Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 56
>Chapter Title: Outside the Pass
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>> “Senior Brother Li, what’s wrong?” Seeing that Li Huowang’s expression was a bit off, Bai Lingmiao subconsciously gripped his hand tighter.
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>> Li Huowang shook his head with a smile. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking that we’re about to leave the pass, and I’m a bit worried about the lands outside. Let’s go. We’ll help the Lv family dismantle their stage together, and once it’s done, we’ll hurry on our way.”
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>> That was what Li Huowang said, but his gaze was cold. His temper was starting to resemble Danyangzi’s more and more.
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>> This change sent a chill down Li Huowang’s spine. Connecting it to how the others had seen Danyangzi as himself, that previous guess was no longer just a guess—it was gradually turning into reality.
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>> If it were just a matter of personality, that would be one thing, but what Li Huowang feared more was that with time, he would completely transform into Danyangzi himself.
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>> “If that’s the case, then everything before makes sense too. Danyangzi wasn’t protecting me—he was protecting himself!”
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>> The mere possibility of this made Li Huowang’s heart grow restless. If he had to name who he hated most in this world, that old madman Danyangzi would top the list without a doubt.
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>> He didn’t want to become Danyangzi. If it came to that, he’d rather die!
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>> Li Huowang even suddenly felt an impulse in his heart: turn back to Zhengde Temple right now. No matter what hardships lay ahead, first have those monks perform the Great Universal Liberation Ritual to deal with Danyangzi.
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>> But that was just a fleeting thought. Things had been manageable before they’d torn into open hostility—there had still been hope for reconciliation. But after he’d killed those seven Buddhas, the moment those monks saw him, they’d likely try to take him down on the spot.
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>> Those monks weren’t true monks who just chanted sutras and ate vegetarian meals—they were capable of anything.
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>> But fortunately, from what the abbot had described before, aside from Zhengde Temple, there were other sects. For now, he could only seek solutions from them. Whatever Zhengde Temple could do, the other sects could surely handle as well.
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>> Li Huowang walked up to the donkey cart and carefully examined the map.
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>> He’d had no intention of dealing with those people before, because Zhengde Temple had set a bad precedent.
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>> But now, he had no choice. If Zhengde Temple had a way to get rid of Danyangzi, then the other sects surely did too.
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>> He didn’t know what they wanted, but from their actions, it was clear they coveted something of his.
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>> “Is it the Heavenly Book left behind by Danyangzi?” Li Huowang wondered to himself.
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>> If he didn’t want to become Danyangzi, he had to find a way through them.
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>> “If worst comes to worst, I’ll take out that Heavenly Book and trade it with them.” Li Huowang steeled himself with this resolve in his heart. It was the only bargaining chip he had at the moment.
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>> In Li Huowang’s somewhat anxious mood, they finally arrived at the border town checkpoint.
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>> This modest town was filled with merchants coming and going, along with people dressed in unfamiliar styles—these were all traders entering the pass to do business.
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>> Looking toward the distant pass gate, Li Huowang turned to Lv Zhuangyuan beside him. “Master Lv, looks like this is where we part ways.”
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>> Lv Zhuangyuan sighed with equal sentiment and cupped his hands toward Li Huowang. “Daoist, you’ve worked hard. Without you on this journey, who knows how much suffering we’d have endured.”
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>> The Lv family troupe naturally couldn’t leave the pass. Once they reached the checkpoint, they’d take another road back to their village.
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>> After resting up at home, the cycle would repeat. That was the fate of a small troupe like theirs. To escape this life of braving the elements, their only option was to buy a theater and settle down for good.
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>> “Safe travels. I don’t know what you’re off to do, Daoist, but I wish you every success! Here, some homemade salted duck eggs—take them for the road.”
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>> Lv Xiucai hugged the jar of salted duck eggs and placed it on the donkey cart with reluctance.
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>> “I’ll borrow your auspicious words. If fate allows in the future, we’ll come watch the Lv family’s performances again. Honestly, after all these viewings, I’ve gotten hooked.”
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>> After bidding each other farewell, the donkey cart, now loaded with freshly restocked grain, slowly approached the pass gate.
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>> As he watched their retreating figures, Lv Zhuangyuan puffed on his pipe, then raised it to smack the head of his reluctant youngest son peering out from behind him.
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>> “Stop mooning over that pale-skinned girl. We’re a modest family—we can’t afford that kind of trouble. Once we’re home, I’ll get the matchmaker to find you a wife.”
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>> “Dad, what are you talking about? I didn’t—I really didn’t.” Amid Lv Xiucai’s frantic denials, the horse turned, heading toward the bustling street.
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>> “Dad, you’re always so stingy—how’d you manage to part with a whole jar of salted duck eggs for him?” Lv Juren asked curiously, holding his daughter.
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>> “What nonsense is that? Don’t think your dad’s some cheapskate. Remember this: pinch pennies when you need to, but be generous when it counts. That Daoist isn’t just anyone. Befriending him gives our Lv family a real connection.”
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>> After winding around, they finally passed through the checkpoint. Though the dirt road was still flanked by woods on all sides, Li Huowang felt something different.
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>> The road wasn’t just theirs—there were plenty of other carriages and folks shouldering carrying poles.
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>> Distinguishing them was simple: by their clothing style. Inside the pass, robes fastened on the left; in Si Qi outside, on the right.
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>> Li Huowang thought for a moment and opened Lv Zhuangyuan’s jar, finding it packed full of salted duck eggs.
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>> Gouwa leaned over from the side in surprise. “These days, duck eggs are valuable, and so is salt. That old Lv Zhuangyuan really went all out this time.”
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>> Li Huowang closed the jar, his impression of the old man improving quite a bit.
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>> “Enough chit-chat. Anyone here from Si Qi? Get ready to head home.”
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>> Everyone exchanged glances. Xiaoman, her body wrapped in black fur, raised her right hand, her voice trembling slightly. “My family’s in Si Qi.”
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>> At her words, the surroundings fell silent. The others all knew about her grudge with her parents and what she planned to do once she got home.
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>> “Sister Xiaoman, maybe…” Bai Lingmiao started to persuade her with a troubled expression, but Li Huowang cut her off directly.
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>> “Good. You should be familiar with this area then. Tell us, what kind of place is Si Qi? Are there any major sects like Zhengde Temple?”
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>> Xiaoman, her face shrouded by her black bamboo hat, took a deep breath. “I don’t know. Though I lived here, for over a dozen years, I never once left the village. The only time I saw someone jump the great god was when I was nine, at the village entrance.”
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>> “Jump the great god, huh…” At the mention of “god,” Li Huowang felt an inexplicable twinge of fear. The Joy God had left him with too deep a shadow.
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>> “Do those who jump the great god have any communal gathering places?”
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>> “No. I heard they all do it from home, enshrining their immortal families at home.”
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>> “Immortal families? Do they have names?” Various bizarre things from this world flashed through Li Huowang’s mind.
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>> “Red, yellow, white, willow, sorrow—I’ve only heard of five kinds of immortal families, but I don’t know what they each are.”
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>> (End of chapter)