Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'-Chapter 673 - 463 Hong Ying’s Eyes_3

This punch flew out, and the girl in the picture was knocked to the ground, crying out in pain.

Why was it possible to hit this girl?

This is a Technique of the Shadow Play Machine. It creates images with solid forms, and they even have a certain combat ability.

Hong Ying threw another punch. The girl begged for mercy continuously, and the Projector joined in pleading, "This is a woman I imagined, not a villain, please show mercy, Lady!"

"Imagined?" Hong Ying looked at the Projector and asked, "Which Taoist Sect are you from?"

The Projector replied, "I am a Shadow Cultivator born for art."

"Shadow Cultivator?" Hong Ying sneered coldly, her imposing presence bearing down. "I’ve seen Shadow Cultivators; they don’t use techniques like this. What you’re using is the Fake Moving Skill!"

The Projector was very puzzled. "Lady, I don’t understand what you mean. I’ve never learned any Fake Moving Skill."

"Still playing dumb with me!" Hong Ying drew her Short Knife from her waist.

The Phonograph shouted, "You brat! Don’t trouble your own people!"

"Xiaowan, this person is not so simple!" Hong Ying was serious now. "He’s using the Fake Moving Skill, and to maintain it for so long, do you know how high his cultivation level must be?"

Hong Ying swung her knife to strike. The Projector, being poor at combat, didn’t know how to react.

HUM!

The Portable Residence suddenly trembled, and Hong Ying lost her footing, nearly falling over.

The Phonograph rushed into the Fifth Room and dragged Hong Ying out.

"You wench! I just opened your eyes and you’re already causing trouble! It seems you haven’t been beaten enough. Twenty strokes for you later, count them yourself!"

「...」

Li Banfeng arrived at North Bridge and bought a savory Chinese crepe from a street-side stall. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

It was said that the local merchants at Loess Bridge were unkind, and Li Banfeng was prepared for them to ask for exorbitant prices.

But this savory Chinese crepe vendor used good flour and fresh eggs. He was generous with the ingredients—no fakery. With one bite, the flavor lingered in the mouth, and for one savory Chinese crepe, he charged only two yuan.

This was an honest businessman. Li Banfeng gave him one hundred yuan and asked for some information.

In North Bridge, the biggest coal mine boss was surnamed Hu and called Hu Man Chun. Three hundred meters east of the bridgehead, a three-story building was his home.

Besides Hu Man Chun, there were Song Shilong, Tang Dongsheng, and Yue Sicheng. These were all coal mine bosses in North Bridge.

Li Banfeng decided to find Hu Man Chun first. Arriving at the gate of the small building, he knocked. A middle-aged man wearing a white shirt, with a mustache that drooped at the ends, and slicked-back hair, opened the door.

"Who are you looking for?"

"I’m looking for Manager Hu."

The man eyed Li Banfeng up and down before replying, "I am Hu Man Chun. What business brings you here?"

Li Banfeng said, "I’m here to buy coal."

The man quickly stepped aside, gesturing with his hand. "Please, come inside."

But something was off.

The biggest coal mine boss in Loess Bridge, in Li Banfeng’s mind, should also be the number one bully of Loess Bridge.

Yet this man, from his demeanor and temperament, seemed completely unrelated to a bully.

And why did his home not have any Protectors?

Once inside the living room, the furnishings were very simple: one table and two long benches. The two of them sat facing each other.

Hu Man Chun instructed someone to serve tea. An old lady came with a Teapot, poured a cup for each of them, and that was that.

Li Banfeng didn’t feel like he was in the home of a coal mine boss; it was more like he was at Feng’s Grocery Store.

Hu Man Chun asked, "How should I address you?"

Li Banfeng replied, "My surname is Li. I’m from Greenwater City and want to buy some coal in Loess Bridge. I heard Manager Hu is in charge here, so I came to ask about the price first."

"I dare not accept such a title. I just run a small business. Boss Li, let’s speak frankly. Judging by your attire, you don’t seem like an ordinary person. If you’re looking to make a large deal, I don’t have the supply. If you want to buy some loose coal, I can at most arrange for a carload or two for you."

"Only that much?"

"You flatter me; this is all I can manage. Any more, and I really can’t supply it. But our price is cheap—twenty percent lower than Black Stone Slope. It’s just that we can’t cover the freight costs; you’ll have to pay for that yourself."

After speaking, Hu Man Chun had someone bring over coal samples: different grades at different prices.

Li Banfeng ordered two carloads of top-quality bituminous coal. He immediately drew up a contract with Hu Man Chun for delivery to the railway station the next evening.

Li Banfeng was prepared to pay half the down payment upfront, but Hu Man Chun waved him off, saying, "Here in Loess Bridge, we do business on trust and the contract itself. No down payment needed. We’ll exchange the goods for cash at the railway station."

And just like that, the deal was completed.

Li Banfeng was about to leave, but Hu Man Chun stood up to detain him. "Boss Li, if you don’t mind, stay for a simple meal tonight. I’ll have Mother Liu cook something good."

"There’s no need to be so polite. I have other plans tonight."

"How about Miss Qin from across the street? She sings beautifully. I’ll call her over to sing a piece for you and accompany you for a couple of drinks?"

"Manager Hu, let’s talk another day. I really have urgent matters to attend to."

"Then at least finish your tea before you go."

Li Banfeng didn’t drink his tea and left Hu Man Chun’s building.

This was an honest and straightforward businessman; it seemed his previous judgment was mistaken.

But if the businessmen in Loess Bridge were all as straightforward as him, why would the place be in such disrepair?

Maybe Hu Man Chun knew I was coming and deliberately put on an act for me.

My attire is too recognizable; I need to go back and change.

Li Banfeng returned to the Portable Residence, where Hong Ying eagerly greeted him, "Qi Lang, you’re back!"

Li Banfeng smiled at Hong Ying. "I’m back."

"Qi Lang, you... you know, you’re not... not particularly handsome..."

Li Banfeng smiled at the Phonograph. "Give her a beating she won’t forget!"

The Phonograph held Hong Ying down and began to strike her. Hong Ying shouted, "So he’s not handsome, and I’m not even allowed to say so? This warrants a beating too?!"

Li Banfeng took out the Clock Pendulum and asked it to change her makeup.

The Clock Pendulum inquired, "Master, what kind of makeup would you like?"