Chapter 301: Impermanence

Chapter 301 Impermanence

A long face stretching several feet in length, with a blood-red tongue dangling two or three feet from its mouth.

Beneath such a terrifying visage stood a hunched body over thirty feet tall, this was a twisted and gigantic White Impermanence!

The wooden head that had been swaying in the air earlier was merely a pendant hanging from its chest!

"Click clack," accompanied by this strange sound, the White Impermanence crouched halfway, looking and sniffing towards Li Huowang, snorting as if searching for something.

Li Huowang was currently invisible, but clearly this thing could sense something; being discovered was only a matter of time.

"This thing is definitely not easy to deal with!" Li Huowang made his move without hesitation, deploying his trump card.

He raised his right hand towards the White Impermanence, fingers spread wide.

Li Huowang raised his hand and brought it down like a blade, with a "pfft" sound, his left arm severed instantly, flying out at extreme speed to pierce into the White Impermanence's eye.

As the White Impermanence opened its mouth, emitting a deafening roar, Li Huowang leaped up without hesitation, sword held high in one hand, jumping straight into its maw.

Those sharp claws whistled towards Li Huowang, but due to the injured eye, the creature seemed off-target, leaving only a deep wound on Li Huowang's neck.

In the next moment, accompanied by continuous sounds of tearing flesh, Li Huowang slid all the way down through the throat.

Just as he was about to slide to the bottom, a wooden mask from somewhere unknown directly covered Li Huowang's face.

In an instant, Li Huowang felt the world darken, unable to breathe immediately.

He shook his head violently, struggling to pry the thing off his face, yet no matter what he did, the mask remained fixed firmly upon him.

Without hesitation, Li Huowang pulled out a thin willow-leaf knife and stabbed it in along the edge of his chin.

When he peeled back a large chunk of his own skin, nearly suffocating, he suddenly gasped deeply, yet he could inhale nothing.

"What on earth is going on?!" Desperate, Li Huowang quickly scanned his surroundings.

When he saw neither Hongzhong nor the Monk, alarm bells rang in his mind, and he suddenly woke up to reality.

In the next moment, there was no giant White Impermanence around, the mist-filled forest was now brightly lit.

But the only thing remaining the same as before was that he still could not breathe.

Face purple from holding his breath, he reached for his neck, feeling a rope completely embedded within his flesh.

Gripping the sword hilt, thumb exerting force, he slashed hard against the rope.

Accompanied by an incredibly chilling scream, foul-smelling blood water sprayed continuously from the rope suspending Li Huowang's neck.

The rope suddenly retracted into the woods, and Li Huowang fell from mid-air like a corpse.

"Taoist, Taoist, are you alright?" The Monk hurried over, asking with concern.

Li Huowang covered his neck, shook his head, and staggered to his feet. "I am fine."

After answering the Monk, Li Huowang looked around immediately.

Rays of sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves onto the forest floor, the scene appeared so normal, as if everything that happened before was an illusion.

"Illusion?" Li Huowang glanced at his intact left arm, confusion flickering in his eyes.

But soon he touched the wound scratched by the White Impermanence's claws, his gaze firming.

"This is absolutely not an illusion, just don't know what method the thing that fought me used."

Fortunately, that last strike had injured it; it should not return for some time.

"Trouble!" Li Huowang suddenly remembered something and rushed towards the left.

Upon bursting out of the woods, seeing the Bai family members still gathered in a circle wearing wooden shackles, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good, regardless, as long as everyone is here, that is enough."

When Li Huowang walked over, he clearly frightened the Bai family members.

A Taoist wearing a coin-patterned mask, blood flowing from his neck, walking over with a sword drawn, anyone would be afraid.

With a "crack," the thick wooden shackles were split open.

As Li Huowang freed them from their bonds stroke by stroke, the Bai family realized this person came to save them, and many women immediately began to cry.

Within a clan, the elders always hold the most authority, Niu Xin Village was no exception.

An old man with only one lower front tooth remaining led others tremblingly to kneel before Li Huowang. "That... thank benefactor for saving our entire village."

Li Huowang quickly supported him with his hands. "Grandpa, you are shortening my lifespan. I was entrusted by Miss Bai Lingmiao to come and rescue everyone."

Once these words were spoken, several people in the crowd became extremely agitated; the beautiful woman who bore seventy or eighty percent resemblance to Bai Lingmiao wept with joy, saying to the strong man beside her: "Husband! Our girl is safe! She is alive! Our girl is alive!"

With a "hum," Li Huowang was instantly surrounded by Bai Lingmiao's relatives, their clamorous questions leaving him unsure which one to answer first.

"Enough!" A loud rebuke silenced everyone.

Speaking was the sturdy man supporting the single-toothed elder; with a beard hanging from his chin, he looked imposing even without anger.

"Do you not see the benefactor is injured? Besides, is this the place to talk?"

Having said this, he cupped his fists towards Li Huowang. "I am Bai Sai, head of the Bai family. Benefactor, shall we leave this place first?"

Li Huowang touched the wound on his neck and nodded. "Fine, let us leave this place first."

Although that thing was driven away, one could not guarantee it wouldn't bring kin to settle scores later; all those released from shackles crowded around Li Huowang to leave this place.

On the road, others clearly wanted to converse with Li Huowang, but fearing that man's authority, dared not speak.

Yet someone could not help themselves; Bai Lingmiao's mother held a handkerchief with both hands and offered it to Li Huowang.

"Benefactor, your neck is still bleeding, use this to cover it for now."

Seeing Li Huowang thank her and take the handkerchief, the woman could not help but ask: "Girl... my daughter Bai Lingmiao, is she well? Has she grown taller? Thinner? Was she bullied outside?" Her words brimmed with deep worry.

Looking at her, Li Huowang thought of his own mother, worrying constantly at every moment.

"Auntie, she is very well, suffered little hardship, just often mentions you."

Hearing Li Huowang's reply, the beautiful woman could not help but shed tears again.

Li Huowang gathered his thoughts; he knew unless he clarified the cause and effect of this matter, it was not over.

He turned his gaze to Bai Sai standing aside supporting the single-toothed elder. "Head Bai, may you explain, what exactly is happening? Why were you taken? And what was that thing fighting me just now?"

Hearing Li Huowang ask this question, the surrounding chatter instantly quieted down, all turning to look.

Bai Sai sighed deeply and said: "Benefactor, to tell the truth, I do not know why either. Since my son picked up that stone, various things have happened."

"Now we were confusedly put in wooden shackles, forced forward by those wearing wooden masks."

"Fortunately, benefactor saved us, otherwise heaven knows where we would be taken."

Li Huowang furrowed his brow; although the other party spoke a lot, it seemed like they said nothing.

"Heh, Li Huowang, beware, this kid is lying to you."

Li Huowang looked up, gazing at Hongzhong who spoke these words.

(End of Chapter)