Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Chapter 547 - 380 Little Master_2

Li Banfeng waved his hand. "This is too much trouble. My dear wife, come with me to catch insects outside."

The Phonograph paused in bewilderment. "My Lord, did you just say... you want Little Servant to go outside?"

Li Banfeng knew House Spirits couldn’t leave the house at will. "My dear," he said, "don’t misunderstand. I’m just discussing this with you. If you’d like to go for a walk, we can go together. It doesn’t matter if we catch any insects; I just want you, my dear wife, to get some fresh air. If you don’t want to go out, then just forget I said anything."

The Phonograph was very excited; she hadn’t been outside since entering the Portable Residence.

Li Banfeng picked up the Phonograph to leave, but she cried out, "My Lord, wait a moment! Do you truly trust Little Servant?"

Taking a House Spirit out of its home was equivalent to releasing it from the home’s constraints. The House Spirit could kill its Home Cultivator. After killing the Home Cultivator, the House Spirit could kill anyone else it wished. At that point, there was no difference between a House Spirit and an Evil Spirit.

Li Banfeng smiled. "What is there to distrust about my own wife?"

"But..." The Phonograph still had concerns.

Li Banfeng understood why she was worried; for a House Spirit to leave, the house itself had to grant permission.

Li Banfeng spoke to the Portable Residence, "We’re just going out for a bit to clear our minds. We’ll be back soon."

The Portable Residence was silent for a long time before replying, "Only this once. This is not a precedent. You must return within two hours, and you are not allowed to take your combat power with you."

Not allowed to take our combat power out?

Li Banfeng thought. Can they even do that? He looked at his wife. "My beloved wife," he asked, "do you still want to go out?"

"Little Servant... would like to go out and have a look."

Li Banfeng then carried his wife out the door.

The moment they left, her combat power vanished entirely, leaving her with only a few non-combat Techniques. Even moving became difficult for her.

She took a breath of the New Land air, her body trembling slightly. Her three horn-shaped mouths swayed in the night, greedily taking in the surrounding scenery.

In truth, the scenery wasn’t particularly special—just a barren mountain—yet she gazed at it earnestly for a very long time.

A melody arose as she began to sing "Little Master" again. Just as she got halfway through, an insect the length of a forefinger, with a shiny, oily body and long feelers, perched on a tree, listening quietly.

The Phonograph extended her needle. The insect obediently landed on its stand. She then used the Insightful Spirit Sound Technique to communicate with the insect for a few moments.

"Ah, My Lord, this insect doesn’t know much. But twenty miles to the east, there’s a canyon with an old insect, over sixty years old, who should have some knowledge. Let’s go take a look."

Li Banfeng headed east, carrying his wife. The Phonograph sang shyly, "This little servant’s body has grown a bit heavy; I’m truly sorry to trouble My Lord so."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Carrying my own wife, how could I find it difficult? I’m walking a bit fast. Is it too bumpy for you, dear?"

"Little Servant is willing to be jostled in My Lord’s arms for a lifetime."

Through the hazy mist, Li Banfeng sprinted, the Phonograph in his arms. Fearing he was overexerting himself, she tried to persuade him to put her back into the Portable Residence. "My Lord, if Little Servant returns to the Residence, and the Residence follows you, wouldn’t that be the same as Little Servant going with you?"

If I go back now, it’ll be difficult to come out again, Li Banfeng thought.

But the Phonograph was very content, whispering into Li Banfeng’s ear, "My Lord, just one glimpse of the outside world is enough for now; there will be more opportunities in the future."

The Portable Residence was only in a good mood today and made this one-time exception because of the station, Li Banfeng mused. It’s hard to say if there’ll be another chance.

"That won’t do!" Li Banfeng laughed. "Beloved wife, it’s rare that we get to come out. You must have a good stroll with your husband."

The night breeze was bone-chillingly cold. The Phonograph carefully hung her horns on Li Banfeng’s shoulder, gently puffing steam. She feared scalding her husband if she got too close, yet worried about him freezing if she was too far. Caught in this delicate balance, Li Banfeng would occasionally grab at her Peach, then her back, then her armpit, making the ticklish Phonograph almost laugh herself out of breath.

Having run all the way to a mountain stream, Li Banfeng set down his wife. She wiped the sweat from his brow and started singing "Little Master" again. This time, just two lines in, an insect nearly three feet long burrowed out of the ground and stopped beside her.

This was an elderly Three Joyous Worm. After the Phonograph finished her song, the worm communicated with her briefly. She then turned to Li Banfeng. "It knows where Heavenly Spring Delighted Earth is," she said, "over eighty miles from here. If Little Servant sings two more songs for it, it will lead us there."

Li Banfeng nodded slightly. While his wife sang, he returned to the Portable Residence, changed into coarse clothes, and put on a bamboo hat, disguising himself as a New Land Hunter.

The Portable Residence grew impatient. "It’s about time to bring that girl back!"

Li Banfeng smiled. "No rush, it hasn’t been two hours yet."

After two more songs, the Three Joyous Worm seemed very satisfied and led Li Banfeng and the Phonograph in a southeast direction.

After traveling over ten miles, they reached the boundary of Li Banfeng’s territory. The Three Joyous Worm was not fast, so a considerable amount of time had passed.

The Phonograph said, "My Lord, time is almost up. Please take Little Servant back home. We mustn’t anger the Residence. It’s also best if I don’t show myself in someone else’s territory."

Li Banfeng sent his wife back to the Portable Residence and continued beyond his own territory with the Three Joyous Worm.

Several more miles in, they came to a creek. A man with a headscarf, leading a single-humped camel, shouted at Li Banfeng, "Traveling brother, come take a look! I’ve got fresh goods. Got enough Ocean Dollars? Then prices are slashed—pick whatever you like!"

A Peddler?

This was indeed a Peddler, but not the one Li Banfeng was familiar with. Such Peddlers only did business in the New Land, selling everyday items to Pioneers and Hunters, and were also known as New Land Traders.

The shout sounded friendly enough. Li Banfeng stepped forward and bought a Beaded Flower for his wife, two hair bands for Hong Ying, and a rag for Copper Lotus Flower.

In the New Land, goods were scarce and much more expensive than in the Proper Land. Li Banfeng, wanting to be supportive, bought a few small things without spending much.

After paying, Li Banfeng continued with the Three Joyous Worm in search of the Heavenly Spring Delighted Earth. After walking a little more than two miles, he bent down to tie his shoelace and dropped two Ocean Dollars on the ground.

After Li Banfeng had walked some distance, the trader, leading his camel, followed and soon spotted the Ocean Dollars on the ground.

This was Li Banfeng’s warning, advising him to quit while he was ahead and not to continue following.

The trader paused for a moment, but the camel beside him urged, "What are you standing there for? Follow him! Keep going! When the time is right, kill him."

The trader nodded, patted the goods on the camel’s back, checked the position of his weapons, and with a murderous look, continued after Li Banfeng.

Not much further on, Li Banfeng’s figure suddenly vanished. The trader had no clue.

By the time he realized what had happened, his body suddenly swelled up and then exploded into a mass of flesh and blood.

Li Banfeng did not continue his journey. He stood about ten meters away, watching the trader’s single-humped camel.

The camel was also watching Li Banfeng and spoke calmly, "My friend, you have good skills. May I ask what brings you to this place?"

Li Banfeng’s tone was just as calm. "I have yet to ask who you are."

Meanwhile, the Three Joyous Worm had run off into the distance.

The single-humped camel snorted. "I have only one hump on my back," it said to Li Banfeng. "Others like to call me Old Single-Back. Some also call me Bei Wushuang."

PS: Indeed, it’s a small world for enemies.