This conclusion left Li Banfeng somewhat unable to comprehend.
He could ponder the matter slowly, but the problem at hand had to be resolved as quickly as possible.
He Caiyuan was still alive. Although his body had been twisted into a pretzel, some of his joints were twitching.
Since he hadn’t died, handling him would be easier. Li Banfeng picked him up and sent him directly into the Portable Residence.
But the Big Toad was also alive. It showed no signs of life, but indeed, it was very much alive.
This toad was so large that not only could it not fit through the door of the Portable Residence, but even one of its rooms wouldn’t be able to contain it.
Not moving it was not an option either. This was a purebred from the Inner State; even if not for consumption, it couldn’t be left out to attract unwanted attention.
Li Banfeng thought.
He first opened the Portable Residence, then grabbed the toad’s head and started dragging it inside.
Just the toad’s head alone filled the door frame. Li Banfeng still wanted to pull harder when suddenly the Portable Residence shouted, "Hold on!"
Li Banfeng asked, "What’s the matter? Did I damage the door frame?"
The Portable Residence sneered with disdain. "Such fine ingredients shouldn’t be wasted like this. Step aside for a moment."
The Gloves chuckled. "When it comes to good stuff, our Old Man gets spirited!"
The door frame of the Portable Residence bent from straight to curved, and the entire door began to distort.
Ge Junma’s body also started to twist. It was first flattened, then stretched out, and finally turned into a ball, squeezing through the door.
This meatball took up most of the space in the main room; Li Banfeng’s bed had been moved by the Portable Residence to the Second Room.
But even compressed into a ball, Li Banfeng still felt the toad’s body had gotten considerably smaller.
"Isn’t this toad’s size a bit off?" Li Banfeng whispered.
The Gloves laughed. "After passing through our Old Man’s hands, how could it be the same size? How about we go up to the Third Room and take a look?"
Once in the Third Room, Li Banfeng saw that all the oil drums on the floor were filled to the brim.
"Old Man, where did this oil come from?"
The Portable Residence replied with a laugh, "Toad Oil! It’s also good fuel!"
The Phonograph called out from the main room, "Sisters, our man has brought back some tasty treats! This toad isn’t ordinary at all; eating it once in a lifetime would be no loss!"
The Tang Sword rushed forward. "Lady, don’t just think about the sisters; you can’t forget about us brothers!"
The Sickle followed closely. "I’m the big knife; I stand in front. You stand back."
Meng De emerged from the Month Plate, waiting quietly beside the meatball.
The Earrings were still recovering from a major injury, and her movements were not very agile. The Clock Pendulum supported her as they approached the meatball.
The Teapot called out, "Who will help this old man? I was also injured in the rough battle just now!"
The Wine Gourd sneered, "If you’re injured, then don’t eat. Go find a place to recuperate."
Li Banfeng asked the Gloves, "Aren’t you in a hurry?"
The Gloves laughed. "What’s the rush? Who dares to move a chopstick before the Madam has finished eating? When she’s done, I’ll get my chance, and I guarantee I’ll be faster than them."
"HUMPH!" The Judge’s Pen, who had woken up at some point, didn’t care whether the Phonograph allowed it and plunged headfirst into the meatball.
The Music Box waited obediently by the side, the Little Copper Man on its turntable looking expectantly at the meatball.
Having tasted a piece of the toad’s Soul, the Phonograph couldn’t maintain her composure as the Lady and shouted out, "This toad is too delicious!"
Hong Ying frowned and said, "Hurry up and eat! You’re always making a fuss, insisting on eating it live!"
Red Lotus watched Li Banfeng from the Ninth Room, gently unfurling a Lotus Leaf.
she thought.
After the wife had finished with the Soul, everyone started using their chopsticks. Witnessing the harmonious family atmosphere, Li Banfeng left the Portable Residence with a smile.
He was utterly exhausted. It was too noisy inside the Portable Residence, and he wanted to return to the study room for a nap.
As he reached the garden gate, Li Banfeng saw the couple was still lying in the snowdrift.
he wondered.
Li Banfeng wanted to wake them up but then heard the two whispering to each other.
"Why am I in your arms?"
"I don’t know."
"Let me go. Let me leave."
"I won’t let go."
The woman said, "If you don’t let go, I won’t let go either."
The man asserted, "I will never let go, even if you do."
Li Banfeng intervened, "I’m going to count to three, and you two let go together!"
With eyes closed, they held each other tight, pretending to be asleep.
Li Banfeng thought.
Li Banfeng called for a coach, gave the Coachman some money, and asked him to take them to an inn.
Back at Sand Goose House, Li Banfeng lay on his bed, his body feeling numb and limp.
he mused.
His eyelids grew heavier, and Li Banfeng was about to drift into dreamland.
「Early the next morning.」
Li Banfeng ran to Willow Garden as if his feet had wings.
He remembered what he had forgotten: the Projector.
Owing to its unique mode of operation, the Projector had to be set up in a designated location beforehand to be effective, which sometimes caused Li Banfeng to forget to retrieve it.
The Projector was still in the tree, its lens flickering with firelight.
"Seventh Guide, you’re back!" the Projector called out.
Li Banfeng, holding the Projector, replied, "I’m back."
"Is the battle over?"