Li Banfeng agreed and stealthily entered the fort that very evening, observing everyone’s reactions.
Since the fort had won a great victory, a celebration feast was bound to be held while Li Banfeng was present. Wu Yongchao also prepared one, purchasing wine and meat, and even hired chefs, readying dozens of banquet tables.
However, that was the problem with Home Cultivators: come evening, various excuses were found to decline attendance.
Left without a choice, Wu Yongchao distributed the food and drinks to each household. Most Home Cultivators lived alone, and having a drink with their House Spirit, they still felt quite content.
Back in his Portable Residence, Li Banfeng checked the progress of the Red Lotus’s alchemy. Since Li Banfeng had reached the Ninth Layer as a Traveling Cultivator, all the Elixirs produced by Red Lotus were Gold Yuan Pills. Together with Xiao Zhenggong’s contribution, they totaled fifty-three pills.
"Ah Lian, what do you mean by this?" Li Banfeng gently stroked the heart of the Copper Lotus Flower.
Red Lotus argued, "You said so yourself; you wanted Gold Yuan Pills. Now that I’ve made them for you, you’re unsatisfied!"
"I’ve already ascended to the Ninth Layer. What’s the use of these for me now?"
"When heading from the Ninth Layer towards the Tenth Layer, Gold Yuan Pills are still of use."
"I don’t intend to climb to the Tenth Layer. I want to leap directly to Above the Clouds."
"Even so, you must wait until you’re on the brink of the Tenth Layer. Consume pills until the Ninth Layer is full, then make the leap to Cloud Top First Layer. That way, you’ll have better chances!"
Li Banfeng put the pills away. The refining of Dick Chen’s flesh and blood into an Elixir was not yet complete. Li Banfeng asked, "Will it be Gold Yuan Pills this time as well?"
"It’s hard to say; I don’t know what this man’s cultivation level was."
Li Banfeng was startled. Although one could not see another’s cultivation level, since she had consumed it, Red Lotus should have been able to gauge an approximation from experience.
"Ah Lian, what tricks are you playing at now?" Li Banfeng continued stroking the Lotus Heart.
Red Lotus replied anxiously, "This time I truly can’t taste it. His Soul has been eaten by that wicked woman; go ask her about its quality."
Li Banfeng went back to the main house to ask his wife.
His wife was worried about this very issue. "Oh, my dearest husband," she said, "having been so spoiled by your affection, I’ve probably indulged in too many delicacies. Alas, my senses of smell and taste have dulled considerably. I can no longer discern the flavors."
"My dearest, you can’t even discern something from Above the Clouds?"
CLIP-CLOP-CLIP-CLOP— HOLD!
After pondering for a long while, his wife sang in a slow rhythm:
"The Soul carried a whiff of worldly weariness, somehow hinting at Above the Clouds,
Yet it also had the earthy smell of the soil, perhaps it could be Earth Skin.
Considering the chewiness, it could be from the Ninth Layer,
And as for crispness, it might be from the First Layer.""
Li Banfeng frowned. "My dear, are you toying with me? A small discrepancy might be excusable, but the difference between the First and Ninth Layers is vast. How can you not tell them apart?"
The Phonograph also felt ashamed. "My dearest husband," she said, "I dote on you and spoil you; how could I dare deceive you with even half a word? This Soul is too peculiar; I truly cannot distinguish it."
「The next day at dawn」
Li Banfeng found the Coachman at the market entrance. "Did you find the Local Deity?" he asked.
The Coachman shook his head. "It’s a strange situation. The Local Deity isn’t at home. I asked a few old acquaintances from the surrounding territories, and they said this Local Deity seems to have been absent from Iron Gate Fort for some days now. No one knows where he went."
Li Banfeng, seeing the Coachman showed no intention of leaving, whispered, "Are you planning to take advantage of the situation here?"
The Coachman shook his head. "I’m not that sort of person. But if something has befallen the Local Deity here, it would be a shame to let such a fine territory go to waste."
"Mr. Driver, you can wait here slowly. I’m preparing to head back to Greenwater City."
"Brother," the Coachman said, "let me give you a word of warning. That Chen fellow sought my help, but he might not have sought only one helper. Others he enlisted could harbor ill intentions toward you. Be extremely cautious when you return to Greenwater City. Remember this, brother. A Traveling Cultivator traverses a thousand mountains and crosses myriad waters. They must weigh their life with every step."
Li Banfeng left Iron Gate Fort, but his mind wasn’t at ease. Since the Local Deity couldn’t be relied upon, he had to depend on his own people. Li Banfeng had Luo Zhengnan arrange for men to keep an eye on the fort’s surroundings and report immediately if anything occurred.
「In Greenwater City, at the Lu Family’s Outer House.」
Lu Chunying was dealing with the accounts in the living room, Xiao Yeci was reading in the study, and Oil Peach was reading a magazine about Black Stone Slope.
A foreign carriage stopped at the gate of the residence, and a woman in her thirties alighted.
The woman wore a tight-fitting deep red blouse with a matching long skirt, a deep red hat adorned with a veil, red gloves on her hands, and carried a small Folding Fan. She was dressed very fashionably.
Upon reaching the entrance, the woman said to Support, who was guarding the gate, "My name is Xiao Manli. I’m here to see Miss Chunying and Madam Yeci."
Support went to notify them, and Lu Chunying welcomed Xiao Manli into the house. The two looked at each other for a moment, and Lu Chunying asked in surprise, "Mrs. Xiao, do I know you?"
Xiao Manli smiled. "We are acquainted, though we haven’t had many opportunities to meet face to face. Wait until Yeci arrives, and you’ll understand."
Before long, Xiao Yeci came out from the study. Upon seeing Xiao Manli, the book in Xiao Yeci’s hand dropped to the floor.
Xiao Manli smiled. "Yeci, how many years has it been since we last met?"
"Has, has it been ten years?" Xiao Yeci stuttered.
"It’s been more than ten years. Chunying is grown up now. Yeci, I came to catch up with you. Shall we talk here, or should we find another place?"
Lu Chunying said, "Let’s speak here if you have something to say."