Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1419: Luobo Mountain

Chapter 1419: Chapter 640: Luobo Mountain

In the pitch-black, icy mountain cave, Dumpling set up a pile of firewood, and Light Bulb poured oil over the wood.

“Pour more, this firewood is hard to light!”

Light Bulb was unhappy: “Are you burning firewood or burning me? This is my blood, don’t you know?”

The fire was lit, and the two shivered inside the cave.

Dumpling sighed: “I wonder how Seventh Master is doing.”

Light Bulb shook his head: “It’s not easy to find food here. I reckon Seventh Master might not return before dawn.”

At Three-Head Fork, the snowstorm was fierce, colder than anywhere in Puluo State. Dumpling approached the cave entrance with concern, peering out.

Light Bulb urged Dumpling to get back inside: “Don’t get so close to the entrance. Have you forgotten what Seventh Master warned you? Exposing yourself to Heavenly Light could cost you your life!”

Dumpling and Light Bulb were on Luobo Mountain, named because its shape resembled half a radish stuck in the ground.

According to Dark Star Bureau records, the frequency of Heavenly Light at Three-Head Fork and the Luobo Mountain area was low, the intensity weak, with numerous settlers, even forming several villages.

But even with settlers, food was hard to come by.

Light Bulb had tried knocking on doors, asking for directions, water, or a couple of firewood sticks, which was fine, but asking for food, even offering to buy it, would get the door slammed shut.

Having sneaked onto the train in the morning, now by evening, they hadn’t had much to eat at all and were starving.

Light Bulb complained: “I don’t even know what I was thinking. Why did I listen to you? You said we’d fill out a travel application to say we’re going on a business trip with Seventh Master to Puluo State. Would Director Chen not approve? We’d have been here legitimately without causing all this trouble!”

Dumpling was angry too: “How many times do I have to tell you before you understand? Just saying ‘business trip’ is not a valid reason. What’s the purpose of the trip? What are we doing in Puluo State? Are we there to spy on Seventh Master?”

Light Bulb shook his head: “Just find some pretext, as long as we can follow Seventh Master out, it’s fine.”

Dumpling frowned: “That’s why I say you don’t think things through! You tell the Bureau you’re on a business trip, then stay in Puluo State without returning. Do you know what that’s called? It’s called defection, you understand? Have you thought about the consequences? Your family would be implicated. Aren’t you considering these things?”

Light Bulb kept his head down: “So our families aren’t implicated now?”

Dumpling poked the fire: “We’ve already submitted resignation letters. We’re no longer with the Dark Star Bureau, and being in Puluo State now, we won’t face any punishment!”

Light Bulb snorted: “We just got shoved off the train, and you say there’s no punishment?”

Dumpling threw a burning stick: “It’s not the same! That’s because we didn’t have a Guide Token, illegally entering Puluo State, unrelated to other issues. Besides, the train staff doesn’t know our identity, even if it gets pursued, it won’t be traced to us!”

Light Bulb felt a bit wronged: “I just think…”

Dumpling was too lazy to explain: “There’s no need to think. I haven’t even blamed you yet. If you’d waited a bit longer in the luggage compartment, until we reached Three-Head Fork, you wouldn’t be stuck here!”

“I was worried Seventh Master got off at Three-Head Fork, so I got anxious and took a look. If I’d known this trip would be so troublesome, we’d have chosen a better time…”

“I think the timing of our departure is just right. If you regret it, hurry back to Yuezhou and beg Director Chen. You might still save your job.”

Light Bulb shook his head: “I don’t regret it. I genuinely want to adventure with Seventh Master.”

“Then stop talking so much!” Dumpling went to the cave entrance again, looking at the snowstorm outside, feeling very uneasy inside.

Despite her words against Light Bulb, she felt guilty. Coming to Puluo State to follow Li Qi was her choice, but inadvertently dragging Li Qi into jumping off a train was something she hadn’t foreseen.

In the biting cold, knowing Li Qi was braving the snow to find food for them made Dumpling’s heart ache.

…

“Beloved husband, want to add some more hot water?” The Phonograph tested the temperature in the bath and felt it was a bit lacking.

Li Banfeng wasn’t picky, stretching lazily in the bathtub: “The water temperature is fine, it’s just that my shoulders still feel a bit sore.”

The Phonograph scolded Hong Ying: “I told you to massage the shoulders, but you don’t get it!”

“I did massage…”

“Yet he still complains of soreness, can’t you hear?”

Hong Ying pouted, continuing to massage Li Banfeng’s shoulders, though he still felt it was lacking: “In such cold weather, a hot drink would be nice.”

Hong Ying commanded: “Little Jiu’er, go warm up some wine for Qi Lang!”

Miss Jiu was scrubbing clothes, stood up, tossed the scrub board, and went to warm up wine for Li Banfeng.

The wine warmed, Miss Jiu brought it over with a sour expression.

Hong Ying was angry: “Why the long face all day? You upset just because of a few words?”

Two days ago, the two had a duel, and Miss Jiu couldn’t beat Hong Ying. Under the witness of the Tang Sword, they signed a contract book, obliging Miss Jiu to obey Hong Ying without complaint for three months.

Back in Ninth Room, Miss Jiu was sulking. The Copper Lotus Flower teased: “Oh dear, really became someone’s little wife, and you don’t think it’s shameful at all.”

Miss Jiu retorted: “It’s because your useless body lost to that brute Hong Ying, otherwise I wouldn’t have lost!”

Red Lotus sighed: “I gave you a body that worked before, who told you not to like it?”

“That was a man’s body, you made it to disgust me!”

“Want a female body, beautiful, and also strong in a fight, aren’t you too greedy?”

“So what if I’m greedy? With the bond between us sisters, you should look after me a little more, shouldn’t you?”