Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

The Peddler took down the feather duster and handed it to Li Banfeng. "If you want to buy this, I'll sell it to you for eight yuan."

Li Banfeng was taken aback. "Eight yuan? That cheap?"

The Peddler nodded. "Just that cheap. Lose some, win some, all debts cleared. I believe in fair trade; you should know what kind of quality you get for eight yuan."

What did that mean?

The Peddler made it clear: it was just an ordinary feather duster.

An eight-yuan feather duster couldn't possibly have a Spirit Attribute, but why did Li Banfeng hear the feather duster talking?

The Peddler picked up a rattle. "Some Magical Treasures might be good, but all Magical Treasures come at a cost."

CLANG-A-LANG, CLANG-A-LANG.

The Peddler went off to attend to other customers.

Li Banfeng, carrying a pile of miscellaneous items, stood silently in a daze until Xiao Chuan and Xiao Genzi were out of harm's way, and everyone returned together to Blue Poplar Village.

Sitting in his bedroom, Li Banfeng took out the Silk-pulling Earrings and placed them on the table.

He used the Insightful Spirit Sound Technique to carefully listen to the sound of the Silk-pulling Earrings.

She was crying; she had been crying for many days.

The reason for her tears was simple: she had missed the meal with Lu Dongliang.

A Magical Treasure refined by a First Layer Cultivator wouldn't typically possess high Spiritual Wisdom. However, he hadn't expected that even after so many days, she would still be preoccupied with Lu Dongliang's matter.

Was it really the feather duster that spoke just now, or did I hear some other noise?

Li Banfeng stared at the Silk-pulling Earrings, and once again, a voice calling out reached his ears, "Pity me, pity me."

The price of the Silk-pulling Earrings was hearing voices one shouldn't.

Li Banfeng brought the Silk-pulling Earrings back to his Portable Residence to let her cool off a bit.

He gifted all the Snow Cream, Rouge, Face Powder, and Beaded Flowers to his wife, making her delightfully fragrant, and even placed the Beaded Flower near the Phonograph.

The Phonograph, full of gentle affection, softly said, "Thank you, Sir Xie, for cherishing me. This little one knows you, my husband, treat me well. However, this little one has a question, and I'm not sure if it's proper to ask."

"My dear, please speak."

"My husband, can these things be eaten as food?"

"My dear, can you please not always be thinking about food?"

"HAH! I can't even fill my stomach, and you expect me to have the mood to put on makeup for you to see?"

...

At the entrance of Blue Poplar Village, a Hua Zi covered in pustules held a Begging Bowl and begged for alms along the way.

"Pity me, pity me, give me a bite to eat..."

The simple folk of Blue Poplar Village weren't particularly kind to Hua Zis, especially one whose appearance was so repulsive, covered in pustules oozing green pus.

This pus, however, offered the Hua Zi some protection. He tried to get food at a noodle shop. The owner initially wanted to kick him, but recoiled at the sight of the oozing pustules and pulled his foot back.

The Hua Zi didn't get any food and, with his Begging Bowl, walked slowly on, continuing to beg.

"Pity me, pity me, give me a bite to eat."

...

Disease Cultivator Cui Tiq reached the center of Blue Poplar Village and looked up at a distant wooden hut.

Da Boyins had left. Cui Tiq was too afraid of further offending the Chu Family to linger in Blue Poplar Village.

Thus, Cui Tiq had to investigate Li Banfeng's whereabouts on his own.

I wonder what luck I'll have today? Could I possibly find him directly in that small building?

The weather was cold. Cui Tiq sneezed and sniffled. Just as he was about to walk towards the wooden hut, a strange scent wafted into his nostrils.

"Pity me, give me a bite to eat." The Hua Zi approached.

He had journeyed halfway through the village and hadn't received a single bite to eat.

This was to be expected.

Any Hua Zi familiar with the area knew not to beg in Blue Poplar Village.

The people of Blue Poplar Village had no habit of giving alms. Moreover, no one would dare approach a Hua Zi covered in green pus like him.

Cui Tiq, however, very much wanted to approach this Hua Zi.

He was drawn to the Hua Zi's pus.

How delicious!

How could such delectable pus exist?

The rich scent instantly excited Cui Tiq.

The Hua Zi was now begging from Xiao Chuanzi. Xiao Chuanzi had just been initiated into Craftsman Cultivation that day and was in exceptionally high spirits.

Just moments before, Ma Wu had even taught Xiao Chuanzi a few characters. Today, Xiao Chuanzi found everyone agreeable, even this Hua Zi, whom he regarded with some warmth.

He took out two eggs and placed them in the Hua Zi's Begging Bowl.

The Hua Zi blinked and then nodded repeatedly. "Thank you, thank you."

He took his Begging Bowl and had only walked a few more steps when Li Banfeng emerged from the wooden house.

Li Banfeng wondered if he was hallucinating; he couldn't shake the feeling that the Hua Zi's voice was identical to the cries coming from the Silk-pulling Earrings.

He took out two steamed buns and put them into the Hua Zi's Begging Bowl.

"Thank you," the Hua Zi mumbled, his expression not exactly pleased.

Li Banfeng didn't linger either and turned to leave Blue Poplar Village.

Is this Hua Zi here for me?

Li Banfeng suspected this Hua Zi was no ordinary person. According to his Seek Fortune and Avoid Disaster instinct, giving him food was the correct action, but it was best to keep his distance.

The Hua Zi held his Begging Bowl, a chill in his eyes.

To receive alms twice in Blue Poplar Village? Today was truly strange.

I must pass through this village quickly. If I receive alms one more time, I'll have to go back.

The Hua Zi was looking for a less crowded path when he suddenly felt something was wrong with his body.

The pus on his sores was gone.

All his pustules were vanishing before his eyes.

Who?

Who did this?

The Hua Zi looked at Cui Tiq. "Did you eat my pustules?"

Cui Tiq was startled. He hadn't expected the other to see through his Technique.

But it didn't matter if he had. Cui Tiq smiled. "I've cured your illness; you should thank me. Your affliction was truly delicious."

"Delicious? Are you a Disease Cultivator?" The Hua Zi stared intently at Cui Tiq.