Chapter 254
Chapter 254
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 254
>Chapter Title: Baolu
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When Li Huowang woke up again, it was already the afternoon of the second day. The ample sleep made his spirits unusually full after a long time.
After washing up and getting dressed neatly, he headed out of the tent.
“Senior Brother Li, where are you going?”
Li Huowang turned to look at Bai Lingmiao, who was sewing clothes.
“I’m going to say goodbye to Sun Baolu. Since everything’s wrapped up, it’s about time to leave.”
Black Tai Sui had been found, and Han Fu’s nascent soul had been dealt with completely. There was no reason to stay any longer—it was time to leave Qingqiu.
After asking around the nearby tents, Li Huowang finally found Sun Baolu out on the peripheral grassland. He was riding a horse and flying a kite with his childhood sweetheart from Qingqiu. His hearty laughter could be heard from far away.
When he saw Li Huowang walking toward him, he hurriedly shoved the kite string into his confidante’s hands, planted a foot on the stirrup, and flipped down from the galloping horse.
“Senior Brother Li, you looking for me?”
Baolu walked up beside Li Huowang, panting as he asked.
Li Huowang looked Sun Baolu up and down once more.
“I’ve stayed long enough. I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“So soon?”
Sun Baolu’s face showed strong reluctance.
After all, they’d been through thick and thin together for so long—it’d be a lie to say there were no feelings. Especially since they’d come all the way from so far away just to escort him home. And even more rare, they hadn’t rejected him because of his appearance.
“Senior Brother Li, stay a few more days. Everyone’s having a great time here.”
“What’s the difference between staying a few more days or a few days later? You planning to live here forever? Slaughtering sheep and oxen every day—you can’t afford it?”
“No worries! Sheep are dirt cheap in Qingqiu! And way easier to raise than anywhere else! Once they’re eaten up, just head to Woman’s Mountain, buy some lean sheep and lambs to raise, and soon you’ll have a huge flock again!”
Li Huowang gave a faint smile.
“Enough chit-chat. Let’s get to business. That night in the cave—what we saw, don’t go spreading it around.”
“Especially that Lion Dance Palace. Keep treating them the way you did before. Just pretend you never found out they’re a bunch of monsters.”
Since the Lion Dance Palace could exist so openly in Qingqiu, whatever the Great Khan of Qingqiu might think, he clearly turned a blind eye to their parading around.
Maybe this bunch of monsters living in underground caves were Qingqiu’s prestigious orthodox sects.
Offending them would be foolish. If he didn’t want Sun Baolu stirring up trouble, the best thing was to leave them alone.
Seeing how serious Li Huowang looked, Baolu nodded earnestly.
“Got it, Senior Brother Li. I understand.”
Once he’d said his piece, Li Huowang sized up the young man in front of him again.
“Does your woman know about your... condition?”
At those words, the bright smile on Sun Baolu’s face froze. He nodded with a bitter expression.
“She knows. It’s fine. She doesn’t mind.”
“Come with me, then.”
Li Huowang turned and headed for the tent. Sun Baolu looked puzzled at first, but then something clicked, and his expression turned wildly excited.
“Gouwa! Where the hell are you? Get out here!”
Li Huowang’s shout echoed through the air above the tents.
Half a shichen later, inside a tent, Li Huowang held the white tassel and carefully shifted it over Sun Baolu’s various organs.
Suddenly, the tent flap flew open as Sun Baolu’s mother burst in, leading a large group of Qingqiu folk.
Gasps and cries of shock rose one after another as they stared at Sun Baolu’s naked, jumbled-up body on the bed.
Li Huowang glanced at them before slowly pushing with both hands, shifting Sun Baolu’s buttocks from the front to the back.
Meanwhile, Gouwa, assisting from the side, carefully moved the thing Baolu used to pee from under his armpit to where it belonged.
Gradually, the tent fell silent. Everyone stared wide-eyed at the scene before them. Many looked at Li Huowang with utter reverence in their eyes.
Sun Baolu wasn’t Li Huowang—he couldn’t carve it all back perfectly with a knife. It was a bit crooked here and there.
But even so, he was thrilled beyond measure, hopping around in excitement.
Even crooked, those parts were finally back where they belonged. He wasn’t a monster anymore!
That shameful defect he’d carried for over a dozen years was finally gone.
After trying to kowtow to Li Huowang and being stopped, the ecstatic Baolu—still naked—spread his arms wide and circled the tent nonstop.
“I’m fixed! I’m fixed! I’m not a monster! I’m human!!”
That night, as inevitable, they threw a grand feast. Everyone gorged on mutton, wine, and honey, celebrating Sun Baolu’s return to normal.
Sun Baolu’s parents raised their cups with both hands to toast Li Huowang. Every Qingqiu person who came near him did so with utmost respect, not daring to show the slightest neglect.
They’d suspected before that the guy with two swords on his back was no ordinary man. But seeing it with their own eyes was something else entirely. In no time, wild rumors were spreading among the Qingqiu folk once more.
“Senior Brother Li, this place is paradise. Why not stay? Liang Kingdom’s got nothing on this.”
Gouwa sidled up to Li Huowang, gnawing on a lamb leg as he whispered his suggestion.
“Eat your meat. If it can’t shut your trap, then stay—I won’t stop you.”
Li Huowang popped a piece of sizzling, fatty lean mutton into his mouth.
At those words, Gouwa clearly wavered. He started mulling it over.
A large hand suddenly clamped down on his shoulder—Gao Zhijian’s. Gouwa turned to see him looking deadly serious.
“No no... don’t stay! This... this place has... problems.”
“What problems? Baolu was born and raised here. What problems?”
Gao Zhijian stared gravely at his fellow disciples and masters, devouring beef and mutton with gusto. He watched their throats bob as they swallowed down the heavily spiced meat.
“No no... dunno... just... just has problems!”
“You can’t even explain yourself properly. Instead of trying to convince others, spend that time practicing your speech. Fix that stutter of yours.”
When he noticed Li Huowang looking his way, Gao Zhijian scratched the back of his head with a big hand and returned to his seat. He picked up his cup and drained the ant honey in one gulp.
Since it was their last night, the revelry went on late. By the time Li Huowang and the others sobered up and loaded everything onto the ox carts, it was already noon.
The wriggling Black Tai Sui was lashed down tight to one ox cart with thick hides and ox tendons.
“Senior Brother Li, until we meet again!”
Sun Baolu hugged Li Huowang fiercely, his eyes a bit red.
“Better if we never meet again. I’ve got a feeling running into me isn’t lucky for you.”
Li Huowang patted his back before turning to lead the others away.
(End of chapter)