Chapter 178: Brothers

The pendulum studied painting.

As a renowned beauty, painting was one of her basic skills; though most of her memories from life were lost, her foundational painting ability remained, just as a courtesan still retains her singing talent.

The round, luminous pendulum pressed against Li Banfeng's wrist, teaching him stroke by stroke how to compose; Li Banfeng practiced painting all night, and by dawn, he could at least draw a human shape.

From the standpoint of basic sketching, the drawing had some sense of perspective and three-dimensionality, and the body proportions were roughly within normal human standards.

Li Banfeng focused his will and dripped a drop of blood onto the painting; the blood spread rapidly across the paper, which folded and curved swiftly, and a slender woman slowly stepped out from the paper.

She was a bit small—not even a foot tall.

Is she beautiful?

Li Banfeng stared at the woman for a moment, then found a cloth and covered her face.

Though she was his own creation, he couldn't bear to look at her.

The pendulum comforted him: "Facial details aren't something you master overnight, Master. You have excellent talent; with more practice, you'll surely paint a peerless beauty."

"How long will it take to practice?"

"I don't remember exactly, but probably two or three years."

"Two or three years?"

That meant Li Banfeng wouldn't master the fourth-layer technique for two or three years.

Seeing Li Banfeng's frustration, the pendulum stayed silent.

Huh~

The phonograph exhaled a puff of steam, like a sigh: "Oh, my dear husband, I taught you Western painting techniques—these are hard to learn; two or three years isn't long, you're just too impatient."

"Even if it's ugly, let's try this one first," Li Banfeng said, stepping outside with the one-foot-tall woman, searching for a suitable opponent.

He chose a mimosa plant.

Like ordinary mimosa, this one closed its leaves when startled, but with slightly greater strength—it could tear ordinary human skin.

Li Banfeng ordered the one-foot girl: "Go bring back that mimosa."

The one-foot girl stood still.

"The grass—that plant—bring back the grass. Do you even know what grass is?"

Li Banfeng gestured and explained at length; finally, the girl understood and staggered toward the mimosa.

"She's worse than my clay figurines—at least those understand after one instruction."

The pendulum explained: "Master, when you painted her, you only drew long hair—you didn't paint her ears."

"The hair covers them—do you need to paint ears separately?"

"I don't understand the principle, but perhaps you should paint them."

"When I made clay figurines, I didn't make ears either."

"I remember you used a toothpick to poke holes on both sides…"

Ssssh~

While they were still talking, the one-foot girl had already been torn to shreds by the mimosa.

Li Banfeng retrieved the girl's remains and placed them in his portable dwelling; soon, the fragments turned into scattered paper scraps, stained with traces of blood.

This meant the one-foot girl had completely lost all signs of life—Li Banfeng's night's work, his delicate maiden, had failed again.

Seeing Li Banfeng's dejection, the phonograph comforted him: "My dear, the fourth-layer technique is inherently difficult; achieving this much in one night is already remarkable."

Li Banfeng protested: "If this were in Waizhou, you could buy dozens of these paper dolls—even the rubber ones!"

"What rubber ones?" the wife didn't understand. "My dear, you can't buy them—Jiaoniang must be made by hand; that's the essence of the technique."

"I'm a Zhai Xiu—I have to learn painting and molding clay? Am I becoming a Gong Xiu now?"

Chit-chit~

The phonograph laughed: "Zhai Xiu don't need to master everything, but they must understand everything. You'll see later, Master—there's still so much to learn."

That did fit the typical Zhai Xiu trait—knowing a little of everything.

Li Banfeng took out paper and pen and continued practicing painting.

He had only one dip pen, bought from Feng's General Store; after painting all night, the nib had split.

The pen was useless—what else could he use?

Li Banfeng picked up the Judge's Brush.

"No…" the Judge's Brush spoke—he was too lazy to accompany Li Banfeng in painting, and too lazy to say more.

Li Banfeng was equally lazy to listen to his complaints; he dipped the brush in ink and began painting immediately.

The Judge's Brush was a weapon—its tip was extremely sharp; it pierced the paper with a single poke.

The phonograph advised: "Master, rest a while—this tool won't work. Wait until you buy proper paper and brushes before practicing further."

Li Banfeng was determined—he ignored all advice, gripping the Judge's Brush, controlling his force, stroke by stroke, painting the maiden.

After a while, Li Banfeng grew too lazy to paint.

Not just painting—he was too lazy to do anything.

"Hmph!" the Judge's Brush sneered.

Just one sound.

That was the Judge's Brush's due.

When Li Banfeng once used it to fly across the Iron Thread River, he should have paid the price.

But so much time had passed, and the Judge's Brush had never bothered to collect it.

Now, forcing the Judge's Brush to paint, Li Banfeng had finally triggered the debt.

For the next half-day, no matter what Li Banfeng tried to do, he felt lethargic.

…

Ma Wu sat on the plot, quietly watching the pocket watch in his hand.

In another half-day, the land reclamation would end.

Xiao Genzi sat beside him, staring at Ma Wu's battered body.

They said he was in love, but those centipede mother and daughter weren't human—they couldn't possibly be gentle with Ma Wu.

When he first encountered the centipede woman, Xiao Genzi thought it absurd; when he met the centipede mother, he understood one thing: Ma Wu was truly fighting for his life.

He was fighting to reclaim land—and fighting to cultivate. That was his purpose in coming to the New Land.

Seeing Ma Wu's perseverance, Xiao Genzi deeply admired him.

Young Master Ma was a man destined for great deeds.

Xiao Genzi had chosen the best Dao sect and the best master—he believed he, too, could achieve greatness!

Both stared at the pocket watch, waiting for the reclamation to succeed. In the darkness, a soft, slithering sound crept toward them.

Xiao Genzi raised his ladle and shouted: "Who's there?"

"Hehehe, young man, you're quite interesting."

At the sound, Ma Wu's entire body began trembling.

Before coming to the New Land, he prepared extensively—he knew how dangerous this journey was, and what he would face.

But there was one thing he never wanted to face.

In Puluozhou, if you mentioned one name that could make both Li Banfeng and Ma Wu freeze with fear, it wasn't He Haiqin, nor Chu Huaijun, nor Monkey Qiu—the powerful ones from great families.

They'd seen their share of scenes; even major figures like Green Water Beggar, Yao Lao, Feng Daiku, and Pan Dehai, they'd encountered to varying degrees.

But if you mentioned the Cloak Moth Lady, even if Li Banfeng were here, he'd only think of running—she was a true entity that had dragged them into hell.

A Cloak Moth Lady, her fat body wriggling, arrived at the edge of the plot.

Unlike previous Cloak Moth Ladies, this one had a younger face—by human standards, she looked around thirty.

To be fair, her face was quite pretty.

But no matter how pretty, Ma Wu couldn't stand up.

Seeing Ma Wu refuse to fight, Xiao Genzi raised his ladle and flung a spray of golden fluid at the Cloak Moth Lady.

Though her body was massive, she was far from clumsy.

She easily dodged the golden fluid, staring at Xiao Genzi's ladle for a long moment.

"Little child, you threw that at me? You've made me angry."

According to the New Land's inspection rules, outsiders must enter the plot boundary before attacking.

But the Cloak Moth Lady wasn't here for inspection.

She was a wandering monster—she didn't need to follow reclamation rules.

The Cloak Moth Lady swung her antennae and struck Xiao Genzi directly.

She didn't like killing—she preferred to play with people—but this blow alone could kill Xiao Genzi.

The bucket strapped to Xiao Genzi's back suddenly spun to the front, taking the blow for him.

This was the Jin Xiu first-layer technique: Golden Bucket Shielding.

The golden bucket worn on the back helps the cultivator deflect attacks.

Though it blocked the Cloak Moth Lady's antennae, Xiao Genzi was still flung backward, crashing to the ground, unconscious.

The Cloak Moth Lady stormed into the plot, ready to torment Xiao Genzi.

Ma Wu stepped in front of Xiao Genzi, blocking the Cloak Moth Lady.

"Little brother, what are you trying to do now?" The Cloak Moth Lady studied Ma Wu from head to toe.

Ma Wu suppressed his trembling, staring at the Cloak Moth Lady for a full two minutes.

The Cloak Moth Lady's gaze softened—Ma Wu's talent had activated.

"Little Brother, wanna play with Sister?"

Ma Wu nodded: "Yes, play."

The Cloak Moth Lady laughed: "Can you handle it?"

Ma Wu took a deep breath: "I can!"

The Cloak Moth Lady burst into laughter and charged at Ma Wu.

Ma Wu gritted his teeth and charged at the Cloak Moth Lady.

The Land God hovered above, watching the plot, unwilling to leave.

He was stunned.

This kid's only at Layer One—does he really dare charge?

Isn't this just suicide?

Why is this man so stubborn? Why won't he give up this plot?

The Cloak Moth Lady and the Centipede mother-daughter are two different things.

In human cultivation terms, the Centipede Daughter is Layer Three, the Centipede Mother barely Layer Four.

This Cloak Moth Lady is Layer Eight—one of the most formidable anomalies in New Land.

Even with the talent Feng Daiku gave him, Ma Wu is nothing against the Cloak Moth Lady.

The Land God lured the Cloak Moth Lady here to scare Ma Wu away.

But he never expected Ma Wu would charge straight at her.

The Land God looked down at Ma Wu and silently praised: "Now that's a true man—might be useful someday."

The land reclamation exam is still an exam—it tests who can bear the burden of a plot.

One li of land? Ma Wu can bear it.

The Land God stirred his will and lent Ma Wu some power.

The Cloak Moth Lady, who had been laughing wildly, suddenly changed expression.

"Little Brother, you… you slow down…"

…

Five hours later, Xiao Genzi woke up.

Ma Wu was feeding him medicine; Xiao Genzi swallowed the decoction and sat up.

Seeing Ma Wu covered in wounds, his face barely recognizable, Xiao Genzi cried out: "Young Master, where did that bug go? I'll fight her!"

Ma Wu smiled: "She left."

Xiao Genzi paused, then laughed: "Young Master, you won? I told you—you weren't afraid of that bug!"

He didn't know the Cloak Moth Lady's true strength—he thought Ma Wu's victory was natural.

Ma Wu smiled bitterly and shook his head—he didn't even know how he'd won.

Twice, he nearly passed out, but he gritted his teeth and held on.

"Young Master, how much longer? Let's push a little more—I think we're almost there."

Ma Wu said nothing.

Xiao Genzi looked around and felt the surroundings were much brighter.

He looked up at the sky and saw a halo of light.

"It's bright! There's daylight!" Xiao Genzi cried happily, "It's done! New Land is reclaimed!"

Ma Wu smiled, tears swirling in his eyes.

New Land was reclaimed.

Ma Wu, alone, reclaimed one li of wasteland.

Xiao Genzi pulled out the signal firework and asked Ma Wu: "Should we tell Seventh Master?"

Ma Wu nodded.

Xiao Genzi cracked open the signal firework—today's luck was extraordinary; the first one fired immediately.

…

Li Banfeng was strolling through the wasteland, finding painting too difficult—let alone sculpture and pottery later—and was pondering a shortcut when he saw a flash of firelight in the sky.

Signal firework!

Ma Wu's in trouble!

Li Banfeng sprinted toward the plot, and along the way, he saw the halo in the sky.

New Land reclaimed?

Li Banfeng pulled out his pocket watch.

He'd been so absorbed in learning Layer Four techniques he'd forgotten the time—the three-day reclamation period had passed.

Li Banfeng ran faster and faster; when he reached the plot's edge, he saw Ma Wu, battered and bleeding, smiling at him.

The halo around the plot was gone—New Land was truly reclaimed.

Li Banfeng stepped into the plot, looked at Ma Wu, and both burst into laughter.

"Brother!" Ma Wu rasped, "I did it!"

"You did it! Damn good!" Li Banfeng shouted, their laughter echoing long across the wasteland.

…

The three spent half a day digging a well; Ma Wu lit a bonfire, Li Banfeng drew a bucket of water and waited for it to settle.

Xiao Genzi went off to cultivate with his bucket—three days of reclamation meant he had to catch up on Golden Elixir now.

The two sat by the fire, drank a few cups, and Ma Wu asked Li Banfeng: "Brother Li, how old are you this year?"

Li Banfeng was caught off guard—he was an orphan, didn't know his birthday; according to Fuli Academy's records, he was about twenty-two.

"Let's say twenty-two."

Ma Wu said: "I'm twenty-three—one year older than you. Calling you 'Brother Li' feels too formal. Can I call you Old Seven?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "Then I'll call you Old Five."

"Uh…" Ma Wu had expected "Brother Wu," but Old Five was fine too.

"Old Seven, we've crawled through hell together, and I've always dragged you down. Today, we reclaimed the land—I finally feel like I'm useful."

"Let's build a house here, establish roots, do business, and cultivate together."

"We each have our strengths—we'll reclaim more plots and carve out our own empire!"

Li Banfeng was about to agree when a furious voice cut in: "Pah! Two shameless bastards!"

The Land God admired Ma Wu—but hearing these two plan to use this trick to reclaim land, he couldn't hold back his rage, spat at them, and left.

A heavy rain fell, dousing the bonfire.

The two gathered dry wood, preparing to relight the fire, when Li Banfeng's ears twitched—he looked toward the distance.

Through the Thread-Ear Earrings, he heard the sound of a massive creature writhing; the dry wood slipped from his hands. "Old Five—bleed!"

The Cloak Moth Lady's coming!

Just hearing her slither made Li Banfeng's voice tremble.

This was the monster who once wounded Madame!

Ma Wu stepped in front of Li Banfeng, calm: "Don't panic—I'll handle it."

Li Banfeng said: "It was always your job to handle it—this is your plot. Bleed now!"

According to the Land God's pact, if Ma Wu bled, he invoked the Land God's protection—if the Cloak Moth Lady attacked, the Land God must defend him.

But Ma Wu had no intention of bleeding.

He stood at the plot's edge, waiting for the Cloak Moth Lady to appear.

"Brother, I won't drag you down again!" Ma Wu's gaze was unshakable—until the Cloak Moth Lady's form appeared before them.

The Cloak Moth Lady stared at Ma Wu, froze, then shuddered and retreated: "Little Brother, I took a wrong turn—it's dark, I didn't see clearly—I didn't come for you, truly not! I'm leaving, right now!"

I'm not here to find you, really not, I'm leaving right now, right away…

Watching the Cloak Moth Lady flee, Li Banfeng was baffled.

What came next was even stranger.

Ma Wu leapt up and landed on the Cloak Moth Lady's back.

The Cloak Moth Lady screamed: "No! Really no! Not today! Little Brother, I'm sorry! I got lost! Please spare me!"

The Land God's power had long been withdrawn—Ma Wu wasn't strong now.

But the Cloak Moth Lady was terrified—she writhed and bolted wildly, trying to shake him off.

Yet Ma Wu sat steady, calm as ever.

Watching the dust churn around them, Li Banfeng stood frozen inside the plot, stunned.

What just happened?

PS: This battle mattered deeply to Ma Wu—he was Banfeng's brother, not his burden.

The Cloak Moth Lady didn't like killing—but she loved to play with people. Today, she got her due.

Lady Suo'e dislikes killing, but she enjoys tormenting people—this time, she's been badly hurt.

(End of chapter)