Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Li Banfeng told Little Fatty about Yu Nan's situation. Little Fatty nodded and said, "That's easy to handle. I'll take charge of this. Have Boss Yu keep an eye on Hua Hong, and don't let me look bad. When Brother Liu gets back, I just need to give him a heads-up."

"Where did Zhang Liuzi go?"

"Brother Liu has gone to Hai Chi Ridge. There's a famine there, and many people have died. Hai Chi Ridge is the foundation for us Food Cultivators. I also wanted to go and have a look, but Brother Liu only got one Guide Token. Our Copper Seal had me temporarily take over the Iron Seal, and he wouldn't allow me to leave Medicine King Valley."

Li Banfeng had also heard about the insect disaster in Hai Chi Ridge. He couldn't understand why Little Fatty wanted to join in and asked, "What are you going to do in Hai Chi Ridge? Do you know how to farm or kill pests? There's already no food there. Are you running there to starve?"

Little Fatty's eyes shone. "I'm going there to seize a mountain stronghold, to earn territory! This famine has caused many gangs' businesses to collapse. Whoever can pick up these businesses after the insect disaster will make a fortune. If I go to Hai Chi Ridge, I might be able to earn a Copper Seal."

No wonder Lu Dongjun was so concerned about Hai Chi Ridge. He wanted to take the opportunity to start anew there during the pest control efforts.

It indeed was a good opportunity. Hai Chi Ridge was going through a major reshuffling. If Lu Dongjun managed to control the insect disaster, for a long time to come, no one would be able to shake his position there.

But seizing a mountain stronghold required real capability.

"What's your current cultivation level?"

Little Fatty said, "The First Layer. You saw it with your own eyes the day I advanced!"

"How much time have you saved up?"

Little Fatty scratched his head. "I haven't saved up any time. It's already quite tough just to cultivate every day."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Then you'd better not go to Hai Chi Ridge. I reckon Zhang Liuzi went there to risk his life."

"It's definitely a life-risking endeavor. Our Head of the family ordered that no matter what tricks Lu Dongjun pulls, the Three Heroes Gang's own business must not fall into his hands."

The major families and gangs would still face a fierce battle over Hai Chi Ridge.

Since Zhang Liuzi was not around, Qin Xiaopang was temporarily holding the Iron Seal. During this time, he had received a lot of insider information.

"The Lu Family has always had good relations with our Three Heroes Gang. A few days ago, Old Master Lu, Lu Maoxian, even made a special trip to Medicine King Valley and had several meals with our Silver Seal Shopkeeper. I also joined once, but due to my status, I wasn't seated at the same table with Old Master Lu.

"Not two days passed, and Lu Yuanshan, the eldest young master of the Lu Family, also came. He invited our Shopkeeper to a meal again. I wanted to toast the eldest young master, but our Copper Seal wouldn't allow it.

"He said we should keep our distance from the Lu Family's affairs. The future head of the family is still uncertain. I heard our Copper Seal said that even our three Gold Seals are quite at odds over this.

"The second-in-command believes Old Master Lu has the final say, while the third-in-command thinks the Lu Family will have to listen to the eldest young master in the future. Our Head of the family is neither close nor distant to either. No one knows what's on his mind..."

This was the benefit of Qin Xiaopang joining the Great Clan Gate, allowing me to hear news I couldn't find out even in Greenwater City.

From the attitude of the Three Heroes Gang, they all believed that Lu Dongliang had met with misfortune, but no one was siding with Lu Dongjun. Presumably, other gangs felt the same way.

Li Banfeng gave Little Fatty two Mysterious Flame Pills, telling him to cultivate well and stay away from these troubles as much as possible.

「」

After leaving Little Fatty's residence, Li Banfeng went to Feng's Grocery Store.

Shopkeeper Feng was very pleased to see Li Banfeng and invited him into the back room. Without asking about other matters, he first handed over the money from selling Elixirs.

The Mysterious Flame Pills had been sold at a high price. After deducting Shopkeeper Feng's commission, Li Banfeng received over one million.

Li Banfeng asked about Guide Tokens to the Outside Provinces, but Shopkeeper Feng shook his head. "Guide Tokens to the Outside Provinces are a bit difficult to get right now. Hai Chi Ridge is suffering from an insect disaster, and the Outside Provinces are afraid of attracting the Clan-Exterminating Mosquitoes. They've suspended all Guide Tokens for travel there recently and have even stopped the trains."

Li Banfeng did not continue to inquire, as getting back to the Outside Provinces was not urgent for him.

His current priority was returning to Blue Poplar Village.

"How easy is it to get a Guide Token to Greenwater Bay?"

Shopkeeper Feng shook his head. "If it had been any other time, getting to Greenwater Bay wouldn't be difficult. But whenever a disaster occurs, the Outside Provinces tighten control of the Guide Tokens. I can ask for you, but I don't think it will work."

"Then there's no need to ask. I won't stay in Medicine King Valley for long." Li Banfeng could understand Shopkeeper Feng's difficulty. He bought some canned goods and biscuits there, as well as some engine oil and fuel, two tailcoats, two suits, and a top hat.

Shopkeeper Feng felt somewhat embarrassed. "Boss Li, you're not short on money now. The clothes in my grocery store are a bit beneath your standing."

"I just like the clothes from your store."

Chunsheng called a carriage for Li Banfeng to deliver the goods. This time, Li Banfeng did not let the carriage unload halfway but had everything taken directly to Peach Spring Inn.

In Medicine King Valley, Peach Spring Inn was a mid-level inn. It was not very large, nor were the rooms particularly good, but it was inconspicuous.

Li Banfeng rented a room, organized the items into his Portable Residence, and then took out a piece of Yellow Paper.

He had bought two pieces of Yellow Paper from Old Master Yao initially, and this was one of them.

This was the most important purpose of my journey.

To do business with Elder Yao, I must first think of a good reason and avoid making unreasonable requests.

As the Yellow Paper burned, Li Banfeng heard Elder Yao's voice.

"Are you looking to be cured or to buy medicine?"

The voice was as cordial as ever, with no unnecessary pleasantries, getting straight to business.

"I want to buy medicine, and I want to be treated."

"What medicine would you like to buy?"

"I want to buy your Medicinal Liquor, a lot of it, enough to treat hundreds of people." Elder Yao's liquor is good for setting fires and healing; I should stock up on it.

"Bottled liquor or loose liquor?"

"Bottled."

"What ailment are you looking to treat?"

"Homesickness."

"Homesickness? Where is your home?"

"Greenwater Bay."

"You don't need me to get to Greenwater Bay. Just get yourself a Guide Token and buy a train ticket."

"I don't have a Guide Token."

"Then how did you come to Medicine King Valley? However you got here, you can just go back the same way."

"I came from New Land, in a daze, and now I can't find my way back."

"From New Land..."

Elder Yao fell silent for a moment, as if he knew what Li Banfeng had been through.

"Young man, you're out of luck today. The bottled liquor is sold out, but I still have a Wine Gourd."

"How much liquor is in your Gourd?"

"One jin."

"Isn't that a bit too little?"

"It's not too little. There's one jin of liquor in the Gourd. Don't drink it all. As long as you leave a mouthful, the next day there will be another jin of liquor. But once you pour it out, you have to drink it immediately, or else it will turn into clean water the next day."

Magical Treasure!

This is a Magical Treasure!

Is Elder Yao really willing to sell a Magical Treasure to me?

And such a highly valuable Magical Treasure, at that!

What could be his reason?

"Young man, do you want to buy it?"

"First, tell me the price." Li Banfeng dared not speak hastily.

"Let's go with the old price: five hundred thousand."

Five hundred thousand? The price is absurdly low. Could he be mistaken about the currency?

"You mean Huan Country Banknotes?"

"Yes, that's right, Huan Country Banknotes."

Li Banfeng was somewhat incredulous. How could such a priceless Magical Treasure sell for only five hundred thousand?

This seemed like a token amount, but Li Banfeng still couldn't fathom Elder Yao's intent.

Elder Yao continued, "As for the medical treatment, I can do it for you without charge. I've got a map here that will get you to Greenwater Bay, Pants Belt Pit, Hai Chi Ridge, Bitter Vegetable Manor, Cheap Person Ridge, and Iron Gate Fort.

"New Land changes every year. This map is from last year, so there might be slight deviations. But as a Traveling Cultivator, you have a knack for navigating; this slight deviation won't trouble you.

"This map should still be good for another year or two. I'll give it to you."

Li Banfeng dared not accept it.

The map alone was worth far more than five hundred thousand.

"Elder Yao, is there something you want me to do?"

"Indeed, there is something I need your help with. Anyone who can cross New Land has some skill, and I trust you.

"If you agree, take this map and go to Hai Chi Ridge. Deliver a prescription to Pan Dehai.

"Tell him this prescription can attract insects as well as kill them. For the sake of the Peddler, I'll help him this once.

"If he dares to lead those insects to Medicine King Valley, I swear on my life, I will make sure he dies again!"