Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'-Chapter 632 - 440: Miss, Are You Alive?_2

Li Banfeng first went to find Ma Wu and gave him the Pill Recipe. "Help me buy some medicinal herbs," he said.

Ma Wu was startled. "Buying so many? Are you planning to open a Medicine Shop?"

"I indeed have this intention."

After returning to the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng said to the Old Man, "I want to go to Zhengjing Village."

"What are you going to do there?"

"Learn the Soul-Separating Heart Method."

The Portable Residence was puzzled. Did anyone in Zhengjing Village actually know the Soul-Separating Heart Method?

But it didn’t ask further. Li Banfeng imagined what Zhengjing Village would look like, and upon opening the door, he indeed arrived at Zhengjing Village.

After leaving the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng didn’t enter the village but instead walked towards the depths of New Land. He journeyed leisurely for over seventy li, and then, through the thick fog ahead, a city appeared.

He entered through the city gate. A man approached him and shouted, "Where are you from? Have you paid the city gate fee?"

"Still charging a city gate fee?" Li Banfeng sneered. "Who are you trying to fool? Do you take me for an outsider?"

The man was taken aback. "You’re not an outsider?"

"I am Tang Changfa, the owner of the Changsan Book Residence."

When he left Fool’s City, Sun Tiecheng had given Li Banfeng a property there—the Changsan Book Residence—which was being temporarily managed by Tang Changfa.

The man looked Li Banfeng up and down. "Nonsense! I know Tang Changfa. He doesn’t look anything like you."

Li Banfeng frowned. "I’ve just changed my flesh."

"Changed what flesh?" This statement made the man deeply uncomfortable.

"Do you really not know, or are you just pretending? Must I spell it out for you?"

"Who has time for your nonsense!" With that, the man turned and left.

Firmly believing they were alive despite knowing they were dead—in this regard, only the people of Fool’s City excelled. Every person there firmly believed they were still alive, without a shred of doubt. This was caused by the Foolish Cultivation Technique. According to Sun Tiecheng, one could achieve this self-deception by convincing oneself with Words Carved in Stone.

But Qiu Luoye was not a practitioner of Foolish Cultivation. How could he be made to deceive himself? How could he be made to speak of the dead as living? The first challenge was too difficult; Qiu Luoye couldn’t possibly complete it on his own. Li Banfeng had to help him, but how exactly to help was something that needed careful study. Studying alone was useless; he had to inspect the place in person. Qiu Luoye needed time to familiarize himself with his territory. This downtime was perfect for Li Banfeng to go to Fool’s City and learn the techniques. As for the extent to which he would learn and use them, that would depend on Li Banfeng’s ability and Qiu Luoye’s luck.

Aimlessly wandering in Fool’s City was inherently very dangerous. Li Banfeng had to find his territory, the Changsan Book Residence, as soon as possible. He had never been to the Changsan Book Residence; Sun Tiecheng had only given him a rough direction back then. He didn’t ask for directions, as doing so in Fool’s City was akin to serving himself up on a platter. Li Banfeng felt his way along the streets.

A fortune teller approached him. "Young man, you are facing a bloody calamity!"

Li Banfeng drew his Sickle. "If you’re right, it’s because I’ve come to take revenge on you!"

The fortune teller fled.

Li Banfeng continued walking. A hostel attendant came out to greet him. "Guest Master, would you like to stay at our inn?"

Li Banfeng asked, "How much?"

"Eighty-one for a superior room per night."

Li Banfeng extended his hand. "Give me the money."

The attendant paused, then said, "You come to stay at my inn, and I’m supposed to give you money?"

Li Banfeng drew his Tang Sword. "I’m not staying. I’m robbing you."

"Guest Master, please see yourself out." The attendant also fled.

Despite Li Banfeng’s aggressive demeanor, he didn’t dare talk too much with them. These people were inferior to him in cultivation level, but in the methods of Foolish Cultivation, they were all his seniors. The Foolish Cultivation Technique disregarded hierarchy; a few more words and they could easily confuse and trap him.

After walking for over half an hour, Li Banfeng found the Changsan Book Residence.

A young woman came out to greet him. She wore an emerald-green qipao embroidered with a design of magpies heralding spring. A Hairpin secured her long hair at the nape of her neck, and her bangs were styled in gentle waves. Her features were very delicate, though the thick layer of makeup somewhat obscured her natural skin tone.

"Sir, please come in and take a seat," the young woman said, hooking her arm into Li Banfeng’s as they entered the Book Residence. She first poured him a cup of tea.

Li Banfeng smiled. "And how may I address you, miss?"

"This Little Servant is named Yan Hong."

"May I ask the price?"

"Oh my, Guest Master, you really are something," the young woman said with a hint of reproach. "Coming to a Book Residence and asking about price... that rather spoils the scholarly atmosphere, doesn’t it?"

"My apologies for being presumptuous. How much is the tuition for your lessons?"

The young woman smiled and sat on Li Banfeng’s lap. "Guest Master, this is the Changsan Book Residence. Drinking tea, serving wine, or staying overnight—each costs three Ocean Dollars."

Li Banfeng took out ten Ocean Dollars and pressed them into her hand.

She looked flustered. "Oh, Guest Master, you’re giving so much! This Little Servant truly doesn’t know how to accommodate you now."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "You don’t need to serve me. I just need you to tell me a few things. Are you alive or dead?"

The young woman frowned. "What kind of question is that, Guest Master? Of course, I’m alive."

"How do you know you’re alive?"

"I have flesh and blood. I’m sitting here, breathing. Of course, I’m alive."

"How did the flesh get stuck onto your body?"

The young woman stood up and glared at Li Banfeng. "Are you here to cause trouble?"

Li Banfeng took another ten Ocean Dollars from his robes. "I just want to ask some questions."

She retorted angrily, "So what if you have money? Does that give you the right to cause a ruckus here?"

At her shout, many other young women in the Book Residence peered out.

Tang Changfa, who managed the Book Residence for Li Banfeng, came out holding a stick. "Let’s see who dares cause trouble here!"

Yan Hong pointed at Li Banfeng. "It’s this man!"

Tang Changfa stared at Li Banfeng for a moment, then swung the stick and struck Yan Hong on her Peach.

Yan Hong rubbed her Peach, her eyes welling with tears. "Why are you hitting me? He’s the one causing trouble!"

Tang Changfa said angrily, "This is our Shopkeeper! How dare you say he’s causing trouble? It seems you’re itching for a beating!"

After saying that, Tang Changfa struck her with the stick a few more times. Yan Hong covered her Peach, holding back tears, not daring to make a sound.

Li Banfeng stopped Tang Changfa. "Don’t hit her. I just wanted to ask her a few things."

Tang Changfa tossed the stick aside and smiled. "Shopkeeper, she doesn’t understand anything. If you have questions, you can ask me."

"Alright then, I’ll ask you. Are you alive?"

Tang Changfa grinned. "Yes! I’m definitely alive!"

"How do you know you’re alive?"

"Can a dead person talk to you?"

That was a very reasonable point!

"How did the flesh get stuck onto your body?"

"It grew on my bones from childhood!"

The smile on Tang Changfa’s face didn’t fade as he answered smoothly. His cultivation level was clearly different; no matter how he was questioned, his feathers remained unruffled. This had a lot to do with cultivation level.

Learning from the person with the highest cultivation level offered the best chance of success. Was Tang Changfa the one with the highest cultivation level present? That couldn’t be assumed.

Li Banfeng had the other young women come down and stand in a line, then questioned each one.

"Miss, what is your name?"

"My name is Yan Cui’er."

"Are you alive?"

Yan Cui’er said aggrievedly, "I am alive."

She felt wronged by just the first question. She was far less composed than Tang Changfa, clearly lacking in cultivation level.

Li Banfeng then asked the next one, "Miss, what is your name?"

"My name is Yan Qing’er."

"Are you alive?"

Yan Qing’er replied, "Yes."

Despite her expressionless face, a hint of sadness tinged her tone. She wasn’t as steady as Tang Changfa either.

Li Banfeng then questioned the next person. "Sir, what’s your name?"

"My name is Sun Tiecheng."

"Are you alive?"

Sun Tiecheng retorted, "What the hell do you want?"

PS: Sun Tiecheng’s arrival was indeed quite sudden.