Mutated Tao

Li Huowang wanted to peel off the face of the performer to see if he was hiding other faces underneath. The performer was so shocked and terrified that he trembled all over.

The owner of the inn noticed the commotion and rushed forward to Li Huowang, saying, “I’m so sorry that he has offended you, dear guest! As an apology, your meal is on the house, and I'll even give you two a free bowl of soup. Will that be okay?”

Li Huowang stood quiet for a few seconds before he sheathed his sword and sat back down.

“What’s wrong with you? Why did you get so agitated?” Bai Lingmiao asked, sounding confused by Li Huowang’s outburst.

Li Huowang sighed. The performer's rapid makeup change reminded him of how the Sitting Oblivion Dao could change faces. Now that the ordeal was over, Li Huowang acknowledged that he had overreacted.

Li Huowang continued with his meal as he explained. “Don't worry, we're in Shangjing. The Headquarters of the Surveillance Bureau is here, so there's no way the Sitting Oblivion Dao can come here.”

Li Huowang made quick work of his meal and decided to look for another inn without plays. Afterward, Li Huowang went to the address on the letter. Of course, he was by himself.

He wasn’t familiar with Shangjing's streets, so he only managed to find it when the curfew started at midnight.

The door opened, and Ji Xiang peeked from behind the wooden door with a lantern in hand. He looked around to make sure that no one else was around before pulling Li Huowang inside.

Li Huowang looked around the tiny courtyard and saw nothing but a well and a giant jujube tree that occupied half of the courtyard. Li Huowang was surprised that Ji Xiang was staying at such a small place, even though he was a high-ranking member of the Surveillance Bureau.

In addition, there were no maids around, either.

Regardless of its size, the house was perfect for a family of three.

“Er Jiu, I’ve been waiting for you.” Ji Xiang smiled, holding Li Huowang’s hand firmly.

Li Huowang retracted his hand forcefully, and he sounded resolute as he said, “No worries. I've always been grateful for Lord Ji Xiang’s kindness!”

“Hehe, no need to thank me,” Ji Xiang said, smiling as he looked at Li Huowang.

Meanwhile, Li Huowang had no idea what Ji Xiang was thinking at all.

Li Huowang decided not to waste any more time, as Ji Xiang was in the flesh right in front of him. Moreover, there was indeed a debt that had to be settled. “Lord Ji Xiang, you said that you found someone from the military capable of removing someone else's killing intent. Was it true?”

Li Huowang thought that Bai Lingmiao’s issue had to be addressed first.

“Yes, of course. Everything has been prepared, so let's go."

Although Li Huowang had no idea why Ji Xiang seemed much more anxious than him, there was no reason to delay things, so Li Huowang followed Ji Xiang through the long corridor and arrived at the back door. There were two sedan chairs[1] waiting for them.

“Please enter~” the four bearers said, kneeling with grace, which was a result of countless hours of training.

It was Li Huowang's first time riding a sedan chair, and he found it uncomfortable.

He felt like throwing up every time it swayed.

Ji Xiang opened his curtains and turned to Li Huowang's sedan chair, saying, “Brother Er Jiu, where are you staying here? Remember that little house where we came from earlier? If you like it, I can just give it to you as a gift.”

“I appreciate Lord Ji Xiang's offer, but I don’t like receiving gifts with nothing in return. I also don't think that I can accept such an expensive gift.”

For some reason, Li Huowang thought that Ji Xiang had become much more compassionate after he had saved the latter from the Muddled Ones. It made sense, as there was no way someone would give an entire house away after exchanging just a few words with them.

Ji Xiang pretended like he was upset and replied, “Ai~ Brother Er Jiu, that’s not right. You're not going to receive it with nothing in return. In fact, a broken house is not enough repayment for your help.

"I prepared it for my retirement, so I hope you'll like it. Anyway, let’s just say that it's yours now. The deed to the place and the keys are underneath your seat. I even left you something inside the house.”

Li Huowang checked and saw three bronze keys and several pieces of paper.

Li Huowang looked down at the items and pondered over why Ji Xiang had decided to give his house away.

After a while, Li Huowang realized what was going on. Ji Xiang wanted to repay Li Huowang for his favor in one go. That was why he decided to give Li Huowang a house. The item he left in the house must be priceless, too. But why did he give me the house that he bought for his retirement? Is he going to resign from the Surveillance Bureau?

Li Huowang was in deep contemplation when the curtains to the sedan were opened; the bearer's voices soon echoed, announcing their arrival. “Please disembark~”

Li Huowang placed the keys and the documents behind his shirt and exited the sedan chair. He then looked up and saw a massive stone lion snarling at him.

Li Huowang took a few steps backward and realized that he was at the entrance to a prison. It seemed Ji Xiang had a robust network with prisons.

The door opened slowly, and Ji Xiang led Li Huowang into the prison.

The main gates were shut, and Li Huowang saw another gate. It was a smaller gate, and they had to walk like ducks to enter it. The multiple gates and towering walls made the prison extremely secure.

They walked past the second gate and saw another gate.

Li Huowang saw the image of a tiger painted on the gate, but Ji Xiang told him that it wasn't a tiger but a legendary beast, Bi’an.[2]

Li Huowang felt quite a few gazes landing on him the moment they walked past the third gate. Li Huowang squinted and had to adjust to the darkness first before he could finally see who was looking at him.

If he were to describe his location, he would say that he was in a room full of someone like Peng Longteng.

Every single individual in the room had tattoos on their face, and they were either drinking or fighting. Each of them was from a military family, and the killing intent in the air was so dense it was palpable, making it hard for anyone to breathe.

Li Huowang couldn’t imagine the prowess of the prisoners here that the prisons actually had to employ a group of prison guards that reeked of killing intent just to suppress the prisoners.

“Aiya~ is that you, Grandpa Chen? Why are you here?” said an old prison guard while staring at Ji Xiang. The old prison guard's white hair beard stretched to the underside of his ears.

“Hehe~ Cao Baihu~ Long time no see. How's your family doing?” Ji Xiang replied with a smile before approaching the old prison guard.

“They're doing pretty fine. It's just that my daughter-in-law is still fighting with my son-in-law every day. Wait here, I'll go and pray to the Prison God[3] first.”

Cao Baihu moved to the left.

Li Huowang saw an indent in the left hall, where a small shrine was enshrined. There were three deities inside the shrine. The one in the middle resembled a kind-looking old man, but the ones on the left and on the right looked like goblins with fierce expressions.

The deity in the middle has to be the Prison God, thought Li Huowang.

1. A mode of transport where a VIP is carried in a wooden box by four to eight men. ☜

2. One of the legendary beasts, also the seventh son of a dragon. ☜

3. God overseeing prisons. There are three main ones. ☜

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