Chapter 231: Zha Hu Spear

A common spear, a belt that enhances aura, a button that mimics voices—put together, could they become Hong Ying?

Li Banfeng believed they could, because cultivation base is invisible.

But the foundation for all this was Hong Lian's intervention.

Li Banfeng moved the copper lotus from the sixth wing to the main chamber; Hong Lian was ready, her petals heavy with dew.

"Ah Lian, I have a favor to ask of you."

Puh~

Hong Lian spat a dewdrop straight onto Li Banfeng's face.

Li Banfeng wiped his face, not angry—but the singing machine was.

"You vile woman, how dare you spit on your husband? Who gave you the nerve?"

Puh!

Hong Lian spat another dewdrop at the singing machine.

The singing machine hissed steam, ready to lunge at Hong Lian, when Li Banfeng shouted: "My lady, if Ah Lian refuses to act, I'll have to send Hong Ying away."

Huh-chit~ Huh-chit~

The lady adjusted her breathing, the loudspeaker turned toward Hong Lian, and drew its fiddle to sing:

"Hey, little sister, we're family—no need for two households' talk. Why still hold a grudge over that old business?"

Puh! Still one dewdrop.

"Little sister, I was wrong before—please let it go."

Li Banfeng added his plea: "I was wrong too. Let's put this behind us."

After much pleading and being drenched in dewdrops, Hong Lian finally agreed.

The spear, the button, the belt—all were absorbed into the lotus heart; Hong Lian spoke a few words to the singing machine.

The singing machine used its needle to retrieve two poetry collections and a stack of newspapers, handing them to Hong Lian.

After nearly two hours, a spear was forged.

This spear looked exactly like Hong Ying—even before a high-level cultivator, it might pass as real.

The singing machine sighed in awe, praising Hong Lian's skill: "I'll say it—this vile… sister—is actually quite useful."

Hong Ying awoke, but her body was bound by steam, immobile.

She sensed a powerful aura—but only her hearing had returned; her eyes remained blind. She did not know what stood before her.

This aura was stronger than hers.

Who is this person?

Has the enemy arrived?

After Hong Lian's refinement, the belt's power was fully unleashed; in aura alone, it surpassed the real Hong Ying.

Hong Ying spoke: "Wicked woman, is this aura yours? No—this bearing doesn't match you. What exactly is this thing?"

Li Banfeng held the spear, unable to say what it was.

Two high-grade spiritual objects, reworked by Hong Lian, fused with an utterly ordinary weapon—what should you call this thing?

Li Banfeng named it "Zha Hu."

What a mighty name!

Li Banfeng lifted the Zha Hu spear; it let out a call.

"Snow dims the banners' designs; wind blends with drumbeats."

Hong Ying tensed: "Who is this thief? Are you challenging me?!"

Li Banfeng was even more tense; he turned to Hong Lian: "Ah Lian, did you refine Tang Dao? That blade's still useful!"

Hong Lian said nothing. Li Banfeng rushed into the second wing and found Tang Dao peering through the door crack.

The newly forged Zha Hu spear recited poetry—its recitation fascinated Tang Dao.

But this spear's sentience came from two spiritual objects, not a magic treasure; spiritual objects have extremely limited awareness.

This spear could recite poetry, but only from the two poetry collections it had been refined with—it could not speak otherwise.

It emitted a powerful aura, stronger than Hong Ying's own, and its voice closely mimicked hers.

But it could not respond to complex situations or fight autonomously—this was the unbridgeable gap between spiritual objects and magic treasures.

Could this spear fool Luo Zhengnan?

That depends on how convincing the performance is.

Li Banfeng left the portable dwelling and summoned Wu Yongchao, ordering him to prepare a banquet.

Wu Yongchao didn't know why, but since the fortress master didn't explain, he didn't ask.

Food and drink were bought; Li Banfeng chose the main mansion as the venue, setting up over twenty tables on the first floor, and specially arranging a tea room in the east annex.

What's the fortress master up to?

Didn't he just say the main mansion was forbidden?

Especially the east annex—no one was ever allowed inside.

Li Banfeng's explanation: the matter in the main mansion was resolved; from now on, it would be where the fortress handled official business.

The mansion cultivators were delighted—they had all believed demons or evil spirits plagued the fortress, had even seen someone nailed to the gate, plunging the entire fortress into panic.

Now the evil was gone—surely the fortress master had eradicated it.

Filled with reverence, they raised their cups to toast the fortress master.

Hu Fangyuan raised his cup: "Fortress Master, this cup is my tribute. I rarely drink, but today I'll drink one, just to honor you—I'll down it first, you drink as you please."

Li Banfeng looked at Hu Fangyuan: "If I don't drink, won't that seem ungrateful?"

After finishing his cup, female mansion cultivator Li Zhijuan approached: "Women don't drink, but I respect the Fortress Master—I'll drink one with you."

After drinking, Li Zhijuan's face flushed as she stared at Li Banfeng: "Fortress Master, I really drank it."

"Good…" Li Banfeng couldn't refuse without embarrassment.

After the second cup, Wu Yongchao came over with his cup: "Fortress Master, I usually don't drink either…"

Li Banfeng frowned: "Then don't drink."

"Tonight, I must drink with you."

"I don't want to drink with you."

"When are you returning my novel?"

Li Banfeng poured a cup: "Chao, what kind of talk is that? What bond do we share…"

By late night, of three hundred mansion cultivators, over half were drunk.

The next day at market, mansion cultivators lay in bed, unwilling to rise; Luo Zhengnan squatted by the roadside selling vegetables, when an old oil peddler whispered in his ear: "Last night's victory feast—they all got drunk. A girl just told me."

Luo Zhengnan said nothing—he spotted Li Banfeng strolling through the market.

They exchanged no words; Luo Zhengnan simply followed Li Banfeng into the mansion where they'd met before.

Guests seated, Li Banfeng got straight to the point: "I sold the item. Have you gathered the money?"

Luo Zhengnan smiled: "Gathered? I've brought it all!"

Li Banfeng froze: "Eight hundred thousand silver dollars?"

One hundred thousand silver dollars per crate—eighty crates—how could he possibly carry them?

Luo Zhengnan lowered his head and pulled out a pouch from his waist.

He untied the pouch's cord—but the pouch did not open.

This pouch was a spiritual object; opening it required a verification process.

Luo Zhengnan pressed the pouch against his forehead; they exchanged a brief communication.

Li Banfeng watched the entire process, cautiously asking: "What technique is this?"

Luo Zhengnan didn't hide it: "It's called short-range wireless communication. Waizhou Society calls it Bluetooth technology. I love things from Waizhou—even at my age, I still like to keep up with trends."

Li Banfeng stared at Luo Zhengnan's skull, searching for the Bluetooth switch.

This thing couldn't stay on all the time—it drained power.

After Bluetooth verification, the pouch opened.

Luo Zhengnan reached inside and pulled out a tray.

The pouch spasmed, as if about to vomit.

Luo Zhengnan warned: "Don't rush."

He laid the tray flat on the ground; beneath it was a mechanical counter, currently reading zero.

This tray looked like a scale—but it wasn't. It was a mechanical counter.

Whenever the tray received a certain impact, the counter would increment by one. Its maximum display was 99, 99—once it reached 100, 00, it reset to zero.

Luo Zhengnan inserted a tube into the pouch; the pouch spasmed again.

This time, the pouch couldn't hold back—it spat silver dollars through the tube.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Silver dollars clattered onto the tray; the counter clicked continuously as Li Banfeng and Luo Zhengnan watched the pouch spew out eight hundred thousand silver dollars in a steady stream.

Eight hundred thousand silver dollars piled on the floor; there was barely room to step.

Luo Zhengnan smiled: "Fortress Master, the money's delivered. Is my sincerity sufficient?"

Didn't he fear the fortress master would steal it?

Yes—he feared.

But Luo Zhengnan had a backup—there was more inside the pouch, though he wouldn't use it unless absolutely necessary.

The money has been paid, and Li Banfeng didn't hesitate.

He went upstairs, locked the door, entered his Personal Dwelling, and pulled out the long spear.

When he placed the long spear before Luo Zhengnan, its overwhelming aura made Luo Zhengnan shudder, nearly falling off his chair.

It's this thing.

No mistake!

Luo Zhengnan steadied his spirit, tried twice, and finally managed to take the spear in his hands, storing it inside that enormous pouch.

The pouch convulsed violently, struggling desperately to swallow the Thundering Tiger Spear.

Luo Zhengnan was terrified; he wiped sweat from his forehead and said to Li Banfeng, "Lord, I'm not criticizing your gift, but next time you hand over something like this, at least seal it first."

"You just gave it to me like this—I nearly lost my soul just holding it! This pouch probably won't last much longer."

Li Banfeng sighed: "Only the side building beside us can seal this spear."

"But I broke its seal, and now I can't think of anything that can contain it again."

Luo Zhengnan looked at his pouch.

It was still convulsing, appearing terribly weakened.

It was his most important spiritual item; Luo Zhengnan watched it with pain.

"It's getting late—I should leave. We've known each other this long; we're friends. The road ahead is long—look out for each other in the future, Lord. Until we meet again."

Seeing Luo Zhengnan about to leave, Li Banfeng politely offered: "Lord Luo, don't rush—I've prepared some light wine. Let's have a few cups together."

Luo Zhengnan waved him off: "I'm a straightforward man—I'll speak plainly. Having this thing on me makes me uneasy every second. Once I've dealt with it, I'll come to your estate to pay my respects."

With that, Luo Zhengnan left.

When he stepped out of the fortress, Wan Jinxian was still setting up his fortune-telling stall on the street.

Seeing Luo Zhengnan hurry away in a fluster, Wan Jinxian immediately sent a message to He Jiaqing.

"Jiaqing, Lao Luo just came out of the fortress. He looked frantic—probably sealed the deal."

"Sealed it? So fast?" He Jiaqing thought Luo Zhengnan shouldn't act so recklessly.

"I don't think it's fast at all!" Wan Jinxian was deeply worried. "It's not just Luo Zhengnan who came out—the others from Jiang Xiang's gang left the fortress too."

He Jiaqing froze: "Are they pulling out?"

Wan Jinxian said: "Yesterday, the Tiemen Fortress held a victory banquet. A group of Zhai Xiu got drunk to the point of collapse, and the seals on the forbidden zone were torn off."

"Today, Luo Zhengnan entered the fortress in the morning and was running out by noon. I fear this isn't just a deal sealed—it's likely already completed!"

He Jiaqing gritted his teeth, nearly falling off his sickbed.

"Lao Wan, you must follow Luo Zhengnan closely. Don't let him leave Tiemen Fortress. If the item is on him, retrieve it at any cost!"

PS: Luo Zhengnan accomplished a great deed—he bought back a great treasure for eight hundred thousand silver dollars.

But can he even take this "great treasure" away?

(End of Chapter)