Chapter 296: Let Him Put in More Effort

Ling Miaoying's belly burst open.

Blood, internal organs, shredded flesh, undigested food, and partially digested food all gushed out.

Li Banfeng had been running at full tilt, leaving him with little strength. He had been away from the residence for too long, which meant his ability to remain unnoticed was no longer at its peak. Moreover, his first successful use of the 'Fleeting Glimpse' technique had also been incredibly draining.

He stumbled, almost falling. Hearing the commotion, Tu Yinghong rushed out of her room, about to attack Li Banfeng. But Li Banfeng was quicker, aiming at her head and firing first.

The shot rang out.

Ling Miaoying's pistol always hit its target. However, due to Li Banfeng's poor aim, it didn't strike a vital point, only hitting Tu Yinghong's right shoulder.

Tu Yinghong wore her homemade armor, but Ling Miaoying's pistol was so powerful that the bullet still penetrated her bone. Before Tu Yinghong could regain her balance, Li Banfeng fired four more shots in quick succession.

Only one of those four bullets fired, striking Tu Yinghong in the neck.

Tu Yinghong clutched the wound on her neck and stumbled backward. Ling Miaoying cast a desperate look at her for help, but Tu Yinghong didn't hesitate; she leaped out the corridor window and vanished in an instant.

She had escaped.

Li Banfeng had no idea how she managed to flee so quickly.

He also didn't know if she would return.

She might simply be hiding to treat her injuries, or she could be finding a place to prepare new magical artifacts, or even summoning reinforcements.

Li Banfeng knew almost nothing about Tu Yinghong, but he understood Ling Miaoying. Ling Miaoying always seemed to possess an endless supply of magical artifacts and spiritual objects, constantly revealing unexpected trump cards.

Instead of wasting time here, it was better to deal with Ling Miaoying quickly and then return to his residence to recover his strength, assuming the key to his residence was indeed at Xiaoyao Dock.

Li Banfeng and Tu Yinghong's skirmish lasted just over three seconds. In that brief time, Li Banfeng thought Ling Miaoying couldn't possibly have tended to the wound on his belly.

He had underestimated Ling Miaoying.

Ling Miaoying had, in fact, managed to treat the wound.

He had pushed his internal organs back into his abdomen and sealed the wound with adhesive tape.

Meanwhile, Tang Dao and the Pendulum launched a surprise attack. A luminous halo appeared behind Ling Miaoying, acting like a shield and blocking both Tang Dao and the Pendulum.

The Wine Gourd emitted a misty alcohol vapor, enveloping Ling Miaoying. The shield alone seemed insufficient to block it.

If Li Banfeng ignited it, Ling Miaoying would be engulfed in flames.

In this critical moment, Ling Miaoying suddenly charged at Li Banfeng.

His shoes were special, giving him incredible speed.

Li Banfeng was greatly depleted, making his steps a little slower.

Ling Miaoying pounced on him, and Li Banfeng couldn't dodge.

The two wrestled. At such close range, Li Banfeng couldn't start a fire without harming himself. Neither combatant could easily find an opportunity to use their techniques, relying instead on superior close-quarters combat skills and maneuvering for position.

Ling Miaoying pulled hair, and Li Banfeng gouged eyes.

Ling Miaoying scratched faces, and Li Banfeng choked necks.

One was severely wounded, the other utterly exhausted; neither possessed the ability to deliver a killing blow.

One was a seventh-level Glimpser, the other a sixth-level Wanderer and fifth-level Homester. This was the intensity of a confrontation between high-level cultivators!

Tang Dao and the Pendulum continued to grapple with the shield, while the Wine Gourd clashed with the steel wire. The projector in the corner adjusted its angle—it was a menace!

Although the image it had previously created had been beheaded by Tang Dao, the phantom could still fight. However, limited by the projector's angle, this phantom couldn't enter the corridor, as the corridor was outside the projection area.

After adjusting its angle, the projector could create a new phantom that would be able to move in the corridor and assist Ling Miaoying in combat.

Ling Miaoying had too many spiritual objects, and it looked like he was about to gain the upper hand.

During the stalemate, the White Glove suddenly flicked Ling Miaoying's ear.

Ling Miaoying flinched, giving Li Banfeng an opportunity to use a technique.

Li Banfeng suddenly broke free from the grapple, moved behind Ling Miaoying, and with superhuman strength, dragged him towards the room.

Ling Miaoying's eyes widened. He couldn't comprehend Li Banfeng's sudden change.

Both of them were clearly at their limits, so why did this kid still have so much strength?

Had he taken a pill?

But he hadn't had any chance to take a pill just now.

Why was he running into the room?

Could it be a Homester technique?

Impossible!

He was a Wanderer; how could he possess a Homester technique?

Li Banfeng was indeed using a Homester technique.

He had used the 'Arrow-Hearted Homebound' technique.

Ever since running back from Black Stone Slope, Li Banfeng had been 'arrow-hearted homebound,' worried he might never return to his residence.

With the technique's enhancement, no one could stop Li Banfeng from returning home.

Li Banfeng dragged Ling Miaoying into the room. Ling Miaoying struggled fiercely, but the disparity in their strength was immense.

The projector created a new phantom, but again, due to the projection angle, it couldn't enter Li Banfeng's room.

It adjusted its angle once more, intending to create a phantom inside Li Banfeng's room.

Li Banfeng reached under the bed with one hand and pulled a key out of a crack in the floorboards.

The key!

The key was still there!

Li Banfeng was ecstatic, and his strength increased even further.

Ling Miaoying thrashed his neck, biting Li Banfeng's wrist.

With the 'Arrow-Hearted Homebound' technique at its peak, Li Banfeng felt no pain. He unlocked his residence and dragged Ling Miaoying inside.

With their master gone, the magical artifacts and spiritual objects fell into disarray.

The Wine Gourd seized the opportunity to knock over the projector, and the newly formed phantom was projected outside the window.

The Pendulum and Tang Dao moved swiftly, entangling the steel wire and following Li Banfeng into the room.

Seeing that no one was paying attention, the Glove swallowed Ling Miaoying's projector and also returned to the residence.

Back inside his residence, Li Banfeng threw the key outside the door, then collapsed from exhaustion, lying motionless on the ground.

Ling Miaoying suddenly stood up, grabbed the steel wire, and was about to sever Li Banfeng's head.

Li Banfeng smiled.

Ling Miaoying's hand hung suspended in mid-air, caught by the Maiden's stylus.

The Maiden, playing a slow tempo, was about to sing a tune, but Li Banfeng unexpectedly started singing "Du Shiniang" first.

"My dear, are you feeling hungry? If you are, tell your husband, and I'll make you some noodle soup!"

The Gramophone chuckled, "Oh, husband, this isn't noodle soup, this is excellent food!"

Ling Miaoying looked at the Gramophone and exclaimed, "An Amihan steam gramophone? How could it become a magical artifact?"

A burst of steam scalded Ling Miaoying, tearing his skin. The Maiden was angry, and her stomach rumbled with fury.

Li Banfeng chuckled, "Your eyesight is good; you truly are Ling Miaosheng's brother. But you speak without discretion. This is my wife; how dare you call her a magical artifact?"

Wife?

Ling Miaoying couldn't understand it, nor did he have the chance to ponder.

The Gramophone was very hungry and ate quite impatiently this meal.

Watching his wife devour her food, Li Banfeng felt very content.

A wife should be nurtured like this, to be plump and healthy!

But if they returned to the outer provinces in the future, buying groceries for his wife would still be a problem.

Would his wife like the environment of the outer provinces?

Li Banfeng slapped his forehead, reminding himself not to let his mind wander.

He had some suspicions.

From now on, inside his residence, he should try not to think about things related to locations.

Tu Yinghong returned to Xiaoyao Dock and saw many people standing in the corridor, mostly overnight guests and dancers.

These people had heard the gunshots and sounds of fighting. Initially, they hadn't dared to leave their rooms, as too much curiosity in Puro Province could easily lead to death.

Only after the sounds gradually subsided did a group of people cautiously emerge to check the situation.

The sleeping doorman was also awakened. Tu Yinghong looked around but saw neither Ling Miaoying nor Li Qi.

She pretended to be a curious bystander and asked those around what had happened.

"No idea what happened, just heard gunshots."

"There's blood here too, no idea whose it is."

"Not just blood, look at this! Is this an intestine? There are even vegetable leaves on it!"

No one around could clearly explain what had transpired.

Tu Yinghong glanced into Li Banfeng's room; it was empty.

She wanted to go inside for a closer look but was stopped by the doorman. "Everyone go back to sleep! Stop causing trouble here!"

Tu Yinghong was pushed.

If she wanted to kill the doorman, a mere flick of her finger would suffice.

A few more flicks of her fingers, and she could kill everyone in the corridor, then thoroughly examine the room.

But she didn't do it.

She knew that doing so wouldn't help Ling Miaoying; instead, it would only bring him more trouble.

Tu Yinghong quietly left Xiaoyao Dock, returned to the small building, and waited patiently for news of Ling Miaoying.

Lu Chunying and others were also at Lu Maoxian's home, quietly awaiting news of Ling Miaoying.

It was nearly seven o'clock, and daylight had fully arrived when the spy finally delivered the news.

The Garrison Commissioner had left the courtesan house, but Ling Miaoying was not with him.

Lu Dongtang lost his composure and swore at his subordinate: "The Garrison Commissioner has already left, what are you waiting for? Go search the courtesan house!"

"The Fleeting Life Courtesan House is Chu Family business; it might not be appropriate for us to..."

"What about the Chu Family? Do you think I'm afraid of them?!"

His subordinates went to the Fleeting Life Courtesan House and returned shortly after.

"We searched the entire courtesan house, but Ling Miaoying wasn't there."

Lu Dongtang was speechless.

Lu Chunying stood up, sighing. "No wonder grand-uncle was outmaneuvered by Ling Miaoying. Such cunning is indeed a family trait."

Lu Dongtang could no longer tolerate it. He stood up, about to unleash a tirade, but Qiu Zhiheng shot him a glance. Lu Dongtang's blood rushed downward, pooling in one spot, and in a sudden surge, ripped open his trousers.

Lu Dongtang quickly sat back down, clutching his trousers, and lowered his head.

If "Monkey" Qiu glanced at him again, he might become infertile.

The main family left, and other families also departed one after another.

Lu Maoxian sat in his bedroom, gnashing his teeth in frustration.

Outside the mansion, Ma Wu said to "Monkey" Qiu and Tan Fucheng, "Uncle Qiu, Uncle Tan, if you don't mind, let's gather at Xiaoyao Dock for a drink."

Tan Fucheng looked at Qiu Zhiheng, and Qiu Zhiheng looked at Lu Chunying.

Lu Chunying smiled. "Brother Qiu, since Brother Wu has extended the invitation, we shouldn't decline."

Qiu Zhiheng nodded. "Alright, let's have a seat together."

Ma Wu gestured, "Uncles, please go ahead."

Tan Fucheng frowned. "Miss Chunying is calling him 'Brother,' so why are you still calling him 'Uncle'? Let's consider ourselves peers from now on."

They all walked towards Xiaoyao Dock. Before they even entered, the doorman rushed up to them.

"Fifth Master, something happened last night! Someone, we don't know who, entered Seventh Master's room and there were gunshots, a complete mess..."

The doorman's communication skills were limited, and his account was muddled.

Ma Wu first directed everyone to rest in the dance hall, then he hurried to the back building.

On the second floor, Ma Wu's heart tightened. He saw bloodstains, burn marks, and other indescribable things in the corridor. Clearly, there had been a fierce battle here.

Had something happened to Old Seven?

Sweat beaded on Ma Wu's forehead.

Arriving at Li Qi's door, he found two people guarding the entrance, prohibiting unauthorized entry.

"Fifth Master, it's a complete mess inside, and there are bloodstains. Would you like to go in and see?"

Ma Wu pushed open the door and entered the room, only to find it perfectly tidy.

The doorman was stunned. He told Ma Wu, "Fifth Master, it wasn't like this just now, it was..."

A sound of splashing water.

Li Banfeng emerged from the washroom.

The doorman stammered, "Seventh Master, when did you... when did you return?"

Li Banfeng wiped his hands and said, "I returned last night."

Ma Wu, relieved after his false alarm, wiped away cold sweat and sent the doorman away. "Did something happen last night?" he asked.

Li Banfeng nodded. "Something happened."

"What happened?"

"I haven't spun the tale yet."

Ma Wu looked helpless. "What are you spinning a tale for between us? Can't you just tell me the truth?"

"I can tell you, but it's not good to tell others," Li Banfeng said, producing a bundle and handing it to Ma Wu.

Ma Wu took the bundle, unrolled it, and found Ling Miaoying's head inside.

"Old Seven..." Ma Wu's mouth hung open for a moment before he closed it. "The Lu family waited for Ling Miaoying all night, and you just... brought him here?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "Yes, that's why I need to spin a good tale. I can't let him just die like this; he needs to be made to exert more effort."