Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'-Chapter 603 - 418: The Path to Survival

Pan Dehai issued a threat, demanding that the group of Three-Headed People leave Hai Chi Ridge.

The Three-Headed People had three heads, and each head had its own name.

The one on the far left was an adult man named Mengzi.

The adult woman in the middle, named Juanzi, controlled the body of the Three-Headed People most of the time.

The child on the right was called Xiao Shan.

Mengzi became furious. "Pan Dehai, don’t think that just because we’ve been hungry for two days, we’re weak! Even if we starve to death here today, we’ll still demand an explanation from you!"

"Such backbone," Pan Dehai praised. "Since you are all people of virtue, I shall accommodate you." With that, Pan Dehai waved his hand, and the food on the ground disappeared.

Juanzi, the head in the middle, shouted, "Master Pan! We were wrong! Please don’t hold it against us. Give us the food, and we’ll leave after eating!"

Pan Dehai sighed. "According to my temper, if you say you don’t want it, I absolutely won’t offer it again. But today, I’ll make an exception. Take the food."

After he spoke, the food reappeared on the ground.

Juanzi profusely thanked him.

Pan Dehai waved his hand and said, "Don’t thank me yet. I’ve given you the food, but I will not allow you to eat and then leave. Leave now, immediately. Only when you’re a hundred miles away can you eat."

Pan Dehai was worried they would cause trouble after eating. Once they were a hundred miles away, even if they did cause trouble, it would be there. They wouldn’t be able to make their way back to Hai Chi Ridge to cause more problems. Otherwise, after traveling another hundred miles, they would arrive at Hai Chi Ridge hungry again, rendering the meal they had eaten useless.

Mengzi still wanted to press the issue. After Pan Dehai disappeared, he whispered to Juanzi, "Let’s find a place to eat stealthily first, then come back and fight this old fellow. We can’t let this go so easily!"

Juanzi shook her head. "Don’t be reckless. Let’s just take the food and go."

"Why should he just..."

"Any more nonsense, and I’ll sew your mouth shut!" Juanzi became angry. "What are we? Who do you think you are? We are fugitives, escaped criminals, worse off than stray dogs! Do you still think you can fight a Local Deity? While we still have something to eat, let’s find another place."

Mengzi clenched his teeth. "Where else can we go? Are we really going back to the City of Sinners?"

"We definitely can’t go back to the City of Sinners; death is preferable!" Juanzi took out a map and checked the markings on it. "Let’s go to Wuqin Village. If we’re frugal with our food on the way, we’ll surely make it there."

"Let’s hunt!" Mengzi said bitterly. "Xiao Fu and the others saw many deer in the woods just yesterday. If it weren’t for your previous orders against hunting, they would have caught some!"

Juanzi frowned. "I forbade it before, and I forbid it now. We absolutely must not hunt on our journey. This was a directive from our benefactor!"

While they were speaking, a few other Three-Headed People approached. "Juanzi, can we enter Hai Chi Ridge now?"

Juanzi replied, "This place can’t accommodate us. We’re heading to Wuqin Village."

"Can Wuqin Village accommodate us?"

"We’ll have to try."

「...」

Over three thousand Three-Headed People divided the food and proceeded slowly through the snow.

The cold wind blew. With every mile walked, many Three-Headed People collapsed in the snow.

Those who could stand up continued on their way, while those who couldn’t rise left their bodies behind.

Pan Dehai’s figure was hidden in mid-air, silently observing the direction of the group’s progress.

How did these Three-Headed People make their way from the City of Sinners to Hai Chi Ridge? And where do they intend to go next? he wondered.

「...」

"This New Land is so hard to traverse! Where did they get the route? We had no idea such a path existed before!"

Not only Pan Dehai was curious; several scouts from the Border Defense Envoy were following behind the Three-Headed People, and they too were intrigued.

One scout said, "Never mind where they got the route. In Proper Land, Envoy Liao has alerted all the Local Deities. No one there dares to take them in."

"What about New Land?" another asked.

"They’re not native to New Land. What could they possibly eat there? Even if they find something to eat, do you think the Local Deities of New Land would dare to shelter them? These Three-Headed People are so formidable in combat; who knows what they might do?"

「...」

Relying on the small amount of food from Pan Dehai, the group of Three-Headed People barely managed to reach Wuqin Village.

The Local Deity of Wuqin Village did not appear. Instead, she sent a middle-aged woman named Qiao Shaofen to meet Juanzi.

Qiao Shaofen said to Juanzi, "You should go elsewhere. We can’t accommodate you here."

Juanzi pleaded, "We just want to find a place to settle down. Any place you can offer us would suffice."

Qiao Shaofen said, "Wuqin Village is inhabited by people without ties or burdens. You are over three thousand people wishing to stay together; doesn’t that break our rules?"

Juanzi hurriedly said, "We can live separately, not together! We will no longer keep in touch with each other from now on!"

Qiao Shaofen still shook her head. "Even if you live apart, you ultimately come from the same place. You might say you won’t keep in touch, but in your hearts, you’ll still want to be together. That represents ties and burdens. Wuqin Village cannot take in people like you."

"We can sign a Contract Book! We will have no relations in the future. Please, I beg you, speak for us again!"

Juanzi knelt on the ground. Qiao Shaofen, looking helpless, said, "I’ll discuss it with the Lady and get back to you with a response."

"Alright, we will wait. Thank you, Sister Qiao." Juanzi was determined to grasp at any glimmer of hope.

After another two days of waiting, Qiao Shaofen arrived at the boundary and told Juanzi, "The Lady has agreed to let you stay."

Juanzi was overjoyed, but Qiao Shaofen hadn’t finished speaking.

"However, the Lady instructed that not just anyone can stay. Wuqin Village is most afraid of people stirring up trouble. Men are impulsive by nature, so we will not accept any."

Not accepting men? Does that mean half of our people cannot enter Wuqin Village? Juanzi thought.

It wasn’t that simple. The gender of these over three thousand individuals was not so easy to define, given their unique physiological structure.

Juanzi cautiously asked, "When you speak of men and women, are you referring to our physical anatomy?"

Qiao Shaofen shook her head. "It’s not about whether your bodies are male or female, but whether your minds are male or female. Otherwise, a female body with a male mind is still someone who will cause trouble!"

Her words made things even more complicated.

One body, three heads. Which one represents the gender? Juanzi pondered.

She asked again, "Are you saying that the one among us who is primarily in charge just needs to not be male?"

Qiao Shaofen still shook her head. "The Lady said that as long as any part is male, it won’t do."

Juanzi’s head buzzed.

Among the more than three thousand individuals, each had three heads, and these heads were mostly a mix of male and female.

Are there any with all three heads being female? she wondered.

Yes, but only a little over ten percent, which was about three hundred individuals.

According to their requirements, only these roughly three hundred individuals could be considered female.

Settling even three hundred people would be something. Juanzi planned to entrust these roughly three hundred individuals to two women from their group to lead them. But then, Qiao Shaofen proposed another condition: "To come to Wuqin Village, one must be free of attachments. You carry your kin with you; this still won’t do."

Mengzi, the head on Juanzi’s left, demanded, "What other tricks are you going to pull now?"

Qiao Shaofen frowned. "Why do you speak like that? What do you mean, ’tricks’? These are the rules of Wuqin Village!"

Mengzi retorted angrily, "Then tell me, since we all have three heads, how can these attachments possibly be severed?"

Qiao Shaofen stated, "Of the three heads, only one can remain."

All the Three-Headed People who hoped to enter Wuqin Village were terrified. Juanzi was shocked speechless, and Mengzi roared in anger, "Are you telling us to chop off our own heads?"

Qiao Shaofen nodded. "If you cannot bring yourselves to do it, I can find someone to do it for you."

"You scoundrel! You’re utterly heartless! If you don’t want to let us stay, just say so! Why deceive us like this?" Mengzi was about to lunge forward and fight, but Juanzi desperately controlled their shared body, preventing him from acting rashly.

Qiao Shaofen looked coldly at Juanzi. "If you cannot sever these attachments, then I cannot help you."

After speaking, Qiao Shaofen walked away.

Heavy snow swirled around them. Juanzi sank to the ground, tears streaming down her face.

Xiao Shan, the child’s head on the right, comforted her softly, "Juanzi, don’t cry. We’ll find another place. Please don’t cry. I won’t say I’m hungry anymore."

Juanzi stood up, looked at the map, and led the group onward, pressing through the snow.

After they had walked for several miles in the New Land, Xiao Shan, beside her, grew drowsy; he seemed unable to endure any longer.

"Xiao Shan, don’t sleep! I’ll find you something to eat soon. You must not sleep!" Juanzi urged.

"Mhm... not sleeping... not sleeping..." Xiao Shan murmured in reply.

A fierce gust of wind swept past, and the group stopped abruptly.

These Three-Headed People had keen senses; they knew someone was approaching.

Juanzi saw specks of green light in the sky. A Local Deity is here, she realized.

A man’s voice reached their ears. "Yours has been a difficult journey. Arriving in my territory can be considered a matter of fate. Would you like to make your home here?"

Juanzi looked up at the green light. "May I ask your honorable name, sir?"

"I am called Liang Zhenjiao, the master of this territory."

Juanzi looked at the others around her, then back at the light. "Sir, are you truly willing to take us in?"

Liang Zhenjiao replied, "I am indeed considering it."

"But we are not people of the New Land. I’m afraid we won’t find anything to eat..."

"Don’t worry about that. Some days ago, a few Farming Cultivation workers came here to clear the land. They planted a good amount of food that those from Proper Land can eat. I have brought some for you."

After speaking, Liang Zhenjiao let out a long cry. "DANG!"

The sound resembled a clock striking the hour.

After the resonant sound, a pile of millet appeared on the ground.

"Please try it and see if you can eat this."

Juanzi grabbed a handful of millet, stuffed it into her mouth, chewed a couple of times, and swallowed.

"We can eat it!" Juanzi exclaimed excitedly. "Sir, we can eat this grain!"

"Hehe," Liang Zhenjiao chuckled. "Since you can eat it, don’t leave. Have a full meal here first, and then we’ll get to work!"

Mengzi was skeptical. "Are you really willing to take us in?"

After such an arduous journey where they had suffered so much, Mengzi found it hard to believe this Local Deity could be so benevolent.

The Ghost Fire hovered in the air for a moment before addressing the crowd, "I truly hope you will all settle down here. I lack nothing in this place... except for houses.

"It’s bitterly cold this winter, exceptionally so. Could you help build some houses? Firstly, it would give you all a place to live. Secondly, it would add more dwellings for the people in my territory. Then we can all live well together in the future."

"That’s no problem at all!" Juanzi agreed immediately.

Liang Zhenjiao praised, "This young woman is truly decisive! Everyone, eat first. Once you’re full, we’ll begin construction!"

After the meal, Juanzi indeed led the Three-Headed People to begin working.

These Three-Headed People were strong and diligent. In just two days, they built over five hundred wooden houses in Liang Zhenjiao’s territory.

Juanzi made a plan: they would keep two hundred houses for themselves and give the remaining three hundred-plus to Liang Zhenjiao as a token of gratitude.

Liang Zhenjiao seemed troubled. "Everyone, my territory has a large population, and these houses are still not quite enough. But asking you to exert yourselves further... it weighs on my conscience."

Juanzi quickly said, "It’s no problem! We’ll build another five hundred! Just provide us with some food."

"Then I shall have to trouble you all again."

Two days later, the Three-Headed People had built another five hundred wooden houses. The housing should have been sufficient, but Liang Zhenjiao still seemed troubled. "Everyone, I took stock of the grain yesterday, and there still isn’t enough to eat. I’ve asked those Farming Cultivation workers to redouble their efforts, but with just a few of them, they simply can’t manage all the farm work."

Juanzi promptly said, "Leave it to us!"

Liang Zhenjiao sighed. "I really don’t know how to ask... I feel I’m being unfair to you all."

Without a second thought, Juanzi led her people to till the land. In ten days, they cultivated a large expanse of farmland. They thought that would be the end of it, but Liang Zhenjiao appeared troubled once more.

"Growing grain isn’t an overnight task. I’ve recalculated for several days, and there still isn’t enough food."

Juanzi looked at Liang Zhenjiao eagerly. "Please tell us, is there anything else we can do to help?"

Liang Zhenjiao let out a long sigh. "I truly owe you all an apology. I’ll give you some more grain. You should find another place, one rich in food and water, to settle down."

PS: Finding a way to survive is so incredibly difficult. What crime could they possibly have committed?