Ma Dingfu couldn't explain Zhou Anju's origins?
"Are you lacking in sincerity?" Li Banfeng cut another slice across his face.
Panting with difficulty, Ma Dingfu gasped, "I really don't know! Ever since I joined Feiying Mountain, Zhou Anju was already fort lord of Tiemenbao.
"I even heard he once led men in an attack against Feiying Mountain and was our mortal enemy.
"Until one day, our chief summoned me back up the mountain and told me to make a trip to Tiemenbao. Only then did I learn Zhou Anju was actually our chief's friend!
"He said Fort Lord Zhou was an extraordinary figure with unfathomable cultivation and unfathomable cunning, and told me to work under him from then on—doing whatever Fort Lord Zhou ordered me to do."
"Did Fort Lord Zhou tell you to sleep with his wives?"
Ma Dingfu explained, "From the way our chief spoke of him, Fort Lord Zhou was omnipotent, and I'd always respected him.
"When I arrived at Tiemenbao, he made me his attendant, publicly declared I was a Dwelling Cultivator, and even arranged a house for me.
"At first, he relied heavily on me, discussing confidential matters with me. But then, on one occasion, he had a dispute with Yu Hequan in the fort, and everything changed."
"How did it change?"
"Yu Hequan was a second-tier Dwelling Cultivator. He was new to the fort, young, and hot-tempered, showing no respect when speaking to the fort lord.
"The fort lord didn't hold it against him, but he took an inch and pushed for a mile. While talking, he gave the fort lord a shove.
"Whether intentional or accidental, that shove packed quite a bit of force. The fort lord stumbled back half a step, nearly falling to the ground.
"I was the only one beside the fort lord at the time, with no one else around. The fort lord merely laughed it off.
"Yet the moment we returned to the compound, Fort Lord Zhou ordered me to kill Yu Hequan."
The gathered Dwelling Cultivators' eyes flared with fury as they listened.
Many among them had known Yu Hequan; the young man had died not long after arriving at the fort.
They had harbored no deep feelings for Yu Hequan, nor even much of an impression.
Yet they remembered Fort Lord Zhou claiming back then that Yu Hequan had left the fort without permission and had been killed by bandits!
So Yu Hequan had actually died at Ma Dingfu's hands!
Just how much blood stained Ma Dingfu's hands?
How many Dwelling Cultivators had perished under Zhou Anju and Ma Dingfu?
Those two beasts!
Some spat at Ma Dingfu, while others cursed at the top of their lungs.
Li Banfeng signaled everyone to quiet down; he still had pressing questions. "How did you kill Yu Hequan?"
Killing a Dwelling Cultivator inside their own home was extraordinarily difficult; even someone a tier higher would struggle to pull it off.
Ma Dingfu said, "Fort Lord Zhou said he understood Yu Hequan's intentions. Being so impudent was actually the boy's way of standing out, hoping to earn the fort lord's favor and trust.
"He told me to deceive Yu Hequan, saying the fort lord had an errand for him outside the fort.
"Yu Hequan fell for it. As soon as he stepped out of the fort, he walked straight into my ambush, and I took his head on the spot. Then I returned and told everyone he'd been killed by bandits.
"At first, I couldn't figure out why. The kid was actually quite loyal. Even if he lacked manners, with proper discipline he could have been useful. Why insist on killing him?
"To my surprise, after I killed him, Fort Lord Zhou grew distant toward me instead, no longer discussing secrets with me.
"Initially, I thought Yu Hequan shouldn't have been killed, that Fort Lord Zhou regretted it and was taking it out on me.
"After quite some time, I finally realized the truth: the problem wasn't Yu Hequan, but that stumble.
"Yu Hequan wasn't some high-tier cultivator, yet he'd made Fort Lord Zhou stumble. As for Fort Lord Zhou's actual cultivation... it became doubtful. It clearly wasn't unfathomable after all.
"With Yu Hequan dead, no one else knew about this except me.
"Sometimes I even wondered: if I killed Fort Lord Zhou one day, wouldn't the position of fort lord become mine?
"I only entertained the thought and never let it show, but I reckon he picked up on my mind anyway."
No need to reckon; Zhou Anju had undoubtedly caught on.
For a fraud with virtually no cultivation to hold rule over Tiemenbao for decades, no scheme could be hidden from his eyes.
Ma Dingfu looked up at Li Banfeng. "Brave hero, you killed Fort Lord Zhou and brought me down. From now on, you are the fort lord of Tiemenbao! I, Ma Dingfu, will obey your every command—I'll walk through fire and water, unhesitating even through ten thousand deaths!"
Li Banfeng chuckled. "Do you take them for fools, or do you take me for one? You expect me to spare your life over a mere pledge of fire and water?"
"Hero, tell me what to do! As long as you spare my life, I'll do anything!"
"Sure, we'll talk in private in a bit." Li Banfeng turned back toward the gathered Dwelling Cultivators. "Don't just stand around here. Search through the fort to see if there are any remaining subordinates of Zhou Anju and Ma Dingfu. Drag them out and deal with them all.
"Call everyone out from the compound. Give Zhou Anju's wives and servants some severance money and tell them all to scram—none of them are allowed to set foot in Tiemenbao again.
"The eastern wing is strictly off-limits. Do you know which way is east? Once you've cleared the people out, leave the compound immediately.
"Next, head to the main gate and check if it's firmly shut.
"Then go up the mountainside to check—there's a ledge on the cliff face; see if there's an ambush there.
"From now on, someone must be stationed on that ledge. Take turns guarding it.
"When I say ledge, do you understand? Do you know the way up?
"Chao! Bring the roster over. Dispatch a group up there first. We can't wait until Feiying Mountain attacks before the fort prepares any defenses!"
...
The crowd dispersed to carry out their tasks. Earlier, they had sworn to beat this "peddler" to death on sight, but today, for some reason, they followed his every instruction without question.
Li Banfeng hoisted Ma Dingfu, found a secluded corner, and entered the Portable Abode.
"Oh my, Husband, you've returned from grocery shopping. What's the quality of the groceries this time?"
"A third-tier body cultivator. Fine goods!"
"Third tier," the wife sighed. "I suppose it'll do."
Li Banfeng was surprised. "Good wife, your palate has gotten picky. A third-tier cultivator, and you call it just making do?"
The wife chuckled. "I don't mind. Those white lambs from before were good enough to make do with, but that wench Red Lotus hasn't had meat in days."
Li Banfeng placed Ma Dingfu in front of the gramophone. Ma Dingfu was scared out of his wits.
Chishi—
The gramophone laughed softly. "Oh my, Husband, your humble servant won't hold back then."
"Hold on, Wife, let me ask him a few more questions."
Ma Dingfu cried out, "Lord Hero! I'll answer whatever you ask, just spare my life!
"I know where Zhou Anju hid all his money! I know where he hid his magical treasures!
"I even know about his wives—which ones are best in bed, which ones are the prettiest, I know it all!"
"Since you know it all, tell me one by one. Make it clear."
Ma Dingfu recounted everything he knew in detail. But when Li Banfeng asked about Old He, Ma Dingfu had nothing to say.
He didn't know much about Old He. He only knew Old He was a Dwelling Cultivator who usually lived in the eastern wing—a building no one was allowed to enter.
Li Banfeng knew a dwelling spirit resided in that wing, but as to what state the spirit was in, Ma Dingfu had no clue either.
Since he didn't know, there was no need to trouble him further.
"Wife, enjoy your meal!"
Ma Dingfu screeched, "I told you everything I know! Why are you still killing me?!"
"You still haven't repaid the five hundred dollars you owe me."
"I repaid..."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "Compound interest on five hundred dollars isn't something a few words can settle."
After finishing her meal, the wife handed the corpse over to Red Lotus and turned to ask Li Banfeng, "Husband, what is the background of that dwelling spirit you mentioned just now? Why does it occupy your thoughts so much?"
Li Banfeng recounted his encounter with Old He. The wife, however, wasn't all that surprised.
"Some dwelling spirits are like that—they forbid the Dwelling Cultivator from ever leaving their sight for the rest of their days. This Dwelling Cultivator named Old He met a gruesome end at the dwelling spirit's hands, so he likely signed a covenant deed beforehand."
"Sight?" Li Banfeng didn't quite understand. "Old He's dwelling is in the eastern wing, so the dwelling spirit should be inside that wing. Wife, how broad is this 'sight' you speak of? Does anywhere the dwelling spirit can see count as within its sight?"
"No. What your humble servant means by sight is not what the eyes behold, but wherever the dwelling spirit's power can reach."
Li Banfeng grew even more puzzled. "A dwelling spirit's power can extend outside the dwelling?"
"It can. A dwelling spirit's power extending outside its dwelling generally happens in two situations. First, when the dwelling spirit is extremely powerful while the Dwelling Cultivator is extremely weak; unable to constrain the dwelling spirit, the cultivator gives the spirit the opportunity to reach outward.
"That wench Hanxue was in this exact state when she was alive. Her Dwelling Cultivator was merely at the first tier while she possessed sixth-tier cultivation, so Hanxue's strength could extend beyond the dwelling.
"In such circumstances, extending strength outward further requires two conditions: first, tacit consent from the dwelling; second, borrowing power from outside parties."
Luo Yuni had been the original owner of that residence. She had lived in it for so long and had even died there; on account of that bond, the residence had likely granted tacit consent to Luo Yuni's actions.
"Then what about borrowing power from outside parties?" Li Banfeng asked the clock pendulum directly.
In a dazed tone, the pendulum said, "Of the matters Madame speaks of, I have no recollection whatsoever."
Her soul had been extracted, leaving behind only spirituality, so it was only natural she didn't remember.
The wife, on the other hand, knew the reason: "The so-called borrowing power from outside parties was that flock of vengeful souls. Though not very fresh, your humble servant still had her fill."
The vengeful souls hanging from the tree.
So that was how power had been borrowed from outside parties.
Li Banfeng stared at the gramophone for a moment and asked, "Wife, when I first met you, your cultivation was so high while I didn't even have a single tier. The gap between us was vast—back then, did you never consider extending your power outside the dwelling?"
"Hmph!" The wife grew displeased. "What kind of person does Husband take me for? Without Husband's permission, your humble servant wouldn't step past the front gate, nor even through the inner doors!"
"Now that's my good wife!" Touched, Li Banfeng held his wife close and was affectionate with her for a long while.
The bronze lotus wanted to spit on the gramophone.
Vicious woman, as if you didn't want to go out back then—did you ever ask if this dwelling would allow it?
The gramophone continued, "The second situation is when a Dwelling Cultivator employs the fifth-tier skill, Sprawling Compound.
"Upon reaching the fifth tier, a Dwelling Cultivator learns this technique, allowing them to bring a portion of the dwelling spirit's power from inside the dwelling out into the courtyard.
"What your humble servant means by courtyard is not merely the yard within the perimeter walls, but wherever the dwelling spirit's power can reach.
"The higher the Dwelling Cultivator's tier, the greater their rapport with the dwelling spirit, and the more familiar they are with the surrounding environment, the more power they can channel out.
"That Old He you fought brought forth a considerable amount of power. Perhaps his cultivation is at the sixth tier or above, or perhaps it was because he was exceptionally familiar with the compound."
That matched! That was Old He's technique! He was indeed exceptionally familiar with the compound.
He had drawn the dwelling spirit's power across the entire estate—no wonder the battle had been so arduous.
And that had only been a fraction of its power.
If I had stepped into the wing and confronted the dwelling spirit in its entirety, I'd probably have lost my life right then and there!
Chishi—
The gramophone sighed. "Old He exhausted every trick trying to lure Husband into the dwelling because he wanted to use the dwelling spirit to harm Husband. Shutting the doors and letting the dwelling spirit kill—that is a filthy trick Dwelling Cultivators frequently use."
Li Banfeng offered a dry laugh. "Actually, it's not really that filthy..."
The wife continued, "Furthermore, clues about his dwelling spirit can be gleaned from its techniques.
"When Husband was inside that building, there were stairs at first, and then no stairs; then a door abruptly appeared at the end of the corridor. That should be the skill Severing Paths to Open Roads.
"When Husband reached the courtyard and crushed stones flew everywhere, that should be the skill Treading Ten Thousand Rivers. Old He's dwelling spirit must be a high-tier journey cultivator!"
A journey cultivator!
Li Banfeng was taken aback, then asked, "Wife, that Severing Paths to Open Roads skill you just mentioned—what kind of technique is it?"
The wife went silent for a moment before saying, "Husband, why do you care so much about journey cultivator techniques? Journey cultivators are all evil people who deserve to die!"
Li Banfeng straightened his expression. "I share your hatred against our common enemy, Wife! Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles!"
"With those words from Husband, your humble servant is ninety percent assured of victory! Husband, are you brave?"
Li Banfeng straightened his spine. "Very!"
"Do you dare to go lure that dwelling spirit out?"
Li Banfeng puffed out his chest. "I dare not!"
"Fear not, Husband, your humble servant has a foolproof plan!"
...
Ling Miaoying took a deep breath, opened the wooden crate, brought out a telephone with no cord attached, and dialed a number.
The call connected quickly, and He Jiaqing's voice came through from the other end: "What is it?"
He had been sleeping and was in a foul mood after being woken up.
"Jiaqing, it's like this: over at Tiemenbao, the hook broke."
"When did it break?"
"Probably... in the past few days..." Ling Miaoying couldn't give an exact time because he hadn't monitored that hook over the last few days.
He Jiaqing fell silent for a moment, then barked, "Do you have any idea how important that hook is?! Do you know how important that soul is?!"
Ling Miaoying didn't reply.
That hook had previously been managed by Ling Miaowen; Ling Miaoying genuinely knew very little about what went on behind it.
He Jiaqing's mood calmed slightly. "This can't be blamed on you either. I reckon that old con artist Zhou Anju discovered the hook. Leave him alone for now. Wait until I find an opportunity to knock some sense into him, then you can go reattach the hook."
The two ended the call. Ling Miaoying was drenched in sweat, wondering whether he ought to report everything to He Jiaqing going forward.
He Jiaqing rubbed his temples; recent events were giving him a pounding headache.
...
"Damn, that really hurts a bit." Luo Zhengnan, Hall Master of the Medicine King Hall of the Jiangxiang Gang, pulled an antenna out from his skull.
"So that soul is in Tiemenbao," Luo Zhengnan smiled faintly. "This must be reported to the gang leader. That soul's worth is no less than Red Lotus's—wouldn't this earn me the position of vice gang leader?"
Chapter 220