The Deed Is Done

Li Banfeng looked at the huge bunch of fresh flowers in Sui Donglan's arms and smelled them one by one. "You call these good flowers? There's barely any fragrance at all. What kind of good flowers are these?" With a crestfallen face, Sui Donglan said, "How was I supposed to know what kind of flowers you wanted? I thought you wanted something pretty." Li Banfeng shoved the flowers aside. "Relying on these useless flowers to get the words removed from your face? Keep dreaming!" "Wait, don't!" Sui Donglan grabbed onto Li Banfeng. "How about this? I'll take you somewhere with flowers—flowers with an amazing fragrance! You can pick as many as you want." Truth be told, swindler though Sui Donglan was, she had certainly done her homework. Though the place she recommended was a bit out of the way, fine flowers were indeed plentiful there. Li Banfeng gathered blossoms of various colors and wove a large garland. Smelling it from afar, the sweet scent washed over him. He also had Sui Donglan recommend some rouge. Leaving the shade aside, its fragrance was truly extraordinary. Once the gifts were assembled, Li Banfeng prepared a thousand silver dollars. Late in the night, carrying the case, the garland, and the rouge, he entered the auxiliary wing. Han Juncheng was still sprawled at the doorway. He was thoroughly dead, yet no one dared collect the corpse. Li Banfeng swallowed hard and proceeded deeper into the building. He remembered what the spear looked like, but he did not know where it was, and in this auxiliary wing, he did not dare barge about recklessly. Fortunately, he had a sharp nose—sharper even than Han Juncheng's. Possessing the skill of Hundred Flavors Exquisite, he tracked the chilling yin aura and quickly made his way up to the second floor. Reaching the room at the end of the corridor, Li Banfeng did not push open the door. Instead, he carried the garland, opened the rouge box, and waited in silence. The scent drifted into the room. With a creak, the door swung open. Li Banfeng saw a weapons rack, and on it, that very spear. Holding the garland and rouge, he stepped forward with utmost caution. Sensing the approaching fragrance, the spear suddenly spoke. "Who are you?" The voice was low, stern, and grim. A wave of commanding aura crashed over him, sending a shudder straight through Li Banfeng. Li Banfeng slowed his pace, but continued forward. The spear barked in anger, "What do you think you're doing?" There was no need to answer, nor any way to answer—she could not hear at all. Li Banfeng could only gauge the changes in her aura to regulate his speed. "Stay back! Take another step and I'll take your worthless life!" The spear roared, making Li Banfeng tremble. Yet he gritted his teeth and pressed on. Slow as his steps were, he never once came to a halt. He could not stop. His technique of seeking good fortune and avoiding calamity told him he must not stop. Hong Ying was intensely suspicious right now. If he stopped, he might lose his life in an instant. Now and then, Li Banfeng brushed against the Tang dao, murmuring under his breath, "You take the enemy's head with every strike—you'd better show some backbone." The Tang dao was trembling from hilt to tip, completely incapable of speech. He came from the military, yet right now, he was facing his natural nemesis. The other magical treasures were shivering as well; even the liquor gourd and the old teapot had fallen dead silent. Li Banfeng slowly stepped up to the spear, summoned every ounce of courage, and placed the garland over it. "Flowers..." The spear went quiet for a long moment, then asked, "For me?" Taking a deep breath, Li Banfeng dipped a finger into the rouge and smeared it onto the spear. "Why are you touching me? Insolent! Is this... rouge?" It had been a very long time since she last wore rouge. There were certain things Old He simply didn't understand. Using the rouge, Li Banfeng slowly wrote two characters upon the spear shaft. Hong Ying. The spear shuddered. Li Banfeng heard a sharp intake of breath. "You know my name?" Li Banfeng wrote it on the shaft once more: Hong Ying. "You're... calling me?" This was the most crucial step. Sweat poured from Li Banfeng, drenching him in an instant. His hand gripped the key tightly. If the spear's aura strengthened even slightly, Li Banfeng would flee immediately. Yet the aura remained unchanged, even waning just a fraction. He waited a full five minutes—five minutes during which Li Banfeng nearly choked on his own breath. At last, the spear spoke: "You... want me?" Li Banfeng gently stroked the spear shaft. "I'm deaf and blind, yet you're still willing to take me in..." How long had Hong Ying been trapped here? Had she truly longed this desperately for someone to accept her? Meeting Old He had likely been a matter of pure coincidence. With Old He dead, Hong Ying had probably feared she would never encounter another Dwelling Cultivator again. Hong Ying lapsed into silence, whether out of being moved or suspicious, it was hard to tell. Now was the time to demonstrate sincerity—enormous sincerity! Li Banfeng took out a silver dollar and tapped it against the spear shaft. The spear flew into a rage. "What is this trash? What kind of person do you take me for?" Li Banfeng shivered violently, nearly turning tail to run for his life. Fortunately, the spear calmed down just as quickly, asking, "Was that a silver dollar just now?" Li Banfeng took two silver dollars and tapped them against Hong Ying's body. "Only two? What kind of woman do you take me for?" Hong Ying demanded sharply. "There's more," Li Banfeng said, though he knew Hong Ying couldn't hear him. He took a large handful of silver dollars and stroked them along Hong Ying's body. Hong Ying snapped, "Don't touch my belly, it's ticklish there!" Li Banfeng shifted upward. Hong Ying grew even more irritated. "I'm an unmarried maiden, can you touch that place?" Li Banfeng shifted downward. "That's even worse!" Where the hell was he supposed to touch, then? This woman was far more difficult to please than the wife. Li Banfeng took the silver dollars and rubbed them against the spear one by one. From time to time, the spear sneered, "Vulgar fool. You bring me such vulgar trifles—did you really think I'd care for them? Let me tell you, one silver dollar can only touch me once! If you dare touch me twice with the same dollar, see how I deal with you!" Before long, all one thousand silver dollars had been rubbed against her. Dipping his finger into the rouge once more, Li Banfeng traced her name on the spear again: Hong Ying. "Why are you still calling my name?" The spear's aura surged violently, only to soften a moment later. "Haven't I already said yes?" Steeling himself, Li Banfeng grasped the spear. The commanding aura remained, but the spear offered no resistance. There was still one step left to success: the house itself. If the house refused to let Hong Ying leave, Li Banfeng would have to fight it. Hong Ying was prepared for this as well. "I've stayed in this house for many years; I'm afraid it might try to keep me here by force. We shouldn't tangle with it. Watch for the right moment and get out as fast as we can!" Wiping away his sweat, Li Banfeng carried the spear all the way to the front doors of the auxiliary wing. The house did nothing to stop them. Hong Ying had overthought it. The house had long been sick and tired of her. Feeling a touch of embarrassment, Hong Ying explained to Li Banfeng, "Your timing was indeed impeccable. The house is sound asleep and hasn't awakened yet. Hurry and take me to your home." Li Banfeng brought Hong Ying into the Portable Abode. The liquor gourd didn't dare make a peep. Hanxue, the pendulum, huddled close to the Thread-Hook Earring. Mengde inside the calendar poster covered his eyes. The old teapot pretended to be asleep. The Judge's Brush was genuinely asleep. The Tang dao flew heedlessly into the second room. Li Banfeng held the spear and looked toward the gramophone. The spear was still talking. "Is this your home? We arrived so fast? Your place is pretty close to where I used to be. Your house is very strange... What kind of house is this? Who are you?" Realizing something was wrong with the place, Hong Ying roared, "You tricked me! You dared deceive me! Where on earth is this? This is..." She noticed that not only was the house wrong, but there was something inside as well. "Vicious wretch, I smell you! This is your den! I'll fucking—" Li Banfeng gripped the spear tightly and yelled, "Do it!" A billow of steam surged forth, wrapping tightly around the spear. The spear shuddered, wrenched itself free from Li Banfeng's grip, and whipped around to skewer him. The steam shielded Li Banfeng a step ahead, the wife calling out, "Husband, leave the rest to me!" Her initial grapple on Hong Ying had already seized the initiative for the wife. Sending Li Banfeng into the second room with a puff of steam, she sealed the door and tore into combat with Hong Ying. Li Banfeng pressed himself against the door, listening to the two brawl and curse at each other. "Vicious wretch! How dare you plot against me! I was just looking for you! Today, we settle this once and for all!" "Slut, what settlement are you talking about? Why don't you shove that face of yours into a peach cleft? You've already thrown away all your shame anyway!" Li Banfeng grew anxious listening to this. Lady, why bother cursing at her? She can't hear you anyway. After fighting for a while, the wife didn't seem to have gained the upper hand. This was Li Banfeng's residence, and she was Li Banfeng's dwelling spirit. Fighting inside the Portable Abode, she still couldn't get the upper hand? What could be done? Li Banfeng couldn't think of a way to help her. Huff, huff... The wife's breathing turned ragged, as though she were on the losing end. A hiss rang out from the gramophone horn: "Husband, help me! Open her apertures with your mind!" "Open them how?" Li Banfeng didn't quite understand. "Focus your mind, Husband, and open an aperture for her!" "Which aperture?" "Her ears!" Li Banfeng focused his intent, visualizing only the shape and structure of ears. The moment his mind reached the ear canals, a bloodcurdling scream erupted outside. The scream came from Hong Ying. Her hearing had been cleared. Li Banfeng had not expected a Dwelling Cultivator and their dwelling spirit to coordinate in battle like this. This had to be a new tactic the wife had devised after consuming the Profound Accumulation Pill. Hong Ying had been deaf for so many years; regaining her hearing should have brought her joy. Yet in front of the gramophone, that was anything but good news. The wife began to sing: "In spring, green grass sprouts, war garments stitched with care. In summer, red flowers bloom, drums and horns thunder through the air. In autumn, yellow leaves fall, heads taken from the frontline's core. In winter, white snowflakes fly, blood shed to honor spirits of war!" The wife sang this desolate battle song. The moment she heard this tune, Hong Ying instantly lost all reason. "Vicious wretch! I did nothing wrong! What right do you have to humiliate me?!" "Slut, what face do you have to claim no fault? Do you still know a warrior's duty?!" "I'll kill you!" Blind with rage, the spear lunged straight at the gramophone. As the singing reverberated, Li Banfeng and the other magical treasures were barely affected, but the spear ended up lying motionless on the ground. Li Banfeng stepped out of the room, looked at the spear, and asked, "Lady, is she dealt with?" Catching its breath for a moment, the gramophone replied, "Dealt with!" A weight lifted from Li Banfeng's chest. He picked up the spear and said, "Good. I'll go dispose of her." Sell this thing straight to Luo Zhengnan, and the wife's grudge would be avenged, and Tiemenbao's troubles would be settled. "Husband, wait!" Li Banfeng froze. "What is it, Lady?" "Husband, she isn't dead yet." "Not dead?" Li Banfeng quickly dropped the spear. "Lady, this is no trifling matter. Such a fine dish—hurry and eat while it's hot! Why keep her around?" "Husband, this humble servant begs a favor of you. Let this slut live a few more days. I have things I must ask her. These questions have been buried for who knows how many years; if I don't get clear answers, I will never untangle the knot in my heart." "Lady, keeping such a ferocious woman in the house makes me uneasy." "Do not worry, Husband. She was struck by my technique; whatever tricks she has, she cannot use them." "Still..." Li Banfeng was in a bind. He needed to get rid of this trouble magnet as quickly as possible. Now that the wife refused to let him hand it over, what was he supposed to do? The gramophone knew Li Banfeng didn't want Hong Ying around, but if she didn't get these answers, she would suffer for a lifetime. "This humble servant has put Husband in an awkward position, but there are things I simply must know the truth of. I beg Husband to grant me a few days' grace. Husband, I beg of you. Husband, I truly beg of you." The wife's feelings were understandable. Yet how was he to handle the immediate problem? Li Banfeng looked at the spear lying on the ground. Waves of its commanding aura were still palpable. Aura... Li Banfeng unbuckled his leather belt. The gramophone shuddered. "Aiya, Husband, are you going to use family discipline? You may strike me if you wish, Husband—I deserve a beating—just don't let the others in the house see." Li Banfeng said nothing. He turned and went into the second room, bringing out a weapon. This was a spear he had taken from Old Lady Han's home. Because Li Banfeng wasn't adept with long weapons, it had been sitting in the Portable Abode all this time. Holding the belt and the spear, he looked down at Hong Ying on the floor and asked the gramophone, "Lady, can she still speak?" "She can. Once she wakes up in a little while, she'll be able to speak." Li Banfeng nodded, then ripped a button off his clothes. ... A cloth-selling woman approached Luo Zhengnan. Pretending to pick vegetables, she lowered her voice and said, "Someone entered the fort lord's mansion last night. This morning, the seals on the mansion were removed." Luo Zhengnan smiled. "From the looks of it, the deed is done!"