Chapter 176: Dream Ling Flower (Two Chapters Combined, Again Seeking Moon Tickets)

The next day at noon, the centipede woman stumbled out of the New Land, soulless and dazed.

Yesterday, from noon to dusk, from nightfall to dawn, the centipede woman had tried several times to kill Ma Wu—but she couldn't bring herself to do it. That was Feng Daiku's gift to Ma Wu.

Walking up to the wild boar, the centipede woman trembled as she spoke: "I'm like this because I was caught in his technique. You can't tell anyone about this."

The wild boar snorted with amusement: "Talk to your mother about it. I already told her."

The centipede woman turned pale: "What did my mother say?"

"She said you've shamed her face beyond repair. She's going to kill you, you worthless slut. Just wait and die."

The centipede woman's face twisted with terror: "Why did you tell my mother? Why are you so damn nosy?!"

The wild boar was too lazy to argue with him: "You've left the plot. Now it's my turn."

The centipede woman stared at the wild boar in shock: "You dare go in?"

"Why wouldn't I? I'm not a woman!" The wild boar sneered, fixing his gaze on Ma Wu. "He can barely stand. Killing him is easier than squashing a grasshopper!"

Ma Wu was indeed weak, but his face showed no fear.

He was watching the wild boar.

Xiao Genzi gripped his spoon, slung his bucket, and prepared for a final battle.

Just as the wild boar was about to step into the plot, a roar erupted behind him: "I'll see which beast defiled my daughter!"

The roar echoed across the wasteland for a long time. Another centipede emerged from deep within the forest.

The wild boar quickly stepped aside—he dared not provoke this being.

The centipede woman was over three meters long. This massive centipede stretched over five meters, its upper half human, its lower half insectoid, its rows of slender legs skittering as it reached the edge of the plot.

This was the centipede woman's mother.

Ma Wu glanced at the centipede mother's face—her features were symmetrical, her cheeks fair, strikingly beautiful, appearing no older than twenty-eight or twenty-nine.

The centipede woman collapsed at her mother's side, sobbing: "Mother, listen to me—this isn't what you think. It's like this…"

"I don't want to hear your bullshit!" The centipede mother roared, making the centipede woman's bones go limp.

"You've shamed my face beyond redemption!" the centipede mother hissed. "Go home. I'll kill this bastard first, then I'll tear apart your worthless bones!"

The centipede woman didn't dare utter a sound. She scurried off on her legs, vanishing into the deep thicket.

The centipede mother glared at Ma Wu: "Little thief, are you ready to die?"

Ma Wu nodded calmly: "I'm ready."

…

Li Banfeng was exploring the New Land. Previously, he had only traveled between the orange grove and the Little Yellow Spring. This time, he ventured into many new places and encountered numerous strange creatures.

He saw the Emerald Serpent Vine—a creature resembling both a snake and a vine, not particularly intelligent; as long as you escaped its root range, it wouldn't attack.

There was a tiny grass, no more than an inch tall, called Shuichuan Chrysanthemum. It was dangerously threatening—if you accidentally stepped on one, it would pierce through your shoe sole and burst out from the upper surface.

Li Banfeng had never seen such oddities before, but luckily, the Wine Gourd had seen much and could name most of them and describe their traits.

"Little brother, when you encounter Shuichuan Chrysanthemum, steer clear. Step on one, and you've stepped on a whole string—they're waiting in ambush ahead."

Li Banfeng carefully memorized the appearance of the Shuichuan Chrysanthemum. In this wasteland, every step required caution.

After walking another three or five li, Li Banfeng suddenly heard a sound beneath his feet.

He thought he'd stepped on something he shouldn't have. He lifted his foot—beneath him lay barren earth, not a single blade of wild grass.

Yet the sound persisted.

It was singing.

"I can't forget, I can't forget, I can't forget your faults, I can't forget your kindness, I can't forget our walks in the rain, nor your embrace in the wind…"

The song "Endless Affection" poured out a soul-deep longing. Even the Wine Gourd, a woman, seemed moved.

"Little brother, you've met the Dream Ling Flower."

"Dream Ling Flower?"

"This flower is also called the Singer's Flower. Legend says that when a singer dies, if someone still remembers her voice, her soul comes to the New Land."

"She chooses a stage for herself, dons a beautiful evening gown, and continues to sing for passersby."

"Look quickly—over there, that's the flower."

No special description was needed. Li Banfeng knew exactly which flower the Wine Gourd meant.

The flower was too conspicuous—its location alone made it stand out.

It grew on the wasteland over twenty meters away from Li Banfeng, surrounded by no other vegetation. On the empty wasteland, only this single flower, over three feet tall, stood alone.

Its color was even more striking. The flower hadn't bloomed yet; its buds were as long as a forearm, petals deep red, glistening with dewdrops.

Its leaves were peculiar: several upper leaves wrapped the buds, while a string of lower leaves hung like a skirt, trailing all the way to the ground.

"Little brother, listen to her song—listen closely. Meeting a Singer's Flower in the New Land is your fortune."

"Listen—how beautifully she sings. Even the immortals in heaven couldn't match her."

Immortals in heaven?

The Wine Gourd was usually carefree—why was she suddenly so sentimental today?

After pausing to listen for a moment, Li Banfeng walked on.

He didn't think "Endless Affection" was particularly good, nor did he believe anyone sang better than his wife.

Seeing Li Banfeng leave, the Wine Gourd hurried to stop him: "Little brother, don't rush off—listen again!"

"It's not worth listening to—it's nowhere near as good as my wife's singing!"

"Little brother, look! The flower's blooming—the Singer's Flower is blooming!"

Li Banfeng turned back—the Singer's Flower's petals were unfolding one by one.

In the center of the bloom stood a stamen over five inches long.

The stamen had a head, shoulders, a waist—though its legs were indistinct, as if a woman stood at the flower's heart, singing.

"Little brother, look how beautiful she is!"

The Wine Gourd's behavior was strange.

Li Banfeng glanced at her, then kept walking: "Not beautiful at all. And her singing isn't good either."

No matter how the Wine Gourd pleaded, Li Banfeng refused to linger.

The singing abruptly stopped. The stamen leapt from the flower's heart and blocked Li Banfeng's path.

"Sir, please stop. You say my singing isn't good—how can you say that?"

Others might be startled that the stamen could leave the flower.

Li Banfeng wasn't startled. He looked down at the stamen and answered seriously: "It's just not good. What's there to argue?"

"You've heard only two lines and already judge it bad—isn't that hasty? Listen a little longer."

The scenery around him suddenly shifted—the wasteland vanished, replaced by dazzling lights and melodious music.

There was a stage, a dance floor, round tables.

Li Banfeng sat beside a round table, a cup of wine in his hand.

Onstage stood a stunning woman in a green qipao, singing "Endless Affection" with deep emotion.

She was the singer.

The guests around stared fixedly at her, holding their breaths, afraid to miss a single note.

This was a dance hall.

No one danced on the floor—every eye was locked on the singer.

Li Banfeng wasn't captivated. He was analyzing the situation.

How did he end up here?

He must have been caught in an illusion.

How to break the illusion?

Li Banfeng had no experience with this.

The singer watched Li Banfeng, her gaze slightly cold.

Li Banfeng tried to draw Tang Dao—but pulled a rose from his waist.

The singer smiled, stepped down from the stage, and approached Li Banfeng.

She took the rose in her hand, pressed it against his cheek, and whispered softly: "Sir, still think my singing isn't good?"

Li Banfeng answered honestly: "It's still not good."

The singer's expression twisted into fury. She slashed the rose across Li Banfeng's cheek.

Thorns tore his skin—blood welled—but he felt no pain.

The singer whispered: "You've listened too little. Stay here and listen longer."

Li Banfeng asked: "What if I say it's good?"

The singer shook her head: "You wouldn't mean it."

"What if I mean it?"

"Then you'll listen for the rest of your life."

"Unreasonable, isn't it?" Li Banfeng tried to stand—but his legs felt like cotton, powerless.

The singer patted his cheek: "This is my domain. My word is law."

No strength. No pain. This is a dream.

Wake up!

Wake up now!

Li Banfeng suddenly opened his eyes, breaking free from the dream.

He still stood on the wasteland, listening as the wine gourd introduced the Shuichuanju.

"Little brother, if you encounter Shuichuanju, you must avoid it at all costs—step on one flower, and you've stepped on a whole string; there are more blooms ahead waiting to ambush you."

"Like the Ge_nv_hua, little brother—just look how beautiful she is…"

We were just talking about Shuichuanju, why are we suddenly talking about Ge_nv_hua?

Am I still dreaming?

This gourd is fake!

Li Banfeng took off the wine gourd and tossed it aside, then bolted off—but found himself back in the dance hall, holding a cup of wine, seated beside a round table.

The songstress stood on stage, smiling at Li Banfeng.

…

"Little brother, I just told you about Shuichuanju—did you hear me? If you heard, answer me! There are plenty of Shuichuanju here—you must be careful!"

The wine gourd was introducing Shuichuanju to Li Banfeng when, halfway through, Li Banfeng suddenly stopped responding.

"Little brother? Little brother…"

The wine gourd was displeased. Compared to other magic treasures, she felt more like Li Banfeng's confidante—they ought to at least show each other basic respect.

She circled Li Banfeng once, saw his vacant gaze, heard his heavy breathing—and realized he had fallen asleep.

Entering a dream?

There's a Dream Cultivator nearby!

We must wake him up immediately!

The wine gourd called out several times; Li Banfeng gave no reply. She floated into the air and slammed straight into his head.

Thud! Thud!

Two dull impacts.

Li Banfeng did not wake up.

The wine gourd could no longer strike his head—if she did, he might pass out and become permanently trapped in the dream.

"Tang Dao, slash him once—don't cut too deep!"

Tang Dao unsheathed, circled Li Banfeng twice, then returned to its sheath.

The wine gourd asked: "What's your meaning?"

The blade replied: "A loyal minister would never kill his lord."

"I'm not asking you to kill him—just slash him once, so he feels the pain!"

Tang Dao refused: "I am loyal and upright—I will never commit such a heinous act."

This wasn't really Tang Dao's fault.

Tang Dao was a high-tier magic treasure, possessing far greater sentience than ordinary ones—but he could not transcend the rules defined by his own nature.

All magic treasures have definitions and rules bound to those definitions.

The gourd defined herself as a beloved companion—teasing Li Banfeng, playfully hitting him—was all fine.

But Tang Dao defined himself as a loyal general.

Before he had cut three times, Tang Dao must remain absolutely loyal to Li Banfeng.

Unless he had cut three times and challenged Li Banfeng to a duel, under no circumstances could Tang Dao ever attack him.

"Clock Pendulum girl, try it?"

The pendulum replied coldly: "What do you want me to try? How dare I harm my master?"

The Blood Pendulum inherently despised the gourd. Though she appeared obedient before Li Banfeng, when speaking to the gourd, she reverted to Luo Yuni's cold demeanor.

Moreover, she was bound by her own definition: under the jukebox's definition, she firmly believed herself to be Li Banfeng's woman—and aside from occasionally applying makeup to him, she would never harm him.

The pendulum was also doing her utmost to save Li Banfeng. Mind cultivators restrained dream cultivators; she tried to manipulate his thoughts and forcibly drag him out of the dream.

As expected, she failed. Li Banfeng's thoughts were too numerous, chaotic, and uncontrollable.

But she wasn't entirely useless.

"There's singing!" the pendulum replied. "There's singing in the master's thoughts—a woman's…"

The pendulum's voice was muffled. Hearing the singing within the thoughts, she nearly fell into the dream herself—barely holding on through her innate mind-cultivation talent.

Singing?

Hearing the pendulum's words, the wine gourd dared not touch Li Banfeng's thoughts.

Where was this singing coming from?

The gourd recalled the Threaded Earrings:

"Threaded Earrings, did you hear the singing? Are you asleep? Wake up!"

The pendulum slashed the earrings—she wouldn't hold back on them.

The earrings woke up, heard the gourd's question, and answered urgently:

"There really is singing—I heard it too. Just two lines, then I fell asleep."

The wine gourd murmured: "Menglinghua. There's a Menglinghua underground."

Tang Dao unsheathed, hovered briefly, then said: "I've seen Menglinghua. As long as it doesn't emerge from the ground, no one can hear its song. I saw no Menglinghua breaking the surface nearby."

Indeed—if Menglinghua hadn't emerged, where was the singing coming from?

The gourd couldn't figure it out.

But the pendulum realized: "It's this worthless earrings again—she's stealing from the master again!"

The cost of the Threaded Earrings is hearing sounds one shouldn't hear.

Menglinghua was buried underground; Li Banfeng shouldn't have heard its song—but because of the Threaded Earrings, he did.

The Threaded Earrings explained: "I didn't mean to—I didn't want to harm Master. I just…"

Mid-sentence, the Threaded Earrings fell asleep again.

The pendulum told the gourd: "Wake the master immediately—we must leave this place."

Waking Li Banfeng wasn't hard—the gourd had other methods besides slashing.

But waking him wouldn't help. The earrings had already woken up, yet fell asleep again moments later. This was Menglinghua's trick—once you heard her song, you could slip back into the dream anytime, and repeated immersion might severely damage you.

"We need a way to force Menglinghua out!"

Tang Dao barked: "If she shows herself, I'll chop her to pieces!"

The pendulum said: "Stop talking nonsense—if she'd come out willingly, would she need you to chop her?"

None of them could think of a way to make Menglinghua appear—until a weak, weary voice slowly spoke one word:

"Blood."

Who spoke?

The Judge's Pen.

The Judge's Pen, forged by the Lazy Cultivator.

He would say only this one word—no more.

Blood.

What kind of blood?

The gourd didn't understand. Tang Dao didn't understand. But the pendulum suddenly remembered.

"The Dripping Monster's blood! The Grass Cultivator's blood! I still have a mouthful left!"

When they killed the Dripping Monster, the pendulum had absorbed its blood. Many days had passed; most had been digested—but she still retained one final mouthful.

Everyone had forgotten this. No one expected the Judge's Pen to remember.

In truth, the Judge's Pen remembered many things—he just refused to mention them.

The pendulum leapt into the air and spat that mouthful of blood onto the wasteland.

On the wasteland, all manner of plants began to grow wildly.

These plants had mostly been seeds buried in the soil; stimulated by the Grass Cultivator's blood, they rapidly took root and sprouted.

The Menglinghua, hidden deep underground, now touched by the Grass Cultivator's blood, began to grow uncontrollably.

Rustle-rustle-rustle~

A flower burst from the earth—petals deep crimson, still closed, wrapped in several leaves. A string of leaves hung like a skirt, trailing all the way to the ground, as if a songstress wore an evening gown!

It really was Menglinghua!

The pendulum roared: "Wretch, die!"

The roots erupted, spraying dirt, blocking the pendulum. Menglinghua tried to flee—but Tang Dao flashed past, severed its stem, and the bud fell to the ground.

PS: What would happen if Ma Wu encountered Menglinghua?

(End of Chapter)