Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Chapter 904 - 518: Outside Provinces Are So Much Fun (3)

"Pardon my intrusion," Cui Tiq dipped some pus from He Jiaqing’s face, tasted it, "Your condition is not promising, the chances of saving this body are very slim."

He Jiaqing didn’t deny his situation: "That’s why I really need your help."

Cui Tiq folded a tie neatly and placed it into a suitcase: "I appreciate your honesty, but any cooperation must be based on value. What value do you have to me now?"

He Jiaqing was prepared: "That depends on how you define value. I have many valuable magical treasures and spiritual objects, as well as assets that have more tangible value."

Cui Tiq shook his head slightly: "I’m not interested in your assets, not because I don’t like money, but because I’m unlikely to get them. Even if you convert all your assets into gold and silver, you’d surely have ways to keep them from my reach.

As for your magical treasures and spiritual objects, I am indeed very interested, but compared to your life, the value is not equivalent,

Moreover, I have a better idea: I could immediately call back the Ancestral Master to kill you, then find a way to take your magical treasures, spiritual objects, and assets. What do you think of this plan?"

He Jiaqing blinked and said, "I think, you’re not the kind of heartless person."

Cui Tiq smiled: "My sentiments depend on your value."

He Jiaqing was silent for a long time, with bandages all over his face, preventing Cui Tiq from seeing his expression.

"Actually, I didn’t want to come to you. I originally wanted to find an old friend," He Jiaqing spoke, "I haven’t seen that old friend for a long time. Was it you who killed him?"

"Are you referring to my senior Wan Jinxian?" Cui Tiq frowned slightly, "Senior is missing, I am also very anxious. If you’re trying to pin this on me, it would be like trampling on the little friendship we have left."

He Jiaqing coughed twice, a large amount of pus clogging his trachea, making it difficult to breathe: "I didn’t say Old Wan’s death was related to you. I was just thinking, Old Wan is already gone, and if there’s one less Greenwater Beggar, the world would be left with only you as a Disease Cultivator. Wouldn’t this further enhance our friendship?"

Cui Tiq closed the suitcase, but there was too much luggage, and the lock couldn’t fasten: "What’s the point in such assumptions? If you could really kill him, you wouldn’t have made yourself this miserable."

He Jiaqing helped Cui Tiq press down the suitcase: "But we have the same goal. I must get rid of the Greenwater Beggar, this goal pertains to my life, and I will give it my all,

If you can help me control my ailment a bit, I can provide more value in this cooperation. With more value, we will have a deeper friendship. Such clear and smooth logic, you cannot refuse."

Cui Tiq successfully fastened the lock, straightened up, and clapped his hands: "The logic is impeccable, but I refuse to cooperate with you, because I am unwilling to cooperate with others. I do not wish to pin my hopes on others."

He Jiaqing looked at Cui Tiq and asked: "If I’m not mistaken, you once cooperated with Li Qi at the Ink Shop, wasn’t he an exception?"

Cui Tiq nodded: "That’s true, he was an exception."

He Jiaqing asked again: "If he is willing to join, would you consider cooperating with us?"

Cui Tiq looked at He Jiaqing expressionlessly: "I still say, don’t make those meaningless assumptions."

...

He Jiaqing left Boundless Hospital.

Not long after he left, the shadow of the Greenwater Beggar appeared at the hospital entrance.

He Jiaqing had visited Boundless Hospital and seen Cui Tiq, yet Cui Tiq didn’t tell the Greenwater Beggar.

The Greenwater Beggar didn’t know how to feel about this outcome.

Thinking of the seemingly purposeless yet deeply synergetic relationship between Cui Tiq and Li Qi.

I let the Beggar’s Dogtail Grass ambush Li Qi while Cui Tiq monitored, only for Cui Tiq to say the Dogtail Grass died, and the killer’s identity is unknown.

I sent Cui Tiq to the Ink Shop to inquire about the Local Deity’s condition; he reported the Local Deity was in bad shape, yet I never saw the Local Deity, but instead encountered Inner State People, fought fiercely, gained nothing, and got injured.

Later I heard Li Qi was also at the Ink Shop; does this have anything to do with him?

I asked Cui Tiq to go to Sage Peak with him; in the first half, I didn’t know where Cui Tiq went, in the second half, I never saw Cui Tiq take action.

He was of no help to me, only to hear later that Li Qi sent the group from Cheap Person Ridge to Loess Bridge. Did Cui Tiq go to help him?

Then Wan Jinxian went to Loess Bridge, and also disappeared. Could he be one of Li Qi’s men too?

As these thoughts raced through his mind, the Greenwater Beggar suddenly laughed.

Could everyone around me be Li Qi’s people?

Is it time to go to the hospital and kill Cui Tiq now?

After thinking for a long time, the Greenwater Beggar didn’t go to kill Cui Tiq.

Assuming the worst in everything, even if someone isn’t a bad person, they become one.

If Cui Tiq truly belongs to Li Qi, killing him would only take away one of Li Qi’s pawns.

If Cui Tiq isn’t one of Li Qi’s, killing him would be a big loss for the Greenwater Beggar.

Picking up a handful of soil, the Greenwater Beggar smelled it, these were He Jiaqing’s tracks, with some pus here.

The Greenwater Beggar concealed his presence and resumed tracking He Jiaqing.

He Jiaqing headed north to Guangming Town.

Entering the New Land from Guangming Town, he traveled until dawn, reaching the Worry-Free Plain.