Chapter 806: Water and Fire in Harmony, Song Without End

At six in the morning, the newsboy shouted fiercely: “Extra! Extra! Lady Lu’s eldest daughter barely escaped death; her entire family fled the city to avoid disaster!”

A man gave the newsboy a dollar, bought a newspaper, and as the boy reached for change, the man waved him off: “No need for change.”

“Thank you, sir!” The newsboy happily took the bill—it was his first sale of the morning.

The cold wind blew, but the newsboy felt no chill; he shouted louder, and soon sold another paper, receiving fifty cents in coins.

He put the coins in his pocket, then realized the earlier dollar bill was gone.

Where’s the money?

Did I drop it when I reached into my pocket?

No, I didn’t touch my pocket again after putting the money in.

The newsboy sniffed his icy nose, slapped himself hard—this dollar, hard-earned, was gone.

In truth, he’d never actually earned that dollar; the man who bought the paper was Hao Lianwu, the leader of the Illusion Cult, who had merely tested his illusion technique on the boy.

At Yuanzhu Fang, he entered an abandoned Western-style mansion and handed the newspaper to Lu Xiaolan: “The Lu family will leave Green Water City tonight, departing on a special train.”

Lu Xiaolan glanced at the paper: “Didn’t you say the main goal against the Lu family was to lure out Li Qi? Now you want to ambush the train? Are you planning to wipe them all out?”

Hao Lianwu sat by the fireplace, extending his hands to warm them—the fireplace was an illusion, originally just a pile of firewood.

“Li Qi is on that train. He’ll escort the Lu family out of the city.”

Lu Xiaolan reread the newspaper: “It doesn’t mention Li Qi at all!”

Hao Lianwu smiled: “Li Qi won’t expose his whereabouts in the papers. Master Yu said he has no real ability—just a coward who hides behind Zhao Xiao’s backing. Now the Lu family has begged him for help; he couldn’t refuse, so he’s forced to show up.”

Lu Xiaolan stared at Hao Lianwu, puzzled: “How do you know Li Qi is on the train? Did you guess?”

Hao Lianwu shook his head: “Not a guess. I’ve confirmed it—on the Lu family’s special train is a steam phonograph, identical to the one Zhao Xiao is possessed by.”

Lu Xiaolan thought a moment, then said: “Our own special train had a steam phonograph too—I remember buying it years ago.”

Hao Lianwu pulled out a photograph: “This is a handcrafted phonograph from Amikan, extremely rare. Its unique structure can dispel the curse binding Zhao Xiao, which is why she can possess it.”

“Such a treasure is one in a million—look closely. Is it identical to yours?”

Lu Xiaolan studied the photo for a long time: three horns, one cabinet—it looked exactly the same.

But seeing how thoroughly Hao Lianwu had prepared, having clearly done extensive research, Lu Xiaolan said nothing—she knew little of Zhao Xiao.

Hao Lianwu held the photo, his expression grave: “Zhao Xiao is on the train. Li Qi must be too. Our mission’s success hinges on this one chance.”

Lu Xiaolan smiled: “If we kill both Li Qi and Zhao Xiao and bring them back to Hao Capital, Master Yu’s reward might be more than just a marquis title.”

Hao Lianwu shook his head: “Master Yu gave us no further promises. We mustn’t overreach. Zhao Xiao was once the empire’s most capable general—and its most hated rebel. She’s not easy to kill!”

“I can control her for a time. Within that window, you must kill Li Qi. It’ll rely on my illusions—and your skill.”

Lu Xiaolan recalled past encounters with Li Qi. She’d never seen Zhao Xiao, but she’d never gained the upper hand against Li Qi.

“My mother sent several experts to deal with Li Qi—they all died at his hands. He may not be as easy to handle as you think.”

Hao Lianwu sighed: “I truly don’t want to waste more words explaining this. I know what you mean—those so-called experts Zhuo Yuling hired were ground-level cultivators. And you didn’t even witness their fight.”

“With Zhao Xiao’s power, crushing ground-level cultivators is trivial. That has nothing to do with Li Qi’s true strength. Let me say this once more: our main target is Zhao Xiao.”

“Still, we can’t rule out Li Qi has other allies—he’s connected with many high-ranking cultivators in Pulu Province. You must kill him in one strike. I’ll create the perfect opening for you.”

Lu Xiaolan asked: “What do you mean by the perfect opening?”

Hao Lianwu added a log to the fireplace: “I’ll give you full disguise.”

“Who are you going to make me look like?”

Hao Lianwu said: “Li Qi is suspicious. From my investigation, Lu Chunying rarely met Zhao Xiao privately, and no one else on the train has easy access to her.”

“To gain Li Qi’s trust, the safest way is to make you look like Zhao Xiao.”

Lu Xiaolan froze: “You want to turn me into a phonograph?”

Hao Lianwu shook his head: “Not necessarily a phonograph. We still don’t know Zhao Xiao’s true state. According to Master Yu’s clues, she can absorb souls to restore her body. I suspect she’s regained partial human form—but likely cannot stray far from the phonograph.”

Lu Xiaolan asked: “What does Zhao Xiao’s human form look like?”

Hao Lianwu handed her a stack of documents: “There are no Zhengmian descriptions of her appearance. These are her past records. Study them now—don’t let your mannerisms betray you.”

“Appearance is my task. Once I control Zhao Xiao, I’ll immediately use illusion to transform you into her likeness. Your job: kill Li Qi silently, without alerting anyone.”

Lu Xiaolan carefully read the documents, marking them with a pen: “The records are clear—Zhao Xiao is no longer the famed general she once was. I estimate her current strength barely exceeds that of a wounded demon Sha .”

“I still think we should bring her back to Haozhou alive. Achieving glory isn’t easy—this free opportunity shouldn’t be missed.”

Hao Lianwu remained cautious: “We’ll decide based on Zhao Xiao’s condition when the time comes.”

Li Banfeng boarded the Lu family’s special train. Lu Chunying had prepared a private carriage for him.

After departure, everyone gathered in the dining car for hotpot. Lu Chunying nervously asked: “Seventh Brother, do you think they’ll take the bait?”

Li Banfeng dipped a slice of lamb into the broth, estimated the odds: “Sixty percent chance they’ll fall for it.”

Lu Chunying stared at the lamb on his chopsticks: “Seventh Brother, is it because this lamb is six-tenths cooked?”

Li Banfeng ate the lamb and nodded: “The broth’s good. Bring a pot to my carriage later.”

Xiao Yeci sipped the broth: “The broth really is good, Master. Why don’t you eat with us?”

Lu Chunying huffed: “Seventh Brother brought his sweetheart on board and won’t even show her to us!”

“So she’s his sweetheart!” Xiao Yeci bit her chopstick tip, feeling sour inside—but dared not show it.

Seeing Xiao Yeci’s gloomy expression, Li Banfeng thought she was afraid.

“Don’t worry. If that woman truly came for revenge, she won’t miss this train. Once she boards, it’ll be easy.”

“If she doesn’t come for revenge, I’ll take you to a safe place. Before I find her, I guarantee your safety.”

Lu Chunying asked: “Where’s this safe place, Seventh Brother?”

Li Banfeng said: “San Tou Cha.”

At the name San Tou Cha, Lu Chunying stared blankly: “That’s a safe place?”

Xiao Yeci said: “San Tou Cha is safe! Qiu Brother is there, and many high-level cultivators too!”

»

Lu Chunying still couldn’t believe it—San Tou Cha was once the most dangerous place in Pulu Province, now deemed the safest.

A train attendant entered the dining car and asked Li Qi directly: “Next stop: Huangtu Bridge. Should we add coal?”

In Pulu Province, all trains had attendants—even special trains—otherwise they couldn’t cross borders. This attendant was specially recommended by Ma Wu.

Li Banfeng checked the time—it was exactly seven.

Huangtu Bridge bordered Green Water Bay. Li Banfeng asked: “Adding coal after just one stop? Isn’t that premature?”

The attendant replied: “Add coal at Huangtu Bridge, and you’ll all be awake. Add it at Heishipoe, and you’ll all be asleep.”

Li Banfeng stared at the attendant for a long while.

Xiao Yeci asked: “Can’t you add coal if we’re asleep?”

The attendant said nothing and left the carriage.

Xiao Yeci felt awkward: “Did I say something wrong?”

Li Banfeng remembered why Ma Wu recommended this attendant—he gave useful advice, but only two sentences per matter, never more.

Just now, Li Banfeng had been watching the attendant for the characters on his body. Since the time was short, he only caught part of it:

The conductor’s name is Tie Yanjian. His form resembles a green pine burdened with snow; his spirit, cold iron tempered in frost.

His lips open like a sluice controlling a flood; his words carry deliberate intent. When he finishes, it’s as if a key has locked a golden chest—no excess, no waste.

When faced with confusion, he sits upright, speaks clearly, uttering two pearls: one to enlighten, one to shatter doubt.

Asked: “Why not three?”

Answered: “If one sentence is incomplete, it’s my fault. If two sentences fail, it’s your stupidity!”

“This guy’s got personality,” Li Banfeng grunted. “Add coal at Heishipoe. We’ll be asleep—will Heishipoe run out of coal?”

Lu Chunying hesitated whether to speak—she thought Li Banfeng should understand the attendant’s hint: “Seventh Brother, the attendant warned us—adding coal at Heishipoe might bring trouble.”

Li Banfeng smiled: “Isn’t that exactly what we’re waiting for? I’m full. Bring the pot to my carriage.”

Lu Chunying was genuinely frightened: “Seventh Brother, don’t leave yet. Have another drink. Let me play you a tune. Bring the phonograph from my carriage!”

Two attendants carried the phonograph in. Lu Chunying said: “I heard from Fifth Brother that Seventh Brother loves phonographs. This is a handcrafted Amikan model—only one in all of Pulu Province.”

Li Banfeng stared at the phonograph for a long time—it looked exactly like his wife!

Lu Chunying quickly added water, oil, and lit the flame: “Seventh Brother, listen—this steam phonograph is different. No winding needed—it moves on its own.”

Li Banfeng nodded: “Yes. It moves on its own.”

“Seventh Brother, the sound is unlike any other phonograph.”

“Yes. None sings as well as her.”

“Seventh Brother, just listen a little longer.”

Li Banfeng nodded: “Yes, I should listen longer. Bring this phonograph to my carriage too.”

Lu Chunying had no reply—but since he asked, she couldn’t refuse.

They moved the phonograph to his carriage. Li Banfeng summoned his wife from the Lian Kuo Cave Chamber. The couple ate hotpot and listened to the record.

His wife stared at the phonograph, deeply moved: “Beloved husband, only two steam phonographs were ever made in Amikan. I never thought you’d get this one too.”

Li Banfeng lifted the oil can: “Seeing it reminds me of you. I can’t bear to put it down.”

His wife punched him lightly. Together, they oiled and watered the phonograph.

“Beloved, do you know where the Lu family bought this phonograph?”

Li Banfeng shook his head—he truly didn’t know.

Zhao Xiao sighed softly: “To ordinary people, it’s just a rare curiosity. To me, it’s a lifesaver.”

Li Banfeng was startled: “Did the phonograph save you?”

Zhao Xiao fiddled with the needle, hesitated long, then spoke: “I’ve never told you this. When we first met, I didn’t trust you—I didn’t want to tell you the truth.”

Once I trusted my husband, I feared he’d despise me, so I dared not tell him the truth.

Li Banfeng frowned: “Since the day I met you, I’ve cared for you—you said to buy vegetables, I bought them; you said to oil the wheels, I oiled them. How dare you say I despise you?”

Zhao Xiaowan blushed and said: “Meeting my husband is my fortune. Today, I’ll tell you the truth.”

Back in Suihuang Plain, I used the alias Huang Yuxian, leading the Iron Bone Seed and the soil of Neizhou in battle against Tufang. Before the war ended, I was killed by a Curse Master Ancestor.”

Curse Master Ancestor.

Li Banfeng had no memory of this person: “Was this person male or female? What was their name?”

“Her name was Hen Wuyou, a woman. At the time, I was focused entirely on Tufang and never expected her to launch a surprise attack.”

Li Banfeng pondered: “Wife, isn’t Hen Wuyou allied with Tufang?”

The wife shook her head: “Hen Wuyou had no contact with Tufang.”

“Then was she sent by Shang?”

The wife shook her head again: “She never joined Shang. She relied on no one but herself.”

She waited for both sides to grow weary from prolonged warfare, then swooped in to reap the benefits. To be fair, this woman was cunning—she cast curse spells on both me and Tufang’s commanding general.”

It sounds absurd, but while I was still trying to outmaneuver Hen Wuyou, Tufang’s general was tortured twice by her.”

He surrendered outright. Tens of thousands of Tufang troops fell under her control. She seized the wolf’s den with empty hands—this was truly an extraordinary tale.”

“What happened next?” Li Banfeng’s eyes widened. “You were cursed too—how did you fight her?”

The wife sighed: “I panicked at first, but after two clashes, I realized Hen Wuyou couldn’t command troops. I endured the curse and fought her twice, easily destroying thirty percent of her forces.”

With heavy casualties and morale collapsing, Tufang learned their army had fallen into Hen Wuyou’s hands and sent another force to punish her.”

Trapped between internal and external threats, Hen Wuyou sought an ally. But when that ally arrived, something even more absurd happened.”

Li Banfeng looked at Zhao Xiaowan: “Precious wife, was the ally she sought none other than Dan Chengjun?”

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The wife burst out laughing: “You guessed right—it was Dan Chengjun. Dan Chengjun could hold off a thousand troops single-handedly and was no slouch in command. But he had one flaw—he was just like Hen Wuyou in temperament.”

He stayed in the army for three days, then turned against Hen Wuyou. They fought, and Dan Chengjun nearly killed her. She vanished afterward.”

That wicked woman had no sense of justice—Dan Chengjun was the one who hurt her, yet she took out her rage on me. Before leaving, she deliberately worsened her own wounds and completely detonated the curse on me. I lost my life, and my soul nearly slipped away.”

Li Banfeng asked: “What kind of curse was so powerful? Is there no way to dispel it?”

“I don’t know what spell Hen Wuyou used, but the method to dispel it was discovered by the Spy Master sent by the Peddler.”

That Hen Wuyou was truly cruel—she set the cure as water and fire in harmony, endless song. You must find a suitable vessel to inhabit, just to barely preserve your soul.”

At the time, the Peddler was locked in fierce battle in Baicun County, and Suihuang Plain could not be lost. So he sent Baiqiao Niang, a disciple of Old Train, to save me.”

Baiqiao Niang learned the situation and made me a water pot, instructing me to inhabit it.”

I asked her: “How is this pot ‘water and fire in harmony’?”

She said: “Put a stove underneath it, burn it daily—that’s water and fire in harmony!”

Li Banfeng thought it over and nodded: “But what about ‘endless song’?”

At this, the wife’s veins bulged: “That fool added a whistle to the teapot! She said when the water boils, the whistle sounds—that’s ‘endless song’!”

Li Banfeng thought again and nodded: “That makes sense—”

“Makes sense?!” the wife snorted. “That pot only goes ‘dudu du’—it doesn’t sing a single note! If I inhabited that pot, I’d be soul-dispersed within two days.”

As I was about to collapse, a foreigner arrived in Suihuang Plain and delivered a steam-powered phonograph.”

He was strange—he first asked if the machine could work. I checked—it did. Water and fire in harmony? Check. Endless song? Check. So I accepted it.”

To my surprise, the foreigner was overjoyed. He ran off on his hands, shouting as he ran: ‘I did it! I did it!’”

Li Banfeng blinked: “What did he ‘do’?”

The wife sighed: “Later, Baiqiao Niang told me he was Claude Sae, chief of the White Falcon Alliance and leader of Mount Qixing. He owed the Peddler a favor and repaid it with this phonograph.”

Baiqiao Niang said this deal was a loss. I say it wasn’t—I used this phonograph to drive Dan Chengjun away.”

But my soul was wounded, my mind gradually fading. I feared I’d ruin the army, so I left Suihuang Plain alone.”

I made many enemies in Pulu Province and dared not reveal my identity. I hid everywhere, my soul wound never healing. Had I not met you, I might have become a demon, a monster—or vanished from this world entirely.”

As the wife recounted her past, Li Banfeng grew increasingly entranced. Unaware, they reached Heishipo. The train stopped to refuel, and Li Banfeng prepared to buy snacks at the platform.”

“Husband, I’m not hungry,” the wife gazed at the phonograph. “I want to hear more songs.”

“Wait a moment, wife. I’ll get the records from Lu Chunying.”

Li Banfeng left. Zhao Xiaowan stepped near the phonograph, gently touching the horn, lost in nostalgia. Suddenly, a voice cried: “Ai niu!” The carriage door opened.

The wife: “Husband, already?”

Li Banfeng came and went without warning—Zhao Xiaowan was used to it.

But when she turned, the figure entering was not Li Banfeng—it was a circular ring.

At first glance, the ring was dazzling, its size matching a carriage window.

After a moment, the ring expanded violently, stretching beyond the window. Its light rapidly dimmed, and wherever it passed, all light vanished—only darkness remained.

Zhao Xiaowan’s face turned ashen, like a clay statue. She stood frozen.

Li Banfeng returned with the records, seeing Zhao Xiaowan seated on the bed, gazing at him with tender affection.

“Wife, I brought all the records. Which one do you want to hear?” Li Banfeng placed a stack of records before Zhao Xiaowan.

Zhao Xiaowan lowered her head, blushing: “I leave it to you.”

Li Banfeng picked one, pointing to the cover: “Let’s listen to this one. What do you think?”

Zhao Xiaowan nodded: “I like this one too.”

Li Banfeng placed the record on the phonograph’s turntable. Cheerful gongs, drums, and flutes began to play:

“I see you off beyond the village, I have words to say: Though flowers bloom everywhere, don’t pick the wild blossoms by the road, M—”

This was Li Banfeng’s favorite song. Though the first time his wife sang it, she terrified him, after singing it, she finally spoke to him.

“Wife, do you remember this song?”

“Of course I do!” Zhao Xiaowan took Li Banfeng’s hand, pulled him onto the bed, and stripped off his shirt and shoes.

Li Banfeng stared at her, eyes gleaming: “Wife, are you going to—”

“Yes, I am!” Her voice was slightly muffled—she held a green, oily worm in her mouth. It could devour malice. This was a technique her mother taught her, meant to counter Traveling Cultivators.

She gently stroked Li Banfeng’s cheek. His gaze grew increasingly dazed.

Her nails rapidly lengthened, about to slash across his throat.

Li Banfeng suddenly vanished. “Zhao Xiaowan” froze in shock.

“Where did you—”

Boom!

A gash exploded open on “Zhao Xiaowan”’s chest, blood spurting.

What technique is this?

Galloping Through Flowers!

Why did Li Banfeng suddenly turn on her?

Did he see through her?

Lu Xiaolan clutched her wound, trying to flee the carriage.

Boom!

As soon as she left the bed, her entire body exploded into a pile of mush, collapsing on the floor.

Barely alive, Lu Xiaolan squinted toward the bedside.

Li Banfeng had put on his shoes and was tying them.

“You must know your wife when you get on the bed. You must know your shoes when you get off.”

This was Li Banfeng’s rule for House Cultivators.

After tying his shoes, Li Banfeng kicked the air beside the window.

Boom!

A muffled thud echoed in the air. Hao Lian clutched his chest and collapsed.

He had concealed himself with illusion, waiting to ambush—but he couldn’t escape Li Banfeng’s Golden Eyes’ Sharp Vision.

That kick carried the force of shattering ten thousand rivers—solid and unyielding.

Hao Lian, grievously wounded, gritted his teeth, struggled up, twisted his wrist in midair, and seized Zhao Xiaowan’s throat.

The real Zhao Xiaowan slowly appeared by the door. Her face remained pale, her eyes dull, offering no resistance—ready to have her neck snapped.

Hao Lian growled: “Li Qi, don’t move. Move one inch, and I kill her!”

Da da da!

Gongs and drums sounded. Zhao Xiaowan, tears in her eyes, sang slowly: “Husband, don’t move! If you move again, this fine meat in the pot will turn to scraps!”

Hao Lian was stunned. Wasn’t Zhao Xiaowan under the control of the Great Totem? How could she sing?

“I’ll take your lives!” Lu Xiaolan drew a deep breath and forced out a guttural scream.

“Oh husband! She says she wants to kill us—that’s terrifying!” Zhao Xiaowan sang along. Lu Xiaolan choked on blood and fell silent.

Hao Lian tried to flee, but before he could cast his illusion, his chest wound split open again, blood gushing.

Zhao Xiaowan sighed and continued singing: “Husband, my body has healed. I didn’t plan to run this black inn anymore, but fools keep barging in—unseeing, unthinking!”

“Guests come, we treat them well!” Li Banfeng used the Linked Chamber Technique, sending both of them into his Personal Dwelling.