HUFF! PUFF!
The pitch-black locomotive, spewing white steam, traveled along the rails.
CLANG! CLANG!
The crankshaft pulled the connecting rods, spinning the wheels at high speed, rhythmically colliding with the gaps in the rails.
WHOO-OO!
A blast from the steam whistle.
A five-carriage train passed through a tunnel, journeyed through a valley, and headed towards the vast wilderness of Puluo State.
In the third carriage, a beautiful woman was applying her eyebrows at a dressing table.
Why was there a dressing table in the carriage?
Why was she putting on makeup in the carriage?
She could not only put on makeup in the carriage but also dance in it.
Because she was the only person in this carriage.
She was Zhuo Yuling, the second concubine of Lu Dongliang, the Lu Family's Head.
This train was a private one belonging to the Lu Family, a prominent household of Puluo State.
At the moment, she was the mistress of this train.
The first carriage was filled with coal.
The second carriage held luggage and provisions for the journey.
The third carriage was divided into a passageway and two guest rooms.
The fourth carriage was a dining room and card room.
The fifth carriage was the master's bedroom.
Zhuo Yuling styled her hair in finger waves, with heavy eyeshadow but light blush, her pale cheeks accentuating her bright red lips. She wore a teal, high-collared serge cheongsam, hemmed just at the knees, the slits on either side revealing a hint of laced petticoat. Her slender waist and slightly padded shoulders exuded a seductive and opulent charm.
Zhuo Yuling, nearing her forties, appeared scarcely thirty thanks to her exquisite clothing and makeup.
CREAK~
The carriage door was pushed open, and the silhouette of Lu Dongliang, the Lu Family's Head, appeared beneath the pale yellow wall lamp.
Zhuo Yuling's reflection in the mirror smiled sweetly, the fine laugh lines around her mouth lifting along with the beauty mark at its corner.
Zhuo Yuling disliked wearing shoes. Barefoot, she walked on the amber floral carpet towards Lu Dongliang, calling him tenderly, "Master."
Lu Dongliang, over fifty, pinched Zhuo Yuling's cheek. He always found her just as charming as when they first met, always able to offer him a bit of solace.
But it was only a bit.
The weary Lu Dongliang took off his suit, unbuttoned his vest, loosened his tie, and sat on the sofa. He opened a bottle of foreign liquor and poured himself a drink.
Halfway through his drink, the gloom in his heart quickly showed on his face, and he couldn't help but sigh.
Zhuo Yuling sat next to him, took a cigarette from the Iron Tobacco Box, placed it between her red lips, struck a match, lit the cigarette, and brought it to Lu Dongliang's mouth. "Master, what's troubling you?"
Lu Dongliang accepted the cigarette and took a deep drag. "He Jiaqing is coming back tomorrow. I was just playing cards with his aunt, He Yuxiu, and judging from her manner, I fear she intends to call off the engagement with Xiao Lan."
He Jiaqing was the legitimate son and heir of the powerful He Family of Puluo State.
Lu Xiaolan was the daughter of Zhuo Yuling and Lu Dongliang.
If the He Family hadn't declined in recent years, their legitimate son would not have considered marrying a daughter of a concubine from the Lu Family.
Zhuo Yuling smiled indifferently. "Master, haven't we already discussed this? Xiao Lan won't let He Jiaqing return to Puluo State alive."
Lu Dongliang, biting his cigarette, frowned. "That boy from the He Family is unusually gifted and also possesses the Mysterious Red Life Lotus. He's not an easy target, and I am worried about Xiao Lan..."
Zhuo Yuling shook her head. "Master, you worry too much. That boy from the He Family is but a mediocrity. He had his prime years, but instead of devoting himself to his cultivation, he went to study in Huan Country. Four full years wasted. What has he achieved?"
Lu Dongliang stroked his mustache. "Young people can be frivolous. If he ever takes over the He Family business..."
Zhuo Yuling stood up and walked over to the Phonograph. "Those who can't rein in their playful impulses are mediocre. Mediocrities who hold treasures ought to become corpses. Once he gets on the train, his death is certain."
The Phonograph, a foot taller than the bedside table, had one large and two small golden trumpets on top.
Zhuo Yuling picked up an iron cup and poured two cupfuls of water into the smaller trumpet on the left.
Lu Dongliang watched her and said, "I heard that the Young Gang Leader of the Jiang Xiang Gang also wants to lay his hands on the Red Lotus. He has status in Huan Country and is not easy to deal with."
Zhuo Yuling scoffed. "Are you talking about Xiao Zhenggong? That idiot doesn't even qualify as mediocre. He's nothing but a cockroach, a disgusting cockroach. Without his father's influence, Xiao Zhenggong would have been squashed long ago. With his petty schemes, how could he possibly outwit Xiao Lan?"
Zhuo Yuling bent down, opened the cabinet of the Phonograph, and in an Iron Box filled with Coagulated Cream, lit the wick inserted into the grease.
WOOSH!
A pale blue flame ignited, and soon, a slight mist sprayed out from the left trumpet.
HISS! HISS! HISS!
This was a steam-powered Phonograph.
Puluo State was a unique place. It was impossible to store large quantities of fuel or use electricity on a large scale, so Steam Engine technology was utilized to its full potential.
The Phonograph's turntable, driven by gears and the release of Steam, began to rotate.
Zhuo Yuling took a shellac record and placed it on the Phonograph's tray.
Lu Dongliang put out his cigarette and leaned back on the sofa. "It's not that I don't trust Xiao Lan, I'm just worried..."
"Master just doesn't trust Xiao Lan," Zhuo Yuling said with a helpless smile. "Ever since I gave birth to her, Master has never truly looked at her properly."
As they spoke, Zhuo Yuling set the needle on the record.
Amid the fine static, a melodious cello prelude sounded.
After the prelude, the piano accompanied the violin, unfolding a gentle rhythm, and a deep, profound voice followed:
The moon~light~, so obscure.
The earth~, shrouded in night mist.
The person in my dreams, oh,
where are~ you~
"The Person in My Dreams" was Zhuo Yuling's favorite song.
With no need for electricity or magnetic disks, the old Phonograph required only the friction between the needle and the record.
Zhuo Yuling stepped forward gracefully, pulled Lu Dongliang up from the sofa, buried her head in his chest, hugged him, and slowly danced to the beautiful melody.
Lu Dongliang wrapped his arms around Zhuo Yuling's slender waist but still wore a worried expression. "If He Jiaqing dies, won't the Mysterious Red Life Lotus end up in Huan Country?"
Zhuo Yuling frowned slightly. At this moment, she didn't want to talk about such trivial matters. "Xiao Lan has done her research. He Jiaqing has a friend named Li Banfeng. Using him, we can find the Red Lotus. After we kill He Jiaqing, Xiao Lan will go find Li Banfeng. Naturally, there will be a way to bring back the Red Lotus."
Lu Dongliang didn't hear quite clearly. "The friend of He Jiaqing you just mentioned, what's his name, Li what?"
"Li Banfeng."
"Half-crazy?" Lu Dongliang was taken aback. "What an odd name."
Zhuo Yuling smiled. "Master, you don't need to remember his name; it's not important. Once Xiao Lan finds out the whereabouts of the Red Lotus, this person won't be in this world anymore."
"What sort of person is he? Another mediocrity?" Lu Dongliang was very cautious, fearing any slip-up in their plan.
Zhuo Yuling scoffed. "He's not even worth being called a mediocrity. He's not even considered a person."
Lu Dongliang stroked Zhuo Yuling's hair. "So, like Xiao Zhenggong, is he just a cockroach?"
Zhuo Yuling shook her head. "He's worth less than a cockroach."
Lu Dongliang grew more curious. "What kind of person is he, then?"
"How to put it?" Zhuo Yuling was at a loss for words.
A trace of black ash drifted out of the Phonograph's oil tank, landing on Lu Dongliang's collar.
The Phonograph's filter needed cleaning.
Zhuo Yuling wiped Lu Dongliang's collar with her finger. Looking at the black ash on her fingertip, she smiled faintly. "He's like this speck of dust, living an insignificant life. He has no parents, no relatives; he has nothing. He grew up in an orphanage and only managed to attend college by moving bricks, carrying heavy bags, and setting up street stalls. If such a person dies, he dies. It's just like scattering this speck of dust—no one will care."
Having said that, Zhuo Yuling blew gently, scattering the ash from her fingertip.
WHOO-OO!
The train jostled.
Lu Dongliang's dance steps remained steady—a foundation from his days as a Traveling Cultivator.
Under Zhuo Yuling's feet, a fine layer of fur grew out, gripping the carpet beneath her tightly.
That was a talent from Body Cultivation.
After the jostling, the two continued to dance in each other's embrace.
「The next day.」
Huan Country, Yuedong Province, Yue State City, Yuezhou University, Sixth Dormitory, Room 606.
Li Banfeng was lying in his bunk, taking a midday nap.
In his dream, he was on his own yacht with a group of young women, all enjoying the sea breeze together.
The previous Golden Yuan Award's best leading actress was holding Li Banfeng's hand, leading him into the yacht's bedroom...
Clutching a pillow, Li Banfeng drooled clear saliva, about to reach the pinnacle of life in his dreams, when suddenly he heard someone calling to him:
"Ban Feng, save me."