Chapter 153: Gobi Desert

Chapter 153: The Gobi

Li Huowang appeared relaxed, but in truth, he watched the monk before him with covert vigilance.

Even though the monk had done nothing to harm him, Li Huowang dared not gamble; he dared not entrust his fate to the hands of another.

"Monk, can you tell me who you really are?" Li Huowang looked at him, asking with a half-joking tone.

Someone else harboring secret designs against him?

Had the monk already been reduced to a spy for Zhengde Temple?

Or was he the very Zuowang Dao the abbess had spoken of?

All were possibilities, and no matter which it was, it spelled grave trouble for him.

"Me? I'm just a monk, why the sudden question?" the old monk replied with utmost candor.

Li Huowang scrutinized the subtle shifts in the man's face, yet found nothing amiss.

Yet even without proof, Li Huowang could no longer easily trust him.

When unable to judge whether one posed a threat, the most conservative measure was to keep one's distance, and Li Huowang happened to want to do just that.

"Very well, since the play is over, how about we part ways here? You go do your good deeds, and I'll be on my way. Until we meet again."

"Why the rush? We haven't seen each other in ages, we could catch up." The monk grinned, reaching out to tug at Li Huowang's sleeve, only to be met by a sword scabbard.

When the monk's fingers were but an inch from the scabbard, he awkwardly withdrew his hand.

"I truly have no idea what you're talking about, aren't we friends?"

"If we're friends, then confess your identity! Stop playing riddles with me! Who are you!" Having said this, Li Huowang turned on his heel and strode straight back toward the inn.

The monk seemed to sense the emotion in Li Huowang's tone; he did not follow, his face bearing a hint of grievance.

Retracing his steps, he returned to the inn without any sudden incidents. Only after looking back once more and confirming there was no shadow of the monk did Li Huowang finally let out a breath of relief.

"Senior Brother Li, what's wrong? Why are you so flustered, like a ghost is chasing you?" Gouwa, cracking sunflower seeds, walked down the stairs with curious eyes.

"Let me ask you, where is everyone else?" a tense Li Huowang asked him.

"As you ordered, they all went out to look for the map of Later Shu and gather news about this region," Gouwa replied, thoroughly bewildered.

"Stop looking! Call everyone back, we're leaving this place, the sooner the better!"

"But wh—alright! I'll go get the others right now." Gouwa tossed aside the handful of seeds in his hand and dashed outside.

"Remember to notify the Lü Family Troupe!" After shouting this at his retreating back, Li Huowang swiftly sprinted toward the horse stables in the rear courtyard.

Li Huowang's notice was exceedingly hasty, leaving the others not a moment to prepare; everyone was in a frantic, hurried scramble.

Yet in matters such as these, Li Huowang's word was absolute law, leaving no room for dissent.

Finally, before nightfall, the wheels of the carriages had rolled out of the town.

"Senior Brother Li, what's wrong?" Xiaoman asked in confusion, clutching his sword.

"There are people in town harboring ill intentions toward us, but rest assured, this time is different from the others. If it comes to a fight, they won't get off easy."

Li Huowang pressed his hand against the sword on his back.

Having rested for a day, everyone's stamina had recovered well, and they marched on until the moon hung high in the sky before finally stopping to rest.

Estimating the distance, they were already over ten kilometers from the small town; Li Huowang ordered the others to rest.

If they were to travel tomorrow, they couldn't afford to skip sleep entirely.

On this first night out, to ensure peace of mind, Li Huowang took the first watch himself.

Gently stroking the furry nape of Mantou's neck, Li Huowang mentally reviewed the day's events, carefully pondering any details he might have overlooked.

The more he pondered, the more the things he had encountered in that town felt off, yet he couldn't quite put his finger on what exactly was wrong.

At this moment, Li Huowang felt as though he were being led by strings, and it was a most unpleasant sensation.

Since they had already left, Li Huowang stopped dwelling on it; he shook his head and turned his thoughts to more practical matters.

"Whether it's those performing the Nuo opera or the monk, regardless of their origins, the fact that they didn't strike directly in the town clearly shows they are wary of something regarding me."

Li Huowang touched the Daqian Lu at his waist and the sword on his back, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

"Everyone I've met knows I am the Xinsu, and judging by the actions of Zhengde Temple, the Xinsu is of immense value."

"No matter what they are wary of, since they could hold back from attacking, it proves I already possess a certain ability to defend myself; this crisis can be safely weathered."

Just then, Danyang Zi, squatting directly opposite him, suddenly spoke.

"Hmph! Unworthy of being my, Danyang Zi's, disciple! Others are bullying you right to your face, and all you think of is self-preservation! In a situation like this, you should figure out how to utterly kill them! Not think of running away!"

Li Huowang sneered at him, lightly clapping his hands, "Excellent! Master's teachings are truly profound! Back when we were hunted by the monks of Zhengde Temple, I wonder who abandoned his own disciples to save his wretched hide."

"You unfilial disciple!" Danyang Zi stood up, the various deformed flesh and blood on his body writhing with accelerated vigor.

Just as his three mouths were about to speak, they suddenly halted, and along with Li Huowang, they all turned in unison to gaze at the pitch-black Gobi desert in the distance.

With his exceptional vision, he spotted a small black dot there, gradually drawing closer.

"They've caught up!" Li Huowang immediately stood up, his expression grave.

But just as he rose to alert the others, he realized that not only behind them, but ahead as well, there was another small black dot.

The enemy couldn't possibly have sent only two people; Li Huowang swiftly scanned the surroundings, discovering black dots approaching from all directions.

"Li Huowang! You're surrounded! You're dead this time! Hahaha!!"

The hideous Jiang Yingzi clutched his belly with his single arm, laughing maniacally.

"Wake up! Someone's here!" Li Huowang's roar shattered the silence of the Gobi.

The groggy others were instantly drenched in a cold sweat by the scene before them, hastily drawing the blades from beneath their pillows.

Whoever they were, the enemy had finally drawn their daggers, and the atmosphere on the Gobi grew tense and fraught.

"Don't wait for them to surround us! We break through now!" Li Huowang led everyone charging toward one of the black dots ahead.

As the distance slowly closed, Li Huowang made out the man's appearance.

The copper coin mask on the man's face was all too familiar; he was the very same man who had attacked him yesterday!

Just like the night before, his hands still clutched several shadow puppets.

When enemies meet, words are futile; "Clang!" Li Huowang drew his sword with one hand and charged at him.

The man in the copper coin mask swiftly raised the shadow puppets in his hands; borrowing the moonlight from the sky, the puppets quickly took shape on the ground, then immediately stood upright, drifting toward Li Huowang like a swarm of paper figures.

(End of Chapter)