Chapter 266: Powder Makeup

Hearing Bai Lingmiao's words, Li Huowang nodded.

"It's fine. Slow is slow. How many urns do we have left now?"

"Don't worry about these small matters. Sister Xiaoman and I went to the escort agency. We've already entrusted the escorts to send the last batch of our fellow disciples' urns back."

Hearing this, a weight was inexplicably lifted from Li Huowang's heart.

"Bang, bang, bang!" An urgent knocking on the door interrupted their conversation. "Master, open the door quickly! I've really mastered it!"

Li Huowang put down the map he was holding and walked towards the door.

"Creak~" The door opened, revealing an excited Scholar Lu standing outside, with dark circles under his eyes. In his hand, he held a copper coin that Li Huowang had detached from the copper coin sword for him to practice with.

"Master, I've really mastered it! The copper coin just moved!"

With that, Scholar Lu didn't wait for Li Huowang to speak. He rushed inside, placed the copper coin from his hand on the table, and began.

He stomped his feet and performed hand seals towards the copper coin, chanting, "Om da mu bao zha nan er!"

As he continuously repeated the incantation, Scholar Lu's voice grew louder, veins bulged on his forehead, and he looked as if he was about to devour the copper coin.

After he repeated it dozens of times, the copper coin finally began to tremble.

Sweating profusely from exhaustion, Scholar Lu saw this scene and excitedly looked at Li Huowang by the door. "Master, look, I've mastered it!"

Immediately after, Scholar Lu saw Li Huowang step forward. After glancing at him and then at the copper coin on the table, Li Huowang spoke to him: "Mastered it? Do you feel any discomfort in your body?"

"No! I feel great. I've never been happier in my life than today. I'm practically half an immortal now! Hahaha!"

Li Huowang observed Scholar Lu thoughtfully. "It seems Han Fu's Nascent Soul didn't trick me. But this is just the beginning; there might still be traps later. Life is only once, so it's better to be cautious."

"Then keep practicing, don't stop. Go back for now, and tomorrow I'll teach you the next incantation."

Hearing this, Scholar Lu nodded vigorously, turned, and left.

Li Huowang turned his head and exchanged a smile with Bai Lingmiao. He then walked over, closed the door securely, and turned to lie back down on the bed.

"Scholar Lu seems much better," Bai Lingmiao whispered into Li Huowang's ear.

"Haha, better? I can't tell. He's completely different from before. I just hope learning this cultivation method can help him return to normal." After speaking, Li Huowang slowly closed his eyes, his breathing gradually becoming steady.

"Senior Brother Li, what have you been busy with these past few days?"

Hearing the words from beside him, Li Huowang said with his eyes closed, "Nothing much. Don't worry, we'll leave in a few days; it won't delay your journey home."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Huowang felt a pair of soft hands grasp his right hand. "Senior Brother Li, I'm not worried about going home. I'm actually worried about you."

"Worried about me? What's there to worry about? With the Black Grand Emperor, I won't fall into illusions anymore. My previously crushed left eye can now perceive some light, and I expect it will fully regenerate in a few more days."

"And there's no one else chasing me anymore. I'm doing very well, better than ever before."

With his eyes closed, Li Huowang felt a light body lean onto him, with hands gently wrapping around his waist.

It was Bai Lingmiao, who knew Li Huowang so well that she didn't believe a word of what he had just said.

Li Huowang sensed her concern from her actions. He sighed softly, opened his eyes, and turned to look at the three distinct illusions beside him.

Li Huowang gently patted Bai Lingmiao's back and said softly, "Don't worry, things will work out in the end. There's always a way to solve problems."

Days passed, and Li Huowang had almost explored every corner of the small county town. Although he had a direction, he still hadn't found anything.

Li Huowang, who had concealed his body color by blending with the earth, sat on the wall, watching the bustling street below.

Carriages and ox-carts passed by ceaselessly. When an ox lifted its tail, a steaming pile of dung would drop to the ground, only to be quickly scooped up by children with baskets.

After scrambling for the dung amongst themselves, they would gather in twos and threes around pancake stalls, reveling in the aroma of frying oil.

Watching the lively, bustling scene before him, Li Huowang thought to himself, "Is this place too small? I haven't found any clues, not even at the magistrate's house, who supposedly loves tofu. Perhaps a larger place would be more useful?"

"I can't stay here for too long either. If there's nothing to find here, I'll go to other places. As long as I keep searching, I'll eventually find what I'm looking for. Today is the last day."

Li Huowang pushed off the wall with one hand and jumped down, walking towards the nearby teahouse.

That was the most informed place, where all sorts of news, big and small, were rumored to circulate within the county.

Just as Li Huowang arrived at the entrance of the teahouse, a group of men in long gowns excitedly emerged from within.

"Hurry, a 'Pink Opera' troupe has arrived over there! Their performance is much more interesting than the storytelling here in the teahouse."

A troupe? A hint of hesitation appeared on Li Huowang's face. If he wasn't mistaken, the only troupe in this county town should be the Lu Family Troupe.

As he thought this, his body had already entered the teahouse. However, besides the storyteller and the tea server chatting idly, there was no one else inside.

"Heh, what's there left to ask about?" Li Huowang turned to walk back to the inn.

But just as he lifted his right foot, he inexplicably found himself following the footsteps of those men.

He wanted to see what kind of spectacle Champion Lu was putting on that had managed to draw away all the teahouse patrons.

The stage set up by the Lu Family Troupe wasn't far, located right at the foot of the west city wall. Below the stage, a massive crowd had gathered, some cracking melon seeds, others munching on edamame, all chatting idly in a lively scene.

As Li Huowang approached, on the stage, Scholar Lu, with his face painted in stage makeup, was reciting lines to his wife.

"Oh my~ I don't want the finest, nor the lowest, I only, only want my sister~ that little bit of red in my heart~"

Suddenly, a burst of laughter and jeers erupted from below the stage.

"These lyrics don't sound quite right, do they?" Li Huowang looked at Scholar Lu on stage with confusion.

Just as he thought this, Scholar Lu on stage began to sing along with the music.

"He reached out and touched his sister's little nose tip~ a gentle fragrance wafted out,"

"He reached out and touched his sister's little mouth~ her bright eyes smiled faintly,"

"He reached out and touched his sister's lower curve~ that lower curve rested upon her chest."

"He reached out and touched his sister's earlobe~ a prominent bulge swinging back and forth..."

It started normally, but the more it went on, the more vulgar it became, and the laughter and jeers from below the stage grew louder and louder.

At this moment, Li Huowang finally understood why those people had called this performance 'Pink Opera' and why there were only men below the stage, not a single woman.

Faced with the various impressive skills of other opera troupes, this old fellow still managed to find a way to survive. He truly was a seasoned performer with decades of experience.

With his doubts resolved, Li Huowang shook his head and turned to leave the lively stage.

But just as he was about to leave, he overheard low whispers nearby.

"This is far more entertaining than the Pink Opera in Pi County."

"Didn't they say there was a plague there? And you still dare to go?"