Chapter 414: Yuan Shoulü (This Chapter

In his personal dwelling, Li Banfeng carefully inspected his magic treasures and weapons.

The phonograph asked: "My lord, who are you planning to target this time?"

"Wife, Yuan Shoulü blocked my path—I intend to eliminate him."

"Yuan Shoulü?" Hong Ying gasped. "Where is he?"

The phonograph spat a puff of steam, scalding Hong Ying into a shiver: "Wenchang, who gave you the right to call my husband 'wife'?"

Hong Ying fell silent. The phonograph turned its horn toward Li Banfeng, its voice instantly softening: "My dear lord, how did you know that man was Yuan Shoulü?"

Li Banfeng said: "He's a beggar cultivator, with a cultivation base at Cloud Ascending."

"Did you fight him?"

Li Banfeng recounted the encounter in brief: "His techniques were unusual, and he was highly experienced—I barely escaped a serious setback."

Hong Ying said: "My lord, if it truly is Yuan Shoulü, you must avoid him at all costs. Your current cultivation base isn't enough to match him."

The phonograph roared: "Wenchang, who gave you the right to call my husband 'wife'?"

"My dear lord, after leaving the army, Yuan Shoulü switched to beggar cultivation. He was originally a Wu Xiu, with formidable combat skills—could you be certain you didn't mistake him for someone else?"

"No mistake. His skills are truly impressive—I couldn't gain any advantage in close combat."

"Beggar cultivator?" Hong Ying paused, stunned. "He really went out begging?"

The phonograph sneered: "Foolish old woman, you once told me Yuan Shoulü said he'd rather beg than fight—and now he's gotten his wish."

Hong Ying turned to Li Banfeng: "Seven, if it's truly him, you absolutely must avoid him."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "I can't avoid him—he's blocking the only road to Zhengjing Village."

Hong Ying said: "Then just walk back and forth near our house. The station's already built."

Li Banfeng looked at Hong Ying.

When they built the station, she and Xianggua Hong Ying hauled soil together, working hard—Xianggua Hong Ying collapsed from exhaustion, and after several repairs failed, Hong Ying ate her.

For some reason, Hong Ying now felt a stronger sense of belonging to this household. She was actively helping Li Banfeng devise plans—something she'd rarely done before.

She and the wife must have done something together.

Li Banfeng glanced at the phonograph, then at Hong Ying, forming a rough conclusion in his mind.

While I was away, they definitely practiced mirror-reflection!

Walking back and forth near the station works for one person—but bringing another would be troublesome.

Moreover, the personal dwelling only lasts one hour—there's not enough time to accomplish much.

Li Banfeng shook his head: "I won't let Yuan Shoulü block this road. I must find a way to get rid of him."

Hong Ying said: "Seven, you're too weak alone. Let me go with you—Yuan Shoulü still fears me."

"No!" The personal dwelling refused.

Hong Ying pointed at the phonograph: "Why can that wicked woman go out, but not me?"

The personal dwelling said: "Neither of you will leave. This is final."

Hssss~

The phonograph sang: "My lord, don't rush. Beggar cultivators are hard to deal with, but not without a solution. If you choose the right moment, lure him into our home, you still have a chance to win."

Li Banfeng nodded: "I'm not in a hurry. We need the right moment. What about tonight?"

"My lord's temper," the phonograph sighed, "my lord, let's first study the beggar cultivator's techniques. This path is murky, and I know little—only the barest details to share with you."

"From the moment they enter, beggar cultivators must learn the art of pleading and begging for pity. Even at the third level, they know only this one technique—proof of how difficult it is."

"Through pleading, beggar cultivators stir pity in their targets, prompting them to give alms. Once they receive alms, they steal a portion of the enemy's combat power. The higher their cultivation, the more valuable the alms they receive, and the more combat power they steal."

"Your opponent is at Cloud Ascending—he holds a cultivation advantage. But as long as you don't hand him anything too valuable, he won't steal much from you."

"At the fourth and fifth levels, beggar cultivators learn the technique of playing the chi to beg for food. The effect is similar to pleading for pity—both steal a portion of the enemy's combat power."

"But pleading for pity is begging for alms, while playing the chi is forcing alms. You heard the beggar's tune—when facing a fifth-level beggar, if you hear the entire melody, you'll involuntarily give alms. The better he plays, the more you give, and the more combat power you lose."

"At the fifth level, the technique of playing the chi changes: you no longer need to hear the full melody. Even a short segment can trigger the technique. The length of that segment depends on the cultivation gap."

Li Banfeng frowned: "This is too annoying. Anytime I see someone playing music by the roadside, I might get tricked by a beggar cultivator."

"My lord is right. Beggar cultivators are extremely hard to guard against. Some don't even play music—they sing folk songs or tap bamboo clappers, all to gain alms."

"At the sixth level, beggar cultivators learn the technique of forcibly seizing alms—shifting from demanding alms to outright stealing them. The more alms they steal, the more combat power they take."

"At the seventh level, they learn the technique of thick skin and bold face. Just now, you said you encountered this technique during your fight."

"Among defensive techniques, thick skin and bold face is top-tier: solid defense, low cost—but the technique is slow to activate."

Li Banfeng recalled the battle and shook his head: "He struck before I could use Walk-Through-Flowers. His technique isn't slow."

"Oh my lord, you've learned Walk-Through-Flowers!"

Li Banfeng remained calm: "I borrowed it from Hong Ying."

Hong Ying stood beside Li Banfeng, holding his arm: "Yes, Seven borrowed it from me."

Slap!

The phonograph swung its wooden board and struck Hong Ying's buttocks hard, then said: "The reason he blocked Walk-Through-Flowers was his experience—he prepared in advance. Otherwise, he shouldn't have acted before you."

"At the eighth level, beggar cultivators learn the technique of One Bowl, Thousand Jin. This technique…"

Hong Ying said: "No need to worry about this technique—it's just using his bowl to trap someone. Beggar cultivators only have one bowl; until they retract it, they can't use the technique again. We're Traveling Cultivators—we're not afraid of this. One use of Unimpeded Passage breaks free."

Slap! Slap!

The phonograph swung the wooden board and beat Hong Ying's buttocks repeatedly: "What Traveling Cultivator? Who are you calling a Traveling Cultivator? All Traveling Cultivators deserve to die!"

Hong Ying rubbed her buttocks, pouting: "I meant Seven borrowed Unimpeded Passage from me…"

The phonograph said: "My lord, don't listen to this wench. Though One Bowl, Thousand Jin is countered by Traveling Cultivator techniques, it might have hidden variations—better to be cautious."

"At the ninth level, beggar cultivators learn the technique of Inch by Inch. This is their deadliest technique—you must guard against it with all your strength."

"Whether you fall victim to pleading for pity, playing the chi, or forcibly seizing alms—if you give alms, you risk triggering Inch by Inch."

"Unlike the previous techniques, Inch by Inch doesn't demand combat power. If the cultivation gap is wide enough, he can demand anything."

"At Cloud Ascending Level One, beggar cultivators learn the technique of Doubling Down. This is even deadlier. Inch by Inch demands one thing; Doubling Down, applied atop Inch by Inch, keeps demanding more."

"If Inch by Inch takes his left eye, Doubling Down takes his right eye."

"Once the right eye is given, it counts as alms—Inch by Inch can be used again to take his left hand."

"After Inch by Inch, Doubling Down takes his right hand as well."

Li Banfeng was stunned.

Is this even a technique?

An endless loop?

What kind of unreasonable technique is this?

"Once you're caught once, you never get a chance to fight back?"

"My lord, you still have chances to fight back. Beggar cultivator techniques are cruel, but heavily restricted."

"First, they must receive alms. Without alms, they can't use any technique except Thick Skin and Bold Face or One Bowl, Thousand Jin."

"Second, alms must be caught. As the saying goes: 'Begged food must not fall.' No matter how the alms are obtained, the beggar must catch them—they cannot touch the ground. If they fall, he must pick them up instantly, or they vanish in an instant."

"Third, the techniques are chained. To use Doubling Down, you must first use Inch by Inch. To use Inch by Inch, you must first use pleading for pity, playing the chi, or forcibly seizing alms."

"Especially Inch by Inch—it requires precise timing. The technique must be activated before receiving alms, but only takes effect after the alms are given. This timing is extremely hard to master."

Li Banfeng recalled his battle with the beggar cultivator.

He gave the beggar a piece of dried food. Before the food landed in the bowl, the beggar shouted: "Given, all given."

That was Inch by Inch—it must be activated before the alms are delivered.

"Wife, must he say 'given, all given'?"

The phonograph said: "Yes, my lord. That phrase is the key to Inch by Inch. Once he says it, you must guard tightly—don't let him take the alms."

"If he can't use Inch by Inch, he can't use Doubling Down. Losing a little combat power occasionally isn't too serious."

"Also, beggar cultivators often endure beatings and dog attacks to beg for food. By the nature of this path, they're all fast on their feet—be careful."

Li Banfeng nodded. He'd already experienced their speed—the beggar couldn't catch him, but he could still harass him for a while.

The phonograph added: "My lord, knowing his techniques alone isn't enough to defeat a Cloud Ascending cultivator. You must carefully plan your tactics."

Li Banfeng thought long and hard: "I've devised a tactic. I'd appreciate your advice, wife."

Hong Ying smiled: "We're family. No need for such formality."

Slap! Slap!

A flurry of blows made Hong Ying's buttocks tremble. The phonograph scolded: "My lord is addressing me. If you dare answer again, I'll tear out your tongue."

Li Banfeng explained his tactic. The wife pondered long, then praised: "This tactic is excellent—truly excellent. How did you think of it?"

Hong Ying also praised: "Our lord truly has cunning!"

The wife, an expert in battle, refined Li Banfeng's tactic. With Hong Ying's input and repeated revisions, it was finalized after three hours.

Night had deepened. Li Banfeng ate something, gathered his needed magic treasures, and prepared to leave.

The gourd must be taken—she has experience fighting beggar cultivators.

Tang Dao must be taken too—his experience exceeds even the gourd's.

Hong Ying murmured softly: "Seven, don't leave yet—I think I forgot something."

The phonograph sneered: "You forgot a beating. I'll teach you properly after my lord leaves!"

Hong Ying waved her hand: "Wicked woman, don't interrupt. It's right before me—I'll remember any moment."

Li Banfeng didn't want to wait: "Tactics always have flaws. Don't worry about it."

"Not just flaws—it's critical!" Hong Ying thought hard, then shouted: "My lord, wait! I remember!"

Slap!

"Who told you to call him husband? You've just been beaten too little!"

The paddle struck with a sharp, brutal crack; Hong Ying clutched her rear, rubbing it for a long while, then said to Li Banfeng: "Qi Lang, Yuan the Skinny Donkey's swordplay is excellent—you must be extremely careful."

Li Banfeng paused, thought for a moment, then said: "I've never seen him use a blade."

Hong Ying warned: "Then you must be even more careful—he's hiding a deadly move. Don't believe me? Ask Xiao Wan. Yuan the Skinny Donkey's swordplay is truly formidable!"

Chichi ~

The phonograph hissed out steam: "Is that so? I don't recall."

"How could you not remember!" Hong Ying exclaimed. "A saying still circulates in the army about Yuan the Skinny Donkey:"

"Three cuts in battle, each one taking an enemy's head! His first three strikes are especially deadly—Qi Lang, be extremely careful."

The Suishenju fell silent.

All the magic treasures except the Judge's Pen turned to look at Tang Dao.

Tang Dao stood in the corner, saying nothing.

Li Banfeng hung Tang Dao at his waist and left the Suishenju.

Hong Ying frowned: "Xiao Wan, what's wrong with Qi Lang?"

The phonograph spoke slowly: "It's fine. With Tang Dao, nothing will happen."

PS: In the Suishenju, Tang Dao mentioned "three cuts in battle, each one taking an enemy's head" only once—he thought the phonograph couldn't hear, but it did. See Chapter 189.

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(End of Chapter)