Homestead Cultivator Technique Above the Clouds

"Dig, brother!" "Dig, Master!" The glove threw open the hidden compartment in the floor, and Li Banfeng dug downward with it side by side. After digging for half an hour, Li Banfeng's fingers struck a seal first. He picked up the seal and felt it over in his hands for a long time. Because nothing inside the room could be seen and he had to rely entirely on touch, it took Li Banfeng two whole minutes to confirm that this was indeed a local spirit seal. "Brother!" Li Banfeng exclaimed in excitement. "Master!" The glove was equally thrilled. Beneath the local spirit seal, it unearthed two arched iron tallies. The covenant deeds to Lüshui Bay had been dug up by the two of them. Li Banfeng dearly wanted to see what was recorded on Lühuazi's covenant deeds, but in this dark-dimension space, he couldn't see a single thing. "Master, just because you can't see them doesn't mean you can't take them!" The glove urged Li Banfeng to claim the covenant deeds and the local spirit seal without delay. "Right!" Li Banfeng pressed the local spirit seal against his head, taking in the popularity first. When it came to popularity, one had to take it the moment it was available to prevent complications down the road. This was Lüshui Bay—home to the greatest city in all of Puluo Province. Just how many people coveted the popularity here? Popularity in hand couldn't be left to go cold; claiming it immediately was the proper path. A steady stream of popularity poured into the crown of his head, and Li Banfeng could clearly feel his cultivation rising. There was far too much popularity stored inside this local spirit seal. After releasing for over a minute, it had already exceeded all the popularity from Yesong Bridge and Li Furong's newland combined. And there was still more; the seal had not yet emptied out. Another minute passed, and the local spirit seal was still releasing popularity. Ten minutes passed, and the popularity inside continued gushing forth without pause. Twenty minutes passed, and Li Banfeng's eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the floor. "Master!" The glove hastily snatched the local spirit seal off his head. Only after calling out to him repeatedly did Li Banfeng flutter his eyes open. "Where's my local spirit seal?" Li Banfeng groped blindly in the dark. "Master, there's no rush right this second!" The glove talked him down. The two had originally intended to search Lühuazi's home a bit longer, but Li Banfeng's footing was unsteady and walking proved difficult, so he hurriedly retreated from the dark-dimension space. Unsteady as his walking was, running posed no difficulty whatsoever. Li Banfeng sprinted all the way toward Xiaoyaowu, his feet still flying. Once he hid the key and entered the companion dwelling, Li Banfeng collapsed onto the bed, both legs trembling violently. The sensation in his legs was not unfamiliar. Every time before an ascension as a journey cultivator, his legs would shake like this—a sign that Li Banfeng wanted to run and never stop. Yet the sensation throughout his body was somewhat foreign. Li Banfeng didn't want to move at all. It felt as though glue coated the bed, pasting him firmly to the mattress. Taking in Li Banfeng's condition, the gramophone tested his pulse with her stylus. "Husband, how much popularity did you absorb?" Li Banfeng was stunned. "Precious wife, you can tell even that?" "How could I not?" the gramophone said. "Husband, your pulse has been thrown into complete chaos by popularity. Just how many households' popularity did you steal?" The glove chimed in from the side, "How can you call that stealing? It was taken fair and square! The master only took from Lühuazi's place." "A single household could have this much popularity?" The lady didn't believe it. "That's why they say Lüshui City thrives with popularity! There's still plenty left in this local spirit seal!" The glove handed the seal to the gramophone. The gramophone weighed it and let out an exclamation of wonder. "Just how long has Lühuazi gone without consuming popularity?" Li Banfeng was taken aback. "If he didn't consume popularity, how did he increase his cultivation?" The gramophone examined Li Banfeng's state carefully. "My precious husband, you're running two shops at once, feeding both sides until they're bursting, yet the popularity in this local spirit seal was only half-used!" Li Banfeng was dumbfounded as well. "A local spirit seal can hold that much?" The liquor gourd said, "A local spirit seal can indeed hold a tremendous amount of popularity. But why did that beggar hoard so much of it?" "No wonder that beggar was so difficult to deal with. He likely had no further use for popularity..." The gramophone pondered for a moment, then said, "Husband, I shall impart the homestead cultivator technique above the clouds to you now." Li Banfeng's legs were still shaking. "Wife, in this state, I'm afraid I can't learn any techniques." "Learn the technique first to clear your meridians, and then prepare for ascension." "Ascension?" Li Banfeng struggled to sit up. "I only just reached the first tier above the clouds! How can I be ascending again so soon?" "It's all because you don't know your own limits! You gorged on so much popularity at once that you've pushed yourself right to the verge of the second tier!" The gramophone scolded him gently, though her tone held aching tenderness. Using puffs of steam, she cradled Li Banfeng back down into a recline and instructed him softly, "Precious husband, lie flat, and quiet your mind as well. Think of nothing; simply leave everything to your humble servant." As she spoke, the gramophone slowly drew Li Banfeng into her flared horn. Inside the warm horn, Li Banfeng felt his eyelids grow heavy, and he gradually drifted off to sleep. He had no idea how long he slept before his eyes opened again. His body felt somewhat lighter, and his legs had stopped shaking. Li Banfeng sat up with ease. First, he looked to the gramophone on his right. "Precious wife, did I learn the technique?" The lady replied, "Husband has learned it." Li Banfeng then looked to the shadow on his left. "Did I truly learn it?" The shadow nodded at Li Banfeng. Sitting on the bed, Li Banfeng addressed the shadow, "As far as I know, shadows usually stay on the ground or perhaps on a wall. But what is the meaning of you sitting right beside me like this?" The shadow turned toward the gramophone. The gramophone started to explain, "Husband, the homestead cultivator technique above the clouds is called Shadow and Form Relying on Each Other—" "Let's put the technique aside for now." Li Banfeng sat in silence for a brief moment, then sprang up abruptly. "You're Banfeng B, aren't you?" The shadow rose to its feet as well, ready to brawl with Li Banfeng! "You really crawled out!" Li Banfeng whipped his sickle into his grip behind him. The shadow did not speak. In the blink of an eye, it flashed out of Li Banfeng's line of sight and vanished. Li Banfeng was alarmed. "Not good—Viewing Flowers from Horseback!" He searched all around for any trace of the shadow. After looking for quite a while, he found nothing, though fortunately, Viewing Flowers from Horseback failed to trigger. The shadow crept up silently behind Li Banfeng. Sensing it suddenly, Li Banfeng spun around with a strike, but the shadow ducked underneath and planted a solid kick right into the back of Li Banfeng's knee. The kick landed flush, nearly sending Li Banfeng to the floor. The shadow aimed another kick straight at Li Banfeng's face, but Li Banfeng dodged to the side and drove a punch into the shadow's knee. The shadow stumbled from the impact. Li Banfeng stepped in with a stomp, aiming to shatter the shadow with Treading Ten Thousand Rivers. Bang! The foot stamped down, but Treading Ten Thousand Rivers failed to activate. The shadow pivoted and kicked Li Banfeng in the ankle. Enduring the sharp pain, Li Banfeng drove a kick right between the shadow's legs. Blow for blow! This time, the shadow took the worse beating—the crotch was simply never built to take a hit. Before the swaying shadow could regain its balance, Li Banfeng grabbed a vase and smashed it over its skull. The shadow lay on the floor, struggling for a moment, unable to rise. Seeing Li Banfeng bring another kick down, the shadow suddenly went flat and shrank beneath Li Banfeng's feet. The gramophone praised, "What fine martial prowess, Husband! You've subdued the shadow!" "It can't be subdued." Li Banfeng shook his head, sat down on the bed, and wiped at the bruises on his body. As the gramophone applied medicine to Li Banfeng's injuries, she explained the essence of the technique: "A homestead cultivator dwells deep inside the home and is accustomed to loneliness. The shadow becomes the cultivator's companion. Walking alone, form and shadow depend upon each other for life and fight side by side, united in strength and purpose. As long as it is steered properly, Husband will be fighting two against one whenever you clash with an opponent in the future. Some have called this technique the greatest art of adaptability when facing an enemy." Li Banfeng looked at the gramophone. "Precious wife, do you truly think I can master this technique?" Playing her drums and gongs, the gramophone encouraged him, "Husband is brave and mighty; you will certainly master it." Li Banfeng gently caressed the gramophone. "Wife, husband and wife should be honest with each other. Do you really think I can master it?" The gongs and drums slowed slightly. "Husband's shadow is a bit fierce. There may be some difficulty in wielding the technique, but there will surely be a way to overcome it." Li Banfeng picked up the oilcan and asked, "Precious wife, why didn't you teach me this technique earlier? You must tell me the truth!" The lady ceased her percussion and said in a meek, gentle voice, "That is because Husband's temperament is rather unusual. I feared the shadow would be difficult to tame, and your humble servant worried that since Husband had only just reached above the clouds, your foundation would be unsteady. Misusing the technique might bring harm upon yourself instead." The lady's words were exceedingly tactful. Translated, they meant that Li Banfeng was a lunatic who couldn't control himself, let alone his shadow. With his cultivation only just above the clouds, his strength remained limited, and if things went wrong, he might very well get murdered by his own shadow. On this point, Li Banfeng and his lady were in complete agreement. "Had I known it was a technique like this, I wouldn't have learned it." "Husband, if you had polished yourself patiently and spent more time stabilizing the foundation of your cultivation, it wouldn't have mattered if you skipped learning this technique. But having only just reached the first tier, you're immediately pushing into the second. Without a technique to anchor you, how could your body ever bear the strain?" Li Banfeng couldn't quite wrap his head around what anchoring with a technique meant, nor could the matter be clarified through mere words. The gramophone urged, "Precious husband, having just learned the technique, your body is weak. Take some pills first and rest." The gramophone produced a Profound Accumulation Pill, deliberated at length, and sliced off one-third to give to Li Banfeng. After consuming the pill and resting for a short while, Li Banfeng asked, "Earlier when I was fighting the shadow, why couldn't I use any techniques?" The lady said, "Husband's foundation above the clouds is still shallow. While employing Shadow and Form Relying on Each Other, most other techniques cannot be invoked." Li Banfeng sighed. "Not only is this shadow useless, the cost is rather steep as well." "Master, you can take your time learning the technique. Let's look at this wonderful treasure first." The glove brought out both the local spirit seal and the covenant deeds together. Having left the dark-dimension space, they could see everything with utter clarity now. There was nothing particularly unusual about the local spirit seal, so Li Banfeng examined the covenant deeds closely. Lühuazi's covenant deeds were truly extraordinary. The front still bore the usual eight characters: *A territory of a hundred li, certified by this deed.* The reverse was densely inscribed with dozens of lines of text. The very first line read: *Yuan Shoulu obtained this land.* Li Banfeng asked the Tang blade, "How was this territory acquired?" The Tang blade pondered for a long time before replying, "I only remember someone gifting this covenant deed to me. Who that person was, I cannot recall." The second line: *Yuan Shoulu defeated Sha Dingzhong, gaining twenty li of land.* "Who is Sha Dingzhong?" The Tang blade thought it over. "Seems to have been a neighbor who came causing trouble on my territory, and I drove him off." The next three lines recorded further exploits of Yuan Shoulu. He had defeated three local spirits, winning considerable territory. Evidently, back when Yuan Shoulu held Huazi Bay, he was a local spirit of formidable prowess. The following line read: *Zhao Nongbao defeated Yuan Shoulu; this land falls entirely to Zhao Nongbao.* "Who is Zhao Nongbao? Lühuazi?" Hearing the name Zhao Nongbao, the Tang blade seemed to have a faint recollection. It paced back and forth across the room for a dozen laps before suddenly remembering a phrase: *"Go find a puddle of piss and take a look at yourself—look at that face full of giant pustules!"* Li Banfeng asked, "Was that directed at Lühuazi?" "Most likely," the Tang blade said, racking its memories. "I think I noticed him once. In Huazi Bay, he seemed to be quite a renowned beggar. He became famous because he was perpetually sick and perpetually bullied..." Hong Ying couldn't quite make sense of it. "When he seized your seat as local spirit, he must have been at least in the ninth tier of bedrock, not to mention possessing a martial cultivation foundation! How could someone like that stay a beggar the whole time, and how could he possibly be bullied constantly?" The Tang blade had no answer. "That line was definitely about Lühuazi. As for 'Zhao Nongbao,' it probably refers to his face covered in pustules. But whether his surname is really Zhao..." Li Banfeng said, "In truth, he probably had no idea what his surname was. Since people were always telling him to go take a look at himself in a puddle of piss—*zhao zhao*—he chose the homophone Zhao as his surname. That's likely the reason, isn't it?" The Tang blade said nothing, nor did anyone else speak. The hypothesis was almost certainly correct, because Li Banfeng himself didn't know his own surname either. Li Banfeng continued reading the covenant deeds of Lüshui Bay. Starting from his victory over Yuan Shoulu, Zhao Nongbao went on to fight over a hundred battles. He had never lost. The territory of Lüshui Bay had expanded continuously. Based on the records on the deeds, Li Banfeng tallied the numbers. Counting one square li as a plot, Lüshui Bay encompassed over thirty-one thousand plots. Aside from the original ten-thousand-odd plots of Huazi Bay, all the remaining land had been claimed by Lühuazi through sheer conquest. Not only could he fight, but he also excelled at governance and business. He had transformed the most impoverished Huazi Bay in Puluo Province into the wealthiest Lüshui Bay. "Husband, how do you intend to handle these two covenant deeds?" Holding the deeds, Li Banfeng looked them over once more. "Bring them to Lüshui Bay, sprinkle my blood upon them, draft a paper deed, and bury them." The liquor gourd asked, "Little brother, you plan to become the local spirit of Lüshui Bay?" Li Banfeng nodded. The old teapot clattered its lid. "Lüshui Bay is land contested by heroes from every quarter. Holding such a territory will be no simple task." Li Banfeng kept his gaze fixed on the two deeds. "It can be held. Back then, Lühuazi had only ninth-tier cultivation, yet he held it. Why shouldn't I be able to?" The old teapot replied, "Huazi Bay and Lüshui Bay are not the same after all." The old teapot spoke the truth. Not many people would come to seize Huazi Bay, but those coveting Lüshui Bay would be too numerous to count. Li Banfeng remained silent, but the Tang blade straightened its spine. "My lord possesses greater skill than Lühuazi! This humble general is willing to defend this territory alongside my lord!" The gramophone sounded rumbling war drums. "Husband, since you intend to claim Lüshui City, you must choose a suitable name for yourself." Li Banfeng said, "No need to ponder. Let's just go with Li Qi." "Husband, isn't going straight by Li Qi a bit too obvious?" Li Banfeng said, "I'm surnamed Li, though I don't know what my real surname is. I say I'm ranked seventh, though I don't know if I truly have brothers and sisters. Li Qi it is." The gramophone pondered briefly. "Very well. In any case, both covenant deeds are in Husband's hands, and this matter has no ties to the Inner States. The name Li Qi holds the deepest resonance with Husband, making your status most secure. Husband must choose a fine spot to bury the deeds." The projector offered a suggestion: "I think burying them in their original place is best. Lühuazi's residence is the most miraculous place I've ever seen. Other people would have a hard time finding it, and even if they did, they couldn't get in. Even if they managed to enter, they wouldn't know where to go." "Not wise," Li Banfeng shook his head. "The people who can find it might not be so few. He Jiaqing likely knows where the entrance is; he just couldn't open the door for the time being. Failing to open it this time doesn't mean he won't open it next time. We must choose a different place." Where would be suitable? Xiaoyaowu? The Paramount? He had plenty of businesses under his name: two restaurants, two teahouses, a bank, two dance halls, a film company, a theater, a silk shop, and several factories... They all seemed plausible on the surface, but upon careful reflection, none felt right. These two covenant deeds were far too critical, and those eyeing them wielded unimaginable means. Li Banfeng asked, "Is there only one nameless place in Lüshui Bay?" The gramophone said, "Your humble servant cannot say for sure." Who could say for sure? After waiting a good while, the companion dwelling spoke up: "There is definitely more than one. Using that alms bowl, you ought to be able to find others." *** On Painting Workshop Street, inside the Liu Bao Pavilion calligraphy and painting shop, He Jiaqing was selecting paintings at the counter. This calligraphy and painting shop enjoyed considerable fame on Painting Workshop Street. While most shops on the street sold paintings, this shop sold treasures. In Lüshui City, shops that sold paintings fell into two categories. One category dealt in authentic originals. Whether masterworks or fine pieces by ordinary painters, all were available in such shops. The provenance of each painting was stated with absolute clarity. Buying a painting here required executing a contract deed; if a forgery was discovered, they reimbursed tenfold. What they traded on was reputation and prestige. The other category sold outright imitations. They explicitly informed customers that their shop carried no genuine works. There were exquisite replicas, shoddy knockoffs, and even numerous prints churned out from plates. Though fake, every piece bore a clearly marked price. A shop that sold treasures was an entirely different story. Take Liu Bao Pavilion: the calligraphy and paintings inside included both genuine articles and fakes. Whether one struck gold or grabbed a handful of sand depended entirely on one's own discernment. Once a deal was struck and money exchanged for goods, the transaction was final, with no returns or refunds honored afterward. He Jiaqing selected a fine-brushwork painting from an easel. It depicted an old residential courtyard where a young woman sat inside a wing room, combing her hair before a mirror. Seeing He Jiaqing select this painting, Liu Jinbao, the shop's proprietor, ushered him into the back hall, brewed a pot of fine tea, dismissed the attendants, and lowered his voice. "Honored guest, truth be told, this painting is an authentic original." He Jiaqing took a sip of tea and nodded. "I know. It's an authentic work by Hundred Flowers Danqing." Liu Jinbao pondered for a moment, then asked, "Since you know the provenance of this painting, you must also know its purpose." He Jiaqing nodded. "Romance and moonlight, a beauty who knows one's heart—what man under heaven would not love such a thing?" Liu Jinbao nodded. "You've struck gold with this treasure, and I've laid everything bare. Just name your price. Whatever you offer, I'll accept." He Jiaqing handed Liu Jinbao a check. Liu Jinbao checked the amount, wrapped the painting, and concluded the deal on the spot. Once He Jiaqing left the shop, Liu Jinbao summoned a clerk. "Send word to Boss Feng. He Jiaqing was here and bought Mu Yuejuan's painting." Returning to his outer residence, He Jiaqing hung the painting in his bedroom. He stared at the scroll for ten-odd minutes. The manor within the scroll grew clearer and clearer before his eyes. The bricks on the wall blushed red, the tiles on the roof turned gray-green, the willow catkins on the trees drifted, and the young woman's eyebrows twitched. He Jiaqing first bowed to the young woman, lifted the hem of his long gown, and stepped into the scroll of his own accord. The woman combing her hair froze for an instant, then burst into laughter. "Young Master He, you actually dare to come looking for me?" This woman was none other than Mu Yuejuan, Hundred Flowers Danqing. Just prior to this, Mu Yuejuan had been scouring every corner for He Jiaqing's trail, never expecting him to deliver himself right to her door. He Jiaqing sighed. "If I didn't come to you, Sister, who else could I turn to? Others wipe their mouths clean after devouring their fill and still want my life. At the very least, Sister might spare me a bowl of soup." Putting down her eyebrow pencil, Mu Yuejuan stepped out of the wing room into the courtyard and flicked a lock of He Jiaqing's hair with her finger. "Little master, when your sister was looking for you, you certainly didn't talk like this. You even wounded your sister's face." He Jiaqing gently squeezed Mu Yuejuan's hand and smiled. "Put yourself in my shoes, Sister. I had barely stepped out of Lühuazi's house when you showed up at my doorstep, demanding the covenant deeds without another word. You scared me half to death." Mu Yuejuan chided coyly, "You, afraid of me? Could I truly eat you alive?" He Jiaqing sighed. "With Sister's cultivation and methods, no matter how many lives I had, you could swallow them whole. Today I came to your domain of my own free will to tell you the honest truth, word for word: Lühuazi's covenant deeds truly aren't with me!" Mu Yuejuan's eyes twitched, leaving a stroke of ink across He Jiaqing's cheek. "Young Master He, are you so used to toying with other women that you take me for an ignorant little slip of a girl as well?" He Jiaqing didn't dare make a reckless move. "Sister Mu, if I dared utter half a jest, I never would have ventured to visit your estate today." This was the truth. By stepping into Mu Yuejuan's domain, He Jiaqing had practically cut off his own retreat. Mu Yuejuan asked, "Do you dare claim you never entered Lühuazi's home?" He Jiaqing said, "I truly did enter his home, but I couldn't get my hands on his covenant deeds!" Mu Yuejuan glanced at the rouge box on the table. This rouge box was a Virtue Cultivation magical treasure. The rouge inside had not changed color, proving that He Jiaqing spoke the truth. Mu Yuejuan asked again, "Why couldn't you get them?" "When I stepped inside, Lühuazi was waiting right there at home! How was I supposed to take his deeds?" Mu Yuejuan's brow knitted slightly. "You mean Lühuazi is still alive?" "Whether he's alive or not, I don't know, but when I walked through the door, I definitely saw him." Mu Yuejuan glanced at the rouge box once more. The rouge inside remained unchanged. The grade of this rouge box exceeded above the clouds; He Jiaqing certainly lacked the ability to deceive such a magical treasure. He was speaking the truth. Mu Yuejuan tapped He Jiaqing on the bridge of his nose. "Since Lühuazi is still alive, why did you come looking for me?" He Jiaqing explained, "I have a grudge against Lühuazi, as Sister should know. I want to kill him, but I lack the strength on my own." Mu Yuejuan smiled. "You want me to help you?" He Jiaqing said, "If we can kill him, my grudge is settled, and Sister gets the covenant deeds. Wouldn't that be a win for both of us?" "It would be a fine thing," Mu Yuejuan nodded, "but I don't trust you." He Jiaqing said, "If Sister doesn't trust me, we can go to Lühuazi's residence right now and see whether I'm deceiving you or not." Mu Yuejuan turned and walked back into the wing room. Picking up the rouge box, she nudged it twice with her fingers; the rouge inside retained its original hue. "Since Lühuazi is alive, I cannot touch him. That is the rule set by the peddler. I am not someone weary of living. Young Master He, you had better leave. I cannot help you." Standing by the window, He Jiaqing looked at Mu Yuejuan and said, "The one moving against Lühuazi won't be you, but me. If you merely lend me a hand in secret, that shouldn't count as breaking the rule." Mu Yuejuan gave a cold chuckle. "You want me to play tricks with that? Do you think I can fool the peddler?" "I believe you have the skill. If you pass on such a prime deal, you will definitely regret it." He Jiaqing touched his cheek, where a row of rashes sprouted. Seeing the rashes on He Jiaqing's face, Mu Yuejuan believed that Lühuazi truly had not died. She tucked the rouge box into her bosom. "I do indeed share some acquaintance with Lühuazi. Since you've come begging, going to his home to take a look isn't out of the question." He Jiaqing bowed deeply. "Sister, after you!" The two stepped out of the scroll and walked together to Longmen Road. Reaching the streetlight, He Jiaqing twisted his ring and stroked up and down the lamppost. After waiting for quite a while, Mu Yuejuan's brow knitted slightly. "Just how long is it going to take you to open this door?" "Truth be told, I don't know if I can open it either. I suspect Lühuazi deliberately let me inside before." Mu Yuejuan casually glanced at the rouge in her hand; He Jiaqing was still speaking the truth. "I'll wait another fifteen minutes for you. If the door won't open, we drop the matter." Mu Yuejuan glanced around, feeling that something was amiss. Why should she believe He Jiaqing? Even if everything he said was true, she shouldn't be wading into these muddy waters. Today's circumstances felt wrong. She couldn't pinpoint what was off, but Mu Yuejuan couldn't shake the feeling that she was acting out of character. After struggling internally for ten minutes, Mu Yuejuan shook her head and said, "Figure this out on your own. I'm going to—" He Jiaqing was gone. When had he slipped away? A Thief Cultivator technique: Treading Snow Without Footprints! Realizing she had been duped, Mu Yuejuan turned on her heel to leave. Just as she exited Longmen Road and turned into Qingji Alley, she suddenly heard a man speak: "Miss Mu, there is a piece of business I would like to discuss with you." "Feng Chongli?" Mu Yuejuan turned around to find the merchant Feng Chongli standing behind her. "What business do you want to discuss with me? Looking to buy a painting?" Mu Yuejuan smiled charmingly. Feng Chongli shook his head. "I'm looking to buy the covenant deeds to Lüshui Bay from you." Mu Yuejuan shook her head. "You've got the wrong person. I didn't take Lühuazi's covenant deeds. My cultivation has already passed above the clouds; naturally, I wouldn't set my sights on Lühuazi." Feng Chongli produced a silver dollar and rubbed the snowflake engraved on its reverse. "Miss Mu, I come to do business with you in earnest sincerity—and not just my own." Snowflake Pu? Mu Yuejuan gritted her teeth! *I was tricked by He Jiaqing.* PS: Every sentence He Jiaqing spoke was the truth, so why was he still able to trick Mu Yuejuan?