Chapter 309: The New Phonograph Technique

A farmer old man said Xiao Genzi's golden juice was of poor quality.

Xiao Genzi was displeased.

"Old man, don't judge by how little this spoon holds—spread it evenly, and it'll fertilize an entire mu of land.

If you still think it's not enough, I'll give you the whole barrel.

But to casually call it poor quality? I won't tolerate that. Do you even know what sect I belong to?"

The old man chuckled: "What sect could you possibly be? Judging by your attire, you're clearly a Jin Xiu."

Xiao Genzi froze. Jin Xiu were so rare—how could this old man recognize him?

"If you know I'm a Jin Xiu, why say my juice is poor quality?"

"It's poor because it's poor—your golden juice has no scent at all." As he spoke, the old man reached out and touched the golden juice in the spoon.

Xiao Genzi quickly pulled the spoon back: "Old sir, don't touch that—it won't wash off easily."

But the old man had already touched it. Xiao Genzi hurriedly fetched medicinal powder to wash his hands.

The old man waved him off: "No need for trouble. Smell my hand yourself—does it smell?"

Xiao Genzi sniffed the old man's hand—and indeed, there was not a trace of scent.

Had he grabbed the wrong golden juice? Or did the old man have some other method?

Golden juice couldn't be mistaken. Xiao Genzi grew afraid.

The old man set down his hoe and smiled: "What level of cultivation have you reached?"

"That's none of your business." Xiao Genzi stepped back two paces.

The old man said: "You're carrying five barrels—could you possibly be fifth level?"

Xiao Genzi puffed out his chest: "Yes, fifth level!"

He didn't actually have fifth level. He'd bought ten barrels last time he met a peddler, carried five on his back, and left the other five as backup—he couldn't carry more.

The old man shook his head: "If you truly were fifth level, your golden juice would be far too weak. At fifth level, a single sprinkle turns living flesh into sludge."

With a wave of his hand, one of Xiao Genzi's barrels vanished.

Startled, Xiao Genzi watched as the old man pulled a tiny spoon from his sleeve, stirred the remaining barrel twice, scooped up a spoonful, and flung it onto a nearby stone.

A hissing sound erupted—the stone instantly turned to mud.

Xiao Genzi was terrified; the barrel nearly slipped from his grip.

The old man held up the tiny spoon and smiled: "Honestly, what level are you really?"

Xiao Genzi forced bravado: "Fifth level!"

"Bluffing without sense!" the old man snapped. "Your golden juice barely qualifies for third level!"

Third level?

Xiao Genzi was a second-level Jin Xiu. Producing third-level golden juice would've made him proud in the past.

But now wasn't the time for pride—he didn't know who this old man was.

"There are still people in the sect, and a stubborn one at that," the old man chuckled. "Making golden juice isn't just about hard work—it has secrets. Put down your barrels and watch my technique."

…

Li Banfeng brought Cao Zhida to Lanyang Village, searching for Xiao Genzi.

Many in Lanyang Village knew Genzi—they said he'd gone off to cultivate, but none could say where, and no one wanted to watch him train.

Opening land couldn't rely solely on Xiao Genzi. Li Banfeng told Cao Zhida to recruit a group of laborers in Lanyang Village.

Lanyang Village had many hunters, and several among them had experience clearing land. With Li Qi's generous pay, many signed up—but the rules had to be clear: after clearing, they must become landowners.

Cao Zhida said: "Seventh Master, we're clearing land for you—*you* should be the landowner. You've paid fully; why indulge them?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "This land's guardian has different rules. The land-clearers must become landowners."

Cao Zhida blinked: "There are such rules? That's a gift to these hunters!"

"Whether it's a gift or not—that's another matter."

The next day, Xiao Genzi didn't return. This was common—he sometimes vanished for days during cultivation.

Li Banfeng led over fifty men to the new land. He'd returned in less than a day himself—because he was a sixth-level Lv Xiu.

These men had no such speed. This journey would take time.

…

He Haisheng stepped off the train and bought a newspaper at the station.

The headline: Lu Family's private train attacked; eleven supporting warriors killed.

Who had the audacity to attack the Lu Family's private train?

This wasn't just an attack on the Lu Family—it targeted the Frontier Guard Commander by striking a train.

He Haisheng skimmed the article, then hailed a rickshaw at the station entrance and headed to the He Family mansion.

He Haiqin was gnawing on a pork knuckle in the dining hall. Hearing He Haisheng had returned, he rushed to the main hall: "Third brother, why are you back? Didn't I tell you to watch Jiaqing?"

He Haisheng glanced around. He Haiqin understood and led him into the study.

"What's happened?"

He Haisheng lowered his voice: "Brother, Jiaqing's condition is off."

He Haiqin blinked: "What? Did those Waizhou doctors refuse proper treatment? Has his wound worsened again?"

"Brother, I'm not talking about his wound," He Haisheng sighed heavily. "I think he's hiding something from you."

He Haiqin remained expressionless: "What is he hiding?"

"I found this in Jiaqing's hospital room." He Haisheng pulled out a wooden box.

He Haiqin took the box, broke its seal, and opened the lid. A rich medicinal scent flooded the air.

"Jin Yuandan?" He Haiqin examined the pills' quality.

He Haisheng said: "Top-grade Jin Yuandan—thirty of them. Where could these possibly come from?"

He Haiqin stared at the pills: "I suspect Hong Lian made them."

"But Hong Lian was taken back to Puluo Province! Whether by his friend Li Banfeng or his fiancée Lu Xiaolan—he was taken away. These pills shouldn't be in Jiaqing's possession. So how did they end up in the hospital?"

He Haiqin placed the pills back in the box: "Where exactly did you find them?"

"In the bathroom. I couldn't hold back and lit a cigarette there. The smoke masked the medicinal scent—but I smelled it behind the toilet, found a hidden compartment, and saw these pills.

That compartment was definitely Jiaqing's doing. These pills were hidden by him. Brother, you were right—he's hiding something from us."

He Haiqin fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

His smile carried a long-absent sense of relief.

He Haisheng blinked: "Brother, why are you laughing?"

He Haiqin laughed as he sighed: "If he truly wanted to hide them, you'd never find them."

"What do you mean?"

"He fooled Puluo Province—do you think he couldn't fool you? He left these pills in the bathroom on purpose. He wanted you to see them. He wanted you to bring them to me." He Haiqin tucked the box away and returned to the dining hall, resuming his pork knuckle.

His appetite was excellent—he even pulled out a chair for He Haisheng: "Don't just stand there—eat with me!"

He Haisheng ate two pieces of beef, then shook his head: "Brother, I still don't understand."

He Haiqin smiled: "You don't need to understand. Just go to Waizhou and keep an eye on my son."

He Haisheng ate a while longer, then returned to his room to rest.

He Haiqin finished eating, returned to his room, opened the pill box, and muttered to himself: "He played tricks, but still remembered to honor his old man. I didn't raise him in vain."

He considered taking a pill—but hesitated.

Forget it. Tomorrow, I'll find a Yao Xiu to test for toxicity.

…

He Haisheng returned to Yuezhou, arrived at Hospital Three, and sat silently before He Jiaqing's bed.

He leaned down and whispered into He Jiaqing's ear:

"Uncle Three, you rest here for a few days. When I've finished what I must do, I'll let you go."

…

In the portable dwelling, Xiang Hongying stood before a mirror, combing her hair.

Suddenly, she turned to the phonograph: "Xiao Wan, do you think my eyes are alluring?"

Hush-hush-hush-hush~

The phonograph laughed loudly: "What eyes? Those are just rouge drawings!"

"So what if they're drawn? Are they ugly? I have a face now—you can't even draw on one!"

Lately, Hongying's spear tip had grown rounder, less cold, faintly tinged with color—barely noticeable, it resembled a human face.

The phonograph snorted: "Hurry? Try more times—I'll become one too!"

Hongying laughed: "You've tried countless times. You've learned useless tricks, yet not a single hair has grown."

The phonograph didn't care: "Why grow so much hair?"

"How can you say it's useless?" Hongying carefully combed her hair. "Without this hair, how could you look like a woman?"

The glove whispered to Tang Dao: "A spear combing its own hair in front of a mirror—how terrifying."

Hongying kicked the glove against the wall.

Tang Dao stepped back, chuckled awkwardly: "General Hong's hair is beautiful—I find it very beautiful!"

Hongying held the comb to the phonograph: "Let me tell you—I don't just have hair on my head. I have it elsewhere too!"

The phonograph sneered: "Oh? Do you have a beard now?"

"Wicked woman, keep talking like that. Wait till I steal your man in a few days—then see how much it hurts you."

"You wench, you don't even have the ability."

"How don't I? I've got everything now. In a couple days, when I grow a mouth, I'll eat, drink, piss, and shit—all by myself. I'll be a real beauty, far better than your machine!"

"Let's see how tough you are! I'm going to tear your face apart right now!"

A cloud of steam rushed forward, scorching the spear tip red-hot.

Hong Ying refused to back down and advanced to wrestle with the phonograph.

Li Banfeng pushed open the door and stepped in. The phonograph quickly turned the needle, releasing Hong Ying's hair, and cooed softly, "Oh, my dear husband, you're back!"

"I'm back!" Li Banfeng embraced the phonograph and affectionately lingered for a moment.

Hong Ying also stepped forward to greet Li Banfeng, but he sidestepped her and lay down on the bed.

No matter how much Hong Ying changed, Li Banfeng acted as if he saw nothing—something Hong Ying simply could not understand.

Warm steam curled around Li Banfeng. The phonograph asked with concern, "My dear husband, was the journey to the new land tiring?"

"Not too tiring, but..." Li Banfeng didn't know how to begin.

A day's journey took ten days to complete.

At night, the group camped in the wilds. Li Banfeng seized an opportunity to return to his personal dwelling. Traveling with non-cultivators was truly agonizing for him.

"My husband, in the new land, there is no day or night. Stay too long, and you'll forget the passage of time. Some strange creatures take advantage of this to harm people."

"Take Mengde with you. Check on it now and then—it'll remind you, at least so you don't forget your way home."

"Carry a calendar on my person?" Li Banfeng glanced at Mengde's size and still found it inconvenient.

"No problem, little servant will adjust it for you."

"What are you going to change, madam?" Mengde trembled in fear.

"Don't be afraid, it won't hurt at all." A wisp of steam enveloped the calendar. As the steam swirled, the calendar twisted and reshaped.

Mengde let out a shrill cry: "Madam, spare me! This is terrifying!"

"You wretched slut, if you cry again, I'll rip out your tongue!" After half an hour of modification, the phonograph fused Mengde with Li Banfeng's pocket watch.

"My husband, open it and take a look."

Li Banfeng pressed open the pocket watch and saw Mengde trembling on the dial.

"My husband, try pulling the crown."

When Li Banfeng pulled the crown, the pocket watch expanded outward, transforming back into a calendar.

"Wife, how did you do this?" Li Banfeng was stunned.

Huffing and puffing~

The phonograph laughed. "My dear husband, this is a new little trick I just learned."

"This isn't just a little trick—it's a Wu Xiu technique, isn't it?" Li Banfeng was certain Xiao Chuanzi couldn't accomplish this.

"Oh, my dear husband, I've learned many new tricks—some of them you'll find truly useful."

Hong Ying snorted and muttered, "Show off all you want—you still can't learn the one thing you want most!"

PS: Did you learn all this from the personal dwelling?

(End of Chapter)