Chapter 151: Family Banquet

The ironworm wriggled on the zygomatic bone, its head emerging from the inner corner of the eye.

Li Banfeng saw its head, dangerously close to his eyeball.

The worm's head had a mouth; he couldn't see what was inside, but he knew that mouth was aimed directly at his eyeball, ready to bite down.

Li Banfeng leapt onto the "shore," grabbed the ironworm, and pulled with all his strength.

The ironworm's skin was rough and thick, lined with tiny barbs; as he tore, it ripped out a large chunk of blood and flesh, but he yanked the worm clean out of his eye corner.

He threw the worm on the ground, intending to crush it—but his feet had lost all sensation.

His leather shoes were riddled with holes; he didn't know how many ironworms had burrowed into his feet.

He used his key to open his Personal Dwelling, hurled the key as far as he could, and staggered inside.

He collapsed on the floor, his whole body trembling with numbness and itching, hundreds of worms wriggling inside him.

Hhh~

A cloud of steam rushed over him, enveloping his entire body; the steam seeped into his wounds, killing every worm one by one.

Three phonograph needles extended onto Li Banfeng's body, first removing his shoes, then shredding his socks.

Both his feet were covered in pinprick-sized holes, some still wriggling with something inside.

"Oh my, not dead yet!" the phonograph sighed. "Where did these vile things come from? Ironworm River? Ironworm River worms shouldn't be this tough."

Li Banfeng heard this, but lacked the strength to reply.

He couldn't reply anyway—he had no idea what had happened to these worms.

The phonograph stripped Li Banfeng's clothes; a swirl of steam rose and fell around him. After fifteen minutes, the wriggling worms in the holes fell still.

Killing these worms was easy for the phonograph, but she feared harming Li Banfeng.

One needle pierced a hole in Li Banfeng's ankle bone, probed briefly, and hooked out a ten-centimeter-long ironworm.

All three needles worked together, plucking out the dead ironworms one by one.

Li Banfeng's body spasmed; he trembled and whispered, "Wife, be gentle—those vital spots, please be extra careful."

There were plenty of worms in those vital spots too.

Ssshh~

The phonograph deliberately prodded a few more times.

"Oh my husband~ When you oil the machine, why didn't you say be gentle? Now you know how it feels? Hohohoho!"

…

Lu Dongliang descended from the train, surrounded by a group of attendants, arriving at Haichiling.

As soon as he stepped off the platform, reporters immediately surrounded him.

"Mr. Lu, are you here to provide disaster relief?"

Lu Dongliang smiled faintly. "I've said before: before eliminating these pests, relief efforts are useless. My purpose here is to eradicate every last Haichiling's Extinction Mosquito—leave not a single one."

"Mr. Lu, the disaster across Haichiling is severe. Where will you begin?"

"I'll start with Toudao Ridge."

Haichiling has three ridges: Toudao Ridge is the most prosperous, a medium-sized city; Erdao Ridge consists of three towns; Sandao Ridge is remote, dotted with dozens of small villages.

The reporters pressed: "Mr. Lu, every major family has exhausted their methods, and even Waizhou Society has deployed forces—all powerless against the Extinction Mosquitoes. What confidence do you have?"

Lu Dongliang looked at the reporters, calm and composed: "I have ten percent confidence."

Click, click, click—the cameras never stopped.

These words truly stunned the reporters.

Lu Dongliang said: "This isn't boasting. I believe any major family in Puluozhou, if they truly applied their full strength, could completely eradicate these pests.

But have they? They fear revealing their true power; they fear inviting unnecessary trouble. Today, Haichiling's people starve and suffer, yet they're still scheming against each other.

But the Lu family is different. I, Lu Dongliang, am different. I declare here and now: unless I eradicate every Extinction Mosquito, I will not leave Haichiling!"

The reporters were deeply moved. One cautiously asked: "We heard you've had some conflict with your family. May we know more?"

Lu Dongliang smiled: "You mean Qiu Zhiheng? Does he bear the Lu surname? Is he a Lu family member? What right does he have to meddle in Lu family affairs?

After I finish with Haichiling, I'll return to Lüshuwan to cleanse the household. I'll give my elder brother an accounting, give the Lu family an accounting, give Puluozhou an accounting!"

These words had been prepared in advance by Wan Jinxian; Lu Dongliang had memorized them perfectly.

The reporters still wanted to press him on his conflict with Qiu Zhiheng, but Lu Dongliang lowered his hand: "The urgent matter now isn't my family's petty squabbles. Keeping Haichiling's people alive is the priority.

I've prepared myself for a life-or-death battle against these pests. I hope every major family and gang in Haichiling will set aside their grudges and stand shoulder to shoulder with me. I believe that if we unite, we can surely…"

As he reached the climax, a mosquito flew into Lu Dongliang's mouth, causing him to cough twice.

Normally, an Eighth-Stage Wu Xiu wouldn't suffer such a comical mishap.

But Lu Dongliang was agitated, and Haichiling's mosquitoes were indeed overwhelming—so numerous they infiltrated everywhere. Fortunately, Haichiling's mosquitoes only feed on grain, not blood, so they don't directly harm humans.

These mosquitoes had gathered here because they were drawn to the grain Lu Dongliang had brought.

That grain had been specially treated by Wan Jinxian, sealed in glass cases—not for eating, but for killing mosquitoes.

Though Lu Dongliang had accidentally swallowed a mosquito, it was merely a minor flaw in what had been a brilliant speech.

After leaving the train station, Wan Jinxian led Lu Dongliang to a mansion.

It was the residence he'd prepared in advance—though nowhere near as luxurious as in Lüshuwan, all necessities were fully provided.

After settling in, Lu Dongliang summoned Wan Jinxian: "I say we strike tomorrow—clean out every mosquito on Toudao Ridge!"

Wan Jinxian shook his head: "Master, you're too impatient. This must be done my way. Wait two days—let the reporters amplify the momentum, let everyone in Haichiling know who's saving them!"

…

The publicity had indeed exploded. He Yuxiu read the newspaper and laughed bitterly: "Damn it, that bastard Lu Dongliang talks so disgustingly—as if he's the only one lifting a finger while everyone else just watches. I'd like to see what he's got to wipe out the Extinction Mosquitoes!"

He Jiaqing, head of the He family, sat silently for a long while, then nodded slightly: "Lu Dongliang dares say this—he must have some real ability."

He Yuxiu spat: "He's got zero ability. His brain's lighter than a few grams—nowhere near his brother's level. I bet he got kicked out of Lüshuwan and came here to scam his way through life."

"Don't underestimate him. If he really wipes out the mosquitoes, Haichiling will be his domain. Haisheng!" He Jiaqing called over He Haisheng, the third uncle of the He family.

"Go to Haichiling. Don't make a scene. Watch Lu Dongliang quietly—find out what tricks he's playing."

…

Huff, huff~

After killing all the worms inside Li Banfeng, the phonograph turned her attention to Pan Dehai's flesh.

A huqin melody began, followed by an old song:

"The pipa plays with haunting grace,

The song sings with heart-wrenching pain,

The world's affairs are hard to fathom, hard to fathom,

Beautiful flowers lack those who appreciate them,

How can a crow ever match a phoenix?"

This song, "Crow Meets Phoenix," had a mournful, sorrowful tune, its lyrics laced with bitter resentment—sung by the wife, it carried a peculiar charm.

What kind of charm?

The kind that made Li Banfeng furious!

"Why sing this? Are you saying I'm unworthy of you?" Li Banfeng, wrapped in bandages, glared at the phonograph.

"Oh my husband, I'm not speaking of you—I'm speaking of this flesh. This flesh is precious, but your current level can't consume it. Letting it rot away like this—isn't that a waste?"

The words twisted around, but the core meaning was clear.

"If you're hungry, just eat! Why call me a crow? Why not call me a toad!" Li Banfeng was still furious.

"Oh my husband, I'm not calling you a toad. Even if you were a toad, you'd be a golden toad!"

"Enough, enough—just eat!"

The phonograph didn't hesitate. Two needles pierced the flesh and greedily absorbed its spiritual energy.

Honglian doesn't eat raw flesh; the phonograph doesn't eat dead flesh—this was their nature.

Was this flesh alive or dead?

Hard to define. From the phonograph's ravenous feeding, it was something between life and death—possessing spiritual essence, but not a complete soul.

For a full hour, the phonograph devoured every trace of spiritual essence from the flesh; the remainder would go to Honglian.

Honglian waited in the outer chamber. Li Banfeng couldn't get out of bed, and the phonograph couldn't directly contact Honglian—once they touched, they'd fight.

The phonograph pushed open the outer chamber door and called out: "Wenchang, there's good food—come out and eat it yourself!"

Before Honglian could respond, someone rushed to the door and shouted: "I laugh aloud as I step out the gate—how could I be a lowly weed?"

The moment the words ended, Tang Dao lunged forward and sliced off a small piece of flesh.

"Hohohoho!" Satisfied with the flesh, Tang Dao feared retaliation from the phonograph and Honglian, and hurried off to the third wing.

The pendulum seized the chance to suck up a few drops of blood; the phonograph didn't stop it: "That wench did earn her keep—let her drink."

The earring wept: "Master~"

Li Banfeng placed the earring on the table: "Go eat by yourself!"

Eat by yourself?

How easy is that?

The earring couldn't move, and dared not act up before the phonograph.

"Madam…" the earring bowed respectfully before the phonograph.

The phonograph snorted, lifted the earring with a puff of steam, and placed it atop the flesh, coating it thoroughly in oily residue.

The earring was delighted, thanking profusely; the phonograph replied coldly: "No thanks needed. This meal is for all you wenches to feast on."

Tang Dao laughed loudly from the third wing: "We are men—not wenches!"

The machine barked: "Say another word, and I'll melt you down into iron!"

The copper lotus did not wait for anyone else; it whipped up a whirlwind, swallowed the flesh and blood, closed its petals, and began refining the elixir.

Are there others?

Yes!

An aged voice began to weep: "I'm cold—someone, please warm me up."

It's the teapot.

The teapot that Master Zhong Desong gave to Li Banfeng.

Because this magic treasure was too high in rank and came with too great a cost, it had remained sealed—no one knew why, today it could suddenly speak.

In truth, the Lady had deliberately allowed it to speak.

"Hey, you old ghost, now you know what cold is, huh? Hahaha! Want to eat? Have you learned the rules? If you don't learn them, you'll only get to watch from now on."

"I've learned the rules, Lady, please show mercy and spare me!"

This teapot was indeed highly useful; Li Banfeng glanced at the Lady, who replied: "Husband, don't rush—when I later bring you another wife, this teapot won't dare act up again."

It meant that once Li Banfeng advanced another level, he could control this teapot.

Another level to ascend?

Possibly.

Pan Dehai's origins are not simple; the Lady consumed his flesh and blood, and her strength is likely to recover considerably.

He's at Cultivation Level Four in the Residence Path, Level Two in the Travel Path—when the cultivation backlash hits, won't Li Banfeng split apart again?

There's no arguing this: first, he cannot tell the Lady about the Travel Path; second, the Lady never warns Li Banfeng before ascending.

He must find an opportunity to quickly raise the Travel Path to Level Three.

Huh~ hiss hiss hiss~

The Lady yawned: "Husband, stay inside and rest up—I'm sleepy, need to take a nap."

This meal was hard to digest; the Lady fell into a deep sleep.

PS: Li Banfeng is still lost—how should he find his way back?

Obviously, follow the Ironwire River upstream!

Is it really that simple?

It's Christmas Eve, the New Year is coming—dear readers, please accept this blessing from Salad.

(End of Chapter)