Zongwu: Aspiring to be the mastermind behind the scenes

Chapter 25 Qianjin Pavilion, the competition initiated by Zhou Ming

After Jiang Long and Luo Ma brought Zhu Ting back to Liushenmen, things did not go smoothly.

Zhu Ting specifically requested that Lu Xiaofeng be put in charge of the case to clear his name.

Apart from this, he wouldn't say a word to anyone else who came here!

This clearly shows a lack of trust in the court.

But Jiang Long and Luo Ma were helpless.

Zhu Ting has a high reputation and an even wider network of contacts. Now with Zhou Ming's words, it is really not appropriate to treat him harshly.

The two turned around and looked in other directions, but there was no clue at all.

In a blink of an eye, it is already the fourteenth day of the first lunar month.

Coming out of the prison once again, Jiang Long sighed and said, "Loma, in my opinion, we should just go find that Lu Xiaofeng."

Luo Ma quickly rejected the idea: "That won't do. We are the golden-clad captains of the Six Gates. If we can't solve the case, wouldn't it be a disgrace to the Six Gates to ask for help from the underworld? If he succeeds, he will even step on our reputation and make further progress!"

Jiang Long was helpless: "It's already this late, and you still care about this? The God of Capture gave us an order to solve the case within seven days. Three days have already passed, and if there are no more clues, our clothes will be stripped off. What's the point of caring about reputation and face?"

Seeing this, Luo Ma sighed and said, "Okay, but where is Lu Xiaofeng now?"

Pei Mansion.

"Qianjin Pavilion..."

Lu Xiaofeng looked at the name on the pavilion and said, "Old Zhou, isn't your name too vulgar?"

Zhou Ming shook his fishing rod and said, "What's so vulgar about it? You're just thinking too vulgarly. My name has a profound meaning. It represents my dreams!"

"Ok?"

Hearing this, Lu Xiaofeng glanced around, then locked his gaze on the fishing rod in Zhou Ming's hand: "No way? You mean, you want to catch a thousand-jin fish here?"

"Yes what's the matter?"

"Hahahaha...Excuse me for being blunt, but there's a difference between dreams and wishful thinking!"

"Humph! Even if I only catch a pound of fish every day, I can achieve my goal in three years. What a wishful thinking!"

"Oh, so you mean cumulatively? I thought it meant just one... But even if it's cumulatively, it's hard to catch a pound of fish every day. It'll take three years... or about thirty years!"

"Are you saying that I can only catch one or two small fish every day?"

"Actually, it's probably less than one or two... I remember coming to see you a few times last year, but I don't think I saw you catch anything once. I only saw you scattering bait..."

Zhou Ming clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

You are such a good guy, Lu Xiaofeng. This time I just wanted to compete with you in a detective case and use my understanding of the plot to win once.

But now it seems that this is far from enough to resolve the hatred in my heart!

This time, this guy must be taught a lesson that will last forever!

Zhou Ming made a secret decision in his heart.

But he said, "So what? As long as I keep improving, I'll achieve my goal sooner or later. Not to mention thirty years, even sixty years won't matter - people's dreams are endless!"

"..."

Lu Xiaofeng was silent for a moment. "Old Zhou, you said this so seriously, I really shouldn't... But using this sentence in fishing, and coming from your mouth whose fishing skills are so poor... I really... can't help but laugh! Hahahahaha..."

"Brother Lu, why are you laughing so happily?"

A gentle gentleman in white walked slowly towards them and asked doubtfully.

"Oh, Lao Hua, you're here too... Listen to me, just now..."

Lu Xiaofeng raised his hand to greet him and recounted what had just happened.

After hearing this, Hua Manlou couldn't help but laugh.

"Ha ha……"

"Boiled!"

Zhou Ming dropped the fishing rod in his hand: "Lao Hua, you just laughed, right?" "This... I just remembered something happy..."

In the Qianjin Pavilion, wine and food were served.

Zhou Mingdao said, "This time, Lao Hua and I called you here not to spend the Lantern Festival with you, but because something big happened recently."

Then he briefly recounted the case of the fake banknotes.

Lu Xiaofeng listened and ate with relish.

Before this, he had another nickname, Lu Sandan.

These three "dan" refer to bastard, idiot and pauper.

This nickname was given to Lu Xiaofeng by his good friend, the master thief Sikong Zhaixing. The word "idiot" doesn't quite fit, but the other two are accurate.

Lu Xiaofeng is not poor, but he spends money lavishly, so he is often a pauper.

Since he is a pauper, you can imagine how he spends his three meals a day.

Zhou Ming's table was prepared by his four maids themselves. Compared with before, the preparation conditions were better and the taste was naturally better.

Most of the food and wine on the table went into Lu Xiaofeng's stomach.

"I understand. You and Lao Hua want me to help investigate the case of the fake banknotes? Okay, for the sake of today's meal, I agree."

Lu Xiaofeng was very straightforward. After all, this case was serious and involved Hua Manlou and Zhu Ting. No matter how unreasonable he was at other times, he could still distinguish the important from the unimportant at this time.

Zhou Mingdao said, "This is only one of my purposes. Secondly, I want to use this incident to challenge you to a duel to see who can catch the mastermind behind this case first. Lao Hua can act as a notary."

Lu Xiaofeng laughed and said, "You want to compete with me in solving cases? Hahahaha, Old Zhou, I'm not saying anything, but do you really think you're smarter just because you've read more files?"

"So you want to compete?"

"Since it's a competition, there must be a winner and a loser. What if I win? What if I lose?"

Zhou Mingdao said, "I go fishing every day and use earthworms as bait. If I win, you have to dig up nine hundred and ninety-nine earthworms for me!"

Lu Xiaofeng said, "What if I win?"

"If you win, we'll write off everything that happened before."

"What happened before? What happened?"

"Ok?"

Zhou Ming glared. "In Xingyun Manor, you took advantage of being drunk to get information from me and even scolded me. Have you forgotten that? When we parted last time, I told you I would teach you a lesson!"

"That's it?"

Lu Xiaofeng was speechless: "It's okay that you've been holding on to this kind of thing for so long, but why do you have to compete with me? If this gets out, aren't you afraid that others will say you're petty?"

Zhou Mingdao said, "Indeed, I think so too. However, if I don't retaliate for this matter, I will be filled with resentment. After much thought, this is the result. If you win, I will naturally be convinced, but if you lose... don't blame me for taking revenge with both principal and interest!"

"In that case..."

Lu Xiaofeng took a big sip of wine and said, "I won't compete! If I win, nothing will happen to you, but if I lose, I'll suffer a great loss. Why would I compete in such a competition? Don't worry, I will help solve this case, but forget about the competition."

"That's not up to you!"

Zhou Mingdao: "Why not take a look at your arm!"

"Ok?"

Lu Xiaofeng pulled up his sleeve and saw a red spot on his arm, which spread to his upper arm.

"You...you poisoned me?!"

"That's right!"

Zhou Ming admitted frankly: "It's in this table of food."

Lu Xiaofeng was in disbelief and looked at Hua Manlou: "Old Hua, you teamed up with him to trick me?!"

(End of this chapter)