Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Chu Er looked at Yang Yanzheng and said, "So what if he's an Eighth-Layer Martial Cultivator? Trash is still trash, right?"

Yang Yanzheng said no more and quickly left Chu Er's room.

Chu Er picked up the pliers and pinched himself. He felt a cold, metallic sensation, but it wasn't the feeling he was after.

"Hong Yan, pinch me." Chu Er presented his backside.

Wen Hongyan gave the Fatty Peach on Chu Er's left buttock a vicious twist.

Chu Er hissed, "It hurts, but not in the way I want it to."

"What kind of pain are you looking for then?" Wen Hongyan rubbed her head with her forearm, not quite understanding.

"It's *that* kind of pain, a uniquely satisfying pain!" Chu Er massaged his Peach, seemingly lost in reminiscence of the sensation.

Zuo Wugang left the Chu Family Mansion dejectedly, taking Zhen Jincheng and Cao Zhida back to their residence.

Zhen Jincheng and Cao Zhida were both Third-Layer Martial Cultivators. They had previously served as Chief Custodians in the Lu Family Mansion and had resigned to follow Zuo Wugang.

They were middle-aged men who had set out to make their own way, entirely out of trust in Zuo Wugang. However, Zuo Wugang had failed to earn the trust of the major noble families.

The He Family, the Ma Family, the Chu Family—all the prominent clans had rejected Zuo Wugang.

These men all had some savings. Even if they did nothing from now on, they could still ensure a comfortable life.

But possessing cultivation levels, they couldn't bear the thought of whiling away their lives, much less did they want to sit idle and deplete their savings.

Did Zuo Wugang absolutely have to find a prestigious family to serve as their Chief Custodian? Didn't he have any other trade he could pursue?

Zuo Wugang considered starting an escort agency, but he didn't know the routes, could barely read, and couldn't make sense of accounting.

Moreover, running an escort agency was best done with Traveling Cultivators. He had tried to recruit some old friends, but without success.

He had also thought about opening a martial arts school. However, that wasn't easy to establish. Without influential backing, there would likely be more troublemakers than students.

He had considered many professions, but gradually, he came to a realization: having been a Chief Custodian all his life, the only thing he was truly skilled at was being a Chief Custodian.

He couldn't secure a position with the main houses of the Four Great Noble Families. Now, even when he tried to become a Chief Custodian for young masters and mistresses, no one would hire him.

The Lu Dongliang incident had severely tarnished his reputation within the profession.

Should he become a Chief Custodian for a smaller, less distinguished family? Zuo Wugang couldn't bring himself to stoop that low.

As he was at his wit's end, Cao Zhida suggested, "Head Zuo, why don't we go and seek patronage with Young Master Ma?"

Zuo Wugang replied impatiently, "Are you muddle-headed? Didn't we just visit the Ma Family the day before yesterday? Ma Junjiang's face was so long; it was obvious he didn't want us. Are we going to go back and humiliate ourselves further?"

Cao Zhida said, "Head Zuo, I'm not talking about Ma Junjiang. I mean Ma Junyang."

"Ma Junyang?" Zuo Wugang hesitated. "Is he even considered part of the Ma Family anymore?"

"Why wouldn't he be? His surname is Ma, and he just successfully took Blue Poplar Village. Master Wu's prestige and aura are still intact."

Zuo Wugang pursed his lips. "If we get rejected by that down-and-out young master, we'll lose a great deal of face."

Zhen Jincheng smiled wryly. He couldn't understand Zuo Wugang's mindset. "Head Zuo, we can't find work now. Isn't that humiliating enough? If you can't bring yourself to do it, Old Cao and I can make a trip to Blue Poplar Village to make initial contact. We're thick-skinned; we don't mind being humiliated."

Since things had come to this, Zuo Wugang could no longer prioritize his pride. He followed the two men to Blue Poplar Village.

When they arrived, they didn't get to see Master Wu.

Master Wu was indeed in the village, but he was in no condition to receive guests.

He had consumed a Gold Yuan Pill and was suffering from Pill's Poison, lying in bed, unable to move.

Xiao Chuan came in to announce their arrival. Master Wu knew Zuo Wugang was a rare talent and wanted to invite him in, but he simply couldn't articulate it.

Zuo Wugang stood in the cold wind outside the door for half an hour, his heart growing utterly cold.

"Let's go!" Zuo Wugang turned to leave when he suddenly saw a man wearing a top hat and sporting a full Big Beard approaching the wooden house.

The brim of his top hat was pulled down very low. Aside from the Big Beard, Zuo Wugang couldn't see his face at all.

Even if Zuo Wugang could see his face, it would have been difficult to recognize his features. Having advanced to the Third Layer of Home Cultivation, Li Banfeng's facial characteristics were easily overlooked.

"What are you here for?"

Zuo Wugang was taken aback and didn't speak.

Cao Zhida chuckled. "We're here looking for work."

"What kind of work?"

Zhen Jincheng said, "We've studied martial arts for a few years and would like to apply for a position as Chief Custodian."

"Do you have cultivation levels?"

Neither Cao Zhida nor Zhen Jincheng spoke. Their cultivation levels were the foundation of their livelihoods and not something they could casually disclose to strangers.

Li Banfeng didn't press further. He told Xiao Chuanzi, "First, find a room in Mengchun Garden. Prepare some wine and food, and we'll talk while we eat."

Xiao Chuanzi quickly led the three men to Mengchun Garden. Zuo Wugang asked, "Who was that man just now?"

Xiao Chuanzi replied, "That's our Seventh Master."

What was the background of this Seventh Master?

Zuo Wugang didn't dare to ask rashly. Cao Zhida whispered, "What's the relationship between this Seventh Master and Master Wu?"

Xiao Chuanzi answered, "Seventh Master is a friend of Master Wu, a friend who can make decisions."

Sensing a glimmer of hope, Cao Zhida inquired, "Can he make decisions on behalf of Master Wu?"

Xiao Chuanzi nodded. "Yes, he can. Seventh Master's word carries more weight than Young Master Wu's."

Hearing this, the men exchanged astonished glances.

Was there someone in Blue Poplar Village whose word carried more weight than Young Master Wu's? But on closer thought, it made sense. Ma Wu had been expelled from his family. Conquering Blue Poplar Village on his own would have been incredibly difficult for him, so having a powerful backer was logical. But where did this backer come from? The Chu Family? The He Family?

The group entered a private room in Mengchun Garden. Soon, wine and dishes were served, and Li Banfeng also entered the room.

"Since you're applying for the position of Chief Custodian, you must state your cultivation levels. Otherwise, we can't discuss the salary," Li Banfeng said, the brim of his top hat still pulled low.

Realizing Li Banfeng was the one in charge, Zuo Wugang no longer held anything back: "My surname is Zuo, and my name is Zuo Wugang. I was formerly the Chief Custodian of the Lu Family. I am a Martial Cultivator of the Sixth Layer."

Sixth Layer! Such individuals were rare.

Li Banfeng had seen Zuo Wugang's name in the newspapers. After the Lu Family incident, Zuo Wugang featured prominently in the news commentaries by various pundits.

Xiao Chuanzi brought two old newspapers and handed them to Li Banfeng.

He couldn't read much, but he recognized photographs. These newspapers had pictures of Lu Dongliang. Next to Lu Dongliang, Li Banfeng saw Zuo Wugang.

After confirming his identity, Li Banfeng asked Zuo Wugang, "What salary do you expect?"

Zuo Wugang replied, "As for the salary, that is at the discretion of the employer."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Don't be evasive. State your price directly."

Zuo Wugang was somewhat unaccustomed to this Seventh Master's direct manner of speaking. Zhen Jincheng, however, appreciated Li Banfeng's straightforwardness and spoke up: "Seventh Master, since you've asked, we'll be direct. Old Cao and I are both Third-Layer Body Cultivators. According to the customary rates for this profession, we would each require one hundred and twenty Ocean Dollars a month. Head Zuo, as he just mentioned his cultivation level, is a Sixth-Layer Martial Cultivator. For him, it would be eight hundred Ocean Dollars a month. Does this sum seem appropriate to you, Seventh Master?"

The amount was indeed the standard rate, but Zuo Wugang was also prepared for them to negotiate.

His reputation wasn't good, so it would be reasonable for them to try and negotiate a lower price.

Li Banfeng heard him out and nodded immediately. "Agreed."

P.S. Zuo Wugang's cultivation level is very high. Can someone like him truly be hired?