Mutated Tao

“Old bones! Just you wait! There’ll come a time when you can’t move either…” Lu Xiucai muttered under his breath with a fierce look on his face.

Puppy leaned over and used his elbow to bump him. “Ah, you’ve got guts stealing Senior Li’s sword.”

Lu Xiucai glanced at him with disdain. “Such a joke! What’s the big deal just holding a sword? Don’t you dare?”

“Of course not. That sword has such a strong bloody smell. I feel uncomfortable even getting close to it,” replied Puppy.

Hearing this, Lu Xiucai appeared even more pleased with himself. “Why would I be afraid of that? Let me tell you, I pulled it out precisely because I sensed the strong smell. As long as I want to, I still dare to do it even now!”

“Wow, very impressive.”

While the two chatted, they dropped the firewood by the iron pot, then turned back to fetch water.

“Xiucai, come over here for a moment.” Li Huowang, who was sitting on a tree stump with Lu Zhangyuan, gestured toward the slender youth in the distance.

As Puppy looked on gleefully at his misfortune, Lu Xiucai lowered his head and walked over.

As Lu Xiucai looked up at the one-eyed young man, he felt a sudden jolt of panic. He once again lowered his head and focused on the straw sandals on his feet.

“Don’t look down. Look up at me,” said Li Huowang.

Hearing this, Lu Xiucai eventually raised his head.

“How have you been feeling recently? Is your temperament still the same?” Li Huowang asked calmly.

Lu Xiucai shook his head. “Much better. It’s almost like it was before I picked up the sword.”

At that moment, Puppy had a mischievous grin on his face as he approached Li Huowang. He repeated the conversation he just had with Lu Xiucai to them.

Upon hearing that his son had said such words, Lu Zhangyuan sighed deeply, then lowered the tobacco pipe in his hand. “You damned brat! You…”　　

Lu Xiucai was about to scold Puppy fiercely, but a slap had already landed on his face.

It was Li Huowang who struck him. When he saw Lu Xiucai stare back at him fiercely, he turned toward Lu Zhuangyuan and said, “Troupe Leader Lu, all these days have passed, and yet there has been no change in him. It seems like this influence will stick with him for the rest of his life.”

“Young Daoist, is there no other way?” Lu Zhuangyuan asked unwillingly. Although he had always despised his younger son for being foolish and timid, the previous version was much better than the one before him.

“If you are afraid that Lu Xiucai’s tyrannical character will cause big trouble in the future, then you can just cut off the root of the problem now,” said Li Huowang.

Those words not only scared Lu Xiucai, they also surprised Lu Zhuangyuan. Both of them showed fear in their eyes.

“That… that's not necessary, really not necessary,” said Lu Zhangyuan as he forced a smile and pulled his younger son away from Li Huowang.

On the other hand, though Lu Xiucai had a look of disgust as his dad approached him, he dared not push him away when he saw the tobacco pipe his dad held in his other hand.

Just as they were about to leave, a shout rang out from behind to stop them.

“Hold on, I just thought of a way. Perhaps it might turn Lu Xiucai back. It depends on whether you guys are willing to take the risk,” said Li Huowang.

Lu Xiucai and Lu Zhuangyuan both turned around simultaneously, only to see Li Huowang holding a parchment filled with words.

What Li Huowang held now was none other than the technique he had forced out of Han Fu’s Nascent Soul—the Xiandu Cishe Seal that allowed one to control the copper coin sword.

If his guess was correct, the ability of any sect was the application of some object.

Since Lu Xiucai now had the influence of malicious energy on him, it was a good opportunity to use the cultivation technique of the disciples of Luoism to try and purify it. Regardless of what the disciples of Luoism practiced or absorbed, it would suffice as long as it could replace the current malicious energy on him.

Moreover, Lu Xiucai could also help him test out whether or not there were any tricks in the technique, thus killing two birds with one stone.

While Lu Zhangyuan was still hesitating, the excited Lu Xiucai knelt directly in front of Li Huowang, and pounded his forehead on the soil, giving three loud knocks. As he raised his forehead with red mud caked on it, his eyes were filled with a strong thirst for power.

“Master! Accept me as your disciple! I am willing to learn your supernatural abilities!” said Lu Xiucai.

On the other hand, Li Huowang looked at Lu Zhangyuan, choosing to wait for his response.

After a difficult moment of hesitation, Lu Zhangyuan finally nodded. He decided to take the risk in hopes of seeing his son return to normal. The Young Daoist had also mentioned that the risk was not that high. And if they succeeded, then his useless son would really end up having a meteoric rise.

“Alright, let's give it a try. Perhaps it will work,” said Li Huowang as he handed the parchment to Lu Xiucai, who was staring at him passionately.

As soon as Lu Xiucai took it, he eagerly began to read it.

However, immediately after giving the parchment to Lu Xiucai, Li Huowang sighed deeply, and used his fingers to massage his throbbing forehead in a helpless manner. “Xiucai, didn't you notice that you took it upside down?”

“Master, I can’t read.” Lu Xiucai dumbfoundedly looked at Li Huowang.

“Ah… You really don’t live up to your name[1].”

Li Huowang took the parchment back, and relayed its contents word by word. It was a tiring task, especially when dealing with an illiterate person who couldn't even write his own name.

Fortunately, Li Huowang had some time on his hands, and Lu Xiucai's determination to learn the supernatural arts kept him going, despite the exhaustion.

By the time they reached the town, Lu Xiucai had just learnt the beginning part of the technique.

Li Huowang’s group was big, but there were also many other farmers from other villages that were traveling toward the town to sell their wares. Thus, the road had grown much busier.

Watching Lu Xiucai, who was tirelessly reciting his cultivation mantra beside him, Li Huowang asked, "Don't you want to kill me?"

“Master, what are you talking about? Why would I want to kill you?” Lu Xiucai responded calmly.

Li Huowang could tell that he was not lying. With his nature, he would have easily exposed himself if he tried to lie.

“I've beaten you up before, and I even planned to persuade your father to kill you. I'm really surprised that you aren’t holding a grudge with your current personality,” said Li Huowang.

“I've just become a bit more temperamental. I haven't turned into a lunatic. Besides, you taught me the supernatural abilities which have already offset that,” Lu Xiucai said matter-of-factly.

Li Huowang nodded in understanding and patted the ox pulling the cart.

“Moo~” The ox mooed and continued pulling the cart toward the town gate.

Upon entering the town, the guards insisted on inspecting the ox-cart with the Black Taisui in it. After some effort and with a few pieces of silver, the seasoned Lu Zhuangyuan finally managed to get them across safely.

They stepped back onto the cobblestone streets, and observed the lively market, where everyone seemed to have come back to life. Following their usual routine, they found an inn and enjoyed a good meal. After settling in, each person started to carry out their own agendas.

As a local, Bai Lingmiao brought Chun Xiaoman to find a map and pinpoint the position of Cowheart Mountain.

Meanwhile, Puppy, Zhao Wu and Gao Zhijian went to sell off the sheep and buy more food.

As for Li Huowang, he ventured into the town to investigate any traces of the Surveillance Bureau.

1. Xiucai in Chinese also refers to scholars ☜

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