Mutated Tao

The face stretched out to several feet wide, and had a blood-red tongue that measured two or three feet in length hanging from its mouth. Beneath this terrifying face was a hunched figure that was over thirty feet tall. It was a grotesquely large White Impermanence!

That wooden head swaying in the air was just a pendant hanging from its chest!

Clatter~ clatter~

Accompanied by this strange sound, the White Impermanence crouched down, and then peered and sniffed in Li Huowang’s direction, making humming and grumbling sounds as if it were searching for something.

While Li Huowang was currently invisible, this entity could still sense something. It was just a matter of time before he was discovered.

This thing is not easy to deal with!

Coming to this conclusion, Li Huowang didn’t hesitate and unleashed his killer move. He faced the White Impermanence and lifted his right hand with his fingers spread open.

With a swift motion and a slicing sound, his left arm was cut off. Then, it flew out at an incredible speed, and pierced through the White Impermanence’s[1] eyes.

Racked with pain, the White Impermanence opened its mouth and let out a deafening roar.

Meanwhile, Li Huowang didn’t hesitate and immediately leaped into action. With a single hand, he raised his sword and jumped straight toward its open mouth.

In response, the White Impermanence sent its sharp nails whistling toward Li Huowang. But because of its injured eyes, its aim seemed off; it only managed to leave a deep wound on Li Huowang’s neck.

In the next instant, Li Huowang slid down its throat amidst the continuous sound of flesh being torn apart. Just as he was about to slide to the bottom, a wooden mask appeared from seemingly nowhere and covered Li Huowang’s face.

In an instant, Li Huowang felt the world go dark; at the same time, he suddenly couldn’t breathe.

Li Huowang vigorously shook his head as he tried to remove whatever was on his face. However, no matter what he did, the mask clung to his face without budging in the slightest.

Realizing his situation, Li Huowang didn’t hesitate as he pulled out a thin willow-leaf knife and inserted it along the edge of his jaw. He nearly suffocated as he peeled off a substantial portion of the skin on his face. Then, he immediately tried to breathe, only to find himself unable to inhale anything.

What on earth is going on?!

Li Huowang quickly surveyed his surroundings in a state of panic. When he realized that he couldn’t see Hong Zhong and Monk, alarm bells rang loudly in his mind.

But then, he suddenly snapped out of it.

In the next moment, there was no sign of the towering White Impermanence being around. At the same time, the mist-covered forest was now brightly lit.

The only thing that remained the same as before was that he still couldn’t breathe.

His face soon turned a shade of purple as he reached for his neck and found a rope that had completely sunk into his flesh. After a moment, he grabbed the handle of his sword, and exerted pressure with his thumb as he tried to forcefully cut the rope.

Accompanied by a spine-chilling scream, foul-smelling blood started continuously spraying out of Li Huowang’s neck. At the same time, the rope around his neck shrunk toward the forest, and Li Huowang fell from the air like a lifeless corpse.

“Daoist, are you okay?” asked Monk as he quickly approached Li Huowang and expressed his concern.

Holding his neck, Li Huowang shook his head and got up unsteadily. “I’m fine.”

After answering Monk, Li Huowang immediately looked around.

Rays of sunlight seeped through the gaps in the leaves as they cast a pattern on the forest floor. The scene appeared so normal that it was as if everything that had just happened earlier was nothing more than an illusion.

Was it an illusion?

Li Huowang glanced at his perfectly intact left arm with a hint of confusion. However, when he touched the wound left behind by White Impermanence’s nails, his gaze became more determined.

This was definitely not an illusion. I just don’t know what method that thing used when we fought.

Luckily, the attack just now injured it. It shouldn’t come back for a while.

“Oh no!” Suddenly, Li Huowang suddenly remembered something and rushed back.

When he rushed out of the woods and saw that the Bai family members were still huddled together, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as everyone is safe, that’s all that matters.

As Li Huowang approached them, the Bai family members were visibly startled by his presence.

A Daoist with a bronze coin veil and blood dripping down his neck, approaching them while holding a sword. It was a sight that would instill fear in just about anyone.

Soon, a sharp crack rang out, and the thick wooden shackles were split open. Li Huowang wielded his sword and freed all of them from their restraints.

Gradually, the Bai family members grasped that the Daoist was here to rescue them. As the truth finally sank in, tears welled up in the eyes of some of the women.

The one with the greatest authority in a clan would usually always be the elderly, and Cowheart Village was no exception.

Soon, an elderly individual, with just a single lower front tooth remaining, led the others forward. He was about to kneel before Li Huowang. “Thank you, Sir, for rescuing our entire village.”

However, Li Huowang quickly reached out to support the elderly person. “Elder, please don’t kneel. I came here at the request of Miss Bai Lingmiao to rescue all of you.”

As soon as he said that, several people in the crowd became incredibly excited. The middle-aged woman who bore a striking resemblance to Bai Lingmiao was overjoyed and tearful as she turned to the man beside her and exclaimed, “Our daughter is safe! She’s alive! Our daughter is alive!”

In an instant, a hum of excitement filled the air as Li Huowang was surrounded by Bai Lingmiao’s relatives. Questions flew at him from all directions, and he found himself unsure about which one to respond to amidst all the clamor.

“Enough!” At that moment, a loud and commanding voice silenced everyone. The voice came from a robust man who was supporting the elderly person with a single tooth. He had a look of composed confidence with a slight stubble on his chin.

“Don’t you see that our benefactor is injured? Moreover, is this the appropriate place for questions?” asked the robust man.

With that, he clasped his hands together and bowed toward Li Huowang and said, “I am Bai Sai, the leader of the Bai family. Benefactor, what do you think about leaving this place for now?”

Li Huowang touched the wound on his neck and nodded. “Alright, let’s leave.”

Although he had driven that thing away, there was no guarantee that it wouldn’t return with others of its kind to seek revenge.

With their wooden shackles removed, they gathered around Li Huowang as they left the area together. Along the way, it was clear that the others were eager to talk to Li Huowang, but were clearly hindered by the robust man’s authority and dared not speak up.

However, unable to contain her emotions, Bai Lingmiao’s mother walked over to Li Huowang and handed over her handkerchief. “Benefactor, your neck is still bleeding, use this to cover it for now.”

Li Huowang expressed his gratitude and accepted the handkerchief.

Then, the woman couldn’t help but ask, “Sir, how is my daughter? Has she grown taller? Has she lost weight? Is she facing any mistreatment outside?”

Her words were filled with deep concern.

Seeing her like this, Li Huowang was reminded of his mother. His mother was just like her, constantly worrying about the same things.

“She is doing well and hasn’t faced much hardship. But she often mentions you,” said Li Huowang.

Upon hearing Li Huowang’s response, the beautiful woman couldn’t help but burst into tears.

On the other hand, Li Huowang maintained his composure. He knew that without unraveling the cause and effect of this matter, it couldn’t yet be considered resolved.

After thinking for a moment, Li Huowang shifted his gaze toward Bai Sai who was still supporting the elderly man, and asked, “Chief Bai, do you mind shedding some light on what exactly happened? Why were all of you captured? Also, what was it that I just fought with?”

As soon as Li Huowang posed his questions, the discussion around him instantly quieted down, and all eyes turned in his direction.

After a long sigh, Bai Sai replied, “Benefactor, to be honest, I don’t know what is going on either. Ever since my son picked up that stone, strange things have been happening. One day out of the blue, we just found ourselves wearing wooden shackles and forced to move forward by the person wearing a wooden mask. Fortunately, you saved us. Otherwise, who knows where we would have been taken.”

Li Huowang frowned. Despite the lengthy explanation, it felt like the other party hadn't really said anything at all.

“Heh, Li Huowang, be careful. He is trying to deceive you.”

Li Huowang lifted his gaze, and looked toward Hong Zhong who uttered those words.

1. a deity in chinese folk religion that plays a role in guiding the deceased through the afterlife ☜

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