Chapter 223: Husband Sings, Wife Follows

Chapter 223: Husband Sings, Wife Follows

Is this man really the Fort Lord of Iron Gate Fort? He wants me to lead men to attack Iron Gate Fort? What is he thinking? What exactly is he trying to do?

He Zhenlei was deeply conflicted.

The teeth that had been knocked out of his mouth still lay on the bed beside him, a silent reminder of what had happened.

He pushed the door open and looked outside. The guards were gone. Alive or dead, none of them were there. Not a single body, not a single trace. It was as if they had vanished without a sound.

He Zhenlei was terrified. He curled up on the bed and didn't sleep the entire night.

At daybreak, He Zhenlei took his men and headed down the mountain toward Iron Gate Fort. By now, he had figured it all out.

That man must have killed Little Ma and took his place as Fort Lord. He must be after the same thing as Zhou Juan. Using Flying Eagle Mountain to scare the Homebound Cultivators in Iron Gate Fort, then squeezing them dry for profit. The only difference is that he is much more ruthless and violent.

Still, anyone who can sneak onto Flying Eagle Mountain and act so ruthlessly is not someone you want to mess with. Picking a fight with him would only bring trouble. Better to do as he says... and head to Iron Gate Fort...

He Zhenlei led more than a hundred bandits to the gates of Iron Gate Fort.

A group of Homebound Cultivators was already waiting at the entrance, ready for a fight. In terms of strength, they were far stronger than the bandits from Flying Eagle Mountain. However, they lacked real combat experience. Many of them were visibly tense facing such a large formation.

The Homebound Cultivators on the platform kept banging gongs and drums, trying to alert the fort.

Li Banfeng frowned. "Yongchao, tell them to cut it out. The enemy is already at the gate. What's the point of sounding the alarm now? Tell the brothers in the boiler room to get ready. If they force their way in, release the steam immediately. Scald as many of them as you can."

"Everyone else, get your weapons ready. If the gate falls, we fight them inside the fort. Use everything you have got. This is no time to hold back!"

Wu Yongchao quickly passed on the order, and the Homebound Cultivators began making their preparations.

He Zhenlei stepped up to the gate and shouted, "People of Iron Gate Fort, we have been neighbors for years and always kept to our own sides. However, you have caused trouble for Flying Eagle Mountain again and again. You were the ones in the wrong, so don't blame me for showing no mercy.

"I will give you three days. Gather ten thousand silver dollars and send them up the mountain. If even a single coin is missing, don't blame me for being ruthless. I will wipe you all out. Not even the chickens or dogs will be spared!"

"Let's go!"

After saying his piece, He Zhenlei turned and led his men away.

He actually withdrew!

Li Banfeng flew into a rage! That very night, he went straight up Flying Eagle Mountain again.

He Zhenlei, thinking everything was settled, had just crawled into bed. He hadn't even warmed the sheets when the door burst open.

In came Li Banfeng. He dragged He Zhenlei straight off the bed, threw him onto the floor, and beat him like a drum.

He Zhenlei was a level-three Martial Cultivator, so did he really have no way to fight back against Li Banfeng? If he dared to fight back, he would have lasted a few moves. The problem was that he didn't dare at all!

Li Banfeng wore Zhou Juan's belt, and the pressure he gave off was far more terrifying than Zhou Juan had ever been.

"What exactly do you want?" He Zhenlei really had no idea how to deal with this Fort Lord.

"What do I want?" Li Banfeng smashed a punch into He Zhenlei's face. "I told you to lead your men to attack Iron Gate Fort, and you didn't even lift a hand. You barked a few empty threats and walked away? You think you can toy with me? Who gave you the guts?"

"Friend, I was just following your instructions, trying to scare them..."

"Who the hell is your friend? Who are you trying to scare?" Li Banfeng slapped him again. "Listen carefully. Tomorrow, you take your men there again, and this time you fight for real. Use everything you have got. If you dare try to fool me again, I will hang your head on your own mountain by tomorrow."

After Li Banfeng left, He Zhenlei sat on the bed, bruised and battered. He stayed there in a daze the entire night.

The next day, he led his men back to Iron Gate Fort. This time, he didn't dare to bluff. The moment they arrived, he led his man charging straight to the fort.

There were three core principles to Deception Cultivation. The first one was that the deception remains believable as long as one doesn't act.

Now, He Zhenlei had made his move.

More than a hundred bandits charged at the gate.

They had no siege equipment, no proper enchanted artifacts or spirit-bound items. They simply rushed forward head-on.

The second principle of Deception Cultivation was just as straightforward: as long as no one sees the act, the deception still holds.

But now, everything was laid bare. The Homebound Cultivators saw it all clearly.

The bandits rushed the gate, only to be blasted by scalding steam. Screams rang out as they staggered back in pain, and even those who managed to endure it had no way to break through the iron gate.

The third principle of Deception Cultivation went like this: even if people see what you are doing, as long as they don't understand it, the trick still works.

But this time, there was no trick left.

The Homebound Cultivators saw everything, clear as day.

When it was over, more than thirty of them were already down. If their stronghold chief hadn't been standing there, barking orders and holding them together, they would have scattered on the spot.

So this was the real strength of Flying Eagle Mountain. Nothing special at all. Whatever deception they had relied on had completely fallen apart.

For all these years, Flying Eagle Mountain had ruled the region. Not because they were truly strong, but because Iron Gate Fort made them look that way.

Everyone knew Iron Gate Fort was strong, easy to defend and difficult to breach. Everyone also knew the fort had endured Flying Eagle Mountain's oppression without ever fighting back.

So naturally, everyone believed Flying Eagle Mountain was far stronger.

But today, that belief shattered. The lie was laid bare for all to see.

When he saw that the bandits of Flying Eagle Mountain no longer dared to press the attack, Li Banfeng gave the order without hesitation. "Open the gates. We are going out to fight."

With a deep rumble, the eight massive iron gates swung open.

Li Banfeng took the lead, charging out with more than a hundred Homebound Cultivators right behind him.

On this first charge, even Li Banfeng wasn't completely sure of himself, and the Homebound Cultivators were even less confident.

Many of them hadn't stepped outside the fort in years. The moment they passed through the iron gates, some couldn't even tell which way was which.

Their formation quickly fell apart, and they used their abilities in a scattered, uncoordinated way.

Only the level-four Homebound Cultivators managed to stay somewhat composed. They used the ability Golden House of Hidden Beauty and sent clay figures, stone figures, and paper figures charging ahead.

The level-one and level-two Homebound Cultivators could only rely on their basic physical strength, charging forward without any real plan.

A few level-three Homebound Cultivators realized things weren't going according to plan. Panic set in, and they immediately activated Return Like an Arrow, turning around to flee back toward the fort.

This first battle for the hundred-plus Homebound Cultivators was far from impressive. They barely managed to bring out even thirty percent of their strength. Even so, that was enough. They easily drove the bandits back.

The bandits did have combat experience, but only when it came to bullying ordinary people with no cultivation.

He Zhenlei charged at the front, with his men trailing behind, shouting and crying out as they ran.

With weapons in hand, the Homebound Cultivators chased after them, eyes bloodshot with killing intent.

At the front, Li Banfeng pushed the windmill-powered gramophone, its battle song blaring as he led the charge.

「 The banners fly high, the warhorses cry,

Spears on our shoulders, cold sabers nearby,

Hot blood is rising, no fear left inside,

Like a wild, raging tide we can never deny. ♪ 」

The battle song lifted everyone's spirits, and his wife's singing drew in wandering souls.

The souls of the slain bandits gathered around the gramophone. Seizing the moment, Li Banfeng swept them all into his Pocket Dwelling.

The Gramophone Wifey feasted to her heart's content. Meanwhile, He Zhenlei fled in utter misery. Of the men he had brought, almost all had been wiped out.

After returning to Flying Eagle Mountain, He Zhenlei counted the survivors. Including those guarding the gate and the odd-job workers, only a little over seventy people remained.

He Zhenlei let out a long sigh as he realized that he couldn't continue this line of work anymore. After this battle, Flying Eagle Mountain's reputation would be completely ruined.

All he could do now was lie low in the stronghold for a few days, then find another place to make a living. However, Li Banfeng gave him no chance to recover. That very night, he came again.

"You did well today. Bring your men again and attack again tomorrow."

"Fight again?" He Zhenlei dropped to his knees with a heavy thud. "Fort Lord, I will even call you grandpa if I have to... just spare me! I really can't attack anymore. Please, just give me a chance to live!"

Li Banfeng slapped him. "You won't attack? Don't you miss Little Ma? I can send you to see him."

He Zhenlei burst into tears. "GRANDPA! I WILL ATTACK OKAY! Just tell me how. How do I attack Iron Gate Fort so you will spare my life?"

Now that's an acceptable attitude

, Li Banfeng muttered inwardly. With that, he agreed and said that as long as He Zhenlei went all out in tomorrow's attack, this matter would be considered settled.

He Zhenlei agreed at once. Li Banfeng then took out a blank sheet of paper. "Bind a contract with me. This way, I won't have to come looking for you again."

I have to sign a contract for something like this...?

Holding the brush, He Zhenlei stared at the paper for a long time, not knowing what to write.

Li Banfeng slapped him. "Write. What, you can't read or write?"

"I... I really..." He Zhenlei sobbed so hard he could barely speak.

Li Banfeng slapped him again. "Cry. Cry harder. Writing while crying makes you seem more sincere."

When dawn came, He Zhenlei went. He didn't know what it meant to attack with everything he had, but he knew one thing. If he didn't go, that Fort Lord would never spare him.

The Homebound Cultivators had already seen through Flying Eagle Mountain's true strength. This time, they gave up defending altogether and charged out to meet them head-on.

The battle lasted just over ten minutes and Flying Eagle Mountain was completely wiped out.

He Zhenlei died at Wu Yongchao's hands. At the moment of his death, he didn't seem to be in much pain. There was even a faint hint of relief on his face.

Li Banfeng was very satisfied with how the Homebound Cultivators had performed. He paid out of his own pocket and had Wu Yongchao buy ingredients to hold a victory feast that night.

After returning to his Pocket Dwelling, Li Banfeng was greeted by a wave of warm steam.

"HEYAAAAAAAAA~ HUSBAND DEAR~" she cooed sweetly. "Ever since I took that Profound Essence Pill, I have been feeling a little weak. But now that you have brought back all these fresh ingredients, I have recovered quite a bit. So... don't you think it's about time we shared a little affection, as husband and wife?"

"I am ready," Li Banfeng said with a faint smile as he leaned toward the horn.

Half an hour later, his face was flushed, and sweat clung to his forehead. He wiped it away and sat beside his wifey, quietly listening as she sang

The Song of Four Seasons

.

「 When springtime comes, green paints the pane,

A maiden sits beneath her window,

embroidering mandarin ducks,

Within the grand residence, where love has grown,

The husband sings, the wife echoes his tone,

their hearts in harmony, never alone! ♪」

I am a level-five Homebound Cultivator!

Li Banfeng burst into a loud laughter.

He first went to the fifth room. At the very end, he found the entrance to the sixth.

A sharp screech rang out. The Crimson Lotus crackled softly, offering its congratulations.

Li Banfeng gave a meaningful smile and carried the Crimson Lotus into the sixth room.

The moment the Crimson Lotus entered, she felt that she would never return to the main room again. In fact, she might never even go back to the second room.

Returning to the main room, Li Banfeng asked his wife, "The Deep Court Domain ability allows you to extend your strength beyond the house. What kind of strength can I bring outside?"

Tap, tap~

Pop... crackle... pop...

The Gramophone tapped out a quick, wooden rhythm, each beat sharp and steady. Her voice rose with it, "Husband dear~ keep the beat, keep it neat~ Your cultivation has just reached the fifth level, among the masses you have taken a high seat~

"Not that this humble one boasts, oh no, not I, but the finer abilities are still beyond your reach~

"The path of cultivation must move step by step, not rushed, not skipped, each level complete~

"So come, let me teach you first to sing for this skill of mine is the finest one I have~"

Li Banfeng knew just how powerful his wife's singing could be. If he could master it himself, he wouldn't have to lug that windmill-powered gramophone around anymore.

"Wifey, let's start with

The Pretender

. I like that one."

The Gramophone tapped out the rhythm and taught him line by line. Li Banfeng followed along, repeating each verse in turn.

After half an hour of singing, his wife's rhythm grew uneven.

Huff... pop... crackle... pop...

"Husband, stop for now... my heart aches."

Li Banfeng froze. "Wifey dear, is it because I'm not singing well?"

"You are singing very well. It's just... this voice..." The Gramophone replied with difficulty, the melody faltering. "It isn't your fault. Perhaps The Pretender simply doesn't suit you."

Li Banfeng stood up at once. "If singing is not my thing, then I will dance. I can dance too. Let me perform for you..."

When the Gramophone saw Li Banfeng dancing, she felt worse.

"Husband, don't dance. Put down the feather duster first... When I watch you, my heart aches even more. You should learn a different song another day. This one truly doesn't suit a man.

"As for the level-five ability, you have already grasped the essentials. When you use it, you must think about the way I sing. As long as your thoughts are right, your singing will follow."

"As long as I think right, I will sing right..." Li Banfeng murmured, as if something had clicked.

He picked up the feather duster again. "Wifey dear, let me try once more. I will sing while I dance. If anything's wrong, just point it out."

"Not so fast... Husband dear~ Another day... another day..."

***

The next day, Li Banfeng stepped out of the Pocket Dwelling and wandered through the fort. It didn't take long for him to notice how quiet it was.

Wu Yongchao hurried over. "Fort Lord, none of the vendors showed up today. Not a single one."

Li Banfeng asked, "Did the fighting these past two days scare them off?"

Wu Yongchao shook his head. "Yesterday, I went to the market to buy food and drinks for the celebration feast. I told the merchants everything was settled, and they even agreed to come today to do business."

Li Banfeng walked to the iron gate and looked out at the empty road. A faint, familiar scent seemed to drift through the air.

He had smelled it before, back at Yu Nan's cloth shop.

"Tell everyone in the fort to stay on high alert," he said. "For the next few days, no one is to step outside unless it's absolutely necessary."

Wu Yongchao asked, "Should we shut the gates?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "We can't close the gates. Once they are shut, they won't be easy to reopen. Gather a few level-four Homebound Cultivators. Let's have some fun with these birdbrains."

Author's Note:

PS: Actually, Banfeng is not a bad singer. It's just that his voice was a bit too alluring.