Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

The next day, Li Banfeng woke up refreshed and stepped out of his Portable Residence.

His thoughts were much clearer than the day before. Perhaps it was the sleep that had cleared his head, or maybe the special characteristics of the residence had allowed him to escape the Technique of Foolish Cultivation.

Actually, some things, if one just calmly thinks about them for a moment, can be figured out.

Can you really get lost in this city? No.

If you just keep walking in any one direction, you're sure to reach the city walls. And if you keep following the city walls, you're sure to reach a city gate. Once you find a city gate, you can leave the city, and Li Banfeng would naturally return to normal.

How big could this city possibly be? At most, it's a hundred li across!

A hundred li wasn't much for Li Banfeng; it wouldn't even take half an hour. The only thing to be mindful of was to keep running in a straight line.

The road ahead wasn't straight; it veered slightly. So, Li Banfeng climbed over walls and jumped over courtyards, charging forward in a straight line.

After over five hours of running, Li Banfeng hadn't found the city wall.

Ahead was a street with some opening stores and some setting up stalls. Behind him was an alley where people were strolling and chatting. Li Banfeng felt that he had been to this place before, more than once.

Using the direction of the wind to locate himself, using landmark buildings for orientation, making marks along the way... Li Banfeng thought of a hundred methods, yet he still didn't know how to leave the city.

There was an auntie ahead whose face seemed kind; he might as well ask her for directions.

Li Banfeng approached the auntie with banknotes and asked cautiously, "Auntie, how do I get to the city gate?"

The auntie was taken aback. "Are you asking for directions?"

Li Banfeng nodded.

"You child, why would you offer money for asking directions? The city gate is still far away. Look how tired you are! Come, come into my house and have a drink of water."

"No need, Auntie," Li Banfeng said. "I'm in a rush and must leave the city. Just point me in the right direction."

The auntie grew displeased. "I'm simply inviting you in for a bowl of water. What could possibly harm you? If you don't trust me, then go ask someone else!"

What to do? Should I go in and drink a bowl of water? I am at the Fourth Layer of Home Cultivation; even if she poisoned it, it probably wouldn't take me down.

Li Banfeng was just about to enter the house when the sense of crisis from Seek Fortune and Avoid Disaster signaled him not to.

"Young man, come on in! Where are you going? Don't you want to leave the city? Where are you going? That's not the right way. Come drink some water here, and I'll show you the way..."

Li Banfeng didn't look back; he bolted.

After another hour of running, Li Banfeng sat down in despair against the wall at the end of an alley.

"Young man, I told you to come to me for fortune-telling. Why didn't you listen to me?"

Li Banfeng forced a bitter smile. The fortune-teller had found him again.

I couldn't find the city gate, but he found me in no time.

The fortune-teller sat down next to Li Banfeng. "Still haven't let go of the revenge matter?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "I have. I just want to leave the city now."

"That's difficult!" the fortune-teller sighed deeply, shaking his head.

"Is it really that hard to leave the city?"

"Hard, harder than reaching the heavens. This is Fool's City; it's not that easy to leave, especially for you. Your brow is dark, your face bears ominous energy. Forcing your way out might cost you your life."

Li Banfeng said helplessly, "I really don't want to consult with you for fortune-telling, and I've already given you money. Can you please stay away from me?"

The fortune-teller sighed. "I believe in destiny. The moment I saw you yesterday, I knew that you were a person of extraordinary fate,

"Not to hide anything from you, while I was alive, I was trapped in Fool's City for twenty-eight years, seven months, and three days. I never found the city gate until the day I died,

"But I believe you can find it. I believe you won't die trapped in Fool's City,

"To the north of the city, there's a large mansion with three courtyards. It has been deserted since the day I arrived in Fool's City,

"You have some unresolved karma with that mansion. You must stay there for one full day and night to dissolve this misfortune,

"Remember well: just one day and one night, not more, not less. Whatever time you enter today, you shall leave at that same time tomorrow,

"After you come out, stand with your back to the main gate and walk straight ahead. Don't stop for anything you encounter,

"If you encounter a wall, crash into the wall. If you encounter a tree, crash into the tree. Regardless of what you encounter, don't stop. Keep walking for half an hour, and you will reach the city gate,

"Young man, I've said my piece. Whether you believe it or not is up to you."

The fortune-teller left.

Li Banfeng sneered as he sat by the wall. Why should I trust him? What do I have to do with any mansion? I've never been to this place before, so where does this karma come from?

Late at night, Li Banfeng arrived at the northern part of the city and entered the deserted mansion. He really didn't want to trust the fortune-teller, but he truly could find no other way to leave the city.

The front courtyard of the mansion was not large. It contained a row of Backward Seat buildings, which served as the Gatehouse and servant's quarters. Passing through the Hanging-Flower Gate, one entered the main courtyard. Here, the main hall faced south, flanked by side chambers on either side.

Li Banfeng entered the main hall. The outer section was the hall, and the inner part was the bedroom.

Looking up, he saw that quite a few tiles had fallen off, and the roof was directly exposed to the sky. The furnishings in the room were still orderly, but dust half a finger thick covered everything, indicating it had been neglected for a long time.

Li Banfeng took a feather duster, dusted off some of the dirt, and sat down on a chair, beginning to contemplate his next move.

Should I go to the Portable Residence next, or stay in this deserted mansion? It would definitely be safer to go to the Portable Residence. But if I entered the Portable Residence, wouldn't that mean leaving the mansion? Would the one-day and one-night period still count? What if I don't go to the Portable Residence and just stay here?

WHOOSH.

A gust of cold wind blew past, raising a little dust from the table.

Staying in this place for a day and a night, who knows what I might encounter? I should go back.

Li Banfeng entered his Portable Residence. He stayed less than a quarter of an hour, then came out again, bringing with him a paper doll girl.