Chapter 224: Husband Sings, Wife Follows

Is this man the lord of Tiemenbao?

He told me to lead men to attack Tiemenbao?

What is he thinking?

What exactly is he trying to do?

He Zhenlei was deeply conflicted.

The teeth he lost were still on the bed.

He pushed open the door and found none of the guards in sight—alive, no trace; dead, no body.

He Zhenlei was terrified, curled up on the bed, and didn't sleep all night.

At dawn the next day, he led his men down the mountain to Tiemenbao.

He had figured it out.

This man must have killed Little Mazi, taken his place, and become the lord.

His thinking must be the same as Zhou Anju's—he also wants to use Feiyingshan's influence to intimidate the Zhaixiu inside Tiemenbao so he can profit from it.

But his methods are too crude.

Regardless, the fact that he made it up to Feiyingshan and acted so ruthlessly proves he's a man with real ability—someone not to be crossed. I'll do as he says and go to Tiemenbao.

Over a hundred bandits, led by He Zhenlei, arrived before the gates of Tiemenbao, where a group of Zhaixiu stood ready in formation.

In terms of strength, the Zhaixiu of Tiemenbao far surpassed the bandits of Feiyingshan.

But they had little battle experience, and seeing such a large force, the Zhaixiu were all tense.

The Zhaixiu posted on the platform kept banging drums and gongs to raise the alarm. Li Banfeng frowned and said: "Yongchao, tell them to stop this nonsense—everyone's right here, what's the point of alarming them?"

Have the boiler room men prepare—when they storm the gate, release the steam at once and scald them to death, one by one!

Everyone else, grab your weapons—if the gate falls, fight street by street inside the fortress, show them everything you've got—this is the moment for real action!"

Wu Yongchao passed on the order, and all the Zhaixiu prepared themselves.

The bandit chief He Zhenlei arrived at the gate and shouted loudly: "Friends of Tiemenbao, we've been neighbors for so many years, never interfering with each other's affairs—

but you've repeatedly provoked Feiyingshan. This is your fault first, so don't blame me, He Mou, for abandoning righteousness.

I give you three days to raise ten thousand silver dollars and deliver them to my mountain. If you're even a single coin short, don't blame me for being ruthless—I'll slaughter every last one of you, men, women, and children!"

Withdraw!"

With that, He Zhenlei led his men away.

He withdrew!

Li Banfeng flew into a rage!

That night, he climbed Feiyingshan again.

He Zhenlei thought the matter was settled and could finally sleep well—but Li Banfeng entered the room, dragged him off the bed, and beat him senseless on the floor.

He Zhenlei was a Level Three Wu Xiu—could he really offer no resistance at all before Li Banfeng?

If he dared, he could have managed two or three moves—but the truth was, he simply dared not.

Li Banfeng wore Zhou Anju's belt; his aura was far more terrifying than Zhou Anju's had ever been.

"What do you want?" He Zhenlei had no idea how to communicate with this lord.

"What do I want?" Li Banfeng punched He Zhenlei in the face. "I told you to lead troops to attack Tiemenbao—you didn't even lift a finger, just blabbed some empty words and left? Do you dare to mock me? Who gave you the nerve?"

"Friend, I was just following your orders—scaring them off…"

"Who's your friend? Who the hell are you scaring?" Li Banfeng slapped He Zhenlei again. "I'm telling you—tomorrow, lead your men back. Attack for real. Use every ounce of strength you've got. If you dare play me again, tomorrow I'll hang your head from your own mountain."

Li Banfeng left. He Zhenlei sat on the bed, bruised and swollen, staring blankly all night.

The next day, he led his men back to Tiemenbao—this time, he didn't dare bluff. He charged straight into the fortress.

The Three Great Methods of the Deceiver: First, if you don't act, the deception is real.

Now He Zhenlei had acted.

Over a hundred bandits charged the gate—no siege equipment, no notable magic treasures or spiritual artifacts—just raw, reckless charge.

The Second Method of the Deceiver: if you act but aren't seen, the deception is real.

Now every Zhaixiu saw it—the bandits reached the gate, screamed in agony as steam scalded them; even if they weren't killed, they couldn't break the iron gate.

The Third Method of the Deceiver: if you act and are seen, but no one understands what's happening, your cultivation is still real.

Now the Zhaixiu understood perfectly—clearly, unmistakably.

One charge by the hundred bandits cost them over thirty dead. Only He Zhenlei's presence kept them from breaking and running.

Feiyingshan's level was exposed—the Deceiver's art had failed.

For years, Feiyingshan dominated the region not through true strength, but through Tiemenbao's passive tolerance.

Everyone knew Tiemenbao was easy to defend and hard to attack, with formidable strength.

Everyone knew Tiemenbao willingly endured Feiyingshan's oppression without resistance.

Everyone assumed Feiyingshan's power far exceeded Tiemenbao's.

Today, the lie was utterly exposed.

Seeing the bandits no longer dared attack the gate, Li Banfeng gave the order: "Open the gates. Go out and fight."

Eight massive iron gates creaked open, and Li Banfeng led over a hundred Zhaixiu charging out.

For their first charge, Li Banfeng was uncertain; the Zhaixiu were even more so. Many hadn't left the fortress in years and couldn't even tell direction outside its walls.

Their formation was chaotic, their techniques scattered. The Level Four Zhaixiu remained calm, using the Golden Chamber Concealment Technique to send clay figures, stone figures, and paper figures ahead as shock troops.

The Level One and Two Zhaixiu relied purely on physical prowess, charging headlong.

Several Level Three Zhaixiu, confused by the deviation from their planned tactics, panicked and unleashed the Heart Longing for Home Technique—turning to flee back toward the fortress.

This was the first battle of these hundred Zhaixiu—and it was far from impressive. They barely unleashed three-tenths of their true strength.

Yet even that three-tenths was enough to easily drive back the bandits.

These bandits had combat experience—but only against unarmed civilians.

He Zhenlei led the retreat, the bandits wailing and screaming behind him.

The Zhaixiu, eyes bloodshot, chased relentlessly, weapons in hand.

Li Banfeng pushed a wind-up phonograph, blasting a war song as he led the Zhaixiu forward.

"Flags wave high, horses neigh loud, rifles on shoulder, swords at waist, blood surges like a wild tide…"

This war song boosted morale greatly—and his wife's voice could gather the souls of the slain.

The spirits of the dead bandits gathered around the phonograph. Li Banfeng seized the chance and sent them all into the Personal Dwelling.

His wife feasted well. He Zhenlei fled in misery—nearly all his men were annihilated.

Back on Feiyingshan, they counted heads: even including the gate guards and servants, only seventy-some remained.

He Zhenlei sighed deeply—this gang was finished.

After this battle, Feiyingshan's reputation was utterly ruined.

All they could do now was rest on the mountain for a while, then find another place to make a living.

But Li Banfeng gave him no chance to rest—he came again that very night.

"You did well today. Lead your men out again tomorrow."

"Again?" He Zhenlei collapsed to his knees. "Lord, I beg you, call me your grandfather—I can't fight anymore! Please, just let me live!"

Li Banfeng slapped He Zhenlei: "You won't fight? You miss Little Mazi? I'll take you to see him."

He Zhenlei wept: "Grandfather, I'll fight! Tell me how to fight—how can I fight so you'll spare my life?"

This attitude was acceptable. Li Banfeng agreed: if he gave his all in tomorrow's battle, the matter would be settled.

He Zhenlei agreed. Li Banfeng pulled out a blank sheet of paper: "Write a contract. So I don't have to come back."

This had to be put in writing…

He Zhenlei picked up the brush, thought for a long time, and didn't know how to write.

Li Banfeng slapped him: "Write! Can't you read?"

"I—I really can't…" He Zhenlei sobbed uncontrollably.

Li Banfeng slapped him again: "Cry! Cry harder! Crying while you write shows more sincerity!"

At dawn the next day, He Zhenlei went.

He didn't know what "giving his all" meant—but he knew if he didn't go, that lord would never let him live.

The Zhaixiu had seen through Feiyingshan's weakness. This time, they abandoned defense entirely and charged out immediately. The battle lasted barely ten minutes—Feiyingshan was annihilated.

He Zhenlei was killed by Wu Yongchao. As he died, he didn't seem to suffer much—his face even held a faint look of release.

Li Banfeng was satisfied with the Zhaixiu's performance. He paid out of his own pocket, ordered Wu Yongchao to buy ingredients, and planned a victory feast that night.

Back in the Personal Dwelling, Li Banfeng was enveloped in warm steam.

"Darling, since I ate the Xuan Yun Pill last time, my body's been weak—but now you've bought so many crisp, refreshing ingredients, I've regained strength. It's time for us to be intimate again."

"I'm ready," Li Banfeng smiled calmly, and leaned his head into the horn.

Half an hour later, Li Banfeng's face flushed, sweat glistening on his brow. He sat beside the phonograph, listening as his wife sang "The Four Seasons Song."

"Spring arrives, green fills the window,

A maiden stitches mandarins under her sill,

Deep courtyards hold splendid views,

Husband sings, wife follows—love runs deep!"

Level Five Zhaixiu!

Li Banfeng laughed aloud.

He first went to the fifth wing and found the entrance to the sixth room at the very end.

Sssss~

The red lotus hummed, offering blessings to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng smiled knowingly and moved the red lotus into the sixth room.

The red lotus felt it would never reach the main chamber in this life.

It might not even be able to return to the second wing.

Back in the main chamber, Li Banfeng asked his wife: "The art of the deep courtyard is to carry your strength beyond the walls—tell me, what kind of strength do you want me to carry out?"

Chit-chit~

The phonograph sang in slow tempo: "Beloved husband, your cultivation has just reached the fifth level—among ordinary mortals, you are already high-tier,

but don't think I'm boasting, your wife's many techniques are still beyond your current reach.

Cultivation must progress step by step. Let me first teach you to sing—this is my specialty."

Li Banfeng knew his wife's singing was powerful; if he could master this skill, he wouldn't need to drag the wind-up phonograph around anymore.

"Wife, teach me that song 'False Properness'—I love that one."

The phonograph taught line by line; Li Banfeng sang line by line.

After half an hour, his wife's breathing grew labored.

Huh~ chit-chit~

"Husband, stop singing—my chest hurts."

Li Banfeng froze: "Wife, do you think I sing badly?"

"You sing well—but this song…" the phonograph replied weakly, "it's not your fault. Perhaps 'False Properness' simply isn't suited to you."

Li Banfeng stood up: "Singing alone truly doesn't suit me—I can dance too. Let me show you a dance, Wife…"

Watching Li Banfeng dance, his wife's condition worsened: "Husband, stop dancing—put down the feather duster first…

Just looking at you makes my chest ache again. Pick another song to learn another day—this tune truly isn't suited for men.

You've already grasped the essence of fifth-level art. When you perform, you must think of my singing voice.

If you think correctly, you'll sing correctly."

"Think correctly, and I'll sing correctly…" Li Banfeng seemed to grasp something. He picked up the feather duster: "Wife, let me sing again while dancing. Point out any mistakes."

"Don't rush—another day, husband, another day…"

…

The next day, Li Banfeng stepped out of his personal quarters and wandered idly through the fortress, suddenly sensing it was unusually quiet.

Wu Yongchao approached Li Banfeng: "Lord, no merchants came today—not a single one."

Li Banfeng asked: "Is it because the fighting these past two days scared them off?"

Wu Yongchao said: "Yesterday I went to the market to buy food and drink for the victory feast. I told all the merchants the danger had passed—they promised to come today."

Li Banfeng stood before the iron gate, staring at the empty road ahead, as if catching a scent he recognized.

He had smelled this odor before, outside Yu Nan's fabric shop.

"Tell everyone in the fortress to increase vigilance. Don't leave your quarters these two days."

Wu Yongchao asked: "Should we close the gate?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "Don't close it. Once shut, reopening will be hard. Get a few fourth-level courtyard cultivators—let's play with these bastards."

PS: Actually, Banfeng's singing isn't bad—his voice is just too languid.

(End of Chapter)