Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'
Chapter 52 - 41 Jiang Xiang Gang

Chapter 52: Chapter 41 Jiang Xiang Gang

The Patrol Officer was right before his eyes. What should Chu Yunlong do at this moment?

Explain to the Patrol Officer, "I don’t know that person!"

That would be useless; he’d be taken back to the Patrol Arrest Office by the Patrol Officer. And his identity wasn’t exactly clean; going to the Patrol Arrest Office was out of the question.

Say something else?

The Patrol Officer didn’t give Chu Yunlong a chance to speak and swung his stick at his head.

BANG!

With one hit, Chu Yunlong’s forehead was bleeding.

He didn’t dare to fight back. Helpless, he could only dodge the two Patrol Officers and dash out of the ticket hall.

Outside the ticket hall, Chu Yunlong didn’t see Li Banfeng’s figure.

Of course, he couldn’t see him—after Li Banfeng rushed out of the ticket hall, he immediately entered his Portable Residence and threw the keys into the wild grass outside the door.

"Where did that little bastard run off to?" Chu Yunlong cursed, only to feel a severe pain at the back of his head.

BANG! BANG!

The Patrol Officers chased out from the ticket hall and continued to beat him on the head with their clubs.

Chu Yunlong, holding his head, rushed toward the Heavenly Bridge, where there were multiple paths and a chance to escape.

Chu Yunlong ran ahead while the two Patrol Officers chased him from behind.

Li Banfeng walked out from his Portable Residence and, watching the three retreating figures, quietly followed.

Now was the time to test his speed. He couldn’t follow too closely nor lag too far behind; he had to maintain the right pace and distance.

In truth, Li Banfeng’s control over his speed wasn’t very good. He still couldn’t quite control his legs, and at the closest point, he was less than ten meters from the two Patrol Officers, almost getting discovered.

Luckily, he was a Home Cultivator and had just come out of his home, carrying a special aura that didn’t attract attention, which made the Patrol Officers overlook his presence.

And Chu Yunlong, busy avoiding capture, also didn’t notice Li Banfeng behind him.

They ran out through three alleys and fled all the way to the wilderness. The Patrol Officers, tired from running and beating, gave up the chase.

Chu Yunlong’s face was covered in blood. He leaned on his knees, gasping for air in an abandoned residential building.

He couldn’t understand Li Banfeng’s previous actions; he didn’t comprehend why Li Banfeng had barged into the ticket hall.

Although he was from the Outside Provinces, entering and leaving any location in Puluo State required a Guide Token, regardless of where he came from or where he boarded. That was the rule.

Doesn’t he know the rules? Then how did he get to Medicine King Valley? Unless some influential figure had bent the rules to buy him a ticket.

Even if a big shot really did buy him a ticket, he shouldn’t have barged into the ticket hall.

In Puluo State, barging into a ticket hall could lead to very serious consequences.

As his breathing slowly steadied, Chu Yunlong wiped the blood from his face, and his mood also calmed down.

Did Li Banfeng cause that scene just now for some other reason? Did he know I was going to make a move on him? Did he deliberately infuriate the ticket seller to break free from me? Considering his speed, he’s clearly a Traveling Cultivator, and Traveling Cultivators indeed have the ability to sense danger. This means his argument with the ticket seller was all an act! He sensed my murderous intent and purposely caused a scene to make his escape. This little bastard is quite cunning! Where could he go now? I saw he was empty-handed, without a bag; that treasure wasn’t on him. If I were him, I’d be looking to move that treasure right now. How can I catch him? I must immediately order my disciples to search near the station. Li Banfeng wouldn’t dare carry the Copper Lotus Flower on him; it’s probably hidden somewhere nearby...

While pondering, a sickle more than ten centimeters long was held against Chu Yunlong’s neck.

"Who is it?" Chu Yunlong was shocked. Although his Perception wasn’t very strong, after many years wandering the Jianghu, he shouldn’t have been approached so easily.

Unless the other person’s cultivation level was far above his.

Or the other person was a Home Cultivator.

If the cultivation disparity was too great, Chu Yunlong could only wait for death.

If the other person was a Home Cultivator, Chu Yunlong wasn’t too worried; he had methods to deal with Home Cultivators.

"Hey brother, let’s put the blade down first. Good fellows shouldn’t fight amongst themselves. Let’s talk this out nicely..."

SHLICK! The blade of the sickle cut into Chu Yunlong’s neck, and warm blood spurted out.

Chu Yunlong was greatly alarmed. He had intended to parley with the other party, but to his surprise, they struck immediately.

"Who sent you to find me?" Li Banfeng asked calmly, holding the sickle.

It was him! It was Li Banfeng! How could Li Banfeng get so close to me? I didn’t sense any aura at all? Was he a Home Cultivator? Impossible, based on my earlier judgment, he was clearly a Traveling Cultivator. Was his cultivation level far above mine? But the Sect Leader said he had no cultivation level before, that he was a White Lamb, a fledgling. The Sect Leader’s information doesn’t seem reliable.

SST!

The blade pressed slightly deeper into his neck. Li Banfeng asked, "You’re not talking?"

Pain and fear don’t lie. Li Banfeng’s heavy-handed approach made Chu Yunlong firmly believe that Li Banfeng was certainly no novice.

The Sect Leader might have been deceived by him. Even more likely, I was deceived by the Sect Leader! He’s clearly a ruthless man, yet the Sect Leader claimed he was a novice. The Sect Leader had pulled this kind of stunt before.

The blade began to slowly embed deeper into his neck, causing Chu Yunlong to abandon any thoughts of resistance or stalling.

"This is the Leader’s order!"

"Enough with the code words! Speak in plain language I can understand!" Li Banfeng moved the blade within Chu Yunlong’s wound.

Chu Yunlong dared not continue in jargon. "The Sect Leader sent me."

"Which sect do you belong to? And who is your Sect Leader?"

"We’re from the Jiang Xiang Gang. Our Sect Leader’s surname is Xiao, and his name is Xiao Zhenggong."

Li Banfeng frowned. "Have I met your Sect Leader?"

"You probably have. I’m not too clear on the details..." Chu Yunlong was telling the truth; he really didn’t know if Xiao Zhenggong had any interactions with Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng tightened his grip, and the sickle’s blade continued to infiltrate his throat.

Anyone accustomed to the Jianghu knew that a man like Li Banfeng couldn’t be reasoned with. With no other options, Chu Yunlong disclosed everything he knew.

"Our Sect Leader is from the Outside Provinces. He’s with the Dark Star Bureau. You might recognize him."

A member of the Dark Star Bureau!

"What does your Sect Leader want with me?"

"He said you have a treasure on you. He ordered us to kill you and bring the treasure back." As he spoke, Chu Yunlong’s hand moved stealthily towards the knife at his waist.

His movements were very discreet.

Under these circumstances, he had no choice but to risk it all.

Li Banfeng was still pondering Xiao Zhenggong’s identity.

The Jiang Xiang Gang is after me for the Copper Lotus Flower. So Xiao Zhenggong must be the Chief Xiao that Big-Eyed Man mentioned on the phone! He’s the one who ordered my execution!

Li Banfeng asked again, "How many are in your Jiang Xiang Gang? Are they all after me?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Yunlong didn’t rush to draw his dagger.

Li Banfeng hasn’t even heard of the Jiang Xiang Gang; he seems to know nothing about Puluo State. Dealing with such a person doesn’t necessarily require taking risks; it’s entirely possible to use cunning.

Considering this, Chu Yunlong said, "Disciples of the Jiang Xiang Gang are spread throughout Puluo State; there are tens of thousands of us in total. The Sect Leader has given the order, and now all Jiang Xiang Gang disciples are looking for you. My friend, I can tell you’re no ordinary man. If you spare my life, I can be your inside man in the Gang. I’ll notify you the moment there’s any hint of danger. With just a little caution, they’ll definitely not find you. When this blows over, I’ll find some friends to buy you a ticket back to the Outside Provinces. By then, even if the Sect Leader wanted to find you, he’d have to follow the rules of the Outside Provinces—it won’t be like here in Puluo State, where they can kill you just like that."

Chu Yunlong gripped his dagger tightly. As a Martial Cultivator, his speed was slightly less than a Traveling Cultivator’s, but if given an opening, Li Banfeng would undoubtedly die.

Li Banfeng nodded. "Once back in the Outside Provinces, I’ll stay hidden. Your Sect Leader will never find me again."

Chu Yunlong responded earnestly, "Leave it to me! Within three days, I’ll get the ticket. We wouldn’t have known each other if we hadn’t fought. I truly consider you a friend. Whether it’s within the Jiang Xiang Gang or Medicine King Valley, just ask around for Chu Yunlong’s name, and you’ll see what kind of person I am!"

"You’re called Chu Yunlong?" Li Banfeng said, a hint of appreciation in his voice. Just from the name, he sounds like a good person!

Judge a good person by their name? That’s illogical! Chu Yunlong naturally wouldn’t argue with Li Banfeng. "Throughout my time in the Jianghu, I, Chu Yunlong, have never wronged a friend. Since fate has brought us together like this, I’ll risk my own life to ensure your safety!"

Touched by these words, Li Banfeng said, "Brother, it’s dangerous for you within the Gang as well. You should also take care of yourself. Don’t tell anyone else about what’s between us!"

"Of course, Brother, rest assured. Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know. No one else will ever find out."

Chu Yunlong felt a surge of confidence. Li Banfeng’s cultivation level wasn’t low, and he was certainly shrewd. But being from the Outside Provinces, he wasn’t ruthless or vicious enough; he didn’t have what it takes to survive in Puluo State. Just a few words could deceive him. Someone like that was indeed just a fledgling, just as the Sect Leader had said. The Sect Leader wasn’t wrong after all. It was a good thing I didn’t fight him head-on earlier. Waiting for him to lower his sickle before striking—that’s the safer bet. The moment Li Banfeng moved that sickle from his neck, he would take Li Banfeng’s life in the very next second.

With this in mind, Chu Yunlong added, "Brother, you must trust me!"

"Brother, I trust you. I’ll leave the rest to you." Li Banfeng’s wrist loosened slightly.

"Leave the rest to me. Brother, you take care on your journey." Chu Yunlong tightened his grasp on the knife handle, ready to make his move the moment Li Banfeng lowered his sickle.

"Brother, you take good care of yourself!" Li Banfeng pulled back the sickle, slicing Chu Yunlong’s throat.

Chu Yunlong clutched his neck, staring in horror at Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng had withdrawn the sickle, yes, but only after he’d cut Chu Yunlong’s throat.

The slight loosening of his wrist earlier was to allow for a more forceful strike.

How could this be? Wasn’t he already fooled? Shouldn’t he be the one dying now? Why did it turn out this way... This bastard! So treacherous and cruel! If I’d known it would be like this, I should have fought him with all I had from the start!

Despair filled Chu Yunlong’s blurring vision.

Li Banfeng consoled him, "Travel well. Don’t be so tense. This is indeed very painful, but the pain will pass soon.

You don’t need to worry, I definitely believe you. Now that you can’t speak, you certainly won’t tell anyone about what passed between us.

Relax a bit more. That’s right, no need to be so tense. Close your eyes. Don’t keep looking at me like that. It actually makes me feel quite guilty."

PS: Our Ban Feng feels quite guilty. Everyone, come and comfort him.