Mutated Tao

Why is it so hot?

As Yang Xiaohai pondered this, he smelled a familiar scent of burning wood. He was a cook, so he was very familiar with this smell thanks to his daily cooking.

His heart sank as the smell of burning wood grew stronger, mixed with the scent of roasting meat.

Using his wife as a step stool, he climbed up by stepping on his wife’s thighs and peeked cautiously over the wall. He immediately felt the heat on his face, and his pupils dilated.

The distant inn and nearby shops were all engulfed in flames, collapsing and spreading the fire even further. Fire was being used as a weapon!

Regardless of who started the fire, it was a disaster for Yang Xiaohai and his companions, who were trapped inside the town.

If they didn’t escape, they would be burned alive. If they ran, they would get caught in the battle.

Yang Xiaohai frantically paced in circles. “Senior Li, what should I do? Senior Li...”

Then he realized that Senior Li, who could do almost anything, wasn’t here with him. He had to figure it out on his own.

Yang Xiaohai looked back at the high wall that he couldn’t climb while he repeatedly relaxed and tightened his grip on the scepter.

He took out some painstakingly refined pills, counted them, and then drew several talismans. These were his only means of survival if he encountered enemies.

Seeing the fire approach, Yang Xiaohai steeled himself and said to Zhao Xiumei, “We need to get out. If I get held back, make sure you get out of the county.”

The original route was blocked by fire, so they had to climb past walls and go through doors from the sides.

Fortunately, the three monkey children proved very useful. They were small, so they could crawl through small holes and open gates for the group to get into more yards.

After scrambling around for a while, the five of them were covered in dust and ash. The smell of burning wood had become less intense, which brought Yang Xiaohai a sense of relief. It seemed they had moved away from the center of the battle.

“They must be too busy fighting to notice us. Keep going!” Yang Xiaohai urged the others.

They climbed over a third yard and arrived at the edge of a field.

Yang Xiaohai suddenly sensed something looming over him from behind. He turned and saw a man with yellow hair on his chest, fish-scale tattoos on his neck, and a blood-stained wugou[1] in his hand.

This man had his gaze locked on Yang Xiaohai.

Yang Xiaohai froze, his mind turning blank. He was like a deer caught in the headlights; he completely forgot to defend himself.

The man glanced at the white scarves on the monkey children’s heads. He showed a look of disdain as he raised his wugou.

He said, “Another bunch of Dharma Sect cultists. Why do you always perform these villainous deeds?”

Seeing the wugou’s blade reflect the light of the fire, Yang Xiaohai snapped back to reality.

Yang Xiaohai exclaimed, “We’re not with them! My... my senior is the Liang Kingdom’s emperor!”

“Hahaha, the emperor’s junior dressed so poorly? Then I’m the Jade Emperor!”

The man swung his wugou at Yang Xiaohai’s neck.

“My other senior is Li—”

Before Yang Xiaohai could finish, he saw the blade coming at his neck. He closed his eyes and curled up instinctively as he braced for death.

However, Yang Xiaohai felt no pain. He opened his eyes and saw a shriveled figure standing before him. The attacker had been forced back three feet.

“Auntie!” the monkey children shouted excitedly.

It was the same old woman who had just caused an upheaval and gotten them into that situation, yet Yang Xiaohai thought she seemed different now.

“Kids, go quickly. I’ll hold him off,” she said calmly while facing the man.

Hearing that, Yang Xiaohai came to his senses. He glanced at the old woman again before grabbing the others and running towards the rice fields.

“Sir Arrogant Stone, please protect the children. May they survive and live well,” the old woman cried out.

Yang Xiaohai and the others ran desperately. They dared not stop, for fear that the man with the wugou would pursue them and catch up.

After fleeing for an hour, they finally collapsed by the roadside and gasped for breath. By that time, night had fallen, and the moon could be seen high in the sky.

As Yang Xiaohai lay there and gathered his thoughts, he heard the sound of hooves. He looked up in the direction of the sound and saw his carriage.

There were two people driving the carriage. One was the man with the wugou on his back—the one who had tried to kill him earlier. Yang Xiaohai recognized the second man too. They were both from the Surveillance Bureau. They had caught up with Yang Xiaohai’s group.

At that moment, Yang Xiaohai saw a wealthy-looking plump man who looked to be in his mid-thirties. The man was wearing a flowered headscarf and a purple-flowered robe. He jumped down from the carriage and walked towards them.

Yang Xiaohai was filled with desperation. He pulled out the scepter, aimed it towards them, and then shouted, “Xiumei! Run as far as you can!”

“I won’t leave without you!” Zhao Xiumei cried out, her eyes red.

“Don’t be silly! They’ll kill you! I’m a man, and I must protect my wife!”

Despite his brave words, tears streamed from Yang Xiaohai’s eyes.

As the plump man neared, Yang Xiaohai threw the scepter at him, but the plump man dodged it easily. He walked over to Yang Xiaohai, grabbed his hands, and shook them forcefully.

The plump man said, “Hehehe, young friend, sorry about earlier. My junior is uncivilized. I heard your senior is the Liang Kingdom’s emperor? And you have another senior…?”

Yang Xiaohai was at a loss about how to react to the man’s words.

The plump man continued, “I also heard your other senior is surnamed Li. May I ask what sect he’s from? How does he dress?”

Yang Xiaohai watched the plump man’s smile dissipate very slightly from his eyes, revealing the icy snake-like pupils within them.

This movement caused Yang Xiaohai to shudder. He quickly nodded and replied, “Yes! My senior is the Great Liang’s emperor, Gao Zhijian. My other senior is Li Huowang. He… he’s powerful! He wears red Daoist robes and carries three swords on his back. Do you know him?”

The stout man paused and then smiled broadly. His icy snake pupils were once again concealed within his smile.

“Ah, so it’s Senior Li! Of course I know him. His father used to bring him to visit us during holidays.”

1. a curved type of sword ☜

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