The Peddler pointed out the first path, suggesting that Li Banfeng settle down directly in a dangerous land.
It seemed like a good plan, but upon closer consideration, it was utterly preposterous.
It was good because it solved the problem; settling in a dangerous land perfectly addressed the issue of staying there for one night. Never mind one night, staying for several nights would be fine too. Hiding in one’s own home, the chances of successfully dealing with danger would also be higher.
It was preposterous because what would he do in the days that followed?
"Am I supposed to spend my entire life in a dangerous land?"
The Peddler comforted Li Banfeng, "Don’t be so pessimistic. As long as you’ve nurtured a House Spirit, ordinary enemies won’t be able to enter your home, and you can live your days in peace."
"I can nurture a House Spirit?"
"Yes! Dangerous lands are full of Resentful Spirits, which are most suitable for nourishing a House Spirit. Take Medicine King Valley’s Lianyin Valley, for example. This mountain valley is heavy with Yin Energy and has nurtured many Resentful Spirits. No one knows how many people have perished on the mountains; this is a classic dangerous land. The place is great; it’s quiet, and ordinary people dare not disturb. If you settle in Lianyin Valley and live there for half a year, laying down roots, you’d be able to nurture a House Spirit. The House Spirit would absorb the Resentful Spirits and become increasingly powerful, which would be very beneficial for your future cultivation."
Li Banfeng pondered for a moment, then asked a seemingly simple yet crucially important question, "What is a Resentful Spirit?"
The Peddler blinked, somewhat surprised. "Didn’t you receive a higher education? You still need me to explain what a Resentful Spirit is? It’s a ghost—a ghost filled with deep resentment."
Li Banfeng’s brow smoothed, and he desperately controlled his emotions, managing a slight smile.
Li Banfeng looked at the Peddler and said seriously, "The Resentful Spirits in the valley, won’t they harm me?"
"Good question," the Peddler answered earnestly. "It’s inevitable that Resentful Spirits harm people, but you will have a House Spirit. The House Spirit will protect you from the Resentful Spirits’ assaults."
"What if the House Spirit can’t hold them off?"
The Peddler’s expression became more solemn. "You must have confidence. Believe in the power of the House Spirit, trust in your own will, and believe that there’s no difficulty in this world that cannot be overcome. Whether or not you believe in yourself, I believe in you! You can do it!"
After thinking it over, Li Banfeng felt that the Peddler made a lot of sense, yet he had another concern. "Who will protect me before the House Spirit is nurtured?"
"This..." The question hit a sensitive spot. The Peddler pulled out a stack of Yellow Paper adorned with various Runes. "These talismans are enough to protect you for three to five months. By then, a House Spirit should have been cultivated."
"And then? Even if I have a House Spirit, I can’t hide in my house all day long. I still need to go out to find food, right? Aren’t I still a Traveling Cultivator? I still have to travel around. Once I leave my house, how do I face the Resentful Spirits?"
"If you could run faster..." The Peddler found himself unable to continue and switched topics. "It doesn’t necessarily have to be Lianyin Valley; there are other places to go..."
"What difference would any other place make? I’m a Traveling Cultivator; I still have to go out and roam. According to your method, stepping outside is like sending myself to my death."
The Peddler sighed softly. "Actually, tempering yourself in dangerous lands can also benefit a Traveling Cultivator. But if you’re unwilling, then forget it. There’s another path."
The Peddler slapped the countertop. A drawer slid open, revealing a variety of items, big and small. After rummaging for a while, the Peddler pulled out a key—a Brass Key, slightly shorter than an index finger, bearing patches of verdigris.
"Since you don’t want to settle in dangerous places, I will gift you a different kind of house instead."
"What kind of house?"
"This house is very special, a priceless treasure of this world. If it weren’t for the fact that I value rules and reputation, I would never part with such a precious item for you." The Peddler reached forward with the key, turning it counterclockwise three times, making the gesture of unlocking a door. He used the key, miming the action of opening a door in thin air. His movements were serious, as if a real door stood before him.
He turned his head, looked at Li Banfeng, and beckoned. "Come, let me show you around the house."
"Come on!" The Peddler’s expression was very serious.
Li Banfeng moved to stand beside the Peddler but still saw nothing. The Peddler remained earnest.
Li Banfeng looked at the Peddler and said, "In Yuezhou Sanatorium’s psychiatric department, I know a Doctor Wang who is quite nice. Perhaps you could also go..."
The Peddler pushed Li Banfeng, causing him to stumble a few steps forward.
Suddenly, it was pitch black before him. The wilderness, the large tree, the campfire, the Peddler’s cabinet, the grass mat—all disappeared.
TCHK!
The Peddler struck a match. By its feeble light, Li Banfeng made out his surroundings.
This was a room, not very large, about three meters wide and two meters long—an area of roughly six square meters. The room was empty, with nothing but mottled walls and not even a single window.
The match was about to burn out. The Peddler stood with one foot outside the door and one inside, telling Li Banfeng, "The door will close soon, and what happens next is extremely urgent. You must throw the key outside before the door closes, to an appropriate spot."
After speaking, the Peddler tossed the key out. A patch of mist swirled outside the door, and Li Banfeng couldn’t see where he had thrown the key.
CLANG!
The door slammed shut. The match went out, plunging the room into total darkness.
TCHK!
The Peddler struck another match, this time lighting a candle he held in his hand.
"Take a good look. This is the house I’m giving you."
Li Banfeng looked around and said, "If you say this is a room, I’d believe you. But if you say it’s a house..."
"This is a house," the Peddler declared, "one of the most precious houses in the world."
"Precious in what way? Because it can become invisible?"
Before the Peddler had opened the door, Li Banfeng hadn’t seen this "house." It was clear that the house had the ability to become invisible.
"It’s not just as simple as being invisible," the Peddler smiled. "This house can move. Wherever the key goes, it follows. As long as you carry the key, it will follow you everywhere."
Li Banfeng was stunned.
"Don’t believe it?" the Peddler smiled. "You can try it out."
After saying that, the Peddler opened the door and led Li Banfeng outside. As soon as their feet crossed the threshold, their view was obscured by thick fog. The moment the door was shut, the fog immediately dispersed, and Li Banfeng found his feet stepping onto a patch of wild grass.
The Peddler bent down, picked up the Brass Key from the wild grass, and handed it to Li Banfeng.
"Let’s switch to another location." The Peddler led Li Banfeng a few hundred meters away and into a grove. "Insert the key until you feel it enter the keyhole."
Li Banfeng did as instructed. He inserted the key into thin air and felt nothing.
The Peddler shook his head. "That’s not right."
"I still don’t understand the technique..."
"No technique is needed. Just like using a key to open a door. It’s a simple thing; be swift and decisive, don’t hesitate."
Li Banfeng tried again, this time acting decisively and naturally.
SCRITCH. SCRITCH. SCRITCH.
Li Banfeng thought he heard the sound of the key entering a lock, and he felt a series of slight catches from his fingers.
"You’ve got the method right," the Peddler smiled. "Turn the key to the left. When you hear two clicks, the door lock will be open."
Li Banfeng gripped the key and turned it counterclockwise.
CLICK!
CLICK!
The Peddler said, "Push the door!"
Li Banfeng pushed forward. He felt the texture of a wooden door and even heard the sound of its hinges.
CREAK~
But he saw no door, nor the room from before.
"Take one step forward, just one step."
Li Banfeng took a step forward. Dense fog surged, quickly obscuring his view.
The Peddler immediately reminded him, "Don’t move yet! Throw the key out. The house’s exit is connected to the key. If you bring the key into the house, the exit will lead back into the house, and you’ll be trapped in there forever."
Li Banfeng turned to throw the key away when he heard the Peddler remind him again, "Choose a good place to throw it. Not too obvious, or someone else will pick it up. And not too hidden, or you won’t be able to find it yourself."
Li Banfeng’s vision was filled with fog, making it very blurry and difficult to aim his throw.
The Peddler urged, "Quickly throw the key out! The door will close soon."
Luckily, Li Banfeng had a special skill. Relying half on vision and half on memory, he threw the key out and stepped through the doorway with his other foot.
CLANG!
The door closed.
Li Banfeng was inside the house.
He turned, pushed open the door, and stepped out, finding himself back in the grove. He found the key on the ground, not too far away, right under a tree.
The Peddler laughed. "Still somewhat obvious. Remember to find a better place in the future."
Li Banfeng nodded, clutching the key tightly in his hand.
"Satisfied?" the Peddler asked.
Li Banfeng nodded again. He was indeed very satisfied.
"With this house," Li Banfeng said, "I can travel anywhere in the future. When I’m tired, I can rest in the house. It won’t interfere with Traveling Cultivation, nor with Home Cultivation."
"Uh..." The Peddler’s smile froze, and his expression gradually became serious. "The matter isn’t quite so simple. Traveling Cultivation is fine, but for Home Cultivation, we’ll have to find other solutions. This house has a little flaw."
Li Banfeng was taken aback. "What flaw?"
The Peddler sighed. "It cannot produce a House Spirit."