Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'-Chapter 791 - 490

Li Banfeng walked along the bluestone path into the alley. Deep within, in a residence, lay the nest of the Chase the Light Group’s Boundless Camp.

This alley wasn’t flat ground but a steep slope, a flight of stairs leading upward that ordinary people found quite strenuous to climb.

In Bridge Yesong, such sloped roads were common. Coachmen could be seen at almost every alley entrance—in fact, there were more coachmen than rickshaw pullers. A local saying often on their lips was: "Lift the sedan chair thrice, and fortune will roll your way."

A coachman stepped forward and asked, "Ride in the sedan?"

Li Banfeng shook his head slightly.

The coachman frowned. "Are you riding or not? Just say it. What, you look down on people?"

Li Banfeng glanced at the coachman and replied with a smile, "No ride."

The coachman was about to persist when Li Banfeng’s eyes flashed coldly.

Seeing this, the coachman asked no more and lowered his head to solicit business elsewhere.

Li Banfeng glanced back at the coachman, feeling a bit more guarded. It wasn’t because of the coachman’s rudeness, but because the coachman had *seen* him.

Home Cultivators possessed an innate talent for going unnoticed. Normally, this coachman should have overlooked Li Banfeng, but exceptions could occur.

There were no other pedestrians in the alley at the moment. It couldn’t be ruled out that this coachman, eager for business, had been watching the alley intently and was greeting anyone who passed.

Being overlooked is not the same as being invisible. If the other party was highly focused, there was a certain chance they might notice Li Banfeng.

Of course, another possibility couldn’t be discounted: this coachman’s cultivation level might not be low, and he could be stationed here as a lookout for the Boundless Camp.

Normally, a lookout shouldn’t be so brash or conspicuous, but it never hurt to be extra careful.

About a hundred meters away from the residence, Li Banfeng touched the Silk-pulling Earrings by his ear.

After ten or so seconds, the Silk-pulling Earrings responded, "Sir, no movement."

How could there be no movement?

Could it be that the Boundless Camp’s hideout was unattended in broad daylight?

Perhaps the Silk-pulling Earrings had not detected anything.

Mosonov had once said that the Chase the Light Group’s Boundless Camp was full of elites. It wouldn’t be surprising if someone inside could evade the detection of the Silk-pulling Earrings.

Li Banfeng returned to his Portable Residence and took out a painting, creating a beauty with the Golden House Hidden Beauty Skill.

Li Banfeng had put considerable effort into this Beauty Painting, blending the Western Painting Technique taught by the Pendulum Sect with the ink painting technique taught by the Hong Ying Sect. The result was a realistic depiction with artistic depth; the beauty was lifelike and imbued with Spiritual Energy.

The only flaw was that Li Banfeng had painted only half her face; the other half had to be covered by hair.

At home, this half-faced beauty was quite pleasant to look at. Suddenly taking her out onto the street, however, might be a bit frightening.

No matter. As long as there was no wind to blow her hair aside and reveal the flaw, it shouldn’t be noticeable.

Li Banfeng stood by the roadside, watching as the half-faced beauty quietly infiltrated the residence. Then he released his control over her.

He remembered the unique characteristics of a Sleep Cultivator’s Technique, including its ability to counteract Force Transmission techniques. The Boundless Camp might also have Sleep Cultivators, so it was best to be cautious.

「Five minutes later.」

The half-faced beauty returned, holding down the hair on the left side of her face, and shook her head at Li Banfeng.

Indeed, the residence was empty.

From the current situation, there seemed to be three possibilities.

The first possibility: the information was incorrect, and the Boundless Camp’s nest wasn’t here.

Li Banfeng was not familiar with Bridge Yesong. Much of the intelligence he had was gathered by Luo Zhengnan’s subordinates, and Luo Zhengnan himself wasn’t very familiar with the Chase the Light Group. It was quite possible the information was incorrect, meaning this place might simply be an uninhabited, empty residence.

But the half-faced beauty stretched out her hand to Li Banfeng, her palm fair and spotless.

This told Li Banfeng she had found no dust in the house.

This wasn’t an empty residence; it had been inhabited recently. But where had everyone gone?

Then there was the second possibility: the Boundless Camp had cleared out to undertake some mission.

This scenario was improbable. No matter how urgent the mission, it was hard to believe they wouldn’t leave at least one person to stand guard.

The third possibility: the Boundless Camp had received some intelligence and deliberately gone into hiding.

Were they avoiding me?

Li Qi had wiped out a camp of the Chase the Light Group at Conqueror’s Restaurant, so it would be normal for them to hide from him.

But the question remained: how did they know that Li Qi had come to Bridge Yesong?

Li Banfeng considered the people who had accompanied him, including members of the Lu Family and the He Family. The group’s composition was somewhat complex. Could there be a traitor among them?

It was hard to say.

Iron Gate Fort harbored Congregation members of the Chase the Light Group, a fact unknown to either Li Banfeng or Wu Yongchao.

Within the Lu Family Mansion, two Support factions had joined the Chase the Light Group, a fact of which even Duan Shaoxia was unaware. The Chase the Light Group’s Congregation had widespread influence and excellent concealment abilities—traits that made them exceptionally difficult to deal with.

If there truly was a traitor among the people close to him, who could it be?

Li Banfeng returned to He Yuxiu’s residence. Utilizing the innate unnoticeability characteristic of a Home Cultivator, he carefully observed everyone accompanying him.

「As dusk approached.」

Zheng Siyi, Bridge Yesong’s Border Defense Envoy, came to the residence and invited Li Banfeng to dinner. He Yuxiu laughed. "So you’re only inviting Old Qi? Are you snubbing me?"

Zheng Siyi waved his hands hastily. "Miss He, please don’t misunderstand. I’m inviting Mr. Li because there are some private matters for us men to discuss."

"Men’s matters that I can’t hear?"

"It’s not that you can’t hear; it’s just that I’d feel embarrassed if you did. Once we’ve discussed this matter, I’ll arrange a separate dinner to invite you, Miss He. I hope you will grace us with your presence then." Zheng Siyi spoke humorously and showed her due respect, so He Yuxiu took no further offense and passed the message to Li Banfeng.