Chapter 768: This Television Is Great

Mu Yuejuan held the contract, her wrist trembling constantly. To be honest, she really didn't want to sign it.

She had come to the Dark Star Bureau to retrieve her most important painting, but it was going to belong to Li Banfeng. Li Banfeng also wanted her to do something, but the contract didn't specify what it was.

"Seventh Master," she said, "at least give me a hint. What do you want me to do?"

Li Banfeng replied, "It's classified, I can't tell you yet."

Upon hearing this, A-Yu chuckled, "This kid is cunning. Mu Yuejuan, that hussy, must be careful and on her guard."

Mu Yuejuan said, sounding aggrieved, "You haven't clearly written what it is. If I sign this, I'll be at your beck and call, even through a mountain of knives or a sea of fire. That's just too..."

"Heh heh!" Li Banfeng chuckled. Mu Yuejuan couldn't see Li Qi's face, only heard his chilling laughter. Just those two chuckles made her shiver.

"Seventh Master, I don't mean anything else. I'm just asking about your intentions; I'm afraid I won't do the job well and you'll be dissatisfied." Mu Yuejuan only had her right hand left, but her fingers were incredibly nimble. She held the contract between her pinky and ring finger, dipped her thumb in a bit of blood from her wound, and pressed her fingerprint.

Li Banfeng took the contract and led Mu Yuejuan back the way they came. Passing by the pond, Mu Yuejuan pulled her left hand out of the water. She drew two black snakes, wrapping them around the stump of her arm.

Just a short while ago, Mu Yuejuan had claimed to be too weak to draw snakes. Yet, not long after, her abilities had recovered. In the world of paintings, a painter's advantages were incredibly apparent.

Reaching the crossroads, Li Banfeng looked back. There were three paths behind them and three in front. The original path leading into the garden had disappeared.

Mu Yuejuan pointed to the path leading to the pond: "After crossing the pond, there's a flowerbed. Beyond the flowerbed is the pine forest, and past the pine forest, you reach the wisteria corridor. Emerging from the wisteria corridor, you're back at another crossroads. No matter which way you go, you can't get out."

Li Banfeng asked, "According to your original painting, what should be beyond the pond?"

Mu Yuejuan replied, "One painting can't depict too much. Beyond the pond, it was originally a bamboo grove, and passing through the bamboo grove would lead out."

Li Banfeng nodded, "Then let's go through the pond."

He thought about flying over the pond, but Mu Yuejuan stopped him: "Seventh Master, you can't fly above this pond. I've painted many egrets, and they're all very fierce. Some egrets have been left unattended for so long that they no longer obey my commands. If you fly across, those birds will definitely attack you. I know you're not afraid of a few birds, but it's not worth getting injured, even slightly."

Her timely warning showed Mu Yuejuan's experience and foresight. While Li Banfeng might not necessarily be grateful, if he were to fly and be ambushed by the egrets, Mu Yuejuan's life would be at risk.

The two got into a small boat on the pond. Mu Yuejuan rowed with both hands, her eyes, following the shimmering reflections on the water, carefully scrutinized Li Banfeng.

In terms of looks alone, Feng Daiku was even slightly inferior to Mu Yuejuan. If Li Banfeng pretended to be a gentleman, Mu Yuejuan had a hundred ways to reel him in. Even if he kept his head down and didn't look at her, Mu Yuejuan still had ways to manipulate him.

Yet, Li Banfeng stared at Mu Yuejuan for a long time, eyes wide, but didn't find her particularly beautiful.

The fact that her severed hand could already row a boat, however, piqued Li Banfeng's interest.

Seeing that Li Banfeng wasn't taking the bait, Mu Yuejuan found it uninteresting herself. She sped up her rowing, and the two quickly reached the opposite bank.

The bank was covered in lush, blooming flowers. After walking through the flowerbeds for a long time, they indeed reached the edge of the pine forest.

"Seventh Master," Mu Yuejuan reiterated, "this was originally a bamboo grove."

Li Banfeng closed his eyes and walked a short distance forward, activating his "Hundred Flavors Exquisite Skill." He carefully probed the air for scents.

Mu Yuejuan, standing beside him, asked, "Seventh Master, what are you smelling for?"

Li Banfeng replied, "I'm checking for the scent of bamboo."

Mu Yuejuan carefully composed herself, making sure not to laugh, yet not to be too serious, so as not to let Li Banfeng detect any mockery or sarcasm: "Seventh Master, those bamboos were drawn with ink. They don't have a scent." Li Banfeng opened his eyes and stared at Mu Yuejuan for a moment. Mu Yuejuan's expression was open and honest, indicating she was merely stating facts, with no other intentions.

"Earlier, when I passed through that wisteria corridor, I smelled many flower scents," Li Banfeng commented.

Mu Yuejuan explained, "Those flower scents were from rouge I added to the ink. When I drew the train, I also added a bit of engine oil, just to make it more realistic."

Li Banfeng glanced at the bamboo grove. "When you drew the bamboos, you didn't think to add some bamboo leaves?"

Mu Yuejuan pursed her lips and said, "It was drawn at the exit, so I didn't make it that detailed. However, when I drew the pine forest, I did add some pine resin to the ink."

Li Banfeng went to the pine forest and smelled the air. The pine resin scent was very strong.

The reason they were lost within the painting wasn't due to an illusion, but rather some method that had altered the layout of the scroll.

Mu Yuejuan said she had been affected by a mechanism that trapped her inside the painting. What kind of method did this mechanism use?

If it truly was a change in the layout, there should be a way to find the exit.

Li Banfeng told Mu Yuejuan, "Go to the junction of the pine forest and the corridor, make a mark there, and wait for me."

Mu Yuejuan didn't ask why; she simply did as instructed.

As she walked away, Li Banfeng silently let a drop of blood fall, and a lightless boundary line spread across the world within the painting.

No matter how it was altered, within a confined space, the "Closed Door, Closed House" boundary line could detect the actual layout.

After more than ten minutes, the boundary line reached the edge of the painted world, and Li Banfeng understood why they were lost.

*The Wisteria and Pine Overlap Painting* had been severely distorted, with many scenes within the painting connecting end-to-end, forming an eerie circular structure.

This technique was extremely clever; subtle changes had occurred in the trees, ponds, pillars, and flora within the scroll. This even affected Li Banfeng's traveler cultivation talent, and Mu Yuejuan herself didn't realize she had been circling within her own painting. However, no matter how hidden the layout, once covered by the boundary line, it would gradually become clear. Li Banfeng quickly circled the entire loop, memorizing every detail of the garden.

He arrived at the midpoint of the corridor, standing beneath a pillar at its edge. This pillar was somewhat further from the two surrounding pillars, a result of the spatial distortion.

Li Banfeng first used his "High Pillow, No Worries" skill. Within the boundary, he was the master.

After gaining basic control over the surrounding environment, Li Banfeng activated his "Connected Vast Bridal Chamber" skill.

Since the layout had been altered, he would change it back. Restoring it to its original state was impossible, but Li Banfeng was confident he could break apart the circular structure and turn it into a straight passage.

The technique was difficult to execute. Li Banfeng's face twisted, and his body trembled. He attempted it twice without success.

He hadn't spent enough time in the painted world, and the method used to distort it was surprisingly powerful.

Fortunately, Li Banfeng also found some tricks. The junctions of the pond, pine forest, and corridor were relatively weak points, making them ideal entry points for altering the layout.

Li Banfeng used the technique again. This time, the effect was significant; the entire painted world vibrated distinctly.

A-Yu chuckled, "This kid has quite the skill. He can somewhat contend with you. Don't take it seriously, just play around."

Mu Yuejuan, standing by the pine forest, saw the originally straight pine trees bending one by one.

She didn't know what technique this was, nor whether it was Li Qi performing it or a mechanism outside the painting at work.

But one thing she knew clearly: in such a situation, don't be too curious, don't probe too deeply, and definitely don't conduct any unnecessary investigations. If she angered Li Qi, the consequences would be unimaginable.

After waiting for over two minutes, Li Banfeng appeared before Mu Yuejuan. "Come with me to the corridor."

Mu Yuejuan started walking towards the corridor, but Li Banfeng called out, "Wrong way, walk towards the pond."

"Seventh Master," she said, "it's the same no matter which way we go; both lead to the corridor. Going towards the pond is actually a detour."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "It's different now. You have to go through the pond to reach the corridor."

Mu Yuejuan was still weak, but she couldn't help but use a technique to sense her surroundings.

After sensing, Mu Yuejuan's face turned pale with shock. *The Wisteria and Pine Overlap Painting* had changed, in an indescribable way.

She followed Li Qi to the end of the corridor and saw a bamboo grove appear ahead.

Mu Yuejuan was overjoyed. Finding this bamboo grove meant they had found the exit.

Li Banfeng was breaking into a sweat. Maintaining the "Connected Vast Bridal Chamber" skill within the painted world was difficult, especially since this wasn't his own residence. The external mechanism was still exerting force, trying to revert the painting back into a loop. Li Banfeng told Mu Yuejuan, "This is the bamboo grove you mentioned, but I didn't find an exit just now."

Mu Yuejuan quickly went to the center of the bamboo grove and stopped near a purple bamboo stalk. "Seventh Master, this is where the exit is, but it seems to be blocked by something."

"Find a way to open the door, and be quick about it," Li Banfeng said. Sweat dripped increasingly from under his hat, down his cheeks.

Mu Yuejuan shook her head. "There's a barrier here, and it's extremely sturdy. I'll have to figure out how to draw a door on it. An ordinary door won't do; the opening needs to be deep enough, the doorway wide enough, and the lintel strong enough. All in all, it will take at least an hour."

With her painting skills, drawing a door would take an hour?

She was clearly stalling for time. Her recovery speed within the painted world was astonishing. Once fully recovered, she could draw a door and escape immediately. Li Banfeng, trapped in the painted world, wouldn't be able to get out, and he wouldn't be able to claim the painting, thus preventing Mu Yuejuan from breaching the contract.

"Seventh Master, I'll try to draw as quickly as possible. I'll mix the pigments first, please wait a moment, I'll immediately—"

*BOOM!*

The purple bamboo shattered into pieces. Directly behind where it stood, a pitch-black hole appeared.

Li Banfeng had used "Breaking Through Ten Thousand Rivers" to forcefully tear open the painting's exit.

Mu Yuejuan, tears welling in her eyes, said, "Seventh Master, what have you done?"

Li Banfeng replied, "I just wanted to see what was behind the bamboo."

"My Wisteria and Pine Overlap Painting—" Mu Yuejuan was on the verge of tears.

A-Yu chuckled, "Serves you right! You hussy, trying to be cunning!"

The Dark Star Bureau building shook, waking Haitang Guo from her sleep. She immediately grabbed a rag and started cleaning.

A-Yu praised, "This child is sensible; she can eat, sleep, and work. She's clearly destined for a long life."

The duty officer from the Investigation Department felt something was wrong and started walking towards the stairwell.

A-Yu sighed, "There are always those who don't know any better. I'll save you this once; consider it a bargain."

*CLANG!*

The trash can in the hallway tipped over, spilling garbage everywhere.

When the duty officer saw it, his face changed color.

"This filthy mess, how can this be tolerated?"

He quickly grabbed a broom and began to clean.

Li Banfeng and Mu Yuejuan jumped out of the painting, which hung in the stairwell, a large hole torn in its bottom left corner.

Mu Yuejuan carefully put away the painting, her heart aching. Li Banfeng asked, "Where is your most important painting?"

"It's right behind this large iron door," Mu Yuejuan said, slowly approaching the stairwell door. She wanted to test if the door would open. If she was lucky enough, she wanted to make a run for it immediately.

Li Banfeng turned and smiled, "Senior, lead the way."

"Me? I walk in front?"

"You're leading the way, so of course you walk in front!"

Mu Yuejuan was reluctant: "Seventh Master, it's a bit dangerous in there, and I'm still injured."

"No matter. If there's danger, I'll save you."

"Seventh Master, I can't open this door."

"If you can't open it, how do you know the painting is inside?"

"I... I could open it before because I drew a key. Now I'm injured, and a drawn key might not work."

"No matter, I'll help you open the door."

Li Banfeng put on his gloves, fumbled with the door for a moment, and then opened it.

The Gloves made no unnecessary movements, and the entire operation seemed to be completed by Li Banfeng. In such situations, one must give all credit to the master.

Pushing open the large iron door, Mu Yuejuan cautiously stepped inside. The room was still exactly as it had been.

The room was filled with glass display cases of various sizes, containing wire recorders, floor-standing radios, floor-standing televisions, steam sewing machines, and that very conspicuous gantry planer.

The spot where the train engine had been was empty. It seemed the old train was indeed not here.

"Senior, where did the train engine go?"

"What train engine?" Mu Yuejuan feigned ignorance.

Li Banfeng chuckled, "If you didn't see the train engine, why did you draw a train in the painting?"

Mu Yuejuan, her face betraying no flush and her heart no flutter, looked up at Li Banfeng and said, "Trains are quite imposing. I just wanted to scare you away—" Li Banfeng smiled, "Senior, you truly scared me. I really am leaving now. Before I go, I'll even close the door for you."

"Don't go!" Mu Yuejuan was terrified. "I'll tell you the truth. There really was a train here, and it came charging at me! I quickly ran, barely making it outside the large iron door, but then the stairwell door wouldn't open. When I turned around, the train had already rushed to the doorway. I had nowhere to hide, so I just hung a painting in the corridor and hid inside it. But then I couldn't get out! Seventh Master, every single word is true, there's not a shred of falsehood in it!"

Li Banfeng nodded. "I believe you. While the old train isn't here, let's quickly find that painting."

Mu Yuejuan went to look for the painting. Li Banfeng removed his Gloves and placed them on the glass cover enclosing the television.

"Brother, it's up to you," Li Banfeng said, handing the key to his portable residence to the Gloves.

"Master, watch this." The Gloves carefully felt around the glass cabinet.

Li Banfeng stood still, seemingly unmoving.

Mu Yuejuan found her most important painting in one of the glass cabinets.

She dared not touch it carelessly. Having wandered the world for so many years, even if she wasn't familiar with the Dark Star Bureau, she knew that the glass cabinet was undoubtedly full of mechanisms.

Before Mu Yuejuan could even discern the mechanisms, the Gloves had already opened the glass cover and gently pulled out the television.

The television's screen glowed white, as if about to turn on.

Li Banfeng said, "Be extremely careful. You wouldn't want to be stuck here for life."

Mu Yuejuan heard these words, and so did the television.

Mu Yuejuan became even more cautious.

The television screen dimmed.

The Gloves silently opened the portable residence, placed the television in the main room, turned back to close the glass cover, slipped back onto Li Banfeng's hand, and returned the key. The entire process triggered no mechanisms and made no sound.

Mu Yuejuan, drenched in sweat, finally managed to open the glass cover. Before she could lay a hand on it, Li Banfeng, still wearing his Gloves, moved preemptively and collected the painting.

"Seventh Master, you—" Li Banfeng, holding the painting, said, "It was meant for me anyway, so what does it matter if it's sooner or later? Don't move around recklessly. Slowly lower the glass door."

Mu Yuejuan handled her part properly and followed Li Banfeng to the door.

After closing the iron door, Li Banfeng, wearing his Gloves, opened the stairwell door. Although Mu Yuejuan was pleased, she felt it had been a little too easy.

"Seventh Master, this building seems specifically designed to imprison me. You, however, move through it unhindered."

Li Banfeng replied, "What's wrong with that? I'm the Grand Master of the Dark Star Bureau."

After exiting the Dark Star Bureau building, Mu Yuejuan lifted her leg to leave. Li Banfeng said, "Don't rush, Senior. I still have something for you to do. If you leave, where will I find you?"

Mu Yuejuan turned back and said, "Seventh Master, don't you have *The Misty Mirage Tower* in your possession? You can find me through that."

"What is *The Misty Mirage Tower*?"

"It's my painting, the foundation of my cultivation."

Li Banfeng held the painting and examined it. "Finding you through it might not be that easy. You yourself said one needs to find the right path within the painting. Is there a simpler way?"

Mu Yuejuan felt helpless, but she knew that if she didn't leave something behind, Li Qi certainly wouldn't let her go.

She took a hairpin from her hair and handed it to Li Banfeng. "As long as you enter *The Misty Mirage Tower* and shake this hairpin three times in a row, I will sense it and come to find you, Seventh Master."

Li Banfeng looked at the hairpin. After having gone through a severe ordeal, Mu Yuejuan had lost nearly half her flesh, yet this hairpin was completely undamaged. It seemed to be a treasure.

Mu Yuejuan bowed slightly to Li Banfeng, endured the sharp pain in her chest, turned, and left.

Li Banfeng returned to his portable residence, moved the floor-standing television from the main hall to the Fifth Room, and also moved Honglian next to it.

"Do you two like this television?" Li Banfeng asked, stroking Honglian and looking at the Fifth Room girl.

The Fifth Room girl said, blushing, "I've never watched television."

"Really? You've never seen one?" Li Banfeng was surprised. He turned to ask Honglian, "You haven't seen one either?"

Honglian was silent for a moment, then said to Li Banfeng, "Even you haven't truly *seen* such a good television. Do you know who made this TV?"

"I'll look for the manufacturer."

Li Banfeng looked all over, front and back, for a trademark or label, when suddenly he heard the television exclaim, "Don't mess around! You dare to touch anything?!"

From the voice, it sounded like a young woman.

Li Banfeng asked, "Are you really a television?"

The Television replied, "Look at me. What else could I be if not a television?"

Li Banfeng picked up the plug from the back of the casing. "You're not even plugged in! Can something be called a television without electricity?"

The Television chuckled, "Electricity? That's hardly a problem. I can conjure some up anywhere."

As it spoke, the Television's power light flashed, and a woman appeared on the screen.

The woman had dyed blonde hair, with strands falling over her shoulders from the back, and a mass of sharply defined orange-red bangs hanging in front, just covering half of her right eye.

She had thick powder, a very white face, deep eyeshadow, a drawn teardrop below her eye, a row of various-sized ear studs on each ear, and deep purple lip gloss on her lips. Her lips were constantly moving, as if she was chewing something.

The woman looked at Li Banfeng, shook her head, and chuckled. "Big brother, why are your clothes so old-fashioned?"

Li Banfeng looked at his black suit. "Who are you calling old-fashioned? You're dressed like a rock youth from thirty years ago. And you're not old-fashioned?"

"What's wrong with thirty years ago? Thirty-year-old fashion is still trendy today because technology keeps advancing, but aesthetics might regress!" As she spoke, she pursed her lips, then opened them slightly, pushed her tongue forward, and blew a bubble.

She was chewing bubblegum.

Hong Ying happened to push the door open, looked at the woman in the TV, and couldn't help but wrinkle her nose. "What's that in your mouth? It's white and sticky. Don't you find that disgusting?"

The woman stared at Hong Ying. "Oh, my! Where did you get that outfit? At first glance, I thought I'd arrived at a museum!"

Hong Ying paused, "What's a museum?"

The woman chuckled, "It's a place where they put old-fashioned people like you in cabinets for display."

"What did you say?" Hong Ying fumed, lifting her foot to kick.

Before her foot could even touch the Television, a jolt of electricity surged from her head to her feet. Hong Ying's body went numb and weak, and she almost fell.

The woman snorted, "I already said, aesthetics might regress, but technology keeps advancing. What era is this? You're still trying that with me? Do you think this is a wuxia film?"

Before she finished speaking, Hong Ying suddenly vanished.

The woman exclaimed, "Oh, what are you doing now?"

Hong Ying reappeared behind her and kicked the Television.

The kick was fierce enough to send the Television flying, crashing against the wall, and emitting a puff of acrid smoke.

"You crazy hag!" The screen was covered in static, and the image took a while to recover. The woman on the screen adjusted her hairstyle. "Playing for real, are we? Fine, I'll give you a good sparring session."

"Spar? Do you even deserve to?" Hong Ying drew her sword, ready to destroy the Television.

The woman in the Television looked a bit nervous. "Can't handle it, huh? Bringing out weapons, huh? Why is your hair styled so high? What's on your head? You're not hiding a hidden weapon, are you?"

Her hair was styled so high because there was a spear tip hidden in it—something ordinary people shouldn't mention. Hong Ying said nothing more, raising her sword to strike.

The Television extended two antennas from its top, sparks crackling from them.

Just as the two were about to fight, Honglian stepped between them. "Hong Ying, don't be impulsive. This Television is very important."

Hong Ying pushed Honglian away. "Important to you, huh? Then it's definitely nothing good."

The Projector advised, "Second Madam, Seventh Director went through great lengths to acquire this Television. You mustn't harm it."

"What if I harm this hussy?" Hong Ying pushed the Projector away. "At most, Seventh Lang will beat me, and I'll accept it!"

Meng De advised, "Madam, Master is watching. Please don't throw a tantrum."

"So what if he's watching?!" Hong Ying pushed Meng De away. "This is just my temper. I'm not like you, wagging your tail."

The Gloves stepped forward to mediate, "There's an outsider here. Give the Master some face."

"What if I don't?"

The Tang Dao also came to mediate, "General Hong, just say a little less. The newcomer is already getting the better of you. What else do you have to be dissatisfied about?"

Hong Ying was enraged. She grabbed the Tang Dao, ready to chop the Television.

Li Banfeng spoke, "Yingying, stop messing around. I'll send her away in a few days."

"A few days? I can't tolerate her for a single moment! Send her away right now!" Hong Ying yelled, her voice hoarse, when suddenly footsteps were heard from the direction of the Sixth Room.

"Who said she's being sent away?"

Upon hearing this voice, the Projector returned to the table, Meng De returned to the wall, the Gloves slipped into Li Banfeng's pocket, and the Tang Dao broke free from Hong Ying's hand and went to stand in the corner.

Hong Ying straightened her clothes, hid behind Li Banfeng, and lowered her head, remaining silent.

The woman in the Television didn't know what was happening. "Who's here? What's going on?"

With a creak, the door opened.

Li Banfeng looked towards the doorway, his face filled with joy. "My precious wife, you're awake!"