The Overlord of Puluo

Li Banfeng went to the Song Family’s main warehouse. Ma Wu could not stop him. He wanted to follow Li Banfeng, but Li Banfeng found him a hindrance. There was nothing he could do, so Ma Wu returned to the wooden house and began packing.

Whenever he and Li Banfeng hunted, they sold their goods immediately. Was there anything valuable left in the house? There was.

Every time Ma Wu went to the New Land, he would record everything he saw along the way. He had filled more than seventy pages with notes and drawn over a dozen sketches. Those were priceless.

He pulled his notes and drawings from under the bed, grabbed two sets of clothes, and went up to the second floor.

Ma Wu wanted to pack some things for Li Banfeng as well. However, he looked out the window and saw a group of armed men entering the alley from both ends.

Song Jiasen’s here! Why did he come here so quickly?

By Ma Wu’s estimation, Song Jiasen should have been waiting at home for Tang Tianjin to return. He should have waited for at least an hour or two before realizing something was wrong, so why was he here so early?

He must have someone watching this place. That person must have seen me come home!

Ma Wu picked up the gluey clay and prepared to set a trap, but then he decided against it. It would be pointless to set a trap. How large would he have to make the trap for it to be of use? Moreover, if Song Jiasen were to burn the house down, the trap would be useless, no matter how large it was.

Ma Wu had to leave himself a way out. If Song Jiasen were to surround the house, where should Ma Wu leave an escape route? There was no place suitable for that.

***

Song Jiasen brought more than fifty bruisers, surrounding the front and back of the wooden house. Seeing that the curtains were closed, Song Jiasen asked one of the bruisers beside him, ”You saw him return with your own eyes?”

The bruiser nodded. ”Saw it with my own eyes.”

”Ma Junyang, get your ass out here!” Song Jiasen called out.

However, there was no response from inside.

”Not coming out? Fine,” Song Jiasen said with a huff. He ordered his men, ”Break that door down!”

The situation was better than Ma Wu had feared. Instead of setting the house on fire, Song Jiasen ordered his men to ram the door down.

Two bruisers walked up to the door. However, the moment they reached it, their feet got stuck to the ground, and they could not move. There was gluey clay at the doorstep.

Song Jiasen flew into a rage, but he did not dare charge forward.

”Fucker, playing tricks on me. Ma Wu, are you coming out or not?” he yelled, raising his voice even louder.

More and more onlookers gathered nearby. Were these onlookers unafraid of trouble? They were. But today was a special situation.

In Blue Poplar Village, fights happened every day, and murders were a common occurrence. However, the Song Family rarely got involved in conflicts. Most of the time, they served as arbiters and maintained a lofty, authoritative image. Today, the Song Family suddenly turned on the disgraced young master of the Ma family, and many villagers wanted to know the reason.

One of the onlookers had come up with a conjecture. ”Ma Wu must have sold goods behind the Song Family’s back. Otherwise, Eldest Master Song would never get involved personally.”

”He sold goods behind the Song Family’s back? Is he tired of living?”

”It’s hard to say who is tired of living. Even if Ma Wu is down on his luck now, he is still a young master of a wealthy and influential family. Boss Song is just shouting. You think he dares kill him?”

While the onlookers were discussing the reason, Song Jiasen shouted, ”Ma Wu, all the villagers here are witnesses. Do not say I’m treating you unjustly. Tell me the truth. Did you sell goods behind my back?”

There was no response from inside the house. Why did Ma Wu not respond? Because he was not in the wooden house at all. At that moment, Ma Wu was hiding in Landlord Wei’s house.

After Landlord Wei died, the house had remained empty. Li Banfeng had guessed correctly. No one cared that the landlord was dead, for it simply meant that there was no one to collect rent from them.

From the second floor of Landlord Wei’s small building, Ma Wu could see what was happening by the wooden house and could just make out what Song Jiansen was saying. As long as Song Jiasen withdrew, Ma Wu would be able to leave safely.

Song Jiasen waited for a moment, then he shouted angrily, ”Ma Wu, you don’t dare to admit it? I brought a witness. See if you’ll admit to it now!”

Two bruisers dragged someone forward. Upon seeing who it was, Ma Wu clenched his hands into fists. It was his friend, Little Chuan.

Had Little Chuan betrayed him? No, that couldn’t be! Ma Wu was certain that Little Chuan was not that kind of person.

Song Jiasen had received word from Yang Yanzheng. After learning what happened, he had Little Chuan captured. However, Little Chuan was a strong-willed man. He had not admitted to delivering any goods. Song Jiasen had Little Chuan beaten up because of it. That much was clear from Little Chuan’s bruised and battered appearance.

Song Jiasen pointed a knife at Little Chuan’s eye and said, ”Did Ma Wu send you to Greenwater City to deliver goods? Tell me the truth.”

Little Chuan lowered his head and remained silent.

Song Jiasen laughed. ”Fine. You have guts.”

He turned to his bruisers and ordered, ”Take one of his legs off.”

Several of Song Jiasen’s bodyguards held Little Chuan down. Two lifted one of his legs, and a third bodyguard tied a rope tightly around one of his thighs. A fourth bodyguard raised an axe, ready to amputate Little Chuan’s leg at the knee.

”Stop!” Ma Wu yelled frantically as he rushed out of Landlord Wei’s house. He could not watch Little Chuan potentially lose his life.

He stood before Song Jiasen and shouted, ”Eldest Master Song, what are you trying to do?”

Song Jiasen laughed. ”Ma Wu, do you really not know what I am doing? Ever since you came to Blue Poplar Village, I have never caused you any trouble. Yet, you sold goods behind my back. You broke my rules!”

With a blank mask, Ma Wu said, ”When you accuse someone, you need evidence to back it up. Who saw me selling goods behind your back?”

Song Jiasen grabbed Little Chuan by the hair and sneered. ”The witness is right here. You still dare deny it?”

Little Chuan shouted, ”Master Wu did not send me to deliver anything. Don’t you dare frame him!”

”What a good boy. You just won’t admit it, huh!” Song Jiasen growled. He raised his knife, intending to gouge out Little Chuan’s eye.

Ma Wu shouted, ”You bastard, don’t you fucking dare! Do you even know which family he belongs to?”

Song Jiasen froze for a moment, then he turned to Ma Wu and laughed. ”Him? Isn’t he just a laborer who works for the Ma Family? Like he’s anyone important?”

”You know he belongs to the Ma Family, yet you still dare touch him?”

Song Jiasen smirked. ”Is there only one Ma Family in Puluo? Are the Ma Family’s people untouchable? You think you can just bully my family’s people?”

Ma Wu smirked as well. ”I know you’ve got the Lu Family backing you up, but let me tell you this. A labourer of the Ma Family is still a person. A lapdog of the Lu Family is still a dog. Song Jiasen, do you really think you are a lion? In my eyes, you are nothing but a fucking dog!”

Could Little Chuan’s status compare with Song Jiasen’s? No, of course not, and Ma Wu knew this very well. Even if Song Jiasen killed Little Chuan on the spot right now, he just needed to compensate the Ma Family afterward, and the matter would be considered settled.

If anyone else were to compare Little Chuan with him, Song Jiasen would just laugh at the absurdity of it. But the one who had spoken those words was Ma Wu, and Song Jiasen did not laugh. Ma Wu had the aura of an aristocratic family’s young master, and that made it impossible for Song Jiasen to laugh.

Song Jiasen’s eyes turned bloodshot. ”Ma Junyang, you dare insult me? Let me make this clear today. I could kill even you right now. Do you believe it?”

Ma Wu stared straight into Song Jiasen’s eyes. ”Come on then. I’ll stand right here and let you kill me!”

Song Jiasen twirled the dagger in his hand. ”You think you can talk so arrogantly just because you are a young master of the Ma Family? Let me remind you, this is Blue Poplar Village, not your family’s residence!”

Ma Wu let out a cold laugh. ”I stopped being a young master of the Ma Family long ago. I was kicked out. I have slept in shanties and picked food out of trash piles. I am not much better than a beggar. If you want to kill me, go ahead. No need for more of this nonsense.”

Would Song Jiasen really dare kill Ma Wu? He would not. Even if he killed Ma Wu secretly, he would still fear that the Ma Family would not forgive him, let alone killing Ma Wu in front of so many witnesses.

However, he wanted to teach Ma Wu a lesson. He wanted to give Ma Wu a ruthless beating. He wanted this young master to understand the rules of Blue Poplar Village and learn who ruled here!

Ma Wu had been robbed in the past. It was not the first time Ma Wu had been beaten up. So, Song Jiasen surmised that even if he beat Ma Wu half to death, the Ma Family likely would not pursue the matter.

Ma Wu was already prepared to be beaten up. As long as he could save Little Chuan, he could take another beating. It would be fine as long as they only beat him within an inch of his life, not none!

Just as Song Jiasen was about to order his men to act, a subordinate rushed over and reported, ”Master, the main warehouse is on fire.”

The veins on Song Jiasen’s forehead bulged in anger. He had no idea what had happened.

Ma Wu heard the report too. He suspected it was Li Banfeng’s work, but he did not know why Li Banfeng would do that. Li Banfeng had said he was going to the Song Family’s main warehouse to steal some stuff. Would he really set it on fire?

Despite how turbulent his thoughts were, Ma Wu didn’t give anything away in his expression. The fire at the main warehouse was an opportunity. Ma Wu could use it to display some authority.

Just like before, he stared straight at Song Jiasen and shouted, ”If you have the guts, come kill me. Let us see who has a more enduring life!”

Song Jiasen did not respond.

What does Ma Wu mean by that? Is he the one who sent someone to set the warehouse on fire? But hasn’t he been kicked out of his family? Something’s not right here!

Perhaps the Ma Family has already forgiven him and is even helping him in secret. The Ma Family set the warehouse on fire... It’s a warning for me.

If Song Jiasen continued to confront Ma Wu head-on, he worried things might spiral out of control. But should he back down now?

There were many onlookers present. Song Jiasen had come to assert dominance. If he backed off now, his position in the village would be shaken.

Having ruled Blue Poplar Village for twenty years, Song Jiasen was an old hand. Faced with this sudden crisis, he quickly came up with a countermeasure.

”Young Master Wu, I respect you as a man. Even though you have fallen into dire straits, I, Song Jiasen, will not take advantage of that and harm you. However, Blue Poplar Village is my territory. You broke my rules, which means you slapped my face. That, I cannot swallow. Since I set the rules, we will follow the rules.

”Tomorrow at noon, we will settle this with a bloodcall in the wilds. Our battleground will be the Skygreen Field. Let’s see who is stronger. If I win, you will find another place to make a living and never set foot in Blue Poplar Village again. If you win, I, Song Jiasen, will take my entire family and move away within three days. How about it?”

Ma Wu did not want to agree. He knew he was not a match for Song Jiasen, and he was not someone who would try to fight a losing battle just for his honor. However, Little Chuan was in Song Jiasen’s hands. If Ma Wu refused, it would mean admitting he was afraid, and all the bravado and the authoritative facade that he’d put forth would crumble. Little Chuan might be killed, and Ma Wu himself would surely be beaten up.

Ma Wu did not have a choice; he had to agree to the fight and get Little Chuan out alive first.

”Eldest Master Song, you are a level-three Martial Cultivator. I’ve only just reached level one. Facing you in a bloodcall is basically suicide for me.”

Song Jiasen looked at Ma Wu with a mocking gaze. ”What, are you scared? Do not worry. You can’t die in the Skygreen Field. Just admit defeat, and everything will be fine.”

Ma Wu let out a cold laugh. ”Admit defeat? Since when is it that easy? I want someone to fight the bloodcall in my place. That should be allowed, right?”

This was indeed within the rules. Song Jiasen had proposed a duel on the Skygreen Field, and that meant it was a daytime showdown, which in turn meant Ma Wu was allowed to find someone to fight in his place.

Song Jiasen could also send another cultivator in his place, but what level should they be at? At most, he would only be able to find someone at the fourth level.

And what was the highest levelled cultivator that Ma Wu could find? That was harder to say for sure. If Ma Wu spent enough money or if the Ma Family intervened secretly, it would not be difficult for him to find a level-five or level-six cultivator to represent him in the fight.

Song Jiasen felt anxious, but outwardly, he appeared calm. ”Young Master Wu, this matter is between you and me. No need to drag in outsiders. I will not bully the weak. I will have my son face you. You’re both level-one cultivators. That should be a fair match, yes?”

Song Jiasen had two sons, Song Zhigang and Song Zhiyi. Both were level-one cultivators.

”Zhiyi, do you dare fight Young Master Wu?” Song Jiasen asked Song Zhiyi.

He had chosen Song Zhiyi, since his older son Song Zhigang had injured himself by rushing his cultivation.

Song Zhiyi had never taken part in a bloodcall before. He had become a disciple at the age of six and usually stayed in town for his training. He rarely returned home, so he knew little about family matters. Nevertheless, he was not afraid of battles.

He looked at Ma Wu with disdain. ”Why would I not dare?”

With the way things were now, Ma Wu had no reason to turn down the challenge. ”Fine. It’s settled. Release Little Chuan first.”

Song Jiasen threw Little Chuan at Ma Wu’s feet, then he left with his men. He was walking calmly, but his heart was burning with anxiety.

The main warehouse is still on fire! What the hell was Luo Sancai doing! How many people did the Ma Family send that they were able to set the warehouse on fire?

***

It was actually just one person, and he had not been sent by the Ma Family.

Li Banfeng crouched beside the main warehouse. After watching Song Jiasen leave with his men, he entered the Pocket Dwelling, tossed the key into the warehouse, and slipped inside amidst the commotion.

He had intended to find some valuable items to steal, but the warehouse was too large and contained few valuable items. He had been tight on time, so he grabbed a few items that looked decent, set the place on fire, and stole the money chest amid the chaos. There was not much money in the chest, only a bit over three hundred thousand Huan yuan.

When Li Banfeng reunited with Ma Wu and Little Chuan, they told him about what had happened.

Li Banfeng handed all the cash that was in the chest to Little Chuan. ”You’re a true man. Take this money and treat your injuries.”

Little Chuan shook his head. ”I do not need money. These are just minor injuries. Some ointment will do. It is nothing serious.”

Li Banfeng looked genuinely surprised. ”Is it truly nothing serious?”

Little Chuan nodded. ”Truly.”

Li Banfeng’s voice was full of praise when he said his next words. ”Since it is nothing serious, go back to work.”

Little Chuan and Ma Wu stared at Li Banfeng. In their eyes, no normal person would say something so vicious.

”You said you are fine. So why are you not going back to work?” Li Banfeng said, justifying himself with a sense of righteousness.

Ma Wu could not understand Li Banfeng’s way of thinking. He turned to Little Chuan and said, ”Little Chuan, stop doing roadwork. Follow me from now on. We cannot stay in Blue Poplar Village anymore. I am not planning to fight a bloodcall with the Song Family. We will leave tonight.”

Li Banfeng looked at him. ”Why leave? This place is great. It is just a duel. What’s so hard about that? You should work on your speaking skills first.”

Ma Wu asked in surprise, ”Why do I need to work on my speaking skills?”

Li Banfeng replied with utter seriousness, ”Don’t you know that a duel is all about how sharp your tongue is?”