Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1193 587: Universal Celebration

"Don't worry, I'll make sure to deliver your message."

"Delivering the message isn't the important part; the important thing is her temper is really bad. If you see her turning hostile, you better run. She's also a traveling cultivator, and you may not be able to outrun her!"

The two chatted for a while, and Sun Tiecheng said: "Let's stay in the city tonight; it's probably not safe outside."

Li Banfeng really wanted to spend the night in the city, but his wife was still in the lab.

"Senior Brother, I've got urgent matters outside. If you don't return tonight, I'll definitely guard the city gate. Now that you're back, I should be leaving."

"Alright then, take care of your business. Once I recover, I'll teach you some techniques." Sun Tiecheng escorted Li Banfeng out of the city, and as they passed the city gate, the man guarding the gate came up to complain to Sun Tiecheng.

"City Lord, this person said I can't guard the city gate; he took my job!"

Sun Tiecheng frowned and said, "Can you really blame someone else for this? You managed to lose money guarding a gate! What else can you do? Every time I think about it, I feel awful!"

The gatekeeper lowered his head and said, "I've been doing it for so many years; maybe I don't have merit, but I should at least have been diligent."

Sun Tiecheng waved his hand: "Alright, go squatting over there then!"

The man smiled and happily squatted at the gate.

Sun Tiecheng said to Li Banfeng, "This guy doesn't have much cunning — can't handle any business — just an honest man, quite like me back in the day. At least giving him this job lets him earn a living."

When Ah Chun and Ah Se relayed messages to Li Banfeng through Fake Zhang Gunli, Li Banfeng learned more about Sun Tiecheng's past.

As the two talked all the way to the city outskirts, Sun Tiecheng revealed a new entrance to Li Banfeng. Before parting, Li Banfeng repeatedly reminded him: "Mr. Kong Fang will surely return, and he has Du Wenming by his side — a Cloud Dance Practitioner that's hard to deal with. Other folks from Snowflake Beach might come too. Be extremely cautious."

Sun Tiecheng nodded. After Li Qi left, he thoroughly checked around the entrance.

He saw no sign of Mr. Kong Fang or Du Wenming; not a trace anywhere.

Where did the formation send those two?

...

Greenwater City, Hundred Joy Gate.

Mr. Kong Fang was drinking in a private room.

He wasn't wearing a bamboo hat or the long money gown; he sported slicked-back hair and glasses, looking very much like a disheartened scholar, sipping from his cup while listening to music, drinking alone.

He was transported by the Three Gate Three Open Array to Greenwater City. Honestly, this place isn't too far; from New Land in Blue Poplar Village, one could directly reach the Wild Grass Marsh.

But he wasn't in a hurry to return.

Since he discovered the Three Gate Three Open Array, he hasn't wanted to go back to Fool's City. He's known all along — as just one person — he can't defeat the father-daughter duo opposing him.

As for Du Wenming's whereabouts, he doesn't plan to search for him right now, nor will he worry much in the future.

He's saved Du Wenming several times and doesn't want to be burdened by him.

Drinking a couple of glasses inside the private room, Mr. Kong Fang figures no one would recognize his appearance because his face is layered with disguises.

Yet he notices some changes in the oil painting in the private room; turns out someone familiar has arrived.

"Come out." Mr. Kong Fang grabbed another cup from the table, pouring a glass.

In the painting was a woman picking flowers. She plucked a mountain chrysanthemum into her basket and then walked out of the frame, sitting opposite Mr. Kong Fang.

This woman was Mu Yuejuan from Hundred Flowers Fine Painting. Though she held high status in the Puluo State, she courteously bowed before Mr. Kong Fang.

Mr. Kong Fang stared at the oil painting for a moment longer, then took another cup from the table and poured some wine: "You come out too."

He Jiaqing stood up from the flowers, first saluting Mr. Kong Fang, then stepping out of the frame and sitting beside Mu Yuejuan.

Mr. Kong Fang raised his cup: "You came to find me?"

Mu Yuejuan didn't speak, so He Jiaqing took the lead: "We have an urgent matter to discuss with you, senior."

Mr. Kong Fang laughed: "Hopefully it is truly urgent; I'm not in the best mood today."

Before they left, Mu Yuejuan had warned He Jiaqing to be extremely cautious when meeting Mr. Kong Fang.

Yet He Jiaqing was confident: "Senior, we came to discuss some business — the entry-level medicine powder trade."

Mr. Kong Fang laughed: "You must have a death wish. Do you know who I am?"

He Jiaqing replied: "You are the Head of Snowflake Beach."

"Don't talk nonsense," Mr. Kong Fang said, stripping the smile. "The Head of Snowflake Beach is a peddler, and I am the peddler's subordinate. Entry-level medicine powder belongs to our head's business. Are you mad to discuss medicine powder trade with me? You must be tired of living."

His wine cup gently swayed in Mr. Kong Fang's hand.

Mu Yuejuan was terrified, but He Jiaqing remained unfazed: "Senior, your bet with the peddler expires this year. But Snowflake Beach's reputation is nearly in ruins; when the time comes, the peddler could claim victory, and you'd be powerless."

Mr. Kong Fang tapped his wine cup with his fingertip and asked: "How did you find out about this matter?"

He Jiaqing smiled, refraining from answering directly, instead asked back: "Isn't your pursuit of the Taoist Sect more important than winning or losing a bet?

Rather than being controlled by others, we should seize the medicine powder ourselves. Aren't you constantly searching for Fool's City to find the method to refine the medicine powder?"

The wine cup in Mr. Kong Fang's hand made a spin. Mu Yuejuan was truly afraid that a copper coin or similar item might suddenly fly out from the cup.

Yet Mr. Kong Fang seemed not inclined to kill, sipping some wine and showing a slight smile: "Go on."