Chapter 228: Red Tassel Is Not a Spear (Nuclear Energy Sustained)

Wan Jinxian returned to the village, feeling his way with his blind man's cane, to deliver a message to He Jiaqing.

"The operation failed. Han Juncheng couldn't subdue Zhao Xiaowan and was nailed to the front door of the mansion."

He Jiaqing was in an extremely foul mood.

He knew Han Juncheng was overconfident and inept, and that he lacked experience. But it wasn't easy to subdue a sixth-level dwelling cultivator, so He Jiaqing accommodated him in every way and had planned to wait for a better opportunity before letting Han Juncheng make another attempt.

Unexpectedly, the secret agent he had meticulously cultivated for years next to Iron Gate Fortress was gone just like that.

This wasn't Lao Wan's fault, and He Jiaqing had no reason to take his anger out on him.

Lao Wan asked, "What should we do next?"

He Jiaqing thought for a long time and said, "We'll wait for news from the River Prime Gang. If Luo Zhengnan succeeds, we'll snatch it from him."

Wan Jinxian agreed: "Snatching it is indeed the best strategy, but I'm worried Luo Zhengnan will have a hard time succeeding. A sixth-level dwelling cultivator isn't even considered human in front of that dwelling spirit. I've roamed the martial world for so many years, but this is the first time I've encountered such a situation."

"Flying General Zhao Xiaowan, one of the foremost journey cultivators, is naturally no ordinary character. Unfortunately, we have too few dwelling cultivators at our disposal. Even a slight oversight means we'll miss the opportunity. However, if Iron Gate Fortress intends to hand Zhao Xiaowan over to Luo Zhengnan, that's a different story. Iron Gate Fortress has plenty of dwelling cultivators. If they fail once, they can try again; among three hundred dwelling cultivators, surely one will succeed."

In He Jiaqing's eyes, these dwelling cultivators were just numbers.

Speaking of which, He Jiaqing sighed, "Iron Gate Fortress is a good place. Sooner or later, I'll have to get my hands on it. Lao Wan, you've worked hard tonight. Don't enter Iron Gate Fortress these days, lest you arouse suspicion."

Li Banfeng stood before the mansion gates, watching Han Juncheng, who was still wailing.

He wanted to ask what this man had experienced in the annex building, but seeing the imposing long spear, Li Banfeng didn't dare to approach.

Was this long spear the dwelling spirit's true form?

Who sent this person who was nailed by the long spear?

The River Prime Gang or some other force?

Li Banfeng couldn't figure it out, but he knew something big was about to happen at Iron Gate Fortress.

If they couldn't deal with this dwelling spirit in time, Iron Gate Fortress would face utter destruction.

"Dad! Save me! Save me!" Han Juncheng was still screaming.

His cries were chilling.

News of Han Juncheng spread throughout Iron Gate Fortress.

An evil entity had appeared in the fortress; someone had been nailed to death in the east annex of the mansion, dying in Iron Gate Fortress's forbidden zone!

What kind of omen was this?

This was an omen of impending disaster!

The dwelling cultivators, who were usually superstitious, were terrified. Some bought incense and candles, some bought talismans, and some even replaced their old door gods with new ones!

Luo Zhengnan was selling vegetables in the market when Sun Xiao'an, the wise man of the second sect, approached him. He appeared to be picking vegetables but was secretly talking business with Luo Zhengnan.

"There's been some activity at Iron Gate Fortress. Someone broke into the forbidden zone last night, seemingly to steal something. They were nailed down in the forbidden zone and screamed for an entire day before finally dying."

"Who?" Luo Zhengnan's eyebrows immediately furrowed.

"Their background hasn't been uncovered yet."

Luo Zhengnan gritted his teeth slightly and said, "Damn it, who would make a move at a time like this? I'm afraid the fortress master will suspect us."

"How about we go into Iron Gate Fortress again and explain the situation to the fortress master?"

"Explain it clearly? If we go into Iron Gate Fortress to talk about this now, the fortress master will think we're threatening him!"

Sun Xiao'an said, "Since we know that thing is in the forbidden zone, why don't you send someone to test it out too?"

Luo Zhengnan looked at Sun Xiao'an, his eyes narrowing, and said, "Old man, you've seen several sect leaders off. Are you trying to see me, a hall master, off too?"

Sun Xiao'an fell silent; he couldn't think of a good countermeasure either.

Luo Zhengnan sent away two vegetable buyers. He then said to Sun Xiao'an, "We can't rush this. There are still two days. We'll wait for the fortress master's move. If he's willing to act, we'll still buy it. Paying a bit more money is fine. If he's not willing to act, we'll leave immediately, the sooner the better. Old Sun, warn the others to be more careful, beware of Iron Gate Fortress, and also beware of people of unknown origin. If the deal goes through, be even more careful; guard against Iron Gate Fortress playing tricks, and also against others trying to snatch it!"

Li Banfeng returned to his portable residence. Sitting in front of the gramophone, he asked, "My dear, what kind of person is Zhao Xiaowan exactly?"

"Husband, why are you asking about her again?"

Li Banfeng said, "Today I saw her kill someone, and I can't help but feel she's truly vicious."

Clang-clang-clang!

The Wife beat her drum and sang:

"Vicious isn't quite the word. It's just that after spending too much time on the battlefield, she doesn't value life too highly. Zhao Xiaowan was a general, a rather famous one. She was good at fighting and won many battles. She disciplined her troops very strictly; her subordinates feared her and often felt the sting of her corporal punishment. Besides that, there was nothing particularly special about her."

Li Banfeng recalled the description he'd heard: "Some say she was adopted by the emperor as a goddaughter, became a princess, and even married a consort."

If he could find this consort, perhaps he could subdue Zhao Xiaowan.

The gramophone laughed: "How could she have such good fortune? The emperor wouldn't just casually adopt a goddaughter. Zhao Xiaowan only knew how to fight, nothing else. She never even thought about having a consort. In her eyes, there was no difference between men and women."

It seemed this ending didn't match Zhao Xiaowan's true circumstances.

Li Banfeng asked again, "And some say she guarded the frontier and fought enemies her entire life. Is that true?"

The Wife sighed, "She certainly wished for it. For someone like her, to die on the battlefield would have been a fitting end. But she wasn't so lucky. Because she earned a small merit, she was summoned back to the capital."

Li Banfeng said, "Then, because her achievements overshadowed the ruler, she was thrown into prison?"

"Yes, in prison, she lived worse than a dog."

"And then there was another war, so Zhao Xiaowan was sent back to the battlefield?"

"Yes, isn't she pathetic? Tell her to fight, and she'll go fight, putting her heart and soul into it!"

"And then she died on the battlefield?"

The Wife laughed for a long time: "It would have been good if she had died on the battlefield. At least her life wouldn't have been in vain. But she was betrayed by her own subordinates. She didn't die at the hands of enemies; she died at the hands of her own people. Don't you think this pathetic wretch had a pitiful life? Don't you think her life was a complete joke?"

Li Banfeng was silent for a long time, suddenly feeling a surge of sadness for Zhao Xiaowan.

But no matter how much sadness he felt, he couldn't spare her now.

His Wife's revenge had to be carried out.

And the situation at Iron Gate Fortress had to be resolved!

"My dear, I've made up my mind. This dwelling spirit must be subdued."

"Husband, are you truly doing this to avenge your humble servant?"

"Truly!" Li Banfeng answered with absolute conviction.

"If Husband has such thoughts, then I, I am content. Husband, truly, don't go..." The Wife's voice trembled, and her entire body began to shake.

Li Banfeng looked at his Wife and calmly asked, "My dear, can you truly swallow this grievance?"

"Your humble servant can bear it, your humble servant, your humble servant..."

Hoo-shoo, hoo-shoo, hoo-shoo!

Steam hissed, and the speed increased rapidly.

The record spun furiously, and the drumbeats grew more urgent.

Blazing firelight reflected on the mirror surface. Throughout the main room, glinting blades and flashing swords were everywhere, and shouts and battle cries filled the air.

"Your humble servant cannot bear it! I can die at anyone's hands, but not at that wretch's! Your humble servant cannot bear it!" The Wife suddenly roared, "I want to kill that wretch day and night! Even in my dreams, I want to!"

Li Banfeng nodded and said, "The time is right. We'll act now. First, I'll find a way to lure that dwelling spirit into our house. The rest will depend on our combined efforts as husband and wife."

"Husband, how can you lure her into the house?"

"The usual way: I'll call her name to her face and make her acknowledge me as her master."

"She can't see or hear. How will she know you called her name?"

Li Banfeng had actually considered this matter seriously.

"I'll touch her first."

"Husband!" The fierce flames in the gramophone's casing shot up three feet high, and the gramophone roared, "Why would you touch that wretch?"

"My dear, calm down."

The mention of this old grievance clearly made his Wife excessively agitated.

"I'll write on her body, write her name. She'll naturally know my intention."

The Wife calmed down after a long while, her flames gradually receding back into the casing.

"That's a method, but that wretch has a violent temper. If you touch her as soon as you enter, you're bound to suffer a great loss; she might directly attack and injure you."

"If she attacks, I'll just leave immediately." Li Banfeng had seen Han Juncheng's fate and was already prepared to flee for his life.

"Husband, if you wait for her to attack, it'll be too late to escape. She's one of the foremost journey cultivators. Although her soul is incomplete and her physique is weak now, if it comes to agility, you're definitely no match for her. With your current cultivation, Husband, you must outwit this wretch; do not engage her in direct combat. You could cater to her preferences, bring her some gifts, and first let her lower her guard."

Gifts?

What kind of gifts would suit such an aloof woman?

They had to be stylish.

They had to have artistic flair.

They had to match her temperament, especially her imposing aura as a military general.

Li Banfeng thought for a moment and asked, "How about silver dollars?"

The Wife thought for a moment and agreed, "That wretch does love money. Silver dollars are certainly good, but she can't see, so it might be difficult to impress her."

She couldn't see or hear, so music boxes and the like probably wouldn't be suitable either.

What kind of gift would be suitable for her?

Li Banfeng recalled the scene of his Wife and Zhao Xiaowan's first encounter.

She had said she smelled the scent of his Wife's cosmetics.

"My dear, how about I give her some rouge?"

The gramophone flared up again: "Husband, how can you give that wretch rouge? Don't you know rouge shouldn't be given casually?"

"My dear, calm down!"

They say the greatest grudge is avenging one's father, but Li Banfeng felt that a grudge for one's own death was even more terrifying.

His Wife's emotions became extremely prone to losing control.

"I'm giving her rouge to win her favor and make her temporarily lower her guard."

Hoo-shoo, hoo-shoo!

The Wife panted for a long time before calming down again: "Don't buy expensive rouge; just get some common kind from the street."

"My dear, I'm doing something serious. Buying good rouge will make it easier to impress her."

"She doesn't like good rouge. The vulgar kind from the street would suit her perfectly."

Li Banfeng consoled her, "My dear, don't be angry about this. She said you used two-cash-a-box rouge back then. Are you really holding a grudge over such a small thing?"

The Wife retorted furiously, "So what if I used two-cash rouge? She found even one-cash rouge incredibly rare! We're both just pathetic lives, so who is she to criticize me?"

Li Banfeng nodded, "I'll prepare the rouge. What other gifts would be suitable?"

The Wife thought carefully: "That wretch is vain. Bring her some flowers; the more fragrant, the better."

Easy enough.

Li Banfeng actually knew a flower seller.

"Husband, prepare the gifts, but don't be hasty. Wait until her imposing aura lessens a bit before approaching her."

Li Banfeng nodded, "I've noted that."

"Husband, if you feel her imposing aura intensify, hurry back to the mansion, as fast as you can. Just make sure you get back. As for how to get out, we'll discuss that when you return."

"Don't worry, my dear."

"Husband, that wretch is petty. When you write, don't write on any crucial parts of her, lest you annoy her."

"Don't worry, I know my limits."

"Husband, that wretch is concerned with her reputation. Be polite to her; absolutely do not argue with her."

"She can't even hear; how can I argue with her?"

"Husband, that wretch truly loves money. Take the gifts, and also take some silver dollars. Even if she can't see them, she might be able to smell them."

"Alright, I'll take them."

"Husband, you must remember, that wretch is not called Zhao Xiaowan."

Li Banfeng was startled: "Then what is she called?"

"That wretch is called Hong Ying."

"Hong Ying? Hong Ying... Hong, Red Tasseled Spear?" Li Banfeng was dumbfounded.

"There are many falsehoods in worldly rumors. Hong Ying is not a spear; she merely excels at using a long spear."

"She's not Zhao Xiaowan?"

"No." The Wife answered with absolute certainty.

"Then who is Zhao Xiaowan?"

The Wife fell silent again.

Li Banfeng recalled the first time he had mentioned Zhao Xiaowan's name to his Wife; she had also remained silent for a long time then.

In front of a dwelling spirit, calling out its name, if it doesn't resist, means it acknowledges you as its master.

His Wife knew how to fight.

When he was in the Little Yellow Springs, Li Banfeng had once encountered a group of spirits resembling soldiers. They had been very submissive in front of his Wife then.

Could it be that...

"My dear, are you..."

"Husband!" The song "Sweetheart Baby" drifted out from the gramophone again. The singing was still as tender, but his Wife's speech was slightly stuttered. "You are your humble servant's master, mas-mas-mainstay. Husband, your humble servant's revenge can go unfulfilled, but you must return safely!"