Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Chapter 871 - 510: Life in the Inner State (Part 4)

The most deadly damage comes from the boiler.

The shockwave from the explosion blew out the flames in the boiler.

Chu Zikai wanted to rush over to ignite the boiler, but Li Banfeng’s figure appeared near the "Centipede Workshop."

If Chu Zikai focused on defense, Li Banfeng wouldn’t have many ways to deal with him; a slight misstep could even result in Li Banfeng getting hurt.

But now Chu Zikai intends to take the offensive, which is a different matter. Li Banfeng won’t let him get close to the Centipede Workshop. The mere attempt could be fatal for Chu Zikai.

Li Banfeng stood by the boiler, quietly waiting to see what other tricks Chu Zikai had.

Around the Centipede Workshop, the green light lit up once more, signifying that the "Centipede Workshop" had completely lost its life, and the souls were about to emerge.

Chu Zikai suddenly changed his song selection.

While singing "I Am Your Pot Helmet," he also sang "Follow Me In The Next Life."

"Even if we cannot hold hands in this life, in the next we will grow old together..."

"Follow Me In The Next Life" isn’t Chu Zikai’s song; it was a hit last year that Li Banfeng hadn’t really heard, nor could he understand the lyrics. He just noticed the lost soul of the centipede swiftly departing the workshop and rushing towards Chu Zikai.

This song can summon souls.

Chu Zikai realized the Centipede Workshop couldn’t be saved, so he opted to take the centipede’s soul instead.

Li Banfeng took out the horsewhip Prince Chun had given him and rapidly struck the centipede’s soul with a dozen lashes.

The centipede’s soul was injured and couldn’t move.

The scent of blood emanated from Chu Zikai, indicating he was prepared to use "Blood-Splattered Homophone" in a showdown against Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng was waiting for this moment.

The gloves on the tree prepared accordingly, swapping in a new record.

This record was specifically made by his wife to counteract "Blood-Splattered Homophone" after both Li Banfeng and the Silk-pulling Earrings had suffered from its effects. His wife had researched for days and devised a way to break it with records.

Engraved on the record was a scene from "The Fourth Son Visiting Mother." As long as the gloves could adjust the playback timing correctly, the opera on the record could mitigate the lethality of "Blood-Splattered Homophone."

Using the technique of "Blood-Splattered Homophone" comes with a cost; Chu Zikai himself will get hurt. Once injured, he won’t be able to use "The Technique of Halting the Clouds with Sound," which demands tremendous physical prowess; without it, Chu Zikai loses his means to counter "Passing Glance."

Chu Zikai continued to prepare "Blood-Splattered Homophone," while the gloves tuned the needle’s position, and Li Banfeng readied himself to act.

Ooooh!

Suddenly, alarm sounds rang out beyond the wall, and a large number of Public Security Team members rushed into the factory area.

What’s happening?

Dark Star Bureau is coming as reinforcement?

Who called for reinforcements, was it Dumpling?

Why is the alarm so loud and piercing; does it contain some technique?

Hearing the alarm, Chu Zikai took the chance to change his tactics and adopted "The Technique of Echoing Sounds," amplifying the alarm sound dozens of times.

The gloves tried to rock the phonograph to offset Chu Zikai’s technique, but the opera on the record had no effect on "The Technique of Echoing Sounds."

Seeing this, the gloves didn’t want to continue the battle and promptly swallowed the phonograph, digging into Li Banfeng’s pocket.

The deafening alarm made Li Banfeng dizzy, and the lost soul of the "Centipede Workshop" was startled awake, charging once more towards Chu Zikai.

The unforeseen change thoroughly disrupted Li Banfeng’s plan.

Li Banfeng swung the horsewhip, wrapped around the lost soul of the "Centipede Workshop," pulled it along with the horsewhip into his sleeve.

Chu Zikai continuously amplified the alarm sound, rushing towards Li Banfeng amidst the sonic onslaught.

In these circumstances, if the fight continued, Li Banfeng would suffer greatly.

Li Banfeng opted not to engage hands-on with Chu Zikai, kicking Chu Zikai in the process.

Chu Zikai flew out, and so did Li Banfeng.

The Traveling Craftsman Nine-Tier Technique, "Thousand Mile In A Step."

Flying mid-air, Li Banfeng glanced at the incoming Security Team members flooding the factory area.

They were dashing about the factory but still couldn’t locate the spot where Li Banfeng and Chu Zikai clashed.

The alarm continued incessantly, unclear who or what it was warning.

Clutching Prince Chun’s soul, Li Banfeng flew for an unknown duration, finally landing in a paddy field.

After climbing out of the mud, Li Banfeng looked around for quite a while.

"What is this place?"

An old man nearby, splashed with mud, looked at Li Banfeng and said: "Heading north, what’s going on?"

Li Banfeng handed the old man fifty bucks as compensation, and then found a secluded spot to bring the lost soul of the "Centipede Workshop" into the Portable Residence.

"Wife, I brought back someone from the Inner State."

"Is it a toad?" His wife was very excited, as was the whole family.

They were used to eating lavish delicacies, but even if a Cultivator Above the Clouds was sent over, the family would react calmly.

Yet, the flesh and blood of the Inner State People made them restless, remembering the taste of that toad back then.

The phonograph excitedly said: "Projector, you missed the last meal. After I’m done, you can be the first to eat this time."

The projector looked at Li Banfeng, paused for a moment, and remarked: "Regret is the beauty of art."

"What a pity..."

Li Banfeng released the Lost Soul of the "Centipede Workshop," only the soul.

The phonograph played a slow tune, singing softly: "Hey, husband, is this meal specially prepared for Little Servant?"

Hong Ying protested: "Qi Lang, you can’t do this! That wicked woman eats meat, won’t you at least let everyone have a sip of soup?"

The phonograph picked up a board, ready to strike, as Hong Ying shouted: "Brothers and sisters, let’s fight this wicked woman! We can’t let her hog all the food!"

The Portable Residence was in complete chaos.

Li Banfeng sighed deeply, speechless.

...

The Dark Star Bureau searched for an entire day and night, but couldn’t find any trace of Li Banfeng.

Director Shen Jingye sat in the office, his right hand tightly grasping his chin, looking unusually serious.

Deputy Director Wang commented from the side: "From You Xuehan’s description, there was an extremely fierce battle at the scene, and the Hidden Form Space she mentioned has yet to be found. I fear that Director Li is in grave danger this time."

Shen Jingye remained silent, still gripping his chin tightly.

Li Qi had disappeared, he actually disappeared.

He had to grip tightly, or else Shen Jingye might burst out laughing.

...

At the workstation, Dumpling’s eyes were red from crying.

She regretted leaving the battlefield at the last moment. Otherwise, she might have been able to rescue Seventh Master, or at least know where he went.

After crying, Dumpling collected herself.

Seventh Master is still alive, definitely still alive. Tomorrow, I will search again, at least I must find the crime scene. Perhaps Seventh Master is still there, perhaps the fight is not over, maybe he is still waiting for me...

The landline rang, and Dumpling was stunned.

It was from Director Li’s office.

Who could it be?

Dumpling picked up the phone and heard Li Qi’s voice: "Dumpling, come to my office."

Bam!

The receiver fell to the ground; Dumpling couldn’t believe she really heard Li Qi’s voice.

She picked up the receiver again, realizing the other side had already hung up.

After staying at her workstation for a few moments, Dumpling wiped her tears, took out a mirror, and tidied up her makeup.

Out of habit, she brought along her notebook, placed a pen in her shirt pocket, adjusted the nose pad of her glasses, straightened her back, and walked towards Li Qi’s office.

The light in the office was on. Was it him?

Was it really him?

Dumpling took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

Dumpling entered and saw Li Qi sitting behind the desk.

Her body trembled uncontrollably. She wanted to go up and hug Li Qi, but she didn’t have the courage.

Li Qi was very calm; he first poured Dumpling a glass of water.

"Sit down, have some water."

Dumpling sat in the chair and took a sip from the glass.

The water was salty because she was on the verge of tears.

After swallowing the water, Dumpling tried to calm herself down.

Li Banfeng remained very calm as he looked at the glass: "The taste isn’t quite right, is it? I added a laxative to the water."

Dumpling was stunned for a moment, her initially racing heart now beating even faster.

"Seventh Master, why did you..."

Li Banfeng’s face turned stern: "Was it you who called the bureau people to the textile factory?"

Dumpling shook her head: "It wasn’t me. Without your orders, I wouldn’t request reinforcements from the bureau."

"Then who notified them? Light Bulb and Ming Xing?"

Dumpling repeatedly shook her head: "I don’t know, it really wasn’t me!"

Li Banfeng gave a sinister smile: "If you don’t tell the truth, you’ll suffer."

"Seventh Master, it really wasn’t me. If you don’t believe me, I’ll drink this whole glass!" Dumpling picked up the glass and drank it all.

Li Banfeng was taken aback.

Dumpling blushed and said: "I’ll endure it right in front of you. I didn’t lie to you, believe it or not!"

Seeing Dumpling’s firmness, it really seemed like she didn’t do it.

PS: Then who could have done it?