Chapter 47: The Greatness of a Hero

Li Banfeng was very disappointed that there was one fewer corpse for alchemy.

He genuinely regretted it for a minute, then began searching for the House Spirit.

The House Spirit was Li Banfeng's most urgent desire, bar none.

With a House Spirit, his House Cultivation could advance. This was the only way to bridge the gap between Traveler Cultivation and House Cultivation, a matter critical to Li Banfeng's life.

Of course, having a House Spirit also meant Li Banfeng would have to live in this house from then on. He would need to travel a certain distance daily to maintain his Traveler cultivation, and also remember to return home promptly to sustain the foundation of his House Cultivation.

It sounded contradictory, but Li Banfeng believed he could find a solution.

What did a House Spirit look like?

It should be humanoid, right?

Since it was called a spirit, it must be humanoid.

The courtyard contained three tiled houses and one storeroom, which was the nursery room. Inside, there was only a pile of firewood, and no humanoid creatures.

He went to the eastern room, which contained many bottles and jars, along with a mortar and pestle and a clay pot.

This was likely Decai's room, containing tools for brewing poisons.

Was the House Spirit here?

Li Banfeng still saw no humanoid creatures.

As he left Decai's room, Li Banfeng saw a humanoid creature.

"Benefactor, we haven't thanked you yet," Xiao Yeci said, watching Li Banfeng cautiously.

Her heart was still pounding from witnessing his previous killing spree.

Behind her, her daughter Lu Chunying timidly peeked out and glanced at Li Banfeng.

"No need to be polite," Li Banfeng replied, with no time for the mother and daughter. He bypassed them and headed straight for the central tiled house.

"Benefactor, what are you looking for?" Xiao Yeci followed him.

"I'm looking for my wallet; they took it," Li Banfeng said offhandedly. "You must have had a lot stolen too. Go find your things quickly, and then leave."

"Benefactor, it's best not to trespass in this room. There's a House Spirit inside."

She knew there was a House Spirit in this room?

Li Banfeng didn't rush to open the door, pretending ignorance as he asked, "What did you just say about a House Spirit?"

"A House Spirit is a spirit cultivated by a House Cultivator. You know the old woman was a House Cultivator, right?"

"What's a House Cultivator? I have no idea!" Li Banfeng continued to feign confusion.

"A House Cultivator is a sect that stays within a residence. This sect isn't very powerful outside their home, but within it, they are extraordinary.

"That old woman just now, despite her age, was incredibly strong. You couldn't hurt her, and I couldn't out-talk her. She was likely only a first-tier cultivator herself, but within her house, even a second-tier cultivator might not be able to defeat her. This was all because of her House Spirit."

The woman seemed quite experienced. Li Banfeng, suppressing his intense curiosity, calmly asked, "What does a House Spirit look like?"

"It's hard to say. Some House Spirits look like a water vat, some look like a rice spoon, some look like a roof beam, and some even look like an old yellow dog guarding the gate."

Li Banfeng asked, stunned, "Are there any House Spirits that look like people?"

Xiao Yeci thought for a moment. "I haven't heard of that."

Li Banfeng stared at Xiao Yeci for a moment, then asked, "Have you ever seen a House Spirit?"

Xiao Yeci shook her head. "No."

"If you haven't seen one, why are you talking nonsense? Your 'Mouth Cultivation' is too much!" Li Banfeng no longer wanted to bother with the woman.

Xiao Yeci's cheeks flushed. "Benefactor, 'Mouth Cultivator' is an insult. Our sect is actually called Literature Cultivator.

"Because we have the art of 'Mouth Spouting Lotus Flowers,' we are often called Mouth Cultivators. What I just told you, I read in books."

Lu Chunying peeked out from behind her mother and said, "My mom has read many books. My mom is very learned, and her mouth skills are extremely powerful!"

Li Banfeng replied casually, "Yes, extremely powerful."

So this woman was a Literature Cultivator. What skills did Literature Cultivators possess?

Before Li Banfeng could ask, the woman began explaining on her own: "To cultivate in our sect, one must read many books. Only by reading extensively does one learn how to speak to different people and how to react to different situations."

Li Banfeng asked seriously, "When you encountered that old woman, how did you react?"

"Benefactor, you're making fun of me," Xiao Yeci said, lowering her head. "Originally, my 'Mouth Spouting Lotus Flowers' technique was quite good, but I'd never encountered a House Cultivator, and I didn't expect that old woman to be so unyielding.

"However, her two sons were swayed. If it weren't for that old woman, her two sons would definitely have let me go.

"Her youngest son is named Demao. I don't know where he is now, but he told me his mother was a House Cultivator and that the House Spirit was in his mother's room."

So she had extracted this information from Demao. It seemed highly credible.

"Did he say what the old woman's House Spirit looked like?"

Xiao Yeci shook her head. "He didn't dare say. He said the House Spirit would hear him. He just mentioned it was a relatively small item."

A relatively small item?

Li Banfeng thought of the old woman's hairpin, and then the short knife.

If a House Spirit was a similar object, could it be carried around?

If it could be carried, wouldn't the conflict between House Cultivation and Traveler Cultivation be completely resolved!

"If a House Spirit could be carried, even outside the house, the House Cultivator would still have its protection. Wouldn't that make House Cultivators invincible?"

"Take a House Spirit out of the house? You can't do that!" Xiao Yeci's eyes widened. "Benefactor, you know nothing about House Cultivation.

"Most House Cultivators don't even know what a House Spirit truly is. How dare they take them outside?"

"What would happen if you took it out?"

"Some books say that House Spirits are actually malevolent spirits. Within a House Cultivator's home, these spirits are chained. But outside the house, they have no chains.

"Once unchained, who knows what a malevolent spirit might do?

"I've never heard of a House Cultivator taking a House Spirit out of their home. But I have heard of House Spirits gaining power and escaping their homes. Those malevolent spirits kill everyone they see. Several nearby villages were completely wiped out.

"That House Cultivator and their family hid for over a year, but ultimately couldn't escape death. The entire family was killed by the House Spirit, leaving no one behind."

Li Banfeng chuckled, "It's good that they can't be taken out. Otherwise, next time I encounter a House Cultivator, I wouldn't know how to deal with them."

Though he said this, Li Banfeng felt a pang of sadness. The irreconcilable conflict between House Cultivation and Traveler Cultivation truly wasn't something that could be easily resolved.

Nevertheless, he needed to take possession of the House Spirit first.

But before taking the House Spirit, he needed to make sure the mother and daughter left. Li Banfeng didn't want others to know about his sect, nor did he want any mishaps while acquiring the House Spirit.

Xiao Yeci said, "Benefactor, Decai told me that all the things they stole are in the cellar in the backyard, not in the house."

The three of them went to the backyard. Xiao Yeci continued, "He said the cellar is under the large stone next to the well."

Indeed, there was a large stone block next to the well. Li Banfeng was about to move it when he turned to look at Xiao Yeci.

If I move the stone block, what if she kicks me into the cellar?

Xiao Yeci was startled and quickly explained, "Benefactor, I'm not lying to you. I'm telling the truth."

Whether she was telling the truth couldn't be verified for now, but Li Banfeng was curious about something.

Why did I believe her?

Was this the skill of a Mouth Cultivator?

Xiao Yeci sensed his doubt and quickly explained, "Benefactor, my 'Mouth Spouting Lotus Flowers' technique sometimes activates on its own, beyond my control.

"Please don't be suspicious. How about this: I'll move this stone and go down to retrieve the items!"

The stone block looked to weigh several hundred catties. Li Banfeng didn't believe the woman could actually move it.

But Xiao Yeci was confident. "We are all cultivators, so our strength is certainly not comparable to ordinary people. Benefactor, just watch; you don't need to help."

Li Banfeng stood by and watched; regardless of what flowers she might spout, he had no intention of lending a hand.

Xiao Yeci squatted down, spreading her legs, tensing her glutes, embracing the stone block, and taking a deep breath.

Gritting her teeth, her pretty face flushed crimson. With all her might, she actually managed to move the stone block aside.

Beneath the stone block was indeed a door. Xiao Yeci panted, "Benefactor, I'll go down and check first. Chunying, you stay up here and don't move!"

Li Banfeng didn't decline; he simply watched Xiao Yeci enter the cellar. After a short while, Xiao Yeci climbed out. "Benefactor, there are many things down there. I don't know which ones are yours."

"Don't worry about my things. Just take your own belongings and come up quickly!"

Xiao Yeci climbed out of the cellar, carrying a wicker basket. "Benefactor, my daughter and I have all our belongings here. What does your wallet look like? I'll go down again and get it for you."

Li Banfeng lowered his gaze, scanning Xiao Yeci from head to toe. "Why are you helping me?"

Xiao Yeci lowered her head. "Benefactor, you saved our lives."

"Are you doing this out of gratitude?" Li Banfeng didn't believe her.

"It's to repay your kindness, but, but I also have a favor to ask," Xiao Yeci said, her voice growing softer.

Li Banfeng remained expressionless. "What is it?"

"My daughter and I need to go to the inner gully of Yaowang Gully. We're unfamiliar with the area, and the journey is perilous. We'd like to ask you, Benefactor, to escort us for a while."

"No!" Li Banfeng refused directly. "It's not far from the inner gully, just over thirty li. I can show you the way."

After saying this, Li Banfeng drew a simple map on the ground.

Xiao Yeci looked at the map, then at Li Banfeng, and pleaded, "This is our first time in Yaowang Gully, and the journey has truly been terrifying. Benefactor, please escort us for a bit. We can pay you!"

"Even money won't do! I need to stay here and fight the House Spirit to the death. You two should leave quickly!"

Xiao Yeci was stunned. "Benefactor, you're going to fight the House Spirit?"

Li Banfeng straightened his back. "What else? Should I let this malevolent spirit remain here and harm the world?

"Since you've read so many books, don't you know what it means to be a true hero?"

PS: Witness Banfeng's heroic spirit, dear readers! Leave a comment and vote!