Chapter 225: Iron Gate Fort or Blood Gate Fort

After lunch, Luo Zhengnan dragged a chair onto the terrace and sat down in the sun, soaking in the warmth like he had nowhere else to be.

He was listening to a broadcast.

Strange thing, really. Puluo Province did have broadcasts. Just not the kind everyone could hear. Only certain people picked them up, and even then, you never knew what would come through.

Luo Zhengnan was one of those people. He had been listening for years.

Today's program was a good one. The host had a soft, sweet voice, the kind that made Luo Zhengnan feel very relaxing.

"Those who kill often should already know this. Poison is a quiet method. Hard to detect beforehand, but tend to leave a trace afterward. That makes cleanup troublesome.

"So today, there is a recommendation. A special kind of poison. Mix it into water, and within two hours, it will evaporate completely. No residue. No trace.

"For example, if someone wishes to send off a superior, just add one or two drops into his cup. Do not add too much. It will affect the taste.

"After he drinks it, death will come within an hour. During the next hour, all that is needed is a bit of cover. Make sure no Poison Cultivators or anyone with detection abilities gets close. Not to him, and not to the cup.

"Once the poison has evaporated, there will be nothing left to find. Not even the cause of death.

"Some listeners may wonder about its effectiveness. If the poison evaporates within two hours, will its potency be affected? On this point, we can assure you with full responsibility..."

Luo Zhengnan found the poison quite useful and listened with growing interest.

Just then, a sharp ringing sound cut through the broadcast, snapping his attention away.

Ring, ring~~

At the exact moment the ringing started, something rather odd happened.

Luo Zhengnan's head began to wobble. It swung from side to side like a loose lantern in a strong wind, fast and frantic, as if someone had grabbed hold of it and forgotten to tighten the screws.

After several failed attempts, Xiao Zhenggong finally got through. He had to rely on another Spycraft Cultivator in the gang to make the call.

Deep down, Xiao Zhenggong very much wanted to beat Luo Zhengnan up, thrash him senseless, dig a hole, and bury him in it. Possibly headfirst.

However, when he spoke, his voice was very friendly. "Old Luo, how come no one's been able to find you lately?"

On the other end, Luo Zhengnan sounded as if his nerves had been tied into knots. "Boss Xiao, you were looking for me? I had no idea, truly! Something's been wrong in Medicine King Gully these days. The signal's been terrible. Absolutely terrible!"

"Don't worry," Xiao Zhenggong said pleasantly. "No one's blaming anyone. Didn't the two of us discuss that matter earlier?"

"Which matter?" Luo Zhengnan asked at once, pretending to not understand at all.

"The one mentioned a few days ago," Xiao Zhenggong replied.

He could not be too clear about it. The call was being passed along through several Spycraft Cultivators, and he couldn't let these Spycraft Cultivators know about it.

"I talked about quite a few things with you over the past few days. The way you put it, I can't recall which one you mean..." Luo Zhengnan was still playing dumb.

Xiao Zhenggong went quiet for a moment. Then, he said, "Why don't you give me a call back? It will be easier for me to talk about the details if you call me.

"Of course, of course," Luo Zhengnan agreed quickly. "Will call right away. Just not sure how the signal will be..."

"The signal will definitely be fine!" Xiao Zhenggong let out a short laugh. "How could the Deputy Gang Leader's signal be bad?"

Now that sounded much more like a proper human response.

Luo Zhengnan called back at once.

Xiao Zhenggong circled around the topic, explaining the situation at Yellowclay Bridge in a polite, indirect way. In the end, though, it came down to something very simple. The Yellowclay Bridge hall no longer existed.

Xiao Zhenggong ordered Han Jinwei, the former Hall Master of Yellowclay Bridge, to head straight to Medicine King Gully and hand over every seal and token to Luo Zhengnan. From that moment on, the Yellowclay Bridge hall would belong to him.

In other words, whether the matter succeeded or not, Luo Zhengnan would end up as the Hall Master of two halls. In addition, all the manpower from Blackstone Slope would also fall under his command.

If things went well, the rewards would grow even larger. Luo Zhengnan would be promoted on the spot to Deputy Gang Leader and take charge of all the gang's affairs in Puluo Province, acting directly on Xiao Zhenggong's behalf.

It was a generous offer. Almost too generous. Xiao Zhenggong had made sure there was no room for doubt. Every promise had been written down, neat and proper, sealed into formal contracts.

The next day, Han Jinwei rushed to Medicine King Gully and handed over the contracts and seals to Luo Zhengnan. Then he stood there and declared, with great seriousness, that he would follow Luo Zhengnan's orders from now on.

Luo Zhengnan told him to return to Yellowclay Bridge and recruit new members. As for the matter at Iron Gate Fort, there was no need for him to get involved.

This was not courtesy. Luo Zhengnan simply did not think much of him.

He sent a request to Xiao Zhenggong and selected ten people from the gang's various halls. These were not ordinary members, but true experts who knew how to get things done without needing to be told twice. One of them was even from the Second Branch of Medicine King Gully, which made the selection feel more deliberate.

Once the team was assembled, Luo Zhengnan led them out. He did not bother with speeches or drawn-out instructions. A brief signal was enough.

The ten understood immediately. They split up and moved along separate routes, each making their way toward Iron Gate Fort.

After arriving near Iron Gate Fort, they did nothing for the first three days. No probing, no movement, no trouble.

They stayed quietly in the nearby village, blending in with the residents. Day by day, they listened, watched, and copied. They learned the local accent, picked up the customs, and even adjusted the way they carried themselves.

This part of Puluo Province was not so different from Medicine King Gully. The customs were similar, and the way people spoke was close enough that most would not notice the difference.

However, Luo Zhengnan's standards were painfully strict. Every word, every gesture, every small habit had to match. If even the slightest hint of an outsider showed, it would not be tolerated.

After three days, the ten were ready to enter Iron Gate Fort, but Luo Zhengnan was still not satisfied.

He sent them to the market for another round of practice. Some played the role of buyers and others acted as sellers. Three days passed like this.

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Out of the ten, only three could pass without raising suspicion. The remaining seven still felt slightly off, and Luo Zhengnan decided they needed more training.

After another three days of practice, Luo Zhengnan decided to step in himself. He carried two baskets of vegetables on a shoulder pole and headed straight to Iron Gate Fort.

The vegetables he sold were spotless. No sand clung to them, no dirt hid in the folds, and not a single rotten leaf was mixed in.

An honest vendor like that was rare in Iron Gate Fort. The Homebound Cultivators quickly gathered around him, and before long, both baskets were completely sold out.

Luo Zhengnan was very satisfied with his performance, but the other vegetable sellers were not. They had come to Iron Gate Fort because money was easy to make here. But now someone like him had shown up, and it was no longer so easy for them to earn a living.

Several of the vendors stepped forward and blocked Luo Zhengnan's path and asked, "When did you get here? Who sent you? Did you ask the Fort Lord? Have you paid the stall fee?" they demanded.

Luo Zhengnan kept his head lowered, looking every bit like an honest farmer who had wandered into trouble. "Just selling vegetables grown at home. There's still rent to pay for that?"

"If you don't pay, why should anyone let you sell here?" one of them shot back. "We all paid. If you do business without paying, you are stealing our livelihood. We can't let it go like this."

They crowded in, shoving and jostling him as they spoke, each one trying to press him harder than the last.

The nearby Homebound Cultivators watched for a while. One by one, they stepped in and began arguing on Luo Zhengnan's behalf.

What started as a small scuffle quickly turned into something bigger. Before long, the matter was pushed all the way up to the Fort Lord.

Li Banfeng had been waiting for something like this. Those unscrupulous merchants had been a problem for quite some time, but there had never been a clean chance to deal with them. Now, the chance had arrived on its own.

Still, he had no interest in meeting a bunch of noisy outsiders. So he handed everything over to Wu Yongchao.

Wu Yongchao's solution was simple and direct. From now on, merchants in Iron Gate Fort would no longer pay rent. Instead, they would leave a deposit.

The rules were just as clear. If anyone was caught selling inferior goods, mixing in dirt, or raising prices as they pleased, the deposit would be taken on the spot. After that, they would be banned from entering Iron Gate Fort for good.

Some of the older merchants refused to accept it. They argued loudly and threatened to stop doing business altogether. Li Banfeng did not even bother to respond. Merchants followed profit. If these ones chose to leave, others would come soon enough.

By the next day, none of the merchants had left. No one was willing to give up such a profitable place.

Many new merchants arrived. Most of them were farmers from nearby villages. They had always wanted to sell their goods in Iron Gate Fort, but the rent had kept them out. Now that the rules had changed, they finally had their chance.

With real competition in place, things quickly improved. Rice sellers no longer dared to mix in sand. Vegetable sellers stopped slipping in rotten leaves. The selling price dropped, and those who came to buy items from the Homebound Cultivators even increased their buying price.

Life for the Homebound Cultivators became noticeably better. Li Banfeng walked along the streets, watching the steady flow of merchants coming and going. The sight pleased him. There were familiar faces in the crowd. There were strangers too.

And then there were a few who felt strangely familiar.

He slowed his steps and looked again.

That one, selling miscellaneous goods.

The more he looked, the more something felt off.

Li Banfeng frowned slightly.

How strange. How could there be an old acquaintance here?

The man looked to be around sixty, holding a water pipe in one hand. His hair and beard had already gone gray, and a gentle smile rested on his face.

It's Sun Xiao'an, the Heartkeeper from the Second Branch of the Jiangxiang Gang's Medicine King Hall! He's in the fort!

Li Banfeng's gaze sharpened at once, and something stirred in his chest.

Someone from the Jiangxiang Gang slipped inside.

This man can't be allowed to stay here

, Li Banfeng muttered inwardly.

The question is, did Sun Xiao'an come alone, or are there others already inside the fort with him?

Li Banfeng was just about to send word to the Homebound Cultivators in the boiler room, ready to have the gates shut and the intruders dealt with, when Wu Yongchao came over.

"Fort Lord," Wu Yongchao said, "two vegetable sellers are causing trouble. Want to take a look?"

Under normal circumstances, Li Banfeng would not bother with something so trivial. However, things were no longer normal. With people from the Jiangxiang Gang already inside the fort, even a small disturbance could not be ignored.

He followed Wu Yongchao to the scene.

Two women were fighting in the middle of the street. Their baskets had been knocked over, vegetables scattered everywhere. They shouted until their voices turned hoarse, clawing at each other's faces without holding back.

At first glance, there was nothing unusual. Just an ordinary quarrel, the kind that could happen anywhere. However, Li Banfeng noticed something off about another old farmer selling vegetables. Or rather, it did not feel like something Li Banfeng had discovered. It felt as if the man had deliberately revealed it.

That old vegetable seller was Luo Zhengnan. He looked over and smiled at Li Banfeng. If he had not revealed himself, Li Banfeng would have found it difficult to detect anything unusual about him.

Now that he had exposed himself, it was clear he wanted to speak with Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng lowered the brim of his hat, gave a slight nod, and led him away. They walked deep into the valley until they reached an empty house.

The place had once belonged to a Homebound Cultivator who had already moved away. Even the dwelling spirit had been taken along, leaving the house no different from any ordinary residence. On paper, Li Banfeng lived here, but he really spent his time in the Pocket Dwelling.

There were no servants inside, and no tea waiting to be poured. Once they sat down, there was no small talk. They went straight to the point.

Luo Zhengnan spoke first, without the slightest attempt to hide anything. "I am a Hall Master of the Jiangxiang Gang. My name is Luo Zhengnan."

Li Banfeng didn't hide his identity either. "I am the Fort Lord of Iron Gate Fort. My name is Fort Lord."

Luo Zhengnan nodded.

If it had been said anywhere else, it would have sounded absurd. But here in Iron Gate Fort, saying it like this wasn't strange at all.

Everyone in Iron Gate Fort knew they had only one Fort Lord, and his name was Fort Lord.

Luo Zhengnan spoke calmly. "Fort Lord, I've come to your esteemed domain for a certain item. Even without saying it, you should already know what it is."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "If it isn't said, then it really isn't known."

Luo Zhengnan made it clearer. "It looks like a weapon, but it's really a soul. That should be enough to understand."

Li Banfeng shook his head again. "I still don't understand."

Though Li Banfeng said he didn't understand, he already thought of something. Old He's dwelling spirit came to mind. A dwelling spirit could inhabit a physical object, and that was likely what Luo Zhengnan was referring to.

Luo Zhengnan let out a soft sigh. "Then it seems things need to be said more directly. The one I have come for is Zhao Xiaowan."

"Who is Zhao Xiaowan?" Li Banfeng asked, though his thoughts had already begun to churn.

So that dwelling spirit has a name.

Luo Zhengnan smiled. "The famous general Zhao Xiaowan. You don't know this person? If you still claim that you don't know her, then there is no point in us continuing this conversation."

"This item is important. It is not something that would be handed over easily, and no one would come empty-handed to ask for it. That is why I came here to buy it."

Li Banfeng raised a brow slightly. "How much can you offer?"

Luo Zhengnan got straight to the point and gave the real price right away.

"I won't play any games with you. I will give you a straight number, eight hundred thousand silver dollars. You can even buy the Paramount Club in Greenwater City with this money.This isn't hearsay. When Lu Dongjun sold it to the Chu Family, this was the price."

"Eight hundred thousand silver dollars..." Li Banfeng inhaled a deep breath. "That's more money than I can spend in several lifetimes."

Luo Zhengnan nodded. "I am just waiting for you to give me an affirmative answer. If you agree, the money can be delivered tomorrow."

Li Banfeng sat there in silence for a moment. Then he asked, "And if I don't want to sell? Will you take it by force?"

Luo Zhengnan shook his head at once. "To be honest, I do not have that kind of courage."

Li Banfeng gave a cold laugh. "You have already infiltrated my village, and now you are saying you don't have the nerve?"

Luo Zhengnan's expression turned serious. "If I really had that kind of nerve, those two women selling vegetables would not have made a scene on your territory.

"I let them expose themselves on purpose. I wanted to show my sincerity. Aside from those two subordinates, I brought no one else. I only came here to talk to you about this deal.

"If you do not wish to sell, that is your choice. I will leave at once. I would not dare cause you any trouble.

"However, let me remind you of one thing. If I can slip into Iron Gate Fort today, others can do the same tomorrow. I may not dare seize it by force, but that does not mean no one else will.

"You might look down on the Jiangxiang Gang. Fine. Even if we leave, the Three Heroes Sect may come next. And if they leave, then the Azure Cloud Society may follow.

"You might look down on those rabble factions as well. However, once great families like the Lu Family, He Family, Ma Family, or Chu Family set their eyes on this place, things will not be so easy to handle.

"You took over Iron Gate Fort to give these Homebound Cultivators a better life. But once word of this gets out, Iron Gate Fort may no longer remain Iron Gate Fort.

"It might become Blood Gate Fort instead.

"Fort Lord, think it over carefully."

Author's Note:

P.S. Luo Zhengnan is a very cunning and experienced man, but he was not lying about the situation.