Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

"Little Clamp Hand from the Ghost Hand Sect, Xing Qiushan, encountered Li Banfeng on Yangting Road," Monkey Qiu repeated.

Lu Dongliang set down his pen and paper and looked at Qiu Zhiheng. "Do you think it's reliable?"

"Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be telling the truth, but whether the person he saw was Li Banfeng, we can't confirm yet."

Lu Dongliang had Monkey Qiu bring Xing Qiushan over. It was Xing's first time entering the Lu Family Mansion, and he was so nervous he hardly dared to breathe, timidly following Steward Qiu to Lu Dongliang's study.

Lu Dongliang sized up Xing Qiushan. "From the Ghost Hand Sect?"

Xing Qiushan nodded, deliberately rolling up his sleeves. "Old Master Lu, I... I assure you, I haven't laid a hand on anything since I arrived."

Lu Dongliang laughed. "Why mention this? Am I afraid you would steal from me?"

Xing Qiushan also felt it was inappropriate to say this, but he was now sitting in front of one of the most powerful men in Puluo State and couldn't remember what he was supposed to say.

Lu Dongliang asked, "What time did you see Li Banfeng last night?"

"Past eleven last night..." Xing Qiushan recounted the entire process, with particular emphasis. "Although the man had grown a beard, his features were exactly the same as in Li Banfeng's photo. Old Master Lu, I'm sure I wasn't mistaken."

Lu Dongliang glanced sideways at Xing Qiushan. "You mean to say Li Banfeng went to Greenwater City and bought three phonographs?"

Xing Qiushan knew this behavior was irrational, but it was indeed what he had witnessed. "Old Master Lu, if you don't believe me, you can ask the owner of the Beautiful Voice Phonograph Shop. He specially arranged a car, and that's when we started following him."

Lu Dongliang had no intention of asking Ling Miaosheng for verification; Ling wouldn't easily reveal a customer's information, even if Lu Dongliang himself was asking.

Actually, Lu Dongliang wasn't worried that Xing Qiushan was lying; he simply couldn't understand Li Banfeng's purpose. "Why did he buy phonographs?"

Xing Qiushan shook his head. "That I don't know. At the time, I wanted to snatch his phonographs, but he wouldn't give them up, so we started fighting, and then..."

Suddenly, Lu Dongliang slapped his thigh and interrupted Xing Qiushan, turning to Qiu Zhiheng. "I forgot something! You can't deduce this man's actions using common sense—he's mentally ill!"

Qiu Zhiheng was taken aback. "Master, are you saying he's a madman?"

Lu Dongliang nodded. "Yes, he's a madman. Now I understand why we couldn't find him in Medicine King Valley; the bastard came to Greenwater City! I truly didn't expect him to be fooling around right under my nose!"

Qiu Zhiheng still didn't understand. "Without a Guide Token, how could he have come from Medicine King Valley to Greenwater Bay?"

Lu Dongliang stroked his chin, his brow slightly furrowed. The situation was indeed difficult to comprehend.

Qiu Zhiheng suggested, "Could it be his cultivation level is high enough to have crossed the Border Line?"

Lu Dongliang looked at Xing Qiushan and asked, "You fought bitterly for over an hour, six of you against him, resulting in three dead and three injured?"

Xing Qiushan nodded.

Lu Dongliang continued to inquire, "You're a Little Clamp Hand. What's your cultivation level?"

"Thief Cultivation, Second Layer," Xing Qiushan replied, not daring to conceal anything.

"And your men?"

"All from the Ghost Hand Sect: three at the First Layer, two without any level."

Lu Dongliang shook his head. "If Li Banfeng could evade the Border Line, forget over an hour—your men wouldn't have lasted a single round against him."

Lu Dongliang gestured silently, signaling Xing Qiushan to leave first. Monkey Qiu escorted him out and instructed his subordinates to find a place to keep him temporarily.

As Xing Qiushan walked towards the stairs, he happened upon Zhuo Yuling going upstairs. Seeing the servants paying respects to Zhuo Yuling, Xing Qiushan also bowed and called out, "Madam."

Zhuo Yuling casually inquired, "Who are you?"

Zhuo Yuling had only asked casually, but Xing Qiushan answered earnestly, "I'm Little Clamp Hand Xing Qiushan from the Ghost Hand Sect. I saw Li Banfeng on Yangting Road."

Upon hearing the name Li Banfeng, Zhuo Yuling's cheeks twitched incessantly. There was news about Li Banfeng. This meant that Lu Dongliang was close to finding him. If they found Li Banfeng, they would find the Mysterious Red Life Lotus. Lu Xiaolan would then be worthless to Lu Dongliang. How would Lu Xiaolan be dealt with once she lost her value? She'd be treated as a scapegoat and handed over to the He Family for disposal.

Zhuo Yuling initially intended to return to her bedroom, but upon hearing the news, she turned towards the study, wanting to know Lu Dongliang's next plan.

Lu Dongliang glared at Qiu Zhiheng, who stepped out of the study and shouted to his subordinates, "Hurry up and send him away!"

The subordinates immediately took Xing Qiushan away from the main house.

As Zhuo Yuling approached the study, she saw Qiu Zhiheng giving her a bow before he closed the door.

Zhuo Yuling returned distraught to her bedroom, while Lu Dongliang continued to discuss strategies with Qiu Zhiheng.

"Master," Qiu Zhiheng began, "according to Miss Lu Xiaolan, He Jiaqing tapped her, and she flew all the way back to the He Family Old House. She didn't fly back along the railway line. Perhaps she could cross the Border Line during her flight because He Jiaqing used some kind of Magical Treasure. It's possible Li Banfeng also knows how to use this type of Magical Treasure."

Lu Dongliang shook his head. "That's not a Magical Treasure; that's a Technique."

Monkey Qiu was stunned for a moment, then shook his head. "I've never heard of such a Technique."

Lu Dongliang looked up. "You haven't heard of it because you're not familiar with his Taoist Sect."

Qiu Zhiheng had indeed investigated the matter. "I heard from members of the He family that He Jiaqing practices Dual Cultivation."

Lu Dongliang laughed. "That's bullshit."

"Then, like his father, is he a Food Cultivator?"

Lu Dongliang shook his head. "Neither."

Qiu Zhiheng pondered for a long time. "Master, I'm somewhat familiar with the Techniques of various Taoist Sects. I've never heard of one like this."

Lu Dongliang replied, "That's because your cultivation level isn't as high as his. You naturally wouldn't know the Techniques of his level."

Monkey Qiu found it even harder to believe. "My cultivation level isn't as high as his? How old is he?"

Qiu Zhiheng was a rarely-seen genius, over forty years old and at the Seventh Layer of Lust Cultivation. He Jiaqing, on the other hand, was just in his early twenties. How could his cultivation possibly surpass Qiu Zhiheng's?

Lu Dongliang sighed. "It's because He Jiaqing got his hands on the Supreme Mysterious Red Life Lotus. He claimed he was going to Yuezhou to study, but in reality, it was for the Mysterious Red Life Lotus. Over these four years, he's gained an untold amount of cultivation using the Red Lotus. Not to mention you, even the He Family may not know what level he's reached now."

Qiu Zhiheng still couldn't believe it. "Then why did he return to Puluo State? Why not just stay in the Outside Provinces?"

Lu Dongliang said, "This must have something to do with the price of the Red Lotus."

"The Red Lotus has a price?"

"Every Magical Treasure in the world has a price. I've heard that the Red Lotus has ties to the Heavens. Touch it once, and it sends a signal to the Heavens; the person who touched it must then be illuminated by the Heavenly Light. If this continues, I reckon even He Jiaqing couldn't withstand it."

Heavenly Light! Qiu Zhiheng suddenly recalled someone.

Seeing Qiu Zhiheng lost in thought, Lu Dongliang asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Qiu Zhiheng quickly replied, "I was wondering, if He Jiaqing really has such a high cultivation level, how could Miss Xiao Lan have injured him?"

Lu Dongliang's gaze suddenly turned profound. "That's why this is so peculiar. I don't know if Xiao Lan has told me the truth or not."

Qiu Zhiheng said, "Master, we can't keep dragging this out. I'll go invite a Virtue Cultivation expert to determine if Miss Xiao Lan is lying."

"If it were that simple, would I be waiting until now?" Lu Dongliang's face turned grave. "If Xiao Lan lies to a high-ranking Virtue Cultivator, she could very well lose her life. We can't let her die right now. But if she speaks the truth, wouldn't that let the cat out of the bag? Then how would we deal with that high-ranking Virtue Cultivator? Kill him to ensure his silence? That would cause a huge commotion!"

Monkey Qiu felt he had been thoughtless. After a moment's reflection, he added, "How about I borrow a Virtue Cultivation Magical Treasure from the Border Defense Envoy?"

Lu Dongliang looked at Monkey Qiu impatiently. "I've told you, it's not that simple! You can't trust Magical Treasures from the Outside Provinces. Those things can record what they hear. If word gets out to the Outside Provinces, it will be even more troublesome!"

Qiu Zhiheng said, "Master, I'm worried that the Mysterious Red Life Lotus isn't in Puluo State at all, and Miss Xiao Lan has been lying to you all along."

Upon hearing this, Lu Dongliang laughed. "Little Qiu, within the entire Lu Family, including my own sons and brothers, you're the only one I can trust. I'm only telling you this: once a Traveling Cultivator reaches a certain level, they no longer tread on Earth Skin. I can see that the Red Lotus is indeed in Puluo State. As for its exact location, that I cannot see."

The more Qiu Zhiheng heard, the more confused he became.

Lu Dongliang did not explain further, as he was pondering more significant matters. "Why Li Banfeng bought phonographs—that doesn't matter. Why he could cross the Border Line—that doesn't matter either.

"The fact that Li Banfeng fought the Ghost Hand Sect to the death for three phonographs proves they are crucial to him. He definitely wouldn't abandon them lightly. Carrying three phonographs, he can't move fast, and he'll be very conspicuous. He can't carry them all himself, so he must have hired a cart. That's the key.

"Summon all our family's Traveling Cultivators. Have them search all major transportation routes. Anyone found transporting phonographs must be detained and questioned. Also, contact the Iron Wheel Gang. Offer them a reward to gather all coachmen who transported phonographs between last night and today. Bring them in for questioning too.

"We must find Li Banfeng, even if it means turning Greenwater Bay upside down!"

After reflecting for a moment, Qiu Zhiheng said, "Master, if we search the entire city for Li Banfeng, I'm afraid the other major families will become suspicious."

Lu Dongliang stood up. "I'll go discuss business with them to keep them too busy to interfere. You just handle this. Bring me news by tonight. Once Li Banfeng is captured and the Mysterious Red Life Lotus is in our hands, we'll promptly hand over Xiao Lan's body to the He Family. Then, this matter will be settled."

As Qiu Zhiheng arranged for the search for Li Banfeng, he reached the mansion's gate and took one more glance at Li Banfeng's photo.

The person in the photo was almost identical to the youth who had offered him food on the train.

He had long suspected this person was the youth from the train, but there had always been a sliver of doubt.

Now that the matter of being illuminated by Heavenly Light had surfaced, it practically confirmed that it was Li Banfeng.

Young man, is that really you? Your kindness... I consider it repaid. I just hope you are blessed with great luck and don't end up in my hands.

Lu Dongliang returned to his bedroom to change clothes.

He then went to Zhuo Yuling's room. When dealing with the major families, it was his habit to wear his custom-made yellow tweed coat from Ingrid.

Seeing Zhuo Yuling sitting in her room in a daze, he paid her no attention.

Lu Dongliang had changed his clothes and was just about to leave when Zhuo Yuling said, "Master, Xiao Lan did not lie. She has never lied. Li Banfeng is still alive."

Lu Dongliang nodded. "I know she didn't lie."

With that, Lu Dongliang left the room.

In the garden, Lu Chunying was running around the flower garden at high speed. Seeing Lu Dongliang, she quickly approached to greet him. "Dad, look how fast I'm running! Is this Wind Rises on Flat Ground?"

Lu Dongliang shook his head and smiled. "Girl, Wind Rises on Flat Ground is still a long way off. Once Dad is less busy, I'll take you to a place where you can break through the First Layer, and then I'll teach you the Technique."

Zhuo Yuling, standing at the bedroom window, watched Lu Dongliang's smiling face, and anger flared in her eyes.

Lu Dongliang had never smiled at Xiao Lan like that. He was about to find Li Banfeng. Xiao Lan's life was hanging by a thread.

Over a dozen high-ranking guards stood watch outside Xiao Lan's door. Zhuo Yuling could not save her, not even with the help of Da Boyins.

She needed to find another source of help. There was one suitable candidate, but would he help save Xiao Lan? He wouldn't save Xiao Lan, but there was something he had always wanted to do. Luckily, Qiu Zhiheng had also left. With the Steward gone, some things might still be arranged in time.

Not long after Lu Dongliang left, Zhuo Yuling also departed from the mansion.

In another bedroom, Xiao Yeci anxiously watched the garden from the window, observing Lu Chunying racing around the flower beds.

Lu Chunying had promised her that they would escape that night.

Lu Chunying was strengthening her legs, while Xiao Yeci was gathering her courage.