Chapter 222: Baolu

"Brother Li? Is there something you need for me?" Sun Baolu asked cautiously.

Li Huowang gestured with his chin towards the outside, repositioned his crutch under his armpit, and limped in that direction. "Come on, let's talk privately."

Sun Baolu stood there anxiously, hesitating for a moment, before finally starting to follow him.

As night fell, the streets between the tents grew very dim, and people became sparse. A biting cold wind lightly rustled Li Huowang's hem and Sun Baolu's sleeves behind him. Sun Baolu's expression was grim as he pondered how to answer Brother Li's question. He hadn't expected his casual lie to be discovered so quickly.

"Stop dawdling. We have to travel tomorrow," Li Huowang said. "Why did you say that human bone was a horse bone? How much more are you hiding from us?"

After a moment of hesitation, Sun Baolu sighed softly. "Brother Li, I didn't mean to hide anything from you. I just thought that since you're only passing through, there's no need to over-explain some of Qingqiu's customs. I was afraid you might overthink things if I told you."

"Chopping people up to feed to vultures, then smashing their bones to decorate yourselves. Is that truly just a custom? I don't think so." The scene he had witnessed that morning had deeply shocked Li Huowang.

Hearing the skepticism in Li Huowang's voice, Sun Baolu quickly defended himself. "To others, it might indeed seem shocking, but it really is a custom of Qingqiu. Except for those who die of illness, all Qingqiu people undergo a sky burial after death."

"Burying people in the earth also leads to decay. It's better to let the creatures of the sky take them away; this way, some can also be fed. We've long grown accustomed to it. After all, no matter what, the Everlasting Sky ultimately decides the reincarnation of all living beings."

Li Huowang calmly looked at Sun Baolu, who was speaking. "The Everlasting Sky? Is that the god Qingqiu people believe in? Where is it normally?" This was the second time he had heard that name.

Sun Baolu pointed at the moon in the sky. "There. The Everlasting Sky cannot touch us, nor can it find us, but it always possesses what we desire."

"Hmm?" Li Huowang looked up with him at the full moon.

"That's the Everlasting Sky's navel! The entire great darkness of night is its shadow, projected by the light of two candles!"

"The entire night sky is its shadow? What about during the day?" Li Huowang pressed.

"The sun during the day is the two candles held in the Everlasting Sky's hands! The Everlasting Sky watches us silently from behind the candles. We live entirely thanks to the Everlasting Sky." Sun Baolu spoke with conviction, as if his words were the absolute truth.

Hearing this, Li Huowang's expression became thoughtful.

The so-called Five Great Buddhist Realms mentioned by the monks of Zhengde Temple, the Great Nuo from the Nuo opera, the White Jade City he had personally witnessed, and now the so-called Everlasting Sky spoken of by Sun Baolu. In this world, everyone's worldview differed, and some were even contradictory.

Li Huowang had seen things with his own eyes; there was no Everlasting Sky, no Great Nuo, and no Five Great Buddhist Realms. In his eyes, there was only a completely deranged world, where both the humans living below and the unimaginable beings living above suffered alongside the entire world. He should have firmly rejected these utterly outlandish worldviews. Yet, he tried to control his thoughts. "Perhaps what I've seen is an illusion, and what they say might be true. After all, by any comparison, those worlds are far, far better than the insane world I've witnessed."

Seeing Li Huowang standing there impassively, Sun Baolu said with a bitter smile, "Brother Li, you certainly don't believe me, do you?"

After a moment of contemplation, Li Huowang slowly spoke. "I believe you. Let's say what you said is reasonable. So, what about them decorating themselves with dead people's bones?"

"That's also a rule passed down by the Qingqiu people since ancient times. They say human bones can store a person's courage and strength. Wearing them can increase strength and bravery, and also ward off evil."

"Only powerful individuals are sought after; the unknown ones are only fit to be buried underground."

"Are all your Qingqiu customs so sinister?"

"Not sinister at all. Isn't it normal?" Sun Baolu said, his tone utterly natural.

After Sun Baolu explained Qingqiu's customs and myths to Li Huowang, the terrifying scene they had encountered earlier seemed to become more rational. However, Li Huowang still looked at Sun Baolu with a hint of suspicion. Sun Baolu sensed this suspicion, and a bitter expression flickered across his face.

"Brother Li, we are sworn brothers who escaped from Qingfeng Temple together. You've sacrificed so much to help me get home. I couldn't possibly lie to you, of all people."

"If I truly had ill intentions, wouldn't it have been better to act when you were still unconscious? You're so powerful; if you could even move a finger, how could I ever contend with you?"

Li Huowang nodded. "That's true. Since you trust me so much, can you tell me why your clothes are so tightly wrapped around your body?" There was definitely a story behind Sun Baolu's attire, but Li Huowang hadn't pressed him about it before. Now, he wanted to know what Sun Baolu was hiding.

Sun Baolu's face instantly changed. He clutched his clothes tightly with both hands and cautiously retreated a few steps. He had no idea how their conversation had suddenly veered towards this topic.

"What are you so sensitive about? What's wrong with showing it? All of us here have various imperfections. Do you really think we'd mock you for a flaw? Could you possibly be worse off than I am right now?"

Sun Baolu's face showed extreme humiliation. His eyes reddened, and his voice trembled as he said, "Brother Li! I... I'm really different from you! I beg you, if you push me any further, I'll truly have no choice but to die!"

Seeing such a strong reaction, Li Huowang limped over to him with his crutch. "You're leaving soon, and we'll probably never see each other again. Even so, you still want to hide it?"

Sun Baolu took a deep breath and spoke with great effort. "Fine! I... I'll tell you once I get home, just you! You must promise never to tell anyone! Otherwise, I'll die right here in front of you!"

Seeing how serious Sun Baolu was, Li Huowang came to his senses. After all, the man wasn't his enemy but a companion; there was no need to make things so tense. Since being tricked by the Zuowang Dao, Li Huowang realized he had become overly suspicious.

"If you don't want to say, then don't. I was just asking."

Li Huowang, provisionally trusting Sun Baolu's words, walked back towards the tent inn, leaning on his crutch. Sun Baolu wiped the corner of his eye with his sleeve, then walked over to help him inside.

Just as they were about to reach the entrance, Li Huowang's right ear twitched, and he turned his head towards the dim street on the right, where a light was moving in their direction. Li Huowang's foot, which was about to step into the tent, retracted, and he stood still again. "Wait, that light seems a bit off; it's too diffused."

Gradually, as the light from a distance drew closer, Li Huowang's eyes widened. "Baolu, didn't you say there were no evil spirits in Qingqiu? Then tell me, what is that?"

"That's not an evil spirit; it's a lion dance, Brother Li. Don't you have lion dances where you're from?" Sun Baolu asked, greatly surprised.