Chapter 298: Going Home

Dao Ghui Yi Xian

As the two conversed, new movement came from the table.

With a "thud," Li Huowang immediately perked up his head and looked towards the sound.

He then saw Gouwa, clutching a food box, tiptoeing towards the exit.

"Senior Brother Li, isn't what you brought back for us to eat?" Gouwa asked cautiously.

Li Huowang lay back down, a wry smile on his face. "Yes, it's just you guys now."

If there was anyone he could trust in this world, it was probably his fellow disciples, even if they weren't particularly useful.

Li Huowang propped himself up on the bed with his hands, sitting up, all traces of weariness vanishing from his face.

"Gouwa, put down the food box. Call Gao Zhijian over. We'll eat together, and then we'll leave."

"Where are we going?"

"Home!"

A few days later, Li Huowang, Gouwa, Gao Zhijian, and Bai Lingmiao sat in a carriage, swaying from side to side with the bumps of the wheels.

Bai Lingmiao pulled back the curtain and enthusiastically said to the coachman, "Thank you, Ah Da, for giving us a ride. If we had to walk, it would take many days."

The old coachman, his mouth showing only a few remaining teeth, chuckled and replied, "No trouble at all, it was on my way. But, young lady, your home is quite remote. If you hadn't told me, I never would have known there was a village at the foot of that mountain."

Hearing this, Gouwa immediately became unhappy. "Remote? What do you mean 'remote'? We paid you silver beforehand! What's wrong? Are you trying to raise the price now?"

Chun Xiaoman, sitting opposite Gouwa, glared at him. "Shut up! Why are you talking so much nonsense? No one will think you're mute if you don't speak!"

Meanwhile, Gao Zhijian, shrinking his limbs, stammered out an attempt to mediate.

Sitting furthest inside, Li Huowang quietly observed the lively carriage. Compared to before, the atmosphere was clearly much more relaxed now.

Such a scene had been rare for Li Huowang since he had crossed over.

A pair of soft arms looped through Li Huowang's, and Bai Lingmiao, unable to suppress a smile, asked him, "Senior Brother Li, what are you thinking about right now?"

With home so close, Bai Lingmiao radiated joy from inside out.

"I'm thinking... what kind of place Ox-Heart Mountain is. I wonder if we'll get used to it. You know I'm a difficult person to get along with."

Li Huowang rolled up the bamboo window blind with his hand, looking at the lush greenery outside. The forest in this area was very dense.

"You'll definitely get used to it! Everyone in our village is kind! Take my grandfather, for example; if travelers are thirsty, they can eat his roasted melons for free. You're so good, you'll surely get along with him."

"And my parents, if anyone in the village encounters trouble, they'll always offer money and help. And they've lived in the village for so long without ever having a single disagreement!"

"Oh, and my younger brothers and their generation, don't worry, they wouldn't dare act disrespectfully. If they cause you any trouble, just tell me, and I'll deal with them!"

Bai Lingmiao eagerly brandished her fair fists in the air.

Seeing her adorable expression, Li Huowang smiled knowingly. It seemed she presented completely different sides of herself when with him compared to when she was with her family.

Li Huowang put his arm around her shoulder and gently shook his head. "I'm not worried. If they could raise you, they can't be bad. By the way, Miaomiao, I remember you used to wear a gold bracelet. Your family must be quite wealthy, right?"

Bai Lingmiao gave a reserved smile. "It's not really wealth, just a little better off than common folk."

Li Huowang chuckled. The girl's family was rich, and after everything, he'd be living with them. He truly was becoming a live-in son-in-law.

"A live-in son-in-law it is, then. Regardless of the place, after so long of wandering, I can finally settle down," Li Huowang thought to himself.

Suddenly, Bai Lingmiao grew excited, pointing a finger as white as a scallion stalk out the carriage window. "Look! That's Ox-Heart Mountain!"

Li Huowang squinted, focusing on the distant, green-covered peak. "It's certainly big, but how does any part of it resemble an ox's heart?"

Li Huowang likely dismissed that trivial question from his mind, as he began to worry about the Lu Family Troupe.

"They left early, so they should already be at the foot of Ox-Heart Mountain by now. I just hope nothing unexpected happens."

Carrying this worry, Li Huowang slowly approached the base of Ox-Heart Mountain.

However, his worry didn't last long; it vanished instantly when he saw Yang Xiaohai, barefoot and accompanied by a round-faced woman, feeling for loaches in the paddy field.

"Senior Brother Li is back! Senior Brother Li is back!"

Following Yang Xiaohai's excited shouts, others emerged from the tiled roofs of the village.

It had been nearly half a month since they last met. Upon seeing him again, Lu Zhuangyuan was very excited and immediately clasped both of Li Huowang's hands.

"Young Taoist Master, you're finally back. I've been waiting for you with bated breath."

"Troupe Master Lu, you've worked hard. There were no mishaps on the journey, right?"

"None at all! We have exactly the same number of people as before! Not one missing!"

He then showered Li Huowang's single eye with warm greetings, showing great closeness.

"Let's go, don't just stand here. We can talk inside." Just as Li Huowang was about to step forward, Troupe Master Lu stopped him.

He first cast a furtive glance at Bai Lingmiao, a look of hesitation on his face.

"Um, Young Taoist Master, let's not rush in. There's something I need to discuss with you privately."

Li Huowang clearly didn't understand what he meant. "What is it? Just say it. Why do we need to talk alone?"

He truly couldn't guess what matter he and Troupe Master Lu would need to discuss away from others.

"Oh... Young Taoist Master, look... some things are better discussed in private."

Troupe Master Lu leaned closer to Li Huowang, subtly winking in Bai Lingmiao's direction.

Seeing his expression, Li Huowang's heart sank. He glanced at Bai Lingmiao beside him.

"Troupe Master Lu insists on speaking with me alone. Could something major have happened to Miaomiao's hometown?"

Li Huowang understood what Troupe Master Lu was trying to convey, but unfortunately, Bai Lingmiao understood as well.

"Troupe Master Lu, my home... what happened to my home?"

As she saw Troupe Master Lu guiltily avoid her gaze, tears welled up on Bai Lingmiao's eyelashes.

"Father! Mother!" The crying Bai Lingmiao pushed past everyone and rushed down the winding path towards the village. Worried, Li Huowang quickly followed.

"Father! Mother! Grandfather! Nannan is back! Where are you?" Bai Lingmiao's tearful cries echoed continuously over the village.

Bai Lingmiao pushed open every door in the village, searching for her family, but behind each one, she found only disappointment.