Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Chapter 834 - 501: Wait for Me (4)

Li Banfeng has been in Puluo State for a full two years and has not yet visited Three-Head Fork.

With only a dozen kilometers left to Three-Head Fork, the broadcast on the train sounded again: "Dear passengers, we are about to enter Three-Head Fork. Please return to your compartments, refrain from moving around, close the curtains, and do not open the windows. If you feel unwell, please contact the staff immediately."

Dumpling stood up and said, "Seventh Master, we’re going back to the compartment. Please be careful and better pull down the curtains as well."

Li Banfeng nodded, and Dumpling and Light Bulb each returned to their compartments.

There was no way to pull down the curtains; this time, Li Banfeng had to take a good look.

After a while, the train entered a tunnel that lasted for a full hour, and outside the window was completely dark.

When the train emerged from the tunnel, Li Banfeng finally saw some light; it wasn’t sunlight, but flashes of light, as if frequent lightning streaked across the night sky.

Was it lightning?

No!

More prolonged than lightning, beams of light descended from the sky, disappearing after a few seconds.

Li Banfeng was very familiar with these beams; this was the Heavenly Light.

Heavenly Light cascaded down frequently, illuminating the forest, and in the forest, large shadows approached the train.

The train was moving rapidly, and ordinary people couldn’t see where the shadows came from.

But Li Banfeng could see clearly; these were people, a dense crowd of figures rapidly rushing towards the train.

These figures were very tall, with broad shoulders bearing three heads each.

One of the Three-Headed People jumped onto the train, desperately clinging to the exterior of the carriage.

Li Banfeng opened the window, intending to let this Three-Headed Person into the carriage.

Bang!

An iron rod extended from the roof, knocking the Three-Headed Person off the train.

All the train crew were on the roof, knocking the Three-Headed People climbing onto the train one by one.

Once the train passed through the forest, the Three-Headed People disappeared, leaving nothing on the endless wilderness.

Half an hour later, the train stopped, and the announcement reported: "Three-Head Fork Station has arrived. Passengers arriving at the station, please gather your belongings and disembark promptly,

due to a short stop time. Passengers not arriving, please remain seated, do not move, do not open windows, do not lift the curtains."

Li Banfeng kept the window open, quietly observing the scene outside.

The platform was desolate, with only two passengers getting off here, and no one boarding.

At the edge of the platform, there was a stretch of iron fence, with hands reaching through the gaps, one pair after another.

A group of Three-Headed People crowded outside the fence, reaching towards the platform.

They wore ragged clothes, which couldn’t even be called clothes, merely rags barely covering them. Even the beggars in Puluo State dressed better.

Their hair was disheveled, full of dust, appearing a dull gray under the streetlights, contrasting with their dark faces, making it impossible for Li Banfeng to discern their age, or even their gender.

They kept reaching out, what did they want?

Li Banfeng threw all the food in the compartment out the window; the food flew over the platform, over the fence, and landed among the crowd.

The Three-Headed People caught the food, causing a brief scramble.

But regardless of whether they got the food or not, they extended both hands through the fence, bowing towards Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng stood by the window, motionless for a long time.

Clang clang!

The conductor knocked on the door and then pushed it open to come in.

"Sir, please close the window."

Li Banfeng turned back to look at the conductor, not saying a word.

After a brief stare, the conductor lowered his head, retreated outside the compartment, and closed the door.

The conductor was very afraid; he was highly competent on the train, so theoretically, he shouldn’t fear anyone.

But just a moment ago, he truly felt fear.

The train set off again, with Li Banfeng still gazing out the window.

Watching the figures swiftly recede, Li Banfeng murmured:

"Wait for me, wait for me!"

...

The train was leaving the station, soon reaching the boundary between Puluo State and the Outside Provinces.

Li Banfeng hid the key and returned to the Portable Residence.

Whether the Portable Residence could break into the Outside Provinces depended on this moment.

Buzz buzz~

A faint vibration occurred inside the house, with the Portable Residence exerting its power, and the whole family was tense.

Li Banfeng held the phonograph, which softly sang the "Train Ballad":

"Running on flat land, crossing mountains and rivers, huffing and puffing, spewing smoke,

add coal and water, we’re on our way, once the train starts, its power knows no bounds,

crossing bridges, drilling tunnels, iron wheels rolling through dangerous passes,

fear not a thousand difficulties or hardships, unfazed by storm or rain through Wan Chuan."

Clang!

The Portable Residence jolted, and Hong Ying asked fearfully: "Old Man, can we make it?"

After a long wait, an elderly voice replied: "Is this the Outside Provinces? I think I’ve been here before."

We made it!

It was much easier than expected.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and the phonograph asked: "Old Man, what does the Outside Provinces look like?"

"Hard to say, but it’s quite different from Puluo State."

Li Banfeng touched the speaker of the phonograph: "Beloved wife, once we arrive, I’ll take you out for a walk."

The Portable Residence protested: "Just saying we’ll go out? No rules in this house anymore?"

Li Banfeng laughed: "As a family adventuring in the Outside Provinces, we definitely need to be flexible. Once I’ve bought some good stuff, we’ll have a slow discussion."

...

Greenwater City, the site of the former headquarters of Jiang Xiang Gang.

Xie Juncong spent three nights, using dozens of Spiritual Objects and Magical Treasures, finally prying open a gap between the bricks.

These Spiritual Objects not only came from the Ghost Hand Sect but also from all the possessions Shen Rongqing gathered from the brothers. Anything usable was sent over.

Through the gap, a figure as flat as paper emerged.

This figure lay on the ground for a long time, gradually transforming into the emaciated He Jiaqing.

PS: End of Volume One of Lord of Puluo, All Beings of Puluo, End!