Chapter 227
Chapter 227
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 227
>Chapter Title: Wu Yue
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Chapter 227: Wu Yue
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> Just as this beautiful woman's head was about to knock against the wool blanket, Li Huowang reached out and helped her up.
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> “Madam, you're too polite. We're fellow disciples in dire straits, so helping each other is only natural. I can't accept such a grand gesture.”
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> After Li Huowang repeatedly stopped her, the extremely grateful woman finally relented and sat down to the side.
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> She spoke to Li Huowang with lingering fear. “After Baobao disappeared, we searched the entire Qingqiu upside down but still couldn't find him. My heart died then—I truly thought I'd never see him again. Thank the heavens, Baobao's come back safe and sound.”
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> With that, she took a string of prayer beads from her sleeve, twirling them as she bowed toward the north.
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> Seeing this, Li Huowang paused. “May I ask which Bodhisattva you're praying to?”
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> Perhaps after everything he'd been through, Li Huowang was especially sensitive to these mystical things. In a place like this, they were bound to be problematic.
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> Wu Yue seemed to misunderstand Li Huowang's intent, thinking he was mocking her. She explained helplessly, “Benefactor, that's not what I meant. Baobao's return is all thanks to you, not some illusory Bodhisattva.”
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> “Ever since I married into Qingqiu, I stopped worshiping Bodhisattvas. But I've believed in the Buddha my whole life—it's a habit from childhood that's hard to break.”
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> “No, no, I'm not mocking you. I'm genuinely curious—which Bodhisattva is it?”
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> Li Huowang said solemnly, holding a cup of mead.
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> Hearing this, Wu Yue looked utterly baffled. “Bodhisattva... isn't it just the Bodhisattva who saves the suffering? Why distinguish between them?”
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> Hearing Sun Baolu's mother respond this way, Li Huowang sighed inwardly. “There are too many fools in this world. Blind faith is all the same—they're no better than Danyangzi.”
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> From another angle, though, it was a good thing for Baolu's mother. In this deranged world, praying to a fake Bodhisattva that was nothing was far safer than praying to a real “Bodhisattva.”
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> “Please, have a seat, madam. I was just curiously asking. By the way, I saw Baolu embracing a woman earlier—is that his sweetheart?”
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> Li Huowang shifted the topic to ease the tense atmosphere.
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> “Yes, that's his elder sister. They've been inseparable since childhood, and they'd already arranged a child betrothal. When Baobao went missing, she cried her heart out that day.”
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> “Elder sister?”
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> Li Huowang was surprised by her reaction. Her son doing something so improper, and his mother looked perfectly amiable? Besides, the woman Sun Baolu had held was clearly Qingqiu stock—not the same race as him at all.
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> “They don't share a father. I was pregnant with Baobao when I married into Qingqiu from Liang Country—Zhuo'er was already born by then. Though not full siblings, they've always been close, so we arranged the betrothal to keep it in the family.”
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> Seeing the woman's skin so different from the surrounding Qingqiu folk, Li Huowang had already guessed as much.
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> Just then, a dark-skinned, stocky Qingqiu man sidled up with a grin, extending his horn cup toward Li Huowang.
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> He rattled off a string of clipped Qingqiu words at Li Huowang and thrust the cup forward again.
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> Wu Yue quickly explained, “His father says thank you for saving his second son. He wishes the Eternal Heavens to bless you with eternal life.”
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> “Qingqiu toasts are certainly unique.”
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> Li Huowang nodded to him and clinked his own horn cup against the man's.
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> In the midst of sipping his mead, Li Huowang sized up the couple. Truth be told, Sun Baolu's parents didn't match at all.
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> The man was short and squat with a flat, pancake face—add some more hair and he'd pass for a monkey. He seemed utterly unworthy of Sun Baolu's beautiful mother. Who knew how he'd won her.
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> “Was Sun Baolu's mother bought by his father?”
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> Li Huowang speculated wildly, recalling the slave trade in Woman's Mountain.
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> “Senior Brother Li!”
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> The drunken Sun Baolu lunged over from nowhere, collapsing into Li Huowang's arms and sobbing. Drunken nonsense poured from his mouth.
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> “Senior Brother Li! I can't bear to leave you all! I'm not going home! I'm coming with you to Liang Country!!”
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> Seeing his son in such a state, Sun Baolu's father set down his cup and dragged him outside the tent to sober up.
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> Li Huowang smiled at Sun Baolu's bedraggled retreating figure, not taking it to heart.
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> It was drunken rambling. He was home now, with his harmonious family—why would he leave with them?
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> Besides, the road ahead for Li Huowang wasn't long. Qingqiu bordered Liang Country; the map showed it wasn't far.
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> If Niuxin Mountain wasn't too distant, he might even visit someday.
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> Li Huowang sat back down cross-legged and grabbed a lamb rib sprinkled with black seasoning, tearing into it.
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> The aroma filled the air as rich juices burst in his mouth. He found the lamb rib exceptionally delicious.
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> Perhaps his heightened senses amplified flavors, but having lived in two worlds, this was the best lamb rib Li Huowang had ever tasted.
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> The tender, succulent meat paired with the tangy seasoning was pure bliss with every bite.
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> No wonder no one spoke—they were all gnawing away at sheep and ox bones.
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> Faced with such fare, Li Huowang dove in wholeheartedly, setting everything else aside.
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> The Qingqiu men circling with head-shaking dances weren't much to watch, but their exaggerated moves warmed the big tent's atmosphere, putting smiles on every face—even Li Huowang's.
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> Once others had their fill, they joined the Qingqiu folk, arm-in-arm in the dance.
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> The Lv Family Troupe stole the show. As performers, their novel singing and moves drew cheers from the Qingqiu crowd.
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> A smile on his face, Li Huowang watched it all. “They look truly happy. Why is it always just sorrow and pain around me?”
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> As Li Huowang gazed on, somewhat lost in thought, his sharp senses caught someone staring.
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> It was Sun Baolu's mother. He turned slowly to find her face heavy with worry, far from her earlier composure.
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> “Madam, is there something you wish to discuss?”
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> Li Huowang's words finally steeled Wu Yue's resolve.
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> “Benefactor, I hesitate to say this upon our first meeting, but... why not stay in Qingqiu instead of going to Liang Country? It's no good place.”
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> (End of chapter)