Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'-Chapter 575 - 399: Battle of Thieves (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2
But what could it matter if one didn’t understand? Now, the Head of the family of the Three Heroes Gang is Shen Jinzhong.
「...」
Li Qi and Shen Jinzhong were talking in the memorial hall when Xie Juncong, the Head of the family of the Ghost Hand Sect, came in to offer incense.
"You must be Seventh Master, right?" Xie Juncong stepped forward to greet him.
Li Banfeng was somewhat surprised; not many people paid attention to him so quickly.
Shen Jinzhong stepped forward to introduce him. "This is the Head of the family of the Ghost Hand Sect, Sect Leader Xie Juncong."
On hearing Ghost Hand Sect, Li Banfeng really wanted to press this kind-looking old man to the ground and give him a good beating.
But the timing and setting were all wrong, so Li Banfeng held back for the time being. Xie Juncong sighed. "Before Old Bao left, he said he had acknowledged you as a friend.
"He was a true man, and I admire him for that. From now on, I too shall acknowledge you as a friend!"
"Elder Xie, you are of high virtue and respect. I have long admired your name..." Li Banfeng was quite moved and, from the bottom of his heart, made up a few flattering lies to deal with Xie Juncong.
White Crane Gang Leader Bai Wuchuan entered the memorial hall. Although he hadn’t noticed Li Banfeng at first, when he saw Xie Juncong and Li Banfeng talking, he also came forward to exchange a few words.
"Seventh Master, the White Crane Gang hasn’t had much to do with you before, but a friend of Old Bao’s is also a friend of mine, Bai Wuchuan."
Li Banfeng returned the gesture with a cupped fist salute. After Bai Wuchuan left, Li Banfeng asked, "What’s the origin of the White Crane Gang?"
Shen Jinzhong replied, "In Puluo State, the White Crane Gang is also a Great Clan Gate. Their gang is made up of Body Cultivators, including factions of Transformed Body Cultivators and Reincarnated Body Cultivators within."
Li Banfeng didn’t know much about Body Cultivation and asked, "What are Transformed Body Cultivators and Reincarnated Body Cultivators?"
"To put it simply, Transformed Body Cultivators are humans transformed into beasts, and Reincarnated Body Cultivators are beasts transformed into humans.
"Bai Wuchuan is a Transformed Body Cultivator. He took the Gang Leader’s position just last year. Technically, it wasn’t his turn to assume the leadership.
"He had an elder martial brother who was a Reincarnated Body Cultivator, a Crane that had taken human form. It’s said that after twenty years of closed-door cultivation, he had made great achievements.
"A year ago, this elder martial brother finished his seclusion, prepared to take over as Gang Leader, but unexpectedly, he went missing in Medicine King Valley."
A Crane had gone missing in the vicinity of Medicine King Valley.
Li Banfeng felt like he had seen this person.
That person seemed to have crashed into the Border Line and vanished in a puff of smoke!
To be a Gang Leader, that person’s cultivation level must be extraordinary.
It seems that from now on, one should avoid going into closed-door cultivation for too long; staying in seclusion too long might lead one to some crazy actions.
While he was pondering, Li Haoyun, the Head of the family of Lotus Study, entered the memorial hall. Having just seen Bai Wuchuan speaking with Li Qi, he too came over to say hello.
"Seventh Master, we are of the same clan; please look after us in the future!"
After exchanging pleasantries, Li Haoyun left. Li Banfeng then asked, "What kind of business is Lotus Study in?"
"Book Residence business," Shen Jinzhong raised his eyebrows. "Thirty percent of Greenwater City’s Book Residences are owned by Lotus Study, and they have quite a bit of business in Pants Belt Pit as well."
Lotus Study, Li Haoyun. Li Banfeng felt an inexplicable connection to this man.
As more guests arrived, a Servant approached Shen Jinzhong and handed him a rosewood box.
Shen Jinzhong sent the Servant away and handed the rosewood box to Li Banfeng. "Seventh Master, here is the item you requested."
Li Banfeng took the box and opened it to see a pair of Judge’s Pens inside.
Was this the great item that Chu Huaijun gave to Bao Yingchen?
Li Banfeng picked up a Judge’s Pen and felt it for a moment.
Indeed, they were well-crafted Weapons, made from fine materials.
But after listening intently for a moment, Li Banfeng couldn’t hear any sound.
He possessed the Insightful Spirit Sound Technique. If he couldn’t hear anything, it proved that these Judge’s Pens had no Spirit Attribute.
"Just a pair of Weapons, and Bao Yingchen risked his life for them?" Li Banfeng was skeptical.
Seeing Li Banfeng’s expression was amiss, Shen Jinzhong hurriedly explained, "Seventh Master, let’s be clear. I handed them over to you as soon as we found them; I’ve never touched them."
Li Banfeng glanced around the courtyard and saw Xie Juncong, the Head of the family of the Ghost Hand Sect, heading towards the door.
"What’s the relationship between the Three Heroes Gang and the Ghost Hand Sect?"
Shen Jinzhong sighed. "Well, with a sect like that, how should I put it?
"Offending them leads to trouble easily. Getting close to them brings even bigger trouble. We just muddle along, trying not to become openly hostile. That’s about it."
Li Banfeng took a few steps to reach behind Xie Juncong and asked, "Elder Xie, are you going back? Shall I escort you part of the way?"
Xie Juncong shook his head and replied, "I’m not leaving tonight; I must take Old Bao on his last journey."
He said he wasn’t leaving. Could it be that the item wasn’t stolen by him?
Li Banfeng didn’t ask any further and turned to leave.
After Li Banfeng had walked away, Xie Juncong took out a pair of white thread Gloves from his sleeve.
He had taken these Gloves from Li Banfeng. Although he did not know their use, as a Thief Cultivator with the ability to recognize treasures, he knew they were an extremely valuable Magical Treasure.
Xie Juncong sighed to himself. "Young man, you are somewhat clever to suspect me. However, daring to test me so casually, you still lack experience."
Xie Juncong checked the time, waited until after two in the morning, and took the opportunity when everyone was weary to leave the Golden Seal Hall.
A Thief Cultivator strikes when the time is right.
What kind of moment is most suitable?
The Three Heroes Gang’s Golden Seal Hall is heavily guarded. Under normal circumstances, even Xie Juncong wouldn’t dare claim he could infiltrate with absolute certainty.
Today, Shen Jinzhong invited him for instant-boiled mutton, allowing him to walk brazenly into the hall. Such moments are most suitable.
As for Shen Jinzhong possibly seeking retribution afterwards, it was hard to say. But Xie Juncong knew how to prioritize; the task given by He Jiaqing was more important to him.
There’s a saying: ’To catch a thief, you must catch the stolen goods.’ Without evidence, even if Shen Jinzhong came after him, Xie Juncong wouldn’t admit to anything.
Moreover, Shen Jinzhong had just become the Great Gold Seal and his position was still unstable. Xie Juncong wasn’t afraid of him completely breaking off relations.
When he returned to the old residence next to the Back Pond City God Temple, Xie Juncong took out a pair of Judge’s Pens, ready to contact Wan Jinxian and hand over the treasure to He Jiaqing, when he suddenly felt this pair of Judge’s Pens seemed very familiar.
It wasn’t just familiarity; these were the Judge’s Pens he had commissioned, the ones used to swap with the pair in the Golden Seal Hall!
How had they been switched back?
Where were the real ones?
Xie Juncong was stunned for a moment. Feeling his inner pocket, he found that the Gloves taken from Li Banfeng were also missing.
「...」
Inside the Portable Residence, the Gloves spat out the Judge’s Pens and sneered, "What a foolish old man, daring to take anything! He’s lived to such an age yet acts so recklessly.
"Head of the family, take a look. What do you think of their quality?"
Li Banfeng smiled. "You’ve got the eye for it; whatever you pick can’t be wrong."
He took the pair of Judge’s Pens, went over to his own Judge’s Pen, and called out softly, "Ah Bi, your two brothers have come to see you. Since you three look alike, I won’t bother giving them individual names.
"From now on, this one will be Second Pen, and the other will be Third Pen. You’re still Cheap Pen. What do you think?"
The Judge’s Pen was sleeping and ignored Li Banfeng.
The Judge’s Pen designated as ’Second Pen’ proactively switched places with ’Third Pen.’ It clearly didn’t want the ’Second Pen’ title.
After waiting for some time, the two new pens didn’t seem to have any particular reaction to the original Judge’s Pen.
Li Banfeng frowned and asked, "What’s the reason behind this?"
HUM~
The Portable Residence suddenly spoke up. "Ah Qi, bring those items to the Third Room. Let this old one take a closer look for you."
Li Banfeng, with the Judge’s Pens in hand, went to the Third Room.
The Portable Residence spoke in a stern voice, "Ah Qi, put the pens down first! Let this old one study them carefully!"
"Put them down..." The Gloves seemed nervous.
"Ah Tao, no more talking!" The Portable Residence’s tone became even more stern.
Li Banfeng placed the pair of Judge’s Pens on the ground.
"Excellent stuff! BWA HA HA HA!" The Portable Residence laughed heartily. The pair of Judge’s Pens instantly melted, seeped into the ground, and disappeared from sight.
Li Banfeng was stunned for a long moment and then angrily said, "Old thief, what’s this blatant robbery?"
*PS: What does the Portable Residence want with this?*
