Chapter 456: Sudden Appearance

Chapter 456: Suddenly Appearing

Upon hearing those words, Li Huo's trace of concern vanished instantly, leaving no remnant behind. After all, if such a colossal trouble had someone to shoulder it, then he need not worry. The Heavenly Observing Bureau of Great Liang might be unreliable, but there was still the one from Later Shu and the one from Siqi.

When the sky fell, the tall would bear its weight—whatever the case, it wasn’t his responsibility.

Time ticked away second by second. As moments passed, when everyone realized that aside from the darkness above, nothing else posed danger, their attention was entirely captured by the aroma of beef, drawing them like moths to a flame around Bai Family’s kitchen, blocking every entrance like a wall of flesh.

"Really eating beef? That’s against the law. I’m a bit scared."

"Yeah, and killing a cow is such a waste. How many acres of land could it plow in a lifetime?"

"If the cow’s already dead, what’s the point of complaining? Heh, I’ve never actually tasted beef in my life."

Soon, bowls filled with rice covering large chunks of beef were handed out to each person. They compared who had more meat in their bowl, who had less, enjoying themselves immensely.

"Go ahead and eat, don’t overthink it. Do you think you're some kind of immortal? You don’t have to manage natural disasters too." A massive beef heart, braised in rock sugar, was placed before Li Huo Wang.

"This is way too big," Li Huo Wang said, eyeing the beef heart which weighed at least four jin. It was fortunate it had been braised; other preparations might not cook it through properly.

"You go first. If you can't finish it, give it to me—I've got quite an appetite."

Bai Lingmiao picked up two chopsticks, made a cut on the beef heart, pulled out a golden ring buried inside, then presented the heart to Li Huo Wang.

"Why bury gold in a braised beef heart?"

"My mother taught me—it's good for your body."

Since waking up this morning, this whole ordeal had indeed left Li Huo Wang feeling slightly hungry.

He stuck two chopsticks directly into it and lifted it like a zongzi, taking a bite. Immediately, the scent lingered on his tongue, smooth yet chewy.

But just as Li Huo Wang was filling his belly, Dogwa, looking utterly despondent, came walking toward him with his daughter in his arms.

Once obsessed with food, he now had no desire for anything edible.

With a loud thud, Dogwa suddenly knelt down, bowing his head heavily three times before Li Huo Wang, who was feasting.

Li Huo Wang stopped chewing and looked at him and the infant in his arms.

Before Dogwa could even begin to plead, Li Huo Wang spoke directly: "I can't help you with this matter. Your daughter isn’t sick or cursed—this is simply her nature. Even if she were skinned and regrown, she’d still look exactly the same."

As for trying to use the innate energy within his body, that was far from his thoughts.

His current cultivation had barely reached the root wheel stage. To force such power would bring unknown consequences beyond repair.

Though the Red Middle Sect of the Forgetful Dao had some illusions, they were merely self-deception, offering no real benefit.

Hearing these words, Dogwa’s face turned pale as death. He hugged his daughter tightly and walked away. Not even two steps out, tears streaming down his cheeks, he raised his hand and slapped himself across the face several times.

"Ah, poor Dogwa really is pitiful. When his daughter grows up, will she resent him?"

Bai Lingmiao’s words caused Li Huo Wang to raise his head and look at her, voice heavy with inquiry: "He’s pitiable, but what about you?"

"What?" Bai Lingmiao’s pupils contracted slightly, clearly startled.

"Do you think you can fool me? How long are you going to hide this from me?" Li Huo Wang put the beef heart back into the bowl.

"Who told you?!" Bai Lingmiao initially showed intense anger, but upon seeing Li Huo Wang’s gaze, her emotions gradually calmed.

"Don’t worry. After all, I haven’t gone blind yet. And since my lifespan is shorter than ordinary people, there’s no need to mention it. I’m still under twenty. Even if it’s short, I still have over ten years to live. Talking about this so soon is too early."

"It’s more than that, isn’t it?" Li Huo Wang’s tone remained flat, his eyes fixed on any subtle expression on her face.

Bai Lingmiao showed slight irritation. "This is none of your business! You’re already crazy enough yourself—just take care of yourself!"

"Who’s the chatterbox? Why do you tell everything to her? You know this matter involves very few people! Is it Second Goddess?"

"No, it’s you—you just told me yourself," Li Huo Wang picked up the beef heart again and resumed eating.

Bai Lingmiao was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood what he meant. With a sudden slap, she struck the beef heart out of his hands, sending it crashing to the ground. "You tricked me! You dare to trick me!!"

"If I hadn’t tricked you, would you have told me on your own? Are you planning to wait until your eyes are completely blind before telling me?" Li Huo Wang stared into Bai Lingmiao’s pink eyes.

The conflicted expression of the Second Goddess had already been etched in Li Huo Wang’s memory. He knew Bai Lingmiao was hiding something from him.

Never expected that a little trick would reveal so much.

Upon hearing Li Huo Wang’s words, Bai Lingmiao’s voice rose sharply: "If we’re talking openly, fine! I hid it from you, but did you hide it from me too? Your illness hasn’t gotten better! You go to the Ox Heart Mountain every day to have fits! Do you think I’m really blind?!"

Li Huo Wang took a deep breath, preparing to explain, when a sudden, urgent bark interrupted their quarrel.

He recognized the sound—it was Mantou. Something was wrong. Mantou had followed him for so long, and it had never barked like this.

When Li Huo Wang brought Bai Lingmiao to the courtyard, they saw Mantou’s fur standing upright, teeth bared, barking frantically toward the gate.

And the half-open door creaked slowly, emitting a squeaking sound with each movement.

"Huh?! What’s going on? I definitely locked the door. Why is it open?" Zhao Wu, leaning on his cane, rushed forward.

He felt a chill run through his body. After all, everyone in Ox Heart Village was inside the main yard.

Li Huo Wang leapt toward the nearby wall, kicked off with his right foot, shifted his position swiftly, and landed firmly atop the wall, scanning the surrounding houses.

Just as he was surveying the area, his gaze locked onto a dark corner where a figure stood wearing a silk funeral robe, a man with a watermelon hat, facing away from him.

From behind, his pear-shaped head occupied half of his body. Even with the hat, it looked enormous. His legs were unusually short while his arms were unnaturally long. The proportions were grotesquely unbalanced.

In this world, Li Huo Wang had only seen such strange and disproportionate features once—on the small-footed woman who could summon the Joy God, a sinister entity.

(End of Chapter)