Chapter 583: Saying Sour and Bitter

Li Banfeng looked at Zhao Xiaowan, holding a phonograph in his arms.

Zhao Xiaowan looked at Li Banfeng, pursed her lips, and asked, "I'm right here, my dear husband, don't you want to hold me?"

Li Banfeng hugged the phonograph and said, "Aren't I already holding something?"

Zhao Xiaowan looked at the phonograph, then at Li Banfeng: "You like holding this?"

Li Banfeng held the phonograph tightly and said, "Haven't we always been holding this?"

Zhao Xiaowan rubbed her forehead, feeling a wave of dizziness.

Hong Ying sighed softly: "Xiaowan, you chose this man yourself. Even if you grit your teeth until they break, you'll have to accept your fate."

Zhao Xiaowan was furious. She picked up a board, intending to hit Hong Ying, but in her anger, her soul couldn't maintain its attachment to the puppet and immediately returned to the phonograph.

"You madman! Am I not pretty? Don't I look good? Everyone else stares, so why won't you even glance at me?" The phonograph waved its needle arm, starting to fight with Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng hugged the phonograph, his cheek pressed against its large horn: "I've been looking at you all along. Let's go, my dear, we're going to the night market!"

Back in the phonograph's body, his wife didn't really want to go out: "You go by yourself. I'll just stay home. You didn't like me when I changed back to my original appearance, and now I'll be a phonograph for the rest of my life. Are you happy with that?"

"No matter what you look like, you're always my precious wife!" Li Banfeng carried the phonograph to the doorway.

"Hahahaha!" The old master laughed heartily and opened the door.

After they left, Honglian felt a pair of eyes watching her and the puppet.

"Hong Ying," the old master instructed, "send Honglian and everything she made back to the Ninth Chamber. Since Ah Qi doesn't like it, don't let it be an eyesore here."

Hong Ying looked at the puppet, utterly bewildered: "How could Seventh Master dislike such a beautiful woman? Could it be that he doesn't like delicate beauties, but prefers brave women?" Realizing this, Hong Ying suddenly understood: "Honglian, let's discuss something. Another day, can you make a puppet for me, in my original image?"

Before Honglian could reply, the old master snorted: "Girl, you're truly slow-witted. Ah Qi doesn't like this thing; what good would it do for you to make another one?"

Hong Ying retorted, "He dislikes Xiaowan's appearance, but he didn't say he dislikes me."

The old master chuckled, "Indeed, he likes your sturdy build. You're a master at moving bricks and carrying earth. Have you forgotten about the melon incident so quickly?"

Hong Ying huffily moved Honglian to the Ninth Chamber. After more than half an hour, Honglian vaguely heard the old master's breathing; he had fallen asleep.

The girl from the Ninth Chamber, still attached to the puppet, spoke: "What on earth is that madman thinking? He doesn't want such a beautiful woman, yet he insists on carrying a phonograph out. There's no one like him in all of Puluo Prefecture!"

"Yes, he's one of a kind in Puluo Prefecture," Honglian sighed. "It seems my efforts were all for nothing this time."

"No! I have to find another way. No matter what, I have to make him take me out!"

"You figure it out yourself; don't involve me anymore." Honglian recalled the feeling of being watched earlier in the main chamber. That gaze, filled with mockery and murderous intent, sent shivers down her spine.

Li Banfeng strolled through the night market with his wife. She really liked two pieces of jewelry they saw, but then she thought they were too expensive and deliberated for a long time.

At a rouge shop, she saw a box of rouge. She liked the color but found the scent too strong, so she deliberated for another long while.

Li Banfeng said, "My precious wife, your husband has money. Don't agonize over it; buy them and choose later when we get home."

"Choosing later sounds good, but what about the leftovers? It would be such a waste to throw them away." His wife became conflicted again.

"Give the leftovers to Hong Ying then."

"Giving them to her is fine, but if that girl isn't grateful, I'll still feel unhappy."

This wasn't right.

Normally, his wife was somewhat frugal, but these few items at the night market shouldn't have caused her such intense indecision.

Why was she so unusual today?

Li Banfeng bought everything his wife had looked at. His wife grew anxious: "If you keep wasting money like this, I won't come out with you anymore."

"How can this be called wasting?" Li Banfeng brought the purchased items back to the residence and placed them in front of the phonograph. "We came to the market to buy things, and buying things means choosing things. Either way, we're choosing. If it's not comfortable to choose at the market, we might as well take them home and choose slowly. From beginning to end, there's nothing wrong with this." He had created a plausible scenario.

The phonograph thought for a moment and found some truth in his words.

"Then what about the leftovers? We paid for all of them!"

Li Banfeng said, "The leftovers will be kept for the family. We'll give them as rewards to whoever pleases you, my dear wife. Consider it as our whole family going shopping at the market together."

Upon hearing this, his wife relaxed considerably: "The family usually stays indoors, and it's true they should come out and stroll around sometimes."

Thinking of this, his wife's mood brightened significantly, and her previous indecision vanished.

Watching his wife happily choose items, Li Banfeng smiled, but felt a surge of tension in his heart.

His wife's mood, previously like a tangled ball of yarn, had improved because Li Banfeng used his 'following the slope down the donkey' technique, smoothing out the threads and untying the knot in her heart.

But where did this emotional knot come from? Did it require the Foolish Cultivation technique to untie it?

"Husband, don't just buy things for me; buy something you like too!"

Li Banfeng thought for a moment and said, "There's nothing much I want to buy."

"Look, your clothes are torn. Go buy something new." After a fight with a group of fake rickshaw pullers, Li Banfeng's jacket was torn in several places and was indeed difficult to mend.

At the tailor's shop, Li Banfeng saw a suit he liked.

He genuinely liked the suits in Puluo Prefecture; they looked really good with a top hat. He couldn't stand the jacket he was wearing.

His wife whispered from behind him, "My dear husband, if you like it, buy it."

"My precious wife, aren't you worried about the money anymore?"

"Spending money on my husband doesn't bother me at all."

Li Banfeng bought the suit and took the phonograph to watch a movie at the cinema.

Inside the private box, the phonograph's mind wasn't on the movie; it just felt that the previous situation was strange.

"Ever since I used that puppet made by Honglian, I've felt completely muddled. I suspect there's something amiss with it."

Li Banfeng said, "I also feel that puppet isn't very good. My dear wife, don't use it anymore. If you can't bring yourself to destroy it, I'll simply do it myself."

"Husband, please rest early. I'll take care of this matter myself."

Having fought all night at Huangtu Bridge without closing his eyes, Li Banfeng was indeed quite tired.

Back at the Portable Residence, the phonograph prepared hot water for Li Banfeng, bathed him, made his bed, and stayed with him until he fell asleep.

Once Li Banfeng was fast asleep, the phonograph quietly left the main chamber and went to the Ninth Chamber.

Honglian knew the visitor meant trouble. Her petals tightly closed, and a halo of light surged through the gaps.

The phonograph smiled: "Sister Honglian, don't worry. I was just bored and wanted to chat with you for a bit."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"I want to talk to you about the person from the heavens."

"There's nothing good to say about that person. I told you before, I don't even remember if they were a man or a woman."

The phonograph chuckled, "If you can't remember, take your time. I heard my husband say that Lu Qianjiao recently mentioned the person from the heavens. She seems to be the peddler's sweetheart. But if she's the peddler's sweetheart, that proves she's a woman. I've never seen her true face, and I really want to know how she doted on you back then?"

A shimmer of light passed over the lotus leaves. Honglian's tone turned dark: "Zhao Xiaowan, did you come here in the middle of the night just to humiliate me?"

The phonograph exhaled a puff of steam, scorching Honglian's body: "Yes, I want to humiliate you. What exactly did you add to that puppet? Tell me everything, clearly and completely."

Honglian remained silent.

The needle was placed on the record, and a song she liked very much, "Burying Flowers," began to play. "Flowers fade, petals fly across the sky, who pities their withered beauty, fallen threads gently bind the spring pavilion, light floss brushes against embroidered screens." The phonograph's singing was not mournful at all; its melody carried a hint of eeriness and struggle.

The next morning, as soon as Li Banfeng opened his eyes, Zhao Xiaowan was standing before him again.

Li Banfeng rubbed his eyes; he hadn't misseen. It wasn't the phonograph; it was Zhao Xiaowan, possessing the puppet.

"Husband, are you awake?"

Li Banfeng sat up and reached for the phonograph by the bed, but his hand found nothing.

"Husband, I found that thing bothersome, so I moved it to the Second Chamber."

"The Second Chamber..." Li Banfeng got up, went to the Second Chamber, and brought the phonograph back.

Zhao Xiaowan was displeased but still greeted him with a smile: "Since you care for me so much, Husband, then leave this phonograph body in the main chamber as well. Yesterday, we went to the night market, bought clothes, rouge, and jewelry, but we haven't bought anything for the house yet. There's a furniture store down the street, and I found a bookshelf there that's just the right size for the Seventh Chamber. Husband, please come with me to take a look. If you like it, we can buy it and bring it home."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "No need to look. I'll tell my subordinates later to have the shopkeeper deliver the bookshelf directly."

"Oh, Husband, they have many bookshelves. Do you know which one I mean?"

"Just bring them all back. I love reading, and I like bookshelves." Li Banfeng put on his clothes, preparing to go out.

Zhao Xiaowan called out, "Husband, where are you going? Can I come with you?"

Li Banfeng looked back and smiled: "Didn't we agree? I'm going to find someone to buy furniture."

"You're going anyway, so why can't I go? Do you think I'll embarrass you, Husband?" Zhao Xiaowan sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes red and her voice trembling, as if she had suffered a great wrong.

It wasn't "as if"; his wife truly felt wronged. Someone was transmitting thoughts into her mind, and at this moment, Zhao Xiaowan genuinely felt pitiful.

A group of family artifacts looked over, and Hong Ying put down her eyebrow pencil, also looking at Zhao Xiaowan.

Her condition was too abnormal.

They had agreed last night that she wouldn't touch that puppet again, but in a flash, his wife was possessing the puppet once more.

For anyone else, it might be because they desperately wanted to reclaim their physical body and couldn't control themselves.

But what kind of person was his wife? A renowned general who commanded battlefields! Her self-control was undoubtedly beyond question. However, Li Banfeng suspected that she had been afflicted by a technique.

His wife's cultivation level was very high; ordinary techniques could hardly harm her, but there was a type of technique that ignored cultivation levels.

Li Banfeng sat beside his wife and gently comforted her: "My precious wife, your husband knows you've been wronged. I'm afraid you'll get tired, so I'll simply buy the furniture store and let you choose from there."

As soon as his wife heard this, she seemed to sober up: "That's right, my husband is showing his affection for me."

Li Banfeng used the Foolish Cultivation technique, reversing cause and effect.

Although the furniture hadn't been delivered yet, Li Banfeng used this as the 'effect' to deduce the 'cause'. Instead of saying his wife couldn't go out, he inverted it by saying he would bring the furniture store to her.

His wife had only calmed down for a moment, then she sniffled twice and started crying again.

Hong Ying was stunned. Zhao Xiaowan was not a woman who cried easily.

The glove murmured, "The mistress is acting strangely."

The projector exclaimed, "This is the artistry of a peerless beauty: two streams of tears, yet they can shatter a person's heart. Only —"

Mengde asked, "Only what?"

The projector said, "The color of her tears is blue, and the color of her laughter is red. What kind of situation is it when blue permeates red?"

The pendulum found it very strange: "What are you talking about, blue permeating red? I can't see it at all!"

Li Banfeng glanced at the projector, then looked at Zhao Xiaowan: "My precious wife, what's wrong now?"

Zhao Xiaowan wiped away her tears and said, "For all these years, everyone who has seen me has treated me like a demon from the phonograph. I truly feel wronged. I want to show myself in my original form and clear my name."

The glove lowered its voice: "Is the mistress going mad? Does she want to reveal her identity?"

Zhao Xiaowan glared at the glove: "I'm not going to tell them everything. I'll just say a couple of things and let them figure out the rest. I just need to reclaim my dignity."

Hong Ying softly said, "Xiaowan, what's wrong with you? Those words didn't sound like something you would say."

"You wench! I'll say whatever I want. What business is it of yours?"

Zhao Xiaowan's emotions were unstable, and no one in the family dared to speak. If Li Banfeng tried to gently persuade her, he would fall into a trap, because no matter how he tried to persuade her, he might provoke her even more.

Having been a phonograph for so many years, she had endured many misunderstandings. This was an emotional knot that his wife usually kept deeply hidden, but today it was exploited by a Foolish Cultivator.

This emotional knot was not easy to untie. Li Banfeng couldn't think of a solution, so he simply went with the flow, tying another knot *around* the existing one.

"My dear wife, who do you want to see?"

The phonograph thought for a moment: "Let's just meet the owner of this furniture store first. A brief meeting when he delivers the goods will suffice."

Li Banfeng said, "Does this furniture store owner think you're a demon from the phonograph, my dear wife?"

His wife was pleased: "No, he hasn't seen me before."

"If he hasn't seen you, how can he clear your name? He needs to see you first, and he needs to see you in your phonograph form."

His wife nodded: "My husband is right! First, he has to see what a demon looks like, and then he has to see what I originally looked like!"

The scenario was set, and his wife also came around. Li Banfeng pushed the phonograph in front of his wife.

His wife was conflicted, agonizing over whether or not to leave the puppet's body.

This conflict was still caused by the Foolish Cultivation technique; there was a Foolish Cultivator inside the puppet, constantly manipulating his wife's thoughts.

After waiting for a while, his wife suddenly left the puppet and slipped into the phonograph.

Li Banfeng felt a surge of joy; the Foolish Cultivator seemed to have let go and was no longer bothering his wife.

But why did this Foolish Cultivator let go?

Back in the phonograph's body, his wife instantly sobered up considerably.

She looked up at the puppet, then turned to Li Banfeng: "I don't know what came over me just now, but I said so many willful things and caused you trouble, Husband."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "It wasn't willfulness. You have indeed suffered grievances these past years, my dear wife. Let me deal with this puppet first, then I'll listen to you recount the hardships of these years."

After comforting his wife, Li Banfeng turned to look at the puppet.

The phonograph brandished its needle arm and said, "You don't need to do this, Husband. I can handle her myself."

Hong Ying pushed the phonograph aside: "Xiaowan, go hide in another room."

"Why should I hide?"

"Because you can't bring yourself to do it!" Hong Ying stared at the puppet and said, "Not only you, but even I can't do it. This thing looks too much like you, Xiaowan, hurry up and get out of here!"

The previously motionless puppet suddenly spoke: "You don't need to hide. Let me hide for a moment. Li Qi, can I speak to you privately?"

All the magical artifacts were stunned. Hong Ying immediately drew her sword.

This puppet actually contained a person, another person's soul!

The phonograph blocked Li Banfeng and said, "Husband, you can't go."

The Portable Residence suddenly spoke: "Girl, let him go. I'll be watching."

Li Banfeng hugged his wife, then walked over to the puppet: "What do you want to say? And where do you want to say it?"

"To my residence." After speaking, the puppet fell silent.

The soul inside had left.

Hong Ying asked, "Where does she live?"

Li Banfeng said, "She lives in the Ninth Chamber."

The one hidden in the puppet was the girl from the Ninth Chamber. It was she who had used the Foolish Cultivation technique on his wife, causing her to act so abnormally.

The first time he went to the Ninth Chamber to find her, he asked her to translate the birch hermitage's inscription. She translated it haphazardly, writing a completely unrelated passage, almost tricking Li Banfeng.

No one in the family could expose her tricks, but she couldn't deceive the Judge's Brush, because Lazy Cultivation countered Foolish Cultivation. From that moment on, Li Banfeng concluded that the girl from the Ninth Chamber was a Foolish Cultivator.

Although Li Banfeng was also a Foolish Cultivator, he himself held some fear of them. He had been wary of the Ninth Chamber this whole time, but he hadn't expected her to use the puppet to harm his wife.

Li Banfeng entered the Ninth Chamber. The phonograph and Hong Ying waited quietly by the door, listening, but they couldn't hear any movement inside. The sounds of the Ninth Chamber were blocked by the Portable Residence, and Honglian had also been moved out by Li Banfeng.

Closing the door, before Li Banfeng could speak, the girl from the Ninth Chamber asked first: "Just now, you used 'reversing cause and effect' and 'following the slope down the donkey' on your woman, didn't you?"

Li Banfeng didn't speak. The girl from the Ninth Chamber asked again, "Who taught you your techniques?"

Li Banfeng still remained silent.

The girl from the Ninth Chamber simply guessed: "Was it Sun Tiecheng?"

Li Banfeng remained silent, then the old master spoke: "Ah Qi, if you trust me, tell her."

Li Banfeng nodded slightly.

"He's still alive?" The girl from the Ninth Chamber's voice trembled slightly.

Li Banfeng said, "I don't know if he counts as alive. He can eat, sleep, walk, and fight."

The girl from the Ninth Chamber was silent for a while, then asked Li Banfeng, "Is Fool's City still there?"

"Yes, there are inns, taverns, all kinds of businesses."

"Is there still a large clock tower in the city?"

"Yes, it's still the tallest place in the city."

"And a small market in the city, is that there too?"

"Yes, but there aren't many people buying vegetables..."

The girl from the Ninth Chamber asked question after question for a long time, as if she wanted to inquire about every nook and cranny of Fool's City.

After asking about Fool's City, she then questioned Li Banfeng: "You've used Daoist powders, haven't you? Are you a disciple or a cultivator of my Daoist sect?"

For Foolish Cultivators, there was a clear distinction between disciples and cultivators. Disciples only mastered a few techniques, while only cultivators were truly considered to have entered the Daoist sect of Foolish Cultivation.

The Portable Residence said, "Ah Qi, tell her."

After a moment of silence, Li Banfeng said, "I am a cultivator."

The Ninth Chamber was quiet for a long time. Li Banfeng wasn't wearing the Silken Thread earrings, nor any other magical artifacts on him.

But he faintly heard some sobbing.

She cried?

Why did she cry?

"The technique I just used is called 'Speaking of Bitterness and Hardship.' It involves revealing the other person's painful experiences, causing their mental state to become chaotic amidst their bitterness and hardship. The key to this technique is to grasp the enemy's painful weaknesses. If you encounter an unfamiliar enemy, you must find a way to make them pour out their grievances."

The girl from the Ninth Chamber earnestly explained the 'Speaking of Bitterness and Hardship' technique to Li Banfeng. After listening, Li Banfeng said expressionlessly, "Why did you harm my wife?"

"I didn't mean to harm her. I just want to get out of here. I want to see Fool's City again, even if it's just for a moment."

"You miss Fool's City that much?"

"I do, I really do," the girl from the Ninth Chamber said sincerely, thinking Li Banfeng might release her. "Ever since Fool's City met with disaster, I've always wondered if I'd ever see it again in this lifetime. I dream of it every night—" "Are you using a technique on me?"

"Yes." Li Banfeng nodded. He had no intention of releasing the girl from the Ninth Chamber. He was listening to her pour out her grievances, waiting for her mind to become chaotic, so he could send her directly into oblivion.

"You want to kill me?" the girl from the Ninth Chamber asked, her voice trembling.

"You touched my wife. I shouldn't let you live," Li Banfeng replied, still expressionless.

"Can you let me see Fool's City one last time?" The girl from the Ninth Chamber's tone was full of pleading.

"No." Li Banfeng's voice was calm, but his attitude was very firm.

"Very well then. Knowing that Fool's City is still there, I am content. The techniques you learned from Sun Tiecheng should teach you how to deal with lingering souls. You can kill me with 'Ironclad Evidence'."

Li Banfeng's eyes reddened, and he was about to shed tears. If he cried, the girl from the Ninth Chamber would be completely dead.

"Ah Qi!" The Portable Residence stopped Li Banfeng. "For my sake, spare her life. She can still help you in the future."

After a full ten minutes of silence, Li Banfeng nodded slightly: "Alright, I'll spare her life for you. Let's make a pact: you are not to harm my family ever again!"

The Portable Residence said, "I'll bear witness to this."

With the matter settled, Li Banfeng left the Ninth Chamber. At the doorway, he picked up Honglian: "Hua Jiu'er, our accounts have increased again. It's time to settle them."

Honglian didn't offer an explanation; it would have been useless. Many things simply couldn't be hidden from the old master.

The phonograph stopped Li Banfeng: "Husband, let's settle this account later. This time, I was tricked; it's my own fault for being incompetent. I will exact my revenge for this myself."

Li Banfeng handed Honglian to his wife. The phonograph slowly traced its needle arm over Honglian's body: "Sister, I've noted this grudge. From now on, do you want to move in with me, or do you still want to live in the Ninth Chamber?"

Honglian softly replied, "Either way, I'll follow your orders."

"Quite sensible," the phonograph chuckled. "Alright, I'll still let you live in the Ninth Chamber. Including the Xuanlun Pills from before, you've tricked me twice in total. Let's see if you have the ability to trick me a third time!"

The phonograph threw Honglian into the Ninth Chamber, then turned to look at the puppet in the main chamber: "My dear husband, do you truly dislike my original appearance?"

Li Banfeng pressed his cheek against the large horn: "My dear wife, I like you no matter what you look like."

"So, should I keep this puppet for now?"

"Keep it if you wish, my dear wife. You are in charge of matters in this household." Li Banfeng waltzed along with the phonograph in his arms, taking his wife to the furniture store to buy a bookshelf.

In the Ninth Chamber, Honglian gently loosened her petals, and it was as if a weight had been lifted from her heart.

The girl from the Ninth Chamber lowered her voice: "Don't lose heart, we still have a chance."

Honglian chuckled: "Whether you have a chance depends on your own ability. Just don't involve me anymore in the future."

"If one day you can get out of here, who would you most want to see?"

"Why are you asking that?"

"You must want to see the person from the heavens, just as I want to return to Fool's City. Some longings, you can never let go of in this lifetime."

"Yes, I can't let go," Honglian murmured.

"Where exactly is this person from the heavens? Was she really that good to you? Good enough to worry about her so much?"

"Was she good? Perhaps she was quite good, she—" Honglian paused for a moment, her tone suddenly changing. "Are you trying to trick information out of me? Are you doing it for that madman?"

"You're too suspicious," the girl from the Ninth Chamber chuckled. "I just wanted to speak a few words from my heart. I truly consider you a sister."