Mutated Tao

Yang Xiaohai was bewildered. Does this guy know Senior Li or not?

If he doesn’t, why did he speak so decisively? If he does know Senior Li, then what he said sounds very out of character for Senior Li. He didn’t seem like the type who enjoyed visiting others.

Before Yang Xiaohai could react, the plump man became even more enthusiastic. “Come. We must have frightened you earlier, my junior. Please, accept this as a small token of friendship.”

A dense, heavy gold brick that had a blood-stained corner slipped from the man’s sleeve and landed heavily in Yang Xiaohai’s hand, hurting him.

“My junior, as soon as I saw you, I knew you must be related to Senior Li. Look, I even brought your carriage here. It’s yours, right?”

The plump man had his companion bring over the carriage. He helped Zhao Xiumei and the three monkey children into it. He even straightened a white head scarf on one of the children.

Yang Xiaohai’s lips trembled slightly. He wanted to ask if the plump man really knew Senior Li. Something seemed off to him.

In the end, he wisely kept his mouth shut. It didn’t matter whether the plump man knew Senior Li as long as he was willing to let them go.

“Th-thank you,” Yang Xiaohai said.

“Hehehe, no need to thank me. Safe travels, junior. I have my duties and can’t see you off. When you see Senior Li, do give him my regards.”

As the carriage disappeared into the night, the smile fell off the plump man’s face. His eyes revealed their cold, snake-like pupils again.

“Serpent Lord, do you really believe them?” the man with fish-scale tattoos and the wugou asked with his arms crossed.

The plump man, the Serpent Lord, replied, “Why not? The boy seemed sincere. Besides, I’ve heard of a formidable fellow who likes to wear red Daoist robes. I thought his name was Er Jiu, though.”

“Does sincere mean it’s true? Can’t it be a lie? Could it be a trick from the Sitting Oblivion Dao?”

“The Sitting Oblivion Dao is long gone. Besides, what do you gain from killing him? If he’s fake, we just let a few Dharma Sect cultists escape.”

“But if he’s real, we have earned ourselves a big favor. Why not take the chance?”

A look of understanding appeared on the face of the tattooed man. “No wonder you’ve survived two sexagenary cycles. You don’t take any risks.”

The Serpent Lord didn’t mind the words of the tattooed man. He just said, “Let’s go. We’ve already eliminated four Dharma Sect cultists, which is a great boon. These rats have been harder to find since they went into hiding.”

“I don’t understand why these people come to such remote places to preach,” the tattooed man yawned.

While they talked, one of their other companions from the Surveillance Bureau hurried over with a scroll.

He told them anxiously, “We must go! The Chief has ordered everyone in Hedong to gather! Dharma Sect is making a move!”

In the moonlight, Yang Xiaohai drove the carriage forward. His breath was visible in the cold air, his eyes staring blankly at the road.

He didn’t know how long he had been in this state. Everything had happened so fast, and his mind was still buzzing and chaotic.

Even after a while, Zhao Xiumei remained visibly shaken. Still, she gently wiped the dried sweat from Yang Xiaohai’s forehead with a towel.

She glanced at the monkey children sleeping with a bag of guokuis and hesitantly asked, “Do you think that old woman was killed?”

Yang Xiaohai shook his head mechanically. “I don’t know, perhaps.”

“Those people are so hateful. She was such a good person.”

“A good person…”

After wiping his sweat, Zhao Xiumei sat beside him for a while before she spoke again. “Who do you think are the good people and who are the bad ones?”

Yang Xiaohai was silent for a long time. Then he answered, “I don’t know. I’m not smart enough to know. ”

Zhao Xiumei folded the towel in her hands and said, “I think that old woman wasn’t a truly bad person. I can tell she genuinely liked the children. I wouldn’t mistake genuine love.”

“Maybe no one thinks they’re the bad guys. They all probably believe they’re the good ones,” Yang Xiaohai turned to look at Zhao Xiumei’s profile.

What he learned from this incident was that he nearly got his wife hurt. He wasn’t strong enough to protect her. He had underestimated the situation back when he was still in Cowheart Village. He needed to get stronger.

The morning sun broke through the fog and brightened the dark landscape.

“Xiaohai, look. We’re back in Qing Qiu.”

Yang Xiaohai saw patches of grass before them and remarked, “Why is the grass in Qing Qiu turning yellow?”

　　———————

Li Huowang was in red robes by a pond as he paced under Li Sui’s gaze. He looked as though he was waiting for something. He occasionally bit his fingers with a rather nervous expression.

Two hours passed. Just as his patience wore thin, he saw his reflection in the pond turn to face him.

“Yi Donglai, you’ve finally shown up,” Li Huowang said with a hint of irritation.

“I have my own matters. I’m your future, not your nanny,” Ji Zai replied.

“Cut the crap. Time is short. I don’t care if you know what’s happening, but I need your help!” Li Huowang demanded while he frowned.

“Help you? Why?”

“Don’t tell me you, a Siming, didn’t know about the Dharma Sect taking over the Si Qi Kingdom!”

“I really didn’t know,” Ji Zai said frankly.

“Say that again! The entire Si Qi Kingdom was taken over by the Dharma Sect! The god Yu’er’s power has spread so widely, and you didn’t know?!”

“I’m in charge of bewilderment. You are confused, and I am even more so. It’s understandable for something like this to happen.”

“F*ck!” Li Huowang cursed.

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