Mutated Tao

Li Huowang was right. There was never a ghost that stole people’s genitals. It had all just been a lie that the Sitting Oblivion Dao had spread. The “beggar”, however, had a different approach when it came to dealing with it.

“Was there any need to kill them? Did it really need to be that realistic?” Li Huowang pointed at the several bodies beside them.

“This was something that the Sitting Oblivion Dao came up with. If we did not do it right, then we would have failed. Did you think the people would listen to you just like that? Plus I only killed the normal civilians,” replied the beggar.

Li Huowang felt his heart grow cold when he heard that.

How could he say something like that so easily? Is everyone within the Surveillance Bureau like that?

After seeing what he did, rather than feeling mad at the deaths of those innocent people, Li Huowang felt wary of the beggar.

I should be more careful when I come into contact with them next time around or I will become nothing more than their puppet.

As Li Huowang stood there silently, the beggar took the chance to introduce himself, “My name is Hong Da, and I am a creditor[1]. A pleasure to meet you.”

This was the first time Li Huowang heard of the term. The characters used for the title literally meant “someone who loaned knives to others”. However, since Hong Da was able to become an underling of the Surveillance Bureau, the title he held definitely meant something else rather than its literal translation.

“Yep, I’m a creditor that doesn’t belong to any sect. Do you want me to loan you one?” offered Hong Da as he opened his tattered robe, revealing the numerous blades hanging from within it.

The blades were all old and rusty. Some of them were even shattered or broken. They were the reason why Li Huowang’s sword had failed to cut him down.

But, this also meant that the rusted blades were not ordinary metal objects. After all, how could a regular rusty blade block the attack of a weapon that was once owned by a military personnel?

“Do you want me to loan you one?” Hong Da asked once again before picking out a broken blade for Li Huowang while smiling politely.

“How should I pay you back after you loan it to me?” asked Li Huowang.

“If I loan it to you, then you will naturally pay me back once the time has come,” Hong Da answered vaguely.

Hearing this, Li Huowang slowly extended his hands and tried to touch the rusted blades while carefully staring at Hong Da.

But in the end, he had just touched the blade for a moment before pulling his hand away. “No need, I already have enough weapons.”

“Fine, fine. No need for it then. Now, since the matters in this County are over, I will take my leave. I hope we will meet again, Er Jiu,” said Hong Da as he kept away the blade with a face full of regret. Then, he bowed and started walking out of the morgue.

Just as Hong Da had touched the bronze door knob, a bloody fingernail flew past his face and stabbed into the wooden door.

“Wait, I’ve heard that the Surveillance Bureau gives out rewards for their missions. SInce I took part in the matters of Pi County, I should also get something, right?” asked Li Huowang.

Staring at the bloodied nail embedded within the wooden door, Hong Da raised his voice eerily, “Oh? And what if I don’t want to give it?”

In an instant, the atmosphere within the morgue tensed up.

“That’s fine too. Let me join the Surveillance Bureau and I will consider the matter between us to be over,” said Li Huowang, dispelling the tense atmosphere.

Hong Da was surprised that someone would say that. “Really? Then let’s go to the Rites Department and register your name.”

“Do we need to go to the Rites Department?” asked Li Huowang, deciding against going there. It was too risky to enter their main camp. If someone found out that he was a Strayed One, then he would definitely die.

“It’s too far away, and currently, I need to urgently get something else done. Hmm… let’s do this instead. I’ve heard that the Surveillance Bureau can contact someone individually through a proxy,” suggested Li Huowang.

Hong Da thought about it for a moment and agreed. “Sure. Then, let me talk to my supervisor. That way, there will be no need to go and find him. If he agrees to your request, then he will come and find you instead. No need to worry. I’ve worked with him for a long time and I will help vouch for you.”

After saying that, Hong Da then walked out of the morgue. Back on the lively street, he quickly took a porcelain doll’s head and used it to cover his own head. Then, he took out a broken fan from his waist and started fanning himself as he walked out of the town.

Once he was out there, the surroundings finally quieted down. Only the sound of insects chirping could be heard.

He continued to walk for an hour before finally throwing away the doll’s head into the forest and saying, “Daoist Er Jiu, there’s no need for you to follow me. If I really was someone from the Sitting Oblivion Dao, then today’s matters would not have ended this swiftly.”

Hearing this, Li Huowang walked out from within the forest and gave his greeting before walking back toward the town.

It was only after Li Huowang disappeared back into town that Hong Da opened his mouth, “How about it?”

The sound of crunching leaves rang out as someone walked out. The newcomer was a rotund man and wore a red sash over his waist. He wore a green robe and a massive doll head on his head. He was still holding onto a long pole covered in a red sash used for the Dragon Dance.

“No, he’s too suspicious and we don’t even know where he came from. Also, when you asked him to go to the Rites Department, he directly refused. There’s also a possibility that he’s someone from the Sitting Oblivion Dao.”

The voice was smooth and feminine, completely betraying one’s expectations.

Hong Da squatted on the ground as the sound of metal clanking rang out. “I don’t think he’s someone from the Sitting Oblivion Dao. They wouldn’t do something this simple.”

The doll’s head slowly turned and looked at Hong Da. “What if they guessed our motives and did this to lower our guard?”

“We already killed two of their higher-ranking disciples today. I don’t think we would be that unlucky,” replied Hong Da.

However, the man with the doll's head did not move and just repeated the question, “What if they guessed our motives and did this to lower our guard?”

Hong Da growled, feeling annoyed, “Enough with that. I don’t feel like messing around today.”

Hearing this, the man with the doll head turned and looked toward Pi County. “One of the two swords he was carrying was the bronze coin sword used by the disciples of Luoism, while the other sword that was wrapped in cloth emanated the killing intent that usually belongs to the soldiers. He’s even using the secret technique of the Ao Jing Sect. He is too mysterious.”

Hong Da nodded in agreement. “He is indeed weird… But, he is strong. Even if there’s a possibility that he’s someone from the Sitting Oblivion Dao, we could still make use of him.”

“And then?”

Hong Da squinted and scratched his chin. “And then we observe him while using him.”

1. An ancient occupation. A creditor would give someone something like a rusted knife or pot and then give them a prophecy. If it came true, they would return and demand payment ☜

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