Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

After spending most of the day in his Portable Residence, Li Banfeng stepped out at three in the afternoon and began making his way back.

Having advanced to the Second Layer of Traveling Cultivator, and due to his frequent visits to perilous places like New Land, he had accumulated a great deal of time for himself.

Furthermore, after consuming a Gold Yuan Pill the previous day, which added a hundred days to his cultivation level, Li Banfeng calculated his total cultivation. He realized it nearly equaled twelve years of an ordinary person's consistent effort.

Twelve years of cultivation was still considered early Second Layer, but it was much faster than the First Layer. Li Banfeng sprinted all the way to Blue Poplar Village. The journey of over a hundred miles would take him at most an hour.

As he passed by Top Peak Mountain, Li Banfeng specifically glanced to the side of the mountain path.

The ambushers were still there, truly capable of enduring hardship.

In fact, Li Banfeng's assessment was not entirely accurate. Most of the ambushers were still there, but Liu Changyu was not among them.

He was ill, suffering from an unrelenting high fever, trembling as if he were sifting chaff, and unable to speak clearly. He was being treated in a nearby village.

The cause of his illness was simple: a common cold. After taking medicinal soup, he needed to rest for some time.

Yet, this stubborn young man could not stay put. As soon as he felt a slight recovery, he returned to his post by the road, refusing to believe the Ma Family would not transport goods to Greenwater City.

A subordinate informed Liu Changyu, "Just now, a convoy really did pass through this mountain path."

Liu Changyu frowned and asked, "Why didn't you stop them?"

"Young Master," another subordinate replied, "the lad didn't make it clear. That convoy was traveling from Greenwater City towards Blue Poplar Village. They definitely weren't transporting goods from the village."

"Foolish!" scolded Liu Changyu. "Ma Junyang is a cunning man. Since he dares not transport goods himself, he must be trying to have someone from Greenwater City come to collect them!"

Upon hearing this, everyone felt that Liu Changyu made sense.

"Young Master, you needn't worry. Even if we let them go, they can't get the goods out. If they want to return to Greenwater City, they'll have to take this road again. When that time comes, we'll just hijack their goods, right?"

"But if the two families have already settled payment for the goods," Liu Changyu said, somewhat concerned, "it won't necessarily be clear whose goods they are anymore."

"No matter whose goods they are, if we hijack them and scare them off, they won't dare to come for goods again."

Liu Changyu felt that this was reasonable and continued to keep watch by the roadside.

Li Banfeng had just returned to the village and was heading toward his cabin when, passing by the noodle shop, he suddenly felt something trip him at his feet.

Bending down to look, it was a spider's thread.

Li Banfeng was shocked. The famed detective has found his way here!

He immediately dived into the noodle shop, startling the Shopkeeper. "Guest Master, we've just sold out of noodles."

Li Banfeng ignored the Shopkeeper, barging straight through the kitchen and into the backyard, then leaping out from there.

Not long after he left, Da Boyins entered the noodle shop and smiled at the owner. "Was someone here just now?"

The noodle shop owner didn't know how to respond. "This is a noodle shop; people come and go all the time."

Da Boyins brushed past the owner, followed him into the backyard, and then climbed the wall, following the tracks. Upon leaping down from the top of the wall, he discovered the footprints had disappeared.

"Was it him? Judging from the weight of those footsteps, it should be him, but they seem lighter than before," Da Boyins muttered to himself.

"If the footsteps are lighter, it indicates his cultivation level might have increased," Cui Tiq remarked from the side.

Da Boyins nodded, then turned his head and said, "You damned Foreign Devil, do you really have to follow me?"

Cui Tiq responded earnestly, "Fake Foreign Devil, I must follow you."

Da Boyins suddenly took out an Insect Cocoon, and a layer of blisters appeared on Cui Tiq's face, fluid slowly oozing out.

Just as the two were about to fight, they saw a procession of carriages and horses entering the village.

Who could it be? Cui Tiq wondered. He didn't recognize them at first, but Da Boyins reacted quickly and immediately hid.

It was Chu Er's convoy.

The carriage's canopy was adorned with Chu Er's favorite pattern: gold thread on a red background. Unknown to most, Da Boyins, having worked for Chu Er, recognized it.

What is the Chu Family doing in Blue Poplar Village? Da Boyins wondered. He wanted to observe up close, but ultimately, he decided against it.

He felt he had been entangled with the major families a bit too much recently; it was best not to visit Blue Poplar Village again.

Miss Chu Er, Chu Huaiyuan, entered the village and alighted from her carriage at Ma Wu's doorway.

Ma Wu hurriedly came out to welcome her. Truthfully, he was a bit nervous at first seeing Chu Er, but they were old acquaintances, after all. Once seated in the living room, after a few words, the awkwardness slowly faded.

"Miss Er, I trust you are well," Ma Wu said. "What brings you to my humble place today?"

"If I don't come, what choice do I have?" Chu Huaiyuan scoffed. "Young Master Wu doesn't deign to honor me with his presence? I sent an invitation, and yet Young Master Wu refused to attend."

Ma Wu quickly explained, "Miss Er, you've seen it. I've just managed to scrape together this bit of family property. The fight for it was fierce, and I really couldn't get away."

Chu Er sighed deeply. "Young Master Wu couldn't get away, yet I, it seems, am an idler, free to come all this way to visit Young Master Wu."

Despite Chu Er having nearly gotten Ma Wu killed, face-to-face they chatted and laughed, appearing remarkably close.

Ma Wu inquired about Chu Er's business, and Chu Er even cracked a couple of risqué jokes. "After Young Master Wu left, those three Singing Empresses stopped singing properly. Jiang Mengting and Xiao Xiufei went off to act in movies, and Xu Qiulan became a rich man's wife. I really don't understand, when they were under your control, all these Singing Empresses were docile and obedient. What method did you use? Did you tame them in bed?"

Ma Wu waved his hands repeatedly. "Miss Er, you flatter me. I possess no such abilities."

Chu Er laughed. "I've heard Young Master Wu's abilities extend far beyond that."

Ma Wu sighed lightly. "What you hear may be false, and even what you see may not be true. Real skills are kept hidden, not easily revealed to others."

Upon hearing this, Chu Er blinked her heavily eyeshadowed eyes, looking feignedly shocked. "Then perhaps I should test Young Master Wu's skills some other day?"

Ma Wu laughed. "No need for another day. Today is perfectly suitable. Is Miss Er interested?"

Chu Er giggled playfully. "What are you saying? What kind of woman do you take me for, coming all this way to offer myself to you like that?"

Exchanging a few risqué jokes, some lighthearted banter, and accepting a couple of gifts—none of this was a problem. The real issue would be getting involved in business with Chu Er.

But Chu Er was indeed there for business. "Young Master Wu, with your new venture just starting, I must buy a few things to show my support."

Ma Wu waved his hands repeatedly. "That simply won't do. I've received so many gifts from you today; I can't possibly let you spend any more."

Chu Er smiled. "Why must we be so formal? Besides, I won't buy much. Just something for good fortune."

Upon hearing this, Ma Wu indeed felt he should not refuse. He took Chu Er to the warehouse and introduced her to several special products from New Land. He thought Chu Er would pick one or two items as a token gesture, but he was mistaken.

Chu Er had brought many gifts for Ma Wu, filling ten entire horse-drawn carriages.

After the gifts were unloaded, Chu Er instructed her Servants to load the carriages again. "Empty this warehouse! I'm taking everything!"

Ma Wu was startled. "Miss Chu Er, please wait, the price..."

"Charge according to your ledger. No bargaining today! Load the carriages!"

"This isn't quite according to custom..."

Chu Er was taken aback. "Young Master Wu, what are you talking about? You open a shop to do business, I come to buy your goods, and you say I, the customer, am not following custom?"

Ma Wu was at a loss for words.

Chu Er hadn't haggled at all; she certainly wasn't breaching any rules.

Dozens of subordinates lifted boxes and loaded goods, while an accountant tagged along to calculate the prices. Chu Er had prepared for everything.

Before long, the warehouse was empty.

The accountant brought several boxes of banknotes and placed them before Ma Wu. Chu Er took one of the boxes, placed it in Ma Wu's hands, and photographers nearby began clicking away with their cameras.

After the photographs were taken, Chu Er waved her hand, boarded her carriage, and departed.

Ma Wu stood motionless inside the warehouse.

Why didn't I resist?

Chu Er was a Second Layer Bitter Cultivator.

She even had Yang Yanzheng, a Fourth Layer Traveling Cultivator, and a Fifth Layer Chief Custodian with her.

Countless guards of the Second and Third Layers were at her command.

Ma Wu had no chance, nor the power, to resist.

Chu Er returned to Greenwater City by carriage. Upon nearing Top Peak Mountain, Liu Changyu, the Liu Family's Young Shopkeeper, saw the goods on the carriages from afar.

Earth Jade Peaches! They were the most eye-catching items, one of the specialties of New Land from Blue Poplar Village.

Chu Er hadn't boxed the peaches or even covered them with tarpaulins. She clearly had no intention of hiding them; she wanted everyone to see that these goods came from Ma Wu.

Seeing the Earth Jade Peaches, Liu Changyu understood immediately. This must be the convoy transporting goods for the Ma Family.

The Young Shopkeeper instructed his men to prepare, but then he saw the convoy halt on the road, just before reaching their ambush point.

What's happening? he wondered. Are they prepared?

Of course, they were prepared.

With Yang Yanzheng, a Fourth Layer Traveling Cultivator, by Chu Er's side, how could they fail to sense such obvious malice?

Whether they were prepared or not, Liu Changyu didn't want to harm any uninvolved parties.

He had his men ready their firearms and rolling logs, shouting up the mountain path, "Friends on the road, leave your carriages and goods! Depart at once! We don't wish to harm anyone."

No one from the convoy responded, nor did anyone attempt to leave.

Liu Changyu shouted again, "We truly do not wish to harm you and didn't initially come for you. You must leave this cargo. This will be a lesson for you: don't go to Blue Poplar Village for goods again. Their merchandise will never make it past Top Peak Mountain!"

Still, the convoy made no move.

Beside Liu Changyu was Guo Shanqi, a Third Layer Martial Cultivator. Holding his rifle, he said, "Young Shopkeeper, we need to make them bleed. Otherwise, they won't understand fear or realize the danger they're in."

Liu Changyu frowned. "My father instructed us to only take the goods, not to harm people."

Guo Shanqi shook his head. "Young Shopkeeper, you still haven't truly understood the Old Shopkeeper's meaning. If we don't harm anyone, how can we possibly take their goods? The Old Shopkeeper meant to minimize fatalities, to avoid making too big a scene. Killing one or two, what does that matter? The lives of those cart drivers and loaders are worth less than dogshit. And you're worried about them..."

Guo Shanqi suddenly fell silent. Liu Changyu was shocked and turned to see that Guo Shanqi's head had disappeared.

Standing behind him was a lean, middle-aged woman.

The woman's arms were long, with elegant curves at the elbows like the blades of a praying mantis.

The woman's right arm clamped Guo Shanqi's head. She seemed quite fond of it, having opened the top of his skull, and was now licking his brain matter.

This mantis-like woman was named Wen Hongyan, Miss Chu Er's Chief Custodian, a Fifth Layer Body Cultivator.

Everyone around was struck dumb with terror.

A few courageous ones fired their guns at Wen Hongyan.

Wen Hongyan's figure vanished. When she reappeared, every person who had fired had their head on the ground, neatly arranged around her.

The tops of all the severed heads had been neatly opened, like coconuts prepared for drinking, awaiting Wen Hongyan's pleasure.

Liu Changyu stood frozen, unsure of what to do.

He was a First Layer Nightmare Cultivator and wanted to summon his Ghost Servant to resist, even if only for a moment.

Suddenly, Yang Yanzheng approached, grabbed his hair, and said with a smile, "So, you're the Mountain King? Our Young Miss requests your presence."

Liu Changyu couldn't resist, and no one around dared to intervene.

Yang Yanzheng dragged Liu Changyu to Chu Er's carriage.

Chu Er stepped down from the carriage, looked at Liu Changyu, and asked softly, "You wanted to rob me?"

Liu Changyu turned ashen, unable to speak.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Chu Er clicked her tongue, sighing. "Such a handsome young man. Why engage in robbery? It's such a waste of that fine face of yours."

As she spoke, Chu Er dug her fingernails into Liu Changyu's cheek. She scratched and tore until she had peeled off the entire skin of his face, perfectly intact.

PS: This was indeed a face-tearing.