Brothers

The pendulum had studied painting. As a famous belle of her generation, painting was one of her fundamental talents. Although she had lost most of her memories from when she was alive, her foundation in painting remained, much like how the songstress flower still retained her singing skills. Her round, gleaming body pressed against the back of Li Banfeng's hand, guiding him stroke by stroke through the composition. Li Banfeng studied brushwork for the entire night, and by daybreak, he could at least sketch the shape of a person. From the standpoint of basic sketching, the drawing possessed some sense of perspective and depth, and the bodily proportions roughly matched a normal human being. Li Banfeng focused his intent and dripped a drop of blood onto the drawing. The blood rapidly spread across the paper, and the sheet folded and curved in swift motion as a frail-figured woman slowly stepped out from the page. She was on the smaller side, not even a foot tall. Could she be called a beauty? Li Banfeng studied the woman for a moment, found a piece of cloth, and covered her face. Even though he had drawn her himself, he couldn't bear to look at her. Beside him, the pendulum comforted him. "Depicting facial features cannot be learned overnight. Master has great aptitude. With more study and practice in the future, you will surely be able to paint a peerless beauty." "How long will that take to study?" "I don't recall clearly, but it should take two or three years." "Two or three years?" That meant for the next two or three years, Li Banfeng wouldn't be able to master his fourth-tier technique at all. Seeing Li Banfeng somewhat irritated, the pendulum didn't dare say another word. Puff— The gramophone vented a puff of steam, like a sigh. "Aiya, Husband, what Hanxue is teaching you is Western painting. That skill isn't easy to master. Two or three years isn't long at all—you're just too impatient." "Even if she's a bit unsightly, let's test things out with her first." Li Banfeng went outside with the one-foot-tall woman to scout a suitable opponent for her. He picked a sensitive plant. Similar to an ordinary sensitive plant, it folded its leaves when startled, only its strength was slightly greater—enough to tear open an ordinary person's flesh. Li Banfeng instructed the one-foot maiden, "Go pick that sensitive plant and bring it back." The one-foot maiden stood motionless where she was. "The plant! That plant over there! Bring the plant back! Do you know what a plant is?" Li Banfeng gestured and explained, exerting himself for quite some time before the maiden finally grasped his meaning and tottered toward the sensitive plant. "This is even worse than the clay figurine I made. At least the clay doll understood the first time I told it." The pendulum explained, "Master, when you drew her, you only gave her long hair and didn't draw any ears." "Her ears were covered by her long hair. Did I need to draw them separately?" "I don't understand the underlying principles either, but perhaps they ought to be drawn." "When I sculpted the clay figurine, I didn't make ears either." "I remember Master using a toothpick to poke holes on both sides..." Riiip— While the two were still talking, the one-foot maiden was already torn to shreds by the sensitive plant. Li Banfeng gathered up the maiden's mangled remains and placed them inside the Portable Abode. Before long, the remains dissolved into a scatter of shredded paper on the floor, stained with flecks of blood. This meant the one-foot maiden had completely lost all signs of life. The charming beauty Li Banfeng had spent the entire night creating was another failure. Seeing Li Banfeng look dejected, the gramophone offered a word of comfort. "Husband, fourth-tier techniques are difficult to learn to begin with. Reaching this point in a single night is already no small feat." Li Banfeng was thoroughly unconvinced. "If this were the Outer States, never mind paper cutouts, even ones made of silicone could be bought by the dozen!" "Made of silicone?" The wife didn't quite understand what Li Banfeng meant. "Husband, you cannot simply buy one. The charming beauty must be crafted with your own hands. That is the fundamental basis of the technique." "I'm a Dwelling Cultivator! I have to learn how to paint, and sculpt clay figurines... Doesn't that make me a Craft Cultivator?" Chzz-chzz— The gramophone chuckled. "A Dwelling Cultivator doesn't need to master everything, but must be proficient in everything. You will understand later, Husband—there is still plenty more for you to learn." That did fit the traits of a shut-in—knowing a bit of everything. Li Banfeng took out paper and pen and continued learning how to draw. He only had a single dip pen, which he had bought from Feng's Grocery Store. After drawing with it all night, the nib had split. The pen was no longer usable. What else could he use? Li Banfeng brought over the Judge's Brush. "Don't..." the Judge's Brush spoke up. It couldn't be bothered to accompany Li Banfeng in drawing, but it was also too lazy to say another word. Li Banfeng couldn't be bothered to listen to its nonsense either. Dipping it in ink, he began drawing directly. The Judge's Brush was a weapon; its tip was razor-sharp. The moment it touched the paper, it pierced right through. The gramophone advised, "Rest a while, Husband. That object won't do. Wait until you've bought proper paper and brushes before studying further." Li Banfeng's stubborn streak flared up. Paying no heed to anyone's advice, he gripped the Judge's Brush, carefully controlled his strength, and drew a charming beauty stroke by stroke. After drawing for a while, Li Banfeng couldn't be bothered to draw anymore. Not only did he not feel like drawing, he didn't feel like doing anything at all. "Hmph!" The Judge's Brush gave a cold sneer. Just a single sneer. This was the toll exacted by the Judge's Brush. Back when Li Banfeng used it to fly across the Wireworm River, he should have paid the price. Yet so much time had passed, and the Judge's Brush had simply been too lazy to collect. Now that Li Banfeng had forced it to draw, the Judge's Brush took back its due. For the next half-day, no matter what Li Banfeng did, he felt utterly overcome by lethargy. *** Ma the Fifth sat on the plot, quietly watching the pocket watch in his hand. In just half a day, the land reclamation would be over. Xiao Genzi sat beside him, looking at the wounds covering Ma the Fifth's body. Even if they had fallen for him, that House Centipede mother and daughter weren't human; they couldn't possibly treat Ma the Fifth with much gentleness. When they first encountered the House Centipede Woman, Xiao Genzi had only found it absurd. But when they encountered the House Centipede Mother the second time, Xiao Genzi understood one thing: Ma the Fifth was truly putting his life on the line. He was risking his life to reclaim land, and he was risking his life to cultivate. That was his purpose in coming to the newland. Seeing Ma the Fifth's perseverance, Xiao Genzi was filled with admiration. Fifth Young Master was someone destined for great things. Xiao Genzi had chosen the best pathway and the best boss; he firmly believed that he, too, could make something of himself! As the two watched the pocket watch together, waiting for the reclamation to succeed, a rustling slither crept out from the darkness. Xiao Genzi raised his ladle and barked, "Who goes there?!" "Heheheh, young man, you're quite amusing." The moment he heard that voice, Ma the Fifth began to tremble all over. Before coming to the newland, he had prepared extensively. He knew how dangerous this journey would be, and he knew what he would have to face. But there was one thing he never wanted to face. In Puluo Province, if there was a name that could strike terror into both Li Banfeng and Ma the Fifth at once, it was not He Haiqin, nor Chu Huaijun, nor Monkey Qiu—none of those powerhouses from prominent families. The two of them had seen some of the world; even major figures like Lüshui Beggar, Old Yao, Feng Daiku, and Pan Dehai were people they had dealt with to varying degrees. Yet if Madam Bagworm Moth were mentioned, even if Li Banfeng were here, his only thought would be to run. She was an existence that had truly dragged them through the gates of hell. A Madam Bagworm Moth, wriggling her plump body, arrived at the edge of the plot. She was somewhat different from the Madam Bagworm Moth they had encountered before. This one looked younger—by human standards, around thirty years old. Truth be told, her face was quite pretty. Yet no matter how pretty she was, Ma the Fifth couldn't even stand. Seeing that Ma the Fifth didn't dare face the enemy, Xiao Genzi took his ladle and splashed a shower of golden elixir toward Madam Bagworm Moth first. Though Madam Bagworm Moth's body was plump, she was not clumsy in the slightest. She easily dodged the golden elixir and stared at Xiao Genzi's ladle for a long while. "Little child, you throw this stuff at me? You've really made me angry." According to the local spirit's trial rules, anomalies of the newland had to enter within the plot's boundary before they could attack. But Madam Bagworm Moth hadn't come for a trial. She was a roaming anomaly; she had no need to follow the rules of land reclamation. Madam Bagworm Moth lashed her antenna, striking Xiao Genzi directly. She didn't like killing people—she only liked playing with them. Yet this single blow was enough to end Xiao Genzi's life. The bucket on Xiao Genzi's back suddenly swung to his front, taking the blow for him. This was the Gold Cultivator first-tier technique: Gold Bucket Shelters the Body. The golden bucket worn on the back would help the cultivator block incoming attacks. Though it blocked Madam Bagworm Moth's antenna, the impact still sent Xiao Genzi flying. He crashed heavily to the ground, knocked unconscious. Madam Bagworm Moth stormed furiously into the plot, intending to torment Xiao Genzi. Ma the Fifth stood in front of Xiao Genzi, barring Madam Bagworm Moth's path. "Little brother, what do you think you're doing?" Madam Bagworm Moth sized up Ma the Fifth from head to toe. Ma the Fifth suppressed his trembling body and stared at the bagworm moth for two full minutes. Madam Bagworm Moth's gaze softened; Ma the Fifth's talent had taken effect. "Little brother, do you want to play with big sister?" Ma the Fifth nodded. "Yes. Play." Madam Bagworm Moth laughed. "Can you endure it?" Ma the Fifth took a deep breath. "I can!" Madam Bagworm Moth burst into loud laughter and charged toward Ma the Fifth. Ma the Fifth gritted his teeth and charged toward Madam Bagworm Moth as well. Hovering in midair, the local spirit looked down upon the plot, reluctant to leave for a long time. He was dumbfounded. This lad was only at the first tier, yet he actually dared to charge? Wasn't this just throwing his life away? Why was this man so stubborn? Why wouldn't he just give up this plot of land? Madam Bagworm Moth and the House Centipede mother and daughter were on completely different levels. Measured by human cultivation tiers, the House Centipede Woman was at the third tier, and the House Centipede Mother barely reached the fourth tier. This Madam Bagworm Moth was at the eighth tier, one of the most formidable anomalies in the newland. Even with the talent Feng Daiku had gifted him, against Madam Bagworm Moth, it was pure suicide. The local spirit had lured Madam Bagworm Moth here to scare Ma the Fifth away. Yet he had never expected Ma the Fifth to charge head-on into Madam Bagworm Moth instead. Looking down at Ma the Fifth, the local spirit gave a quiet sigh of praise. "He truly is a man of grit. Perhaps he will be of use in the future." The land reclamation trial was, in the end, an assessment to test whether someone was capable of shouldering the plot. A one-li plot—Ma the Fifth could shoulder it. The local spirit channeled his will, lending Ma the Fifth a portion of strength. Madam Bagworm Moth, who had been laughing wildly, suddenly had a change of expression. "Little brother, y-you... slow down..." *** Five hours later, Xiao Genzi woke up. Ma the Fifth was feeding him medicine. Swallowing the medicinal broth, Xiao Genzi sat up. Seeing Ma the Fifth covered in wounds, his face battered beyond recognition, Xiao Genzi asked in panic, "Young Master, where did that bug go? Where did she run off to? I'll fight her to the death!" Ma the Fifth smiled. "She left." Xiao Genzi was stunned for a moment, then beamed. "Young Master, you won? I knew it, you weren't afraid of that bug!" He had no idea of Madam Bagworm Moth's true caliber, assuming it was only natural for Ma the Fifth to win. Ma the Fifth shook his head with a bitter smile. He didn't even know how he had won this battle. Twice, he had nearly passed out, yet he gritted his teeth and endured through sheer grit. "Young Master, how much longer? Let's grit our teeth a little longer—I reckon it's almost done." Ma the Fifth said nothing. Xiao Genzi looked around and felt the surroundings had grown noticeably brighter. He looked up at the sky and saw a halo of light. "It's brightened—there's Heavenly Light!" Xiao Genzi cried out in joy. "We did it! The newland is reclaimed!" Ma the Fifth was smiling, and as he smiled, tears welled in his eyes. The newland was reclaimed. Relying on his own strength, Ma the Fifth had reclaimed a one-li plot of wasteland. Xiao Genzi took out a signal rocket and asked Ma the Fifth, "Should we inform Seventh Master?" Ma the Fifth nodded. Xiao Genzi cracked open the signal rocket. Today his luck was exceptionally good—the very first rocket went off. *** Li Banfeng was strolling through the wilderness. Learning to paint was simply too hard, to say nothing of learning sculpture and pottery later on. He was pondering a shortcut when he suddenly spotted sparks of fire flashing in midair. A signal rocket! Something happened to Ma the Fifth! Li Banfeng hurried toward the plot. As he sprinted along, he saw the halo of light in the sky. The newland was successfully reclaimed? Li Banfeng pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at it. He had been so engrossed in studying the fourth-tier technique that he had lost track of time. The three-day reclamation period had already passed. Li Banfeng ran faster and faster. When he reached the edge of the plot, he saw Ma the Fifth, battered and bruised, smiling at him. The halo around the plot had vanished. The newland was truly reclaimed. Li Banfeng stepped onto the plot, looked at Ma the Fifth, and burst into laughter alongside him. "Brother!" Ma the Fifth shouted hoarsely. "I did it!" "You did it! Well done!" Li Banfeng roared in return. Their laughter echoed across the wilderness for a long time. *** The three of them spent half a day digging a well. Ma the Fifth lit a campfire, and Li Banfeng drew a bucket of water, letting the silt settle. Xiao Genzi took off with the bucket on his back to cultivate. He had spent the last three days reclaiming land; now he had to make haste and replenish his golden elixir. Sitting around the campfire, the two shared a few drinks. Ma the Fifth said to Li Banfeng, "Brother Li, how old are you this year?" This question actually stumped Li Banfeng. He was an orphan who didn't know his own birthday. Based on the records at the welfare home, give or take, he should be twenty-two this year. "Let's say twenty-two." Ma the Fifth said, "I'm twenty-three, a year older than you. Always calling you 'Brother Li' feels distant. May I call you Old Seven?" Li Banfeng nodded. "Then from now on, I'll call you Old Five." "Uh..." Ma the Fifth had assumed Li Banfeng would call him Fifth Brother, but Old Five was fine too. "Old Seven, through all the stumbling and scraping our way to this point, I've always been dragging you down. Today, having opened this land, I feel like I'm finally someone useful. "In the future, we'll build houses, establish our foundation, do business, and advance our cultivation on this territory. "With our respective methods, we can open up a few more plots and carve out a domain of our own!" Li Banfeng had been thinking the exact same thing. Just as he was about to speak, a furious shout came ringing by their ears: "Ptui! A pair of shameless scoundrels!" The local spirit had admired Ma the Fifth, but hearing that the two of them planned to use this trick to open even more plots, he couldn't hold back his fury. He spat at them, then departed. A downpour lashed the ground, dousing the campfire. The two gathered some dry firewood and were preparing to rekindle the flame when Li Banfeng's ears twitched, and he looked into the distance. Aided by the Thread-Hook Earring, he heard the sound of something colossal slithering. The firewood dropped from his hands, and Li Banfeng shouted, "Old Five, spill blood!" Madam Bagworm Moth had come! Just hearing the sound of her slithering was enough to make Li Banfeng stumble over his words. This was the vile anomaly that had injured his wife in the past! Ma the Fifth stepped in front of Li Banfeng, his expression composed. "Don't panic. Leave it to me." Li Banfeng said, "Of course it's for you to handle—this is your plot! Hurry up and spill blood!" According to the pact with the local spirit, spilling blood meant Ma the Fifth was seeking the local spirit's protection. If Madam Bagworm Moth forced her way in, the local spirit was obligated to protect Ma the Fifth. But Ma the Fifth had no intention of spilling blood. He simply stood at the edge of the plot, waiting for Madam Bagworm Moth to appear. "Brother, I won't drag you down anymore!" Ma the Fifth's expression was exceptionally resolute—until Madam Bagworm Moth's massive form entered their sight. Madam Bagworm Moth looked at Ma the Fifth, froze for a moment, shuddered, and abruptly retreated. "Little brother, I went the wrong way. It was dark, and I couldn't see the path clearly. "I didn't come looking for you. I truly didn't! I'm leaving right now, right this instant..." What was going on? Watching Madam Bagworm Moth flee, Li Banfeng was completely baffled. What left him even more mystified followed right after. With a single leap, Ma the Fifth jumped onto Madam Bagworm Moth's back. Madam Bagworm Moth let out a pitiful wail. "No, truly, no more! I really can't take it anymore today! Little brother, I know I was wrong! I truly just took the wrong path! Please spare me..." The power the local spirit had lent Ma the Fifth had long since been taken back; Ma the Fifth was no longer that powerful now. Yet Madam Bagworm Moth was terrified. Shaking her body, she scurried frantically, trying to fling Ma the Fifth off. Yet Ma the Fifth sat firmly, doing his work with utter composure. Watching the clouds of dust kicked up all around, Li Banfeng stood dumbstruck inside the plot. Just what on earth had happened?