Chapter 227

Li Banfeng sat in the chair, the shadow of his hat covering his face.

This person named Luo Zhengnan before him had told some truths and some lies.

The lies were easy to distinguish; he said he only brought two subordinates, but in reality, there were more than two.

Sun Xiaoan, the confidant of the second helm of the Medicine King Hall, was selling sundries in the fortress, and Luo Zhengnan hadn't mentioned him.

The truths were not easy to distinguish, but a few things were indeed correct.

If he could sneak into Iron Gate Fortress, others could too.

This house spirit, Zhao Xiaowan, was clearly a magnet for trouble. Once the news spread, Iron Gate Fortress was destined to become Blood Gate Fortress.

But what should be done about this matter?

Dismissing Luo Zhengnan wasn't difficult, and dismissing the Jiang Xiang Gang wasn't difficult either, but Zhao Xiaowan was so formidable that even the Lady might not be her match; she wasn't someone Li Banfeng could deal with at will.

After sitting silently for a moment, Li Banfeng said to Luo Zhengnan: "Trouble yourself to come back in three days; I will give you an answer then."

"I await your news." Luo Zhengnan stood up to take his leave.

Li Banfeng gave a word of caution: "Take all your people with you, and not just those two vegetable sellers. If they don't leave now, I'll be sending them off later."

Luo Zhengnan was startled; he hadn't expected Li Banfeng to have discovered the others. He cupped his hands in a salute again and was the first to leave the room.

He walked around the street, and the three people who had come with him understood his meaning and left Iron Gate Fortress one by one.

This was how smart people dealt with each other; the matter had been pointed out, so there was no need to be pretentious.

Late at night, the fortress closed its gates, and Li Banfeng asked Wu Yongchao: "Do you know who Zhao Xiaowan is?"

"I know! The Flying General Zhao Xiaowan, a long spear that settled the world!" Speaking of Zhao Xiaowan, Wu Yongchao was very excited!

"Which era was she from?"

"From ancient times; if you ask which dynasty or generation, there is no evidence to verify that."

"How do you know about this general? Isn't it from history books?"

"This..."

This matter was not easy to explain.

Wu Yongchao had attended school, but the school he attended didn't teach history.

In the entire Puluo Continent, there was no place for systematic study of history. Most history books were hidden in the hands of prominent families. Occasionally, one or two appeared on the market, which were not only extremely rare but also difficult to distinguish as true or false.

How did Wu Yongchao know about Zhao Xiaowan?

This origin was even more complicated.

The legendary Zhao Xiaowan was once a famous general of a certain dynasty in Puluo Continent, leading tens of thousands of troops to defeat the Demon Earth people who invaded Puluo Continent. There were many stories about her passed down.

Zhao Xiaowan was in the stories of storytellers, and Zhao Xiaowan was also in the scripts of theaters, big and small.

The masterpieces of famous dancers, the sour songs of the girls in the pottery kilns, the famous works serialized in newspapers, the storybooks at street stalls—wherever there were stories, there was Zhao Xiaowan.

"Zhao Xiaowan had superb martial arts and was stunningly beautiful. Whenever she arrived at the front lines, the battle was won without needing to be fought."

Li Banfeng was startled: "Without needing to be fought, how was it won?"

Wu Yongchao slapped the table, as if a storyteller had slapped a gavel, and said with a focused face: "Half were charmed to death by Miss Zhao, and half were scared to death by General Zhao!"

Li Banfeng didn't know how to describe it.

Seeing Li Banfeng didn't believe him, Wu Yongchao was unhappy.

To Wu Yongchao, Zhao Xiaowan was an existence that could not be profaned.

"Fortress Master, I'm not talking nonsense; I have evidence here."

Li Banfeng's eyes lit up: "What evidence do you have?"

"You wait."

Wu Yongchao returned to his room, and before long, he ran back carrying a wicker box:

"Fortress Master, take a look."

He carefully opened the box, and inside, classified by category, were sixteen novels and more than fifty portraits.

Li Banfeng unfolded a portrait and said: "This is Zhao Xiaowan?"

Wu Yongchao nodded solemnly.

Li Banfeng flipped through the more than fifty portraits one by one; the fifty-plus "Zhao Xiaowans" had different appearances, different makeup, and different clothing and postures.

"Are these the same person?"

Wu Yongchao didn't speak; his expression was not quite right.

Li Banfeng didn't pursue the question further; he realized he had said the wrong thing.

For residential cultivators like Wu Yongchao, some things were beyond question.

Li Banfeng flipped through them carefully for a long time and finally found a common point in these paintings.

Whether in the boudoir or on the battlefield, whether in military uniform or beautiful clothes, all the "Zhao Xiaowans" had a red-tasseled long spear by their side.

"This is Xiaowan's weapon," Wu Yongchao introduced carefully, "The spear is twelve feet long, the spear tip is seven inches seven, the red tassel rises with the wind, who can rival the Flying General?

When the Flying General is there, the red tassel is there; when the red tassel is there, the thieves and bandits are terrified. Zhao Xiaowan and the red-tasseled spear were inseparable."

"Good recitation!" Li Banfeng praised; it was rare to see Wu Yongchao show off his eloquence.

Zhao Xiaowan and the red-tasseled spear were inseparable.

Was this the reason she turned into a red-tasseled spear after her death?

It must be said, among these fifty-plus scrolls, only this long spear was painted much the same.

The function of the scrolls was limited to this; it was too difficult to judge Zhao Xiaowan's appearance through them.

Li Banfeng looked at the dozen or so novels: "Can I borrow these books to read for two days?"

Wu Yongchao was a bit troubled: "If the Fortress Master wants to borrow them, logically I shouldn't be vague, it's just that I'm afraid the Fortress Master won't cherish them..."

"Don't worry, if even a corner is folded or a page is damaged, I will compensate you with a new one."

Wu Yongchao lowered his head and said: "These books are not easy to buy; the Fortress Master had better be careful."

The books were left behind, and Wu Yongchao left.

Li Banfeng opened the dozen or so novels and flipped through them one by one.

It had to be said that these writers' writing style was quite good. He sat in the room and read for several hours without feeling bored.

But the key information he wanted to find was not mentioned in these books.

Li Banfeng couldn't find the dynasty Zhao Xiaowan lived in; he only knew she fought for Puluo Continent.

There was still an emperor in Puluo Continent at that time, but it was only mentioned in passing in the novels.

The enemy she faced was called the Demon Earth people; this was the part Li Banfeng cared about most.

If Zhao Xiaowan was the Lady's mortal enemy during her lifetime, then the Lady was very likely a Demon Earth person.

But looking at the descriptions of the Demon Earth people in the books, Li Banfeng found it difficult to connect the Lady with them.

"Ten feet tall, ten spans wide at the waist, thick hair and beard, unable to distinguish male from female..."

Could it be...

Li Banfeng brushed away the shadows in his mind and continued to look for Zhao Xiaowan's ending in the books.

Among these sixteen novels, Zhao Xiaowan had a total of three endings.

One ending was the most common: after Zhao Xiaowan repelled the Demon Earth people, she was adopted by the emperor as a foster daughter, became a princess, found a husband, and lived a happy life.

Nine of the novels had this ending, more than half.

The second ending was that the Demon Earth people retreated temporarily, and Zhao Xiaowan remained to guard the border, fighting the Demon Earth people for a lifetime.

A total of six books used this ending. According to Li Banfeng's speculation, this was Wu Yongchao's favorite ending. The basis for the speculation was that these six books were read until they fell apart. The reason Wu Yongchao liked it so much was probably because no husband appeared in this ending.

The third ending was miserable; there were quite a few water stains on the paper, which were probably tears shed by Wu Yongchao.

Only one book used this ending. It told of how Zhao Xiaowan, after repelling the Demon Earth people, was suspected by the imperial court because her achievements were too great, encountered frame-ups, was imprisoned, and suffered all kinds of insults and torture.

Afterward, the Demon Earth people attacked again. The emperor, thick-skinned, let Zhao Xiaowan fight again. Zhao Xiaowan, putting her home and country first, went on an expedition again and finally died on the battlefield.

This ending was not a peaceful one, but Li Banfeng thought it might be closest to Zhao Xiaowan's true situation.

Putting away the novels, Li Banfeng returned to his portable residence.

The one who knew Zhao Xiaowan's identity best, in the end, had to be the Lady.

There were some things the Lady was unwilling to say, but there was one thing that must be verified with the Lady.

Li Banfeng entered his portable residence, hesitated for a moment, and asked: "Lady, have you ever heard the name Zhao Xiaowan?"

Sshh~

The phonograph was silent for a moment and asked: "Husband, why do you suddenly ask about this person?"

Li Banfeng told the truth: "I suspect that the fierce house spirit in the side building is Zhao Xiaowan."

Da-da-da, Tai~

The Lady beat a slow rhythm and sang slowly: "Oh, husband, what do you want to do with that house spirit?"

Li Banfeng said: "I want to take that house spirit in."

"Take her in? How does husband plan to take her in?"

"I want to call her name to her face," Li Banfeng said, stating his plan. "I am a residential cultivator; calling her name to her face, as long as she doesn't resist, is equivalent to reaching a contract with me. As long as the house doesn't object, she will become my house spirit."

Sshh~

The Lady laughed: "Husband is tired of me, and wants to recognize her as a house spirit?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "I'll recognize her as a house spirit, then bring her back to the house, and our husband-and-wife team will certainly be able to kill her."

"Why does husband want to kill her?"

Li Banfeng said: "Because she is the Lady's enemy; this grudge must be avenged. While I am still in Iron Gate Fortress, I will help the Lady fulfill this wish."

Sshh~

The fire was blazing, steam was swirling, and the phonograph turned its horn to gaze at Li Banfeng.

She was observing whether Li Banfeng was telling the truth.

What Li Banfeng said was indeed the truth.

He wanted to take Zhao Xiaowan in; on one hand, he didn't want this house spirit to bring disaster, and on the other hand, he genuinely wanted to avenge the Lady.

Regardless of how relieved the Lady appeared, the grudge of her death must be avenged.

The Lady was silent for a long time, and the large horn swayed from side to side.

The stylus was placed on the record, and a tender segment of "Heart and Liver Treasure" slowly began to play.

The Lady sang while speaking (she had two trays):

"My precious husband, I am deeply grateful for your intentions. I have entrusted this life to you, and I am willing to serve you for a lifetime.

But as for revenge, now is really not the time. That house spirit is blind and deaf; even if husband calls her name, how can she hear it?

Moreover, a house spirit recognizing a master requires mutual consent. That house spirit has overwhelming resentment; if you are the slightest bit careless and provoke her, husband will find it hard to escape unscathed."

Li Banfeng said: "That house spirit just lost her master; while her heart is empty, I'll go take her in—isn't that the perfect time?"

Sshh~

The phonograph laughed: "Husband saying this makes me jealous. Even if that bitch were willing to agree, husband and that side building have not yet reached an accord, so you might not be able to bring that bitch out.

Husband, you are my heart and liver; if you suffer even the slightest mishap, I would not wish to live alone in this world. Let's put this matter aside for now."

The Lady wanted to put it aside, but could the Jiang Xiang Gang put it aside?

Li Banfeng sighed and left his portable residence.

"Hahahaha!" A hearty laugh suddenly came from the sixth room.

"Bitch, what are you laughing at?" the phonograph scolded angrily.

Did Honglian laughed until her whole body trembled, laughed until she was covered in dew.

The Jiang Xiang Gang couldn't put it aside, but Luo Zhengnan could.

He wasn't as stubborn as Xiao Zhenggong.

His idea was that if this Fortress Master were willing to sell Zhao Xiaowan, he would pay to take her; if the Fortress Master were unwilling to sell, the matter would end there, and he would just consider his trip a wasted one.

He was an open-minded person; doing his best was enough, but he was determined not to risk his life.

But He Jiaqing was not so open-minded.

The fortune teller had sent him news that Luo Zhengnan had already snuck into Iron Gate Fortress.

"Not good, Luo Zhengnan is someone who can get things done!" He Jiaqing immediately became nervous. "We can't wait any longer. Old Wan, you go to East Ridge Fortress and find a person named Han Juncheng.

He is a sixth-grade residential cultivator; find a way to bring him into Iron Gate Fortress and lead Zhao Xiaowan out."

The fortune teller was a bit worried: "Zhao Xiaowan is no ordinary character; relying on a single sixth-layer residential cultivator, I'm afraid it's not secure enough."

He Jiaqing said: "I know it's not secure, which is why I haven't let him make a move until now, but the situation is urgent, and I can't worry about so much.

Han Juncheng is arrogant, his speech is annoying, and he has no experience in doing things; you accommodate him a bit.

He is a dark piece I've hidden for many years and will be of great use in the future. Don't haggle over small matters with him; take care of him in big matters. Once the matter is accomplished, take the item and leave Puluo Continent immediately; he will remain in Iron Gate Fortress."

PS: What exactly is Did Honglian laughing at?

(End of chapter)