Xianle Dance Hall

"Can't you see I'm busy?" Li Banfeng said irritably, picking up the newspaper.

"To save my beloved, I left my home; who would have thought I'd become the top scholar in the imperial examination? Hey, my lord, you're studying by candlelight late into the night—are you trying to become the top scholar?"

She can also sing Huangmei Opera.

"I'm not trying to become the top scholar; I want to see how many enemies I have." The more Li Banfeng read the newspaper, the more solemn his expression became.

Sizzle~

The record player emitted a puff of steam.

The record player tapped the device twice and sang in a rhythmic style. "Enemies are never too many, one comes, husband kills one, two come, husband kills two, but don't kill too ruthlessly, leave them with a breath, and take them home as a dish."

"My Wife, that's what I think too," Li Banfeng, sitting down next to the record player and touching the side of the wooden cabinet. "But my enemies are all stronger than me, so they're not easy to kill. If I'm not easy to kill, it'll be hard to find the right dishes for Wife."

Hiss hiss hiss~

The record player scoffed repeatedly.

Li Banfeng frowned and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

"My husband, you've put your hand on my armpit."

Li Banfeng quickly withdrew his hand.

Was that the armpit?

What about other places?

Li Banfeng ran his fingers over the wooden cabinet, while the record player kept chuckling.

"Clang, clang, clang~ Husband, stop fooling around! Listen to what I have to say. Since you are House Cultivator, you shouldn't wander around. Stay home and keep me company, and your cultivation will naturally improve!"

Doesn't she know I'm still Travel Cultivator?

Dark matter cannot be observed, which makes cultivation invisible.

The record player probably doesn't know I'm Travel Cultivator.

Li Banfeng took out a purple pill and asked, "Wife, I want to improve my cultivation level quickly. This pill should be helpful, right?"

"Where to begin, where to begin, where to begin~~" the record player sang a line, the lyrics a little halting.

"Wife, why are you stuck?" Li Banfeng asked with concern.

"My lord, please apply some Machine Oil to this Little Slave."

Li Banfeng quickly picked up the Machine Oil bottle and opened the back box of the record player.

Inside the trunk, the connecting rods and gears were very densely packed, and the mechanical structure was somewhat complicated. Li Banfeng didn't know where to start, so he took the Oil Pot and applied oil everywhere.

"My dear husband, that gear is very important; we can't skimp on the Machine Oil!"

"My lord, that drain valve is of utmost importance; we must not act rashly."

"My dear husband, be extra careful with that bearing, be very gentle with it~~"

"My lord~~"

"My lord~~"

A few minutes later, Li Banfeng sat down on the edge of the bed with Oil Pot in his hand and said calmly, "Wife, let's get down to business. I'm listening carefully."

"Seriously? Why so serious?" The record player clattered for a moment, then continued, "Husband, what about these pants?"

"Of course I'll help you wash," Li Banfeng replied softly.

The record player puffed out a puff of steam, seemingly somewhat displeased, but it didn't pull up Li Banfeng's pants again. "Clang~ Hey, husband, this pill is called the Purple Radiance Pill. It's quite valuable to ordinary people, but it's useless to you."

"What do you mean?"

"For an ordinary person, consuming this pill is equivalent to gaining a month's worth of cultivation."

One month's cultivation?

Li Banfeng's heart contracted violently.

One Mystic Blaze Pill can be exchanged for ten days of cultivation and can be sold for 150,000.

This Purple Radiance Pill has been used for a month of cultivation. How much can it be sold for?

The key isn't selling them for money; taking more of these pills will significantly improve your cultivation!

But the record player sang. "Hey husband, you're House Cultivator. Your cultivation depends on our combined efforts as husband and wife. Taking pills won't help!"

It turns out that House Cultivator.

Ma Wu once said that House Cultivator is special, and one's cultivation level depends entirely on the Home Spirit.

"Since I can't eat it, I'll give the pill to my Wife." After saying that, Li Banfeng was about to put the pill into the record player's water tank.

Huff~

A cloud of steam blocked Li Banfeng.

The record player laughed twice more.

"My husband is truly a devoted man, cherishing Little Slave so much that I am overwhelmed with gratitude."

"My lord, you should take this elixir to the market and exchange it for money. People regard it as a treasure, but in Little Slave eyes, it's no different from mud and tiles."

What are mud, sand, and tiles? This one pill is estimated to sell for 500,000.

Li Banfeng snorted coldly and put the pill away.

On second thought, if this elixir is useless for House Cultivator, could it be used for Travel Cultivator on the move?

Wouldn't it be a good thing to improve the Travel Cultivator's cultivation level?

Don't let my Wife see this. Let's find an opportunity to take this pill another day.

Li Banfeng went to read the newspaper again. Perhaps because he had oiled the record player today, the record player seemed to be paying extra attention to Li Banfeng.

"My lord, tell me about the background of that enemy?"

Li Banfeng introduced the Jiang Xiang Gang members, "One is a level three martial arts practitioner called Red Staff, one is a level two Sufferance Cultivator called Sage, and one is a level two Nightmare Cultivator called Patrol Wind."

Hiss hiss hiss~

The record player scoffed repeatedly. "Hmph~ Red Staff are used for beatings, sages for recognizing people, patrols for sentry duty—all these years have passed, and the rules of the various gangs haven't changed."

My husband, if it's about a martial arts master at the third level, you'd better not provoke him. You're no match for him in a direct fight.

The Sufferance Cultivator practice of Daoism is somewhat unique; it forbids those who cultivate at House Cultivator. Husband, you should also stay away from him.

As for this Nightmare Cultivator, he cannot be spared. Don't underestimate him just because he's at the second level; my husband still has a good chance of defeating him.

This is exactly what Li Banfeng was thinking.

Li Banfeng nodded. "I have the ability to see ghosts, which gives me some advantage over him. He was my first opponent, but since he's on the second floor, I would be at a disadvantage in a direct confrontation."

"Oh, my husband, we can't fight him directly. We need to get rid of the Little Slave around him first. Since he's in the dance hall, I have a plan."

"Would you like to hear your brilliant plan, my Wife?"

"My husband, come closer to my ear!"

Li Banfeng pressed his ear to the speaker and listened as the record player slowly played "The Wandering Singer": "My husband~ buy a blank record, a top-quality vinyl record, with a Hard Needle."

After hearing this, Li Banfeng's ears turned bright red from the steam.

Hard Needle?

"Does my Wife want to burn a record?" Li Banfeng understood the record player's intention.

"Clang! My husband is absolutely right."

Li Banfeng nodded, rubbing his Tongtong ears. "There's only you and me in this room, and no one's eavesdropping, so why do you have to whisper in my ear?"

The record player said coquettishly, "Only when couples are whispering sweet nothings do they show their affection for each other~"

The next day at noon, Li Banfeng went to Yuanzheng Street and bought a blank record and two Hard Needle at a record store.

Late at night, Li Banfeng put on a beige plaid suit and a gray top hat and arrived at the Xianle Dance Hall.

Xianle Dance Hall is easy to find; it's located at the end of Pailou Street, a large open space that is entirely the dance hall's garden, with no other buildings around.

As a naive young man, Li Banfeng firmly believed that the Xianle Dance Hall was a place to delve into music.

This place truly did not disappoint Li Banfeng; it was a three-story Western-Style House with a pointed roof, a brick and wood structure, and a blend of Chinese and Western styles.

The first layer features long, straight lines, creating a bright and spacious feel. The second layer has rounded lines, adding depth and softness. The third layer's lines converge at the pointed top, creating a sharp and distinct shape.

Such an artistic building must be used for legitimate business.

Upon ascending the stone steps in front of the gate, two young women stepped forward to greet the guests before the archway.

"Sir, this way, do you know any girls here?"

Li Banfeng smiled slightly, "This is my first time here."

The two women smiled shyly and led Li Banfeng into the hall.

Just because someone asks a girl they know doesn't mean the business here is illegitimate; the girl might be studying music here.

In the dimly lit hall, with melodious music playing, several couples were dancing and embracing each other on the red carpet.

Seeing them embracing so tightly, Li Banfeng believed this was a normal reaction of being engrossed in the music.

All his attention was on the music; he was searching for the source of the music.

There was no band in the hall, so where did the music come from?

Beside the stairs, Li Banfeng saw a huge record player, and a man in a plain white suit was slowly cranking the record player's arm.

This is a hand-cranked phonograph; the tempo of the music is entirely controlled by the operator, requiring considerable skill.

Li Banfeng's brows relaxed, and a smile appeared on his face.

What he was looking for was this record player; without it, the trip would have been in vain.

A woman approached, a sweet smile on her face, and said, "Sir, would you like to dance with me?"

From a etiquette standpoint, Li Banfeng should not refuse a woman's invitation to dance.

But the education Li Banfeng received from childhood did not allow him to do so.

Because he can't dance.

"I'm sorry, miss, I can't dance," Li Banfeng replied truthfully.

"Don't worry, I'll teach you." The woman took Li Banfeng's hand and led him to the center of the dance floor. She let Li Banfeng's arms wrap around her slender waist, and they slowly strolled around the dance floor to the music.

Dancing isn't difficult; you just need to hold on tight and walk along with the music. Li Banfeng is Travel Cultivator, and his steps are very solid.

This is a girl with a conscience, and her conscience pulsates in rhythm with the music in Li Banfeng's arms.

If you're going to dance, then dance. Stop groping me all the time.

Li Banfeng's gaze never left the record player; he thought the record player was much prettier than the girl.

P. S.: I think you readers are the most beautiful, go and talk to Salad.