Chapter 284: Departure

Li Huowang, who had stood all night in the stable, rubbed his aching neck and looked at the letter in his hand again. Regardless, his previous conjecture was correct: the Department of Celestial Surveillance indeed held many secrets he was unaware of. He had just joined and already gained so much information. Once his position in the Department stabilized and he gained more seniority, he was sure to uncover more about Beifeng. Even if the Beifeng lead proved fruitless, he might be able to use the Department of Celestial Surveillance, with its immense organization, to find the secret to help Xinsu escape her confusion. Furthermore, by joining the Department, he would no longer have to wander aimlessly like a headless fly in this chaotic world. If he encountered anything he didn't understand, he would finally have a place to ask questions. Thinking this, Li Huowang, who had not slept a wink, felt no fatigue; instead, he walked excitedly into the house. But that was for later. For now, the first task was to complete the big-headed doll's request.

"Ganyuan Village... Ganyuan Village..." Li Huowang sat at a round marble table, tracing his finger across the paper map, searching for the location mentioned in the letter. He found the place, but it wasn't on the way home for Bai Lingmiao; in fact, it was quite a detour. Now, a problem arose: he either had to deal with the Sit-and-Forget Dao immediately or go home with Bai Lingmiao first and then return to handle it. If he chose the latter, Li Huowang didn't believe the Sit-and-Forget Dao would wait for him. If he arrived late, it might end up just like Pi County, with nothing but the aftermath. In that case, he feared he wouldn't be able to explain himself well to the big-headed doll.

As Li Huowang frowned, pondering a solution that would satisfy both concerns, Bai Lingmiao walked in, holding a steamed cake wrapped in lotus leaves. The white steamed cake looked very soft and was shaped like a red-eyed rabbit, appearing both cute and delicious. After blowing on it gently, she took a small bite of the cake. Feeling the sweet stickiness in her mouth, Bai Lingmiao's face instantly lit up with happiness. Seeing her like this, Li Huowang suddenly realized that Bai Lingmiao wasn't very old; she was still just a young girl. "Senior Brother Li, do you want some? It's sweet and delicious," Bai Lingmiao said with a smile, placing the one-eared rabbit-shaped steamed cake in front of Li Huowang. Li Huowang shook his head, then pulled her hand and sat down. "Miaomiao, I have something to take care of. Why don't you take the others home first? I'll be right there as soon as I finish..." Before Li Huowang could finish, Bai Lingmiao flatly refused. "No!" Bai Lingmiao's words were resolute, completely unlike her usual amenable self. Her expression was stubborn. "No matter what you do, I'm coming with you! Don't even think about leaving me behind again!"

Li Huowang gave a wry chuckle. "What are you talking about? When have I ever left you behind?" "What do you mean 'never'! Back at Anzi Nunnery, you said the same thing—that you had something to deal with and would catch up later! And what happened? When I saw you again, you were already dead!" "I buried you myself! Do you know how awful I felt then?" As she spoke of the past, Bai Lingmiao's eyes reddened. Looking at the delicate girl in front of him, Li Huowang's heart ached. "I just thought you were almost home, so there was no need for you to come along. Besides, this time it's just a small matter, not very dangerous." "If there's no danger, why won't you let me come? Besides, what if you encounter something you can't solve, but the immortals can? My sister and I can help you!" "Sister? You call Ershen 'Sister'?" Hearing this, Li Huowang recalled Li Zhi calling his Ershen "wife" back then. "Senior Brother Li, please just let me come. If not, you can have them go on ahead, and I'll go with you alone."

Li Huowang looked at the young girl's face. He knew in his heart that while those immortals weren't entirely reliable, they had ways to deal with various situations, and having them along could indeed be helpful. However, this time it was the Sit-and-Forget Dao, and they were almost home. He didn't want Bai Lingmiao to encounter any more accidents. Just as Li Huowang was pondering these issues, there was a sudden knock at the door. "Master, are you in there?" It was Lu Xiucai's voice. "Come in," Li Huowang said, withdrawing his hand from Bai Lingmiao's and looking at Lu Xiucai as he pushed the door open. The young scholar, once clean, was now covered in charcoal, with black marks all over his hands, body, and face, clearly from charcoal.

"Master, what you asked me to write the day before yesterday, I've finished it," Xiucai said, neatly presenting the rice paper in his hand. Li Huowang took it, his brows furrowing more and more as he read the content on the paper. "Xiucai, I remember only teaching you calligraphy, not how to draw talismans, right?" Hearing this, Lu Xiucai's spirits immediately lifted, and unconcealed joy appeared on his face. "Master, are you going to teach me how to draw talismans? Thank you, Master!" Li Huowang slapped the crumpled rice paper onto the table. "Draw what talismans! I'm saying your writing looks like ghost scrawls! Can't you tell?" "Are you made of wood? Why does that stroke on the left twist in the middle? And why is this 'mouth' character round? I didn't even ask you to use a brush; can't you even draw straight lines with charcoal?" "And why did you manage to get your face all black while writing?"

To redirect Lu Xiucai's path, Li Huowang had truly imparted every bit of knowledge he possessed. However, despite Lu Xiucai's diligence and Li Huowang's earnest teaching, the results were far from ideal. Looking at the dejected scholar before him, Li Huowang sighed and waved his hand. "Alright, have your father come over. I have some instructions for him." Bai Lingmiao accompanying him was fine, but he absolutely could not bring this burden with him. Not just him, but also the Lu family troupe, Yang Xiaohai, and the women who hadn't left—none of these people could come along. They were all liabilities and should be separated first to avoid casualties if a fight broke out.

This time was different from before; usually, trouble found him, but this time, he was seeking trouble, so naturally, he had to be prepared. Once Lu Zhuangyuan arrived in the room, Li Huowang instructed him to take the Lu family troupe and all the non-combatant disciples to Niuxin Mountain. Li Huowang himself, along with Bai Lingmiao, Gao Zhijian, Xiaoman, and Gouwa, would head to Ganyuan Village.

"Young Daoist Master, rest assured, I've traveled far and wide for so many years. I'll certainly get them there in one piece!" At a busy crossroads outside Yinling City, Lu Zhuangyuan, firmly pulling the dejected Xiucai, declared to Li Huowang with certainty.