Chapter 456: Withering

Is the Demon Land really Pulu Province?

This conclusion left Li Li Banfeng somewhat baffled.

Is it me who's wrong, or is it the peddler?

Things can be thought about slowly, but the immediate problem must be resolved quickly.

He He Caiyuan was still alive, though his body had been twisted into a knot; some of his joints were twitching.

He wasn't dead, so this was manageable—Li Li Banfeng picked him up and shoved him straight into the Sui Shen Ju.

But the giant toad was also alive, though it showed no sign of life, it was undeniably still alive.

This toad was so huge—not only could it not fit through the Sui Shen Ju's door, it couldn't even fit inside a single room. How could he be brought in?

Not bringing him in wasn't an option—he was a purebred Neizhou native; even if we didn't eat him, we couldn't leave him here to attract trouble.

Try forcing him in.

Li Li Banfeng first opened the Sui Shen Ju, then grabbed the toad's head and dragged it inside.

Just the toad's head filled the entire doorframe; Li Li Banfeng tried to yank harder when suddenly the Sui Shen Ju shouted: "Wait!"

Li Li Banfeng said: "What's wrong? Did you break the door?"

The Sui Shen Ju sneered: "Such fine ingredients shouldn't be wasted like this. Step aside."

Ingredients?

When had the old man ever cared about this?

The glove laughed: "When we find something good, our old master suddenly has energy!"

The doorframe of the Sui Shen Ju bent from straight to curved, the entire entrance twisting.

Ge Ge Junma's body twisted too—first flattened, then stretched, finally becoming a ball that slipped through the door.

This meatball took up most of the main room; Li Li Banfeng's bed had been moved to the second room by the Sui Shen Ju.

Even compressed into a ball, Li Li Banfeng still felt the toad's body had shrunk considerably.

"Is this toad's size… off?" Li Li Banfeng asked quietly.

The glove chuckled: "After passing through our old master's hands, how could it still be right? Why don't we go check the third room?"

Li Li Banfeng entered the third room and saw all the oil drums filled to the brim.

"Old master, where did this oil come from?"

The Sui Shen Ju laughed: "Toad oil can burn too!"

So it can be used as fuel—Neizhou natives have so many uses!

The phonograph called out from the main room: "Sisters, our man brought back something delicious! This toad isn't ordinary—just one bite in your lifetime won't be a waste!"

Tang Dao rushed forward: "Madam, don't just think of the sisters—don't forget the brothers!"

The sickle followed close behind: "I'm the big knife—I stand in front, you get behind."

Meng De emerged from the calendar and stood quietly beside the meatball.

Earings, still recovering from serious injury, moved slowly; the pendulum supported her as she reached the meatball.

The teapot called out: "Who'll lend an old man a hand? I was injured in that fierce battle!"

The wine gourd sneered: "If you're injured, don't eat—go find a quiet place to rest."

Li Li Banfeng asked the glove: "Aren't you in a hurry?"

The glove laughed: "Hurry for what? If the First Lady hasn't finished, who dares lift their chopsticks? I'll wait till she's done—then I'll eat faster than all of them."

"Hmph!" The judge's pen had woken up somehow; regardless of whether the phonograph approved, it plunged straight into the meatball.

The music box waited obediently nearby, the tiny copper figure on its turntable gazing at the meatball with eager anticipation.

The phonograph took a bite of the toad's soul and forgot all dignity, shouting: "This toad is delicious!"

Hong Ying frowned: "Just eat already—you're always so fussy, insisting on eating it alive!"

Hong Hong Lian watched Li Li Banfeng from the ninth room and gently unfurled her lotus leaf.

Eating first was impossible—she could only hope these hungry ghosts left some scraps.

After the Lady finished the soul, everyone picked up their chopsticks. Watching the harmonious family atmosphere, Li Li Banfeng smiled and left the Sui Shen Ju.

He was exhausted—the Sui Shen Ju was too noisy; he wanted to return to his study and sleep.

At the garden gate, Li Li Banfeng saw the couple still lying in the snow.

Sleeping this deeply?

That won't do—if they have no cultivation, they'll freeze to death here.

Li Li Banfeng was about to wake them when he suddenly heard them whispering.

"Why am I in your arms?"

"I don't know."

"Let me go."

"I won't let go."

The woman said: "If you won't let go of me, I won't let go of you either."

The man said: "I'll never let you go—even if you let go of me."

Li Li Banfeng said: "I'll count to three—you both let go together."

They kept their eyes shut, clinging tightly, pretending to be asleep.

You might say they're annoying—but sometimes they're rather endearing.

Li Li Banfeng summoned a carriage, gave the driver some money, and told him to take them to an inn.

Back at Yan Sha Zhai, Li Li Banfeng lay on his bed, his whole body numb and limp.

Too tired?

Not just tired—it felt like some force was surging inside him.

Is he about to ascend?

Possibly!

After tonight's fierce battle, amid danger, the Lv Xiu's cultivation advanced significantly—perhaps he's reached the eighth level.

His eyelids grew heavier; Li Li Banfeng was about to fall asleep.

Did he forget something?

Forget it—so much happened tonight; he'd think about it tomorrow.

The next morning, Li Li Banfeng sprinted to Willow Garden.

He remembered what he'd forgotten—he'd left the projector behind.

Because of its unique combat method, the projector had to be pre-positioned to function properly, and sometimes Li Li Banfeng forgot to retrieve it.

The projector was still on the tree, its lens flickering with firelight.

"Seventh Director, you're back!"

Li Li Banfeng held the projector: "I'm back."

"Is the battle over?"

"It's over."

"Did we win?"

"Brother, we won!"

"Good." The projector's voice was weak, weary, yet filled with the pride of victory.

Last night, the projector had seen the giant toad's corpse and watched the peddler easily defeat He He Caiyuan.

But as long as Li Li Banfeng hadn't given the order, the projector never slackened—he remained steadfast on the tree, faithfully carrying out his cover mission.

Li Li Banfeng carried the projector and nervously opened the Sui Shen Ju, finding the room spotlessly tidy.

He ventured cautiously: "Lady, did you finish eating?"

"Hmm…" The Lady glanced at the projector's flickering lens and sang slowly, "Brother Projector, why are you only returning now? Was it cold outside?"

The projector replied: "Thank you, Madam, for your concern. Did I return too late?"

"Too late?" The phonograph's voice carried a hint of guilt. "Beloved husband, soul matters are my domain—ask Xue Yingying about the rest."

Li Li Banfeng turned to Hong Ying: "That huge toad—you ate it all?"

Hearing Li Li Banfeng's anger, Hong Ying nervously replied: "I didn't know—it was so big? I didn't even see how big it was! Ask Hong Hong Lian—she handled the leftovers."

If Hong Hong Lian handled the leftovers, what was there to ask?

"What about the old man's corpse?"

"An old man?" Hong Ying recalled last night. "I remember—the toad meat was too greasy, everyone got tired of it, so we switched flavors… and then… it was gone."

"What about the poison cultivator?"

"That thing was spicy and crisp—just an appetizer. Long gone."

The room fell silent for a long moment; then the Sui Shen Ju spoke: "A-Tao, you always hide things—I know you do. Hand it over to A-Ji—she did the heavy lifting last night!"

The glove said: "Old master, I did hide a piece of meat—Tang Dao stole it, he's always hungry!"

Tang Dao burped, leaned against the wall, and said nothing.

"A-Ji… try to understand…" The Sui Shen Ju sighed softly and fell silent.

Li Li Banfeng looked down at the projector, his voice trembling: "Brother… I'm sorry…"

"Art… has withered." The firelight behind the lens went out.

…

Huangtu Bridge, the peddler pushed his cart down the street, calling out: "Foreign soap, snow cream, snow cream!"

The peddler called out weakly.

There was no one on the street—who was he calling to?

The peddler pushed his cart two streets away and didn't see a single beggar.

As he passed through an alley, just as he was about to leave, a rickshaw puller arrived with his carriage: "Sir, would you like a ride?"

The peddler smiled: "Do I look like someone who takes rides?"

"Sir, don't worry—I'm out today just to learn the routes, I won't charge you, I'll give you a free ride!"

The peddler frowned: "Even if you give me a free ride, I can't sit—you've got my cart to deal with."

"I'll pull your cart too—just get in quickly."

The peddler stuck his drumstick into his cart, looked at the puller, and frowned slightly: "Stop wasting my time with chatter—speak your business, or I'm leaving."

The puller set down his rickshaw: "Peddler Sir, help me out—my territory's about to collapse; if this keeps up, it'll turn into old earth."

The peddler laughed: "So that's why you're being so polite today—you've got trouble."

"Turning into old earth? Good—saves me the trip. Nothing sells here, I'm just wasting time."

The puller said: "Peddler Sir, you're old friends with my master—you can't just stand by and let me die!"

The peddler frowned: "How dare you mention your master? He entrusted you with a proper territory—look what you've turned it into!"

"It's not my fault! For years, Huangtu Bridge wasn't under my control—it was all that bastard Sāngménxīng's doing!"

"Not your fault?" the peddler laughed. "You didn't stay put in your territory—you went out pulling rickshaws, giving Sāngménxīng the opening. Who's to blame?"

The puller lowered his head: "I was careless then, but I've taken back my territory now."

"Don't pat yourself on the back," the peddler sneered. "Sāngménxīng was killed by Yao Xin—you didn't reclaim your territory, you just picked it up. Do you think I don't know?"

The puller nodded frantically: "Yes, I picked it up—but it's back, isn't it? You can't just watch this proper land turn to old earth!"

The peddler sighed: "With no people here, what can I do? Find someone who can bring in qi to help you."

The puller said: "I've already found someone—I heard there's a man named Li Qi in Lüshuicheng. He's powerful—he carved out Qiuluoye's territory all by himself. You know him well—could you put in a word for me?"

"Put in a word? How? Should I say, 'Li Qi, do me a favor and help this rickshaw puller'?"

"Yes!" the puller nodded. "In all of Like Puluozhou, who has more influence than you?"

The peddler chuckled: "Even if I did have that kind of influence, why should I risk my reputation for you?"

The puller lowered his head: "Then tell me—what should I do?"

"Go find Li Qi yourself."

"I'm afraid he won't listen to me."

"Empty words mean nothing—why should he listen? Trade is trade—no debts, no favors. If you want someone to help you, pay them."

The puller nodded: "If you'll just introduce me, you can let Li Qi take anything from my place."

The peddler looked around: "Give Li Qi your rickshaw."

"No!" the puller cried. "That was left to me by my master—I can't give it away!"

The peddler sighed: "Then tell me—what else in this dump of yours is even worth anything?"

…

In the morning, Li Li Banfeng woke up and went to the study to read.

The whole family, stuffed from too much food, had been sleeping in these past two days and made no noise.

Behind the projector's lens, a cluster of flame flared to life.

He floated in midair, silently entering Room Five.

Nine rooms total—Room Five stood in the center, isolated from the others, the quietest spot.

The room held little furniture: only a leather sofa, a rosewood table, and a vase.

The projector was placed on the table; its lens showed the image of the vase.

"Hehehehe~" the projector laughed.

The low, hoarse laugh woke the glove, which followed the sound to Room Five.

Inside, the glove saw the projector sitting on the table, its lens glowing with flame, sweeping back and forth across the sofa.

"Brother, what are you doing here?"

The projector spoke in a melancholy tone: "I am here, contemplating the philosophy of art."

The glove sighed: "Stop overthinking—what's past is past. With our master, you've got plenty to eat and drink. Why worry about one meal?"

"You're right, Brother Tao. Go rest. I only hope this experience helps me uncover deeper truths of art."

The glove left Room Five and walked to the Four Gates. He turned back for one look.

Something seemed missing from Room Five just now.

Where was the vase?

PS: What happened to the projector?

(End of Chapter)