Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Chapter 553 - 385 What Taoist Sect is this camel?

Li Banfeng arrived at Bei Wushuang’s territory to deliver a message to him.

"You’re saying Pan Dehai got trapped by Meng Yuchun?" sneered Bei Wushuang. "From what I know, Pan Dehai has Cloud Top Third Layer cultivation level, while Meng Yuchun only reached the Cloud Top First Layer. If you tell me Pan Dehai showed mercy and spared Meng Yuchun’s life, I would believe that. But to say Meng Yuchun trapped Pan Dehai, that sounds rather far-fetched."

Li Banfeng nodded. "It’s true that Pan Dehai’s cultivation level surpasses Meng Yuchun, but this is Meng Yuchun’s territory, and she practices Home Cultivation. You must have heard of her Close Doors and Shut Windows technique. Defeating Pan Dehai wouldn’t be easy, but trapping him is not that difficult."

Bei Wushuang stuck out his tongue. "So you mean to say you can’t win and you want me to help you fight?"

"It’s not exactly helping us. We are somewhat aware of the grudge between you and Pan Dehai. If you let Pan Dehai leave here alive, you won’t be able to sleep peacefully in the future."

"What’s there not to feel secure about?" Bei Wushuang shook his head. "I’ve told you before, Old Pan is my friend. We don’t have any feud between us; what you’ve heard are merely rumors."

Li Banfeng lowered his brim. "In that case, you don’t want to get involved in this matter."

"It’s not that I don’t want to; it’s that it’s beyond my control. This is a grudge between Old Pan and you all. Since you know Old Pan, go and have a good talk with him. He is a Person of Great Virtue; perhaps he might spare you a way out."

"And if he doesn’t agree to spare us?"

"Then there’s nothing that can be done. You can only blame your bad luck for offending someone you shouldn’t have."

"Actually, we don’t necessarily have to offend Pan Dehai. What you’re saying makes sense. We can have a good talk with him." Li Banfeng didn’t say more, lowered his hat brim, and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Bei Wushuang watched Li Banfeng’s retreating figure, his large camel-like eyes blinking for a long time.

Would Bei Wushuang really not make a move?

Li Banfeng believed he would definitely take action.

Every time Li Banfeng entered Bei Wushuang’s territory, Bei Wushuang would detect it immediately. This showed how vigilant Bei Wushuang was and how many spies he had planted in the surrounding territories.

Meng Yuchun’s fight with Pan Dehai was something Bei Wushuang had plenty of ways to verify. As long as it turned out to be true, he would definitely take action.

The logic was simple. Given Pan Dehai’s strength, Meng Yuchun stood no chance of victory. There were only two possible outcomes.

One was that Meng Yuchun died in battle, and Pan Dehai took over her territory, waiting for a chance to move against Bei Wushuang. This outcome was obviously not what Bei Wushuang wanted to see.

The other was that Meng Yuchun surrendered and joined forces with Pan Dehai against Bei Wushuang. This outcome was even less desirable for Bei Wushuang.

A mole popped out from the ground and came to Bei Wushuang’s feet, speaking respectfully, "Meng Yuchun has started a fight with Pan Dehai, and Pan Dehai has been..."

"I know." Bei Wushuang shook his head, and the camel bells on his neck jingled twice.

As the bell sounds lingered, Bei Wushuang’s figure disappeared.

Pan Dehai indeed found himself trapped by Meng Yuchun. Within the layers of territorial boundaries, Pan Dehai, covered in blood, was still attempting to negotiate with Meng Yuchun. "Miss Meng, there seems to be some misunderstanding between us. Perhaps I didn’t express myself clearly. If my words have caused any offense, I ask for your leniency. At my age, humiliating myself to admit my mistakes to you, even if I am truly at fault, I hope you can be forgiving."

Meng Yuchun stood halfway up the hill, originally looking down at Pan Dehai. Suddenly, she felt as though Pan Dehai’s figure had grown much larger, adorned with the character for ’virtue’ of various sizes, causing her to feel dizzy.

This was not an Illusion Technique; it was a Virtue Cultivation Technique—High Esteem.

As Pan Dehai expounded on his reasoning, he elevated his own perceived moral standing, severely intimidating Meng Yuchun.

The boundary lines on the ground flickered intermittently, and Meng Yuchun was close to her breaking point. Pan Dehai now had an opportunity to counterattack.

But Pan Dehai chose not to take the risk; he prepared to use his High Esteem technique once again.

At this moment, all of Pan Dehai’s attention was focused on Meng Yuchun.

Meng Yuchun was at the end of her strength. If she continued to force herself, she might go mad.

Large gaps had appeared in the boundary.

Just as Pan Dehai was about to break through the boundary, the hidden Bei Wushuang prepared to make his move.

Meng Yuchun did not see Bei Wushuang. Even Pan Dehai, who excelled at eluding detection, did not notice him.

But Li Banfeng did. With the Golden Gaze Autumn Hair Technique pushed to its limit, Li Banfeng saw the blurred figure of Bei Wushuang.

This was a Technique personally taught by his wife. To this day, Li Banfeng still did not know the exact level of Golden Gaze Autumn Hair, but this Technique had allowed him to escape danger time and time again.

Now that he saw Bei Wushuang, what should he do?

Rush to fight?

He was certainly no match for Bei Wushuang.

Shout a warning to Pan Dehai and Meng Yuchun?

One shout might work, but what if Bei Wushuang changed positions? Was Li Banfeng supposed to give a play-by-play from the sidelines?

If it really came to that, he might as well await death at Bei Wushuang’s hands.

Li Banfeng swung his iron ladle, flinging a ladleful of Golden Juice towards Bei Wushuang’s figure.

Bei Wushuang was startled; he had not noticed Li Banfeng. It was all too easy to overlook a Seventh Layer Home Cultivation practitioner.

The Golden Juice clung to Bei Wushuang’s body and disappeared in an instant, leaving no trace.

But while no marks were left, a scent lingered.

Under the gentle breeze, both Meng Yuchun and Pan Dehai covered their noses, detecting Bei Wushuang’s whereabouts.

Meng Yuchun immediately changed the direction of the boundary lines, trapping Bei Wushuang within.

After flinging the Golden Juice, Li Banfeng immediately withdrew from the battlefield. His task was complete; now he had to ensure he wasn’t caught in the aftermath.

In the cave, Li Banfeng had written two characters on Meng Yuchun’s peach halves: one was ’Bitter,’ and the other was ’Technique’ (implying ’Ruse’).

He had wanted to write ’Feigned Injury Ruse,’ but the middle character, ’Flesh,’ was a bit troublesome to write in the narrow crevice between the halves.

Anyway, there was plenty of ’flesh’ on the peaches; Meng Yuchun should understand.

And she really did understand.

Not only did she understand, but she also acted very convincingly. She had sensed that someone seemed to be watching them near the cave; she had been fighting with Pan Dehai all this time just to execute this Feigned Injury Ruse.

Why didn’t she discuss this plan with Pan Dehai beforehand?

Because Li Banfeng suspected that there were spies in Meng Yuchun’s territory—and not just one. If he had made everything clear, the act would not have been convincing.

If he didn’t make it clear, wasn’t he afraid that Pan Dehai would strike to kill?

In this regard, Li Banfeng trusted Pan Dehai’s wisdom.

Pan Dehai was despicable and ruthless, but there was no denying that he was very smart.

He must have also suspected that the cave was unsafe and sensed that people might be eavesdropping nearby.

When Meng Yuchun turned against him, Pan Dehai was also annoyed, feeling that this young Local Deity didn’t understand the rules at all.

After clashing for two rounds, Pan Dehai immediately spotted the discrepancy: Meng Yuchun had not gone all out against him.

Meng Yuchun was clearly at a disadvantage in strength yet was still holding back in combat. This abnormal behavior made Pan Dehai understand her intention, and he also controlled the extent of his own attacks.

The two were indeed fighting, but with reservations. Both sides were injured, but neither was seriously harmed.

Before Bei Wushuang made his move, he was doused with Golden Juice and immediately realized he had fallen into a trap.

He was first confined by Meng Yuchun’s boundary, then he heard Pan Dehai shout loudly, "Taking advantage of someone’s peril is devoid of virtue!"

Virtue Cultivation Technique: Virtuous Achievement.

Bei Wushuang staggered, revealing his form in mid-air.

This camel could take a beating; one layer of Virtuous Achievement couldn’t crush him. He braced himself and rammed into the boundary, trying to escape.

This action was bound to cause injury, but Bei Wushuang believed he could bear it. If he stopped to tangle with the two of them, he would have almost no chance of survival.

Pan Dehai shouted again, "To flee during battle is devoid of virtue!"

Another heavy burden pressed down on him. Just as Bei Wushuang rushed to the edge of the boundary, his pace was forced to slow, and most of his fur was burnt off, his body dripping with blood.

Bei Wushuang’s strength was clearly superior to the Mountain-Uprooting Master’s, and he could bear this level of injury.

He didn’t want to fight; he just wanted to run.

Pan Dehai shouted again, "Disheveled attire is devoid of virtue!"

This angle was accurate; his fur was all burnt off, so his ’attire’ was definitely disheveled.

Bei Wushuang’s front hooves bent, and as he was about to fall, Meng Yuchun had already set up the second layer of boundaries.

Another strong rush was bound to cause Bei Wushuang serious injury.

But if he didn’t rush out, giving Pan Dehai time, Bei Wushuang might lose his chance to escape.

After weighing his options, Bei Wushuang stopped, desperately swinging his neck. The camel bells rang loudly, and along with their sound, Bei Wushuang began to let out a series of deep, guttural roars.

The sound of the bells mixed with the roars. Meng Yuchun’s breath suddenly hitched, and the boundaries dimmed a little.

This camel is a Sound Cultivator?

Meng Yuchun had always thought he was a Body Cultivator.

Not just Meng Yuchun; even Li Banfeng had thought Bei Wushuang was a Body Cultivator.

He constantly presented himself in the form of a camel, practically announcing his Body Cultivation with a signboard on his face.

But Bei Wushuang hadn’t expected Pan Dehai to be unaffected.

Pan Dehai knew Bei Wushuang was a Sound Cultivator. He had made preparations and, relying on his own cultivation level, had neutralized the technique.

"Bei Wushuang, you injure others with hidden attacks! This old man won’t hold it against you. Now, I fight you openly and honorably! Where can you run?"

Virtue Cultivation Technique: High Esteem.

Pan Dehai’s body kept expanding. Countless ’virtue’ characters moved back and forth across his body, making Bei Wushuang dizzy. He could no longer resist the heavy burden and collapsed directly on the ground.

Pan Dehai approached, removed the camel bells from Bei Wushuang’s neck, and chuckled. "This is a fine item indeed, truly suited to your Taoist Sect. First, tell me clearly: who instructed you and Huang Xiliang to spread pests at Hai Chi Ridge?"

Bei Wushuang did not answer. Although they had little contact, he knew Pan Dehai’s personality: as soon as Pan Dehai extracted the information he wanted, he would send Bei Wushuang to his death.

He suddenly took a deep breath, as if to roar, but Pan Dehai shouted loudly, "A person devoid of virtue shall not speak!"

Virtue Cultivation Technique: Unbreakable Virtuous Words!

Since Pan Dehai forbade Bei Wushuang to speak at this moment, Bei Wushuang’s mouth indeed did not open.

The Unbreakable Virtuous Words Technique was not overwhelmingly powerful; Bei Wushuang still had the strength to break free.

But Bei Wushuang didn’t break free because he hadn’t intended to speak in the first place.

The hump on his back suddenly swelled and then burst.

BOOM!

After the loud explosion, Pan Dehai remained motionless, standing there as if he were a clay statue.

Meng Yuchun, being somewhat further away, was forced to interrupt her technique by the massive explosion and temporarily lost consciousness.

Li Banfeng was even further away, but he didn’t escape the explosion’s effects either. He saw a flash of white before his eyes, a piercing ringing filled his ears, and his chest ached severely.

Sound Cultivation Technique: Blood-Splattered Homophone.

Bei Wushuang struggled to his feet. He had gambled nearly his entire life for this single opportunity.

Many li away, He Yuxiu heard the tremendous BOOM, which caused a slight pain in her chest.

The Oil Peach cultivator next to her, of inferior cultivation level, couldn’t catch her breath for a long time.

Xiao Genzi’s bucket nearly dropped to the ground. Zhang Wanlong supported him and, looking in the direction of the loud noise for a moment, reminded Root, "Your Seventh Master might be in danger."

Within the Mountain-Uprooting Master’s residence, the Phonograph was helping the Portable Residence build a platform. Although the station wasn’t complete, the door of the Portable Residence had opened. The Phonograph also heard the explosion.

"It’s a Sound Cultivation Technique!" his wife exclaimed to the Portable Residence. "Hurry and save your husband!"

The Portable Residence replied, "I can’t go now."

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go; the Portable Residence said he couldn’t go because his condition wouldn’t allow it.

The Phonograph grew anxious, wanting to go out and rescue Li Banfeng herself.

After a moment of deliberation, the Portable Residence said, "Use my steam whistle. Sing a couple of lines for him. It can only be for him to hear, not to be used against enemies."

"After being hit by Blood-Splattered Homophone, I’m afraid he can’t hear at all."

"He can hear," the Portable Residence said confidently. "This whistle is to signal him to get on board; only he can hear it."