Precious Darling

Shui Yongquan, the local spirit, named his price: ten li of land. As long as they held one passageway, ten li of land would be transferred to Li Banfeng and Ma the Fifth. Ten li of land was no small figure. Back then, when the Lu family and the Chu family joined forces to carve out an area ten li across, they had failed, and the Chu family patriarch had even paid with his life. Ma the Fifth looked at Li Banfeng. Li Banfeng pondered for a long time before asking, "This canyon and this cave—do they belong to your family, or to Qiu Luoye's family?" Shui Yongquan replied, "They belong to mine. According to the rules of local spirits, neither side may enter the other's territory before war officially breaks out. You can set traps and contraptions in the canyon and the cave. For these three days, you may arrange them however you like." Li Banfeng asked further, "You promised ten li of land for holding a key passage. Do you mean ten li across, or a single strip ten li long?" This had to be clarified. If it was a strip ten li long, it would be a joke. Shui Yongquan lifted his teacup and took a sip. "Brother Li the Seventh, you're being overly cautious. Unworthy though I may be, I'm still the master of a domain. Would I use children's tricks to deceive you two? Naturally, it is a plot ten li across!" Li Banfeng asked again, "Where is this ten-li plot located?" If it turned out to be ten li of swampland, that would be another joke. "The location is open for discussion. As long as we win this war, you can pick any choice land you want. There's only one condition: you can't pick where my house sits. I need a place to live, too; you can't very well throw me out." Li Banfeng nodded, then asked, "Once we choose this plot ten li across, we won't need to go through the land-reclaiming process again, right?" "What kind of question is that? The land is being given to you outright, so what reclaiming would there be? Bathed in Heavenly Light, yielding well water, the plots will be ready right away!" To be given ten li of land directly—the offer was intoxicating. Li Banfeng had once thought that if he opened a hundred plots of one li across, wouldn't that equal ten li across as well? The math checked out, but according to Ma the Fifth's memories, that was practically impossible. First, a local spirit would never allow one person to reclaim a hundred plots. Even if, by some stroke of fortune, someone actually reclaimed a hundred plots, they would never be contiguous. The gaps between borders would be constantly harassed by anomalous creatures, preventing it from ever coalescing into an integrated territory. Since the local spirit had put it so plainly, Li Banfeng slapped his thigh and said, "Words alone carry no weight!" The local spirit smiled. "We can put it down in writing. Have you two agreed, then?" "No," Li Banfeng shook his head. "I was just asking. We still need to discuss it." Shui Yongquan cursed inwardly. *Damn it all! If you haven't agreed, why ask so many questions!* Shui Yongquan turned to Ma the Fifth. "Brother Ma the Fifth, what say you?" Ma the Fifth stroked his chin. "I'll follow Old Seven's lead." Swallowing his irritation, Shui Yongquan said to the two, "Young men ought to have the drive of youth. You two young talents are far too cautious. The battle begins in three days. If you make up your minds, let me know as early as possible. Otherwise, if someone else claims the glory and reward, don't come crying with regrets." The local spirit departed, leaving the map on the table. He was whetting their appetites. Ma the Fifth, ever prudent, said to Li Banfeng, "Old Seven, don't look at it. A war between local spirits isn't something we can stick our noses into." "I had no intention of getting involved. I'm just taking a look." Li Banfeng had just withstood Shui Yongquan's temptation, so Ma the Fifth trusted that he would not act rashly. "Old Seven, I've had all our brothers halt work. If this place can't be held, we have to be ready to pack up and leave at any moment." "Handle that as you see fit." Li Banfeng took the map and returned to his own plot. *** Inside the Portable Abode, the wife panted repeatedly, clouds of steam pouring forth without pause. "What is going on? Now that I've taken the pill, why does it feel like my soul is about to scatter?" The wife's abnormal condition caught Red Lotus's notice. "Vicious woman, with your soul incomplete, you actually dared to ingest a Profound Accumulation Pill. I fear your life can't be saved now." *Chiss, chiss—* The wife remained stubborn. "It's just a pill. In the past, I could have eaten these like daily meals." Red Lotus gave a cold sneer. "You don't have the abilities you once did, and this was no ordinary pill. That insect chief absorbed extraordinary power; it was meant to produce two pills." "You refined two pills into one?" The gramophone was astonished. She knew her physical state well; swallowing two Profound Accumulation Pills at once truly could cost her life. Red Lotus sighed. "I didn't want to fuse them either, but having gone so many days without seeing Heavenly Light, there was power within that insect chief I couldn't dissolve. The two pills became one, a treasure so tantalizing that even immortals would drool at the scent." The gramophone's voice shook violently. "You did it on purpose. You wanted that madman to carry the pill outside so the one in the heavens would catch its scent, find him, and then rescue you." Red Lotus scoffed. "Don't put it that way. I refined the pill, but the madman took it on his own. Then your own greed got the better of you, and you insisted on gulping it down. One way or another, it's between the two of you. How can you blame this on me?" "I wasn't greedy," the gramophone muttered, her awareness growing hazy. "He... he gave it to me of his own free will." "If you hadn't acted coquettishly, why would he ever give it to you? Shameless, vicious wench, you deserve to have your soul scattered." "I won't die. Keep dreaming, you slut!" "Vicious woman, stop being so stubborn. I know of a medicinal ingredient that can save your life. As long as you help me, I can save you." "Help you how?" "You haven't agreed to help me yet, so I can't tell you right now." *Chiss, chiss—* The gramophone gasped for breath, guessing Red Lotus's intentions. "Help you? You still want to summon that person from the heavens. If he really comes, will that madman survive?" "You still care whether he lives or dies? Look after yourself first! Let me tell you, in all of Puluo Province, no one can save you except me. You were sold out back then, yet just because he said he wouldn't begrudge giving it to you even if it were worth thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of millions in gold, you took him as your precious darling? Which man in this world isn't sweet-talking and silver-tongued? Think it over carefully: is it really worth having your soul scatter for the sake of a madman?" "Get out! Get the hell away from me!" The gramophone slammed the outer chamber door shut with force. *** When Li Banfeng returned to the Portable Abode, he found the room stiflingly hot. *Huu—chiss— huu—chiss—* The wife was panting rapidly; another complication seemed to have arisen. "Wife, what happened?" "Aiya, husband, your humble servant is fine. It's just that taking the pill made me a little flushed and feverish." *This pill is that powerful?* Li Banfeng unrolled the map left behind by Shui Yongquan. "Wife, the local spirit truly is going to war. This is the map of both sides' domains. A great mountain separates them, with only two passages: a canyon and a cave. The battle starts in three days. Do you think this fight can be won?" The gramophone stared at the map for a moment. "What benefit did that local spirit promise you?" How had his wife guessed so accurately? "He said that as long as we hold one passage, he'll give us a plot ten li across. I feel that the canyon should be defendable." The gramophone drew the map into her cabinet and projected it onto the wall with beams of firelight. "Aiya, husband, tell me then: why do you think this canyon can be held?" Li Banfeng, having read plenty of military-themed works in his time, replied, "The terrain on both sides of the canyon is treacherous. If an ambush of ten thousand soldiers lies in wait, wouldn't every enemy who enters simply be slaughtered?" *Chiss, chiss—* The wife let out a soft laugh. "Husband, you speak of mortal warfare. In battles between local spirits, the ones deployed are the cultivators under their command. That tactic won't work at all." "Why wouldn't it work?" "First, where would you find ten thousand soldiers? Across an area a hundred li around, how many living beings possess cultivation, intelligence, and the ability to wage war? At most, a hundred or two. If you agree to hold the valley for the local spirit, he won't assign you any troops. You'll only have whatever men you already command. Husband, how many capable fighters do you have under you?" "Not many... seven or eight, perhaps..." Aside from Li Banfeng and Ma the Fifth, only Zuo Wugang, Cao Zhida, Zhen Jincheng, and the three Madam Bagworm Moths could take the field. Xiao Chuanzi and Xiao Genzi would barely manage. This was entirely different from what Li Banfeng had envisioned. *Huu—chiss—* The gramophone took another breath and continued, "Even if the enemy enters the valley, they won't necessarily suffer a disadvantage. The thick-skinned and hardy can absorb attacks as they advance; the swift-footed can charge right in; and those capable of flight can fight from midair. Those who fly high enough won't even need the canyon—they can fly straight over the mountain to attack. Husband, you don't understand the combat methods of cultivators. Holding favorable terrain doesn't necessarily give you the upper hand." Li Banfeng scratched his head. "Then what use is this key transit route?" "There is use, of course. Not many anomalous creatures can fly rapidly over a great mountain, and flying across alone is like a sheep leaping into a tiger's den. If your humble servant is not mistaken, having flying creatures scout the path above the canyon while covering the main force charging below is the orthodox tactic. With just your seven or eight hands, you would be throwing your lives away on a local spirit's battlefield. Your local spirit never expected you to hold the canyon. He only wants you to serve as bait to stall the enemy. A ten-li canyon takes time to cross on foot, and if you fight them for a while and stall for twenty minutes, that will be plenty. Even if you can't hold, he'll have contingencies—there's bound to be an ambush at the valley's exit. As for the local spirit himself, he will certainly take the cave route. That path is far more concealed. He will launch a surprise raid from there, strike straight at the enemy's home base, and catch them completely off guard!" "He wants me to be bait?" Li Banfeng was stunned for a long while before asking, "What if I don't defend the valley and choose the cave instead?" "Husband, you couldn't possibly choose the cave, because you don't know the way. If you lose your path inside, wouldn't you just be waiting for death?" "If I walk it a few more times, won't I get familiar with it?" "Husband, you truly are stubborn. The battle begins in three days; how many times could you walk it? No matter how familiar you become, could you ever know it better than the native anomalous creatures born and raised there? An unfamiliar path is fatal on a battlefield. There is no Heavenly Light inside a cave; when danger strikes, you might not even find a way to retreat. Husband, mad though you may be, you are a clever man. You would never choose to defend the cave. That local spirit has already seen right through your mind." Li Banfeng sat up abruptly and rubbed his forehead hard. He had thought too little of it—far too little. Fortunately, he had not agreed to the local spirit's terms earlier. If a contract had been signed, it would have been too late for regrets. Shui Yongquan was crafty indeed. Seizing on his ignorance of military tactics, he had used this scheme to entice him. Curious, how did his wife know so much about warfare? Just as Li Banfeng was about to ask, his wife said, "Husband, local spirits are ruthless beings who have lived for countless years. You must be exceedingly careful when dealing with them. From what I see, your local spirit isn't particularly adept at troop command. He could have assigned some of his own men to stall the enemy without tricking you two into throwing your lives away, though defending the canyon requires some careful thought. First, scatter some bait to lure the enemy in. Not too much bait, but create grand fanfare, making them eager to attack yet fearful of committing, and afraid of missing an opportunity if they hold back. Caught in hesitation, they will lose plenty of time. Once they enter the canyon, strike the high path first to knock down the fliers, keeping the method strictly concealed so as to blind the enemy's eyes. Then strike the low path, picking out the thick-skinned but clumsy fighters and pummeling them to death; that breaks the enemy's foundation. Swift runners like journey cultivators usually take the middle path; never chase after them, or you'll suffer terribly. It doesn't matter if a few slip through. As long as he sends enough men, stalling for twenty minutes isn't too difficult, and then he can lead his main force through the cave to raid the enemy's home base." After listening to this explanation, Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly. "Put that way, the battle doesn't seem that hard to fight." "Husband!" the gramophone shouted sharply, giving Li Banfeng a start. "What is it, wife?" "Your humble servant taught you these things not so you would go fight! When local spirits wage war, they will fight to the death. If your local spirit loses and you can't bear to part with your plot, you will surely lose your life! I taught you these tactics so you could see the situation clearly. When the battle approaches, go look at the canyon first. If the local spirit employs the wrong methods, it proves he doesn't know how to command, and he is doomed to lose this war. When that happens, you must abandon your plot and leave the newland immediately so you aren't caught in the crossfire. Husband, do you remember your humble servant's words?" Li Banfeng nodded. "I remember." "Promise me: you absolutely will not step onto the battlefield!" The wife's voice sounded shrill and desperate, and Li Banfeng nodded in quick succession. "I promise." What had come over her? Why was she suddenly so earnest? A ten-li plot was enticing, and Li Banfeng cherished his land, but he was not so mad as to risk his life fighting local spirits on a battlefield. He knew his own weight. *Chiss, chiss—* The wife's voice softened again. "Husband, don't wander outside over these next couple of days. Practice your techniques diligently, nourish your body well, and your humble servant will find a way to bring you up to the fifth tier." "Wife, there's no rush on that." "Husband, your humble servant is in a bit of a rush." Reaching the fifth tier truly could not be rushed; he had to find a way to get his journey cultivation to the fourth tier first. Li Banfeng went to sleep, a cloud of steam enveloping him warmly. When he woke, his wife was asleep as well. He slipped quietly out of the house, swallowed a Golden Origin Pill inside the wooden cabin, and then consumed a Blue Poplar Pill to accumulate cultivation. *** The gramophone awoke and found Li Banfeng gone. Anxious worry filled her heart, fearing he had succumbed to temptation and agreed to march into battle for the local spirit. In the outer chamber, Red Lotus sneered, "Vicious woman, knowing your time is short, you spoke so much to that madman. Were those your dying words?" "I feared that madman would lose his life on the battlefield, and then neither of us would ever get out." "Countless warnings, endless instructions, and even wanting to carry him to the fifth tier—do you truly see yourself as his little wife now?" "What business is it of yours, you slut!" Red Lotus snapped in anger, "You dare curse at me still? Believe it or not, I can take your life right this instant!" *Huu—chiss— huu—chiss—* The gramophone's breathing was ragged. She was weak, yet furious. "Slut, I can't be bothered with you. Get lost!" Red Lotus sighed. "I truly wish to save you. Let us establish a contract. As long as you are willing to help me..." "Get lost!" A blast of steam sealed the doorway shut. Sensing ripples of killing intent, Red Lotus said no more. Why bother arguing with her? She didn't have long to live anyway. There was no need to fight to mutual destruction. *** Could she hold on? She could. No matter what, she had to wait until that madman returned. Inside the gramophone's cabinet, the mirror slowly turned. Li Banfeng's face was projected onto the wall. *"Whether it's thousands, tens of thousands, or hundreds of millions in gold, so long as it's for my wife to consume, I won't begrudge a single bit of it."* *Chiss, chiss—* The singing began to play once more. *"My darling treasure,* *Appearing suddenly before my eyes,* *My breath turns hurried and fast.* *Moved with love for you,* *I hope my lord will see,* *And return a string of longing."* *Chiss, chiss—* The gramophone smiled.