Part Three: A Family of Magicians - Chapter 67: Walls Have Ears
In the evening, in a smoke-filled room, two men lying on a bed were smoking and chatting, with a waitress from the tobacco shop beside them making bubbles for them.
"Second uncle, if you insist on bringing up things that are not related to the topic, I won't accompany you next time. Our old master doesn't allow us to go out for fun, let alone visit a smoking house. Next time, you can find someone else." The skinny man lying on the right said with some dissatisfaction, and at the same time knocked out the remaining ash in the pipe.
"Come on, come on, I won't mention it anymore. Seriously, isn't it just a job change and a new master? We're all part of the Lu family anyway, so why are you so sensitive?" said the man on the left, dressed in fancy clothes and looking like a wealthy family scion. "Nowadays, magic tricks can't compare to Western magic. And you still call your master an old antique? Actually, the head of the Lu family is no better. Look at the eldest brother-in-law, he can perform Western magic with ease, and the head of the family calls it unorthodox and unpresentable. He doesn't even ask the audience what they like."
"Then I don't understand. If he looked down on my Western magic, why did he marry my eldest daughter to him in the first place?"
The wealthy young man took a deep puff of his cigarette, blew out a smoke ring, and replied, "Humph, that old guy must be saying one thing and thinking another. He says he looks down on other people's Western magic, but in fact he has long lost confidence in his family's craft. He must have no idea what its future holds, or whether there will be anyone to take over. That's why he recruited such a live-in son-in-law, to prevent him from dying and the Lu family from making a living from magic tricks."
The skinny man shook his head. "But I've always heard from inside sources that the master of the family has three secret magic tricks that are incomparable to Western magic. And the old man had already passed them on to his youngest son, Lu Jiye, when he was still alive?"
"I've heard of that, too. But after all, Lu Jiye has been dead for three years, and he hasn't displayed those three unique skills again. It seems like he might really be planning to keep them for himself!"
"Hey, seriously. How did Lü Jiye die? Everyone says it was done by the Flying Thief Feng Shijiu, but Feng Shijiu has been around here for so many years, and I've never heard of him leaving anyone dead. Tell me, is he connected to Lü Jiye's death?"
The rich kid snorted, puffing out two streams of smoke. "That's what you say, but why is it so mean? The day Feng Shijiu committed the crime, Lu Jiye just happened to die. Who would believe it if I told them that there's no connection between the two? Anyway, I don't believe it."
"Hmm...it's indeed a coincidence. Besides, the way Lu Jiye died was indeed strange and scary..."
"Forget it, forget it. We finally have a chance to have some fun, and you have to say these unlucky words."
"Come on, let's not talk about it anymore." The skinny man turned over and looked at the rich boy. "Second uncle, after all these years, haven't you learned a single move from the old man? Even if the old man didn't teach you, the second young lady should have taught you a little bit, right?"
"Tsk... still talking about this... the Lu family is guarding against me like a thief. In fact, the eldest and third uncles are the same as me. Who is not on their guard? Even if the eldest uncle can do Western magic, the old man would not even look at him, let alone teach him. Besides, the third uncle is a lousy teacher, and he teaches Western subjects. He is simply not worthy of the old man's attention. As for me... look at the brocade robe and jade belt on me, it's just an appearance for others to see. Our Gu family's business has plummeted long ago, otherwise I would not marry into the Lu family and grovel at their will."
The skinny man chuckled, "You really don't treat me as an outsider. If you can't make it to the outside field, just tell me..."
"Hey, who can't see it? My wife, Lv Shuiqing, used to give me some face in public, calling me husband left and right. But now, she completely ignores me and doesn't even pretend. Humph, and you still say I'm a snob? The Lv family is no different!"
At this point, the two men's voices gradually lowered until the outsider could no longer hear them, and then they cautiously left the doorway. The eavesdropper thought: "The Flying Thief Feng Nineteen... perhaps identifying this individual could yield new clues." Furthermore, the Lu family of magicians might also be another potential point of entry; a deeper investigation would be necessary.
After Yin Chuan and his companions escaped from the so-called tomb of Shen Wansan—the organization's underground facility—they lost sight of Yu Zhenzhu and the Jin family maid. Yin Chuan, Du Yunzhang, Ou Yelinlang, and Luo Mei, along with their fourth concubine, Qin, returned to the Cao Gang and reunited with Bao Han.
Yin Chuan asked Qin what the drug was that had been injected into the egg. Qin simply explained that she suffered from intermittent epilepsy and that a doctor, unknown in origin, had been introduced to her by Fifth Concubine Yu Zhenzhu. He prescribed a drug that needed to be kept at the constant temperature inside the egg to be effective. It could only be injected when she had an incurable attack. Therefore, she kept it close to her body, preventing anyone from touching it, and even became somewhat obsessed with it. However, when asked for more details, she lost all knowledge.
But while everyone was busy surrounding Qin, Luo Mei became troubled. Du Yunzhang saw this and took a moment to ask her, "What's on your mind? Tell me."
"You? Come on. I'm a petty tomb thief, and you're a police officer. I can't wait to stay away from you. I'll be leaving in two days."
"No, we haven't seen each other for so many years, and we're finally together again. Don't you miss me at all?"
Luo Mei rolled her eyes at Du Yunzhang. "What? You want to rekindle our old relationship? Just a few days ago, you were pointing the mirror box at my head! You forgot about it so soon?"
"You were pointing your finger at me, weren't you? We're even now, so let's not blame each other. But ever since we came back from the tomb, I've noticed you've been kind of absent-minded. Why is that? Tell me."
Unable to withstand Du Yunzhang's persistent harassment, Luo Mei had no choice but to confess, "Well, you said that my Feiyan was somewhat well-known in the underworld. Everyone in the tomb-robbing business knew that I never failed. But this time, the tomb of Shen Wansan was completely humiliated. I was played around by that Yu Zhenzhu and the fake Eunuch Lan. How can I survive in the underworld from now on? Humph, you are also a government official, how can you understand the concept of reputation in the underworld?"
Du Yunzhang raised his eyebrows. "Hey, you're underestimating me. What? I don't understand the martial arts world? I, your grandfather, also came from the martial arts world, and later joined the government. But think about it, you married a fake eunuch to thwart this fabricated fight, causing a huge uproar in the city. It's truly shameful."
"Shut up right there!" Luo Mei was so angry that she raised her hand to slap Du Yunzhang, but after raising her hand, she didn't bring it down. She just stomped her feet in hatred.
"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. I understand you want to find Yu Zhenzhu and get to the bottom of her to restore your reputation in the martial arts world," Du Yunzhang said. "You saw it happen. In the end, Yu Zhenzhu was taken away by a girl named Jin. Let me be clear, they all belong to the same mysterious organization. Lao Du, Linlang, I have been searching for them along the canal. Since you're also interested in investigating, why don't we join forces and track down this organization together? Wouldn't it be better than you going it alone?"
Luo Mei frowned slightly and thought for a moment, "Although I understand your inner thoughts, Du Yunzhang, this might be a solution. Okay, I promise to go with you. But let me be clear, I have my own ways, and sometimes I have to act alone, so please don't complain."
Du Yunzhang was secretly delighted, but he had to maintain a tense appearance. "Hey, we'd better act as a team. If you act on your own and ruin our plans, I won't tolerate it!"
Luo Mei chuckled and said nothing.
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