Mutated Tao

As Li Huowang sensed the outside sky gradually darkening, he slowly stopped his recitation. His mouth felt dry and his throat was parched.

As he recalled how the Black Taisui had helped him when dealing with the Human Xiao, he touched his stomach.

As he reflected on recent events, he slowly formulated a plan on how to interact with the Black Taisui.

Although it was continuously occupying his body, it didn’t seem to harbor any ill intentions toward him. Since it meant no harm, there was no need for him to treat it as he did Dan Yangzi. After all, in the past, he had done everything in his power to get rid of Dan Yangzi. However, with Black Taisui, not only could he not get rid of it, he also couldn’t live without it.

It resided within his body, and thus, a good relationship between them would bring only benefits to both of them and no harm. Perhaps, once they became more familiar with each other, he could persuade it to stop trying to encroach upon his body.

“Daddy?”

Li Huowang took a deep breath and touched his stomach again. “Listen, from now on, you’ll be called Li Sui. Until we find a method to break free from the bewilderment and sense of doubt that a Strayed One suffers from, let’s try to coexist peacefully. We’re all in the same boat. As long as you help me, I won’t ignore you. Let’s work hard to achieve a relationship that is mutually beneficial for both of us.”

“Okay.”

Li Huowang was surprised to hear the Black Taisui’s response. The fact that it agreed meant that the enlightenment books he had been reading to it previously weren’t in vain; it could actually understand the things Li Huowang said.

A familiar sound rang out, causing Li Huowang to instinctively look up at the beam. There was a pigeon perched there, observing him.

“Alright, behave yourself when it’s time to eat later. I won’t forget your portion,” said Li Huowang as he stood up. Then he slung his two swords onto his back before walking toward the outside of the inn.

Back at the same familiar place as always, a booming voice rang out, “Hahaha. Brother Er Jiu, long time no see. I’ve missed you so much.”

Tuoba Danqing walked in with his usual kind and round face. At the same time, a line of maids followed right behind him, all of them holding exquisite dishes and fine wines.

After several encounters, Li Huowang had figured out the routine. Thus, he sat down and accompanied the man in eating and drinking. At this point, he was unsure about whether this was just his personal quirk or a common trait among the members of the Surveillance Bureau. It almost seemed like he wouldn’t talk if eating or drinking wasn’t involved.

After several rounds of wine and dishes, the atmosphere was now more adequately set. Finally, Tuoba Danqing reached into his robe and pulled out a waist token before pushing it across the dining table. “Come, Brother Er, take a look at what this is? You did quite a good job this time. I’m afraid that I couldn’t have done it any better even if I had gone there myself.”

Li Huowang raised the waist token to take a look. As he looked at the characters for “Ninth Troop” on it, he suddenly felt extremely emotional. With this, he had taken yet another step closer to success.

“Enough with the token, what’s so interesting about it? Let’s eat, Brother Er. Now, what’s the story with this recent matter? Tell me about it,” asked Tuoba Danqing.

Since there was nothing to hide about this matter, Li Huowang just tucked away his waist token into his robe and slowly explained the whole situation to Tuoba Danqing.

After narrating the events, Li Huowang enquired about his earlier confusion, “Brother Tuoba, what was the deal with that Daoist Human Xiao? What’s the story behind him? Why was he so peculiar?”

“Oh, there’s nothing peculiar about it. That person had just lived for a long time. If he hadn’t attained the Dao and became an Immortal, then he would have naturally turned into an evil spirit. After all, the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death is the way of the universe. Trying to change fate and go against the order is not that simple,” explained Tuoba Danqing. “I’ve seen many such cases. These are usually cultivators who are too stubborn and obsessed, forcefully using lifespan pills to extend their lives, only to end up becoming Human Xiaos. However, I didn’t expect the commotion this time to be this big. Being a Human Xiao and raising another; that’s a first, even for me.”

“Using lifespan pills forcefully to increase longevity will eventually lead to one becoming a Human Xiao?” asked Li Huowang, feeling surprised. Wouldn’t this make lifespan pills useless?

“Not exactly. Normally, around the age of 120 is a critical point. The closer you get to 120, the weaker the effects of the lifespan pill get. Once past 120, you have to find a way to dispel your obsessions. If you can’t, then forcefully using the lifespan pills will only turn you into a Human Xiao. Each sect has their own methods for this, some good and some bad. But don’t expect others to tell you all this so easily. They keep these things well hidden. There are also some methods that everyone knows about, but they are not easy to accomplish. For example, using the bewilderment of a Strayed One to dispel one’s obsessions is the simplest and the best method,” explained Tuoba Danqing.

Hearing this, Li Huowang’s fingers bent ever so slightly without anyone noticing.

“But think about it, having a living Strayed One with you is dangerous. After all, you would have to be on guard against others trying to snatch it away. Thus, telling you this method is the same as not telling you anything, right?” Tuoba Danqing continued to talk, almost as if he was having a casual conversation with an old friend.

As they continued drinking, Tuoba Danqing suddenly remembered something and slapped his own forehead. “Oh, look at my forgetful mind. Brother Er, since you’re now a Ninth Troop, why not go to the capital for a promotion? In the future, when you go to the Rites Department, you can use the lifespan pills you have earned to exchange for things inside the Bureau. There, not only is there an abundance of variety, there are also some items that you can’t find in the markets outside. But remember, it must be the lifespan pills earned within the Bureau; those from the outside won't work.”

“To the capital?” Li Huowang's mood tensed as soon as the headquarters of the Surveillance Bureau was mentioned. “No hurry. I haven’t earned much yet. I’ll go when I’ve earned some more.”

“Hehehe, Brother Er is indeed different. Others would rush to the capital without question upon learning of this, but you always seem to avoid it. Hehehe,” Tuoba Danqing tilted his wine cup toward his mouth, and then shifted his intoxicated gaze towards Li Huowang. Then, he moved his chair closer and asked, “Brother Er, since we’re already so close, it wouldn’t be too much to ask you something, right?”

“Brother Tuoba, feel free to ask,” replied Li Huowang.

Tuoba Danqing chuckled for a moment and then pointed to the bronze coin veil on Li Huowang’s face. “Why do you always wear this thing? Is there something hidden behind it?”

At that moment, Hong Zhong suddenly came to Li Huowang’s side. “This old guy has been probing you ever since he arrived. Be careful.”

As soon as Tuoba Danqing raised his question, the atmosphere became a little tense. Li Huowang understood that no matter how close their relationship was, everything would be over once his identity was exposed.

Seeing Li Huowang continue to remain silent, Tuoba Danqing patted his own cheeks. “Oh, I talked too much. I spoke too carelessly after drinking. Brother Er, don’t be angry, don’t be angry. I’ll punish myself with three cups.”

However, Li Huowang knew that the other party was withdrawing now just so that they could advance later. If he didn’t resolve this today, then there would be more trouble later.

Various thoughts flashed through his mind as Li Huowang pressed his stomach and started retching. “No worries, Brother Tuoba, if you want to know, then I’ll tell you. I have some things that tend to easily come out, and so I need to cover it up with something.”

After a while, two black, sticky tentacles slowly extended from the sides of the veil. What was even more peculiar was that these two tentacles were entwined with a pair of double-pupiled eyeballs.

Tuoba Danqing’s eyes twitched. “Alright, alright, quickly put it away.”

Tuoba Danqing took a bite of food to suppress his shock, and then looked at Li Huowang with some trepidation. “Brother Er, I won’t ask much about your cultivation methods. But aren’t you afraid of going crazy with such messy cultivation techniques?”

However, Li Huowang just used two of his fingers to push the tentacles back into his mouth, suppressed the nausea and swallowed as he replied, “It’s alright.”

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