"Haiqin, how did you hear about this?"

He Haiqin's expression remained stoic as he answered, "From the Lu Family."

He Yuxiu waved his hand and said, "Do you think information that you get from the Lu Family is trustworthy? They are obviously trying to drive a wedge between us and He Jiaqing!"

He Jiaqing glanced over at He Yuxiu and said, "The Lu Family wouldn't make things up. A thorough investigation is absolutely needed."

He Yuxiu rubbed her chin, lost in thought for a long while before saying, "Have our Third Brother head to Yuezhou first and take a look. I have watched Jiaqing grow up. He's an honest child. There's no way he would lie to you."

He Haiqin sprang to his feet suddenly. "No need for Third Brother! I have already had someone buy the ticket for me. I will go to the Outer Provinces myself and see with my own eyes whether the fellow lying in that hospital bed is him or not!"

"Haiqin, you can't act recklessly. You are the head of the He Family. If you march off to the Outer Provinces, you will stir up a tremendous fuss!"

By the very next day, He Haiqin had already climbed aboard a train bound straight for the Outer Provinces

He Yuxiu could not stop He Haiqin at all and He Haiqin really did cause a huge stir.

***

Properfolk Village was in a complete and utter frenzy. Everyone was rushing about as if the place had suddenly been poked with a very large stick. The third installment of The Legendary Bloodspear Detective was nearly finished, and Ma Wu had taken the entire film crew dashing from one location to another, hunting for the perfect spots and squeezing in the last few crucial scenes.

Meanwhile, Li Banfeng had already set off for Greenwater City, busying himself with the far less glamorous but terribly important business of promotion and selling tickets.

Across the region, cinema owners waited with shining eyes, practically craning their necks in anticipation. Li Banfeng didn't even have to lift a finger to call anyone over. Reporters from every major newspaper came knocking on their own.

He couldn't show his face, so he left everything to his subordinates. Still, the buzz was impossible to miss. A glance through the papers was enough to tell how hot things had gotten. News about The Legendary Bloodspear Detective filled more than half the front pages.

Aside from the The Legendary Bloodspear Detective, there was another important news: The eldest son of the He Family is suspected to be in Puluo Province.

This piece of news didn't appear in every newspaper. The Ling Family's paper didn't mention it at all, while the Lu Family splashed it across the page in enormous print.

Li Banfeng read the article carefully. Its main point was simple enough: He Jiaqing had impersonated the famous movie star Zhou Changhong and had been recognized by an acquaintance in Greenwater City.

Who is that acquaintance?

Li Banfeng set that question aside for the moment. He lowered the newspaper, and a chill ran down his spine.

Back then, when he boarded the train to Kinless Township, his purpose had been to follow Zhou Changhong and force him to reveal who in the Ling Family was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

And now, it was clear that the Zhou Changhong that time was really He Jiaqing.

What would have happened to me if I really got off at Kinless Township? What would be the consequence?

Zhou Changhong seemed to have used the ability of Folly Cultivation and caused me to be trapped between conflicting choices for nearly the entire train ride.

Including me, there are two inheritors of Folly Cultivation. Is He Jiaqing the other one?

He tried to lure me into getting off at Kinless Township. Was that where he planned to make his move?

He wants to get the Crimson Lotus back? Will he kill me if I refuse?

Even if I gave it back to him, will he let me go?

I was really a hair's breadth from death. Truly, right on the edge of life and death.

Thankfully, I managed to break free from the ability's control with the Judge's Brush and got off at Vilefolk Hillock.

Li Banfeng drank a cup of liquor and calmed himself down before he continued reading the news.

There was plenty of news about He Jiaqing. He had only come back for a short while, so how had he managed to cause such a stir?

As Li Banfeng read through the rest of the reports, he began to notice something off.

On the Lu Family's newspaper, all the commentary is saying the same thing. He Jiaqing getting injured by Lu Xiaolan...was just a setup. The Lu Family was framed.

To outsiders, it probably looks like they have finally cleared their name. However, if you actually know what's going on, that part doesn't matter at all. The only thing that matters is this... the Arcane Crimson Lotus has nothing to do with the Lu Family anymore.

All signs made it seem like the Crimson Lotus was still with He Jiaqing and Lu Xiaolan was a scapegoat. Who would suspect that it's actually in my hands?

As the He Family's eldest young master, he draws way too much attention. That might have been one of the reasons why he could not bring the Crimson Lotus back to Puluo Province himself.

But is there any other reason? Maybe but I can't tell at this moment.

There's one more important piece of news. He Haiqin has gone to the Outer Provinces.

Jiaqing, your old man's gone to see you. You better treat him well... after all, your father can be counted as a good brother of yours.

Li Banfeng set the newspaper aside and casually picked up the oil jug.

The Gramophone wifey shuddered. "Heyaaaaa! Husband dear~ What's the occasion? Why are you oiling me all of a sudden?"

Li Banfeng grinned like a simple, honest man. "Today's a good day. A very good day!"

"Heyaaaaaaaaaayaayaaaaaaaa! Husband dear~ Please let this little wifey prepare for a bit! Husband dear~ Don't rush to oil me up! I am not rea.."

Her voice turned hoarse as bursts of steam began hissing out in rapid succession.

Hong Ying jolted awake and shouted, "What's going on? Has the enemy broken in?"

The phonograph clenched its teeth. "He's... he's broken in!"

***

Inside the Lu Family estate, Lu Yuanhai cursed loudly, "That bastard He Jiaqing! He set us up and turned our whole family upside down! I will publish a few more articles. Let's see how the He Family plans to keep a foothold in Puluo Province after this!"

Lu Yuanshan remained silent.

Monkey Qiu asked, "This news... was it really the granduncle who leaked this news?"

Lu Yuanhai snorted. "How could this be fake news? His steward told me himself. The old man identified He Jiaqing with his own eyes!"

Monkey Qiu lit a cigarette, his expression turning serious. "Why would granduncle let the whole world know about this?"

Lu Yuanhai said in surprise, "Uncle Qiu, are you suspecting that this is fake news?"

Qiu Zhiheng shook his head and remained quiet.

Lu Yuanhai said, "No matter what, granduncle shouldn't have leaked the news.

"Because of the Arcane Crimson Lotus, the He Family has always been going against us. They have been suspecting that it's with Xiaolan... or even in our hands.

"That situation worked in granduncle's favor. With the He Family keeping us in check, he then had the chance to mess things up behind our backs.

"Now that news of He Jiaqing is leaked, everyone knows we are innocent. Granduncle will have no chance of turning things around."

Lu Yuanhai's eyes widened in realization. "If that's the case, then Granduncle must have had another motive for leaking the news."

Lu Yuanshan turned to Monkey Qiu.

Monkey Qiu fell silent for a long moment. Even he couldn't figure out what Lu Maoxian was really planning.

***

Lu Maoxian had no desire to reveal the matter himself, but he had no choice. This was the Sage's command.

The white-clothed youth said, "Senior Brother, teacher has made it very clear. He Jiaqing is extremely dangerous. He must not be allowed to gain a foothold in Puluo Province. The more people who know about him, the better. We can't let him keep stirring up trouble in the shadows."

Lu Maoxian nodded. "I will obey our teacher's instructions."

***

At Yuezhou Third Hospital, Zhou Changhong lay flat on the hospital bed. Sensing someone at his bedside, he snapped his eyes open.

He thought Xiao Zhenggong had come. Instead, it was He Jiaqing.

Zhou Changhong let out a long breath of relief, but his nerves tightened again just as quickly.

He had already told Xiao Zhenggong everything. Did He Jiaqing know about it?

Lowering his voice, He Jiaqing said, "Brother, you have had a hard time these past few days. Here is your travel permit and ticket back to Puluo. Once you are there, go hide at Miaoying's place for a few months. Don't show up these few days. When things are calm, I will have Miaoying arrange a house for you to settle down."

Zhou Changhong waved his hands repeatedly. "We are brothers. There's no need to say things like that."

Someone was standing behind He Jiaqing. Zhou changhong recognized him. He was Zhu Junlong, the manager of Tea Ridge Hotel.

"changhong, stay at Junlong's for tonight. He will send you to the train station tomorrow."

He Jiaqing had prepared a set of ordinary clothes for Zhou Changhong.

Zhou Changhong changed immediately, then followed Zhu Junlong out of the hospital.

They had only just left when Blockhead walked into the ward.

"Are you really just letting him go?" Blockhead was referring to Zhou Changhong.

He Jiaqing let out a bitter laugh. "He's a bro. If he's wronged me, I will bear the consequences myself. But I should never be the one to wrong a brother."

***

Zhou Changhong followed Zhu Junlong to the hotel, where he was settled into a suite.

After having impersonated He Jiaqing for a very long time, Zhou Changhong was absolutely exhausted.

Zhu Junlong had intended to give a few more instructions, but Zhou Changhong only yawned, slipped under the covers, and fell into a deep sleep.

At two in the morning, Zhou Changhong's eyes snapped open.

He seemed to be in a daze and appeared to be going to the bathroom. As he moved, he was really paying close attention to the position of every surveillance camera in the suite.

There was one in the bedroom, one in the living room, and one by the door.

With his cultivation, it wouldn't be hard to avoid these three surveillance cameras. However, a little preparation was needed.

There are no cameras in the bathroom, Zhou Changhong thought. This is a suitable place to prepare for this.

Zhou Changhong took out a disposable rinsing cup and filled it with water. Then he used a disposable razor to cut his finger and squeezed his blood into the cup.

The blood spread evenly through the water. He drank half of it and left the rest in the bathroom. Then he returned to bed and went back to sleep.

Ten minutes later, the remaining blood water evaporated rapidly, turning into a thin mist that filled the entire suite.

An illusion settled over the room. From the outside, nothing had changed. Zhou Changhong was still sleeping in bed.

In reality, he had already left the room. His clothes and appearance had changed completely. The tall, handsome middle-aged man had become a petite young woman.

He took the elevator to the first floor. The staff on duty in the hotel lobby were dozing off.

Zhou Changhong calmly walked out of the hotel, casually picked up a flyer from the ground, and hailed a taxi.

Once he got in, he told the driver to take him to Eagle Mountain Apartments.

He had no money and no phone. When he got out, he handed the flyer to the driver.

In the driver's eyes, what he received was a hundred-yuan bill.

These days, hardly anyone paid in cash. The driver was still trying to figure out how to give Zhou Changhong his change when Zhou Changhong said, "Keep the change."

The driver thanked him repeatedly and drove off.

Zhou Changhong entered the apartment building, went to Room 208, and keyed in the passcode to unlock the door.

This was the escape route he had prepared for himself.

Xiao Zhenggong had warned him that once He Jiaqing returned, he had to notify him immediately. Otherwise, He Jiaqing would kill him to silence him.

Would Zhou Changhong trust He Jiaqing or Xiao Zhenggong? He trusted no one but himself now.

He had the travel permit. He had the ticket. He also had a brand-new identity, one even He Jiaqing knew nothing about.

Once he returned to Puluo Province, he planned to disappear for good. The savings he had accumulated over the first half of his life were more than enough to keep him living in luxury.

He had bought this apartment himself. It had everything he needed, though he had barely stayed here before.

The bed was coated in dust. Zhou Changhong slapped it a few times, only to find that each hit stirred up even more.

Strange. Where is all this dust coming from? It doesn't seem to be coming from the bed? It's coming from my hands.

Zhou Changhong looked down at his palm and found that fine cracks had split across his right hand. From those cracks, dust began to pour out.

His face twisted in horror. His legs gave out, and he crashed to the floor.

The fall made him realize that his legs had split open too. There was no blood in the wounds, only endless dust.

He tried to scream. The moment he opened his mouth, a cloud of dust burst out instead, choking off the sound before it could form.

Half an hour later, nothing remained in the apartment but a layer of dust.

***

At Yuezhou Third Hospital, Old Wan checked the time in the ward and said to He Jiaqing, "He should be falling ill around now."

He Jiaqing replied, "The body should be cleaned up properly, right?"

"Don't worry. You won't find anything left of him." Wan Jinxian said as he looked at the vase beside the hospital bed.

After a moment, he added, almost thoughtfully, "Still... I'd like to see what that fellow disciple of mine actually looks like."

Author's Note:

PS: He Jiaqing was the one who gave Zhou Changhong his clothes.