"It is rare to have a television to relieve our boredom, yet Husband wants to give it away. Your humble servant will not agree to that." Zhao Xiaowan stepped into Room Five and walked over to stroke the television set.
Mengde lowered his voice and asked, "Isn't Madam about to be resurrected? Why did she crawl back into a puppet?"
Watching Zhao Xiaowan's back, Hong Ying gave a gentle shake of her head. "That is not a puppet."
The clock pendulum was astonished. "Not a puppet? Could that be the Mistress herself?"
The projector lit up its lens. "Now this is the most exquisite art!"
Zhao Xiaowan wore a floor-sweeping gown. Her hair was tied in a casual bun, without rouge or powder. Looking somewhat drowsy and moving with lazy ease, as though she had only just awakened, she began fiddling with the switches and dials on the television set.
"I have watched television before, and the sets in Puluo Province are never clear. Darling Husband, this television is quite good. Let us keep it at home from now on!"
"Darling Wife, this television cannot stay at home. It has an important use outside." Li Banfeng was deeply concerned about his wife's condition. The old master had warned him that during the resurrection process, she would endure considerable suffering.
"Your servant knows its use outside as well. Isn't it just to fight the Bandit-Subduing Battalion? That doesn't mean we must send the television away." Zhao Xiaowan turned the channel selector knob. Click, click, click. The picture on the screen flickered incessantly, shifting from a beach to a snow-capped mountain, then to an open-air concert stage at a music festival. Only the figure of that rock-and-roll girl remained rooted in the center of the display.
"Stop turning it!" The rock girl snapped in irritation. "Do you think you can pick up any other channel in this godforsaken place? You're lucky to see me at all! Besides, who do you think you are? Who gave you permission to lay your hands on me?"
Zhao Xiaowan smiled faintly. "Oh? You cannot be touched?"
The rock girl shouted, "Do you even know who I am?"
Zhao Xiaowan turned the volume knob, dialing down the girl's voice. "Though we have never met, it does no harm to make a guess. Every lineage in Puluo Province was founded by someone native to the province, with only one exception: the founder of the Electric Cultivators was from the Outer States. Yet the peddler still recognized the lineage, and for that, he took a great deal of flak! The Electric Cultivators were once besieged by all the major sects. Even today, the Electric Cultivators of Puluo Province remain deeply hidden, not daring to expose their identities lightly."
Li Banfeng was taken aback. This rock girl was actually the founder of the Electric Cultivators?
The rock girl looked away and stopped chewing her bubblegum. It was obvious this touched a raw nerve. "Some people in Puluo Province are simply too ignorant! Electricity is a creation of advanced civilization, a vital vehicle to lead Puluo Province toward modern progress! I went to Puluo Province with the sole purpose of spreading civilization, and I made no small contribution to the land. They shouldn't have treated me like this, and they certainly shouldn't have treated my lineage this way!"
Hong Ying whispered to Li Banfeng, "What is she rambling on about? Why can't I understand a word of it?"
Li Banfeng briefly explained it to her.
Zhao Xiaowan smiled toward the television set. "So you truly are the Electric Cultivator Founder, Yuan Miaoping. You did indeed make substantial contributions to Puluo Province. The few electrical devices in Puluo Province were almost all made by disciples of your lineage, and the radio station was established by you as well. Alas, electrical energy cannot be transmitted over long distances in Puluo Province, which left your sect unable to accomplish much here."
Hearing this, Yuan Miaoping refused to concede. "There is actually a way to change that! All we needed was for our lineage to recruit more disciples. Puluo Province suffers from severe electromagnetic interference that prevents long-distance power transmission, but Electric Cultivator disciples can use their own cultivation to compensate for the deficiency!"
Zhao Xiaowan shook her head. "That would require turning vast numbers of Electric Cultivator disciples into mere tools for power transmission. Not hundreds, not thousands, but millions. Do you honestly believe the peddler would ever agree to such a thing? What is more, even if you threw away the lives of millions of Electric Cultivators, it might not have succeeded. Using so many human lives as bargaining chips to negotiate business with the peddler only shows how little you understand his nature."
Yuan Miaoping remained defiant. "Doesn't he talk about business every single day himself? What business doesn't require upfront capital!"
Zhao Xiaowan chuckled. "The matter of capital is not something we can settle here. You can wait to discuss it with the peddler in the future. For now, let us discuss the Brotherhood Alliance. How did you join the Brotherhood Alliance? And how did you end up inside the Dark Star Bureau? Let us have a proper talk about that."
The television set's volume knob twisted on its own. "Why should I tell you? Just who do you think you are?"
"My, what a loud voice. Do you think making a racket makes you special?" From the palm of Zhao Xiaowan's right hand, a large loudspeaker suddenly sprouted. It pointed at the television and blared a piercing blast.
The television shuddered violently, and smoke rose from its chassis once more.
Hong Ying grinned triumphantly. "Kill that slut!"
Li Banfeng was delighted. The loudspeaker was still there!
"A shouting match, is that it? Think I'm afraid of you?" Yuan Miaoping cranked the volume to maximum, shaking the casing until it rattled.
Whoosh—
"Who is having a shouting match with you? Do you take yourself for a three-year-old child who gets candy just by crying?" Zhao Xiaowan exhaled a puff of steam, took a coin-sized record from her pocket, and placed it on her tongue, holding it inside her mouth.
Li Banfeng grew even happier. The record tray was still there as well!
Clang-clang-clatter—!
The sounds of gongs and drums burst into the air. With an imposing expression, Zhao Xiaowan sang in the dignified cadence of a bearded elder:
"The bright mirror hangs high, discerning the finest flaw;
The sovereign law stands stern, quelling wicked evildoers!
Impudent criminal woman, in this solemn court,
How dare you wag your treacherous tongue?
Ponder well the torment of flesh and bone;
Confess and affix your mark to spare yourself torture!
Do you confess or do you not?"
Every word and syllable was drenched in chilling murderous intent!
The television set grew nervous. "Wait, hold on, let me change the channel! This channel can't talk to you!"
Zhao Xiaowan's brows snapped together like swords as she sang:
"Ironclad proof stands firm as a mountain, brooking no dispute;
Without the rod, she will not speak.
Attendants!"
Hong Ying snatched up a wooden board and marched toward the television.
Zhao Xiaowan commanded, "Give her thirty strokes of the rod first!"
Yuan Miaoping retreated frantically. "Don't be rash! We live in a civilized society now, we should resolve problems in a civilized manner! Holding a kangaroo court is illegal, forbidden under any civilized system! Put that board down first, we can talk things out nicely, don't smash the picture tube!"
Hong Ying swung the board and unleashed a brutal thrashing. The television tried to fight back, but under the pincer assault of Zhao Xiaowan and Hong Ying, it stood no chance.
Seeing his wife in such high spirits, Li Banfeng felt reassured. He let out a yawn and headed off to Room Thirteen to rest.
Jiu'er had no interest in watching the commotion. She had intended to follow Li Banfeng to his room, but then she glanced over at Red Lotus and the maiden of Room Five.
Red Lotus was watching from atop a table, while the maiden of Room Five hid among the flowers, shivering in silence.
Weren't these two being a bit too quiet?
Jiu'er pulled up a chair in a corner of the main room, reading a book while keeping an eye on them from time to time.
Red Lotus sensed Jiu'er's vigilance. Watching the television steadily lose ground, the lotus made no move to intervene.
Li Banfeng slept for over two hours before Jiu'er shook him awake. "Ah-Qi, wake up. Xiaowan has subdued that television."
Returning to the main room, Li Banfeng saw the television standing meekly before his wife.
Its outer casing and screen were unharmed, but on the display inside, the rock girl was bruised and battered, though still stubbornly chewing her bubblegum.
Zhao Xiaowan said, "My husband is here. You know how you should speak."
"Well... it's my first time here, so there are rules I didn't understand—" Yuan Miaoping mumbled around her mouth.
Hong Ying barked, "Spit that stuff out! If you're going to talk, act like a proper person!"
Yuan Miaoping spat out the bubblegum, tidied her hair, and said, "I yield to Boss Zhao and Boss Hong's capabilities. In the future, whether it's serving tea or charging the front lines, say the word, Big Sister, and your little sister won't hesitate!"
Zhao Xiaowan nodded. "This child is quite sensible."
Li Banfeng pulled up a chair and sat down. "Continue from where we left off. How did you enter the Brotherhood Alliance, and why did you go to the Dark Star Bureau?"
Yuan Miaoping glanced at Zhao Xiaowan. "Boss, didn't I just explain this to you?"
Hong Ying reprimanded her, "Seventh Lord is the master of this household! Whatever he asks, you answer!"
Yuan Miaoping turned her body around, pointing the screen toward Li Banfeng. "To speak of the Brotherhood Alliance, one must start with the radio station. Back then, I built the radio station with the goal of opening a door to the civilized world for Puluo Province. I wanted to use the broadcasts to popularize electrical science. But the cultivators under my command were all locals of Puluo Province, and every day on air, they preached nothing but violence and killing. At first, I opposed it, but they told me that was just the way of Puluo Province, so eventually I stopped arguing. Among the station's broadcasters was someone named A'hui. She had a sweet voice, worked diligently, and thought of everything thoroughly. In time, we became friends."
Hearing the name A'hui, Zhao Xiaowan's eyes glinted with cold sharpness. "Do tell, how was she 'thorough'?"
Yuan Miaoping explained, "She often reminded listeners to dispose of corpses after killing someone, to pick the right moment for revenge, what affairs were best handled by daylight, and what situations called for action by night. She covered every angle with great care, putting her heart entirely into looking out for the listeners. Such a broadcaster was rare to find, and she brought a wholesome atmosphere to the entire station. After she arrived, our ratings climbed steadily."
Zhao Xiaowan sneered. "She had that much capability, did she? And she was the one who pulled you into the Brotherhood Alliance?"
Yuan Miaoping nodded. "She said the Brotherhood Alliance could bring change to Puluo Province. Whether in technology or culture, the Brotherhood Alliance would bring new hope. Puluo Province's culture still had some depth to it, but I truly looked down upon its technological level. I wanted to lead Puluo Province into the electrical age, so I listened to A'hui and joined the Brotherhood Alliance."
As she spoke, Yuan Miaoping's lower jaw kept twitching unnaturally.
Hong Ying grew irritated. "Did you fail to spit everything out of your mouth?"
Yuan Miaoping stuck out her tongue and spat out the remaining piece of bubblegum.
Zhao Xiaowan turned her head and said, "Husband, that A'hui is clearly not a good sort!"
Li Banfeng gave a slight nod, then asked Yuan Miaoping, "Why did you enter the Dark Star Bureau?"
Yuan Miaoping replied, "Back then, Old Lady Ku told me to go to the Outer States..."
Hong Ying demanded, "When was 'back then'? Speak clearly!"
"A few years ago, I suppose. How could I remember such a thing?"
Hong Ying didn't buy it. "How could you not remember?"
Yuan Miaoping said, "I was locked up inside the Dark Star Bureau! In that room, there was no signal and no one to talk to. It was hard enough just to keep my sanity, so how could I maintain any sense of time?"
Li Banfeng said, "Your radio station broadcast news, which had dates attached. When was the last news report you aired before entering the Dark Star Bureau?"
Yuan Miaoping shook her head. "I truly do not remember. I am not lying to you. The Dark Star Bureau business was arranged by Old Lady Ku. She said I was to go inside and establish contact with the boss of the Brotherhood Alliance. But once I got in, I couldn't get back out. Inside that room was a locomotive that was extraordinarily good at fighting. He understood plenty of mechanical principles, and my electromagnetic arts had limited effect on him. I was even wounded during our clash. From the look of it, that locomotive was quite a prominent figure as well."
Hong Ying scoffed, "What do you mean, 'quite a prominent figure'? You don't recognize Old Train? Back in the day, he was a legendary powerhouse who shook the entire province! And with so little worldly knowledge, you still managed to become a founder of a lineage?"
"Why couldn't I be a founder? The breadth of one's experience isn't about how many people you know, it's about how much knowledge you hold! The knowledge I have studied—"
Hong Ying raised the board.
Yuan Miaoping lowered her head at once. "Boss Hong is right, my knowledge is far too shallow. At any rate, I failed to rescue that boss and was trapped by the train instead, stuck in that room unable to leave."
Li Banfeng asked, "In all these years, you never came out even once?"
Yuan Miaoping glanced at Red Lotus and muttered under her breath, "It's not that I never..."
Hong Ying barked, "Speak louder!"
Zhao Xiaowan listened intently as well. Yuan Miaoping had not mentioned this earlier.
Yuan Miaoping's gaze darted between Red Lotus and Zhao Xiaowan for a moment before finally settling on Li Banfeng. "A man once took me out of that room."
Li Banfeng asked, "What did he look like?"
"In his forties. His features weren't particularly distinctive, but his foundation in radio was exceptionally strong. When he ran, his footwork was peculiar, almost like dancing."
Du Wenming?
He was the first person who sprang to Li Banfeng's mind.
"Why did he take you out?"
"He was building a piece of equipment that required extensive electromagnetic knowledge. I gave him a few pointers, and then he brought me back."
Li Banfeng frowned. "He could just come and go as he pleased?"
Yuan Miaoping recalled the scene. "At least the heavy iron door couldn't stop him. As for the locomotive, who knows what was wrong with him that day—he remained motionless the entire time, like he had taken sleeping pills. It wasn't until Du Wenming left that he slowly woke up."
That was solid confirmation: it was indeed Du Wenming.
His status was elevated, and his understanding of the Dark Star Bureau far surpassed Li Banfeng's. He indeed possessed the means to bring the television out.
Seeing Yuan Miaoping's evasive eyes, Zhao Xiaowan asked, "Sister, is there anything else you haven't told us?"
"Nothing." Yuan Miaoping's cheeks flushed red on the screen.
Zhao Xiaowan walked over and tapped Yuan Miaoping's antenna. "Truly nothing? When Du Wenming took you out, did you not think to handle some private business of your own?"
Yuan Miaoping lowered her voice. "Well, I did handle a little private business."
Red Lotus turned slightly toward Yuan Miaoping, its petals unfurling a fraction.
Hong Ying glared at Red Lotus. "Slut, what do you think you're doing? Don't want her to speak?"
Yuan Miaoping looked at Hong Ying, then at Red Lotus. After hesitating repeatedly, she finally spoke the truth: "Taking advantage of being outside, I managed to contact A'hui. Through me, A'hui reached the boss of the Brotherhood Alliance. The boss instructed A'hui to take an item out of the Dark Star Bureau. How exactly she took it, I don't know."
Li Banfeng said, "Then you must at least know what she took."
Yuan Miaoping nodded. "That I know. It was the Profound Life Red Lotus."
Red Lotus!
Red Lotus had originally been by the Heavenly Maiden's side. Had Teacher Song brought Red Lotus out of the Dark Star Bureau?
Yet even the Heavenly Maiden could not get out. How had Red Lotus escaped?
While Li Banfeng pondered, the entire household fixed their gazes upon Red Lotus.
Red Lotus spread its leaves and let out a light laugh. "Since it's out, there's no big deal. I was imprisoned in the Dark Star Bureau alongside the Heavenly Maiden. She found a way to rescue me so that I could gather allies to help rescue her in turn. It is that simple. Now that you know, so be it."
Zhao Xiaowan praised, "Little Sister Red Lotus is truly candid. It would have been better had you been this open from the start. Hiding things and suspecting each other will only lead to failure in the end. If you had spoken the truth earlier, my husband and I could have lent you a hand."
Red Lotus sneered. "You two lend me a hand? Do you even believe that yourselves?"
Zhao Xiaowan lightly tugged on Red Lotus's leaf. "We have lived under the same roof for so many years, and our bond runs so deep. What is there that we cannot help with?"
Having said that, Zhao Xiaowan turned around. "And the maiden of Room Five, do not skulk and hide in the future either. Let us put everything out in the open."
The maiden of Room Five remained huddled among the flowers, refusing to show herself. Seeing the atmosphere, Yuan Miaoping dimmed her screen a few notches. "Big Sisters, I only have a single storage battery here. It hasn't been charged in years, and the power is about to run dry. I need to rest a bit too."
Hong Ying found this suspicious. "Didn't you say earlier that you could obtain power whenever you wanted?"
Yuan Miaoping gave an embarrassed smile. "Boss Hong, that was just me bragging! Why did you take it seriously? I'm genuinely about to run out of power. Look, even my face has gone dark. If you don't believe me, see for yourself."
She dimmed the screen all the way down.
Zhao Xiaowan said to Hong Ying, "Take this little sister of ours to Room Eight to rest. It just so happens that Room Eight is away on an assignment, so the quarters are empty. Jiu'er, bring our sister a couple of extra batteries. Your rooms are next to each other, so look after her when you can."
Hearing this, Yuan Miaoping flipped her own switch and turned herself off.
Once Hong Ying and Jiu'er had settled the television, Zhao Xiaowan led everyone back to the main room, leaving Red Lotus behind in Room Five.
This was to spare the old master trouble—if he wished to shut his eyes and ears to the world, he could block both of their eyes and ears together.
Back in the main room, Hong Ying mocked Yuan Miaoping. "A novice like that can actually be the founder of a lineage? A quick beating was all it took for her to spill everything."
Jiu'er shook her head. "Yingying, you have it wrong. That was no novice; she is a seasoned veteran."
Hong Ying paused. "What nonsense are you talking about? Someone like that is a veteran?"
Zhao Xiaowan nodded. "Jiu'er is right. That woman measures her steps carefully. Acting tough in the beginning was merely to test the waters. Once she grasped the situation, she immediately found the right backer. She knows who is reliable in this house. She looks meek and subservient, but in truth, she had already calculated everything in her head. Siding with us guarantees she won't suffer a loss, and telling us a bit more does her no harm."
A proud look spread across Jiu'er's face. Hong Ying sat before the dressing table and sniffed. "Actually, I noticed that too."
Zhao Xiaowan stood behind Hong Ying and began braiding her hair. "It is good that you can see it. We must get along with her well in the future and treat her as family."
Hong Ying remained unpersuaded. "What is she worth? Why should we treat her like family?"
Zhao Xiaowan smiled. "Du Wenming brought her out of the Dark Star Bureau surely because he wanted to build equipment capable of crossing the Boundary. If she could help Du Wenming, she can naturally help us as well."
Li Banfeng suddenly remembered something. "Teacher Song left some notes for me at the university. Wife, do you want them?"
"Of course! It is Teacher Song's kind intention, so how could we not accept it?" Zhao Xiaowan wore a genuine smile, with not a trace of jealousy visible on her face.
Li Banfeng added, "I promised to give this television to A'yi. A'yi, A'yu, and I all signed a covenant deed. If I go back on my word, I'm afraid it won't look good."
Zhao Xiaowan leaned into Li Banfeng's chest. "Worry not, Husband, this matter can be discussed. A'yi is my sister, and her mother is also A'yi's sister. By that token, we are all sisters. What can sisters not talk through?"
Li Banfeng held Zhao Xiaowan tight. "Wife, you are truly virtuous!"
Zhao Xiaowan said softly, "Your servant has been resurrected and can no longer serve as Husband's house spirit. In outside matters, I should assist Husband more. From now on, let us leave household affairs to Yingying. You only have this one house spirit left, so going forward, she will be your principal wife."
Hong Ying stood up, tears welling in her eyes. "Xiaowan, do you truly mean that? I knew you were good to me!"
Li Banfeng did not spare Hong Ying a second glance. Hugging Zhao Xiaowan tightly, he said, "Do not say such things! You are my only wife!"
"Husband!" Zhao Xiaowan gave a coquettish cry. A large loudspeaker popped out of her mouth and sucked Li Banfeng's head right into it.
Hong Ying realized things had taken a turn for the worse. She turned back to the mirror, lowering her head to dab on rouge.
Having finished kissing Li Banfeng, Zhao Xiaowan drew the wooden board and turned to Hong Ying. "You slut, you actually wanted to climb over my head and become the principal wife? Still waiting for me to bow and scrape, calling you Madam? I can see right through your scheming guts!"
Smack!
Zhao Xiaowan raised the board and brought it down. Hong Ying fled, crying out, "Xiaowan, I was only joking! You are the only principal wife, I never even dreamed of it!"
Jiu'er sighed inwardly. "One should know who is the veteran and who is the novice."
***
Li Banfeng arrived at Yuezhou University and entered the campus supermarket, preparing to retrieve Teacher Song's notes.
The storage lockers were arranged in six rows and six columns, thirty-six lockers in total. Li Banfeng scanned his face before the camera, and locker number thirty-six popped open.
Inside lay three notebooks. From the sheer quantity alone, one could see Teacher Song's earnest attitude.
Although their philosophies differed, whenever Teacher Song offered help to Li Banfeng, she always gave her full effort.
Li Banfeng took out all three notebooks together, only to notice something else remaining in the locker.
It looked like a length of rope.
Why put a rope here?
Li Banfeng reached out to take it, but the "rope" suddenly shot out of the locker and snapped at his hand!
The campus supermarket had a steady flow of foot traffic, with many students nearby retrieving items from their own lockers.
Li Banfeng clamped the "rope" in his grip and slipped it into his sleeve without a word or gesture. Not a single person nearby noticed anything amiss.
Closing the locker door, Li Banfeng left the campus supermarket with the notebooks. Once he reached the paved walkway beside the Second Teaching Building, he pulled the rope from his sleeve.
It was not a rope at all, but a pitch-black serpent.
Though its neck had been snapped, its body continued to writhe.
Li Banfeng recognized this snake. It had been painted by Mu Yuejuan. He had seen it within Mu Yuejuan's *Layered Shadows of Wisteria and Pines*, where it could be used both to vanquish foes and to treat injuries.
Why would this snake appear in a campus supermarket locker? And right inside the locker where Teacher Song had stored her notes?
Was Teacher Song trying to harm him?
Impossible.
Li Banfeng trusted Teacher Song's character. Moreover, even if she wanted to harm him, she would never resort to such childish means. The probability of this snake biting Li Banfeng was extraordinarily low, and even if it bit him, it could not possibly take his life.
Where on earth did this snake come from?
Had someone placed the snake inside after Teacher Song deposited her notes?
That likelihood was not very high either.
Teacher Song had once mentioned that the campus supermarket lockers were exceedingly difficult to breach by brute force.
Who had done this?
Li Banfeng squeezed from the snake's head down to its tail, crushing the entire serpent into black ink. His glove absorbed the ink to prevent any venomous trace from lingering.
Amidst his pondering, Li Banfeng suddenly looked up as a thought struck him.
How many stories did the Dark Star Bureau building have?
Chapter 769