Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 136
>Chapter Title: Down the Mountain
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Chapter 136: Down the Mountain
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> In the town at the foot of Heng Hua Mountain, Li Huowang led the group forward. Mantou, seeing so many people for the first time, stuck very closely to Li Huowang's leg.
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> After the long journey by boat and carriage, everyone was exhausted and needed a proper rest.
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> Although Anci Nunnery stood right before them, Li Huowang was no longer as anxious as he had been before.
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> Now that the oppressive feeling of possibly being replaced by Danyangzi at any moment had vanished, he could finally take it a bit easier.
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> Li Huowang scanned the surroundings with his somewhat weary eyes.
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> The town at the foot of the mountain looked the same as before. Perhaps because it was a transportation hub, even though it wasn't market day, the roads were bustling with people coming and going.
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> The only difference was the increase in beggars squatting in the corners.
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> The ragged beggars spotted Li Huowang's group, especially the three carriages, and quickly swarmed over. They raised their broken bowls toward Li Huowang and began chanting their little rhymes.
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> "Take a look, here's a poor beggar in need! Good sir, have mercy on this wretch, give a steamed bun or a sip of soup, and may you live long and prosper..."
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> "Clang!" The sword was unsheathed, and the beggars scattered like frightened birds and beasts.
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> "Three streaks!"
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> "Smack!" The crisp sound made Li Huowang instinctively glance over.
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> "Thud! Six of the ten thousands~"
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> "Oh dear, what kind of hand is this? Nine of the cakes again."
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> "Hey~ One bamboo! Haha! Self-draw all one-suited~ Hahaha, pay up, pay up!"
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> Inside the lively mahjong parlor, it was packed, almost no empty seats. The clacking of dice and tiles filled the air as everyone focused intently on their games.
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> "Oh, they're playing mahjong." Li Huowang turned and continued walking.
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> After just a few steps, Li Huowang arrived at the familiar old inn. Crossing the threshold, he said to the approaching waiter, "We're staying here and need food too. Tell the chef in the back to bring some hearty dishes, but no pork."
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> "Alright~~ Coming right up~ This way, honored guest~"
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> "Senior Brother Li, we have money, but it's only going out, not coming in. Maybe we should economize a bit." Bai Lingmiao clearly had some reservations about Li Huowang's extravagance.
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> Seated at the head of the Eight Immortals table, Li Huowang took a sip of the tea from the waiter and said, "It's fine. Let's celebrate a little. We won't eat like this every day."
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> "You still have the face to eat! You beast worse than an animal! Have you ever thought that while you're enjoying yourself, those people died because of you? Why haven't you died yet!!"
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> Facing Jiang Yingzi's sudden tirade, Li Huowang remained unfazed and continued speaking to the others. "After we eat, wait here. Anci Nunnery is filthy too. I'll be down soon."
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> At first, when these two people suddenly appeared beside him, he had found it extremely hard to accept.
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> But after days of constant interaction, Li Huowang had fully adapted to having a long-dead ghost shouting in his ear.
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> All Jiang Yingzi could do was curse endlessly; she couldn't really affect him much.
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> Compared to Jiang Yingzi, Danyangzi just stood in the distance, staring at him ominously.
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> After some simple tests, Li Huowang confirmed that these two were indeed just hallucinations and couldn't truly influence him.
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> He didn't know how long this situation would last or if others would appear in the future. But compared to being replaced by Danyangzi, this seemed far more bearable for now.
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> "Heh heh~ Dishes are here~ Azure Dragon Emerges from the Sea~! Two Dragons Play with the Pearl~! Three Yangs Open the Thai~! Fortune and Prosperity Fill the Eastern Sea~! Please enjoy, honored guests~ More delicacies coming right up~"
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> Lv Xiucai, swallowing hard, was about to reach for his chopsticks when Lv Zhuangyuan knocked them down with his pipe. He gave Li Huowang a fawning smile. "Little Daoist, you first. You've worked hard on the road. This meal's on us."
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> Li Huowang glanced at him in mild surprise but didn't bother wasting time on such trifles. He picked up his chopsticks and started eating.
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> For some reason, Li Huowang felt that the Lv Family Troupe was even more restrained in his presence now.
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> After long days on the road, everyone had hearty appetites. With big eaters like Bai Lingmiao and Gao Zhijian, the large table of dishes plus two buckets of rice was soon polished off.
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> Mantou wasn't left hungry either; all the bones too tough for humans went to it.
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> After the feast, Li Huowang took another sip from his teacup, stood up, gathered his things, and headed out of the inn.
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> "I'm off. Should be back before dark."
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> Mantou, crouched under the table gnawing on a bone, picked it up in its mouth and followed.
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> As soon as Li Huowang left, Lv Juren set down his clean bowl and chopsticks and walked over to Lv Zhuangyuan, clearing his throat lightly. "Dad, come here a moment."
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> When they reached the quiet stable behind the inn, the tense Lv Juren leaned against a black horse munching on beans and whispered as low as he could, "Dad~! Why aren't we leaving? You really plan to keep following? Have you forgotten what he——"
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> He glanced around, saw no one else, and continued in an even lower voice. "Don't you remember what they all said that night? He's no master of the arts! He's a demon! That Daoist robe of his was dyed red with human blood! Aren't you afraid he'll eat us all one day?"
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> Lv Zhuangyuan, his face full of wrinkles, pulled the pipe from behind his neck, lit it, and took a deep drag. "Maybe... the little Daoist has his reasons?"
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> "What reasons could there be for doing that kind of thing!! Oh come on, Dad, have you gone senile?"
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> "Hey~! You looking for a beating? Who's senile!!"
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> Facing Lv Zhuangyuan's raised pipe, the usually mild-mannered Lv Juren unusually refused to dodge, staring stubbornly at his father.
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> "We can take our chances! But what about Xiu? What about your granddaughter Xiu'er? The storytellers all say demons love eating young boys and girls! Can you bear to put Xiu'er in danger?"
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> Hearing this, Lv Zhuangyuan unusually didn't retort. Instead, he took another deep drag, the lit tobacco in his pipe flaring brightly.
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> "Son, I know what you're saying. But haven't you noticed anything off on this journey?"
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> "I know what's happening. At first, it was just more beggars by the roadside—seemed like nothing. But soon it'll be selling sons and daughters. The world's about to fall into chaos."
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> "If we flee on our own now, we're just a juicy target for anyone to bite. Sticking with the little Daoist, at least ordinary bandits and brigands can't touch us."
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> "Your dad's lived these decades and knows how to read people. The little Daoist isn't that kind of villain. He's got powerful arts, but his heart's not that scheming. He wouldn't do anything utterly heartless."
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> "But..."
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> "No buts. That's that. I saw your wife barely ate anything just now—that's not like her. She's been nauseous lately too. Take her to see a physician, see if she's pregnant."
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> (End of chapter)