Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

The Phonograph finally made a sound. Li Banfeng let out a sigh of relief. "Wife, I thought you were badly injured and couldn't speak."

"Badly injured? What are you talking about, Husband? A good woman should be able to handle both the hall and the kitchen. Dealing with a small dish, and you're talking about being injured?"

As she spoke, the Phonograph's voice became a bit off-key, like going over a hill, its pitch fluctuating, making Li Banfeng tense again.

"Husband, today's 'ingredient' was special. Your Little Servant is truly full this time. Hand this corpse over to Red Lotus. She can refine some good things from it for you. Even if you can't eat them, Husband, you can sell them for a good price. You know my temperament, Husband. When my stomach is full, I just want to sleep a bit more. Go ahead with your affairs; there's no need to worry about me."

The Phonograph's voice kept changing pitch. Li Banfeng looked at the scattered parts on the ground, his brow furrowing once more.

HISS...

"Husband, don't worry about those trivial parts. They weren't much use in the first place; it doesn't matter much whether they're there or not. When your Little Servant wakes up, I'll pick a few useful ones and fit them back."

Li Banfeng picked up a gear and found its teeth broken and its axle bent.

Can these even be put back?

"Husband, quickly dispose of this insect's corpse. It makes your Little Servant sick to look at it."

Li Banfeng brought over the Copper Lotus Flower.

The Copper Lotus Flower sensed Straw Moth Lady's corpse, swiftly unfolded its petals, and took her inside.

HISS...

The Phonograph added a reminder, "Husband, your Little Servant is truly tired and wants to have a good sleep. Please move Red Lotus to the outer room. Don't let her disturb me."

Afraid she'll disturb her?

Does she not even have the strength to guard against the Copper Lotus Flower anymore?

Li Banfeng moved the Copper Lotus Flower away. When he returned to the main room to check on the Phonograph, it had already fallen silent.

He gathered the scattered parts, remained silent for a moment, and then left the Portable Residence.

The Copper Lotus Flower snorted coldly in the outer room. "Wicked woman, so you too have a day like this! Your body is destroyed, yet you dare not say it. In the end, you still don't trust that madman. I'd like to see how long you can hold out."

The Phonograph's voice, strained, retorted, "Slut! Believe it or not, I could take your life right now!"

"If you have the nerve, then try me!"

"Red Lotus, don't be too arrogant. Once you're in this room, the being above cannot sense you. Without that being's protection, do you think I truly can't kill you?"

...

Li Banfeng followed the footprints, found Ma Wu, and brought him back to Blue Poplar Village.

Having survived the disaster, Ma Wu was still terrified. Throughout the journey, he incessantly asked Li Banfeng how he had escaped Straw Moth Lady, but Li Banfeng kept his lips sealed.

Back in the wooden house, Li Banfeng asked, "Brother Ma, do you know where I can find a Phonograph in Blue Poplar Village?"

He needed to find a way to replace some parts for his Wife.

"A Phonograph?" Ma Wu thought for a moment. "Those are hard to find. I remember the Song Family should have one."

"Is it a Steam Phonograph?"

"A Steam Phonograph? Made in Amikan Country?" Ma Wu shook his head. "Those are even rarer. I only know of one, on the Lu Family's private train. I've seen it a few times. It's quite troublesome; needs water and oil."

Ma Wu had only seen one?

Li Banfeng remembered.

Shopkeeper Feng had once said it was a Phonograph handmade in Amikan Country, and there were only two in all of Puluo State.

One was in Li Banfeng's hands; the other was on the Lu Family's private train.

Steal the other Phonograph from the Lu Family's private train?

Li Banfeng couldn't even get on a regular train, let alone the Lu Family's private one.

This was clearly not feasible.

Ma Wu added from the side, "Brother Li, if you like Phonographs, don't buy such fancy ones. Get a hand-cranked or a spring-powered one. Both are good, and the prices are reasonable."

"Where can I buy one?"

Ma Wu thought for a moment and said, "The Beautiful Voice Record Player Shop in Greenwater City has a very comprehensive stock, but in your current situation, it's best not to enter the city."

Li Banfeng spread out the map he had bought from Shopkeeper Feng. "First, tell me, where is the Beautiful Voice Record Player Shop located?"

Ma Wu looked at the map and shook his head slightly. "This map isn't detailed enough. It's hard to say exactly."

The map Shopkeeper Feng had given Li Banfeng covered the entire Greenwater Bay.

However, the actual layout of Greenwater Bay was much more complex than the map showed.

The central area of Greenwater Bay was known as Greenwater City.

Several small towns surrounded Greenwater City.

Beyond these towns were legitimate villages where villagers farmed for a living, supplying crops to Greenwater City.

Further out from these legitimate villages were the 'illegitimate' ones, of which Blue Poplar Village was one.

These 'illegitimate' villages had almost no farming but could also provide Greenwater City with special resources.

"It seems quite far," Li Banfeng noted.

Ma Wu gestured on the map. "About a hundred and twenty li. Brother Li, if you insist on going into the city, let's pick a suitable day. I can have someone scout things out first..."

"We're not picking a day. It's today."

"Go into the city today?" Ma Wu was stunned. "Just to buy a Phonograph?"

"Yes, just to buy a Phonograph." Li Banfeng nodded. "I need to listen to music. If I go a day without it, I feel terrible."

"Brother Li, you have such a craving?" Ma Wu wanted to laugh, but Li Banfeng wasn't joking.

Seeing his expression, Ma Wu hurriedly started packing. "I'll bring some food. Let's go together."

"You don't need to go. Just tell me the location." Li Banfeng didn't plan to take Ma Wu; he was too slow.

Ma Wu was at a loss for words. "Brother Li, what exactly are you going to Greenwater City for?"

"Didn't I tell you? I'm going to buy a Phonograph. I can't wait a moment longer."

...

In the Lu Family Mansion, Lu Dongliang had summoned a Fifth Layer Literature Cultivator to test Lu Chunying's scholarly knowledge.

In Puluo State, Literature Cultivators and Martial Cultivators were widely regarded as the orthodox path, and the Four Great Families were no exception.