Chapter 252: Chunwang Mansion

Li Banfeng entered the abandoned mansion and surveyed the surroundings.

What a vast estate!

Seven courtyards north to south, five layers east to west, courtyards within courtyards, Cengcengtaodie.

He walked through it twice, sensed no danger, saw no one at all, then returned to the gate and called everyone inside.

Everyone, including Xiao Yeci, had never seen such a large estate; entering the first courtyard, they gazed around curiously, some heading toward the ornate gate.

Behind the ornate gate lay the second courtyard; Li Banfeng blocked the entrance and ordered: "Find shelter from the rain immediately. Stay only in the first courtyard. When the rain stops tomorrow, we leave this place at once."

Compared to other courtyards, the first courtyard wasn't large, but it had the most rooms.

These rooms were called gatehouses, situated on the shady side, also known as inverted seats—thirty-plus rooms in total, from east to west, meant for servants.

Xiao Yeci was pleased: "So many rooms! One each is more than enough!"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "No, at least three per room. Lodgings must be adjacent—watch out for each other. I'll scout the perimeter; be extremely careful."

Though he said he was scouting, Li Banfeng returned to his personal dwelling.

"Wife, I believe I've left the Dishonorable Ridge, but encountered an abandoned mansion in the wilderness."

After hearing Li Banfeng's description, his wife sang softly: "Seven courtyards, five layers—this must have been a Prince's residence. Abandoned so long, Wurendali. Husband, could you have entered the Old Land?"

The Old Land?

Is that possible?

It truly is.

According to his experience reaching Fool's City, entering the Old Land required walking a specific route at a precise speed.

Days of trudging, plus this heavy rain, made today's pace extremely slow.

Slowness, too, is a specific speed.

Both Xiao Yeci and Lu Chunying felt they hadn't taken a wrong path—yet a ruined mansion suddenly appeared on the route to Green Water Bay, just as Li Banfeng had unknowingly entered the Old Land before.

Li Banfeng nodded: "I fear we've reached the Old Land. There were still day and night changes earlier, but by the time we reached this mansion, it was deep night. Who knows what realm we're in now?"

"The Old Land is more perilous than the New Lands. Husband, don't leave your room tonight."

Li Banfeng pondered long before saying: "I've walked the Old Land before—I know more than these people do. I led them out of the Dishonorable Ridge. If I don't help them through this, won't I be dooming them?"

The singing machine sang: "You speak wisely, husband. Our home has always been gentle toward you. It's fine for you to watch over them tonight,

but be extremely cautious—if you must, return home at once. Never act on impulse."

Li Banfeng agreed, took his magic treasure, and left his personal dwelling.

Lu Chunying murmured: "There are still Prince's mansions left standing in this world?"

The singing machine snorted: "Wretched girl, dreaming of becoming a Prince's Lady again? Did you sell me for this?"

Lu Chunying fell silent for a long while: "Wicked hag, don't force me to speak of what I won't mention. You promised to keep your word."

…

Deep night, a small room: wet clothes dried over a fire, Xiao Yeci slept leaning against the bed.

The bed was unusable—the wooden planks rotted through; the bedding, when tugged, crumbled to dust.

Fortunately, the room didn't leak. After a full day trudging through rain, having a dry place to sleep was enough for Xiao Yeci.

But after less than two hours, Lu Chunying shook her awake: "Mom, come with me to the latrine."

Xiao Yeci didn't open her eyes: "There's a chamber pot inside. Make do."

If it were just the two of them, Lu Chunying would've complied. But Li Banfeng said at least three per room—another girl slept here too.

Though of humble birth, Lu Chunying had received a fine education under Xiao Yeci; in the presence of others, she remained reserved, forcing herself to step outside her comfort zone.

The rain still poured. She didn't know where the latrine was. As she searched, a thunderclap struck—Lu Chunying flinched.

Not from the thunder—from the lightning.

In the flash, Lu Chunying saw a figure in the courtyard.

"Who's there?" she called out, summoning courage.

No answer. No movement in the dark.

Did I imagine it?

Her fortune-telling skill detected no danger, but she felt she couldn't stay in the courtyard.

Unable to find the latrine, Lu Chunying relieved herself against the wall.

"Tsk tsk tsk…"

As she did, she thought she heard someone smacking lips.

Must've been the rain.

She pulled up her pants and sprinted back—only to hear laughter after two steps.

"H Henghengheng …"

She glanced around, didn't dare linger, kept running. When she reached the door and pushed it open, Xiao Yeci and the girl were gone.

Where did they go?

A woman in green sat inside, grooming herself before a mirror, her back to Lu Chunying, singing: "Sister, how can a young lady urinate in someone else's courtyard? Don't you know shame?"

Lu Chunying trembled violently, stepped back.

She didn't know where the woman came from, couldn't see her face in the dark.

CRACK!

Another thunderclap!

In the mirror, Lu Chunying saw the woman's face.

Had she not just relieved herself, she'd have soiled her pants.

The woman's skin was pure white—whiter than snow.

Her eyebrows pitch-black, the corners of her eyes crimson red—a painted face.

An opera performer?

Lu Chunying didn't hesitate. She stepped back twice and fled the room.

She reached the courtyard—the green-clad woman had already emerged.

Lu Chunying turned left—the woman blocked her. She turned right, took a few steps—the woman stood before her again.

The woman moved faster than she did!

Lu Chunying didn't panic. She shouted into the courtyard: "Savior! Mom! A villain's entered the courtyard!"

She shouted for a long time—no one answered.

Because those inside couldn't hear her.

The green-clad woman glided forward, sleeves swaying, singing each word: "As a woman, I must rebuke you:

"First, you have no shame. Second, you know no rules. You've defiled my courtyard. Today, you'll pay with your life—that is your punishment."

Lu Chunying trembled: "It's just a bit of urine. Do I have to die for that?"

"H Hengheng ~ Girl, in my domain, you follow my rules! If not your life, what else will you pay?"

SPLASH!

As she finished speaking, three silver dollars landed at the woman's feet.

"Here's some money," Li Banfeng sang as he walked forward, "This ingot, three taels three, for your dowry—buy silk, make robes, buy jewelry, adornments. My young wife, we'll have a few more years together!"

The green-clad woman froze, stared at the coins—as if insulted beyond endurance—she sang back: "I refuse this silver! Give it to your mother as her funeral money—buy treasure vaults, robes, white paper, hang white funeral banners, let the world call you a filial son!"

Peking Opera, "Wujiapo."

Li Banfeng had practiced these lines often with his wife—he'd just matched them perfectly.

No one else heard the sound. How did Li Banfeng know what was happening in the courtyard?

That was the gap in cultivation: Li Banfeng was a Level Five Traveling Cultivator. He sensed danger from within the room and saw Lu Chunying walking toward the opposite side.

She'd been blinded by a ghost—she'd opened not the door to her room, but the ornate gate to the second courtyard.

Once she entered, no matter how she screamed, no one outside would hear.

Luckily, Li Banfeng followed her in.

He glanced at Lu Chunying—no words needed. She understood instantly, darting into a corner.

Drums and gongs sounded in the second courtyard—the opera performer was about to sing again. Li Banfeng lunged forward and kicked her.

The performer flew into rage: "How dare you strike me?"

Li Banfeng said: "That was civil drama. Now it's martial drama."

The performer snarled: "You'll really fight?"

Li Banfeng smiled: "You just told that girl to pay with her life—weren't you going to kill her?"

"Fine! Let's show our skills!" The performer pulled a flowered spear from nowhere and thrust at Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng could dodge, block with his sickle, or close in with speed.

But whichever he chose, he'd lose.

Because he'd used Golden Eyes and Autumn Hair—he saw the performer's body shimmering green. She wasn't human.

A spirit of such power could shift freely between real and illusory. No matter how he struck, he'd be at a disadvantage.

So he wouldn't strike. Li Banfeng took a breath and roared: "Waaah! Evil spirit, die!"

The roar shook the performer's body limp, nearly scattering her soul.

This was the technique of deep mansion—learned from his wife, the singing method of the Copper Hammer painted face, capable of terrifying spirits.

While the performer was weakened, the Blood-Soaked Pendulum charged forward—she could harm ghosts—and slashed a wound across the performer's body.

Enraged, the performer flung the pendulum aside and charged toward Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng retreated step by step, circling around the rockery.

The actor, familiar with the path, passed through the rockery and caught up with Li Banfeng.

At that moment, Li Banfeng had used the key to open the Personal Dwelling.

Seeing Li Banfeng standing still, the actor roared: "You won't run or hide? Are you just waiting to die?"

Li Banfeng smiled: "You can't bring yourself to strike—do you fancy me?"

As long as the actor charged forward, Li Banfeng was certain he could send her into the Personal Dwelling.

The actor swung her flower spear, revealing her true voice: "Hmph, you're a man—what could I possibly fancy about you?"

Uh…

That voice suddenly became deeply rugged.

Is the actor a man?

The door to the Personal Dwelling stood open; Hong Ying whispered low: "Listen—was that just the voice of Prince Chun?"

The singer sneered: "Wretched slut, do you still dream of becoming a princess?"

"I'm certain," Hong Ying's body trembled uncontrollably, "it was him."

PS: Hong Ying had once nearly become a princess.

(End of Chapter)