Hong Ying Is Not a Spear

Wan Jinxian returned to the village. Feeling along his blind cane, he sent a message to He Jiaqing. "The mission failed. Han Juncheng couldn't subdue Zhao Xiaowan. He's been pinned in front of the mansion's gates." He Jiaqing's mood turned extremely foul. He knew Han Juncheng's ambitions far outstripped his abilities, and he knew the man lacked experience. But subduing a tier-six Dwelling Cultivator was no easy feat, so He Jiaqing had indulged him at every turn, intending to wait for a better opportunity before setting him loose. He had never imagined that this hidden pawn, cultivated so painstakingly near Tiemenbao over all these years, would be lost just like that. It was not Old Wan's fault, and He Jiaqing had no reason to vent his anger on him. "How should we handle the next step?" Old Wan asked. He Jiaqing pondered for a long time. "Wait for the Jiangxiang Gang to make a move. If Luo Zhengnan succeeds, we'll snatch it right out of his hands." Wan Jinxian nodded in agreement. "Snatching it is the best policy, but I worry Luo Zhengnan won't have an easy time of it either. In the presence of that dwelling spirit, even a tier-six Dwelling Cultivator wasn't treated like a human being. In all my years walking the martial world, this is the first time I've ever encountered such a thing." "The Flying General, Zhao Xiaowan, was one of the foremost leaders among journey cultivators. Naturally, she is no ordinary figure. It's a pity we have so few Dwelling Cultivators at our disposal; the slightest slip, and the chance slipped away. But if Tiemenbao intends to hand Zhao Xiaowan over to Luo Zhengnan, that's another story entirely. Tiemenbao has plenty of Dwelling Cultivators. If they fail once, they can try again. Out of three hundred Dwelling Cultivators, someone is bound to succeed." In He Jiaqing's eyes, those Dwelling Cultivators were merely numbers. Having said that, He Jiaqing sighed. "Tiemenbao is a fine place. Sooner or later, I will hold it in my palm. Old Wan, thank you for your hard work tonight. Stay out of Tiemenbao for the next few days to avoid drawing suspicion." *** Li Banfeng stood before the grand mansion's gate, watching Han Juncheng as he continued to wail. He wanted to ask what this man had actually experienced inside the auxiliary building, but looking at that spear with its imposing, terrifying aura, Li Banfeng truly did not dare approach. Was this spear the dwelling spirit's true form? Who had sent this man who was pinned by the spear? The Jiangxiang Gang, or some other faction? Li Banfeng could not figure it out, but he knew a major crisis was brewing in Tiemenbao. If this dwelling spirit was not dealt with in time, Tiemenbao would face total destruction. "Dad! Save me! Save me!" Han Juncheng kept screeching. The cries sent chills down one's spine. *** Word of Han Juncheng's plight spread throughout Tiemenbao. An evil spirit had appeared in the fort! Someone had been impaled and pinned before the grand mansion's eastern auxiliary building—right in Tiemenbao's forbidden grounds! What kind of omen was this? It was an omen of impending doom! The Dwelling Cultivators, superstitious to begin with, were terrified out of their wits. Some bought incense and candles, some bought talismans, and some even replaced their door gods with new prints! Luo Zhengnan was selling vegetables in the market when Sun Xiao'an, the sage of the second branch, walked over. Pretending to pick out greens, he spoke to Luo Zhengnan in an undertone. "There's been a stir in Tiemenbao. Last night, someone broke into the forbidden grounds—looked like they were trying to steal something. They were impaled inside the forbidden area and screamed for an entire day before finally drawing their last breath." "Who was it?" Luo Zhengnan's brow immediately furrowed. "We haven't uncovered their background yet." Luo Zhengnan gritted his teeth slightly. "Damn it, who chose this moment to make a move? I'm afraid that fort lord is going to suspect us." "Should we enter Tiemenbao again and clear things up with the fort lord?" "Clear things up? If we go into Tiemenbao to talk now, the fort lord will think we're threatening him!" Sun Xiao'an said, "Since we know that thing is in the forbidden grounds, why don't you send someone to test the waters too?" Luo Zhengnan looked at Sun Xiao'an, his eyelids drooping. "Old bastard, you've seen off several branch leaders already. Are you trying to see me off as hall master too?" Sun Xiao'an fell silent, unable to come up with a good countermeasure either. Luo Zhengnan shooed away two vegetable buyers and told Sun Xiao'an, "We can't rush this. There are still two days left. We wait for the fort lord's response. If he's willing to part with it, we'll still buy it with money; adding a bit more silver is fine. If he isn't, we leave immediately, the faster the better. Old Sun, remind the others to be extra cautious. Watch out for Tiemenbao, and watch out for people of unknown origin. If the deal goes through, be even more careful—guard against Tiemenbao playing tricks, and guard against others snatching it away!" *** Li Banfeng returned to the Portable Abode, sat before the gramophone, and said, "Wife, what kind of person was Zhao Xiaowan, really?" *Chhh, chhh—* "Why is Husband asking about her again?" Li Banfeng said, "Today I saw her kill someone. I can't help feeling she's truly vicious." *Clang-clang-clang—Hah!—* The wife beat the gongs and drums, singing: "Vicious isn't quite the word. It's just that after staying too long on the battlefield, one ceases to hold life so dear. "Zhao Xiaowan was a general, quite a famous general. She knew how to fight, and she won many battles. "She governed her troops strictly. Her subordinates were terrified of her, and none was spared the rod. "Apart from that, there was nothing extraordinary about her." Li Banfeng recalled the depictions in the popular romances. "Some say the emperor adopted her as his daughter, making her a princess, and arranged a consort for her." If that prince consort could be found, perhaps Zhao Xiaowan could be subdued. *Chhh, chhh—* The gramophone chuckled. "Where would she find such good fortune? An emperor wouldn't adopt a daughter lightly either. Zhao Xiaowan knew only how to wage war and was good for nothing else. She never once thought about taking a consort; in her eyes, men and women were no different." It seemed this ending in the stories did not match Zhao Xiaowan's true circumstances. Li Banfeng asked again, "Others say she remained stationed on the border and fought enemies her entire life. Is that true?" The wife sighed. "She wished she could have. For someone like her, dying on the battlefield would have been a fitting end. But she didn't have such luck. Because of a few merits, she was summoned back to the imperial capital." Li Banfeng said, "And then, because her achievements threatened the throne, she was cast into prison?" "Indeed. In that prison, she lived worse than a dog." "Then war broke out again, and Zhao Xiaowan was sent back to the battlefield?" "Indeed. Tell me, wasn't she pathetic? When told to fight, she went and fought, pouring out every ounce of her heart and strength!" "And then she died on the battlefield?" *Chhh, chhh—* The wife laughed for a long while. "If she had died on the battlefield, that would have been fine; her life wouldn't have been in vain. But she was sold out by her own subordinates. She didn't die at the hands of the enemy; she died at the hands of her own people. Tell me, wasn't that wench's life utterly wretched? Wouldn't you say her entire life was a joke?" Li Banfeng fell silent for a long time, suddenly feeling a surge of desolation on Zhao Xiaowan's behalf. Yet no matter how tragic it was, she could not be spared now. The wife's grudge had to be avenged. And the predicament facing Tiemenbao had to be broken! "Wife, I've made up my mind. This dwelling spirit must be subdued." "Husband, are you truly doing this to avenge this humble servant?" "Truly!" Li Banfeng's answer was resolute. "For Husband to hold such thoughts... that is enough for me. That is truly enough. Husband, please don't go..." The wife's voice began to tremble, and her entire frame shook along with it. Li Banfeng looked at the wife and asked calmly, "Wife, can you truly swallow this grievance?" "This humble servant can swallow it. I... I..." *Hiss—hiss—hiss—* Steam vented out in faster and faster bursts. The record spun furiously, and the drumbeats grew frantic. Roaring flames reflected upon the mirror's surface. Across the main hall, shadows of swords and glints of blades flashed everywhere, accompanied by endless shouts and battle cries. "This humble servant cannot swallow it! Dying by anyone else's hand would be fine, but dying by that wench's hand, I cannot bear it!" the wife suddenly roared. "Day and night, I want nothing more than to slay that wench! I even dream of it!" Li Banfeng nodded. "The time has come. We act now. First, I'll find a way to lure that dwelling spirit into our house. The rest will depend on what we, husband and wife, can do." "Husband, how will you lure her into the house?" "The old method. I'll call her name to her face and make her recognize me as her master." "She can neither see nor hear. How will she know you called her name?" Li Banfeng had actually considered this carefully. "I'll touch her first." "Husband!" The flames inside the casing leaped three feet high as the gramophone roared, "Why are you touching that wench?!" "Wife, calm your anger." Whenever this grudge was brought up, the wife became decidedly volatile. "I'll write on her body. Once I write her name, she will naturally understand my intention." The wife took a long time to calm down, the flames gradually receding back into the casing. "That is indeed a way. But that wench has a fiery temper. If you touch her the moment you step through the door, you will certainly suffer. She might strike to harm you right away." "If she strikes, I'll leave immediately." Li Banfeng had seen the scene with Han Juncheng and was already prepared to flee for his life. "Husband, if you wait until she strikes to run, it will be too late. She was one of the foremost leaders among journey cultivators. Even though her soul is incomplete now and her physical form is in poor shape, in terms of agility, Husband is definitely no match for her. With Husband's cultivation today, dealing with that wench can only be done through wit, not brute force. Husband should cater to her tastes and bring her some gifts to lower her guard first." Gifts? What kind of gift suited such a haughty woman? It had to possess elegance. It had to possess artistic conception. It had to match her temperament, especially her imposing presence as a military commander. After pondering for a moment, Li Banfeng asked, "How about silver dollars?" The wife thought it over and agreed. "That wench truly loves money. Silver dollars are naturally good, but she cannot see, so it might be hard to move her with them." She could neither see nor hear, so a music box or the like probably would not work either. What gift would suit her? Li Banfeng recalled the scene when the wife and Zhao Xiaowan first met. She had mentioned smelling rouge and powder on the wife. "Wife, how about I bring her some rouge?" The gramophone grew infuriated once more. "Husband, how could you give rouge to that wench?! Do you not know rouge cannot be gifted lightly?!" "Wife, stay calm!" They said the murder of one's father was the greatest feud, but Li Banfeng felt the murder of one's own body was even more terrifying. The wife's emotions had become exceedingly easy to trigger. "I'm giving her rouge to win her favor, so she'll let her guard down temporarily." *Hiss—hiss—* The wife panted for a long while before settling down again. "Don't buy anything too fine. Just pick up some cheap stuff from the street." "Wife, I'm doing serious business here. Buying better rouge will make it easier to move her." "She doesn't like fine rouge. The vulgar trash sold on the street is precisely to her taste." Li Banfeng consoled her, "Wife, let's not be petty about this. Back then, she remarked that you used two-copper-a-box rouge. Are you trying to settle even that score?" The wife snapped, "What if I used two-copper rouge? She prized even one-copper rouge beyond measure! Both of us had such wretched fates—what right did she have to talk about me?!" Li Banfeng nodded. "I'll prepare the rouge. What other gifts would be suitable?" The wife thought carefully. "That wench is vain. Bring her some flowers—the more fragrant, the better." Flowers. That was easy. Li Banfeng happened to know a flower seller. "Husband, once you've prepared the gifts, don't rush to lay hands on her. Wait until that imposing presence of hers diminishes slightly before drawing closer to her side." Li Banfeng nodded. "I've got it." "Husband, if you feel her presence surging, return to the house immediately. Run as fast as you can. Just getting back is enough; as for how to get out, we can discuss that after you return." "Rest assured, Wife." "Husband, that wench is narrow-minded. When you write on her, do not write on sensitive spots, lest you offend her." "Don't worry, I know where to draw the line." "Husband, that wench cares deeply about face. Be polite to her; on no account should you quarrel with her." "She can't even hear, how could I quarrel with her?" "Husband, that wench truly loves money. Along with the gifts, bring silver dollars too. Even if she cannot see them, she might be able to smell them." "Alright, I'll take them along." "Husband, you must remember above all: that wench is not named Zhao Xiaowan." Li Banfeng was startled. "Then what is her name?" "That wench is named Hong Ying." "Hong Ying? Hong Ying... Hong, hongying qiang—a red-tasseled spear?" Li Banfeng was dumbstruck. "Rumors in the world are full of errors. Hong Ying is not a spear; she merely excels at wielding a spear." "She isn't Zhao Xiaowan?" "No," the wife answered with utter certainty. "Then who is Zhao Xiaowan?" The wife sank into silence once more. Li Banfeng remembered that the first time he had mentioned the name Zhao Xiaowan in front of the wife, she had also fallen silent for a long time. In the presence of a dwelling spirit, if you called out its name and it did not resist, that was recognizing a master. The wife knew how to wage war. Back in the Lesser Underworld, Li Banfeng had encountered a band of dead souls that resembled soldiers, and in the wife's presence, they had been remarkably obedient. Could it be... "Wife, are you..." "Husband!" From the gramophone drifted that song once more, *My Darling*. The singing remained just as tender, though the wife stammered slightly as she spoke: "You are this humble servant's... b-b-backbone. Husband, this humble servant's vengeance can wait, but Husband must return safely!"