Chapter 246: Box

"What's wrong, Senior Brother Li? We went through all that trouble to retrieve this. It's not fake, is it?"

Seeing Li Huowang stop, Gouwa's voice trembled with nervousness.

He desperately hoped this item would be useful; Senior Brother Li was unbearable when he had an episode.

Li Huowang frowned, shaking his head, the Black Grand Supreme in his hand. He stood still.

"What am I hesitating about? That side is just a hallucination."

Thinking this, he raised the Black Grand Supreme, intending to put it in his mouth, but then he stopped abruptly once more.

Everyone in the tent could tell that Senior Brother Li, freshly recovered from his illness, was deep in thought. What he was thinking, only he knew.

When Chun Xiaoman returned from sword practice and quietly inquired of Bai Lingmiao, Li Huowang slowly put the piece of meat back onto the Black Grand Supreme.

"Miaomiao, how much gold do we have left in our travel funds?"

Bai Lingmiao was surprised by the question but answered truthfully.

"We exchanged some silver at Woman Mountain. We probably have a few dozen taels left."

"A few dozen taels? Not enough. It's a bit short," Li Huowang murmured to himself. He suddenly turned to look at Sun Baolu.

"Your clansmen should have a lot of hard currency, right? Can you help me borrow some? Don't worry, it's just a temporary loan; I'll return it once I'm done."

Sun Baolu rarely showed a hint of hesitation. "Alright, I'll go ask."

"Senior Brother Li, what do you need so much gold for?"

"Yeah, our travel funds are enough to reach Liang Kingdom."

Facing these questions, Li Huowang sighed, shook his head, turned, lifted the curtain, and walked out of the tent.

"Don't ask. It has nothing to do with you. Is there any food? I'm hungry."

Sun Baolu's efficiency was far greater than Li Huowang expected. He had just started his first meal when Sun Baolu entered the tent, carrying a small, round bundle in his arms, accompanied by his mother.

Sun Baolu didn't speak first but instead cast an inquiring glance at his mother.

Upon seeing his mother nod slightly, he carefully pulled open the cloth in his arms. Immediately, a dazzling golden light almost blinded everyone.

It was an oval, palm-sized gold box, inlaid with various high-quality agates and celadon jade.

Inside the gold box were several gold ingots and gold ornaments.

It didn't look big, but gold was extremely valuable. This small handful of items was quite precious.

Seeing Li Huowang surprised by its value and wondering how a common person could possess such expensive items, Sun Baolu's mother spoke, "True Master, there's no need to be wary. This isn't from a tomb; it's my dowry, given to me by the master of the house back then."

"Given by the master of the house?" Li Huowang reached out, grabbed it, and weighed it in his hand, almost dropping it. Gold was truly heavy.

The woman's expression was somewhat complex. "Indeed, given by the master of the house. After all, those who can afford beautiful paper are either rich or noble. To common folk, this item is priceless, but to some, it's nothing."

"True Master, you saved my son. This is a repayment. Please accept it."

"I didn't say I wanted it. I'm just borrowing it. I'll return it when I'm done." Looking at the situation, it seemed the other party wanted to completely repay the favor with this item.

The woman seemed unwilling to interact much with Li Huowang. She bowed respectfully, turned her back to the tent flap, and retreated.

"What's wrong with your mother? Why the sudden change in attitude?"

Sun Baolu stammered, as if there was something he couldn't say. He thought to himself, "Senior Brother Li, how many people did your return scare? To come back alive from that place, and with two strangely shaped things too. Our clansmen are probably talking about you behind your back right now."

"Forget it, I don't want your family's things. Once I'm done using them, you can take them back. Do you understand?"

Sun Baolu looked a bit hesitant. "Then, Senior Brother Li, when do you plan to use this gold?"

Hearing this, Li Huowang, holding the gold box in both hands, looked slightly disheartened.

"We wait. I don't know when. Baolu, I apologize for the trouble during this time. We might have to stay here for a while longer."

"Senior Brother Li, you're speaking like a stranger. You saved my life."

For a period afterward, the other disciples noticed that Senior Brother Li, while recovering, kept the gold box by his side at all times, like a miser. Yet, he was clearly not that kind of person.

Among them, only Bai Lingmiao knew some details. She knew why he was doing it.

Night fell. Bai Lingmiao turned over and saw that the person next to her, at some point, had sat up. In the dead of night, he sat motionless on the bed, holding the gold box, like a wooden sculpture.

Bai Lingmiao sighed softly, turned slightly, and presented her back to him.

"Senior Brother Li, are you very reluctant to leave that side? Or do you still think that side might be real?"

Li Huowang in the darkness did not reply.

"Then, Senior Brother Li, do you hope that side is real, or do you hope it's fake?"

Li Huowang let out a deep sigh. His very tired, hoarse voice slowly echoed in the tent. "That's a question I want the answer to as well."

Days passed one by one. With the passage of time and successive shifts, the disfigured Li Huowang gradually returned to his original appearance.

His injuries had almost healed. Just as Li Huowang was about to interrogate Han Fu's little head, Baolu, now dressed in his Qingshan attire, came to find him.

"Senior Brother Li, the clan leader asked me to inquire about something," he said, approaching Li Huowang.

"What is it?" Li Huowang quickly reviewed recent events in his mind. Qingshan had been peaceful lately; nothing seemed to be happening.

"It's about those women you rescued from the village. A few of them and some of the young men in the clan have developed some feelings for each other. The clan leader's intention is really just to sound you out. If you don't agree, those people won't dare to act rashly."

"Alright, why not?"

Judging by Baolu's mother's appearance, this place was a peaceful and good refuge, much better than constantly traveling with him.

Back at the border, several people had died because of Peng Longteng. If these women continued to follow, who knew how many would be left by the time they reached Liang Kingdom.

"Alright! I'll go back and tell the clan leader!" The normal Baolu was no longer as taciturn as before; his personality had become much livelier.

Excited, Baolu turned to leave, but Li Huowang's large hand gripped his arm tightly, instantly bruising it.

Sun Baolu turned his head and saw Li Huowang looking at him with a twisted expression. "Quick! Quickly tell Zhijian to bring the chains!"

"Ah! Okay!"

Feeling everything around him begin to shift, Li Huowang quickly stuffed the gold box into his embrace.

The noisy, bustling tent camp was replaced by a quiet, sterile hospital room. But here, it was night.

Li Huowang stared blankly at his mother, who was sleeping on a recliner beside him, covered by the small quilt from his own room.

"Mom."