Mutated Tao

“Cough.”

With a light cough, Li Huowang instantly caught everyone’s attention. All of them looked at Li Huowang with confidence as he continued speaking, “Everyone! We don’t have to travel anymore! We will settle down within Cowheart Village. From now on, this will be our new home!”

“Senior Li, what about Yang Xiaohai? We still haven’t sent him home,” asked Puppy while patting the assistant’s head.

Hearing his name suddenly being mentioned, Yang Xiaohai panicked. He had never thought that they would suddenly talk about him, causing him to stammer. “I …”

However, he was interrupted by Li Huowang, “He’s lying about his home. He never had one. He’s a beggar.”

At that moment, Li Huowang suddenly felt someone holding his arm and saw that it was Bai Lingmiao. He looked at her eyes and saw her expectant gaze. Seeing that gaze, Li Huowang felt his chest warm up as he turned toward everyone. “Since we are now here, I will tell you about everything. Everyone has seen how chaotic this world is. If all we cared about was having our own piece of land, then we wouldn’t be all that different from the oxen in the fields. If we want to protect ourselves, then we cannot rely on others! From now on, I will teach everything that I can to everyone! I will also think of a method to have everyone know at least one technique or superpower.”

Hearing this promise, everyone became excited as they started excitedly discussing what they would be able to do in the future.

On the other hand, as he looked at everyone, Li Huowang’s eyes turned serious. He had come to understand that he couldn’t rely on the other sects or the Surveillance Bureau. He could only rely on himself and the people in front of him. If all of them wanted to survive in this bizarre world, then they had to have their own strength! Only then would they be able to avoid suffering like him.

“Everyone, the first thing we are going to learn is to learn how to read and write!” announced Li Huowang.

“Yes! Read and write,” said Li Huowang as he touched his abdomen, “That’s right, all of us have to be literate first. After that, we can establish our own sect that would allow us to stand firm in this world! Everyone thinks that we are a bunch of freaks, but we will let them see that even we can survive on our own in this world! We will show them that we are not freaks! That no one can sell us off anymore! That no one can bully us anymore! That we too can get better and better as long as we work hard every day!”

“Yeah!”

“Hooray!”

“Yay!”

Everyone’s cheers almost caused the entire village to shake. As he looked at everyone who had traveled with him for so long, Li Huowang revealed a happy smile.

——————————————

As rainwater splattered on his face, Li Huowang’s smiling face and everyone’s cheers suddenly disappeared.

The rain continued to fall as Li Huowang just stood there while holding a paper umbrella. He stood in front of Cowheart Village and stared at the white smoke rising from the village.

At this moment, there was no one else around him; he was the only one standing on the yellow dirt path.

All that from before had been nothing more than his memory.

Li Huowang stood there for an entire day and night. Due to the humidity, his paper skin soon started to get moldy. Even so, he did not care.

It was only when he saw Yang Xiaohai walk out of the village with a raincoat that he moved his almost immobile joints toward the village.

Seeing Li Huowang finally move, Hong Zhong, with half his body stuck in a tree, started chuckling. He nudged Monk and said, “Monk, hehehe, get ready for a good show.”

As soon as Li Huowang approached the entrance of the village, Yang Xiaohai spotted him immediately and happily ran over to greet him, only to be horrified by the man’s appearance.

“Yikes! Senior Li! Where is the skin on your face? Why are you wearing paper clothes?” asked Yang Xiaohai.

“Where is Miaomiao?” Li Huowang’s hoarse voice was filled with the scent of blood.

“Senior Bai should be in the house. Senior Li… what’s wrong? Do you have news about the Bai family?” asked Yang Xiaohai, concerned.

Li Huowang remained silent for a moment before walking toward Bai Lingmiao’s house one step at a time.

Gradually, everyone saw that Li Huowang had returned and ran over to greet him. However, the cheerful atmosphere soon turned cold when they saw what he looked like.

Puppy carefully approached him and asked, “What’s wrong, Senior Li? Looks like you couldn’t find them? It’s fine. None of us blame you.”

Li Huowang gritted his teeth and pushed him away. Then, he started running.

When Li Huowang arrived at the main gate of Bai Lingmiao’s house, he ran into the anxious-looking Bai Lingmiao.

As soon as Bai Lingmiao saw that Li Huowang had returned alone, she felt her heart drop. But when she saw just how terrible Li Huowang looked under the rain with his burnt skin, she felt a pang in her heart. She immediately grabbed his wrists and pulled him toward her room.

Once inside, Bai Lingmiao used a soft towel to carefully dab Li Huowang’s body and pull away the moisture from his skin. She didn’t dare to rub his body for fear that she would rub off his skin and flesh.

Bai Lingmiao had seen just how serious his wounds could be. She knew that Li Huowang must’ve encountered grave danger to force him to use a technique that would hurt himself to this extent.

As Bai Lingmiao washed the towel in a bronze basin, she said, “Senior Li, it’s alright. I’m fine. There’s no need to worry about me. After staying here for so many days, I’ve already come to terms with the fact that they are gone. Since they are missing, let’s just wait here. I’m sure they will return one day.”

However, Li Huowang just gritted his teeth, both his hands shaking continuously.

Just as he was about to tell Bai Lingmiao the truth, Hong Zhong suddenly appeared beside him and started gesturing excitedly. “Quick! Tell her that you didn’t find them! Tell her that the Bai family most likely ran away to avoid some disasters!”

Hearing this, Li Huowang glared at the annoying Hong Zhong.

“Why are you glaring at me? I’m only saying this to help you! Look, the Bai family is already dead. There’s nothing to be gained even if you tell her now. She would be completely devastated! She may even come to hate you, the one responsible for the deaths of her family members! But if you do as I say, then she won’t be sad and would even be able to retain a sliver of hope!”

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