Chapter 296: Make Him Put in a Little More Effort
Ling Miaoying's stomach burst open. Blood, organs, chunks of flesh, half-digested food, and things that had long since stopped looking like food sprayed everywhere.
Li Banfeng had run like mad the whole way, leaving him almost completely sapped of his energy. He had been away from the Pocket Dwelling for too long, so his Homebound characteristic of being hard to detect was no longer at its peak effectiveness. On top of that, he had successfully used Passing Flowers on Horseback for the first time, and it had drained him greatly.
He staggered and nearly fell. Tu Yinghong heard the noise and rushed out of the room. Just as she was about to attack Li Banfeng, he aimed the pistol at her head and fired first.
Bang!
Ling Miaoying's pistol would always land a hit once fired. However, Li Banfeng's aim was poor, so he missed Tu Yinghong's vitals and struck her right shoulder instead.
Tu Yinghong wore armor that she had made herself, but Ling Miaoying's pistol was too powerful. Its bullet managed to penetrate the armor and still pierce through Tu Yinghong's bone. Before she could steady herself, Li Banfeng fired four more shots in quick succession.
Only one of the four shots went off, and that one struck Tu Yinghong in the neck. Tu Yinghong clutched the wound on her neck and retreated several steps. Ling Miaoying looked to Tu Yinghong for help, but Tu Yinghong did not linger. Without the slightest hesitation, she leaped out of the corridor window and vanished in the blink of an eye.
She fled.
Li Banfeng did not know what method she had used, but she had managed to escape at an astonishingly fast speed. Furthermore, he had no idea if she would return.
She might only be going into hiding to treat her injuries. Or she might be going somewhere to prepare her enchanted artifacts again. Or she might even call for reinforcements.
Li Banfeng knew almost nothing about Tu Yinghong, but he understood Ling Miaoying. Ling Miaoying seemed to have an endless supply of enchanted artifacts and spirit-bound items, so he could always pull out some backup plan that Li Banfeng never expected.
Rather than wearing himself down here, it would be better to finish off Ling Miaoying as soon as possible. Then he could return to the Pocket Dwelling to recover his strength, assuming his house key was truly at Freewind Wharf.
Li Banfeng's clash with Tu Yinghong had only lasted a little over three seconds. He had assumed that Ling Miaoying would have no way to treat his stomach injury in those three seconds.
Li Banfeng had underestimated him.
Ling Miaoying really had dealt with the wound. He had stuffed his organs back into his stomach and stuck a piece of adhesive tape over his belly wound, sealing it shut.
During this time, the Tang Saber and the Blood-Drinking Pendulum launched a sneak attack, but a halo of light appeared behind Ling Miaoying. Like a shield, it blocked both the Tang Saber's and the Blood-Drinking Pendulum's attacks.
Then the Liquor Gourd released a mist of liquor, enveloping Ling Miaoying in it. It seemed unlikely that the halo shield alone was sufficient to protect Ling Miaoying. As long as Li Banfeng lit a flame, he could burn Ling Miaoying.
At the critical moment between life and death, Ling Miaoying suddenly charged at Li Banfeng.
Ling Miaoying's shoes were special, so this burst of speed was extremely fast. Li Banfeng, on the other hand, had exhausted too much of his energy, so his footwork was now slower than usual.
Ling Miaoying pounced at Li Banfeng, and Li Banfeng failed to evade him.
The two men grappled with each other. At such close range, Li Banfeng could not set a fire, or he would catch fire too. Both men were struggling to find chances to use their abilities, so they could only rely on their "superb" close-combat skills and the resources they had around them.
Ling Miaoying pulled Li Banfeng's hair, and Li Banfeng gouged at Ling Miaoying's eyes. Ling Miaoying scratched Li Banfeng's face, and Li Banfeng grabbed Ling Miaoying's throat.
One was badly injured, and the other was utterly exhausted. Neither of them had the strength to kill the other in one move.
One was a level-seven Spycraft Cultivator, while the other was a level-six Wanderlust Cultivator and a level-five Homebound Cultivator. This was how fierce a duel between high-level cultivators could be!
The Tang Saber and the Blood-Drinking Pendulum continued their struggle against the halo shield, while the Liquor Gourd clashed with the steel rope.
Meanwhile, the projector adjusted its angle from the corner. This thing was trouble!
The Tang Saber had beheaded the hologram that the projector had created earlier, but the hologram could still fight. However, its range of movement was limited by the projector's angle. The hologram could not enter the corridor because the corridor was outside the projection screen. After adjusting its angle, the projector could create a new hologram, one that could move around in the corridor and help Ling Miaoying fight.
Ling Miaoying had too many spirit-bound items and was about to gain the upper hand.
During the stalemate, the White Glove gently dug into Ling Miaoying's ear. Ling Miaoying shuddered, giving Li Banfeng a chance to use his abilities.
Li Banfeng broke free from the grapple, circled behind Ling Miaoying, and dragged him toward the room with extraordinary strength.
Ling Miaoying's eyes widened in shock. He could not understand Li Banfeng's sudden change.
Both of us are clearly exhausted, so why is this kid still so strong? Did he take a pill? He clearly didn't have any chances to take pills.
Why is he running into the room? Could it be a Homebound Cultivator ability? Impossible! He's a Wanderlust Cultivator, so how could he possibly have a Homebound Cultivator's ability?
Li Banfeng had indeed used a Homebound Cultivator's ability. It was An Arrow Bound for Home.
Ever since he had run all the way there from Blackstone Slope, Li Banfeng had been yearning to return home. It was because he feared he would never make it back to the Pocket Dwelling again. Now, with the ability empowering him, no one could stop Li Banfeng from returning home.
Li Banfeng dragged Ling Miaoying into the room. Ling Miaoying struggled with all his might, but the gap in strength between them was too great.
The projector created a new hologram. However, the projection angle limited the hologram's reach, preventing it from entering Li Banfeng's room. The projector then adjusted its angle once more, preparing to create a hologram inside Li Banfeng's room.
Li Banfeng reached under the bed with one hand and dug the key out from a crack between the floorboards.
The key! It's still here!
Li Banfeng was ecstatic, and his strength increased again.
Ling Miaoying twisted his neck with all his might and bit into Li Banfeng's wrist.
With An Arrow Bound for Home in full effect, Li Banfeng did not even feel pain. He unlocked and opened the door of the Pocket Dwelling and dragged Ling Miaoying inside.
Once their master was gone, Ling Miaoying's enchanted artifacts and spirit-bound items all fell into disarray.
The Liquor Gourd seized the chance to knock over the projector, and the hologram that had just taken shape was projected out the window.
The Blood-Drinking Pendulum and the Tang Saber darted back and forth, entangling the steel rope as they followed Li Banfeng into the Pocket Dwelling.
Seeing that no one around was paying attention, the White Glove swallowed Ling Miaoying's projector and followed the others back into the Pocket Dwelling.
Once he was inside the Pocket Dwelling, Li Banfeng threw the house key out the door. Then his strength gave out, and he lay motionless on the floor.
Ling Miaoying abruptly rose to his feet and picked up the steel rope, intending to cut off Li Banfeng's head.
Li Banfeng just smiled.
Ling Miaoying's hand froze in midair. The Gramophone had pierced it with her stylus.
The Gramophone began a slow beat and was about to sing a tune, but Li Banfeng unexpectedly sang "The Du Family's Tenth Miss" first.
"Wifey~ are you feeling hungry? If you're feeling hungry, tell me, and I will make you noodle soup!"
The Gramophone giggled. "Oh, husband dear~ this isn't noodle soup. This is a top-quality ingredient!"
Ling Miaoying stared at the Gramophone and cried out in shock, "A steam gramophone from the Amikan Kingdom? How could it have become an enchanted artifact?"
A burst of steam scalded Ling Miaoying until his skin split open. The Gramophone was angry, so angry that her stomach was growling.
Li Banfeng smiled and said, "You've got a good eye. As expected of Ling Miaosheng's younger brother. But you're quite rude. This is my wife. How dare you call her an enchanted artifact?"
Wife?
Ling Miaoying did not understand it, and he had no chance to think about it either.
The Gramophone was very hungry, and she ate this meal rather impatiently.
Watching her wolf down her food, Li Banfeng was deeply pleased.
This is exactly how a wife should be nurtured. She should be nurtured until she's fair and chubby[1]!
However, if I return to the Outer Provinces in the future, buying groceries for her will still be a problem. And would she like the environment in the Outer Provinces?
Li Banfeng patted his forehead, reminding himself not to let his thoughts wander. He had a few guesses, though.
He decided that from now on, while he was inside the Pocket Dwelling, he should try not to think recklessly about anything related to locations.
***
Tu Yinghong returned to Freewind Wharf and saw many people standing in the corridor. Most of them were overnight guests and female dancers.
These people had heard the gunshots and sounds of fighting, but they had not dared to leave their rooms and see what was going on. In Puluo, being too curious could easily get a person killed.
The noise gradually died down, and that was when they finally dared to exit their rooms to check the situation.
The sleeping gatekeeper had also been startled awake.
Tu Yinghong looked around, but she did not see Ling Miaoying or Li Qi. She pretended to be one of the onlookers and asked the people nearby what had happened.
"I don't know what happened. I only heard someone firing a gun."
"There's blood here. Who knows whose blood it is?"
"It's not just blood. Look, what's this? Are these intestines? There are even vegetable leaves on them!"
Not one person around her could explain clearly what had happened.
Tu Yinghong glanced into Li Banfeng's room. There was no one inside.
She wanted to go in and take a closer look, but the gatekeeper stopped her. "Everyone, go back to sleep! Stop making trouble here!"
The gatekeeper pushed Tu Yinghong backward.
If Tu Yinghong wanted to kill this gatekeeper, she only needed to move a finger. With a few more flicks of her fingers, she could kill everyone in the corridor, then enter the room and inspect it carefully.
However, she did not do that. She knew doing so would not help Ling Miaoying. Instead, it would only bring trouble to him.
Tu Yinghong silently left Freewind Wharf, returned to that small building, and quietly waited for news from Ling Miaoying.
***
At Lu Maoxian's home, Lu Chunying and the others were also quietly waiting for news of Ling Miaoying.
They waited until nearly 7 AM, when the sky was already bright, before the spy finally delivered news.
The Border Controller had come out of the literary house, but there was no sign of Ling Miaoying.
Lu Dongtang could not keep his composure anymore and barked at his subordinate, "The Border Controller has already come out, so what are you still waiting for? Go into the literary house and search!"
"Fusheng Literary House is the Chu Family's business, so we can't really—"
"So what if it's the Chu Family's? Do you think I'm afraid of them?"
The subordinate went to Fusheng Literary House and came running back soon after.
"I searched the entire literary house, but I didn't see Ling Miaoying anywhere."
Lu Dongtang was rendered speechless.
Lu Chunying stood up and sighed. "No wonder Granduncle fell for Ling Miaoying's schemes. It seems this low level of intelligence truly runs in the family."
Unable to tolerate Lu Chunying any longer, Lu Dongtang stood up, intending to give her a good scolding. However, Monkey Qiu glanced at him, and Lu Dongtang's blood rushed downward, gathering in one specific part of his body. It swelled up violently and stretched his pants open.
Lu Dongtang covered his pants, sat back down in his chair, and quickly lowered his head. One more look from Monkey Qiu could make him lose the ability to have children.
The Lu Family's main branch left, and the other families departed one after another as well.
Lu Maoxian sat in his bedroom, secretly gritting his teeth.
***
Once they were outside the estate, Ma Wu said to Monkey Qiu and Tan Fucheng, "Uncle Qiu, Uncle Tan, if you don't mind, let's gather at Freewind Wharf and have a drink."
Tan Fucheng looked at Monkey Qiu, and Monkey Qiu looked at Lu Chunying.
Lu Chunying smiled and said, "Elder Brother Qiu, since Big Brother Wu is being so thoughtful, we can't refuse him and make him lose face."
Monkey Qiu nodded. "That's true. It's a good idea anyway. Let's sit and drink together."
Ma Wu raised a hand. "Uncles, after you."
Tan Fucheng frowned and said, "Even Miss Chunying is calling us her big brothers now, so why are you still calling us uncle? From now on, let's all count ourselves as the same generation."
***
The group headed to Freewind Wharf together. Before they even entered, the gatekeeper rushed up to them.
"Master Wu, something happened last night. I don't know who came, but they entered Master Qi's room and fired a gun. There was a fight, and everything's a total mess..."
The gatekeeper was not particularly good at explaining things, so his account was a total mess too.
Ma Wu first had everyone rest in the dance hall, then he hurried to the rear building.
When he reached the second floor, Ma Wu tensed with dread. He saw bloodstains, scorch marks, and some things too disgusting to describe in the corridor. It was clear that a fierce battle had taken place there.
Could something have happened to Old Qi?
Sweat broke out on Ma Wu's forehead.
When he arrived at Li Qi's door, two people were standing guard outside, preventing unrelated personnel from entering.
"Master Wu, the inside is a complete mess too, and there are bloodstains. Would you like to go in and take a look?"
Ma Wu pushed open the door and entered the room, only to find it extremely tidy.
The gatekeeper was stunned too. He said to Ma Wu, "Master Wu, it wasn't like this just now. It was—"
Splash.
After the sound of water, Li Banfeng walked out of the washroom.
The gatekeeper trembled at the sight of him. "Master Qi, w-when did you come back?"
Li Banfeng wiped his hands dry and said, "I came back last night."
Ma Wu had been alarmed for nothing. He wiped away his cold sweat, sent the gatekeeper out, and asked, "Did something happen last night?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "Something happened."
"What happened?"
"I haven't fabricated a story about it yet."
Ma Wu looked helpless. "It's me. Why are you still fabricating stories? Can't you just tell me the truth?"
"I can tell you, but it won't be easy to explain to others," Li Banfeng replied.
He took out a bundle wrapped in cloth and handed it to Ma Wu.
Ma Wu then unwrapped the bundle and discovered that it held Ling Miaoying's head.
"Old Qi..." Ma Wu's mouth hung open for a long while before he finally closed it. "The Lu Family waited for Ling Miaoying the whole night, and you were the one who got him?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "That's right. That's why we need to make up a good story. We can't let him die just like this. We need to make him put in a bit more effort."
1. "Fair and chubby" is more often used to describe a healthy baby. ☜
