Chapter 817: Storytelling

Chapter 817: Storytelling

After the meal, at the entrance of Niu Xin Village, Li Huowang was seeing off Li Sui with Bai Lingmiao.

"If you run into trouble, contact me through illusions— I'll be there in an instant," Li Huowang instructed him.

"Dad, don't worry. With your current status, they’ll definitely notify you if anything happens."

"That's good. If anyone bullies you, tell me too."

"Dad, I doubt there are many people in Great Liang who would dare to bully me. I'm leaving now." After saying this, his body dissipated like a bubble with a soft pop.

Looking at the snow-covered village entrance, Li Huowang exhaled a puff of white breath and turned back with Bai Lingmiao. "I just remembered—I forgot to tell her to write home every so often."

"Senior Brother Li, she would have written anyway. Shall we call her Sui Sui from now on? Xuan Pin always feels too formal," Bai Lingmiao suggested.

Li Huowang pondered for a moment before gently shaking his head. "It’s fine to call her Sui Sui at home, but outside, let’s still call her Xuan Pin—so she doesn’t lose face in front of outsiders."

"Besides, isn’t my dharma name Xuan Yang? One yin, one yang—my daughter being called Xuan Pin suits her well."

"That’s true," Bai Lingmiao nodded understandingly. "Senior Brother Li, don’t give Sui Sui your own blood and flesh anymore. She’s no longer that little girl."

Li Huowang turned his head once more toward where Li Sui had vanished. "She waited a full one hundred and sixty years for this promise. I just want to find a chance to make it up to her properly."

"As family members, there’s no need to be so distant. If you had been cast back a hundred and sixty years, you’d do everything in your power to return."

Li Huowang nodded, then reached out and gently took Bai Lingmiao’s hand. "Mm."

For a while, they were silent, walking quietly through the snowy Niu Xin Village.

Just as they neared the Bai Family Compound, Li Huowang spoke. "Sui Sui is gone. You’re probably leaving too, aren’t you? As the White Lotus Holy Maiden, the affairs of the White Lotus Sect are no less than those of the Heavenly Observation Bureau."

Bai Lingmiao pursed her lips, about to speak, when Li Huowang continued. "Go ahead. Safe travels."

As soon as Li Huowang released his hand, Bai Lingmiao gently grasped it. But after a while, she slowly let go.

"The Death Dao hasn’t returned yet. I must return to hold a ritual, try to persuade the Mother of No Birth to bestow her divine power so all under heaven may die."

"When I finish all my duties, I’ll come back."

"Mm." Li Huowang showed no concern. Since Death had been taken by the Mother of No Birth, this celestial disaster of disappearing death wouldn’t last long.

"With so many White Lotus followers now, if someone tries to challenge your identity, remember to mention me and Sui Sui—they’ll think twice before acting."

"It won’t happen. I was chosen by the Mother of No Birth. To overthrow me would mean defying her. Anyone who believes in the White Lotus won’t dare do such a thing."

Hearing this, Li Huowang suddenly raised his head and shouted to the sky. "You better behave yourself. If you cause any trouble, I’ll smash your golden lotus! You know what I, Li Huowang, say goes!"

Bai Lingmiao lightly pushed Li Huowang’s back and began apologizing softly to the Mother of No Birth.

Soon, a group of believers bearing white donkeys arrived in a grand sedan chair. When Bai Lingmiao bent to sit inside, a large crowd of White Lotus followers departed solemnly from Niu Xin Village.

When Li Huowang returned to the Bai Family Compound, the once bustling household was now eerily empty—even the illusions left behind were reduced to just Qiu Baochi.

"They’ve all gone. Why are you still here? You're fake too, aren’t you?" Li Huowang asked Qiu Baochi.

But Qiu Baochi ignored him and sneaked into the kitchen, reaching into the bowl of leftover food with her filthy hands.

Even though her grimy fingers passed straight through the dish, she kept trying again and again.

Suddenly, her right hand clutched a piece of braised pig trotter. It didn’t pass through—it held fast. She froze in place.

In the next moment, she burst into joy, snatched the meat and shoved it into her mouth, gnawing greedily.

Li Huowang stood behind, watching with pity.

As Qiu Baochi’s belly grew larger and larger, showing no sign of fading or stopping, Li Huowang waved his hand lightly. Qiu Baochi once again became an illusion.

Watching her sit in the pot, crying desperately over her rotting child, Li Huowang turned and walked out.

He hadn’t taken two steps when he bumped into Zhao Wu face-to-face. "Senior Brother Li, happy New Year! Where are you off to?"

"Just wandering around."

"This is the New Year. Isn’t it bad to bring that thing with you?" Zhao Wu pointed at the rib-bone sword behind Li Huowang.

Li Huowang thought for a moment, then removed the sword and handed it to Zhao Wu. "Take it home for me."

Before Zhao Wu could say anything, Li Huowang strode out of the village.

With each step, the ground instantly wrinkled and pulled closer, allowing him to cover a hundred paces in one stride.

Not long after, he left Niu Xin Village and entered the nearby town.

Clearly, he hadn’t considered the time. Today was the second day of the New Year, and most people had gone to visit relatives. The streets were desolate, except for a few White Lotus believers surrounded in a circle, spreading their teachings.

"Think carefully. What is the Mother of No Birth? What does 'no birth' mean? No birth means death!"

"Look, really look! Our Mother of No Birth has such great power! Even death falls under her control. Don’t hesitate—believe now! After death, you can enjoy bliss in the Vacuum Homeland!"

Walking along, the sound of storytelling from a teahouse caught Li Huowang’s attention.

"Storytelling and opera teach morality, three paths lead to the center. Good and evil will meet their due reward; the righteous path of humanity is ever-changing!"

"Now, I, a humble storyteller, shall speak of the majestic and glorious, the supreme Dharma Body, ruler of the heavens, leader of all sages, sovereign of the universe, creator of ten thousand worlds, walking the heavenly way, spreading heavenly virtue, giving life to all things, saving countless beings—the manifestation of Zhuge Yuan! Gentlemen, listen closely!! Tap!"

With a sharp bang of the wooden clapper on the table, the teahouse noise quieted down.

Li Huowang turned and walked toward the teahouse.

As soon as he sat in an empty spot, a large teapot with a spout stuck itself onto its own head, standing a zhang away, pouring tea into the cup beside Li Huowang.

"Sir, you’ve finally come today! We just opened for the New Year. The owner said twenty coins get you unlimited tea and two extra plates of pastries."

As he spoke, a young man emerged from the side and handed over two boxes of pastries.