Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1422: Luobo Mountain (Part 4)

Chapter 1422: Chapter 640: Luobo Mountain (Part 4)

“If you want to follow me, then follow me openly and aboveboard. What’s all this sneaking around supposed to be?”

Dumpling shook her head and said, “If we still keep our Outside Provinces status, then it doesn’t count as following you openly and aboveboard. If the higher-ups give us a mission to stab you in the back, who are we supposed to listen to? So this time we have to make a clean break with the Dark Star Bureau!”

Li Banfeng gave a slight nod.

In his impression, Dumpling had always been someone who tried to avoid conflict.

But judging from what she said today, once she’s willing to face conflict head-on, she can see it very clearly.

They rested in the cave for one night. At dawn the next day, Li Banfeng handed the Snow Cream to Dumpling and Light Bulb. Once everything was ready, the three of them set out, following the mountain path down toward the village at the foot.

It wasn’t quite the same situation as at Elbow Mountain. Around Luobo Mountain, they didn’t see many Three-Headed People; there were actually quite a few normal people.

Before they reached the village, an old woman on the roadside shouted, “Help me, save my life…”

The three turned around to look, and heard the old woman continue, “Any kind soul, give me a bite to eat. I haven’t eaten in two days, I really can’t hold out any longer.”

Dumpling glanced at Light Bulb. Light Bulb ignored it. If he really had spare supplies, he’d be willing to lend this old woman a hand, but he only had one can left on him, and that was saved for lunch. In this situation he truly couldn’t help.

Dumpling had three cans left: two saved for Li Qi, one for herself.

She wanted to give her own can to the old woman, but then she thought of how Seventh Master hadn’t eaten last night, just so he could leave them an extra bite. If she gave the can to someone else now, she’d really be letting Seventh Master down.

As she hesitated, she suddenly saw Li Banfeng looking at her and saying, “Dumpling, give me a can.”

Dumpling let out a long breath and quickly handed Li Banfeng a can.

Seventh Master is a good person—this is something she must never forget.

Li Banfeng stuffed the can into the old woman’s hand. “Auntie, eat.”

The old woman took the can and thanked him over and over.

Li Banfeng led the two of them on toward the village. They hadn’t gone far when the old woman hurried up from behind.

Her legs worked fine, and her stamina was pretty good. She didn’t look like someone who’d been starving for two days.

“You three kind souls, where are you headed?”

Li Banfeng pointed at the village ahead. “We’re going to the village to rent a room.”

“What’re you renting a room here for?”

“We’re thinking this place isn’t bad and want to settle down here.”

“Who are you trying to fool?” The old woman chuckled. “You’re here to Enter the Path Gateway, aren’t you? Otherwise who’d want to settle down at Three-Head Fork.”

Dumpling said, “Granny, you misunderstand, we’re not here to…”

Li Banfeng waved his hand to signal Dumpling not to speak, then turned to the old woman. “How do you know we want to Enter the Path Gateway?”

The old woman smacked her lips. “I don’t know anything. I can’t see anything. If you don’t trust me, just pretend you never met me. If you do trust me, I’ll point you to a way.”

Li Banfeng was quite curious. “What way?”

The old woman lowered her voice. “Do you want a proper Taoist Sect, or do you want to grow two extra heads?”

Li Banfeng straightened his expression. “Of course we want a proper Taoist Sect.”

The old woman pointed at the village ahead. “You’re thinking if you find a place to stay at Three-Head Fork, you can become Body Cultivation cultivators, right? I’m telling you, with you three White Lambs, if you stay in this village a few days, each of you will grow three heads.

I can see you’re all not that young anymore, and you’re dressed pretty decent. How come you don’t understand a single Taoist Sect rule? To Entering the Path you need Medicinal Powder. Without Medicinal Powder, aren’t you just waiting to turn into Three-Headed Monsters?”

“You need Medicinal Powder to enter Body Cultivation?” Dumpling’s eyes widened. Before coming to Puluo State, she had done her homework and had plenty of relevant information.

To become Body Cultivation you didn’t need Medicinal Powder; you just came to Three-Head Fork and gambled on your luck. More than one file in the Dark Star Bureau mentioned this.

The old woman waved her hand and turned to leave. “Girl, I can tell you just don’t believe me. Forget it, pretend I never said it. The day you really grow three heads, you’ll know regret.”

Li Banfeng stopped the old woman. “Granny, she’s just a young girl who doesn’t understand. We really do want to Enter the Path Gateway, but as you know, if we had the money to buy Medicinal Powder, we wouldn’t be coming to Three-Head Fork!”

The old woman nodded. “That’s a proper statement. Let me tell you, at Three-Head Fork, Taoist Sect Medicinal Powder isn’t bought with money, it’s traded for sincerity. As long as you find the right way and meet the Body Cultivation Grandmaster, you can beg for Medicinal Powder.”

Dumpling was even more confused. There’s actually a Body Cultivation Grandmaster at Three-Head Fork?

And in Puluo State, Medicinal Powder is all bought from Peddlers. How could a Body Cultivation Grandmaster be giving Medicinal Powder away?

Li Banfeng clasped his fists in salute. “Granny, may I trouble you to point us the way.”

The old woman let out a long sigh. “I’ve been starving two full days, and you’re the ones who gave me a bite to eat. I guess we were meant to have this bit of Taoist Fate. Come with me.”

Li Banfeng thanked her repeatedly and followed the old woman.

Dumpling felt something was off, but then saw Light Bulb follow along as well.

She tugged on Light Bulb, and Light Bulb turned his head and whispered: “What are we even doing here?”

What are we doing here?

We’re following Seventh Master!

Light Bulb jerked his head toward Li Banfeng: “We’re following Seventh Master, of course!”

Since they were following Seventh Master, naturally they had to trust him; thinking like that wasn’t wrong.

The three of them followed the old lady for half a day, and the old lady sighed: “We just had a bite to eat, and now it’s all walked right back out again.”

Li Banfeng turned back to Dumpling and said: “Get me another can.”

The old lady took the can and sighed again: “I’ve got something to put in my mouth now, but my old man at home is still hungry.”

Li Banfeng reached into his pocket and felt for the Gloves.

The Gloves handed the Ocean Dollar to Li Banfeng: “Boss, I just chatted with him a bit. This kid’s pretty savvy. Whichever piece you want, tell him first.”

Li Banfeng said one word: “Hand.”

The old lady froze: “Young man, what hand are you talking about?”

Li Banfeng smiled: “I’m short on cash, didn’t bring much on me. I’ll give you one Ocean Dollar, how’s that sound?”

He gave the old lady an Ocean Dollar.

Dumpling felt something was wrong and said to Li Banfeng: “This money…”

She felt this money shouldn’t be given.

Li Banfeng smiled: “It’s fine, I just want to test whether this money works well.”

The old lady took the Ocean Dollar, looking slightly regretful: “This little bit really isn’t much. When you buy Medicinal Powder outside, for each person it’s several hundred Ocean Dollars, and that’s not even counting what you spent earlier on accumulating Taoist Fate.

I’ve found you a great opportunity, and you only give me this much. Forget it, I won’t quibble with you. Since we’ve got this fated encounter, more or less, it’s still a token of your goodwill.”

The old lady led the three onward, and before long they saw a young fellow.

“Come, come!” The old lady waved at the young fellow. “These three are going to look for the Body Cultivation Grandmaster; you take them there.”

Light Bulb lowered his voice: “Handle-switch!”

Dumpling didn’t know what a handle-switch was. It was a trick common among rickshaw pullers, to put it simply, Old Zhang would pull the passenger for half the trip, collect the fare, then switch the remaining half to Old Chen to pull.

Old Chen would refuse to acknowledge anything mid-route, saying the earlier part had nothing to do with him, and squeeze another fare out of the passenger.

Back when Light Bulb was in Blue Poplar Village, he’d been swindled till he had nothing left but a pair of underpants; he’d even gone to a bandit stronghold and served as the village chief’s wife. What scene hadn’t he seen? This little scam definitely couldn’t fool him!

But unexpectedly, this did manage to fool Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng took the two of them, said goodbye to the old lady, and followed this young fellow onward.

Sure enough, the young fellow hadn’t gone far before he asked Li Banfeng for money again.

“Listen, you three, I didn’t come out here to do charity and accumulate virtue. In this freezing cold, I’m helping you find your way—how can you not give me some money for my trouble?”

“Easy enough.” Li Banfeng felt his pocket; the Ocean Dollar had already returned.

The Gloves wiped the bloodstains off the money and handed the Ocean Dollar back to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng said to the young fellow: “I’m a bit strapped, I’ll give you one Ocean Dollar. Will that do?”

“Folks coming to look for the Body Cultivation Grandmaster usually bring at least ten or eight of these. You only give one… Forget it, for the old lady’s sake, I’ll make do.” The young fellow pocketed the Ocean Dollar and continued leading the three along.

This time Dumpling could see clearly that Li Banfeng had some other trick going on here.

Light Bulb couldn’t resist cracking a joke: “Seventh Master, that’s two Ocean Dollars already. Looks like this business is running at a loss.”

Li Banfeng smiled: “Not a loss—profit. This particular Ocean Dollar works very well.”

In the snow, the old lady’s arm fell off clean at the shoulder.

Blood kept pouring out, and she lay in the snow, hoarsely Shouting.

“Save me, spare my life…”

The wind was fierce; even after the heavy snow buried her, no one heard her cries for help.

PS: Is the Body Cultivation Grandmaster really at Three-Head Fork?