Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Chapter 1032 549: Enigma Cultivator

"Brother Shui, come to my place for a cup of tea!"

"I won't trouble you. I'll come to congratulate you and then leave."

"Come on, Brother Shui, how long has it been since we last met? Almost a year, right?"

"It should be less than a year, but it feels about right."

About right?

Last time Li Banfeng returned to Zhengjing Village to deal with Gu Rusong, who was impersonating Lu Dongliang, Shui Yongquan was injured by Gu Rusong, and Li Banfeng had discussed countermeasures with Shui Yongquan.

How long has it really been? Yet you say it's almost a year?

"Brother Shui, just stay and have a drink with me."

"Well, I'll listen to you, let's have a drink together."

Shui Yongquan followed Li Banfeng into the Portable Residence.

Shui Yongquan looked around at the dark house and asked, "Old Qi, what is this place? Is this The Unnameable Place? How did you find this place?"

Li Banfeng laughed and said, "I stumbled upon it by chance. Wife, we have a guest at home."

Whoosh!

The phonograph sparked and steam slowly puffed out.

Shui Yongquan was taken aback: "Old Qi, what kind of trick is this? What do you mean 'wife'? Did you get married? How could you not tell me about such a big thing?"

Li Banfeng said, "Brother Shui, I was in the wrong for not telling you."

Hiss~

The phonograph also apologized: "My husband is careless and doesn't think things through thoroughly, please don't take offense,

Gourd Girl, heat a pot of wine for Brother Shui, Old Teapot, brew a good pot of tea for Brother Shui, Ying Ying, is the knife sharpened, the guest has arrived!"

Hong Ying shouted from the second room, "It'll be ready soon!"

The phonograph sighed: "That girl just doesn't do things swiftly, Brother Shui, we'll have hot pot today. Slicing the meat requires a sharp knife; you two chat away, the knife still needs some more sharpening."

Shui Yongquan stood up: "Old Qi, what's this place exactly?"

Li Banfeng laughed: "This is my home, my entire family has been waiting for your presence, dear guest."

Shui Yongquan sensed something amiss, waved his hand, and said, "Old Qi, I have an urgent matter today, let's chat another day."

Li Qi frowned and asked, "What's so urgent?"

"I forgot to mention earlier, there's something going on in my territory, I need to leave first."

The phonograph said, "Brother Shui, at least have the hot pot before you go!"

"I won't have the hot pot for now, I'll visit another day." Shui Yongquan pulled the door with force.

Hong Ying came out of the second room with a knife: "Brother Shui, you can't leave, there won't be any hot pot if you do!"

Seeing Hong Ying, Shui Yongquan used both hands to pull the door desperately, but it just wouldn't open.

Li Banfeng said, "Brother Shui, better not leave."

Shui Yongquan replied, "Old Qi, I must leave today."

"Why in such a hurry, don't you want the teapot?"

"What do I need a teapot for, the teapot..." Shui Yongquan lowered his head and realized he was using both hands to pull the door.

Originally, he should have been holding the teapot in one hand, but now both hands were pulling the door, where did the teapot go?

"Brother Shui, no rush, the teapot is here with me." Gloves held the teapot and handed it to Li Banfeng.

"Shui Yongquan" was shocked and rushed forward to snatch it from Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng applied force with his fingertips, as if about to crush the teapot.

Shui Yongquan immediately gave in, "Old Qi, don't do it, that teapot is my treasure."

"It's not just your treasure, it's your life!" Li Banfeng said without a smile, "Who are you? Why impersonate Shui Yongquan?"

"Shui Yongquan" feigned bewilderment, "What do you mean impersonate, what are you talking about..."

Wine Gourd said, "Little Brother, don't waste words with him, I've already heated the wine."

Old Teapot laughed, "Finish the wine, then have a bowl of hot tea to sober up."

Hong Ying advised, "Use more flavorful ingredients."

Shui Yongquan leaned against the door, ready to fight to the death.

But his courage was quickly drowned in the laughter of this whole family.

Five minutes later, the battered "Shui Yongquan" sat back in the chair, cooperating to answer questions.

"My name is Ni Shangqiu, I'm from the Upper clan of Inner State."

Upon hearing this, Hong Ying remarked, "Your name sounds like a loach."

Ni Shangqiu nodded and said, "When I was among the Lower clan people, I did resemble a loach. My appearance has now changed, and what you see is my true form."

Hong Ying wasn't concerned with his true form; she was concerned with whether loach was suitable for the hot pot.

The phonograph asked Ni Shangqiu, "Were you also refined from a hundred people?"

Ni Shangqiu shook his head and said, "I was refined from three hundred people, a higher status than those from a hundred."

Li Banfeng asked, "Why impersonate Shui Yongquan?"

"To get close to you and gather some information."

"What information are you after?"

"About the Mysterious Red Life Lotus, the Heavenly People, the Peddler, and the impending showdown between them."

Li Banfeng was puzzled, "Showdown between whom?"

"The showdown between the Peddler and the Heavenly People. They made a pact that once they meet, they must have a showdown to decide life and death."

Li Banfeng was surprised, "Is there such a thing?"

The phonograph said, "Indeed, there's such a rumor. The Peddler and the Heavenly People were close friends but later became enemies. They vowed never to meet in this life, and once they did, they must fight to the death."

Li Banfeng said, "Your search for Red Lotus isn't for alchemy, is it?"

Ni Shangqiu truthfully replied, "The Saint ordered me to find out the whereabouts of Red Lotus from you. As for what to do next, I have no idea."

"The Saint ordered you directly?"

"I'm the only one out of the three hundred who was successful, directly under the Saint's orders."

As a Transformed Person, it seems there are status differences among them, with Ni Shangqiu's status clearly higher.

Li Banfeng asked, "Do you know Qiu Daoyu?"

Ni Shangqiu shook his head.

"What about Huang Zenan?"

Ni Shangqiu also hadn't heard of him.