Li Banfeng wanted to build the train station on Qiu Luoye’s territory, not only to complement this pioneering operation but also to prepare for future matters.
He had opened a large number of plots on Qiu Luoye’s land. As the landlord, these plots belonged to him. Apart from his own properties, Qiu Luoye’s territory had become one of Li Banfeng’s most important foundations.
The question now was where exactly to build the station.
The location had to be absolutely hidden, so even when Li Banfeng was not around, ordinary people could not easily approach it.
Portable Residence offered a suggestion, "Bei Wushuang’s residence is very special. You can go take a look and learn his Craftsmanship Method."
Bei Wushuang had been dead for so long; Pan Dehai must have left.
Li Banfeng arrived at a sand pit in the middle of the wilderness. He saw that Bei Wushuang’s remains had vanished, and the sand eyes that previously emerged in the sand pit had also disappeared.
he thought.
But the problem was, how could he enter Bei Wushuang’s residence?
According to the battle between Bei Wushuang, Gao Shuxia, and the Hundred-Eyes Fish, Bei Wushuang had formed a melody with his footsteps and howls, which opened the entrance to his residence.
Li Banfeng clearly lacked this ability. He returned to Portable Residence and said, "To get into his residence, I need my lady’s help."
Portable Residence was unwilling. "I have said before, this kind of favor is not to be repeated."
The Phonograph said from the side, "My Lord, let me teach you some methods. Why not try them and see if they work?"
Li Banfeng shook his head. "Bei Wushuang had Cloud Top Cultivation. The Technique I learn now will certainly not open his door. If my lady does not come, our trip will have been in vain."
After much hesitation, Portable Residence still agreed to Li Banfeng’s request, but the rules remained unchanged: the Phonograph could not take her combat power out.
Li Banfeng, carrying the Phonograph, arrived at the sand pit. The Phonograph twisted her horn, observing the surroundings.
WOO~
A low moan arose, and the yellow sand on the ground vibrated slightly. Through the feedback from the sand, the Phonograph analyzed the structure beneath the ground.
DONG DONG~
The sound of drumbeats began as she imitated Bei Wushuang’s footsteps.
TA LA BA BA~
The sound of the suona followed, as the Phonograph imitated Bei Wushuang’s howls with it.
After the melody, the quicksand on the ground spun rapidly, and a sand eye slowly reappeared.
"Strange," murmured the Phonograph. "It shouldn’t have been so easy. Why is Bei Wushuang’s Technique so familiar to me?"
Li Banfeng was puzzled. "Isn’t Bei Wushuang a Sound Cultivator? Aren’t the Techniques of Sound Cultivators all the same? Haven’t you always been very familiar with the Techniques of Sound Cultivators, my lady?"
"My Lord," the Phonograph replied, "the Taoist Sect of Sound Cultivators has some unique aspects. Everyone’s voice is different, so there are variations in their Techniques. I’m far too familiar with Bei Wushuang’s Technique, but I, Little Servant, truly can’t recall ever having known this person."
Bei Wushuang was already dead, and his body hadn’t even been recovered, so this matter was difficult to verify.
"Let’s go into his house and take a look; perhaps we can find some clues," said Li Banfeng, looking at the sand eye. "Is this the entrance then?"
The Phonograph cautioned, "My Lord, be careful. This sand pit contains dozens of entrances, most of which lead to traps. The one I opened should lead to his residence. However, his dwelling is peculiar, and it’s hard to say what might be set up inside the hall."
Li Banfeng tightened his guard and, holding the Phonograph, entered the sand eye. Fine sand rushed at them, threatening to surge into their ears, noses, and mouths.
Li Banfeng used the Path-breaking Technique to fend off the fine sand, following the sand eye all the way to the hall.
The hall was pitch-dark. Li Banfeng struck a match to roughly discern its layout.
It was about ten meters in length and width, with a ceiling less than two meters high—a rather spacious but somewhat oppressive hall.
WU WENG~
The Phonograph let out another low hum.
Doors appeared on all the surrounding walls.
The Phonograph grew even more astonished. "My Lord, I do not know who Bei Wushuang studied under, but his Techniques are truly very similar to mine."
"Stop joking. How could his camel’s cry resemble yours, my lady?" Li Banfeng looked around and asked, "Where do these four doors lead?"
"Each of the four doors leads to a room. My Lord, there’s no harm in opening them to look, but be very careful of any mechanisms."
Li Banfeng opened the closest door first. Behind it was a small room filled with Gold Bars and scattered Silver Yuan.
"Mundane objects!" Li Banfeng sneered and moved everything from the room into Portable Residence.
Upon opening the second door, he found a spacious room—this was Bei Wushuang’s bedroom, featuring an exceptionally large bed. The light-yellow bed curtains and canopy felt very soft to the touch. They were painted with intricate motifs that seemed to narrate the story of a caravan embarking on a distant trading journey.
Li Banfeng did not scrutinize the bed hangings; instead, he tested how the bed felt.
Li Banfeng placed the Phonograph on the bed. "My lady, wouldn’t it be very comfortable to sleep on this?"
The Phonograph hummed. "My Lord, are you mocking Little Servant?"
"I am thinking of moving this bed back, then placing my lady on top of it."
The Phonograph chuckled, but Li Banfeng was not joking—he truly lifted the bed.
The bed was too big to fit through the door. Seeing Li Banfeng was serious, the Phonograph quickly took out tools and dismantled the bed in no time. Li Banfeng packed the parts, along with the bed curtains and canopy, and sent everything into Portable Residence.
Pushing open the third door, it led to an empty room. Just as Li Banfeng was about to walk in, he suddenly sensed imminent danger.
He decided not to enter this room.
he thought.
Behind the fourth door, there were many musical instruments—erhu, pipa, guzheng, yangqin, suona, drums...and a sword.
A sword amongst a pile of instruments struck a discordant note.
The Phonograph in his arms suddenly shuddered. She now knew why Bei Wushuang’s Techniques were similar to hers—he had learned many of them from here!
Feeling the Phonograph trembling in his arms, Li Banfeng asked, "My lady, what’s wrong?"
"My Lord~ Little Servant really likes everything in this room," said the Phonograph.
Li Banfeng realized.
He entered the room, confirmed it was free of traps, and moved all the instruments into Portable Residence.
The Phonograph then said, "My Lord, Little Servant also really likes that sword."
Li Banfeng mused.
he decided. Li Banfeng took the sword into Portable Residence as well.
There was also a large wooden cabinet in the room. Li Banfeng opened it and laughed.
Inside the cabinet were Contract Books.
Not Contract Books for Local Deities, but for the Strange Monsters of the territory—an entire cabinet full of them.
Li Banfeng sorted through the Contract Books and took them all into Portable Residence. These Strange Monsters now belonged to him!
After moving the cabinet into Portable Residence, Li Banfeng asked, "Have we fully explored his dwelling?"
Portable Residence replied, "You haven’t completely gone through his house, but other places might be difficult to navigate."
The Phonograph added, "Indeed, they are difficult to navigate. Many areas are filled with traps."
Portable Residence said to the Phonograph, "Enough. You’ve learned the Craftsmanship Method well enough. Even if I’ve missed something, you should have mastered it by now. Take your man and get out."
After the Phonograph performed another melody, a sand eye opened in the ceiling of the hall.
Li Banfeng jumped into the sand eye. Climbing up was more strenuous than going down, but it was a negligible effort for a Traveling Cultivator.
After crawling out of the sand eye, Li Banfeng returned the Phonograph to Portable Residence and pulled out a stack of Contract Books from the cabinet. Along with a host of Magical Treasures, he went to find the Strange Monsters in Bei Wushuang’s territory.
No sooner had Li Banfeng left than the Phonograph drew the sword and pointed it at Hong Ying’s forehead. "Bitch, do you recognize this sword?"
The blade of the sword bore dried bloodstains, from which one could faintly detect a bloody scent.
Hong Ying laughed. "I recognize it. It’s my sword—the one used to kill you!"
"Bitch!" The Phonograph’s voice trembled slightly. "I’m going to chop off your head right now!"
"Come on." Hong Ying thrust her spearhead forward. "Chop me, and we’ll be even!"