Chapter 410: This Is the Truly Useful Hong Ying!

A tall woman stepped out from the melon.

Fiery light flickered endlessly within the projector's lens.

"She tied her long hair up, with only a few strands loose, swaying back and forth against her slightly gaunt cheeks in the cold wind,

not gaunt—angular. From forehead to cheekbones, from cheeks to jaw, the angles of her face were strikingly sharp!

Long, sword-like eyebrows guarded deep-set eye sockets; her pitch-black pupils clearly reflected my face, the slightly upturned corners piercing through my heart,

her straight nose carried the masculine vigor every man envied, her tightly sealed lips pale, as if the cold wind had drained their color,

not the wind—it was chill, the chill from her inner coldness, chilling not just her lips but saturating her strong, beautiful body!

From the tension in her shoulders, to the resilience of her waist, to the tautness below, though lacking the softness and grace expected of women, her sharp lines were breathtaking—she was the embodiment of art!"

Slap!

The glove slapped the projector.

"Look at the pitiful state you're in!" the glove scolded the projector. "You see a pretty woman and spout all sorts of flowery nonsense—yet inside, you're still thinking about that filthy business!"

The projector cried out hastily: "My heart holds no filth—only pure devotion to art!

Beautiful maiden, please remove that plain white garment first, so we may be honest together…"

Slap!

The glove struck the projector down and turned to Li Banfeng: "Master, this movie machine is full of pretense—not one honest word.

Honest words must come from the conscience. Don't be fooled by her beauty—does a beautiful woman necessarily have a conscience?

When you meet a woman without conscience, the more beautiful she is, the more you lose. Let me go check first—how much conscience does this woman have?"

As the glove moved to charge forward, Tang Dao stepped ahead to block him.

"You dare lay hands on such a stunning woman? Do you still have any loyalty to our lord?"

"I'm checking her conscience…"

"Conscience or peaches, front door or back gate—they all belong to our lord. After him, they belong to me. Step back!"

The glove snapped: "You tell me to step back? Who do you think you are, lecturing me? The master hasn't spoken yet!"

The glove and Tang Dao began fighting; Tang Dao's strength was unusually fierce today, as if he meant real violence.

"Are you seriously trying to cut me?!" the glove shouted angrily. "Master, because of this melon woman, Er Dao's swinging his blade at me—will you do anything?"

The glove turned to Li Banfeng and saw him eating a melon.

The melon was sweet, but also bitter—it made Li Banfeng break into a cold sweat, his body carrying the melon's unique fragrance.

Li Banfeng looked at the melon version of Hong Ying and nodded: "This time, we've grown a useful one."

The glove swallowed hard: "Use her right away?"

The projector exclaimed excitedly: "I'm willing to record this great process!"

Tang Dao said: "I believe such matters should not be witnessed by these filthy onlookers."

Li Banfeng said: "Let's go!"

The melon Hong Ying caught the scent of melon on Li Banfeng and followed him into the Personal Chamber. The old teapot, who was brewing tea, suddenly flew open, spilling tea everywhere.

"Old thing, what are you riling up for?" The wine gourd, just about to sleep, was woken by the teapot.

She turned toward the door, stared at the melon Hong Ying for a moment, and sighed: "The world still holds such a beautiful woman."

The pendulum stared, Meng De stared, Qian Si, still recovering beside the phonograph, sat up and glanced over.

The Judge's Pen wanted to look, but was too lazy to open his eyes.

Everyone stared for a long while, then turned their gaze to the real Hong Ying, who was dressing her hair.

Hong Ying held the comb, her hair already pulled out—but she kept combing anyway.

The phonograph asked: "Wenchang, aren't you going to take a look?"

"I can't see…" Hong Ying lowered her head, softly asking, "Does she look like me?"

The phonograph stared at the melon for a moment: "I don't think she looks like you."

From afar, in the Ninth Chamber, Hong Lian's voice came: "I think she does."

Li Banfeng felt Hong Lian was speaking, but couldn't make out the words.

"Husband, this Hong Ying seems to lack spirit."

"You're right—without spirit, she's useless!" Li Banfeng cut his finger and dripped a drop of blood onto the melon, activating the Golden Chamber Conceals Beauty technique.

The pale-green skin gained a touch of red; the melon Hong Ying instantly gained the texture of life.

The projector couldn't help crying out: "Art! This is the art I've sought so desperately!"

"Stop spouting nonsense!" the glove spat at the projector, then quietly circled toward the melon, pondering where to strike.

His heart struggled fiercely, now touched by philosophical contemplation.

Peach, I love; conscience, I love too—yet I cannot have both. If only I could grow two hands.

After a moment's thought, the glove decided to start with conscience.

Once he seized the conscience, Hong Ying would instinctively shield herself—then he could reach behind and pluck the peach. Who says you can't have both?

The glove had planned it clearly, and just as he flew before the melon Hong Ying, she glanced at him.

That single glance brought overwhelming pressure—the glove instantly went limp, darting into Li Banfeng's pocket, trembling with fear.

The phonograph praised: "Now she's like her—truly like her!"

The melon Hong Ying glanced at the projector; the projector immediately adjusted focus, temporarily abandoning his pursuit of art.

The melon Hong Ying glanced at Tang Dao; Tang Dao leaned against the wall, calmly saying: "I am merely an ordinary blade."

The phonograph laughed: "Husband, how does she look?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "Looks good."

"Beloved husband, what's the point of just looking? Why not try her out right away?"

Li Banfeng waved his hand: "No rush."

"I'm eager," the phonograph pouted. "I just want to see if this wench is any good."

Li Banfeng smiled: "Clearly she's useful."

"Then husband, use her fully." As she spoke, the phonograph released steam to brush against the real Hong Ying.

The real Hong Ying's emotions were complex: "You want Qi Xiao to use her?

Then what am I? Zhao Xiao, you're deliberately tormenting me."

As she spoke, Hong Ying sniffled twice.

"How is this tormenting you?" the phonograph laughed. "I'm helping you. Husband, such a useful Hong Ying—why wait to use her?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "Not now. We'll wait until we reach our destination."

The wife was puzzled: "What destination?"

"When we reach the land of Autumn Fallen Leaves, we'll make a grand move."

The phonograph was even more confused: "A grand move? Does it depend on location?"

"Yes—it'll rely on her from now on."

"Rely on her? Then what about me…" At this, the phonograph grew jealous.

"Wife, you can't do this. From now on, we'll rely on her every day."

"Every day? That's excessive… Husband, are you tired of me?" The phonograph felt she might have made a terrible mistake.

"Why excessive?" Li Banfeng touched the melon Hong Ying. "I plan to build a station on the land of Autumn Fallen Leaves. Look at her build—she's perfect for hauling earth!"

The Personal Chamber fell silent.

The real Hong Ying whispered: "You said haul earth? Is that appropriate?"

"Not appropriate?" Li Banfeng looked again at the melon Hong Ying, as if struck by realization. "Hauling earth alone is indeed overkill—digging pits would be easy too.

Hong Ying, shed more blood, make more melons—we need people now!"

Bang!

Hong Ying slammed into the phonograph: "Shao Wan, devour my soul—I won't live anymore! I can't bear it!"

The phonograph panicked: "Don't act up! Talk slowly!"

Bang! Bang!

Hong Ying kept slamming into the phonograph: "Devour me now—right now—or I'll kill this madman!"

The phonograph cried out: "Wenchang, don't ram your spearhead into me—you'll ruin my front cabinet!"

Others rushed to restrain Hong Ying, but she was too strong—no one could stop her.

The room was in chaos; the Personal Chamber laughed aloud: "Hahaha, Ah Qi, I knew you were the one—building a station is the real business!"

"It's always been real business!" Li Banfeng didn't understand their frenzy. "What's gotten into you all?"

Leaving the Personal Chamber, Li Banfeng immediately set off for the land of Autumn Fallen Leaves.

…

On the land of Autumn Fallen Leaves, the newly opened plots totaled over three thousand.

Looking at the endless stretches of skylight, Qiu Luoye's lips couldn't stop curling upward.

A ghostly flame flew before him; Shui Yongquan hurriedly said: "Qiu Da Xiang, trouble's coming."

"Don't scare me!" Qiu Luoye waved his hand. "I'm busy—don't bother me!"

"I'm not scaring you—I've received word: Huineizhou is sending people, specifically about you."

"Where'd you get this news? Do you still have ties to Huineizhou?" Qiu Luoye glared. "Shui Yongquan, are you jealous of my thriving business and trying to douse my fire?"

Shui Yongquan sighed: "Believe me or not—I haven't told Ah Qi yet. You'd better tell him yourself.

Qiu Da Xiang, you've gone too far—Huineizhou knows. What's the point of rushing to clear land like this?"

To become a proper territory, you need ten thousand people living here permanently—where are you going to find ten thousand people?

This has barely even started—you've taken such a huge risk, stop now, or you'll regret it too late!

Shui Yongquan left.

Qiu Luoye fell silent.

……

Li Banfeng arrived at Qiu Luoye's territory and saw him staring blankly; he stepped forward and asked, "Brother Qiu, what's wrong?"

"Old Shui told me the Inner State is watching me because of the reclamation."

Li Banfeng was startled—Shui Yongquan never spoke recklessly on matters like this; he hadn't expected the Inner State to discover it so quickly.

"What are you planning to do?"

Qiu Luoye sighed, "Old Shui has a point—even if we reclaim all the land, without ten thousand people living here permanently, it can never become a proper territory."

Li Banfeng looked at Qiu Luoye and said, "You're thinking of slowing down the reclamation?"

"Old Seven, this is what I'm thinking…" Qiu Luoye gazed up at the sky, watching the endless expanse of light, fell silent for a long while, then stood up and shook off the dead branches and fallen leaves clinging to him. "Can you go even faster?"

Li Banfeng smiled. "I can. But aren't you afraid?"

Qiu Luoye clenched his teeth. "They already know. If they come, I'll fight them. You just focus on reclaiming the land—don't worry about anything else."

We'll deal with the ten thousand people later—first, let's reclaim the territory. As long as you don't back down, I'll fight them to the end!"

PS: The right thing still needs the right person.

(End of Chapter)