Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1319 617: Barren Land (Part 3)

But his face showed no expression as he continued toward Song Demei.

Song Demei, fearing infection, tried to keep her distance from Cui Tiq.

She kept increasing her technique's intensity, hoping to make Cui Tiq retreat.

Cui Tiq made no response, withstanding her attacks with his body, slowly dragging his heavy steps toward Song Demei.

What's wrong with this Foreigner? Does he not value his life?

This reckless fighting style shocked Song Demei, and the tactics she had planned were disrupted.

She had many helpers around her, but seeing Cui Tiq like this, none of them dared approach.

After a brief stalemate, a dozen Knife Labor Ghosts suddenly surrounded Song Demei, making her realize the situation was dire.

No matter how many calculations she made, she missed one point: if Cui Tiq truly didn't care about his life, how should she handle this?

Even the intimidation from the Peddler was ineffective, rendering Song Demei's plans meaningless.

She wanted to fend off the Knife Labor Ghosts, but once distracted, she couldn't control Cui Tiq.

Muster extra strength and crush Cui Tiq, at least risking a one-for-one exchange?

No way!

This thought flickered in her mind and quickly vanished.

With the entire De Song Cliff at stake, Song Demei had the courage and determination.

But when it came to her own life, she resolutely couldn't part with it.

Take a step back, leave here, and deal with him once the Peddler arrives.

Song Demei wanted to leave, but Cui Tiq pressed in step by step, leaving her no chance.

One Knife Labor Ghost reached out to grab her face.

Song Demei barely dodged, leaving a scar on her face.

Song Demei's heart sank halfway; the Knife Labor Ghost's poison has no cure!

In her panic, Song Demei saw black rashes on the Knife Labor Ghost's face.

She felt tingling and itching on her face, as rashes began to grow from her cheeks.

Could he spread infection through the Knife Labor Ghost?

Song Demei no longer had the will to fight. Since she was already infected, she abandoned her techniques, stopped controlling Cui Tiq, and ran.

Let them kill, let them kill freely in De Yuan Village! Once the killing is done, then negotiate the terms.

The heavily injured Cui Tiq didn't pursue, instead allowing the Knife Labor Ghosts to scatter and search every corner of the village.

One Knife Labor Ghost raised its head and let out a piercing howl, causing the Knife Labor Ghosts from other villages to scatter as well.

...

Luo Zhengnan was still at the station waiting for news about the grain when he suddenly received a call from Li Qi: "Old Luo, call me in one minute."

Frankly speaking, this instruction was quite puzzling, but Luo Zhengnan had gotten used to it.

After a minute, Old Luo found a Quiet Place and called Li Qi back. After waiting a while, Li Qi flew to Luo Zhengnan's side.

Li Qi originally wanted to run back to De Song Cliff but worried he might be too late. He found a suitable person in Hai Chi Ridge, paid them a sum, and used Thousand Mile In A Step to send them to Pants Belt Pit, while he flew to De Song Cliff himself.

Upon meeting, he first asked Luo Zhengnan: "What's going on at De Song Cliff?"

Luo Zhengnan was taken aback: "Nothing's happened; I've been here waiting for the grain..."

While speaking, Luo Zhengnan's head suddenly trembled from a call from his men: "Mr. Luo, it's bad! That Foreigner has gone brutal, the whole village broke out in rashes, our brothers are affected too."

"Because of what?"

"I heard it seems something happened to that kid."

Li Banfeng was shocked: "Little De? Which bastard did it?"

Luo Zhengnan looked at Li Banfeng, somewhat bewildered; this incident happened too suddenly, and Old Luo wasn't sure how to handle it.

Li Banfeng thought for a moment: "Tell me where our people are; I'll go save them."

"Seventh Master, I'll go with you!"

"You stay put, wait for my news."

...

Song Demei ran from De Yuan Village to Dexiao Village, where someone covered in rashes sat under a big tree at the village head, and several others sat along the village road, all covered with rashes.

Where did their infection come from?

Two Knife Labor Ghosts walked out of a courtyard, silently observing Song Demei, as they brought the infection.

This Foreigner has truly gone mad; he's truly intent on total destruction!

Song Demei had no desire to fight and quickly headed to De'en Village.

The situation in De'en Village was just like Dexiao Village; Knife Labor Ghosts roamed all surrounding villages, and people in the villages were all covered with rashes.

Initially, Song Demei could still fight off some Knife Labor Ghosts, but as her condition worsened, she grew physically weak and unable to even dodge the Knife Labor Ghosts.

She ran to De'an Village, needing to pass through to leave De Song Cliff's territory, but was blocked by two Knife Labor Ghosts.

She tried to bypass the Knife Labor Ghosts, but her rash-covered legs wouldn't obey, eventually collapsing in the fields.

A Knife Labor Ghost lifted her up and took her to De Yuan Village.

Song Demei still wanted to escape, but the layers of rashes rendered her incapable of fighting the Knife Labor Ghosts.

Cui Tiq dragged his injured body, step by step, approached Song Demei, who screamed: "I didn't kill him, I didn't kill him, spare my life, De Song Cliff is all yours!"

Cui Tiq asked expressionlessly: "What do I want this territory for?"

Song Demei shouted: "There's something else, my second son, Yue Congde, he's long been not Yue Congde; he's someone else. I'll tell you everything, just spare me!"

...

Li Banfeng walked from De'an Village to Dexiao Village, seeing people all covered in black rashes, glowing with red spots along the way.

Some of these people were alive, while others had completely turned into mush.

Those alive were immobile, all like slush, piled on the ground.