Chapter 756: Life Like a Gossamer Thread

Li Banfeng arrived at Iron Gate Fortress. The large steam gate was open, and merchants were coming and going, conducting business.

Wu Yongchao used to centrally purchase goods from merchants and then sell them to the House Cultivators. This method, taught to him by Li Banfeng, was meant to prevent the House Cultivators from being swindled.

However, the reality wasn't that simple. Wu Yongchao didn't know the diverse needs of each House Cultivator. He bought too many fruits and vegetables, which ended up rotting. When he bought too little salt and vinegar, he was criticized by everyone.

Left with no choice, he still allowed merchants into the fortress, but Wu Yongchao became much stricter in punishing fraudulent behavior. Li Banfeng quietly walked a circuit through the fortress. Iron Gate Fortress was generally in good condition, and the House Cultivators lived more prosperously than before. There was no visible sign of any danger.

A new cinema had been built in the fortress, which Li Banfeng liked.

However, the cinema was close to failing. Although movie tickets were very cheap, this didn't suit the temperament of the House Cultivators. The House Cultivators' philosophy was: if it could be watched at home, they would absolutely not watch it outside. And if it couldn't be watched at home, it must not be good.

Today, some House Cultivators were gathered in front of the cinema. Li Banfeng recognized many of them and initially thought there was a particularly good movie playing. Upon closer inspection, he saw a poster at the entrance: it was "Blood Blade Detective."

This film was now on its fifteenth installment, while its counterpart, "Blood Gun Detective," had long ceased production. Ma Wu had plenty of material and wouldn't get stuck on one theme. He Jiaqing, however, was truly persistent; this film had been shot until now and was even sent to Iron Gate Fortress. Li Banfeng approached the female House Cultivator, Li Zhijuan, and asked, "Is this movie any good?"

Li Zhijuan yawned and rubbed her eyes, looking completely listless. "What's good about it? I just came to join the crowd."

"Are you someone who likes to join crowds?"

"I didn't originally think it was much of a fuss, but he said that if I came to watch a movie, I'd get two hundred Huan Kingdom notes. I happened to have free time today, so I came to check it out."

Watch a movie for free and get two hundred Huan Kingdom notes? Was He Jiaqing really that desperate for an audience?

The cinema opened. "There's someone checking tickets at the entrance. According to the production company, after watching the movie, you show your ticket when you leave, and you can exchange it for two hundred yuan."

Li Zhijuan entered the cinema and sat down, remembering something. Who was it that spoke to her just now at the cinema entrance? It seemed like an acquaintance. Never mind, she wouldn't think about it.

The lights in the cinema dimmed, and the movie began.

Li Banfeng sat in the back row, silently observing the group of House Cultivators in the cinema. Simply not being seen wasn't truly utilizing a House Cultivator's talent. Even if they were seen and spoken to, and their presence was known, they could still be ignored—that was the true talent of a House Cultivator.

Li Banfeng's gaze paused slightly in Li Zhijuan's direction, and a chill instantly enveloped his entire body. Was the danger coming from her? What was she planning?

The movie's plot was decent, but the atmosphere in the cinema made Li Zhijuan feel somewhat uncomfortable. Moreover, she was very tired and became drowsy in less than half an hour.

After the movie, Li Zhijuan prepared to exchange her ticket; she still had a lot of work to do. Other House Cultivators also waited to exchange their money, but they were told they had to wait a bit longer in the cinema because the production company was going to deliver an important speech.

A man walked to the front of the screen and said to everyone, "My name is Shen Jiming, and I am one of the main creators of this film. What we are presenting to you today is a feast of art. Art itself is priceless; what holds value are the insights and experiences gained from it. Can any of you tell me what you saw in this movie?"

The audience remained silent.

Shen Jiming raised his voice, "Can any audience member tell me what your most genuine insight was after watching this movie? We will present you with an exquisite gift based on your answer."

If this were in Green Water City, many people would be willing to answer; after all, there was no harm in speaking, and a free gift was a free gift. But this was Iron Gate Fortress, and not a single House Cultivator in the audience was willing to speak.

Shen Jiming showed no embarrassment. "It seems everyone isn't too clear about what they gained. Allow me to provide a brief summary. In this feast of art, we have seen a new order, a new life, a brand-new Pro State with renewed direction and future. I believe everyone here wishes to become a part of the new Pro State. The transformation of Pro State requires the effort of each of us. Iron Gate Fortress will always be a force that cannot be ignored in Pro State, but we must also correctly face the current situation of Iron Gate Fortress. Iron Gate Fortress does not have a true manager. I have lived in Iron Gate Fortress for many days now and have not been able to meet your Fortress Master. I have asked many members of Iron Gate Fortress, and they don't even remember the last time they saw the Fortress Master. Can such a Fortress Master bring new order to Iron Gate Fortress? Can such a Fortress Master bring hope to Iron Gate Fortress? If we want to build a new Pro State, we must have a new Iron Gate Fortress, and we must have a new Fortress Master!"

As his voice fell silent, Shen Jiming waited for applause.

"Splat!" An egg hit Shen Jiming precisely in the face.

The egg was thrown by Li Zhijuan. The previously drowsy woman was now wide awake. Yolk streamed down from his eye corner to his cheek. Just as Shen Jiming wiped off the egg, a piece of tofu was slapped onto his face.

A House Cultivator shouted, "Iron Gate Fortress has only one Fortress Master!"

Shen Jiming wiped the tofu from his face and asked, "Do you know who your Fortress Master is?"

"The Fortress Master is the Fortress Master!" The audience answered in unison, the resonance of their voices making the cinema tremble.

Shen Jiming was silent for a long time before a faint smile appeared on his face. "I hope you all can deeply consider the difficulties Iron Gate Fortress currently faces. There's no need to rush to give me an answer. I believe that after calmly thinking it over, everyone will find the answers they desire. Please rest for a while in the cinema."

"Are you going to exchange the money or not?" A House Cultivator, unable to bear it any longer, asked the most crucial question.

Shen Jiming replied, "We will certainly fulfill our promise. After today's discussion yields some results, we will definitely—"

The House Cultivators all rose and left the cinema. Although two hundred Huan Kingdom notes were a considerable sum for them, they didn't want to stay for another moment.

Even after everyone had left the cinema, Li Banfeng remained in the back row, quietly watching Shen Jiming at the front of the screen.

Shen Jiming was whispering to a staff member, "The situation here is a bit unusual. We can report it to the Alliance Leader in an appropriate manner. This kind of reaction was predictable on the day the film was shown. Starting tomorrow, there will be a clear change in the situation."

He didn't see Li Banfeng, but Li Banfeng heard every word he said distinctly. Li Banfeng knew what change he was referring to. The so-called change was in his eyes. Li Banfeng touched his right eye and felt a bloodshot vein.

Pseudo-Love Root.

He Jiaqing's methods hadn't changed.

Li Zhijuan returned home and quickly got to work cutting clothes. Her profession was a tailor, and she had several garments to deliver tomorrow. She originally didn't have time to watch a movie today; it was all her fault for being greedy for those two hundred yuan. She had wasted over two hours at the cinema and ended up earning nothing. The more Li Zhijuan thought about it, the more she regretted it.

"These moviemakers are truly shameless! Who do they think they are, to point fingers at our Fortress Master?" Amidst her anger, Li Zhijuan felt a bit of regret. "Throwing eggs at their faces was a bit much." "That man named Shen Jiming actually spoke quite politely. Regardless of whether what he said was right or wrong, throwing eggs at him definitely wasn't appropriate—"

The more Li Zhijuan thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt. She kept thinking whether she should go back to the cinema and apologize. But for a House Cultivator to initiate a conversation was truly not easy, especially since she had a lot of work to do. If she went back to the cinema, she really wouldn't be able to deliver on time.

As Li Zhijuan was struggling with her thoughts, a tear suddenly fell from her eye. The tear was bloodshot and stung a little as it fell, but after the pain, there was a sense of relief. Were her eyes diseased? Li Zhijuan looked in the mirror and felt there was nothing unusual about her eyes. Should she still go to the cinema later? Li Zhijuan deliberated for a moment, then shook her head vigorously and muttered to herself, "Go? Why would I go!" "I watched the movie, and they didn't even pay me. Wouldn't it be stupid to go back?" "I even threw an egg at him. Eggs are so expensive; I originally bought them for myself to eat."

Li Zhijuan continued muttering to herself when an elderly man's voice came from beside her ear: "Daughter, what's wrong with you?" This was the voice of her House Spirit. Li Zhijuan used to have a habit of talking to herself, but today's situation was a bit more serious.

"Today, some moviemakers came to the fortress. I heard they'd give two hundred yuan, so I went to see it. Didn't I tell you about this before?" Li Zhijuan held a tape measure and tailor's chalk, making marks on the fabric.

The elder chuckled, "Haha, yes, you did tell me. But why did watching a movie make you so angry?"

"He was spewing nonsense and slandering behind people's backs. It made me so angry that I threw an egg at his face."

"Alas, what a waste of an egg."

"Exactly! That rotten movie wasn't good at all. I should have just done some work at home. In the end, they didn't even give me the two hundred yuan!" Li Zhijuan was about to cut the fabric when she checked the client's size chart and realized she had made a mistake with one measurement.

"Daughter, you got a raw deal. Those people are truly despicable. Don't let them get to you, especially when you're working. You absolutely mustn't get angry."

"How can I not be angry? Why should I waste my time following them blindly?" Li Zhijuan put down the tailor's chalk and accidentally knocked the scissors. The tip was pointing downwards, about to pierce her foot.

Li Banfeng took out a silver dollar coin and threw it at the scissors. With a clang, the scissors changed direction and fell to the floor.

Li Zhijuan looked down and said, "These scissors almost stabbed my foot! I thought I heard the sound of a silver coin just now. Did I drop some money?"

The old man chuckled, "Daughter, are you crazy from thinking about money?"

"I really did hear it. A few days ago, I even saw a silver coin under the stove. I don't know when it fell."

Li Zhijuan searched under the table for a long time but found nothing. The silver dollar wasn't on the floor; it was in Li Banfeng's hand. Li Banfeng was right behind her, but she didn't sense him at all.

Li Banfeng watched Li Zhijuan for a long time and didn't sense any danger. Could his earlier judgment have been wrong? Perhaps the danger to Li Zhijuan was in the cinema, or perhaps someone near her would bring the danger.

There was a knock at the door.

Li Zhijuan opened the door and saw a middle-aged woman standing outside, smiling. "Juanzi, are those two qipaos ready?"

"Sixth Sister, almost. They'll definitely be finished tomorrow."

Sixth Sister's face fell. "Juanzi, I praised you a lot when I got you this job. The person who wants these qipaos is an old client, and they need them urgently."

"Sister, please put in a good word for me. I'll definitely finish by tomorrow."

Sixth Sister snorted, "Alright. I'll come back at this time tomorrow. If they're not finished, my expression won't be this pleasant."

Li Zhijuan profusely apologized. Sixth Sister left, and Li Banfeng followed her out the door.

The two walked down the street, glancing towards the cinema together. Sixth Sister didn't know Li Banfeng was following her, but in front of the cinema, she seemed to have seen an acquaintance. Li Banfeng didn't see any acquaintances, but he knew that Li Zhijuan wasn't the only one infected with the Pseudo-Love Root; it was likely the entire Iron Gate Fortress had been affected.

As he walked down the street, the boundary line beneath his feet slowly spread out, sweeping through every house on both sides. During his time in Boundless City, Li Banfeng hadn't just learned 'Linked Wide Bridal Chamber'; his other techniques had also improved. According to Jiang Ling'er, his previous "Close Doors and Shut Gates" technique was only two-tenths mastered, but now it had reached six-tenths. The boundary line could silently spread throughout Iron Gate Fortress and also inflict heavy damage on enemies of comparable cultivation.

The biggest problem, however, was that Li Banfeng could only create a single boundary line, which Jiang Ling'er disdained. Perhaps he should find time to learn from Meng Yuchun. A few days ago, Li Banfeng heard that Meng Yuchun had just reached the second level of Cloud, gaining her popularity thanks to the Three-Headed Man. Although her cultivation wasn't as high as Li Banfeng's, in his memory, Meng Yuchun could easily create multiple boundary lines. It was with this very move that Meng Yuchun had severely injured the Mountain-Pulling Master.

Li Banfeng hadn't yet mastered the technique of multiple boundary lines, but it wasn't necessary at the moment. As long as the entire Iron Gate Fortress was encompassed within his boundary line, half the task was done. For the remaining half, it was time to use "Sleep Soundly Without Worry."

Within my boundary, all is my land; within my land, I am the master.

Li Banfeng had mastered "Sleep Soundly Without Worry" to eight-tenths. This wasn't solely due to Jiang Ling'er's guidance; Li Banfeng's foundation was inherently good. According to Jiang Ling'er's assessment, among all House Cultivation techniques, apart from "Family Treasures," Li Banfeng's foundation in "Sleep Soundly Without Worry" was the best.

One by one, the House Cultivators' Pseudo-Love Roots were pulled out by Li Banfeng. Was this where the danger lay? Probably not. This matter was handled a bit too easily.

Passing by the cinema again, Li Banfeng heard the sounds of Wu Yongchao and Shen Jiming arguing.

"When are you leaving?" Wu Yongchao demanded sharply.

Shen Jiming replied, "Isn't that unfair? I am a legitimate House Cultivator. I came to Iron Gate Fortress, bought a residence, and settled down. All of this was done with your permission."

"I didn't permit you to insult our Fortress Master!"

"I didn't insult him; I merely stated objective facts. Is there any rule in Iron Gate Fortress that forbids stating facts? Or any rule that forbids evaluating the Fortress Master?"

Wu Yongchao was poor at speaking and couldn't win the argument against Shen Jiming. "Anyway, you're not allowed to show movies tomorrow."

"That's a joke," Shen Jiming said, stroking his mustache. "What will I eat if I don't show movies? Every House Cultivator in Iron Gate Fortress has a livelihood; why can't I earn a living?"

The more Wu Yongchao thought about it, the angrier he became, and he was about to physically confront Shen Jiming when a piece of music suddenly drifted into his ears: "Floating clouds disperse, the bright moon shines on people, reunion and happiness, today is the most—"

A song titled "Blooming Flowers and Full Moon" calmed Wu Yongchao down. This tune was projected by Li Banfeng using his "Deep Mansion and Grand Courtyard" technique. Wu Yongchao suppressed his anger, left the cinema, and returned to his residence to ponder a countermeasure.

Shen Jiming didn't hear the song and was still secretly mocking Wu Yongchao. The sound cultivation technique Li Banfeng borrowed was directional. The "Deep Mansion and Grand Courtyard" technique, under Jiang Ling'er's guidance, had reached three-tenths mastery.

Was this cinema the source of the danger? Li Banfeng decided to go and investigate thoroughly tonight.

Li Zhijuan sat beside her sewing machine, turned the flywheel, pressed the foot pedal, and quietly watched the needle bar move up and down on the bobbin case. She didn't need to intervene much; this sewing machine was her House Spirit, and it would automatically sew garments according to the paper patterns Li Zhijuan made.

Seeing Li Zhijuan drowsy, her House Spirit seemed a little distressed. "Daughter, go back to bed and rest. Just leave the rest of the work to me."

"I really can't stay awake any longer." Li Zhijuan stood up, stretched, and was about to go back to her bedroom to rest when she suddenly noticed that several colors of silk thread on the spool holder were running low.

"The thread is used up so quickly?"

The sewing machine sighed, "Yes, I've taken on too much work lately."

Li Zhijuan replaced the spool with a new one. "I wonder if the thread vendor will come tomorrow. I need to buy more thread."

The next day, Li Zhijuan heard a knock at the door, groggily got out of bed, and asked, "Who is it?"

A voice from outside called out, "Little sister, it's me, your Sixth Sister. Today's the day for delivery."

Li Zhijuan rolled over and sat up, glancing at the mantel clock. It was already three-thirty in the afternoon. She had actually slept until this late. Li Zhijuan stumbled out of the bedroom, wondering how to explain things to Sixth Sister, when she suddenly saw two qipaos neatly folded on the table.

"Father, you finished all the work?"

"You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you. It was just this little bit of work, so I simply did it for you. Go deliver them now."

Li Zhijuan handed the qipaos to Sixth Sister, who inspected them carefully. "Juan'er, your craftsmanship has truly improved."

Her skill had indeed grown. Even Li Zhijuan herself was a bit surprised; these two qipaos were exceptionally well-made, especially the stitching, which was almost flawless.

"I wouldn't dare say they're good, and my hands are still too slow," Li Zhijuan said politely.

"Slow isn't a problem; slow and steady wins the race. With this level of craftsmanship, I'll have plenty to say to this client!"

Having collected the garments and paid, Sixth Sister was about to leave but turned to look at Li Zhijuan again. "Juan'er, your spirits aren't very good. Are you too tired from work?"

Li Zhijuan nodded slightly. "I've been a bit drowsy these past two days."

"I have a few more orders. Can you take them?"

"Yes, Sixth Sister, just give them to me."

"Since you say so, I'll give you the deposit and the materials." As she took out her money pouch, Sixth Sister looked around and lowered her voice. "Many outsiders have come to the fortress. You must be very careful."

Li Zhijuan said, "A group of moviemakers came. I heard they're also House Cultivators. They're quite annoying."

Sixth Sister shook her head. "It's not just the moviemakers. Some people here seem to be from the Ghost Hand Sect."

Li Zhijuan asked, "What's the Ghost Hand Sect?"

"It's a gang of pickpockets."

"What are pickpockets?" Li Zhijuan still didn't understand.

"They're thieves, do you understand now?" Sixth Sister looked back again, confirming no one was around, and told Li Zhijuan, "Your sister here also used to wander in Green Water City. Among this group, there's a man named Lu Keyong, who specializes in being a lookout for the Ghost Hand Sect. I recognize him. Juan'er, lock your front door tightly at night, and don't sleep too deeply. Be extremely careful. That's all I'm going to tell you."

Sixth Sister left. Li Zhijuan looked in the direction of the cinema, the afternoon sun making her feel dizzy in waves. Back home, Li Zhijuan felt drowsy again, but she had taken the deposit, so she had to rush to start work.

The sewing machine sighed, "Juan'er, you're taking on more work again. Are you trying to kill yourself?"

Li Zhijuan didn't speak. She picked up the tape measure, ready to start working, but she wasn't steady and almost fell under the table.

The sewing machine said, "Juan'er, sleep a little more. I'll do it for you."

"Father, can you do it?" Li Zhijuan was worried. Even though her House Spirit was a clothes-cultivator, he had focused his techniques on combat. The clothes he made were useful but not very attractive.

The sewing machine said, "I'm just too lazy to do fancy work. If I put in some real effort, what I make certainly won't be worse than yours."

Li Zhijuan still wanted to cut a paper pattern for the sewing machine, but she couldn't fight off the drowsiness and went back to bed to sleep. As she was falling asleep, the sewing machine asked, "How long has the Fortress Master been gone?"

"It's been a while; I can't remember either."

"What's our Fortress Master's name again? I'm getting old and can't recall."

Li Zhijuan murmured drowsily, "The Fortress Master is just called the Fortress Master."

She hadn't eaten all day and slept straight until deep into the night. The sewing machine in the living room kept clattering away, busy at work.

At three in the morning, the sewing machine slowly came to a halt.

Snip!

The thread cutter snipped the end of the thread, and a white thread extended from the spool.

Whirring...

The spool continuously rotated, and the white thread steadily moved outward, passing from the living room to the stairs, then up the stairs, and finally slipping into the crack of the bedroom door.

Li Zhijuan lay sound asleep in bed, a slight flush of color returning to her face. The thread end brushed across Li Zhijuan's cheek, slipped under her clothes, and pierced her back.

Clatter, clatter, the sewing machine started up again. The spool changed direction, beginning to wind the thread back in. The white thread inserted into Li Zhijuan's back tied a knot inside her body, and a blood-red filament was slowly pulled out of her. The blood-red filament, following the white thread, was pulled near the sewing machine, about to be wound onto the spool.

A Tang saber descended from mid-air, cutting the white thread. The red filament immediately recoiled, retracting into Li Zhijuan's body.

The sewing machine's pedal swung back and forth, and a thread shot out from the take-up lever, first wrapping around the Tang saber. A row of steel needles flew up, striking towards the area behind the saber. The Tang saber cut the thread, parried the steel needles, then stabbed at the belt wheel, slicing and severing the drive belt with a swift flick.

Clatter-clatter.

The sewing machine spun for a short while on momentum, then stopped.

"Li Qi, come out. It's this late; stop hiding, hehe." The sewing machine's voice changed.

"You can even steal lives." Li Qi's voice came from the living room. "Old Grinning Pliers, how long has it been since we last met?"

"Did you miss me? Did you bring my little hand back?"

"You've become like this; do you still need hands?"

Clang!

A halo of light struck, and the sewing machine's flywheel was cut off.