Chapter 222: The Master

Li Banfeng stepped out of the portable dwelling and arrived at the front gate of the mansion.

A group of Zhai Xiu stood neatly before the gate, awaiting Li Banfeng's orders.

"What are you all doing here? Did you carry out my instructions?"

Wu Yongchao stepped forward and said, "Everything is done. The subordinates of Zhou Anju and Ma Dingfu have been dealt with, and someone has been sent to the cliff."

"How many people did you send?"

"One."

Li Banfeng frowned. "I told you to send people—and you sent only one? Add two more!"

"Three per shift, rotate every three hours—one on watch, one to relay messages, one to provide backup!"

Wu Yongchao nodded. "I'll see to it immediately."

"How many are at the boiler room?"

"Five. All are from within the fortress, taking turns to tend the boilers."

"Add two more sentries at the gate. Warn them to stay alert—any movement, shut the gate immediately. Everyone else returns to their quarters, remain on high alert."

"The master's mansion is now a forbidden zone. No one is allowed within one hundred meters of the courtyard."

Wu Yongchao replied, then summoned two others. They measured the hundred-meter distance precisely with a soft tape, marked a boundary line, and ordered everyone to retreat beyond it.

They had to measure with a ruler. They had to draw a line.

But it was better this way. Though rigid, at least these Zhai Xiu were obedient.

Li Banfeng entered the mansion alone and pulled out the wind-up phonograph from the portable dwelling.

On the phonograph lay a new record carved by Niangzi. Beneath the evening breeze, the windmill turned slowly, winding the spring, and began playing music:

"I raise a cup of bitter wine high,

You know I'm not drunk,

But for my lover,

I drain the cup, I drain the cup..."

This song was called "A Man's Tears."

This Zhai Ling had just killed a Zhai Xiu—it should have felt something from this song.

A masterless Zhai Ling could turn into a malevolent spirit at any moment. Though Niangzi's plan was thorough, Li Banfeng was now tense.

The music played for half an hour. There was no movement inside the annex.

Li Banfeng returned to the portable dwelling and spoke to the phonograph: "Niangzi, your record doesn't work. She won't come out."

"That shouldn't be!" Niangzi was surprised. "I poured my heart into singing that tune. Any spirit should have been stirred—even if the Zhai Ling couldn't leave the mansion, it should have reacted somehow.

Husband, get closer to the mansion."

"Closer? If she truly can come out, my life is done! Do you want to be a widow?"

The phonograph was confident: "Husband, don't worry. When you reach the annex's door, open it immediately. Let little slave test it."

Li Banfeng crept cautiously to the door. A chilling coldness struck his face.

He immediately flung open the door. Niangzi's voice poured out through the threshold.

This wasn't the wind-up phonograph playing. This was Niangzi singing herself.

In the past, whenever confronting ghosts, Niangzi's voice had never failed.

But the annex remained silent. The other side seemed truly deaf to Niangzi's song.

Li Banfeng kept the door of the portable dwelling open and waited at the entrance of the annex.

The song abruptly stopped. Niangzi felt a powerful shock. She cried from within the portable dwelling: "Husband, retreat! I know who this is—it's that deaf, blind bitch!"

What deaf and blind...

The cold wind blew again. A woman's voice echoed from within the annex: "Wicked woman—is that you? I smell your cheap rouge—the cheapest on the street, two cash for a big box. Perfect for you!

How many years have I waited? Come in! Come quickly! Let's settle this!"

"Husband, run!"

Li Banfeng retrieved his key and left the mansion, returning to the portable dwelling.

"Niangzi, do you recognize this Zhai Ling?"

"I know her—that vile, deserving-to-die bitch!" Niangzi brimmed with murderous intent, her gongs and drums clashing rapidly.

"Niangzi, what's your history with her?"

"We have a deep grudge. I stabbed out her eyes."

So that's how she went blind.

"And how did she go deaf?"

"She deafened herself—to escape my singing."

This woman was pitiful.

"So this battle, Niangzi, you won decisively."

"I didn't win," Niangzi replied calmly. "I was careless—I died at her hands."

So she died at her hands...

Died at her hands!

Li Banfeng was startled. He had encountered a mortal enemy.

Yet Niangzi spoke of it so calmly!

If Niangzi had died at her hands, how powerful must this Zhai Ling be?

Li Banfeng asked: "Do you want revenge?"

"Revenge must come—but not yet. Unless I lure her into this mansion, I have no chance. If I enter her domain, even now I cannot defeat her."

Even in her own mansion, Niangzi couldn't beat her?

Was there such a monster inside Tie Men Bao?

"It seems this place, Tie Men Bao, isn't worth keeping."

"Husband, don't worry. Her Zhai Xiu is dead. She's deaf and blind, can't find her way. Even if the mansion left her an opening, she can't leave.

Tell the Zhai Xiu of Tie Men Bao to keep far from this place. If they must enter the mansion, never enter this annex.

Zhai Xiu and Zhai Ling can form contracts. If any Zhai Xiu accidentally speaks her name, it's like giving this bitch a new cultivator—then things get difficult."

Sssss~ sssss~

Hong Lian made a sound.

She seemed to recognize this Zhai Ling too.

The phonograph turned its horn toward Hong Lian and asked: "Hong Lian, you said you have a way to subdue this bitch?"

Sssss~

Hong Lian affirmed.

Silence fell over the portable dwelling.

Li Banfeng spoke first: "Niangzi doesn't eat the dead."

The phonograph added: "Hong Lian doesn't eat the living."

A Zhai Ling is a living spirit.

Li Banfeng and Niangzi laughed together—cold, sinister laughter.

Sssss~

Hong Lian spoke again.

Niangzi relayed: "She says she has another way."

Li Banfeng fell silent for a moment, then gave a slight nod.

He picked up Hong Lian and went to the Fifth Chamber.

"Stay here and reflect for several days. No food!"

You have another way?

Isn't this just trying to trick me into letting you out?

Watching Li Banfeng's retreating back, the copper lotus sprayed a string of dewdrops.

Li Banfeng stepped out of the portable dwelling and entered the building.

Don't ask about Niangzi's affairs unless she chooses to speak.

The mansion still held many valuable items. Ma Dingfu knew where they were kept—and he told Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng first went to a secret room on the third floor and retrieved two spiritual objects.

The first was a black button capable of altering a person's voice.

Crafted from pure Kong Ling, its spiritual essence was limited—it could not be upgraded into a magic treasure, nor evolve further, yet its function was formidable.

The button had four holes. Normally, only one hole is sewn onto clothing to activate it.

The method of use is slightly complex: by rotating the button, one can continuously alter the voice's pitch—finding the right setting requires the user to experiment.

The second object was a belt. According to Ma Dingfu, this belt was even more precious—it was forged from a Da Xiao, a collective of Kong Ling.

The belt's sole function was to generate aura. Zhou Anju had no cultivation base, yet when he wore this belt, he could instill fear in Li Banfeng.

A Fourth Layer cultivator feared a mere white lamb—this belt's power, like the technique of a Foolish Xiu, could transcend level restrictions.

Besides these two spiritual objects, Li Banfeng found one hundred fifty thousand silver dollars and numerous gold bars in Zhou Anju's mansion.

He summoned several Zhai Xiu and had them carry the gold and silver out of the mansion.

Wu Yongchao called out to everyone, gathering all the estate cultivators.

Li Banfeng looked at the chest of coins and said, "This is your money—the money Zhou Anju skimmed off. Whoever lost the most, Ah Chao, cross-check it with the roster, tally the amounts, and divide it evenly."

Wu Yongchao and his men counted the money while the other estate cultivators watched Li Banfeng in silence.

They couldn't see his face—his hat brim was low, all they could see was his beard.

They had met many who took money, but never once someone who gave them money.

After a long silence, an elder stepped forward to thank him: "Mr. Peddler, I thank you…"

"Don't call me Peddler," Li Banfeng shook his head. "That's my younger brother's title."

"Then… this…" The elder didn't know how to address Li Banfeng.

Wu Yongchao finished counting the gold and silver and said to Li Banfeng: "Lord of the Fortress, the totals are clear, and the per-person share is calculated."

He called Li Banfeng "Lord of the Fortress."

He was an honest man, but not a fool—he knew who treated him well.

"Lord of the Fortress, thank you," the elder bowed to Li Banfeng.

"Lord of the Fortress!"

"Lord of the Fortress!"

"Thank you, Lord of the Fortress!"

One by one, the estate cultivators began calling him "Lord of the Fortress."

Li Banfeng sneered: "I killed your last two Lords of the Fortress—now you want me to be your Lord? Is that appropriate?"

No one knew how to respond.

It really wasn't appropriate—they were deeply conflicted.

Li Banfeng laughed aloud: "I think it's perfectly appropriate!"

Was it really appropriate?

Li Banfeng added: "From now on, I am your Lord of the Fortress! Anyone who disagrees, step forward!"

Still, no one knew how to respond.

They felt even more conflicted.

A female estate cultivator named Li Zhijuan whispered: "What if someone kills this Lord of the Fortress too?"

Her voice was low, but Li Banfeng heard it.

Li Banfeng shouted: "Even if someone kills me, he won't be your Lord of the Fortress—because from now on, you have only one Lord of the Fortress!"

"Any other questions?"

A male estate cultivator named Hu Fangyuan asked quietly: "What if you die?"

This was a crucial question.

These estate cultivators had mouths sweeter than honey!

"While I live, I'm your Lord of the Fortress. When I die, I'm still your Lord of the Fortress—I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"

"Any other questions?"

A female estate cultivator named Tang Yanning gathered her courage and asked: "Lord of the Fortress, what's your name?"

Li Banfeng said: "My name is Lord of the Fortress. Remember that?"

The Lord of the Fortress's name was Lord of the Fortress…

The crowd was now so conflicted they didn't even know how to be conflicted anymore.

A male estate cultivator named Yuan Zhenguang asked sincerely: "We don't know your name, and we can't see your face—what if someone impersonates you?"

Li Banfeng said: "As estate cultivators, when you get up, you must recognize your wife; when you lie down, you must recognize your shoes; when you leave the fortress, you must know the way back; when you enter, you must recognize your Lord of the Fortress."

"If you can't even manage that, what kind of estate cultivator are you?"

You had to recognize your Lord of the Fortress upon entering the fortress?

Was that even a function of estate cultivators?

Did such logic even exist?

While the estate cultivators were still sorting through their thoughts, Li Banfeng laid down three rules:

First: The Lord of the Fortress's name is Lord of the Fortress!

Second: There is only one Lord of the Fortress in Tiemen Fortress!

Third: Everyone in the fortress must obey the Lord of the Fortress!

After hearing these three rules, the estate cultivators were no longer so conflicted.

They felt this made perfect sense!

"After you collect your money, return to your duties. Every order I give must be carried out properly."

"Right now, we must guard against retaliation from Feiyingshan. Keep watch, send signals, guard the gates—give it your all. Understood?"

The estate cultivators answered loudly, divided the money, and went about their tasks.

The next morning, Li Banfeng put on his mask, changed clothes—ensuring the estate cultivators couldn't recognize him—and climbed the cliff.

On the platform, three estate cultivators were on watch.

They were diligent, meticulous—estate cultivators' strength. All three stared at Li Banfeng without a moment's lapse.

The lookout spotted Li Banfeng and immediately alerted the other two.

Li Banfeng closed his eyes and sighed.

I'm right here in front of you—why bother alerting the other two?

The one assigned to respond asked: "Who are you?"

Not bad—at least that response was correct.

The worst was the messenger—he was already climbing down the cliff on a rope.

Li Banfeng asked: "Where are you going?"

The messenger stayed silent.

I'm going to deliver a message—how could I tell anyone about such a secret?

Li Banfeng exploded: "Can't you just ring a bell or beat a drum? Do you have to run all the way down yourself?"

These estate cultivators had decent combat ability and strong fighting spirit.

They lacked combat experience.

Where could they get some?

Li Banfeng looked toward Feiyingshan in the distance.

Why haven't they come yet?

…

Shhh~rustle rustle rustle~

A disciple of Jiang Xiang's faction from Yaowang Hall, standing behind his boss Luo Zhengnan, dialed a number—the call connected.

Xiao Zhenggong was soaking in a swimming pool, surrounded by over a dozen young women.

"You'd better have something important to tell me," Xiao Zhenggong said, a cigar between his lips, forcing patience.

Luo Zhengnan dismissed his subordinates and lowered his voice: "Boss, I found it—the gun."

"Which gun?" Xiao Zhenggong dropped his cigar.

"The one you've always wanted—Zhao Xiao Wan!"

Xiao Zhenggong's body trembled involuntarily.

PS: Luo Zhengnan is the phone man. Readers, do you remember now?

Tiemen Fortress is Banfeng's first stronghold of loyal followers—the Lord of the Proles must begin with the Lord of the Fortress.

(End of Chapter)