Chapter 359: Dwelling Cultivation Level Seven Technique

Xiao Zhenggong drove his car, speeding all the way to Tushan Village.

Tushan Village began demolition two years ago; the entire village was relocated, and last year the developer fled, leaving the project half-finished.

In the construction site, dust occasionally rose, accompanied by Zhenzhen roars.

Police tape surrounded the site; Old Chen had gathered over twenty officers and was deploying operations; seeing Xiao Zhenggong arrive, Old Chen chuckled, "Captain Xiao, what a rare visit."

Xiao Zhenggong rarely showed up during missions.

Xiao Zhenggong glanced at the site and, by smell alone, knew what was inside.

"It's a donkey, right?"

Tang Yuan shook his head. "Captain Xiao, it's a mammalian crawling-class mutation: its head resembles a mammal, but its body looks more like a worm."

Xiao Zhenggong snorted. "It's a donkey-headed maggot. I call it a donkey out of habit; in Pulu Province, people treat these things like livestock."

The thing inside the site wasn't what Xiao Zhenggong cared about—he cared about Chen Zhangrui: "Captain Chen, when did you get here?"

"I've been here a while. Captain Xiao, you've seen so much—why don't you take care of this job?"

Xiao Zhenggong's eyelids drooped, a glint of cold light in his eyes.

"Old Chen, if you've got something to say, say it to my face; if you've got something to do, do it openly—don't sneak behind my back to trip me up.

I'm not afraid of you—I'm just letting you slide because you're old. I'm worried that if I really lay hands on you, you won't survive."

Chen Zhangrui pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and smiled. "Xiao Zhenggong, I'm on official business now—no time for you. Get as far away from me as you can."

Xiao Zhenggong didn't get angry. "You really want me gone? You don't want me staying in the Peacekeeping Corps? Let me tell you—I'm not leaving. See what you can do about it."

The two stared at each other; the officers were terrified, fearing they'd start fighting right there.

Only Qin Tian kept his eyes fixed on the site, worried the anomaly might burst out at any moment.

Xiao Zhenggong wanted to see how Chen Zhangrui would respond.

If Chen Zhangrui swallowed it, Xiao Zhenggong would keep provoking him—see if he could still hold his head up in front of the officers.

If he couldn't swallow it and hit Xiao Zhenggong, Xiao Zhenggong would force him out of the Dark Star Bureau.

Chen Zhangrui knew Xiao Zhenggong's scheming; normally, he'd just ignore him.

But right now, they were on a mission—the donkey-headed maggot was rampaging in the site, and Chen Zhangrui didn't want to waste time with Xiao Zhenggong.

Seeing Old Chen stay silent, Xiao Zhenggong smiled, ready to provoke further—when his phone suddenly rang.

The caller was Song Yuwei, lord of Haichiling.

Song Yuwei was still in Waizhou; he'd just received the news: "Boss, the Haichiling branch has been wiped out."

Xiao Zhenggong's head buzzed.

Another branch gone!

Old Chen, a Kuixiu, heard every word clearly through the phone; he asked with concern: "Boss Xiao, has your sect run into trouble?"

Xiao Zhenggong hung up, looked at Old Chen, and said: "I need to see the Director."

Old Chen smiled. "Go ahead. No need to ask for leave. Don't cry when you see him—that'd be too embarrassing."

Xiao Zhenggong drove off; Old Chen led his team to deal with the donkey-headed maggot.

…

Inside the Sui Shen Ju, Li Banfeng was drenched in sweat, gently caressing the phonograph: "Wife, take a break."

"Oh, husband," the phonograph whispered softly, "can't you last even this long?"

"I can—I'm not weak. I just want to rest a moment…"

"A man shouldn't say such things.

If you don't fight, fine; if you fight, you must win. Husband, get up—let's go again.

Advancement must be achieved in one decisive push!"

As she spoke, the phonograph sucked Li Banfeng's head back into the horn.

This advancement took unusually long; in the hot, damp environment, Li Banfeng convulsed continuously until he heard his wife's sweet singing, and only then did his trembling body finally relax.

"Winter comes, snow blanketing all,

Warm clothes made, sent to my love,

Peaceful home, long years of ease,

I'll add another wife for my lord."

The Sui Shen Ju now had eight rooms; though each room was identical, Li Banfeng couldn't wait to see Room Eight.

He tried standing twice but couldn't rise; the phonograph hurried to urge: "Oh, husband, you've just advanced—don't move around yet. Rest on the bed a while; let your little servant explain the Seventh-Level Dwelling Cultivation Technique:

The Seventh-Level Dwelling Cultivation Technique is called 'Peaceful Home, Prosperous Work.' This technique doesn't come from me—it comes from our dwelling."

Peaceful Home, Prosperous Work—a technique from the dwelling.

It sounded abstract.

His wife explained: "The saying goes: only when one's home is secure can one's work flourish. Put plainly: please the dwelling, and good fortune comes."

Good fortune!

This technique is excellent!

"How do you please the dwelling?"

"Oh, husband, staying home is how you please the dwelling. If you get along well with our house, just stay inside, and the dwelling will naturally grant you good fortune."

Hearing this, Li Banfeng's excitement faded—he couldn't stay home forever.

"How long must I stay home each day?"

"You're already Seventh-Level Dwelling Cultivation. Logically, of twenty-four hours, you should stay home at least twenty."

Twenty hours?

That's impossible!

Even his Traveler cultivation routine couldn't be satisfied.

His wife continued: "Our dwelling is lenient on this point, but I've calculated—you must stay home at least twelve hours daily.

If you exceed twelve hours, each extra hour boosts your fortune by one point; if you fall short, each hour missed reduces your fortune by one."

Twelve hours was still long. Li Banfeng, as a Seventh-Level Traveler, estimated that even without danger or sprinting, he needed at least twelve hours daily just for normal walking outside.

What if an accident happened and he couldn't return home? His fortune would drop.

The conflict between Traveler and Dwelling cultivation was becoming stark.

Was there a solution?

Traveler cultivation could be temporarily compensated with pills—but that wasn't sustainable.

Through long-term pill use, Li Banfeng had deduced a pattern: pills could offset a limited period of basic cultivation, but only for a finite time.

Three to five days indoors was manageable; beyond five days, Li Banfeng felt pain—his limbs and torso felt like they wanted to separate, similar to cultivation backlash. The longer he stayed, the worse the symptoms became.

What if he stayed indoors for over ten days?

Li Banfeng had never tried—but the example of sprinter Qiao Yuesheng was fresh in his mind; this was a matter of life and death.

Was there another way to maintain Traveler cultivation?

Yes.

Looking at photos or watching shadow plays gave Travelers some cultivation effect—but it was extremely limited.

Travelers had few options. What about Dwelling Cultivation?

"Besides staying home, what else can please the dwelling?"

"Oh, husband, you're Seventh-Level Dwelling Cultivation—aren't you staying home to be with me? Who else are you going to meet?"

"Going out isn't always for women. Maybe I just need to buy groceries. What if I run into something tough and can't get back? My fortune drops anyway—I'd suffer a great loss."

"You're right. There is another way to please the dwelling: acquire more household items."

"What kind of items?"

"That's hard to say—it depends on the dwelling's preference. If you choose right, even if you never come home, your fortune stays full.

If you choose wrong and the dwelling dislikes it, even if you stay home every day, the dwelling will despise you."

This is risky!

What does the Sui Shen Ju like?

It's a train. What does a train need?

Rails?

Those are too expensive—two rails cost more than a Baiyue Gate.

And you can't even buy them.

This needs serious thought.

After resting half a day, Li Banfeng left the Sui Shen Ju, washed up at the inn, and went to a restaurant with Luo Zhengnan.

In Haichiling, people get hungry easily—he ate three full bowls of lamb stew with flatbread.

Full and satisfied, Li Banfeng and Luo Zhengnan went to the train station, both buying first-class tickets, each getting a private cabin.

On the platform, Li Banfeng bought a newspaper; Jiang Xiang's news filled the front page.

"Rare," Luo Zhengnan sighed softly. Rare for anyone to pay this much attention to Jiang Xiang.

In the carriage, Li Banfeng asked Luo Zhengnan: "Are you familiar with Heishipo's branch?"

"Yes," Luo Zhengnan nodded, tracing the positions of various branch posts on a map.

The map had bloodstains—left behind at the Haichiling branch.

The Haichiling branch's lord was absent, but all his men had already perished.

Jiang Xiang had twenty-two branches in Pulu Province; Li Banfeng had already destroyed two.

The Heishi Slope branch must be eliminated too—it's Li Banfeng's territory; he will never tolerate the Jiangxiang Gang's presence.

This revenge was satisfying; Luo Zhengnan was certain he had chosen the right man, and he recounted every single outpost of the Heishi Branch in meticulous detail.

"Seventh Master, the people of Heishi Slope have grit; the Jiangxiang Gang can't make money there. Their branch is small, with only two outposts…"

……

Inside the Anxing Bureau, Director Shen Jingye was advising Xiao Zhenggong: "Zhenggong, if you have any grievances with Chen Zhangrui, you can report them to the Bureau; any demands you have, you can also raise with the Bureau."

But during operations, when you and Zhangrui argue in front of your team members, the impact is extremely damaging."

After deliberation, the Bureau feels this matter must be handled seriously. Zhenggong, the Bureau believes you are no longer suited to remain in the Public Order Detachment."

Xiao Zhenggong looked at Shen Jingye and said: "You think this is my fault?"

"Let's not debate who's at fault—your relationship with Zhangrui has deteriorated to this point; continuing to work together will only hinder operations."

The Bureau has already arranged a more suitable position for you—with higher rank and better benefits."

"Are you joking?" Xiao Zhenggong frowned. "Do I care about rank or benefits?"

I won't leave. I'm staying in the Public Order Detachment—nowhere else."

I came to you not to resolve my conflict with Chen Zhangrui."

Shen Jingye said: "Are you referring to the Puluozhou matter? I've just heard about it."

I'm not familiar with Puluozhou's environment, nor do I know much about your branch's affairs."

I've already informed the Border Control Commissioner—he'll give you a satisfactory response."

"When will I receive a reply?"

Shen Jingye frowned slightly: "Zhenggong, you must follow procedure…"

"I don't want to wait for any procedure! I've lost two branches—my resources are nearly gone!" Xiao Zhenggong pulled out a seal from his robe. "I demand use of the Balance Seal—I require the immediate arrest of He Jiaqing and all his subordinates in Puluozhou!"

Shen Jingye glanced at the seal in Xiao Zhenggong's hand: "Have you considered the cost?"

Xiao Zhenggong nodded: "I've considered it thoroughly."

PS: The cost of the Balance Seal is truly immense.

(End of Chapter)