Chapter 709: Healing the Spring

"What did you just say about eyes?"

The phonograph burned red with its needle, Xiang Xiang Hongying held a long sword, and the two of them interrogated Hong Did Did Honglian together.

Hong Did Did Honglian replied calmly: "Eyes are something everyone has."

Her tone was very calm, but her heart was not.

She had just gone out; she had seen the appearance of the outside world and had established a connection with it.

Yet that moment had been so fleeting; now she was still in the Portable Abode, to the point that the moment just now seemed unreal.

Xiang Xiang Hongying swept her long sword across a lotus leaf: "Stop spouting nonsense. Did you do something just now?"

The lotus leaf pushed away the sword tip, and Hong Did Did Honglian said angrily: "I didn't do anything! If you come looking for trouble again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"Impolite? I've wanted to fight you for a long time!" Xiang Xiang Hongying raised her long sword, but suddenly heard a sound outside the door.

"The master is back!" The phonograph greeted the entrance, but saw Li Li Banfeng stumbling through the door, nearly falling to the ground.

The phonograph hurriedly supported Li Li Banfeng and sent him to the bed to rest for a moment. Looking at Li Li Banfeng's complexion, then checking his pulse, the phonograph exclaimed: "The master has been struck by Heavenly Light!"

"It really was you rigging the vote!" Xiang Xiang Hongying swung her long sword, intending to hack at Hong Did Did Honglian.

The phonograph stopped Xiang Xiang Hongying: "Don't be hasty yet. Sister Hong Did Did Honglian, what exactly is going on here?"

Upon hearing the phonograph's tone, Xiang Xiang Hongying put away her long sword.

Li Li Banfeng was no longer the White Bai Bai Gaozi of years past; with his cultivation today, occasionally being struck by Heavenly Light once could be considered gaining a bit of Dao affinity, so the problem shouldn't be too great.

But judging from Li Li Banfeng's current condition, he hadn't just been struck by a little Heavenly Light; the problem at hand was very serious.

Xiang Xiang Hongying said no more. If Xiao Wan couldn't save Seventh Brother, the only one left who could save him was Hong Did Did Honglian.

Hong Did Did Honglian's attitude also improved slightly: "I was sleeping just now, and I don't know how, but I suddenly came out from home. I saw Seventh Brother fighting someone. I originally wanted to go up and help, but as a result, I had a connection with that person in the sky.

I knew something big was wrong and wanted to persuade Seventh Brother to come back quickly, but I don't know why, I came back first. As for the rest, I don't know either."

The rest was obvious: Li Li Banfeng had been severely injured by the Heavenly Light.

Having roughly figured out the sequence of events, the phonograph said to Hong Did Did Honglian: "Sister, put other matters aside for now. First, heal our master."

Hong Did Did Honglian did not agree: "Things must be made clear first. This is your man, not mine. If I save him and you turn your back on me and settle scores later, who will care if I live or die then?"

The phonograph immediately promised: "You can rest assured about this. As long as the master is safe and sound, I will absolutely not settle scores later."

Hong Did Did Honglian opened a lotus leaf and pulled a contract paper from the heart of the lotus: "Empty words are no proof. You must draw up a contract."

The contract paper Hong Did Did Honglian made herself was of extraordinary quality. The phonograph did not hesitate in the slightest and signed the contract on the spot. Hong Did Did Honglian cut open Li Li Banfeng's blood vessel with a lotus leaf and said to the phonograph: "Whether he can be saved depends on the exit."

TO

The phonograph brought over a puppet body and had Xiang Xiang Hongying prepare on the side.

The Peddler jumped into the courtyard and saw Zhong Er lying at the entrance, while in the side room, the Lightbulb was still sprawled on the windowsill.

He entered the room and nearly slipped; after stumbling to regain his footing, he saw Did Did Honglian Buda poking his head out from under the quilt.

"Why did you only just get here?" Did Did Honglian Buda's face was deathly pale, and he was drenched in sweat.

The Peddler didn't answer, instead asking, "What just happened?"

Did Did Honglian Buda said, "Shu Wanjuan found me. I set a fire to signal you, but you never came, and I was about to lose to Shu Wanjuan.

Later, Old Seven arrived, and the two of us together managed to get the upper hand against Shu Wanjuan, but then, I don't know how, the Heavenly Light came. It came with such ferocity that Old Seven and Shu Wanjuan fled, I don't know where."

"Fled?" The Peddler looked around and saw the key to the Leaving Suishenju under the tea table.

Li Qi had fled in a great hurry; it was clear he hadn't had the strength to hide the key properly. He had been severely injured by the Heavenly Light.

The Peddler asked Did Did Honglian Buda again, "You withstood the Heavenly Light?"

Did Did Honglian Buda nodded and said, "I slipped past it."

The Peddler was stunned: "You could slip past even that?"

Did Did Honglian Buda nodded: "I've encountered Heavenly Light before when I was trapped. Big Did Did Honglian Buda couldn't hide, so I trained myself to have a set of skills, using oil to slip past the Heavenly Light."

The Peddler and Did Did Honglian Buda looked at each other, silent for a while.

Did Did Honglian Buda looked at the Peddler's face and said, "You're hurt?"

The Peddler nodded: "A small injury, it's nothing. Those two outside seem to be hurt too."

Did Did Honglian Buda was shocked: "They must have been caught in the crossfire of the Heavenly Light."

He got out of bed, ran outside, helped Zhong Er up, and checked on the Lightbulb's condition.

These two hadn't been in the room and weren't directly struck by the Heavenly Light, only catching some of the afterglow, but the light was so fierce and their cultivation was insufficient, so they were also quite badly hurt.

Did Did Honglian Buda turned back and asked the Peddler: "Do you have any Soul-Returning Soup?"

"I do." The Peddler responded, walked out of the room, and Did Did Honglian Buda's room vanished in the blink of an eye.

This was the use of a Locking Technique.

Did Did Honglian Buda frowned and said: "Why did you lock my room?"

The Peddler said: "I'm afraid Shu Wanjuan left a trap. I have to clear it out completely before I can open this room again."

Did Did Honglian Buda was a bit angry: "At least give me a heads-up! I still have things inside I haven't taken out!"

The Peddler smiled: "It's fine. Whatever you're missing, just have Old Seven buy it for you."

【Tag 709-53 is incomplete/corrupted in source】

... was fierce, and it kept chasing Old Seven to shine on him.

Old Seven couldn't dodge it, so he went all out, hugging Shu Wanjuan and letting the Heavenly Light shine on them both. I don't know where the two of them ended up."

"I'll go look for them; they shouldn't have gone far." The Peddler jumped over the wall, grabbed two bowls of Soul-Returning Soup, and returned to the courtyard.

Did Did Honglian Buda took the soup bowls and asked the Peddler: "Why didn't you push the truck in?"

The Peddler gave a vague answer: "It's not very convenient. I'm leaving now."

Watching the Peddler's disappearing back, Did Did Honglian Buda felt something wasn't right, but he couldn't figure out what.

The Peddler stood beside the truck, replaying the entire process, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

The reason he had locked the bedroom was because he had seen Li Qi's key inside the room.

As long as Li Qi returned to the little train, he would definitely have a way to deal with Shu Wanjuan; he wasn't worried about that.

He was worried about something else: he was afraid Did Did Honglian Buda had touched Li Qi's key. He couldn't trust Did Did Honglian Buda right now because Shan Chengjun had arrived far too coincidentally.

Looking at the truck, the Peddler couldn't help but sigh.

After a moment of internal struggle, he gritted his teeth and hoisted the truck onto his back.

The truck was very heavy, bending the Peddler's waist.

The Peddler walked a few steps with the truck on his back, his eyes bloodshot, and he couldn't help but curse: "Shan Chengjun, you son of a bitch!"

Tufang Kingdom, Wuxian City. Shan Chengjun hugged a truck wheel, smiling with satisfaction.

The people around him couldn't smile; they were all injured and didn't understand why Shan Chengjun was laughing.

Shan Chengjun stroked the spokes of the wheel one by one: "You all take a good look, see what kind of craftsmanship this is, see how many methods are hidden inside? Do you know how much skill it takes to make a wheel like this?"

Everyone remained silent; they couldn't see much value in this single wheel.

But this didn't affect Shan Chengjun's mood. He wiped the hub over and over: "This is a great victory. Who among you would dare to imagine that the Peddler couldn't even look after his own wheel at the time? Who among you would dare to imagine how desperate the Peddler was at that time?

If we can take his wheel this time, next time we can dismantle his truck, and the time after that, we can take his life. As long as Puluo Continent doesn't have him—" Shan Chengjun shuddered halfway through his sentence. Everyone thought he had been struck by the Peddler's technique and subconsciously distanced themselves from him.

Shan Chengjun had someone put the wheel away and said to the crowd: "I'm going to deal with some matters and will be back in a while."

Leaving the residence, Shan Chengjun came to the shore and plunged into the sea.

After swimming for a long time in the sea, he entered a mountain cave.

After diving through the cave for a while, Shan Chengjun surfaced, waved his sleeve, and shook off the water; not a single drop remained on his body.

After walking through the cave for a while, Shan Chengjun stopped in front of a stone wall: "Private matters should be discussed privately, but on the surface, we each serve different masters. It's a bit inappropriate for you to come to Wuxian City to find me."

There was no response from inside the stone wall. Shan Chengjun sighed and said: "The information you gave me was quite accurate; the Peddler did indeed come, but the news came too suddenly. I couldn't gather good hands in time, so this battle wasn't easy.

Although I didn't kill the Peddler, I did win. I took the wheel off his truck; I'll show it to you another day."

There was still no sound from behind the stone wall.

Shan Chengjun was getting annoyed: "What do you mean by not speaking? Do you think you've been shortchanged? Let me tell you, if I hadn't gone today, the Peddler wouldn't have let you go, and you would definitely have lost your life. We help each other; neither of us owes the other."

As his voice fell, Shan Chengjun heard a sound from the other side of the stone wall.

He wasn't sure what the other party's intentions were. After waiting for a moment, he went around to the other side of the stone wall and took a look.

Shu Wanjuan was standing on the other side of the stone wall; only half of his body remained.

This half-body wasn't very agile either. The dying Shu Wanjuan stretched out a hand, stroking the wall,

silently watching Shan Chengjun.

Shan Chengjun squinted and said: "You've ended up like this, what's the use of looking at me?"

Shu Wanjuan stared fixedly at Shan Chengjun; this was his last hope.

"Still want me to save you?" Shan Chengjun smacked his lips, "It's not impossible, but the price we agreed on before will have to be renegotiated."

Shu Wanjuan rolled his eyes. His intention was clear: as long as Shan Chengjun was willing to save him, everything was negotiable.

But Shan Chengjun was still a bit hesitant: "If the Demon Lord finds out about this, I'm done for. If Lan Qiao Yi finds out, you're done for. If I kill you quietly, neither of us will be done for. Don't you think that's the best of both worlds?"

Shu Wanjuan couldn't answer.

However, there was one thing Shan Chengjun was right about: Lan Qiao Yi absolutely could not find out about this.

Shang Kingdom, Chaoge.

Lan Qiao Yi sat in Xinxiao Garden, watching Xie Gong and Zhu Jin play chess.

Xie Gong controlled the right hand, Zhu Jin controlled the left. Mid-game, the fighting was fierce. Xie Gong played a white piece, and Zhu Jin couldn't think of a way to respond.

He looked at Lan Qiao Yi, wanting Lan Qiao Yi to offer a suggestion.

Lan Qiao Yi shook his head and sighed: "To watch such a rotten game and yet see you two fighting so enthusiastically, it's really difficult for me."

Zhu Jin remained silent, but Xie Gong couldn't help himself.

He felt he hadn't played this game badly: "Brother, why don't we start a new game and play a round?"

Zhu Jin nodded repeatedly: "It's been a long time since I've seen Big Brother play chess."

Lan Qiao Yi still shook his head: "Your chess skills still need polishing. If you really were to play against me, neither of you would last until the mid-game."

Xie Gong smiled: "Brother is right. Those who don't play chess must have the highest chess skills."

This was clearly a provocation, but Lan Qiao Yi didn't mind: "When playing chess, first look at the overall situation, then the current state, and only at the end compare the tactical moves.

You two play chess, and your tactical moves are not bad, you barely look at the current state, but you can't see the overall situation at all. It's fine as a pastime, but in my eyes, this doesn't count as a real chess game."

Xie Gong put down his chess piece: "Since Brother is willing to offer guidance, I really do have a matter I'd like to ask Brother about. Shu Wanjuan has expressed his loyalty and wishes to serve the Imperial Court, yet Brother let him go to the Demon Lands alone to maneuver. If there were any mishap, the court would lose a loyal minister and good general. Does Brother's action truly show a clear view of the overall situation?"

Lan Qiao Yi smiled; he knew Xie Gong had always had opinions on this matter: "It is precisely because I see the overall situation clearly that I let him go to the Demon Lands alone. The root of the overall situation here lies in order and chaos."

Xie Gong said: "I would trouble Brother to explain in detail."

Lan Qiao Yi said: "The Great Shang's governance lies in order. Whether it's employing people, handling affairs, etiquette, laws, or the hierarchy of status,

everything must be orderly.

Shu Wanjuan has unparalleled talent, and now he has repeatedly expressed his heart to the court. According to the rules, this person should be heavily employed, but he already has quite a reputation among the feudal lords. How should he be heavily employed? By making him a Prince of the Blood?"

Xie Gong still didn't understand: "Since Brother wants to restrict Shu Wanjuan, why send him to the Demon Lands? Once he achieves great things in the Demon Lands, even if Brother doesn't want to make him a Prince, I'm afraid it will be hard to convince the public."

Lan Qiao Yi shook his head and smiled: "Achieving great things in the Demon Lands is by no means easy. The crux of the Demon Lands lies in chaos—chaos so deep it's unwatchable, chaos so deep it's incomprehensible, chaos so deep that the Lord of the Demon Lands is running around all day, unable to look after anything else.

But if one day, the Demon Lands are no longer chaotic, how should the court deal with it? Over these many years of chaos, the Demon Lands have cultivated countless powerful figures. If these figures were to point their swords at Chaoge, how should we respond?"

Zhu Jin laughed: "Big Brother, you worry too much. With just this group of grass-roots, how could they shake Chaoge?"

Lan Qiao Yi put away his smile, his expression serious: "The Master of the Craftsman Sect is still in Great Shang. Have you forgotten?"

He was talking about Eunuch Train. Zhu Jin certainly hadn't forgotten: "Big Brother, that mad craftsman was trapped by us."

Lan Qiao Yi added: "The Lord of the Demon Lands has spies all over Great Shang. Don't you know that?"

Zhu Jin said: "The Peddler has planted some spies here, but to say they are all over the place is a bit of an exaggeration..."

Lan Qiao Yi added: "He He Haiqin has come to Chaoge twice to steal the contract. Is this also an exaggeration?"

Zhu Jin stopped talking; this matter couldn't be cleared up.

Lan Qiao Yi sighed: "We've grown used to hearing nice words, and the ministers in court have grown used to hearing them too, all thinking the powerful figures of the Demon Lands are like ants and weeds, not worth worrying about.

Little do they know, every time we go to war with the Demon Lands, we must be extremely cautious. We must first see the overall situation clearly, then control the state of affairs, and finally use schemes and methods to defeat the enemy, only then can we remain invincible!"

Xie Gong said in a low voice: "I know there are many difficulties, but talented people like Shu Wanjuan

should be heavily employed. Even if it's just a title, it shouldn't chill people's hearts."

Zhu Jin nodded: "Even a nominal title would be fine. If someone like Li Qi can be made a Prince, not making Shu Wanjuan a Prince really doesn't make sense."

Lan Qiao Yi frowned; these two disappointed him.

"Making Li Qi a Prince was to sow discord among the powerful figures of the Demon Lands. This was never a reward; how can you confuse the two?

If Shu Wanjuan were made a Prince, other capable ministers would use this to demand rewards. How many princely titles would Great Shang have to give out?

Making Li Qi a Prince creates chaos in the Demon Lands; making Shu Wanjuan a Prince creates chaos in Great Shang. Can you not even see this painstaking effort?"

Xie Gong and Zhu Jin lowered their heads and said nothing. Lan Qiao Yi had long known that the relationship between these two and Shu Wanjuan was unusual. He also knew other things: "I heard Shu Wanjuan also has dealings with Shan Chengjun. I haven't received any letters from Shu Wanjuan these past few days; we should send someone to investigate his whereabouts."

While they were talking, Zhu Jin's hunting dog brought a rabbit and squatted at his feet.

Zhu Jin took the rabbit and praised: "Deserves a reward!"

He took a meat bone from the plate and threw it on the ground.

Shu Wanjuan opened his eyes, sat up with difficulty, and looked up at Shan Chengjun.

Shan Chengjun hugged the truck wheel and smiled: "How much Heavenly Light did you absorb? Do you know how much capital I spent to save your life? Our contract must be renegotiated. I've already written it; just press your handprint."

Shu Wanjuan took the contract and looked at it, his face full of panic: "You are forcing me into unrighteousness!"

Shan Chengjun smiled: "If I were truly unrighteous, I wouldn't have saved you. Besides, why are you acting so high and mighty in front of me? Back then, for the sake of the Foolish Cultivation technique, we went to Foolish City together. When you were taking action in the city, why didn't you think about what righteousness was?"

Shu Wanjuan looked at the contract again: "This cannot be, cannot—"

"Not signing, are you?" Shan Chengjun put the truck wheel aside, "Then you'll have to return this life to me."

Shu Wanjuan looked at himself; his body was still only half-remaining, not yet fully restored.

Shan Chengjun tore a piece of skin from his wound, and fresh blood flowed out: "Use this blood to press your handprint."

The Phonograph, Xiang Xiang Hongying, Hua Jiuer, Did Honglian, and a group of people from the household sat around the bed,

watching Li Li Banfeng.

Meng De nodded to the crowd, signaling that Li Li Banfeng had awakened from his dream.

Li Li Banfeng opened his eyes and sat up.

Seeing Li Li Banfeng's movements were very fluid, without any stiffness or sluggishness, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Did Honglian also proudly opened her petals: "Since you trusted me, you shouldn't have had any doubts. I said I could save him, and I could save him!"

The Phonograph was also quite grateful: "Sister Did Honglian, this time it's all thanks to you."

Li Li Banfeng said: "Wife, why are so many people surrounding me?"

The Phonograph said: "Do you know how many days you've been asleep?"

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "I don't know."

The Phonograph puffed out steam: "You haven't opened your eyes for three whole days. You scared me to death!"

"Three days!" Li Li Banfeng looked annoyed, "What a waste!"

Xiang Xiang Hongying said: "What's a waste?"

Li Li Banfeng said: "If we were in the New Land, and I had secured a plot of territory, I could have hidden at home for three days, and the territory would have been opened up!"

Hearing this, the crowd burst into laughter. The Phonograph said: "This madman still knows how to tell jokes."

Li Li Banfeng laughed for a moment, held Xiang Xiang Hongying's hand, and said: "Wife, it's my fault for making you worry."

The Leaving Suishenju went quiet instantly.

The Wine Gourd felt its own breathing was too loud and hurriedly covered its gourd mouth.

The Judge's Brush wrapped the newspaper on its body a bit tighter.

The Glove threw a silver dollar on the ground, which rang out several times—each sound was very crisp and heard clearly.

"Oh my, look, whose money fell!" It wanted to change the subject, but it didn't succeed.

No one looked at the silver dollar on the ground; everyone was looking at Li Li Banfeng.

His hand was still gripping Xiang Xiang Hongying's.

*Hoo-whee! Hoo-whee! *

The Phonograph trembled slightly.

"Seventh Brother," Xiang Xiang Hongying trembled even more, "What did you just call me? Call me that again."

"I called you Wife!" Li Li Banfeng called out again.

Xiang Xiang Hongying sobbed, and tears fell.

The Phonograph shuddered, and two records shattered.

Did Honglian turned around and muttered: "I'm old; I can't bear to watch this—"

Li Li Banfeng touched Did Honglian's heart and said softly: "Xue Yingying, you were worried about me too."

Did Honglian turned her heart and looked at Li Li Banfeng carefully with her seven holes.

Hua Jiuer tugged at Li Li Banfeng's lapel: "Ah Qi, what's wrong with you?"

Li Li Banfeng pushed Hua Jiuer away and scolded: "I saw long ago that you didn't have good intentions! You were even shouting outside that Heaven has eyes. Did I mistreat you or what, that you have such a grudge?"

The crowd looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

Did Honglian turned to leave, but the Phonograph hooked her heart with a stylus: "What's going on? Why has Husband become like this?"

Did Honglian broke free from the stylus: "This can't be blamed on me. You were the one who said saving his life was enough!"

The Phonograph said angrily: "But you can't drive someone crazy!"

Did Honglian defended herself: "He was crazy to begin with!"

"What the hell are you saying?" The Phonograph and Did Honglian began to fight.

Xiang Xiang Hongying tried to mediate: "Zhao Xiao Wan, don't worry, I think Seventh Brother is quite good right now!"

The Tang Dao also advised: "Harmony in the family brings prosperity. This Did Honglian isn't one of us; we can't let her off!"

The crowd fought more and more fiercely, and the Projector hurriedly recorded this precious scene.

Fearing someone might hurt Li Li Banfeng, the Glove took Li Li Banfeng and dodged left and right, diving under the bed.

Hua Jiuer followed under the bed and said to Li Li Banfeng: "Ah Qi, don't scare me. Take a good look,

do you still recognize me?"

Li Li Banfeng smiled: "I recognize you, you're Hua Jiuer, my Senior Sister!"

【Tag 709-190 is corrupted/incomplete】... make it clear, don't let them fight!"

Li Li Banfeng crawled out from under the bed and shouted: "Stop fighting! I was just joking with you all!"

The crowd stopped one after another. Xiang Xiang Hongying tugged at Li Li Banfeng's lapel: "Husband, what joke?"

Li Li Banfeng glared at Xiang Xiang Hongying: "Can you just call anyone Husband? You're not my wife!"

Xiang Xiang Hongying's eyes were filled with tears: "You madman, do the words you just said not count anymore?"

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "My wife is a passionate person; she can boil hot water and puff out hot steam. Can you do that?"

Xiang Xiang Hongying couldn't hold it back anymore, and tears fell again.

【Tag 709-197 is corrupted/incomplete】

The Phonograph laughed: "Recognizing his wife in bed, recognizing his shoes when he gets out of bed—Husband isn't wrong about that point."

"That's for sure!" Li Li Banfeng hugged the Old Lao Chahu, "Wife, let's go back to the room."

In the blink of an eye, he entered the third room.

From the room came the Old Lao Chahu's shrill scream: "Old Seven, no, no! I'll fight you to the death!"

PS: Can boil hot water, can puff out hot steam—the Old Lao Chahu can do it!