The Projector cast the image of Weng Fangqu, and Li Banfeng scrutinized it carefully but couldn’t spot any flaws.
"My dear husband, why have you brought out this old man again?" the Phonograph inquired.
"He has an accomplice who is adept at the Disguise Technique. When she impersonated the Local Deity, I couldn’t tell the real from the fake at all."
The Phonograph looked toward the Projector. "Did you record it?"
"Only a bit. That woman tried to seduce the Seventh Guide, but she didn’t succeed. I found it boring, so I didn’t record the rest," the Projector responded.
"A short clip is fine. As long as we can produce an image, that’s enough," said Li Banfeng.
The Projector expressed difficulty, "Well, I’m afraid we can’t really produce an image."
"Why can’t we?"
The Projector played the footage of the counterfeit Meng Yuchun, which indeed wasn’t lengthy, barely lasting over twenty seconds, yet that wasn’t the main issue.
The main issue was that the fake Meng Yuchun was always facing Li Banfeng directly. The Projector could only create a flat image, not a three-dimensional human figure, as it didn’t know what the other angles looked like.
Li Banfeng said to his wife, "It’s this person. She looks exactly like Local Deity Meng Yuchun and must be a high-ranking Drama Cultivator."
His wife had the Projector play the footage several times, then she said to Li Banfeng, "This seems to be a Playful Matron."
"What’s a Playful Matron?"
"If she really is a Playful Matron, this becomes interesting," his wife asked the Projector, "In front of a Sixth Layer Drama Cultivator, how long can you hold out?"
"If it’s from a distance, I can last two or three minutes. If it’s up close, maybe only ten seconds or so," answered the Projector.
...
Li Banfeng arrived at Meng Yuchun’s plot of land, where several hunters were discussing land cultivation with her.
Upon seeing Li Banfeng, Meng Yuchun greeted him warmly, "Li Qi, would you like to cultivate more land? You can choose the size!"
Li Banfeng smiled and replied noncommittally, "Maybe another day."
Li Banfeng was in no mood for that.
He was already planning to take his people and leave this territory.
Seeing that Li Qi was about to leave, Meng Yuchun stepped forward to stop him. "Let me take you somewhere to talk."
Li Banfeng was taken aback. "Where are you taking me?"
"I’m taking you somewhere nice. Trust me, I won’t hurt you." Meng Yuchun reached for Li Banfeng’s arm, but he quickly stepped aside.
Meng Yuchun was puzzled; she couldn’t understand why Li Banfeng was so wary.
Suddenly, Li Banfeng asked, "How big is the tract of land I’ve cultivated on your territory?"
Meng Yuchun said in surprise, "Three square miles. Have you forgotten?"
"What offering did I use?"
"Half a chicken, and it tasted quite good."
This was the real Meng Yuchun. While many knew about the three-mile plot, the half-chicken offering was not common knowledge.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Somewhere others don’t know," said Meng Yuchun.
Meng Yuchun led Li Banfeng into a mountain cave. The cave was narrow but very tall. Looking up, it seemed to be over a hundred meters high.
After traversing the cave for some time, layers of green flames emerged from Meng Yuchun’s body. Her upper body remained human, but her lower half turned into Ghost Fire. She said to Li Banfeng, "Don’t be afraid, I’m taking you up."
Meng Yuchun embraced Li Banfeng and flew up the rock wall, stopping about seventy to eighty meters from the ground, and entered a cave in the rock face.
"What is this place?" asked Li Banfeng.
"This is my home," Meng Yuchun said as she set down Li Banfeng. "Speak softly. I wouldn’t want to provoke my House Spirit."
Li Banfeng tensed. "Wasn’t your House Spirit taken by the Inner State, swallowed whole while alive?"
"In New Land, I found another House Spirit. She’s a bit temperamental, and I fear she might harm you."
Li Banfeng stood at the entrance of the cave, not venturing further inside.
"Let’s talk here," he suggested.
Meng Yuchun said, "I think I’m being watched, and it seems to be by one of your men."
Li Banfeng laughed. "You’re beautiful; it’s no wonder they’re watching you all day. What’s so strange about that?"
"We’re not talking about the same thing. Last night, near my residence, I killed a Wandering Monster. The House Spirit told me it was a Scrivener and that it’s an extremely rare type of Wandering Monster. Its presence in my territory must mean someone sent it, possibly someone who wants to harm me."
As Li Banfeng had suspected, the rare Wandering Monsters were targeting Meng Yuchun.
"What did that Scrivener look like? Give it to me. I will examine it first."
"Let’s not worry about that Scrivener for now. I need to find out who wants to harm me!"
Li Banfeng was investigating the matter as well. "That depends on whom you’ve offended recently."
"I haven’t met anyone recently, besides you."
"You suspect me?" Li Banfeng lowered the brim of his hat, ready to leave the cave at once.
Meng Yuchun shook her head. "I trust you; otherwise, I wouldn’t have brought you to my home. I’ve been a Local Deity for so long and haven’t met a soul. I thought I’d never get ahead in this life, but the Heavens pitied me and let me meet you. I genuinely want to be your friend. But if your men really intend to harm me and I have to take drastic measures against them, don’t turn on me then."
Li Banfeng said with a smile, "This definitely isn’t the work of my men. I can help you investigate, but it won’t be for free; we can negotiate the price. If you agree, we’ll start right away. If you don’t, I’ll take my people and go home immediately. I don’t want to fall out with you, nor do I want to get entangled in your troubles."
Meng Yuchun nodded. "Fine, as long as it’s a price I can afford, we can discuss it."
"First, give me the corpse of the Scrivener, then set up some traps, and we’ll talk about the price afterward," Li Banfeng said.