At six in the morning, a newsboy was crying out his papers with all his might: "Extra, extra! Eldest Miss Lu narrowly escapes death! The whole family flees the city to dodge disaster!"
A man handed the boy a one-yuan note and took a newspaper. As the boy reached into his pocket to make change, the man waved a hand. "Keep it."
"Thank you, sir!" Overjoyed, the boy pocketed the note. It was the first paper he had sold all morning.
A bitter wind gusted past, but the newsboy felt none of the cold. His shouts grew louder and more vigorous. Before long, he sold another copy, and the customer handed him a fifty-cent coin.
He dropped the coin into his pocket, only to find the earlier paper note gone.
Where was the money?
Had it slipped out when he reached into his pocket just now?
That was impossible. After putting the money in, he hadn't reached into that pocket a single time.
Sniffling through the icy chill, the boy gave himself a hard slap across the cheek. To lose the single dollar he had worked so hard to earn, just like that!
In truth, he had never earned that dollar at all. The man who had bought that first paper was none other than the Paragon of Illusion Cultivators, Haolian Shen, who had merely used the boy to test his illusion arts.
Arriving at Yuanzhu Ward, Haolian Shen entered an abandoned Western-style villa and handed the newspaper to Lu Xiaolan. "Lu Chunying's family is leaving Green Water City. They depart this evening on a private train."
Lu Xiaolan scanned the newspaper. "Didn't you say the main point of going after the Lu family was to draw out Li Qi? Why hijack their private train now? Are you planning to wipe them out to the last man?"
Haolian Shen sat beside a fireplace and held out his hands to warm them. The fireplace was an illusion as well; in reality, it was nothing more than a pile of firewood.
"Li Qi is on that train. He will be escorting the Lu family out of the city."
Lu Xiaolan looked over the front page once more. "The paper doesn't say a word about Li Qi!"
Haolian Shen gave a faint smile. "Li Qi wouldn't dare reveal his whereabouts in the press. Lord Yu told us this man has no real ability of his own—a classic fox borrowing the tiger's terror, relying entirely on Zhao Xiaowan to back him up. The Lu family must have begged him on their knees, leaving him unable to refuse, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go."
Lu Xiaolan looked at him, perplexed. "How do you know Li Qi is on the train? Did you guess?"
Haolian Shen shook his head. "Of course not. I investigated thoroughly. There is a steam-driven gramophone on the Lu family's private train, identical to the one Zhao Xiaowan possesses."
Lu Xiaolan considered this for a moment, then replied, "Our family's train already had a steam gramophone on board. As I recall, it was bought many years ago."
Haolian Shen produced a photograph. "This is a handmade gramophone produced in Amikan State, exceptionally rare. It was only because of its unique construction, which could unravel the curse binding Zhao Xiaowan, that she was able to possess it.
"Such treasures are one in ten thousand. Take a closer look. Could this truly be the same as the one on your family's train?"
Lu Xiaolan examined the photograph at length: three horns, a cabinet. It really did look completely identical.
Yet seeing how thoroughly Haolian Shen had prepared, and knowing he must have done extensive groundwork, she held her tongue. After all, she knew very little about Zhao Xiaowan.
Holding the photograph, Haolian Shen spoke gravely: "If Zhao Xiaowan is on that train, Li Qi is certainly on it as well. Whether our mission succeeds or fails all hinges on this."
After a brief thought, Lu Xiaolan smiled. "If we can kill Li Qi and Zhao Xiaowan together and bring both back to Haodu, the reward Lord Yu grants us might well surpass an ennoblement as marquis."
Haolian Shen shook his head. "Lord Yu made us no further promises, and there is no need for us to do anything superfluous. Zhao Xiaowan was once the imperial court's most capable general, and later the court's most hated rebel. Such a person is not easily killed!
"I have the means to suppress her for a brief period. During that window, you must kill Li Qi. That will depend on my illusion arts, and on your own skill."
Lu Xiaolan recalled her past encounters with Li Qi. She had never seen Zhao Xiaowan, but she had never once gained the upper hand against Li Qi.
"My mother once hired several experts to deal with Li Qi, and every last one of them died at his hands. He might not be as easy to handle as you think."
Haolian Shen shook his head and sighed. "I truly have no wish to waste more breath explaining these things to you. I know all about the incident you speak of. The so-called experts Zhuo Yuling found were merely ground-level cultivators, and you never even witnessed how they fought.
"Given Zhao Xiaowan's strength, disposing of ground-level cultivators would be effortless. That has no bearing on Li Qi's own ability. Let me state it one last time: our primary opponent is Zhao Xiaowan.
"Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that Li Qi has brought along other helpers. He maintains ties with many high-ranking cultivators across Puluo Province, which is why you must ensure a kill with a single blow. I will create the ideal opening for you to strike."
Lu Xiaolan asked, "What do you mean by the ideal opening?"
Haolian Shen tossed another piece of wood onto the fire. "I will provide you with a flawless disguise."
"Who do you intend to disguise me as?"
Haolian Shen said, "Li Qi is an intensely suspicious man. According to my findings, Lu Chunying hasn't spent much private time with him, and the others on the train will have little chance to approach him.
"If you want to gain Li Qi's trust, the safest route is to disguise you as Zhao Xiaowan."
Lu Xiaolan was taken aback. "You want to disguise me as a gramophone?"
Haolian Shen shook his head. "Not necessarily a gramophone. We still don't know Zhao Xiaowan's true state. According to the clues provided by Lord Yu, she possesses the ability to absorb deceased spirits to restore her physical form. I suspect she may have recovered part of her human body, though she likely cannot stray far from the gramophone."
Lu Xiaolan asked, "What does Zhao Xiaowan's human form look like?"
Haolian Shen handed her a stack of documents. "There are no direct descriptions of her appearance. These record some of her past experiences. Use this time to read through them so your conduct shows no flaws.
"Leave her appearance to me. Once I pin Zhao Xiaowan down, I will immediately use illusion arts to mold you into her likeness. What you must do is kill Li Qi silently, without alerting anyone else."
Lu Xiaolan flipped through the papers intently, making marks with a fountain pen. "The records state quite clearly that Zhao Xiaowan is no longer the renowned commander she once was. I doubt her current combat strength is much greater than an Injured Demon Fiend's.
"I still say we ought to take her back to Hao Prefecture with us—preferably captured alive. Making a name for oneself is never easy; we shouldn't pass up an unearned triumph."
Haolian Shen remained cautious. "When the time comes, we will see what condition Zhao Xiaowan is in before making a decision!"
***
Li Banfeng boarded the Lu family's private train, where Lu Chunying had prepared an entire carriage exclusively for him.
After the train started moving, everyone gathered in the dining car for hot pot. Lu Chunying asked, nervous and uneasy, "Brother Seven, do you think they'll take the bait?"
Li Banfeng swished a slice of mutton through the broth and calculated the odds. "I'd say there's a sixty percent chance they take the bait."
Lu Chunying looked at the slice of mutton on Li Banfeng's chopsticks. "Brother Seven, is that because the meat is sixty percent cooked?"
Li Banfeng ate the mutton and nodded. "This broth is quite good. In a bit, bring a pot over to my carriage."
Xiao Yeci took a sip of soup. "The broth really is wonderful! Benefactor, why not eat here together with us?"
Lu Chunying huffed. "Brother Seven brought his sweetheart on board, and he won't even let us see her!"
"So it's his sweetheart!" Xiao Yeci chewed on the tip of her chopsticks, feeling an ache in her heart that she dared not reveal.
Seeing Xiao Yeci's forlorn expression, Li Banfeng assumed she was frightened.
"You don't need to worry. If that woman truly came seeking vengeance against you, she won't miss this private train. As long as she boards, things become simple.
"If she doesn't come for revenge, I'll deliver you to a safe place. Before we track her down, I will guarantee your lives are never in danger."
Lu Chunying asked, "Brother Seven, where is this safe place you mentioned?"
Li Banfeng said, "Santoucha."
At the mention of Santoucha, Lu Chunying was dumbfounded. "How can that be considered a safe place?"
Xiao Yeci said, "Santoucha is very safe! Big Brother Qiu is there, and many other experts are there too!"
Lu Chunying still found it hard to believe. Santoucha had once been the most perilous place in all of Puluo Province, yet now it was supposed to be the safest sanctuary.
A conductor entered the dining car and addressed Li Qi directly: "The next stop is Huangtu Bridge. Should we take on coal?"
In Puluo Province, every train had an attendant, and private trains were no exception—without one, they couldn't cross Boundaries. This conductor had been specifically recommended by Ma the Fifth.
Li Banfeng checked the time; it was just past seven.
Huangtu Bridge was right next to Lüshuiwan. Li Banfeng asked, "We've only gone one stop. Isn't it a bit early to take on coal?"
The conductor replied, "If you take on coal at Huangtu Bridge, you will all be awake. If you wait until Black Rock Slope, you will all be asleep."
Li Banfeng stared at the conductor for quite a long time.
Xiao Yeci asked, "Can't you take on coal while people are asleep?"
The conductor said nothing more, turned around, and walked out of the carriage.
Xiao Yeci felt somewhat awkward. "Did I say something wrong?"
Li Banfeng recalled why Ma the Fifth had recommended this conductor. The man offered useful advice, but on any given matter he spoke only two sentences—never a third.
Li Banfeng had stared at him just now because he was trying to read the writing on his body. Because there hadn't been much time, he had caught only a portion:
*There is an attendant named Tie Yanjian. His form is like a green pine bearing snow; his spirit is like cold iron tempered by frost.*
*When his lips part, it is like a sluice gate controlling a torrent, his words weighed with purpose; when he finishes, it is like a key locking a golden coffer, his voice cutting off with no excess.*
*When he meets one who is lost, he straightens his robes and speaks clearly, uttering two pearl-like sentences: the first to dispel ignorance, the second to resolve confusion.*
*When asked: 'Why not three?'*
*He replies: 'If one fails to convey the meaning, the fault is mine; if two yield no result, the folly is yours!'*
"He certainly has character!" Li Banfeng snorted. "We'll take on coal at Black Rock Slope. Even if we're asleep, will Black Rock Slope run short of coal?"
Lu Chunying wasn't sure if she should speak, but she felt Li Banfeng ought to grasp the conductor's meaning. "Brother Seven, the conductor was warning us. Taking on coal at Black Rock Slope might invite trouble."
Li Banfeng smiled. "Aren't we waiting for trouble to show up? I'm full. Bring the pot over to my compartment in a bit."
Lu Chunying felt genuine fear. "Brother Seven, don't leave just yet. Have another cup of wine, and let me play a song for you! Bring the gramophone from my carriage over here!"
Two retainers carried the gramophone into the dining car. Lu Chunying said, "I heard from Brother Five that you love gramophones best. This is a handmade gramophone from Amikan State—the only one in all of Puluo Province."
Li Banfeng stared at the gramophone for a long time. It looked completely identical to his darling wife back when they first met!
Lu Chunying hurriedly added water, poured in oil, and lit the fire. "Brother Seven, listen to this. A steam gramophone really is different; it doesn't need to be wound, it moves all on its own."
Li Banfeng nodded. "Yes. She can move on her own."
"Brother Seven, listen to the tone—it sounds unlike any other gramophone."
"Yes. None sings better than she does."
"Brother Seven, why not listen for a little longer?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "I should listen longer. Send this gramophone to my carriage as well."
Lu Chunying was left speechless, but since Li Banfeng had spoken, she could hardly refuse.
***
Once the gramophone was carried back to his train compartment, Li Banfeng used Extending the Wide Bridal Chamber to swap out his wife. Husband and wife sat eating hot pot while listening to the records.
Looking at the gramophone, Zhao Xiaowan was filled with emotion. "Precious husband, there were only two of these Amikan steam gramophones in total. I never expected this one would fall into your hands as well."
Li Banfeng picked up the oilcan. "One look at it reminds me of you, my lady. I can hardly bear to let it go."
Zhao Xiaowan playfully punched Li Banfeng. Together, they oiled and watered the gramophone.
"Husband, do you know where the Lu family bought this gramophone from?"
Li Banfeng shook his head; this was something he genuinely didn't know.
Zhao Xiaowan let out a soft sigh. "To ordinary people, this is merely an exotic curiosity. To me, it was a life-saving treasure."
Li Banfeng asked in surprise, "The gramophone saved your life, my lady?"
Zhao Xiaowan fiddled with the gramophone needle, hesitating for a long time before finally speaking: "I never told you about this before. When I first met you, it was because I didn't trust you and wasn't willing to tell the truth.
"Later, once I came to trust you, I feared you might despise me, so I dared not speak of it."
Li Banfeng frowned, unhappy. "From the day I first met you, I doted on you. If you told me to buy groceries, I bought groceries; if you told me to apply oil, I applied oil. How could you say I would despise you?"
With blushing cheeks, Zhao Xiaowan said, "To meet you was this humble servant's blessing. Today, I will tell you everything.
"Back in the Suihuang Wasteland, under the name Huang Yuxian, I led the Ironbone Seed in a bloody war against the Tufang State of the Inner Provinces. Before the war was even finished, I was murdered by the founding ancestor of the Curse Cultivators."
The founding ancestor of the Curse Cultivators.
Li Banfeng had no recollection of such a person. "Was this person a man or a woman? What was their name?"
"Her name was Hen Wuyou, a woman. All my attention was on Tufang State at the time; I never anticipated that she would strike from the shadows."
Li Banfeng sorted through his thoughts. "My lady, Hen Wuyou and Tufang State weren't in league?"
Zhao Xiaowan shook her head. "Hen Wuyou had no dealings with Tufang State."
"Then was she sent by the Shang State?"
Zhao Xiaowan shook her head again. "She didn't side with the Shang State either. She relied on no one but herself.
"She intended to wait until both sides were exhausted, then reap the spoils for herself. Credit where it's due, the woman was deeply calculating. She laid a curse on me, and laid a curse on Tufang State's commanding general as well.
"It sounds absurd, but while I was exhausting every effort to maneuver against Hen Wuyou, the Tufang commander broke after just two bouts of her torment and surrendered outright. An army of tens of thousands fell into her lap just like that—a wolf caught with bare hands, taking the entire wolf den with it. It was practically unheard of."
"And then?" Li Banfeng's eyes widened. "You were cursed as well—how did you fight her?"
Zhao Xiaowan sighed. "I panicked at first, too. But after two clashes, I realized Hen Wuyou knew nothing about commanding troops. I bore the curse and fought two battles against her, easily wiping out thirty percent of her forces.
"Having lost so many troops, morale in her ranks plummeted. When word reached Tufang State that their army had fallen under Hen Wuyou's control, they dispatched forces to subdue her.
"Hemmed in by troubles inside and out, Hen Wuyou sought out a helper. And when that helper arrived, things grew even more absurd."
Li Banfeng looked at Zhao Xiaowan. "Precious wife, the helper she found couldn't possibly be Shan Chengjun, could it?"
Zhao Xiaowan burst into laughter. "Husband, you guessed right! It was Shan Chengjun. He alone could hold off ten thousand men, and leading troops was second nature to him. But he had one terrible flaw: his temperament was far too much like Hen Wuyou's.
"He stayed in the army for barely three days before the two of them turned on each other. They fought, and Hen Wuyou was beaten half to death by Shan Chengjun, fleeing to parts unknown.
"That shrew was thoroughly unreasonable. The one who abused her was Shan Chengjun, yet she took out her spite on me. Before fleeing, she aggravated her own wounds to detonate the curse inside me completely. As a result, my life was extinguished, and my soul nearly shattered beyond recovery."
Li Banfeng asked, "What kind of curse could be so devastating? Was there no way to break it?"
"What curse Hen Wuyou used, I truly do not know. But the method to break it was deduced by the Paragon of Peep Cultivators sent by the peddler.
"That Hen Wuyou was vicious indeed. The condition she set for dissolving the curse was 'water and fire in harmony, endless song.' I had to find a suitable vessel to possess merely to preserve my soul.
"The peddler was locked in bitter fighting in Baiji Commandery at the time, and the Suihuang Wasteland could not be lost, so he sent Old Train's disciple, Lady Baiqiao, to save me.
"When Lady Baiqiao understood the situation, she forged a kettle for me and told me to possess it.
"I asked her how a kettle could count as 'water and fire in harmony.'
"She said she would build a stove beneath it and keep it burning day and night, and that would be water and fire in harmony!"
Li Banfeng considered this and found it somewhat reasonable. "What about the endless song? How was that supposed to work?"
At this, the veins on Zhao Xiaowan's forehead bulged. "That foolish woman added a whistle to the kettle and claimed that when the water boiled, the whistle would blow, and that counted as endless song!"
Li Banfeng thought about it and nodded. "That makes sense too—"
"Makes sense my foot!" Zhao Xiaowan snapped. "That kettle only went toot-toot-toot! How was that singing a song? If I had possessed that kettle, my soul would have scattered within two days.
"Just as I was about to succumb, a Westerner arrived at the Suihuang Wasteland, delivering a steam gramophone.
"He was an odd fellow. He first asked whether the gramophone would serve. I looked at it, and it truly would! Water and fire in harmony, endless song—it met every condition. So I accepted the gramophone.
"Who would have thought the foreigner would be so overjoyed? He ran off walking on his hands, shouting as he ran: 'Repaid, I've repaid it!'"
Li Banfeng asked blankly, "What did he repay?"
Zhao Xiaowan sighed. "Later, I heard from Lady Baiqiao that the man was named Claudesai. He was the Grand Chief of the White Falcon League and the First Master of Mount Qixing. He owed the peddler a favor, and he repaid it with that gramophone.
"Lady Baiqiao said the peddler had gotten the short end of that bargain, but I didn't think so. Relying on the gramophone's body, I led the army and drove Shan Chengjun away.
"Unfortunately, my soul was severely wounded, and my mind grew increasingly muddled. Fearing I would bring ruin upon the army, I departed the Suihuang Wasteland alone.
"I had made many enemies across Puluo Province and dared not reveal my identity, so I spent my days hiding and wandering. The damage to my soul never fully healed. If I hadn't met you, husband, I might have degenerated into a wicked phantom, turned into a monstrous fiend, or vanished from this world altogether."
As Zhao Xiaowan recounted the past, Li Banfeng listened with growing absorption. Before they knew it, they arrived at Black Rock Slope. The train stopped to take on coal, and Li Banfeng prepared to head down to the platform to buy some snacks.
"Husband, I am not hungry," Zhao Xiaowan said, looking toward the gramophone. "I want to listen to a few more songs."
"Wait for me a moment, my lady. I'll go fetch the records from Lu Chunying."
After Li Banfeng left, Zhao Xiaowan stepped up to the gramophone. Gently running her fingers along the rim of the horn, she felt a wave of nostalgia. Lost in thought, she suddenly heard the door creak open.
Zhao Xiaowan paused. "Husband, so fast?"
Li Banfeng was accustomed to coming and going like a ghost, so she found nothing unusual about it.
Yet when she turned her head, what entered the carriage was not Li Banfeng, but a glowing ring.
At first glance, the ring shone brilliantly, about the size of a train window.
A moment later, it expanded violently, extending far beyond the window. Its radiance plummeted, and wherever it swept, every ray of light vanished, leaving only utter darkness.
The color drained from Zhao Xiaowan's face. Like a clay sculpture, she stood frozen where she was.
***
Li Banfeng returned to the compartment carrying a stack of records. He saw Zhao Xiaowan sitting on the bed, gazing at him with deep affection.
"My lady, I brought all the records. Which one would you like to hear?" Li Banfeng laid the records out before her.
Zhao Xiaowan lowered her head, blushing. "I'll listen to whatever you choose."
Li Banfeng picked one out and pointed at the sleeve. "How about this one? What do you think?"
Zhao Xiaowan nodded. "I like that one too."
Li Banfeng placed the record on the turntable. The lively beat of gongs, drums, and flutes drifted out:
*"I walk you to the village edge, a word of advice I leave with you; though a hundred blossoms bloom, the roadside wildflowers you must not pick..."*
This was Li Banfeng's favorite song. Even though the first time his wife had sung it she had frightened him half to death, it was only after singing it that she had first spoken to him.
"My lady, do you still remember this song?"
"Of course I remember. How could I ever forget!" Zhao Xiaowan took Li Banfeng's hand and pulled him onto the bed. She slipped off his coat, then took off his shoes.
Li Banfeng's eyes shone as he looked at her. "My lady, are you trying to—"
"Yes, I want you!" Her speech was slightly slurred. In her mouth rested a glistening green bug that swallowed her malice—an exceptional tool for dealing with Travel Cultivators, a method taught to her by her mother.
She gently stroked Li Banfeng's cheek. His gaze grew hazy and unfocused.
Her fingernails lengthened rapidly, poised to slash across Li Banfeng's throat.
Suddenly, Li Banfeng vanished.
"Zhao Xiaowan" gasped in shock.
"Where did you—"
*Bang!*
A rupture burst open across her chest, spraying blood.
What kind of technique was this?
*Viewing Flowers from Horseback!*
Why had Li Banfeng turned on her so abruptly?
Had he seen through her?
Lu Xiaolan clutched her wound, desperate to flee the compartment.
*Bang!*
The moment she left the bed, her body ruptured into a mangled mess, and she collapsed flat onto the floor.
Drawing her dying breaths, Lu Xiaolan cast a sidelong glance toward the edge of the bed.
Li Banfeng had put his shoes back on and was currently tying his laces.
"Getting into bed, you must know your wife; getting out of bed, you must know your shoes."
This was the rule Li Banfeng had laid down for Dwelling Cultivators.
Laces tied, Li Banfeng delivered a vicious kick into the empty air beside the train window.
*Thud!*
A muffled crack echoed through the air. Haolian Shen clutched his chest and crashed to the floor.
He had concealed his form with illusion arts, intending to wait for an opening to strike, but had failed to escape Li Banfeng's keen sight.
This kick carried the full force of Trampling Ten Thousand Rivers, landing solid and square.
Critically wounded and enduring agonizing pain, Haolian Shen struggled to his feet. He twisted his wrist in the empty air, seizing Zhao Xiaowan by the throat.
The real Zhao Xiaowan materialized slowly beside the carriage door. Her face remained deathly pale, her eyes dim and lifeless, showing no sign of resistance, ready to have her neck snapped by Haolian Shen at any moment.
Haolian Shen ground his teeth. "Li Qi, don't move! Move a muscle and I'll kill her!"
*Clack, clack, clack!*
The percussion chimed. Tears glistening in her eyes, Zhao Xiaowan sang in a deliberate, measured cadence: "Husband, you mustn't move! If you move again, the choice meat meant for the pot will break into scraps!"
Haolian Shen was horrified. Hadn't Zhao Xiaowan been subdued by the Great Totem? How could she still sing?
"I'll take your lives!" Lu Xiaolan drew a deep breath and forced a raspy screech from her throat with the last of her strength.
"Oh, husband! She says she'll take our lives—how frightful that is!" Zhao Xiaowan sang in reply. Lu Xiaolan choked on her own blood, instantly silenced.
Haolian Shen tried to flee, but before he could cast an illusion, the wound on his chest burst open, blood pouring without cease.
Zhao Xiaowan sighed and continued her song: "Husband, this humble servant's body has already healed. I had no intention of running this den of thieves any longer, yet foolish bandits who lack eyes insist on barging into our shop!"
"A guest is a guest; we ought to entertain them properly!" Li Banfeng used Extending the Wide Bridal Chamber, sending both intruders straight into the companion dwelling.
Chapter 804