Mutated Tao

“Really? That’s great!”

Bai Lingmiao carefully took it over and curiously touched the ink stains on it with her fingertips.

Just as Li Huowang was about to help her understand some of the difficult parts, Bai Lingmiao’s eyes widened suddenly, and she said, “Senior Li, there are noises coming from the east. It seems like something is approaching.”

Li Huowang glanced at her, and then he pulled back the curtains before walking out.

Li Huowang walked deeper into the forest and soon saw where the noises were coming from; they were from two carriages moving in a hurry.

They seemed to be trying to drive the carriages into the forest to shake off something.

They were obviously overdoing it. Soon, the carriages were forced to stop by the bushes and tree branches.

Their pursuers caught up to them in no time, and they were a group of thin men in ragged clothing.

They were not quite bandits, and Li Huowang thought they looked more like refugees fleeing for their lives. Wait a minute... could these people all be part of the Sitting Oblivion Dao, and they've come here to put on a show for me?

Li Huowang quietly pondered over the question. Even if they weren’t from the Sitting Oblivion Dao, they could be pawns deployed by the Shai Zi. Li Huowang had to be cautious; they were humans, after all.

However, when Li Huowang saw the haggard bandits pulling crying women and even little girls out of the carriages, he finally decided to take action.

But of course, Li Huowang did not want to fall into a trap, so he decided not to make a move personally.

“Li Sui!” Li Huowang exclaimed.

Li Sui was standing nearby. She took off her hat and revealed her skinless dog face. Li Sui then gripped the bronze coin sword with her tentacles and slashed one of her tentacles in one quick move. Then, she used the oozing black slime to draw chaotic strokes on the turmeric paper.

“Profound understanding intermingles; the five energies surge; golden light speeds through and covers the altar; act swiftly according to the command!”

Li Sui raised the bronze coin sword and thrust it toward the drawn talisman. Her tentacled figure then emerged from the oversized raincoat. She resembled a spider with countless legs as she rushed toward the distant people.

Both the bandits and the victims were terrified at Li Sui’s appearance, and they scattered in all directions.

Li Sui chased after them excitedly, as this was her first ever "fight," while Li Huowang stared quietly from behind. He stared closely at the victims and bandits; he observed the subtle changes in their expressions and soon came to a conclusion.

They shouldn’t be members of the Sitting Oblivion Dao. If they were just ordinary mahjong tiles, I would easily detect them.

Li Sui returned half an hour later and said, “Dad, they said they’re not bad people, and they asked me not to kill them.

“Apparently, a so-called 'Dharma Sect' had forced them out of their homes, rendering them homeless. They don’t believe in any gods, so they came out to rob money to buy food.”

Li Huowang handed over the raincoat and hat in his hands. Forced by a so-called 'Dharma Sect'? How come they're causing such a commotion?

Li Huowang glanced at Li Sui and advised, “You can’t fully believe what they say. Perhaps they were forced into crime, but judging from their actions earlier, they don’t seem to be just after money.”

Li Huowang took this opportunity to explain what human nature was like, so Li Sui wouldn’t be deceived in the future.

Li Huowang and Li Sui returned to the carriage, where they saw Bai Lingmiao sitting quietly with a book in hand.

“Aren’t you going to ask what happened over there?” Li Huowang sat down beside her.

“No need, I heard everything from here,” Bai Lingmiao’s reply made Li Huowang nod in understanding. Her senses had become even keener than his senses, which was something he hadn’t anticipated at all.

“Let’s move on. It was just a small matter, and the Sitting Oblivion Dao wasn't involved. If Shai Zi was to make a move, it’d be on a greater scale than this.”

The carriage moved forward slowly until night shrouded the world.

They set up a bonfire and ate some soft dry rations. Li Huowang took advantage of this free time to practice cultivation.

By the time he was done, it was almost daybreak.

Li Huowang leaned against Bai Lingmiao’s legs and closed his eyes. He could barely cultivate during the quiet night, and he'd usually rest on the carriage during the day.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t cultivate on the carriage, but his primordial breath might end up distorting the carriage, transforming Li Sui and Miaomiao into something unrecognizable.

As the carriage swayed gently, Li Huowang gradually fell into dreamland.

Dazed, Li Huowang felt like he was back in primary school taking an exam. His mind was completely blank, and he could not remember anything.

“Huowang... Huowang!” Yang Na was beside him and was winking at him. She pushed her completed paper toward him.

Li Huowang cupped his fist and showed his appreciation before getting ready to copy her answers.

As the tip of the pen touched the blank paper, ripples appeared on the paper, and his own reflection appeared in the ripples.

It started as a blurry black-and-white image, and then it gradually became a clear and colored image.

The sound of pouring rain echoed as heavy raindrops struck the reflection, shattering it into pieces.

Li Huowang was completely soaked, and he leaned over the puddle to shield it from the rain.

As the ripples on the water's surface disappeared, Li Huowang looked at his own reflection and smiled with satisfaction.

“Li Huowang.” A voice echoed from the reflection.

Li Huowang nodded and responded, “Yes, I’m here.”

“Li Huowang.”

“Yes, I’m here.”

“Li Huowang.”

“I’m here!”

“Li Huowang.”

“I’m here!!” Li Huowang roared, and the entire world suddenly became restless; anxious shadowy figures rushed toward him.

They moved quickly, but they couldn't quite catch up to him. He seemed to be stuck in this eternal loop of fear and impatience.

“Stop calling out to me! I’m here!” Li Huowang felt like he was going crazy. He clasped his hands together and smashed the reflection.

The sound of breaking glass echoed, and Li Huowang found himself falling endlessly toward somewhere along with the innumerable glass fragments.

The feeling of weightlessness made Li Huowang curl up instinctively like a baby. He waited quietly for the impact.

Just then, a massive hand reached down from above and grabbed Li Huowang.

When Li Huowang opened his eyes, he found himself in an inverted world. He found himself lying on a cliff while holding someone’s hand. It was Zhuge Yuan’s hand.

“Brother Li! Help me!” Zhuge Yuan roared, seemingly in extreme agony.

“Don’t let go! Don’t ever let go! I’ll pull you up right now!” Li Huowang exclaimed. He held on tightly with both hands and exerted all his strength.

However, he soon despaired as Zhuge Yuan became heavier and heavier.

Finally, Li Huowang could no longer hold on; Zhuge Yuan fell toward the endless abyss down below.

“Brother Li! Help me! I-It's so painful!”

“Ah!” Li Huowang exclaimed and sat right up. Then, he started gasping for air.

After a while, he heard noises outside the carriage. The rain was here.

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