Chapter 380

"As long as it's within the normal stopping time, the doors remain open," Suishenju offered a solution.

Li Banfeng was overjoyed.

After the tracks were laid, Suishenju could, according to Li Banfeng's wishes, transport him to any designated location.

But there was a serious drawback: the key was outside Suishenju and couldn't travel with it; once Li Banfeng stepped out, Suishenju would shut its gates, and he couldn't return home.

Yet if the gates weren't shut, this drawback would be resolved.

Li Banfeng asked Suishenju: "How long is the normal stopping time?"

"It depends on whether it's a major station or a minor one."

"How do you distinguish between major and minor stations?"

"It depends on the size of the platform."

Li Banfeng stood up and said: "I'll build a major station—one that stops for a full day."

"There's no such station. Unless the train breaks down, it won't stop for a full day."

"Then what's the longest a station can stop?"

"A major station can stop up to an hour; a minor station, up to half an hour."

This time was indeed limited, but considering the normal stopping duration of regular trains, Suishenju's stopping time wasn't short.

Li Banfeng took out a map and began planning.

"I'll build a major station on my territory, another in Lüshuicheng, another in Yaowanggou, another in Heishipō..."

"The soda at Qishuiyao is delicious—consider building a major station there; the food at Haichiling is good too, so a major station would work; at Kudai Kan, I doubt it'll take an hour, but having a major station there would still be excellent..."

As Li Banfeng was drawing enthusiastically, the phonograph reminded him: "Beloved young master, first ask our manor how much material a major station requires—this material won't be easy to find."

He'd nearly forgotten this.

"What materials are needed to build a station?"

Suishenju replied: "To build a major station, you need stone."

Li Banfeng laughed: "Stone isn't a problem—there's stone everywhere here. I have several mountains on my land; dig as much as you like."

"Ordinary stone won't work for my station. A major station must be built with Tianxin Stone."

Tianxin Stone?

Li Banfeng had never heard of it.

His wife reminded him: "Young master, Tianxin Stone is extremely expensive."

"How expensive?" Li Banfeng sneered. "Do you think your husband is short on money?"

Suishenju responded: "One Tianxin Stone costs as much as a pair of rails. To build one major station, you need three Tianxin Stones."

Li Banfeng fell silent for a moment, then said: "Building such a large station in this remote wilderness feels overly showy. Let's first discuss minor stations—do they also require Tianxin Stone?"

"Minor stations can be built with soil, but they must use Tianquan Huan Soil."

"Tianquan Huan Soil..." Li Banfeng rubbed his hands. "Just from the name, it doesn't sound cheap."

"Whether it's cheap or not is another matter—do you even know where to buy it?" Suishenju's tone carried a hint of mockery.

"Whether it's cheap or not is another matter—do you even have a place to buy it?" Suishenju's tone carried a hint of mockery.

Do the general stores sell it?

Li Banfeng had never heard the name. Where could he possibly buy it?

A long silence followed. Then his wife spoke.

"I've seen Tianquan Huan Soil before, young master. If you're lucky, you might gather some."

Li Banfeng's eyes lit up: "Where can I find it?"

"I once knew a few locations, but all the Tianquan Huan Soil there has been harvested. This soil is a medicinal ingredient—when ingested, it restores male vigor and enhances female affection."

"Then why not just buy it from a pharmacy?"

"Young master, ordinary pharmacies don't carry such a rare substance. Even if they did, how much could they have?

People consume it as medicine—we need it to build stations. A few taels won't suffice.

I recognize a type of insect from Xin Di called Sanhuan Insects. These insects live about a hundred years, mate three times daily, and are extremely fond of this medicinal soil.

If you can capture a few Sanhuan Insects from Xin Di, perhaps they'll reveal the location of Tianquan Huan Soil."

"Wife, what do these insects look like?"

"Their bodies are glossy, their antennae long, varying in size—from as small as a fingernail to as large as three feet..."

After his wife gave a detailed description, Li Banfeng immediately went out to catch insects.

Not long after, he returned with one. His wife examined it and said: "Young master, this is a cricket."

Li Banfeng went out again and returned with another.

"Young master, this is a longhorn beetle."

Li Banfeng returned with another.

"Oh young master, throw it away immediately—cockroaches shouldn't be brought into the house!"

Finding a single insect based solely on description was far too difficult.

The phonograph said: "Sanhuan Insects aren't rare, but they possess some spirit—they're not easy to find.

I'll teach you a song, 'Little Young Master.' I used to sing this to lure them, and it always worked. Try it yourself."

The pipa sounded, and his wife began singing: "Sunlight glints on flowered branches, I comb my hair before the mirror, longing for my husband, grieving his cold heart.

When he returns home, I'll keep him inside, unfasten my silk robe, loosen my sash, my red lips meet his embrace—only if my husband is my little young master..."

No wonder the song always worked.

Never mind the Sanhuan Insects—Li Banfeng had already arrived behind the phonograph with his oil can.

The phonograph scolded: "Hey young master, focus on the task! Have you learned the song yet?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "Wife, you're asking too much. Do you really think I can learn it? Even if I did, would I sing it well?"

The phonograph replied: "No matter. I'll engrave a record for you. Play it in a suitable place, and when you spot a similar insect, capture it.

Sanhuan Insects have little spirit; few in this world can speak to them. Your mastery of the Spirit-Sensing Art isn't refined enough.

I can speak to them. If you catch the right insect, I can ask..."

Li Banfeng waved his hand: "Too complicated. Wife, come with me to catch insects."

The phonograph froze for a moment: "Young master, did you just say... you want me to go outside?"

Li Banfeng knew house spirits couldn't leave at will: "Wife, don't misunderstand. I'm asking you—if you'd like to step out, we can wander together. Whether we catch insects or not doesn't matter—I just want you to breathe fresh air.

If you don't want to go, I'll forget I said anything."

The phonograph was eager—since entering Suishenju, she'd never left.

Li Banfeng picked up the phonograph to leave. She called out: "Young master, wait—do you truly trust me?"

Taking a house spirit outside meant removing its confinement.

A house spirit could kill its master—and after killing the master, it could kill anyone else. At that point, it was no different from a malevolent spirit.

Li Banfeng smiled: "Why wouldn't I trust my own wife?"

"But..." the phonograph hesitated.

Li Banfeng knew why she worried: a house spirit needed the manor's permission to leave.

Li Banfeng told Suishenju: "We're going out for a stroll—we'll be back soon."

Suishenju remained silent for a long while, then said: "Once only. No exceptions. You must return within two hours. No combat power may be taken outside."

No combat power allowed out?

There was such a rule?

Li Banfeng looked at his wife: "Beloved wife, still willing to go out?"

"I... want to see the outside world."

Li Banfeng carried his wife out the door.

The instant they left the doorway, her combat power vanished, leaving only non-combat techniques—she could barely move.

She inhaled Xin Di's air, her body trembling slightly, her three trumpet mouths swaying in the night, as if greedily drinking in the scenery.

There was nothing special to see—just barren hills—but she stared intently for a long time.

The melody began again, and his wife sang "Little Young Master." Halfway through, a small insect, an inch long, glossy-bodied, with long antennae, clung to a tree, listening silently.

The phonograph extended her needle; the insect obediently climbed onto the needle's stand. She used her Spirit-Sensing Art to converse with it briefly.

"Hey young master, this insect knows little. Twenty li east, there's a gorge. An old insect, over sixty, should know more. Let's go there."

Li Banfeng carried his wife eastward. The phonograph murmured apologetically: "My body is heavy—I'm truly burdening you, young master."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "Carrying my own wife—how could I find it tiring? My pace is a bit fast—do you feel jostled?"

"I'd be happy to be jostled in your arms for a lifetime."

Through misty air, Li Banfeng sprinted with his wife. She urged him to return her to Suishenju: "Young master, if I return to the manor, the manor follows you—doesn't that mean I'm still with you?"

Amid the hazy mist, Li Banfeng sprinted while carrying the phonograph; the phonograph, worried for his exertion, urged him to return her to Suishenju: "My lord, if I return to the mansion, and the mansion follows you, isn't that the same as me following you?"

But she was content, whispering against his ear: "Young master, just one look is enough. There'll be other chances."

Today, Suishenju was in a good mood and agreed to this once for the station's sake—but whether such chances would come again was uncertain.

"No way!" Li Banfeng laughed. "Beloved wife, you only get out once—let's enjoy it properly."

The night wind was biting cold. She draped her trumpet mouths over his shoulders, gently exhaling steam—close enough to warm him, far enough to avoid scalding him. As she carefully adjusted her position, Li Banfeng kept fiddling with his peaches, scratching his back, tickling his armpits—making her nearly choke with laughter.

They reached a mountain ravine. Li Banfeng set her down. She wiped his sweat and sang "Little Young Master" again. This time, after only two lines, a three-foot-long insect emerged from the soil and settled beside her.

It was an aged Sanhuan Insect. After her song ended, she conversed with it briefly, then turned to Li Banfeng: "It knows where Tianquan Huan Soil is—eighty li away. If I sing it two more songs, it will lead us there."

This was an aged Sanhuan insect; after the wife finished her song, she exchanged a few words with the insect, then turned to Li Banfeng and said, "It knows where the Tianquan Huan Soil is—over eighty li from here. If my little servant sings it two more songs, it will lead us there."

Li Banfeng nodded slightly; while his wife sang, he returned to his personal dwelling, changed into a coarse linen robe, donned a pointed straw hat, and disguised himself as a newlander hunter.

The Personal Dwelling grew impatient: "It's about time you brought that girl back!"

Li Banfeng smiled. "Don't rush—the two hours aren't up yet."

His wife sang two more little songs; Sanhuan Chong was quite satisfied, leading Li Banfeng and the singing device toward the southeast.

After walking more than ten li, they reached the boundary of Li Banfeng's territory; Sanhuan Chong moved slowly, consuming much time.

The singing device said: "Husband, time is nearly up—take me home, don't anger the estate. Once we're on another's land, I'd best not show myself."

Li Banfeng returned his wife to the Personal Dwelling, then walked out of his own territory with Sanhuan Chong.

After another dozen li, they came to a small stream, where a man with a headcloth led a one-humped camel and called out to Li Banfeng: "Traveler, come take a look—I've just received a fresh batch of fine goods; bargain hard and pick whatever you like!"

A peddler?

It was indeed a peddler—but not the one Li Banfeng knew.

Such peddlers operated only in the New Lands, selling daily necessities to pioneers and hunters, known as New Land itinerant merchants.

The call sounded friendly enough; Li Banfeng bought a pearl hairpin for his wife, two hair ties for Hongying, and a cloth rag for Tong Lianhua.

In the New Lands, goods were scarce and prices far higher than in the Proper Lands; Li Banfeng bought only out of courtesy, nothing more.

After paying, Li Banfeng continued with Sanhuan Chong to seek Tianquan Huan Soil. After walking over two li, he bent down to tie his shoelace and dropped two silver dollars on the ground.

Once Li Banfeng had moved far enough, the itinerant merchant led his camel forward and spotted the silver dollars.

This was Li Banfeng's warning: take what you've got and stop following.

The merchant paused a moment, but his camel urged: "What are you waiting for? Follow him. Keep going—when the time's right, kill him."

The merchant nodded, patted the cargo rack on the camel's back, checked the positioning of his weapons, his face dark with murderous intent, and continued trailing Li Banfeng.

Not far ahead, Li Banfeng suddenly vanished—the merchant noticed nothing.

By the time he realized it, his body swelled violently and exploded into a bloody pulp.

Li Banfeng did not continue onward; he stood over ten meters away, watching the one-humped camel.

The camel watched Li Banfeng in return, speaking calmly: "Friend, impressive skill. May I ask your purpose here?"

Li Banfeng replied just as calmly: "I haven't yet learned your name."

Meanwhile, Sanhuan Chong had already run far off.

The one-humped camel snorted, then said to Li Banfeng: "I've only one hump—some call me Bei Lao Dan; others, Bei Wu Shuang."

PS: What a twist of fate.

(End of Chapter)