Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'
Chapter 79 - 66: Whose Medicine is the Best?

Chapter 79: Chapter 66: Whose Medicine is the Best?

Li Banfeng changed into the guard’s uniform and slipped into the Medicine Shop silently. Rows upon rows of various medicinal ingredients were stacked on the shelves.

He recognized neither the herbs nor the finished medicines. He figured the herbs packed in large hemp sacks weren’t worth much, so he left those behind. He guessed that the bottles and jars probably contained valuable items and transported them all into his Portable Residence, trip by trip.

There was a wooden box with a lock on it, which he presumed contained the most valuable items, so he took it as well.

Seeing Li Banfeng bring back a pile of items, the Phonograph let out a puff of steam, displaying a sense of disdain.

After emptying out the Medicine Shop, Li Banfeng headed to the front counter, where he found 83,218 yuan in cash and 126 Ocean Dollars. He stored them all in his Portable Residence as well.

Having collected almost everything, Li Banfeng returned to the Watermelon People’s room, picked up some watermelon flesh, and swallowed it. He dragged out a hemp sack from a corner of the room.

The sack contained brownish granules and gave off a pungent, fishy smell.

This was the Watermelon People’s fertilizer. Li Banfeng didn’t know its origin but knew what it was used for.

He fed the fertilizer to the Watermelon People. Originally dull and unresponsive, their eyes suddenly bulged, and they became filled with a murderous aura.

Li Banfeng, through and through, smelled of watermelon, causing the Watermelon People to see him as one of their own.

With a single command from Li Banfeng, "Kill!"

More than twenty Watermelon People marched out of the room in neat order and entered the courtyard.

Inside the Medicine Shop, about a dozen guards were sleeping in the side rooms. With a thunderous crash, the doors were knocked open, and more than twenty Watermelon People entered.

A guard rubbed his eyes. Seeing a group of Watermelon People entering the room, he cried out, "Not good, hurry—"

He managed only these three words before a Watermelon Person chopped off his head with a knife.

The guards woke up in a panic. Those who were timid didn’t comprehend what was happening and were directly hacked to the ground by the Watermelon People.

The braver ones took up weapons to fight the Watermelon People, but as these creatures felt neither pain nor fear, the guards were no match for them. Unable to hold out for long, they fell under the blades one after another.

The two smartest guards leaped out the window and shouted at the top of their lungs, "Chief Custodian, something’s wrong!"

「In the backyard」

The Chief Custodian, Song Baiming, heard the commotion and instructed two First Layer Martial Cultivators, "You two, stay in the backyard and don’t go anywhere!"

After speaking, Song Baiming rushed into the front courtyard, intending to see who the intruders were and to size them up.

When he saw that the courtyard was overrun with Watermelon People, Song Baiming’s brow immediately furrowed.

How could this have happened?

For the Watermelon People to attack humans, two conditions needed to be met.

The first condition was that they needed to consume fertilizer.

The second condition was that someone had to eat a special watermelon, perspire, and then give them orders.

These Watermelon People were under constant surveillance; such an incident should have been impossible.

Further thought was futile. Song Baiming called to a guard, "Go get the watermelon."

The guard had barely taken two steps before a Watermelon Person stabbed him in the chest with a knife.

Seeing this, Song Baiming dashed towards the medicine room to get a watermelon himself.

The Watermelon People killed anyone they saw, surrounding Song Baiming in the courtyard.

In desperation, Song Baiming suddenly bent forward, his arms bulging in an instant, ripping through his clothing.

From his shoulders to his fingertips, each arm was covered in a layer of hard armor. His palms swelled further, the original five fingers transformed into two, resembling a pair of large pincers. With one pincer movement, he snapped off the head of a Watermelon Person.

Watermelon pulp spilled out, and Song Baiming picked up a piece, trying to put it in his mouth.

But he wasn’t fast enough; with the added layer of armor, he was even slower.

The headless Watermelon Person continued to swing its cleaver, fighting Song Baiming. With the pincers on his arms flailing, Song Baiming hacked the Watermelon Person into a pile of pulp and rind scattered on the ground.

This person... he’s like a crab.

It seems that Body Cultivation bears quite the resemblance to bionics.

Li Banfeng didn’t delay. While Song Baiming was occupied, he climbed onto the roof of a building in the backyard.

Geng Zhiwei stood in the middle of the yard, furiously berating the guards, "Who the hell let the Watermelon People out? I swear, I’ll skin the bastard today!"

Two Martial Cultivators urged Geng Zhiwei to go back inside, "Young Master, please go back, it’s dangerous out here."

"What’s there to be scared of? Just bring a watermelon over, shout once, and they’ll all stop. Let me tell you, I spent a lot of money on these. I won’t fuss if one or two get damaged, but if they’re all ruined, just see how I’ll deal with you!"

A guard ran to the Medicine Shop in the front yard to fetch a watermelon.

The beautiful Third Concubine, draped in a blue brocade short jacket, came out of the house. She took Geng Zhiwei’s hand, her voice delicate, "My lord, please go back to your room. I’m scared."

The Third Concubine was truly terrified; she was shivering, her conscience shivering along, and her huge Tao’er also trembling.

Geng Zhiwei pushed the Third Concubine away forcefully and shouted at the guard, "Is the watermelon here yet? How long are you going to dawdle?"

This was the Watermelon People’s Achilles’ heel: as long as someone ate the special watermelon and perspired, they could command the Watermelon People.

At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before Geng Zhiwei ate the special watermelon and gained control over the Watermelon People.

But the purpose of Li Banfeng’s visit was not just to get Elixirs or money, nor was it as simple as making the Watermelon People cause a scene.

He was here to do something big!

He could manage this big thing alone, but to completely resolve the matter quickly, it would be best to ask for help.

To get something done, there was a cost involved.

To do something big, a heavy cost was required!

Li Banfeng lay on a roof beam, struck a match, and lit the joss paper in his hand.

The smell of alcohol hit him, and he heard Old Master Yao’s voice:

"What do you need me for? It’s not that you want me to kill someone, is it? That’s beneath me."

This was within Li Banfeng’s expectations; Old Master Yao had mentioned that he couldn’t do things inconsistent with his station.

"Murder? I wouldn’t dare trouble Your Excellency with such matters."

"Then what do you need? To treat an illness or buy medicine? Let’s not discuss anything else."

Li Banfeng said, "I want to buy medicine, some top-quality Medicinal Liquor."

"Medicinal Liquor?" The old master chuckled. "Strong or mild?"

"Strong. The stronger, the better."

"Just for you to drink?"

Li Banfeng quickly calculated, "It needs to be enough for over a hundred people."

"That much liquor? What I sell is Medicinal Liquor, not poison. Think it over!"

Li Banfeng answered firmly, "I’ve thought it through. The liquor for treating Little Fatty’s condition would be most appropriate."

"Where do you plan to drink this liquor?"

"Right here in this Medicine Shop."

Old Master Yao replied, "I have bottled liquor and also loose liquor. The loose stuff is stronger, but it’s messy to handle. Is that what you want?"

"Loose. The looser the better. And it’d be best if you, Elder, could personally spray a mouthful."

Old Master Yao laughed. "Aside from the down payment, the liquor itself will cost an additional 500,000, no bargaining. And you must drink it here in the Medicine Shop; you’re not allowed to take it outside."

Li Banfeng nodded. "Deal!"

As his words fell, the joss paper burned out.

WHOOSH. A gust of wind blew.

The rich aroma of alcohol instantly enveloped the entire Medicine Shop.

Old Master Yao’s voice resonated by his ear again, "Remember, my medicine is the best in Medicine King Valley and must only be used to cure diseases."

Li Banfeng replied solemnly, "Rest assured, this is indeed for their treatment."

"HEH HEH HEH!" After a burst of laughter, Old Master Yao’s voice disappeared.

Li Banfeng took out the Blood-Thirsty Pendulum, unscrewed the cap, and sprayed out the residual grease.

He struck a match and tossed it onto the stream of grease.

A Fire Snake appeared in the night sky, and in the blink of an eye, the Geng Family Medicine Shop was engulfed in flames.

Li Banfeng opened the Portable Residence and threw the key out over the wall of the Medicine Shop.

Sitting inside the main house, Li Banfeng carefully pondered Old Master Yao’s words.

Old Master Yao had said that if Li Banfeng was clever, he would naturally know his identity once the deal was done.

Had Li Banfeng figured it out now?

He had.

Old Master Yao said that his medicine was the best in Medicine King Valley.

Whose medicine was the best in Medicine King Valley?

Of course, it was the Medicine King’s.

Outside Medicine King Valley, the Medicine King had no power; inside the valley, the Medicine King could help.

The Medicine King of Medicine King Valley was an Alcohol Cultivator.

Surprised?

Li Banfeng had no time for surprise; he had other matters to attend to.

The fire raged fiercely. Geng Zhiwei, the Young Master, was no longer composed. He rushed out of the house, stood in the yard, and started yelling, "What the hell are you all doing just standing there?! Put out the fire! Go put out the fire! I fucking told you to store more water usually, what the hell were you doing?! You two, come with me inside! Move the stuff outside! Start with the banknotes, and the Ocean Dollars, and the Calligraphy and Paintings..."

Geng Zhiwei, carrying two cases of banknotes, and two Martial Cultivators, each carrying two cases of Ocean Dollars, exited the house.

Geng Zhiwei also called for people to take the Calligraphy and Paintings, but by then, the fire had already reached the inside of the house.

The guards didn’t dare to enter the house and started fleeing towards the back door one after another.

Geng Zhiwei shouted angrily, "These good-for-nothings! Go get the Elixirs first!"

He intended to go to the front courtyard to retrieve the Elixirs, but he saw the Watermelon People walking in a neat formation into the backyard.

How did the Watermelon People get in?

Where was Chief Custodian Song Baiming?

Song Baiming had fled.

This couldn’t be blamed on the Chief Custodian’s lack of loyalty. He was human and feared the fire, but the Watermelon People did not.

As the fire grew more intense and the Watermelon People more numerous, two Martial Cultivators quickly urged Geng Zhiwei, "Young Master, let’s go! If we don’t leave now, it’ll be disastrous!"

Geng Zhiwei gritted his teeth and rushed towards the back door, carrying the banknote boxes.

The two Martial Cultivators followed closely behind. The Third Concubine, lagging and stumbling, barely kept up.

When they neared the back door, the smoke was so thick that Geng Zhiwei could hardly open his eyes. He stumbled on debris on the ground, nearly falling over.

A guard stepped forward to steady Geng Zhiwei. "Young Master, follow me!"

Geng Zhiwei quickly followed the guard. The two Martial Cultivators behind him were outraged.

Who the fuck is this guy?

He’s got some fucking nerve!

Just as we’re about to get out, he comes to steal the credit?

Where was he when we were risking our lives to protect the Young Master?

The two Martial Cultivators immediately gave chase. Once they were out the back door, they discovered that the Young Master had vanished.

This is bad! That person just now was a fraud; he might not be a guard!

"Young Master!" the two Martial Cultivators shouted as they followed the direction in which Geng Zhiwei had disappeared. After only a few steps, suddenly darkness enveloped them.

DING-LING.

Li Banfeng threw out the key.

CLANG.

The door closed.

The "guard" who had led Geng Zhiwei to escape just now was Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng had been wearing the guard’s uniform, and with Home Cultivation being easily overlooked, Geng Zhiwei, already in a panic and with his eyes stung by smoke, failed to notice that this "guard" was actually a stranger.

Thus, Li Banfeng led Geng Zhiwei straight into the Portable Residence.

Geng Zhiwei groped around in the darkness, calling out, "Where is this? What place is this?"

The two guards sensed Li Banfeng’s presence but couldn’t pinpoint his exact location. They shouted angrily, "Which scumbag is this, using what Blinding Technique? Come out right now, and I’ll leave you a whole corpse!"

Li Banfeng sighed deeply. "I was afraid my wife would get too fat if she ate too much. I only meant for her to have one, but three have come."

Indeed, he had only intended to bring Geng Zhiwei into the Portable Residence, not expecting the two Martial Cultivators to be so loyal as to follow suit.

Hearing Li Banfeng’s voice, the two Martial Cultivators pinpointed his location and moved to fight him for their lives.

But could they overpower Li Banfeng?

A First Layer Home Cultivator, in his own home, could match a Second Layer Cultivator.

Furthermore, the Lady was still waiting to be served.

CLANG CLANG CLANG!

The sound of gongs and drums began to rise.

Li Banfeng easily handled the two Martial Cultivators and didn’t forget to remind the Phonograph, "Lady, the feast has begun. Eat slowly."

HISSS! HISSS! HISSS!

"Husband, I can’t slow down! Don’t laugh at me, I’m truly hungry!"

PS: The Lady is hungry, Shala is also hungry, everyone, please vote and leave comments!