Liao Zihui prepared to see Sun Junfu off at the train station himself. They had just reached the ground floor of the Border Control Office when one of the bodyguards approached with a wooden box in his hands.

The bodyguard reported, "We found this box in the car while we were getting it ready."

Liao Zihui ordered someone to take it to the disposal room. He planned to deal with it after returning from the station.

Sun Junfu, however, immediately suspected that Liao Zihui had something to hide and insisted that the box be opened at once. If he uncovered some fault of Liao Zihui's, he would at least have something worthwhile to report when he returned to the Outer Provinces. Perhaps then the business of soiling his trousers would seem a little less pathetic.

Liao Zihui had no choice but to go with him to the disposal room. Under Sun Junfu's watch, a Poison Cultivator and an Artificer Cultivator checked the box for poison and traps. Once they were sure it was safe, they opened it according to procedure.

There was only one thing inside. Chu Huaijun's severed head. It had been cleaned and prepared with great care.

Liao Zihui's expression turned grim. Things had gone far worse than he had expected. He was still wondering what to do next when a strange noise came from behind him.

Pffllrrrt...

Liao Zihui frowned. "Old Sun, did you just shit your pants again?"

"Uh... uhh..." Sun Junfu stared at the severed head and couldn't say a word again.

Liao Zihui turned to Secretary Ling Sujun. "Where are the diapers?"

Ling Sujun looked thoroughly embarrassed. "I... I did not bring them."

"Did I not tell you to have them ready? Go and get them. Now!"