Chapter 309: Speaking

Chapter 309: Speaking

"You want me to deceive her!" Li Huowang's words were forced out between clenched teeth as he stared at Hongzhong before him.

"Heh! What's wrong with deceiving? Why do you look down on deception? Deception can be used for evil or good! If you follow my advice now, it will be a benevolent lie!"

Seeing Hongzhong become more and more excited, the monk who had been sighing in the corner walked over and tugged at his sleeve to pull him away from Li Huowang.

"Senior Brother Li...?" Bai Lingmiao's voice softened considerably as she sensed something was amiss with Li Huowang.

She extended her soft, fair hand and gently placed it over the blackened, skeletal fingers of Li Huowang.

"Senior Brother Li, don't think so much. You've been away for such a long time; you must be exhausted. Rest for a while first, we can talk about everything tomorrow."

Bai Lingmiao supported Li Huowang to her bed, not showing the slightest disgust at his terrifying appearance, and helped him into her quilt.

Covered by silk bedding, resting on a pillow made of rice husks that rustled softly, Li Huowang took a gentle breath, filled with the familiar fragrance of Bai Lingmiao.

"Senior Brother Li, you got caught in the rain. Let me make some ginger soup to warm you up." Bai Lingmiao said, standing up to head toward the kitchen.

Li Huowang raised his hand and grabbed Bai Lingmiao's wrist. "Miaomiao, can I ask you something? In your eyes, what kind of people are the Bai family?"

"My clan? Everyone is great. We help each other in daily life. It's different from other places where people like to quarrel," Bai Lingmiao replied matter-of-factly.

"Senior Brother Li, what's wrong with you? Why suddenly ask such a question?"

"Have you... never felt... anything strange?"

"No, oh yes, right. The Bai family goes to the ancestral hall more often than others. When I was little, I kept pestering my grandfather to take me inside to see what it looked like, but he always said I was a girl and couldn't enter the ancestral hall."

At this, Bai Lingmiao remembered something and her mouth opened slightly in surprise, instinctively covering it with her hand.

"Senior Brother Li, did you meet them? Where are they now? Is my father and mother alright?"

Li Huowang struggled to draw a breath, then exhaled forcefully, as if trying to expel all the emotions building up inside him, yet nothing changed.

He really wanted to do exactly as Hongzhong suggested, because then nothing would change. But he simply couldn't.

"Miaomiao, I'm sorry. They're all dead. I killed them." Bai Lingmiao's expression froze upon hearing this, her body stiffening like a statue.

Li Huowang, sitting beside the bed, spoke calmly, recounting everything that had happened. Bai Lingmiao remained silent throughout, only her grip on Li Huowang's hand growing increasingly cold.

When Li Huowang finished explaining everything clearly, silence fell over the room, broken only by the continuous sound of rain outside.

With her long white eyelashes fluttering, two tears slowly rolled down Bai Lingmiao's cheeks, her voice trembling as she asked:

"Senior Brother Li, did I do something wrong? Why did you kill everyone in my village?"

The Bai Lingmiao who had sold her gold bracelet for travel money, the Bai Lingmiao who cried with tears like blossoming pear flowers due to her injuries, the Bai Lingmiao who dreamed with him of returning home—all these images flashed through Li Huowang's mind.

"I don't know why things turned out this way. I felt too cold there, I just wanted to warm myself by the fire. I... I really just wanted to warm myself by the fire, really just wanted to warm myself by the fire..." Li Huowang pleaded weakly.

Bai Lingmiao's face gradually showed fear, and she quickly pulled her hand away from Li Huowang's grasp, stepping backward one step at a time.

Just as she was retreating faster, about to dash out the door, Li Huowang suddenly embraced her from behind.

Bai Lingmiao's wooden-like features instantly crumbled. She struggled wildly, fists clenched, beating frantically against Li Huowang's body, screaming loudly with an ear-piercing shriek.

In the end, she even lunged at Li Huowang, tearing at the black blood crusts on his body.

But when she saw the wounds bleeding profusely on Li Huowang's body, she stopped biting and covered her face with both hands, slowly crouching to the ground and sobbing quietly.

One stood upright, one knelt down—both remained frozen in place.

Li Huowang silently watched Bai Lingmiao's white hair from where he stood. What he thought in his heart, only he knew.

This situation lasted for a long time, and the indoor atmosphere gradually darkened.

After a long while, Bai Lingmiao, still choking with sobs, stood up and didn't even glance at Li Huowang before walking toward the door.

Li Huowang blocked her path again. "No, you don't have to go. This is Niuxin Village, this is your home. It's me who should leave."

With that, Li Huowang turned and left without attempting to stop her.

"You already figured it out long ago, didn't you? Once you speak, your connection with Bai Lingmiao will be over. Why do you still choose to do this?"

Li Huowang's expression was as rigid as wood, completely ignoring the hallucination's words. "Now you regret the benevolent lie I told you?"

"Deception is deception! There's no good or evil in it! I'll bear the consequences of my mistakes! I feel at peace!" The sudden roar from Li Huowang startled his fellow disciples who had approached him.

"Senior Brother Li, you just returned and you're leaving already? Miaomiao has been worried about you. No matter what you do, you should consider her feelings," Chun Xiaoman asked.

"Take care of her for me. You all live peaceful lives here. Don't wander around in this chaotic world."

As Li Huowang walked through Niuxin Village, more and more of his fellow disciples gathered around him.

When he reached the village entrance again, everyone had assembled.

Without hesitation, he charged into the heavy rain.

"Senior Brother Li, where are you going? We'll follow you!"

"Stop! No one is allowed to come with me!" Li Huowang's command froze everyone in place.

Soaked through in the pouring rain, Li Huowang turned around, looked at them all, took several deep breaths, and then exploded in a furious rant.

"Get lost! Get far away! The ashes have been delivered! My final testament at Qingfeng Temple has been sent! All my promises have been fulfilled! What else do you want from me!"

"Look at all my wounds! I've done enough for you already!! I'm tired!! Do you want to drag me down for life with your crippled uselessness!"

Seeing their sorrowful faces, drenched in water, Li Huowang spun around and rushed out of Niuxin Village.

Actually, during the journey back, Li Huowang had already decided in his heart to leave everyone behind.

He truly could no longer let anyone stay near him. The closer they were, the more afraid he became, fearing that someday he might burn them all to death just like he burned the entire Bai family.

A madman who doesn't know what he's doing is frightening, but a madman with mysterious powers is even more terrifying.

(End of Chapter)