Chapter 56: Beyond the Pass

Chapter 56: Beyond the Pass

"Senior Brother Li, what's wrong?" Seeing the troubled look on Li Huowang's face, Ling Miao instinctively tightened her grip on his hand.

Li Huowang smiled and shook his head. "Nothing, just thinking about how we're about to leave the pass. I'm a bit worried about the lands outside. Come on, let's go help the Lü family dismantle the stage, and once it's done, we'll hurry on our way."

Though he spoke lightly, his gaze was cold; his temper was growing more and more like Danyangzi's.

This change sent a chill down Li Huowang's spine, and coupled with the fact that others saw Danyangzi when they looked at him, his earlier suspicion was no longer just a guess—it was gradually becoming reality.

If it were merely a matter of temperament, it would be one thing, but Li Huowang feared that as time passed, he would completely transform into Danyangzi himself.

"If that's the case, everything from before makes sense. Danyangzi wasn't protecting me; he was protecting himself!"

The mere thought of this possibility made Li Huowang's heart restless. If there was anyone in this world he hated most, that old lunatic Danyangzi would undoubtedly rank first.

He had no desire to become Danyangzi; if that were to happen, he would rather die!

Li Huowang even felt a sudden, impulsive urge to turn back to Zhengde Temple right now, and regardless of whatever tribulations lay ahead, have those monks hold the Grand Universal Fast to rid himself of Danyangzi once and for all.

But this was merely a fleeting thought. It would have been fine before they fell out, when there was still hope for reconciliation, but after he killed those seven Buddhas, he believed the monks would strike him down the moment they laid eyes on him.

Those monks were no true ascetics who merely chanted sutras and abstained from meat; they were capable of anything.

Fortunately, according to the abbot's earlier description, there were other sects besides Zhengde Temple. He could only seek a solution from them now; whatever Zhengde Temple could do, other sects could surely accomplish as well.

Li Huowang walked over to the donkey cart and unrolled the map, studying it intently.

He had previously intended to avoid contacting those people because Zhengde Temple had set a terrible precedent.

But now, contact was unavoidable. Since Zhengde Temple had a way to eliminate Danyangzi, other sects could do the same.

Though he didn't know exactly what they wanted, their actions made it clear they coveted something of his.

"Is it the heavenly book left behind by Danyangzi?" Li Huowang mused silently.

If he didn't want to become Danyangzi, he had to find a way through them.

"If push comes to shove, I'll take out that heavenly book and trade it with them," Li Huowang secretly resolved, for it was the only bargaining chip he currently possessed.

Amidst Li Huowang's lingering unease, they finally arrived at the small town by the pass.

The modest town was bustling with merchants coming and going, many dressed in unfamiliar styles, all having entered the pass to conduct trade.

Gazing at the distant pass, Li Huowang turned to Lü Zhuangyuan beside him. "Troupe Master Lü, it seems our paths must part here."

With equal sentiment, Lü Zhuangyuan clasped his hands and bowed to Li Huowang. "Little Daoist Master, you've worked hard. If it weren't for you on this journey, we would have suffered untold hardships."

The Lü family troupe naturally could not cross the pass; having reached it, they would take another route back to their village.

After resting at home, the cycle would begin anew. This was the destiny of such small traveling troupes. To escape this life of exposure to the elements, their only hope was to buy a theater and settle down for good.

"May you have a smooth journey. I don't know what you're setting out to do, little Daoist Master, but I wish you every success! Here are some salted duck eggs we pickled ourselves, take them for the road."

Cradling the jar of salted duck eggs, Lü Xiucai placed it onto the donkey cart with a reluctant expression.

"I'll take your kind words. If the chance arises in the future, we'll come watch the Lü family troupe perform again. I must say, after watching show after show, I've truly become addicted."

After bidding each other farewell, the donkey cart, laden with freshly replenished provisions, slowly approached the pass.

Watching their receding figures, Lü Zhuangyuan puffed on his pipe, then raised it and tapped it lightly on the head of his youngest son, whose eyes betrayed a lingering reluctance to part.

"Stop pining after that pale girl. Our humble family can't afford to provoke such people. When we get home, I'll find a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for you."

"Father, what nonsense are you talking? I'm not, I really'm not," Lü Xiucai stammered in frantic denial, as the horse turned its head and trotted toward the bustling main street.

"Father, how could a miser like you bear to part with a whole jar of salted duck eggs?" Lü Juren asked curiously, holding his own daughter.

"What kind of foolish talk is that? Don't think your father is a stingy man. Remember, be frugal when you must, but don't skimp when it's time to be generous. That little Daoist Master is no ordinary person. If we forge a good connection with him, the Lü family will have a valuable contact."

After winding their way through, they finally passed beyond the checkpoint. Though the dirt road was still flanked by forests, Li Huowang felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere.

They were not the only ones on the road; there were many other horse-drawn carts and people carrying loads on shoulder poles.

Distinguishing their origins was simple enough by their clothing styles: those from within the pass wore left-lapel robes, while those from Siqi beyond the pass wore right-lapel robes.

Li Huowang pondered for a moment, then opened Lü Zhuangyuan's jar to find it brimming with salted duck eggs.

Gouwa leaned over, saying in surprise, "In these times, duck eggs are precious, and so is salt. Old man Lü Zhuangyuan is rarely this generous."

Li Huowang sealed the jar, his impression of the shrewd old man improving considerably.

"Enough of that useless chatter. If any of you have homes in the State of Siqi, prepare to go back."

Everyone exchanged glances. Xiaoman, her body entirely covered in black fur, raised her right hand and said with a slight tremor in her voice, "My home is in Siqi."

At her words, a sudden silence fell over the group. They all knew of her grievances with her parents, and they knew what she intended to do upon returning home.

"Sister Xiaoman, perhaps..." Bai Lingmiao began to persuade her with a troubled look, but Li Huowang cut her off directly.

"Good. Then you should be quite familiar with this area. Tell us, what kind of place is Siqi? Are there any major sects there like Zhengde Temple?"

Her face hidden beneath a black bamboo hat, Xiaoman took a deep breath. "I don't know. Though I lived there, in over ten years I never once left the village. The only time I saw a shaman was when I was nine, at the edge of the village."

"A shaman..." At the mention of the divine, Li Huowang felt an inexplicable dread; the Joyous God had left too deep a shadow on his mind.

"Do these shamans have any communal living places?"

"No, I've heard that shamans live in their own homes, where they worship the immortal spirits."

"Immortal spirits? Do they have names?" Li Huowang's mind flashed with the myriad bizarre entities of this world.

"Red, Yellow, White, Willow, and Sorrow. I've only heard of these five different immortal spirits, but I don't know what each of them actually is."

(End of Chapter)