Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 296, page 295: The Youth-Preserving Mirror and the Beauty Chart

The two squatted by the tree stump, and Feng Xiuhu patted Shi on the shoulder to comfort him.

"I understand what you've been through. After all, everyone has things they're afraid of, and that's normal."

Shi asked him, "Are you afraid of anything?"

Feng Xiuhu nodded: "Yes."

Eclipse asked again, "What is it?"

Feng Xiuhu said, "I am afraid that I will not be able to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

A look of confusion flashed in Shi's eyes: "...What is that?"

Feng Xiuhu added, "That is the right path that must be resolutely carried through to the end."

She didn't want to talk to him anymore.

But it doesn't matter, Feng Xiuhu has something to say.

"Tell me first, did you make a profit or a loss in the business deal with Wan Laiqiu?"

Shi said sullenly, "Anyway, you can't keep the Double Happiness Cup, so it's a win either way."

This is true.

Feng Xiuhu nodded: "What are the Beauty Manual and the Youth-Preserving Mirror for?"

"Keep it for when you break through."

Shi explained, "The Spirit Realm allows spirits to enter the spirit world, so it requires something that can strengthen the connection between the spirit and the spirit world; while the Divine Travel Realm allows spirits to leave their physical bodies and gain the ability to move in the mortal world, so it requires something that has the relevant characteristics to allow spirits to remain in the mortal world."

"My original plan was for you to find an incorruptible mummy, a living burial nail, a drunken corpse bone, or an item that once bound the obsession of evil spirits. But I didn't expect that this would be like a pillow delivered to your sleepy head. These two magical artifacts are just right to help you break through."

Feng Xiuhu stroked his chin, pondering, "I was wondering if the Youth-Preserving Mirror could talk."

Shi didn't understand: "What did you say?"

Feng Xiuhu demonstrated once: "Magic mirror, magic mirror, tell me, am I the fairest of them all?"

"You're disgusting," Shi said.

Feng Xiuhu modestly replied, "Alright, then you are."

Shi kicked Feng Xiuhu, sending him tumbling: "The greatest use of the Youth-Preserving Mirror is to change one's appearance."

"Look into the mirror that helps you maintain your youthful appearance, and imagine how your face will change. In reality, your face will become the way you imagine it."

"But remember, the change won't last long, and once you've changed, you can't look in the mirror anymore—not just a mirror that can preserve your youthful appearance, but anything that reflects your image. Once you look in it, you'll immediately revert back to your original appearance."

Feng Xiuhu returned and squatted down again. He understood the effect, but he didn't understand how it had anything to do with a breakthrough.

Shi explained: "The physical body has changed, but the spirit has not. After using the Youth-Preserving Mirror, your spirit will be preserved in the mirror, which is your most authentic appearance - this is also a way of separating your spirit from your physical body and keeping it in the present world."

Feng Xiuhu nodded to indicate that he understood, and then asked, "What about the list of beauties?"

"The Beauty Register is actually a picture book."

Shi shook his head: "It has only one function: to seal away spirits, but only women. When necessary, these spirits can also be released to fight against enemies."

Feng Xiuhu suddenly realized that this didn't need any explanation; the characteristic of "spiritual bodies remaining in the mortal world" was very clearly reflected in the beauty register.

Then he remembered something else: "What is that 'love tree' for? Wan Laiqiu seems to care about it a lot."

"That's called the 'Tree of Affection for a Thousand Miles'."

Shi rolled his eyes: "It was created by the Marriage Temple through the Love and Joy Ceremony and grafted onto a peach tree."

"If you plant this tree at home, it will leave a unique fragrance on people after it blooms. People who smell this fragrance will be deeply impressed by the person who gave it the scent, and will never forget them."

Shi whispered, "This tree is for Willow Oriole."

With the matter clarified, Feng Xiuhu was satisfied and turned to leave the spirit realm.

……

The next day.

Gu Zhili was still angry and didn't say a word to Feng Xiuhu all morning.

After lunch, she even took the narcissus and lingzhi mushrooms out to shop. When Feng Xiuhu casually asked her where she was going, she said she was going to buy rat poison to kill Feng Xiuhu with tuberculosis. Feng Xiuhu thought she might be telling the truth, so he instructed Xiyao to keep a close eye on Gu Zhili these next few days and make sure she didn't have a chance to poison her.

Not long after, Mike came to visit, to reply to the matter that Feng Xiuhu had asked him to handle the day before.

"I can't do it."

Mike shook his head and delivered the bad news.

"Why?"

Feng Xiuhu took back the cigarette he was about to offer to Mike—he felt that Mike must not have done his job seriously, otherwise, given Mike's current status, who would dare not give him face?

Or rather, who would be willing to refuse him?

Mike protested his innocence and quickly explained, "You can't blame anyone else. Shipping has stopped starting today. All fleets are not going out to sea—even if the Maritime Department approves, no ships will help you transport goods."

That's what happened.

Feng Xiuhu handed him the cigarette again: "When can we reopen?"

Mike held up a finger: "At least three months."

Feng Xiuhu frowned: "So long?"

"There's really no other way; the flood season isn't something humans can control."

Mike said, "The only ones allowed to go to sea during this period are warships—why don't you ask the Water Control Bureau?"

"Borrowing warships to transport goods?"

Feng Xiuhu shook his head: "I don't have that much influence, and Hong Shenghuo has no reason to help me with such shady things."

Mike shrugged and said, "Then there's nothing we can do."

Then all we can do is wait—luckily, we made another big profit yesterday, so Feng Xiuhu isn't short of money for the time being.

So he waved his hand, intending to get rid of this useless guy who was no match for him at the crucial moment.

As they reached the door, Mike suddenly brought up another matter: "By the way, it seems like Quivervan is asking around about you. Keep an eye out for him."

Feng Xiuhu didn't care: "Let him find out. Once he finds out, he'll behave himself."

……

After seeing Mike off, Feng Xiuhu, deeply saddened, locked himself in his room for the entire afternoon to focus on his spiritual practice.

He still couldn't believe that Shunzi had overtaken him.

So he discussed this matter with Shi while cultivating.

"Could he really be a genius?"

If you don't want to appear weak, you can only highlight the other person's strengths.

Shi said, "I don't know if he's a genius, but you certainly aren't."

Feng Xiuhu was even more indignant: "Why do I have to prepare all sorts of things to break through, while he can break through so easily?"

Shi said, "Because he is a member of the Mountain Moving Clan and cultivates the Mountain Moving Technique. The spirit of the Mountain Moving Clan cannot be separated from the physical body, so of course they do not need to prepare the corresponding items—this is also the reason why the Mountain Moving Clan was so powerful back then. The strong adaptability of their cultivation technique often made their cultivation path go smoothly."

Finally, Shi added, "But Shunzi's progress is indeed faster than I expected. Maybe he really is a genius."

Feng Xiuhu was quite taken aback, so he had no choice but to blame Shi: "What kind of crap did you give me? Even a dog wouldn't practice this lousy technique."

So the two started arguing again.

The woman with the slender waist who was passing by quickly left, thinking that Feng Xiuhu had relapsed and could make a fuss even when he was alone in the room.

When the sun was setting, Feng Xiuhu came out of the room with a dark face.

He didn't win the argument.

Feng Xiuhu felt that the main reason he didn't perform well was because of time constraints.

Because he was supposed to go to Fengyu Street and Wanlai Hill to do business.

(End of this chapter)