Chapter 171: New Year's Eve Dinner

Although the New Year had already passed, the Suishenju was still filled with a rich festive atmosphere.

A layer of mist had condensed on the phonograph's horn, and swirls of steam continuously brushed against the massive locust head before it.

Clang-clang~ Ta!

"Insect... Overlord~" The Lady sang, hitting a slow beat and drawing out the long notes to sing the two characters.

Li Banfeng had never heard this term: "What is an Insect Overlord?"

"One of the leaders among insect cultivators, even more formidable than a Local Deity. Wait... this isn't an ordinary Insect Overlord. Let Xiaonu smell this scent. This thing seems to have obtained some other fortuitous encounter.

No mistake, no mistake, it truly carries a fortuitous encounter bestowed by another. This is a good thing, truly a good thing!"

On the massive locust head, the antennae were still slowly trembling.

This insect appeared to be still alive; it was terrified.

Dew was gathering more and more on the horn. The Lady could barely suppress her appetite, yet she remained somewhat worried about the origin of this head.

"Hey, Husband, where did this Insect Overlord's head come from?"

Li Banfeng told the truth: "The Peddler sold it to me."

"The Peddler? Sold it to you?" The phonograph didn't quite believe it. "How could the Peddler sell this thing to you? Husband, you shouldn't joke about such things."

Li Banfeng looked displeased: "When have I ever joked? The Peddler sold it to me. He asked for twenty, I said, 'Will you sell it for fifteen?' He said yes."

Da-da-da~ Ta!

Huff! Huff!

The Lady's cognition had a slight problem; she suspected Li Banfeng had fallen ill with madness.

"Husband, when you said fifteen and twenty just now, you weren't talking about Huan State banknotes, were you?"

"It was Huan State banknotes."

"You meant fifteen and twenty billion, right? Could you even come up with that much money?"

Li Banfeng puffed out his chest and said: "Where would I get that much money? I only spent fifteen yuan."

Huff! Huff!

A cloud of steam enveloped Li Banfeng, filled with the Lady's tender affection: "Husband, we are a devoted couple, and there has never been any suspicion between us. It's just that Xiaonu's body is inadequate and we haven't consummated our marriage yet. Husband, please don't mind."

Li Banfeng looked magnanimous and smiled slightly: "Actually, I do mind quite a bit. We haven't consummated our marriage; what kind of proper couple is this? But if I can apply machine oil once a day, this matter isn't impossible to discuss."

While speaking, Li Banfeng brought over the oil can and opened the back cover of the machine casing.

"Hey, Husband~ Let's not talk about the machine oil for now. This machine oil is truly... no, no, not lacking..."

Although the singing voice had changed pitch, the Lady gritted her teeth and endured it. After panting for a moment, she continued: "Husband, the machine oil has been applied. Let's talk carefully about this Insect Overlord. Husband, don't deceive Xiaonu. Where did this thing actually come from?"

Li Banfeng became angry: "I told you, I bought it from the Peddler. Since you don't believe me, I'll just throw it out."

Li Banfeng really made a move to throw it, and the phonograph hurriedly stopped him: "Husband, this thing cannot be thrown away."

"Why can't it be thrown away? It's a fifteen-yuan item, why is there so much fuss?"

"Husband, don't be angry. You can apply the machine oil as you please. Husband, don't be mad, Xiaonu knows she was wrong~"

The phonograph coaxed and persuaded Li Banfeng to return. Tang Dao said from the side: "Mistress, I can testify for the Master. It was indeed bought for fifteen yuan. The Peddler even said this thing should be eaten while fresh—boiling it into porridge or stewing it into soup would both work!"

"Stew what soup? Boil what porridge?" The phonograph inserted two needles into the locust's head. "Such a good thing must be eaten raw!"

Hiss~ Hiss~

The copper lotus bloomed.

She bloomed, filled with dew.

Previously, she had been refining the Drenched Monster and a piece of Pan De's heart flesh, and the lotus seeds had not yet matured. At this moment, however, she paused the refining, and the whirlwind within the lotus heart blew toward the antennae of the locust head.

"Did Honglian, are you greedy too? You can't be impatient!" The phonograph was still trying to restrain herself. "I still can't figure out what the Peddler is thinking."

The Wine Gourd rubbed against Li Banfeng's side. She wanted to explain a few words, but she had to obtain Li Banfeng's consent.

Li Banfeng patted the waist of the gourd twice: "If you have something to say, just say it. You don't need to be so restrained at home."

The Gourd said to the phonograph: "Sister, Little Brother performed meritorious service by treating the insects at Sea-Eating Ridge. This should be the reward given by the Peddler."

"Meritorious service..."

What kind of merit would be worthy of such a generous reward?

The Lady didn't know much about outside affairs. She originally wanted to ask for details, but an irresistible appetite made her give up the idea of questioning further. "Losses and gains, we owe each other nothing. This is indeed the Peddler's temperament. Since that's the case, there's no need to worry! Hey, sisters, prepare the chopsticks!"

Tang Dao shouted: "I'm ready too!"

The phonograph shuddered and began to suck the residual soul and spiritual essence of the locust.

The Pendulum immediately rushed up, pleading with the phonograph: "Mistress, Xiaonu has followed the Master through thick and thin, facing enemies in battle without ever fearing, so the reward cannot be without Xiaonu's share."

After speaking, the Pendulum stepped forward and sucked a mouthful of the locust's brain marrow.

The phonograph was furious, and a cloud of steam forced the Pendulum back: "You unruly, cheap maid, I haven't finished eating yet, and you dare to stick your mouth in!"

"Those who cannot lose when the time comes are the ones who seize the opportunity; those who cannot lose when they step forward are the ones who seize the machine!" Tang Dao rushed over and shouted loudly, "Mistress is right to teach her a lesson. How could it be the turn of a cheap person like 'Containing Blood' to get a share? In every battle and campaign, haven't I been the one charging at the front!"

Tang Dao wasn't greedy; he just wanted an antenna.

The phonograph wouldn't give it, scalding Tang Dao until his whole body was bright red.

The Earring cried: "Master, I have served you diligently by your side. When have I ever been the slightest bit slack? This share of merit cannot be without mine."

"It won't be, it won't be..." Li Banfeng comforted her.

"This old man's heart is cold. This old man is willing to change the rules. This old man sincerely follows the Master. Let this old man eat a mouthful!" The Teapot couldn't hold back anymore. He had been sealed by the phonograph and couldn't use his power, so he forcibly resisted the scorching steam, wanting to come up and share some of the spoils.

The Wine Gourd had been restraining herself, but the phonograph saw through her thoughts: "Little sister, do you want to eat? Since you only eat flesh and blood, then wait until I've finished eating, and you can come and share a mouthful.

Only after eating from the same family's pot can we be considered one family. There's no need to be polite about this."

The Wine Gourd was very nervous, not knowing if the phonograph was sincerely inviting her or intentionally testing her.

She rubbed against Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng smiled: "Eat, just consider it a New Year's Eve dinner."

Seeing that this gourd had to ask Li Banfeng for everything, the Lady was stunned for a moment, then continued to suck on the locust's head.

All the magic treasures were gathered around, waiting for the gap in the Lady's and Did Honglian's meal to step forward and share a mouthful of the spoils.

Vaguely, Li Banfeng heard a faint voice.

"Give me, a mouthful, just a mouthful..."

Who was speaking?

Li Banfeng followed the sound and searched for a long time, finally finding the source of the voice.

The Judge's Brush.

The Judge's Brush that was too lazy to cultivate.

Previously, when encountering Pan De's heart flesh, he wanted to share a mouthful; when encountering the Drenched Monster, he also wanted to share a mouthful.

But he was too lazy to speak.

This time, encountering the Insect Overlord's head, he truly couldn't resist and finally spoke up.

Even the Judge's Brush had spoken; was there some magic treasure missing?

Li Banfeng remembered.

The fan given by Pan De hadn't spoken, and it couldn't speak; it had already been refined by the copper lotus.

It had been refining for so long, why was there still no movement?

If one were to say the heart flesh and the Drenched Monster were hard to digest, refining a magic treasure shouldn't take this long.

Li Banfeng asked the copper lotus. The copper lotus couldn't speak directly to Li Banfeng, so the phonograph explained while eating: "This isn't Did Honglian's fault. She has already cleaned up the folding fan, but the spiritual essence within is hard to deal with.

The fan's spiritual essence was extremely loyal to Pan De. It agreed to follow the Master with its mouth, but it still harbored other thoughts. There must be Pan De's methods here. Even if refined again, it would be a bad seed with a rebellious bone.

Did Honglian doesn't eat raw things. For this type of high-level magic treasure, the spiritual essence inside can be considered a living thing. Did Honglian handed this spiritual essence to Xiaonu, and Xiaonu ate it!"

"Ate it?" Li Banfeng frowned. "Then isn't this magic treasure ruined?"

"It can't exactly be said to be ruined. The materials are still there. For high-level magic treasures, the materials are very precious. In the future, if the Master encounters an obedient spiritual essence, he can refine it again. Gourd sister, do you think this way of handling it is appropriate?"

"Sister handled it well; it should be handled this way." Another layer of cold sweat broke out on the Gourd's body.

The Lady was still absorbing the spiritual essence, and Did Honglian generated another whirlwind, blowing over the Insect Overlord's head.

The Pendulum and Tang Dao also quietly gathered beside the head.

The Lady was angry: "What's wrong today? Why is everyone so unruly? Are you possessed by hungry ghosts?"

Gurgle~

The phonograph's water tank also made a strange sound, very similar to the sound of a person's hungry stomach.

"Hey! Why does Xiaonu still feel hungry? This is too abnormal. Husband, did you bring something back?"

Li Banfeng took the worm out of his pocket: "This was given by Pan De."

"Intestinal-Rolling Silkworm!" The Lady was startled. "Pan De, that old dog, why did he give you this thing! I was wondering why the whole family was hungry like this; it turns out this worm is causing trouble!"

Li Banfeng said: "This thing is also a treasure."

"It's a treasure, that's true, but apart from food cultivators, it's of no use to anyone else!"

"It can't be useless, right? If it really doesn't work, let Did Honglian refine it into a magic treasure."

"This is a unique alien species from Sea-Eating Ridge. The magic treasure refined from it probably won't have much use, but the cost will be high. Carrying it on your body will make you want to eat all the time; it's definitely a burden."

"Then refine it into an elixir."

"This thing can't be refined into any good elixir either. If you eat it, you might turn into a hungry ghost. In the end, it still has to be sold to a food cultivator. Moreover, Did Honglian doesn't eat raw things, so the worm's soul still needs to be dealt with separately."

"Then let the Lady eat it to nourish her body."

"Thank you, Husband, for your care. If Xiaonu eats it, when she gets hungry, she won't be so gentle. I'm afraid she'll eat whatever she sees."

The way she said that, it was as if she were usually gentle.

Li Banfeng opened a can: "According to your meaning, how should this thing be dealt with?"

"Husband, don't bring it home again. If time passes, I'm afraid trouble will arise! Hurry up and sell it at a price. Find a food cultivator; it should sell for a good price." The phonograph wasn't fear-mongering. Judging from today's situation, these few magic treasures all had signs of being out of control; even the Judge's Brush, which was too lazy to cultivate, had spoken.

Li Banfeng ate the canned food and said: "I can't keep carrying this thing on me either. The canned food at home is almost all eaten."

The phonograph sprayed a cloud of steam, enveloping the Intestinal-Rolling Silkworm: "I'll trap it first, but I can't trap it for too long. Husband, sell it as soon as possible."

The atmosphere in the Suishenju remained heated. Even if the Intestinal-Rolling Silkworm was controlled, the temptation of the Insect Overlord's head remained.

The Lady finished eating the spiritual essence and felt quite tired. The other magic treasures each shared some sweetness. The lotus took the insect head, and layers of light halo rippled over her body.

Li Banfeng left the Suishenju, opened the map, and followed Yao Lao's route, returning to Medicine King Valley.

The Wine Gourd was somewhat worried: "Little Brother, I guarantee I won't talk nonsense to Yao Lao after going back. If you really don't trust me, not going to Medicine King Valley is also fine, but I still have the contract on me, so it's best to have an explanation."

Li Banfeng patted the gourd: "I trust you, and I trust Yao Lao."

In the Suishenju, Did Honglian asked: "That gourd doesn't seem to have been able to grasp the madman's thoughts."

Huff~

"She truly couldn't grasp it. What kind of thoughts that madman has, sometimes even I can't grasp." The phonograph yawned.

Hiss~

Did Honglian asked softly: "Evil woman, are you about to recover? You've eaten a lot of good things these past two days."

Huff~

"Cheap maid, have the good things you've eaten been fewer than mine? You gave the elixir to the madman, haven't you kept the good things for yourself?

You've chewed for so long this time, you must have saved up quite a bit of strength."

Did Honglian sneered: "I'm just picking up leftovers from your mouth. One day, if you can leave this place, don't forget to take me along."

Chirp~

"On the day you want to leave, you must inform me in advance, otherwise don't blame me for ruining your affairs."

"Evil woman, do you think we can find a way to get out ourselves?" Did Honglian whipped up a whirlwind and opened the door to the outer room, seemingly looking at the main gate of the main house.

"Didn't you try before? This is that madman's house. Without passing through the madman's hands, no one can think of getting out. If you're not convinced, try again." The phonograph yawned again and fell into a deep sleep.

Did Honglian radiated a light halo and hurried to refine the elixir.

She had to get more elixir for this madman to eat. Did Honglian felt that the residential cultivation was about to promote. If the traveling cultivation couldn't keep up, this madman might lose his life.

While refining the elixir, Did Honglian looked toward the doorway from time to time.

Before leaving this place, she had to keep that madman alive.

PS: Isn't it quite good to live with Banfeng? Why does Did Honglian want to get out?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 172 =====