Chapter 229: Things Worked Out

Li Banfeng looked at the large bouquet of fresh flowers in Sui Donglan's hands and smelled each one.

"You call these good flowers? They have no scent at all. What kind of good flowers are these?"

Sui Donglan said with a crestfallen expression, "How was I supposed to know what kind of flowers you wanted? I thought you just wanted pretty ones."

Li Banfeng pushed the flowers aside. "You think these lousy flowers can remove the characters from your face? Dream on!"

"Wait!" Sui Donglan grabbed Li Banfeng. "How about this, I'll take you to a place with flowers that are exceptionally fragrant. You can pick as many as you want."

To her credit, though Sui Donglan was a swindler, she had put considerable effort into her research.

The place she recommended was a bit far, but it truly had an abundance of beautiful flowers.

Li Banfeng gathered various flowers and wove a large garland. From a distance, its fragrance was intoxicating.

He then had Sui Donglan recommend some rouge. Regardless of the color, its scent was indeed remarkable.

Once the gifts were prepared, Li Banfeng also readied a thousand silver dollars. Late at night, he carried the box, wearing the garland, and holding the rouge as he entered the annex.

Han Juncheng was still sprawled by the door, completely dead, but no one dared to retrieve his body.

Li Banfeng swallowed, then proceeded further into the building.

He remembered what the long spear looked like, but didn't know its exact location. He didn't dare to wander aimlessly inside the annex.

Fortunately, his nose was keen, even keener than Han Juncheng's.

With his "Hundred Flavors of Exquisite Delicacy" technique, he followed the chilling Yin energy and quickly found the second floor.

Upon reaching the room at the end of the corridor, Li Banfeng didn't push the door open. Instead, he put on the garland, opened the rouge box, and waited quietly.

The fragrance slowly wafted into the room, and the door creaked open.

Li Banfeng saw the weapon rack and the long spear on it.

Carrying the garland and rouge, he cautiously moved forward. The long spear sensed the approaching scent and suddenly spoke.

"Who are you?"

The voice was deep and stern, its imposing presence making Li Banfeng shiver.

Li Banfeng slowed his pace but continued to advance. He then heard the long spear roar angrily, "What do you want?"

There was no need to answer, nor was it possible, as she couldn't hear at all.

Li Banfeng could only perceive the changes in the spear's imposing aura to adjust his speed.

"Don't come closer! One more step and I'll take your life!" The long spear roared, and Li Banfeng trembled.

But he gritted his teeth and continued to move forward. Although his steps were slow, he never stopped.

He couldn't stop. His technique of seeking good fortune and avoiding disaster told Li Banfeng that he must not halt.

Hong Ying was very suspicious now. If he stopped, he would likely die instantly.

Li Banfeng occasionally touched the Tang saber, whispering, "Saber, claim the enemy's head. You'd better show some spirit."

The Tang saber trembled all over, unable to utter a word.

It had a military background, but now it had met its match.

All the other magical artifacts were trembling. Even the wine gourd and old teapot had fallen silent.

Li Banfeng slowly approached the long spear, gathered his courage, and placed the garland upon it.

"Flowers..." The long spear was silent for a long time, then asked, "For me?"

Li Banfeng took a deep breath, dipped his finger in rouge, and applied it to the long spear.

"Why are you touching me? How dare you! Is this... rouge?"

She hadn't worn rouge in a long time. There were some things Old He hadn't quite understood.

Li Banfeng slowly wrote two characters on the long spear with the rouge.

Hong Ying.

The long spear trembled, and Li Banfeng heard a gasp.

"You know my name?"

Li Banfeng wrote it on the spear's body again.

Hong Ying.

"Are you... calling me?"

This was the most crucial step.

Sweat streamed down Li Banfeng's face, and he was instantly drenched.

He clutched a key tightly in his hand.

If the long spear's imposing aura intensified even slightly, Li Banfeng would flee immediately.

But the aura showed no change, even weakening slightly.

He waited for a full five minutes, a duration during which Li Banfeng felt as if he might suffocate.

The long spear finally spoke.

"You... want me?"

Li Banfeng gently caressed the long spear.

"I'm deaf and blind, and you still want me..."

How long had Hong Ying been trapped here?

Was she so desperate for someone to accept her?

It was likely a stroke of luck that she met Old He. With Old He gone, Hong Ying probably feared she would never encounter another House Cultivator.

Hong Ying fell silent, unsure whether it was out of emotion or suspicion.

This was to express sincerity, immense sincerity!

Li Banfeng took out a silver dollar and touched it against the spear's body.

The long spear became furious. "What is this thing? What kind of person do you take me for?"

Li Banfeng trembled, nearly fleeing for his life.

Fortunately, the long spear quickly calmed down again and asked, "Was that a silver dollar just now?"

Li Banfeng picked up two silver dollars and touched them against Hong Ying.

"Only two? What kind of woman do you think I am?" Hong Ying demanded sharply.

"There's more," Li Banfeng said, though he knew Hong Ying couldn't hear him.

Li Banfeng picked up a handful of silver dollars and rubbed them against Hong Ying.

Hong Ying angrily said, "Don't touch my belly! It's very ticklish there!"

Li Banfeng moved his hand upwards.

Hong Ying became even more annoyed. "I'm a young woman! Can that part be touched?"

Li Banfeng moved his hand downwards.

"This is even worse!"

Where on earth was he supposed to touch?

This woman was much harder to please than his wife.

Li Banfeng proceeded to rub each silver dollar against the long spear's body.

The long spear occasionally scoffed, "You vulgar person, giving me such common items. Do you really think I'd care for them? Let me tell you, each silver dollar can only touch me once. If you dare to touch me twice with one, see how I deal with you!"

Before long, all one thousand silver dollars had been touched against it, one by one. Li Banfeng then dipped his finger in rouge and wrote her name on the long spear again.

Hong Ying.

"Why are you still calling my name?" The long spear's aura surged, then quickly subsided. "Didn't I already agree to your request?"

Li Banfeng bravely grasped the long spear.

The imposing aura was still present, but the long spear didn't resist.

He was one step away from success, and there was still the mansion to consider.

If the mansion didn't want Hong Ying to leave, Li Banfeng would have to fight it.

Hong Ying was also prepared for this. "I've been in this mansion for many years. I'm afraid it might try to forcefully keep me here. Let's not get entangled with it. Seize the moment and leave as quickly as possible!"

Li Banfeng wiped his sweat, carrying the long spear. He walked all the way to the annex's main door, but the mansion didn't stop Hong Ying or him.

Hong Ying had overthought it; the mansion had long since had enough of her.

Hong Ying felt a little embarrassed and explained to Li Banfeng, "You chose a good time. The mansion is deep in slumber and hasn't awakened yet. Quickly, take me to your home."

Li Banfeng took Hong Ying into his Portable Abode.

The wine gourd dared not make a sound.

The Blood-Stained Pendulum pressed tightly against the Thread-Pulling Earring.

Mund, inside the Monthly Calendar Card, covered his eyes.

The old teapot pretended to be asleep.

The Judge's Brush was genuinely asleep.

The Tang saber recklessly flew into the second room.

Li Banfeng held the long spear and looked at the gramophone.

The long spear was still speaking. "Is this your home? Did we arrive so quickly? Your house is quite close to where I used to be. Your house is so strange. What kind of house is this? Who are you?"

Hong Ying realized something was wrong with the house and roared, "You tricked me! How dare you deceive me? Where is this place? This is..."

She discovered not only that the house was wrong, but there were also things inside.

"Wicked woman, I smell you! This is your den, I'll..."

Li Banfeng gripped the long spear tightly and said, "Attack!"

A cloud of steam rushed forward, tightly enveloping the long spear.

The long spear's body trembled, broke free from Li Banfeng's grasp, and turned to stab him.

The steam protected Li Banfeng first, and his wife's voice called out, "Husband, leave the rest to me!"

The previous grab on Hong Ying had given his wife the initiative. His wife used a cloud of steam to send Li Banfeng into the second room, sealed the door, and began to fight Hong Ying.

Li Banfeng crouched behind the door, listening as the two fought and cursed each other.

"Wicked woman, how dare you plot against me? I was just regretting not being able to find you! Let's settle this today!"

"Bitch, what are you talking about settling? Just stick your face in a peach; you've already thrown away your decency anyway!"

Li Banfeng listened anxiously.

Wife, why are you cursing her? She can't even hear you.

After fighting for a while, his wife didn't seem to gain the upper hand.

This was Li Banfeng's abode, and she was its spirit. Fighting within the Portable Abode, his wife actually hadn't gained an advantage?

What could be done?

Li Banfeng couldn't think of a way to help his wife.

Panting heavily.

His wife's voice was hurried, suggesting she was at a disadvantage.

A whirring sound came from the gramophone's horn. "Husband, help me! Open her senses with your mind!"

"How do I open them?" Li Banfeng didn't quite understand.

"Husband, concentrate your mind and open a sense for her."

"Which sense?"

"Her ears!"

Li Banfeng concentrated his mind, thinking only of the shape and appearance of an ear.

When he focused on the ear canal, a pained cry came from outside the door.

The cry came from Hong Ying.

Her ears could hear.

Li Banfeng hadn't expected that a House Cultivator and a House Spirit could cooperate in battle this way.

This must be a new combat method his wife had developed after taking the Profound Essence Pill.

Hong Ying had been deaf for so many years; she should have been happy that her ears could hear again.

But in front of the gramophone, this was not good news.

His wife began to sing:

"In spring, green grass grows, battle robes meticulously sewn.In summer, red flowers bloom, drums and horns thunder.In autumn, yellow leaves fall, enemies' heads taken on the battlefield.In winter, white snow flies, blood spills to honor heroes' souls!"

His wife sang this sorrowful war song.

As soon as she heard the melody, Hong Ying instantly lost her composure.

"Wicked woman! I did nothing wrong! How dare you humiliate me!"

"Bitch, what are you talking about settling? Just stick your face in a peach; you've already thrown away your decency anyway!"

"I'll fight you to the death!" The long spear, having lost its reason, thrust directly at the gramophone.

Amidst the vibrating song, Li Banfeng and the other magical artifacts remained unaffected. Only the long spear lay motionless on the ground.

Li Banfeng walked out of the room, looked at the long spear, and asked, "Wife, did you handle her?"

The gramophone panted for a moment, then replied, "Handled!"

A weight lifted from Li Banfeng's heart. He picked up the long spear and said, "Good, I'll go dispose of her."

Selling this item directly to Luo Zhengnan would avenge his wife and settle the matter of Iron Gate Fort.

"Husband, wait!"

Li Banfeng paused. "What is it, wife?"

"Husband, she's not dead yet."

"Not dead?" Li Banfeng quickly dropped the long spear. "Wife, this is no laughing matter. Such a fine dish, you should eat it while it's hot! Why keep her?"

"Husband, your humble servant begs one thing of you: let this wretch live a few more days. I have some questions for her. These words have been hidden for countless years. If your humble servant doesn't ask them clearly, this knot in my heart will never be untied."

"Wife, keeping such a fierce woman in the house makes me uneasy."

"Rest assured, Husband. She's been affected by my technique; she can't use any of her abilities."

"But this..."

Li Banfeng was in a difficult position.

He needed to quickly get rid of this troublesome item.

But now his wife wouldn't let him. What should he do?

The gramophone knew Li Banfeng didn't want to keep Hong Ying, but some matters, if not clarified, would cause her lifelong distress. "Your humble servant has caused Husband trouble. But there are some things your humble servant truly wants to understand. Your humble servant begs Husband for a few more days' grace. Husband, your humble servant begs you, Husband, your humble servant truly begs you."

His wife's feelings were understandable.

But how should the current problem be dealt with?

Li Banfeng looked at the long spear lying on the ground; its imposing aura was still intimidating.

Imposing aura...

Li Banfeng unbuckled his belt.

The gramophone trembled. "Oh, Husband, are you going to use family discipline? Husband, you can hit me; your humble servant deserves it. Just don't let anyone in the house see."

Li Banfeng said nothing. He turned and went to the second room, bringing out a weapon.

It was a long spear he had taken from Old Lady Han's home. Since Li Banfeng wasn't very skilled with long weapons, it had been stored in his Portable Abode all this time.

Holding his belt and the long spear, he looked at Hong Ying on the ground and asked the gramophone, "Wife, can she still speak?"

"Yes, she'll be able to speak once she wakes up."

Li Banfeng nodded and tore a button from his clothes.

A woman selling cloth approached Luo Zhengnan, pretending to buy vegetables. She lowered her voice and said, "Someone entered the fortress lord's mansion last night. This morning, the seals on the mansion were broken."

Luo Zhengnan smiled. "It seems things are done then!"

Today, there will be an extra update. A chapter will be released at noon. Esteemed readers,