He Zhenlei was very conflicted. The teeth that had been knocked out were still on the bed. When he pushed open the door, he saw that the guards were gone—no sign of life, no corpses to be seen. Terrified, He Zhenlei huddled on the bed, unable to sleep all night.
「The next day at dawn, he led his men down the mountain to Iron Gate Fort.」
Over a hundred Bandit Soldiers under He Zhenlei’s lead arrived at the gate of Iron Gate Fort, where a group of Home Cultivators stood prepared for a tight defense. In terms of strength, it went without saying that the Home Cultivators of Iron Gate Fort were far superior to the bandits of Flying Eagle Mountain. But they had rarely fought battles, and the sight of such a large formation made the Home Cultivators very nervous. The Home Cultivators guarding the platform kept beating drums and gongs, sounding the alarm to the fort.
Li Banfeng frowned and said, "Yongchao, tell them to stop messing around. With the enemy in sight, what alarm are they raising? Tell the brothers in the boiler room to be ready. If they forcefully attack the main gate, immediately release the Steam; scald to death anyone we can! Everyone else, grab your weapons. If the main gate falls, we’ll fight street battles inside the fort. Bring out all your skills—it’s time to get serious!"
Wu Yongchao conveyed the orders, and all the Home Cultivators made their preparations.
Fort Master He Zhenlei came to the gate, raised his voice, and shouted, "Friends of Iron Gate Fort, we have been neighbors for so many years, always minding our own business! But you keep causing trouble for my Flying Eagle Mountain. This was your fault to begin with, so you cannot blame me, He Zhenlei, for being unrighteous! I give you three days to gather ten thousand Ocean Dollars and deliver them to the mountain. If there is a single cent less, don’t blame me, He Zhenlei, for being ruthless and sparing no one! Withdraw!"
After speaking, He Zhenlei led his men and withdrew. He actually withdrew!
Li Banfeng was furious!
「That same night, he went up Flying Eagle Mountain again.」
He Zhenlei had thought the matter was settled and that he could finally sleep well. But when Li Banfeng entered the room, he dragged him off the bed and beat him mercilessly on the ground.
"What on earth do you want?" He Zhenlei really didn’t know how to communicate with this Fortress Lord.
"What do I want?" Li Banfeng punched He Zhenlei in the face. "I told you to lead your troops and attack Iron Gate Fort, but you didn’t lift a finger and just spouted some nonsense before leaving? You dare to trick me? Who gave you the guts?"
"Friend, I was doing as you asked, just scaring them..."
"Who’s your friend? Who the hell are you scaring?" Li Banfeng slapped He Zhenlei again. "I’m telling you, take your troops and go again tomorrow! This time, fight for real! Put all your strength into it! If you dare to trick me again, tomorrow I’ll hang your head on your mountaintop!"
Li Banfeng left. He Zhenlei, his face bruised and swollen, sat on the bed in a daze all night.
「The next day, he took his men to Iron Gate Fort again.」 This time, he didn’t dare to fake it and led his men straight into the fort.
There are three major tenets for a Deceive Cultivator. The first is that the deception remains real as long as you don’t take action.
Now He Zhenlei had taken action.
More than a hundred Bandit Soldiers charged at the main gate, devoid of any siege equipment, Magical Treasures, or Spiritual Objects; they just led a brute charge.
The second tenet of a Deceive Cultivator is that the deception is still real as long as the move is unseen.
Now all the Home Cultivators saw it. The Bandit Soldiers charged to the gate and were scalded by Steam, wailing continuously. Even if they didn’t die from the scalding, they had no way of dealing with the iron gate.
The third tenet of a Deceive Cultivator: once you’re seen making a move, as long as others don’t understand it, the cultivation level is still real.
Now, all the Home Cultivators understood. They saw it clearly.
More than a hundred Bandit Soldiers charged, and over thirty died. Had it not been for the Fort Master’s presence, these men would have scattered.
This was the true level of Flying Eagle Mountain; the Deceive Cultivator’s ruse had failed.
For so many years, Flying Eagle Mountain had dominated the area, relying not on real skill but on the contrast provided by Iron Gate Fort. Everyone knew Iron Gate Fort was easy to defend, hard to attack, and possessed considerable strength. Everyone knew Iron Gate Fort willingly submitted to Flying Eagle Mountain’s oppression, daring not show the slightest resistance. Everyone thought Flying Eagle Mountain’s strength far surpassed that of Iron Gate Fort.
Today, the lie was completely exposed.
Seeing that the Bandit Soldiers of Flying Eagle Mountain dared not attack the gate anymore, Li Banfeng immediately ordered, "Open the gates! Go out and fight!"
All eight iron gates swung open with loud CREAKS AND GROANS, and Li Banfeng led more than a hundred Home Cultivators out.
During the first charge, Li Banfeng was unsure, and the Home Cultivators were even more so. Many of them hadn’t left the fort in years and, upon reaching the outside of the iron gate, couldn’t even distinguish directions. Their formation was disordered and their techniques chaotic. The Fourth Layer Home Cultivators remained relatively calm, using the Golden House Hidden Beauty Skill, letting Mud People, Stone People, and Paper People charge ahead. The First and Second Layer Home Cultivators, relying solely on their physical endowments, charged forward blindly. A few Third Layer Home Cultivators, seeing the tactics differ from what was planned, panicked and used the Arrow Homing Skill, turning to flee back home.
This first battle of the more than one hundred Home Cultivators wasn’t impressive; they barely managed to exhibit less than thirty percent of their strength. But even this thirty percent easily repelled the group of Bandit Soldiers.
These Bandit Soldiers had combat experience, but only in bullying commoners with no cultivation level. He Zhenlei, leading his men, ran at the forefront, while the Bandit Soldiers cried and screamed behind him. The Home Cultivators’ eyes turned bloodshot as they wielded their weapons, pursuing relentlessly.
Li Banfeng pushed the Windmill Phonograph, playing a war song, leading the Home Cultivators in the charge.
"Flags waving high, horses neighing clear, rifles on shoulders, sabers at waists, hot blood, hot blood, like a raging tide..."
This war song greatly boosted morale. Additionally, his wife’s singing voice could gather Lost Souls. The Souls of the slain Bandit Soldiers all gathered around the Phonograph, and Li Banfeng found an opportunity to send them all into the Portable Residence.
His wife fed heartily. He Zhenlei fled miserably, and the troops he had led were nearly all wiped out.
「Returning to Flying Eagle Mountain, after a headcount—including the subordinates guarding the mountain gate and the Odd-Jobs Workers—a little over seventy people remained on the mountain.」
He Zhenlei heaved a long sigh. After this battle, Flying Eagle Mountain’s reputation had completely collapsed. The only thing to do now was to rest and recuperate on the mountain for a few days, then find another place to make a living.
But Li Banfeng didn’t give him that chance. 「That very night, he came again.」
"You performed well today. Bring your men and fight again tomorrow."
"Fight again?" He Zhenlei dropped to his knees with a THUMP. "Fortress Lord, my lord! I’ll call you Ancestor! I can’t fight anymore! Please, just leave me a way to live!"
Li Banfeng slapped He Zhenlei across the face. "You don’t want to fight, huh? Do you miss Little Mazi? Shall I take you to see him?"
He Zhenlei wailed, "Ancestor, I’ll fight! Just tell me how you want me to fight! What exactly must I do for you to spare my life?"
This attitude was somewhat acceptable. Li Banfeng agreed that as long as he fought with all his might the next day, the matter would be settled. He Zhenlei agreed.
Li Banfeng pulled out a sheet of white paper. "Write a Contract Book, so I don’t have to come looking for you again."
Holding the pen, He Zhenlei thought for a long time but didn’t know what to write.
Li Banfeng slapped him again. "Write! Don’t you know how to write?"
"I... I truly..." He Zhenlei’s sobs were inconsolable.
Li Banfeng slapped him once more. "Cry! Cry harder! Crying while you write shows more sincerity!"
「The following day at dawn, He Zhenlei departed.」
He didn’t know what it meant to fight with all his might, but he knew if he didn’t go, that man, the Fortress Lord, would definitely not let him off. The Home Cultivators had seen through Flying Eagle Mountain’s strength. This time, they directly abandoned defense and started fighting right outside the gate. The battle lasted for over ten minutes, and Flying Eagle Mountain was completely wiped out.
He Zhenlei was killed by Wu Yongchao. At the moment of death, he didn’t seem to be in too much pain; his face even bore a trace of relieved resignation.
Li Banfeng was very satisfied with the Home Cultivators’ performance. He paid out of his own pocket for Wu Yongchao to purchase food, intending to hold a victory banquet that night.
「Back in the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng was enveloped in a warm cloud of Steam.」
"Ah, my beloved husband," a voice cooed from the Phonograph, "ever since consuming the Xuanyun Pill last time, this Little Servant has been feeling a bit weak. Now that you have brought so many crisp and fresh ingredients, I have regained much strength. It is time for us, husband and wife, to enjoy some marital bliss."
"I am ready," Li Banfeng smiled faintly as he put his head into the horn of the Phonograph.
「Half an hour later, Li Banfeng’s face was flushed.」 He wiped the sweat from his forehead and sat beside the Phonograph, listening as his wife began to sing "Song of Four Seasons."
"Spring arrives, green fills the windows wide,
A young lady embroiders ducks, side by side.
In the grand manor, scenery so grand,
Husband sings, wife follows, love across the land!"
Li Banfeng laughed out loud.
He first visited the Fifth Room, and at the end of it, he found the entrance to the Sixth Room.
HISS, HISS~
Red Lotus sounded, sending blessings to Li Banfeng. Li Banfeng smiled knowingly and moved Red Lotus into the Sixth Room.
Back in the main room, Li Banfeng asked his wife, "The Deep House Technique transmits your strength outside the residence. I wonder, my dear wife, what sort of strength do you want me to carry out?"
CHIRP, CHIRP~
The Phonograph sang in a slow rhythm, "My beloved husband, your cultivation has just reached the Fifth Layer. Among the myriad beings in Puluo, you are already considered high-ranking. But, not to boast, there are many techniques of this Little Servant that you cannot yet use. Cultivation must progress step by step. Let Little Servant first teach you to sing; this is my signature skill."
Li Banfeng knew his wife’s singing was formidable. Learning this skill meant he would no longer have to push the Windmill Phonograph around everywhere.
"My dear wife, let’s learn ’Pretense.’ I really like that song."
The Phonograph taught him line by line, and Li Banfeng sang line by line.
After half an hour, his wife’s breathing became somewhat labored.
HUFF~ CHIRP, CHIRP~
"Husband, let’s not sing for now. Little Servant’s chest hurts."
Li Banfeng was startled. "My dear wife, is it because I am not singing well?"
"Husband, you sing very well. It’s just this song..." the Phonograph responded reluctantly. "It’s not your fault. It seems that ’Pretense’ is not suitable for you."
Li Banfeng stood up. "Singing alone really isn’t for me. I can also dance! Let me dance a piece for you to see, my dear wife..."
Seeing Li Banfeng dance, his wife sounded distressed from the Phonograph, "Husband, please don’t dance! First, put down the feather duster...
"It pains Little Servant’s chest to look at you, husband. Choose a different song to learn another day. This song truly does not suit a man. You have already grasped the essence of the Fifth Layer Technique. When you use it, husband, you must keep in mind the tone of Little Servant’s singing. As long as you think correctly, you will naturally be able to sing correctly."
Li Banfeng mused, picking up the feather duster. "My dear wife, I’ll sing again accompanied by my dance. If there’s anything wrong, please feel free to correct me."
"No rush! Another day, husband, another day..."
「The next day, Li Banfeng stepped out of the Portable Residence.」 He was idly strolling around the fort when he noticed an unusual quietness.
Wu Yongchao approached Li Banfeng. "Fortress Lord, the merchants who sell goods didn’t come today. Not a single one."
Li Banfeng asked, "Is it because the fighting these past two days scared them off?"
Wu Yongchao said, "Yesterday, when I went to the market to buy food and drinks for the victory feast, I told those merchants it was all over. They promised they would come to do business today."
Li Banfeng stood before the Iron Gate, looking at the empty path ahead. He seemed to smell a familiar scent—a scent he had encountered once before, at the entrance of Yu Nan’s cloth shop.
"Tell everyone in the fort to be on high alert. Don’t leave easily in the next few days."
Wu Yongchao asked, "Should we close the main gate?"
Li Banfeng shook his head. "We can’t close it. Once it’s closed, it’ll be hard to open again. Call a few Fourth Layer Home Cultivators. Let’s play with these Bird People."
*Actually, Ban Feng’s singing wasn’t bad; it was just too enchanting.*