Chapter 150 - Trouble
When he heard Yang Xiaohai’s voice, Li Huowang snapped back to reality.
At this moment, they were on the outskirts of the town. In front of them were several huts built from stone, along with a massive stable in front of the hut.
The stable housed camels, goats, and even horses in different pens, as evidenced by the unmistakable stench of livestock that assaulted their noses.
When the people inside the huts noticed Li Huowang, they stared at him cautiously. From their outfits, it was clear that these people specialized in rearing livestock.
With that in mind, it was more likely that the assistant who passed away was abducted rather than being sold off like Chun Xiaoman.
Yang Xiaohai carried the jar of ashes while Li Huowang took a deep breath and prepared himself before approaching the huts.
When Li Huowang got closer, a strong man pushed away the horse beside him and greeted Li Huowang. “Are you here to buy some livestock?”
“No, I’m here to send something.” Li Huowang judged that the man was the father of the assistant based on his age.
The man was somewhat skeptical due to Li Huowang’s sudden visit. It was only after Yang Xiaohai told him the name of the assistant and some details about her that they finally believed Li Huowang.
The death of their daughter was horrible news to them; they all huddled around the jar of ashes, crying.
Li Huowang had thought that he too would cry when bearing witness to the tear-jerking scene, but he didn’t. At this point, he had seen too many deaths, to the point that he was desensitized.
On the other hand, Monk, who had been standing beside him, stopped smiling and began to reverently pray to the ash jar in hopes of appeasing the little girl’s soul. “Amitabha... Amitabha... Amitabha...”
Due to being questioned by the father of the dead assistant, it was already very late by the time Li Huowang and Yang Xiaohai arrived back at the inn.
“Come stay with us. Considering that fate allowed us to meet once more, I will book a room for you; there’s no need to sleep in the toilet like last time,” offered Li Huowang.
“I have my own money,” said Monk as he shook his robes, causing the sound of coins clinking. “Also, who told you that I slept in the toilet last time?”
Hearing this, Li Huowang sighed in relief. “Where are you going? If we are heading in the same direction, then we can travel together.”
It was not easy surviving in this world. It would be best if he had even one more person to help him.
“I don’t mind going anywhere as long as I can keep doing kind deeds. Let’s talk more tomorrow, otherwise I will end up violating my curfew,” said Monk before turning to leave.
Staring at Monk’s departing figure, Li Huowang smiled and entered the inn.
Just as he walked in, he saw Lu Zhuangyuan angrily debating with his son.
“Troupe leader Lu, what are you doing?” asked Li Huowang.
Hearing this, Lu Zhuangyuan pushed his son away and gestured angrily at the air. “Those damned performers are so rude! They had the guts to tell me that our performances originated from them, and that the Nuo Opera is the ancestor of our type of shows!”
“Dad, it’s fine. There’s no need to argue with them. This is their territory after all,” said Lu Juren, trying to calm him down.
“It’s fine?! I could’ve ignored any other remarks, but not this one! How can I face my ancestors if I don’t reclaim my honor? We are all performers, so who’s afraid of who? Let me go!”
Li Huowang couldn’t be bothered to care about the fact that Lu Zhuangyuan wanted to go and argue with the performers of the Nuo Opera. He just ignored them and entered his room.
“Miaomiao, do you still remember Monk? He—” Li Huowang stopped talking the moment he entered the room. Bai Lingmiao was visibly tired from their journey; she had already washed up and was fast asleep on the bed.
After a moment, Li Huowang approached the side of the bed and gently caressed her face.
Sensing him, Bai Lingmiao groggily hugged his hand.
Li Huowang chose to remain silent; he could tell her about it tomorrow.
He blew out the oil lamp and lay down on the bed, staring at the rafters as he thought about their journey.
Finally... a few days of peace and rest.
Li Huowang was not a greedy person. He just wanted to be able to live peacefully.
Except... The two of them.
Li Huowang frowned as he looked at the illusions of Jiang Yingzi and Dan Yangzi who were right beside him.
At this moment, the two illusions were staring at him from a corner of the quiet room.
“Hmm?” Li Huowang sat up in surprise. He suddenly realized that he could see in the dark.
“Looks like my senses are becoming more and more sensitive,” mumbled Li Huowang as he pondered whether this was a good thing or bad.
“Senior Li... ?” Bai Lingmiao almost woke up from the commotion.
Li Huowang gently patted her. “Sleep... Go to sleep...”
Perhaps it was due to the long journey, but Li Huowang instantly fell asleep.
Halfway through the night, his body suddenly tensed up; it was as if he sensed something coming closer. In the next instant, a sharp pain from his fingertip caused him to wake up.
He inspected his hand and saw that his fingertip had been bitten.
The bite mark was similar to a beast’s jaw, allowing Li Huowang to instantly know who it was.
It was Bai Lingmiao’s Second Deity!
He looked around, but didn’t see the red-veiled woman.
He suddenly looked down and saw that there were three pairs of shoes by the bed. There was a pair for both him and Bai Lingmiao, as well as a third pair of red shoes.
At that moment, Li Huowang saw the red shoes slowly retreat underneath the bed.
He looked at the sleeping Bai Lingmiao before whispering toward the underneath of the bed. “What are you doing?!”
“Something’s here...” A seductive voice came from beside his ear.
Li Huowang grabbed the sword underneath his pillow and held his breath before carefully checking the room.
Li Huowang’s senses had now become extremely sharp. Normally, he would’ve sensed it if someone approached him.
However, at this moment, he felt nothing.
Just as he thought that the Second Deity was playing a trick on him, a sound rang out from outside the window. It was a clear metallic clicking sound.
Tak~!
At that moment, a shadow suddenly appeared on the wall; it was quite similar to a shadow play.
Li Huowang had a hard time describing what the shadow looked like. It looked like a spider but its face was that of an old man. The shadow had six arms with spines and a lattice-patterned tentacle could be seen retracting and extending from its body.
At that moment, Li Huowang saw the shadow climb further up the window before he could even figure out what it was. N0v3lTr0ve served as the original host for this chapter's release on N0v3l-B1n.
“Hm? A Strayed One? And that too from the Ao Jing Sect? This is rare,” said a voice.
As soon as he heard this voice, Li Huowang immediately rolled off from the bed with his sword in hand.