Li Banfeng looked at the flowers in Sui Donglan’s hands and sniffed each one.
"You call these good flowers? They don’t even have a scent. What kind of good flowers are these?"
Sui Donglan replied with a miserable look, "How was I supposed to know what kind of flowers you wanted? I thought you just wanted pretty ones."
Li Banfeng pushed the flowers aside. "With just these shoddy flowers, you hope to remove the characters from your face? Dream on!"
"Please, no!" Sui Donglan clutched Li Banfeng’s arm. "How about this? I’ll take you to a place with flowers, exceptionally fragrant ones. You can pick as many as you want."
It had to be said, Sui Donglan, despite being a swindler, had certainly done her homework.
Though the place she recommended was somewhat distant, it truly abounded with excellent flowers.
Li Banfeng picked various fresh flowers and wove a large garland. Even from afar, its fragrance was overwhelming.
He then had Sui Donglan recommend some Rouge. Regardless of the color, the scent was genuinely exceptional.
After preparing the gifts, Li Banfeng also readied a thousand Ocean Dollars. When deep night fell, he carried a box, the garland, and the Rouge, and entered the annex building.
Han Juncheng was still sprawled at the entrance, thoroughly dead, but no one dared to claim the corpse.
Li Banfeng swallowed and continued into the building.
He remembered the long spear’s appearance but didn’t know its location. Inside this annex building, he didn’t dare to barge around recklessly.
Fortunately, his nose was keen, keener even than Han Juncheng’s.
With his Hundred Flavors Delicate Skill, he followed the chilling Yin Energy and quickly found the second floor.
Reaching the room at the end of the corridor, Li Banfeng didn’t push the door open. Instead, he put on the garland, opened the Rouge Box, and waited quietly.
The fragrance slowly drifted into the room. The door creaked open.
Li Banfeng saw the weapon rack and the Long Spear on it.
Carrying the garland and the Rouge, he cautiously moved forward. The Long Spear, sensing the approaching scent, suddenly spoke.
"Who are you?"
Its voice was deep and stern, and its imposing presence made Li Banfeng shiver.
Li Banfeng slowed his steps but continued moving forward. Then, he heard the Long Spear angrily shout, "What are you trying to do?"
Li Banfeng could only sense the fluctuations in its imposing presence to decide his pace.
"Don’t come any closer! One more step and I’ll take your dog life!" the Long Spear roared, causing Li Banfeng to tremble.
But he clenched his teeth and kept walking. Though his steps slowed, he never stopped.
Li Banfeng occasionally touched the Tang Sword, murmuring, "Beheading with Every Blow, you’d better not let me down."
The Tang Sword shuddered all over, unable to speak.
It hailed from the military, but now it had encountered its nemesis.
All the Magical Treasures were trembling; even the Wine Gourd and Old Teapot had gone silent.
Li Banfeng slowly approached the Long Spear, mustered his courage, and placed the garland on it.
"Flowers..." After a long silence, the Long Spear asked, "Are these for me?"
Li Banfeng took a deep breath, dipped his finger in some Rouge, and smeared it on the Long Spear.
"Why are you touching me? How dare you! Is this... Rouge?"
Using the Rouge, Li Banfeng slowly wrote two words on the Long Spear.
Hong Ying.
The Long Spear shuddered, and Li Banfeng heard a gasp.
"You know my name?"
Li Banfeng wrote on the spear shaft once more.
Hong Ying.
"Are... you calling me?"
Li Banfeng was drenched in sweat, his clothes instantly soaked through.
He clutched the key tightly in his hand.
If the Long Spear’s imposing aura intensified even slightly, Li Banfeng would flee immediately.
But its aura didn’t change; it even seemed to weaken a little.
He waited for a full five minutes—five minutes during which Li Banfeng nearly suffocated.
Finally, the Long Spear spoke.
"You... want me?"
Li Banfeng gently caressed the Long Spear.
"I’m both deaf and blind, and still you want me..."
Hong Ying fell silent; it was unclear if she was touched or skeptical.
Li Banfeng took out some Silver Yuan and tapped them on the spear shaft.
The Long Spear, enraged, demanded, "What is this? Who do you take me for?"
Li Banfeng trembled all over, nearly fleeing for his life.
Fortunately, the Long Spear quickly calmed down again and asked, "Those were Silver Yuan just now, weren’t they?"
Li Banfeng picked up two Silver Yuan and touched them against Hong Ying.
"Just two? What kind of woman do you take me for?" Hong Ying asked sharply.
"There’s more," Li Banfeng said, though he knew Hong Ying couldn’t hear him.
Li Banfeng grabbed a handful of Silver Yuan and caressed her with them.
Hong Ying said angrily, "Don’t touch my belly; it’s terribly ticklish there!"
Li Banfeng moved his hand higher.
Hong Ying grew even more furious. "I’m a young lady; how can you touch there?"
Li Banfeng moved his hand lower.
"That place is even more off-limits!"
Li Banfeng began to place Silver Yuan one by one on the Long Spear, caressing it.
The Long Spear scoffed coldly from time to time. "Vulgar mortal, offering me these common things. Do you think I truly value them? Let me tell you, each Silver Yuan can only touch me once. If you dare touch me twice with the same Silver Yuan, see how I’ll deal with you!"
Before long, each of the thousand Silver Yuan had touched her once. Li Banfeng, dipping his finger in Rouge, inscribed her name on the Long Spear once again.
Hong Ying.
"Why are you writing my name again?" The Long Spear’s aura surged, then eased. "Haven’t I already agreed to you?"
Li Banfeng mustered his courage and gripped the Long Spear.
Its imposing aura was still there, but the Long Spear did not resist.
Hong Ying was also prepared for this. "I’ve been in this house for many years, and I fear it means to keep me here forcibly. We shouldn’t get entangled with this house. Let’s watch for the right moment and leave as quickly as possible!"
Li Banfeng wiped his sweat, carrying the Long Spear all the way to the front door of the annex building. The house did not stop Hong Ying and Li Banfeng.
Slightly embarrassed, Hong Ying explained to Li Banfeng, "You really picked a good moment. The house is sound asleep and hasn’t woken up yet. Quickly, take me to your home."
Li Banfeng escorted Hong Ying into the Portable Residence.
The Wine Gourd didn’t dare make a sound.
The Blood-Thirsty Pendulum pressed close to the Silk-pulling Earrings.
Meng De from the Month Plate covered his eyes.
The Old Teapot pretended to be asleep.
The Judge’s Pen was genuinely asleep.
The Tang Sword, disregarding everything, flew into the second room.
Li Banfeng, holding the Long Spear, looked towards the Phonograph.
The Long Spear was still speaking, "Is this your home? Did we get home so quickly? Your home is quite close to where I used to live.
"This house is so strange... What kind of house is this? Who are you?"
Hong Ying sensed something was wrong with the house and roared, "You deceived me! You dare deceive me! What the hell is this place? This is..."
She realized it wasn’t just the house that was off; there were other things inside.
"Wicked woman, I smell you! This is your den! I’ll freaking...!"
Li Banfeng gripped the Long Spear tightly and commanded, "Now!"
A cloud of Steam rushed forward, tightly enveloping the Long Spear.
The Long Spear trembled, wrenched itself from Li Banfeng’s grip, and turned to stab him.
Steam moved first, shielding Li Banfeng, as his wife cried out, "Husband, leave the rest to your Little Servant!"
Grabbing Hong Ying just then had already given his wife the initiative. She used a cloud of Steam to send Li Banfeng into the second room, sealed the door, and began to fight fiercely with Hong Ying.
Li Banfeng pressed himself against the door, listening to the two of them fight and curse.
"Vile woman, you dare scheme against me! I was just looking for you! Let’s settle this today!"
"Wretch! You dare talk about settling things with me? You might as well get your face stuck in a Peach, since you’ve clearly given up on it anyway!"
Li Banfeng listened anxiously.
After fighting for some time, his wife seemed not to have gained the upper hand.
Li Banfeng couldn’t think of any way to help his wife.
PANT... PANT...
His wife’s breathing was ragged; she seemed to be at a disadvantage.
A voice cried out from the Phonograph’s horn, "Husband, help me! Use your will to open an aperture for her!"
"How do I do that?" Li Banfeng didn’t quite understand.
"Husband, concentrate your will and open an aperture for her."
"Which aperture?"
"Her ears!"
Li Banfeng focused his will, picturing only the shape and form of ears.
The moment he envisioned ear canals, a piercing scream came from beyond the door.
The scream was Hong Ying’s.
Her ears were unblocked.
Li Banfeng hadn’t expected that a Home Cultivator and a House Spirit could coordinate their attacks this way.
Having been deaf for so many years, Hong Ying should have been overjoyed that her hearing was restored.
But in front of the Phonograph, this was not necessarily a good thing.
His wife began to sing:
"In spring, green grass grows; battle garbs are finely sewn.
In summer, red flowers bloom; drums and bugles loudly drone.
In autumn, yellow leaves fall; foes are felled before our own.
In winter, white snow flies; blood is spilt for heroes known!"
His wife sang this mournful battle song.
Upon hearing this song, Hong Ying instantly lost her mind.
"Wicked woman! I did nothing wrong! What right do you have to humiliate me!"
"Shameless wretch! How dare you claim you did nothing wrong? Do you even remember the duty of a warrior?"
"I’ll fight you to the death!" The Long Spear, having lost all reason, thrust straight toward the Phonograph.
As the song vibrated through the air, Li Banfeng and the other Magical Treasures remained unaffected; only the Long Spear lay motionless on the ground.
Li Banfeng stepped out of the room, looked at the Long Spear, and asked, "Wife, is it dealt with?"
The Phonograph gasped for a moment before replying, "Dealt with!"
A weight lifted from Li Banfeng’s heart. He picked up the Long Spear and said, "Good, I’ll go dispose of her."
"Husband, wait a moment!"
Li Banfeng was startled. "What is it, Wife?"
"Husband, she’s not dead yet."
"Not dead?" Li Banfeng quickly dropped the Long Spear. "Wife, this is no joking matter! Such a delicious meal—you should eat her while she’s fresh! Why keep her?"
"Husband, your Little Servant begs one thing of you. Let this wretch live a few more days. I have some questions for her.
"These questions have been buried for who knows how many years. If your Little Servant doesn’t get clear answers, this knot in my heart will never be untied."
"Wife, having such a fierce woman in the house... I just don’t feel at ease."
"Husband, rest assured. She’s been hit by my Technique; even if she has tricks, she can’t use them."
"But..."
Li Banfeng was in a difficult position.
The Phonograph knew Li Banfeng didn’t want to keep Hong Ying, but if she didn’t ask these questions, she would suffer for a lifetime. "Your Little Servant has made things difficult for you, Husband. But there are some things your Little Servant just has to get to the bottom of. I beg you, Husband, please grant me a few more days.
"Husband, your Little Servant begs you.
"Husband, your Little Servant earnestly implores you."
Li Banfeng looked at the Long Spear lying on the ground, its imposing aura still palpable.
Li Banfeng unbuckled his belt.
The Phonograph shivered. "Oh, Husband, are you going to administer family discipline?
"It’s alright if you punish me, Husband; your Little Servant deserves it. Just please don’t let the others in the household see."
Li Banfeng didn’t speak. He turned, went to the second room, and retrieved a weapon.
It was a long spear he had taken from Old Madam Han’s house. Since Li Banfeng wasn’t adept with long weapons, it had been stored in his Portable Residence all this time.
Carrying the belt and this other long spear, he looked down at Hong Ying on the ground again and asked the Phonograph, "Wife, can she still speak?"
"Yes. She’ll be able to talk once she regains consciousness."
Li Banfeng nodded and ripped the buttons off his clothes.
...
A woman selling cloth approached Luo Zhengnan, pretending to buy vegetables, and whispered, "Someone entered the Fortress Lord’s mansion last night. This morning, the seal on the mansion was broken."
Luo Zhengnan smiled. "It seems things went according to plan!"
PS: This crafty old fox is not so easily deceived!
There’s an extra Chapter today, it will be out at twelve noon. Dear readers, please give all your monthly tickets to Shala!