Chapter 20: Top-Tier Luxury Mansion

The peddler pointed out the first path, suggesting Li Banfeng settle directly in a perilous place.

On the surface, it seemed like an excellent plan, but upon closer inspection, it was quite preposterous.

It seemed good because it offered a solution: settling in a perilous place would perfectly solve the problem of staying there for a night.

Not just one night; he could stay several. Hiding in his own home would also increase his chances of successfully dealing with dangers.

It was preposterous because how would he live the rest of his life?

"Was I supposed to live my entire life in a perilous place?"

The peddler comforted Li Banfeng: "Don't be so pessimistic. Once you cultivate a House Spirit, ordinary enemies won't be able to enter your home, and you can still live peacefully."

"I can cultivate a House Spirit?"

"Yes! Perilous places are full of vengeful spirits, which are perfect for nurturing House Spirits. Take Lianying Valley in Yaowang Gully, for example. This valley has a very strong yin energy, which has nourished many vengeful spirits. Countless people have died on that mountain; it's a typical perilous place. This is a great place: quiet, and most people wouldn't dare disturb you. If you set up your home in Lianying Valley and stay for half a year to establish a foundation, you can cultivate a House Spirit. The House Spirit will absorb the vengeful spirits, growing stronger and greatly benefiting your future cultivation."

Li Banfeng pondered for a moment, then asked a seemingly simple but critically important question: "What are vengeful spirits?"

The peddler blinked, quite surprised. "Didn't you receive a higher education? Do you really need to ask me what vengeful spirits are? They're just ghosts, ghosts filled with intense resentment."

So, they were ghosts.

Li Banfeng's brow relaxed. He tried his best to control his emotions, forcing a faint smile.

He imagined his future life: living with many vengeful spirits in a deep, secluded valley. What a cozy period that would be.

Perhaps it wouldn't just be a period; a Home Cultivator practices within their home, and might end up living in the valley for their entire life.

Li Banfeng looked at the peddler and asked seriously, "Won't the vengeful spirits in the valley harm me?"

"That's a good question," the peddler replied earnestly. "Vengeful spirits are bound to harm people, but you'll have a House Spirit. It will help you fend off their attacks."

"What if the House Spirit can't fend them off?"

The peddler's expression grew more serious: "You must have confidence. You must believe in the House Spirit's power, believe in your own will, and believe that there are no insurmountable difficulties in this world. Whether you believe in yourself or not, I believe in you! You can do it!"

Li Banfeng thought about it and felt the peddler made a lot of sense. But he had another question: "Before I cultivate a House Spirit, who will protect me?"

"Well..." This question hit a crucial point. The peddler pulled out a stack of yellow paper, adorned with various runes. "These talismans will be enough to protect you for three to five months. By then, your House Spirit should have been cultivated."

"And then? Even with a House Spirit, I can't hide in my home every day. I'll still need to go out to find food, right? Am I not a Traveling Cultivator? Don't I still need to roam around? When I leave my home, how will I face the vengeful spirits?"

"If you could run faster..." The peddler couldn't justify it further and changed the subject. "You don't necessarily have to be in Lianying Valley; there are other places..."

"What difference would other places make? I'm a Traveling Cultivator; I still need to roam around. With your method, going out would be a death wish."

If it were just once or twice, that would be fine. But settling in a perilous place means even grocery shopping puts my life at risk. How am I supposed to live like that?

The peddler sighed softly. "Actually, tempering oneself in perilous places also benefits Traveling Cultivators. But if you're unwilling, then so be it. There's another path."

The peddler slapped his counter, and a drawer slid open, revealing various large and small miscellaneous items inside.

After searching for a while, the peddler took out a key from the drawer: a brass key, slightly shorter than an index finger, with patches of verdigris.

"Since you don't want to settle in a perilous place, I'll give you another house."

"What kind of house?"

In Li Banfeng's view, no house could resolve the conflict between a Home Cultivator and a Traveling Cultivator.

"This house is very special, a priceless treasure in this world. If I didn't value rules and reputation, I would absolutely never part with such a good thing for you." The peddler extended the key, twisted it three times counter-clockwise, performing a door-opening motion.

He used the key to open a door in the air.

His movements were serious, as if there truly was a door in front of him.

He turned, looked at Li Banfeng, and beckoned him. "Come, I'll take you in to see the house."

"Go in?"

"Go in where?"

There was only empty air in front of them.

"Come on!" The peddler's expression was very serious.

Li Banfeng approached the peddler but still saw nothing.

The peddler's expression remained serious.

Li Banfeng looked at the peddler and said, "I know a Dr. Wang, an attending psychiatrist at Yuezhou Third Hospital. He's a very good person. Why don't you go see him..."

The peddler pushed Li Banfeng, who took a few more steps forward.

Suddenly, everything went dark. The wilderness, the large trees, the bonfire, the counter, and the straw mat were all gone.

Flicker!

The peddler struck a match, and in its faint light, Li Banfeng could make out his surroundings.

It was a room, not a very large one, roughly three meters wide and two meters long, about six square meters in area.

The room was empty; there was nothing but mottled walls, not even a window.

The match was about to burn out. With one foot inside and one foot outside the doorway, the peddler told Li Banfeng, "The door will close soon. What happens next is very crucial. You must throw the key outside the door, to an appropriate spot, before it closes."

With that, the peddler threw the key out.

Outside the door was a patch of mist, and Li Banfeng couldn't see where he had thrown the key.

Slam!

The door slammed shut, the match went out, and the room plunged into complete darkness.

Flicker!

The peddler struck another match. This time, he lit a candle and held it.

"Look carefully," he said, "this is the house I'm giving you."

Li Banfeng looked around. "If you told me this was a room, I'd believe you. But if you say it's a house..."

This "house" was simply too small.

"This is a house, one of the most precious houses in the world."

"What makes it precious? Is it because it's invisible?"

Before the peddler opened the door, Li Banfeng hadn't seen this "house." Clearly, it had the ability to be invisible.

"It's not just as simple as invisibility," the peddler chuckled. "This house moves. Wherever the key goes, it follows. As long as you carry the key, it will always follow you."

Li Banfeng was stunned.

If what the peddler said was true—that this was a mobile house—then the conflict between Traveling Cultivators and Home Cultivators would be completely resolved.

But could such a house truly exist?

"Don't believe me?" The peddler smiled. "You can try it."

With that, the peddler opened the door and led Li Banfeng outside.

As soon as their feet crossed the threshold, their vision was obscured by thick fog.

The moment the door closed, the thick fog immediately dispersed, and Li Banfeng found himself standing in a patch of wild grass.

The peddler bent down, picked up the brass key from the wild grass, and handed it to Li Banfeng.

"Let's go somewhere else." The peddler walked a few hundred meters with Li Banfeng, entering a patch of woods.

"Insert the key outwards until you feel it enter a keyhole."

Li Banfeng did as instructed.

He inserted the key into the air, feeling nothing.

The peddler shook his head. "That's not right."

"I don't understand the technique yet..."

"There's no special technique. It's just like using a key to open a door. It's simple, so be direct and don't hesitate."

Li Banfeng tried again, this time more smoothly and naturally.

Click, click, click~

Li Banfeng seemed to hear the sound of the key entering a keyhole, and felt a series of resistances on his fingers.

"You've got the method right," the peddler chuckled. "Turn the key to the left. When you hear two clicks, the lock will be open."

Li Banfeng held the key and turned it counter-clockwise.

Click!

Click!

The peddler said, "Push the door!"

Li Banfeng pushed forward. He felt the texture of a wooden door and even heard the sound of hinges.

Creak~

But he didn't see the door, nor the room from before.

"Take one step forward, just one step."

Li Banfeng stepped forward, and thick mist rushed in, quickly obscuring his vision.

One more step forward, and he should be able to see the room.

The peddler immediately warned, "Don't move yet. Throw the key out. The house's exit is linked to the key. If you bring the key inside the house, the exit will lead back into the house, and you'll be trapped inside forever."

Li Banfeng turned to throw the key, but heard the peddler remind him again: "Choose a good place to throw it. Don't make it too obvious, or someone else might pick it up. But don't make it too hidden either, or you won't be able to find it yourself."

Mist filled Li Banfeng's vision, making it very blurry, and throwing the key would be difficult.

No wonder the peddler had said throwing the key was so important.

The peddler urged, "Hurry and throw the key out. The door is about to close."

Fortunately, Li Banfeng possessed a unique skill. Relying partly on his vision and partly on memory, he threw the key out just as his other foot stepped through the doorway.

Slam!

The door closed.

Li Banfeng was inside the room.

Li Banfeng turned around, pushed open the door, and stepped out of the room, finding himself back in the woods.

He found the key on the ground, not far from where he threw it, right under a tree.

Within five meters, even if he couldn't see clearly, he wouldn't miss.

The peddler laughed. "It's still a bit obvious. Remember to choose a better spot next time."

Li Banfeng nodded, clutching the key tightly in his hand.

"Satisfied?" the peddler asked.

Li Banfeng nodded again.

Very satisfied. He was extremely satisfied.

"With this house, I can travel anywhere now. When I get tired, I can return to the house to rest. It won't interfere with my Traveling Cultivation, nor my Home Cultivation."

"Er..." The peddler's smile froze, and his expression gradually turned serious. "It's not quite that simple. Traveling Cultivation is fine, but for Home Cultivation, you'll need to figure out another way. This house has a slight flaw."

Li Banfeng paused, startled. "What flaw?"

The peddler sighed. "It cannot produce a House Spirit."

P.S. Although there were two updates today, it was over seven thousand characters! Dear readers, please give more monthly votes.