Chapter 546: Chasing

Li Huowang was thoroughly annoyed seeing familiar faces appear before him. He couldn't believe they had chosen this crucial moment to cause trouble. Suddenly, his expression changed as he heard the thunder of hooves in the distance.

He quickly turned his head and saw twelve sleek, date-red horses pulling a house-sized carriage, kicking up plumes of yellow dust as they galloped towards the East City Gate. Noticing the waist tokens on the riders around the carriage, Li Huowang immediately realized the person he was looking for was inside. "Young Daoist, I need to talk to you about something," the old man said. "Do you have any powerful connections in the capital? Like influential officials or nobles?"

"I really don't want to trouble you, old man, but it's impossible to buy a theater in the capital without connections. And then, it would be best if you could lend me some money. But don't worry, you'll be the owner of the theater, and as for the money..."

Just then, Scholar Lu noticed Li Huowang's strange demeanor and obediently fell silent, bending down to pull his shameless youngest son up. Li Huowang squeezed his hand, and the ceaselessly chattering Gouwa finally let out a chicken-like squawk, quieting down.

As soon as the carriage entered the East Gate, Li Huowang abruptly released Gouwa's mouth, then grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up to his face, speaking with extreme severity: "Listen carefully! Get back to Niuxin Village immediately! Don't let anyone else come looking for me again. If you don't listen, you and your wife won't be staying in the village!" After saying this, Li Huowang cast a cold glance at Lu's troupe, and everyone instantly fell silent, barely daring to breathe. The young Daoist, who used to be quite reasonable, seemed genuinely angry today.

"Li Sui, let's go!" Li Huowang said, then chased along the spreading yellow earth path, leaving the group in stunned silence.

"What's wrong with Senior Brother Li? Is he having another episode?" Gouwa said, rubbing his neck in surprise. "It shouldn't be like this; his episodes weren't like this before. And what about Miaomiao? How could treating her eyes make her disappear?"

"Young Daoist, perhaps there truly is something important," Scholar Lu said, pulling out his pipe and lighting it. "Cao Lang, what should we do next? You tell us."

"He's so harsh with his own brothers; he even left red marks!" Gouwa sighed. "Well, Senior Brother Li has spoken, so what else can we do? Let's just head back home." Hearing Gouwa's words, the others immediately brightened. They had long grown tired of a place where even drinking water and using the toilet cost money, eager to leave as soon as possible.

Lu's troupe and Gouwa hastily replenished their dry rations and began their journey home.

Meanwhile, the letter Gouwa had entrusted to the scholar, carried by a passing peddler, finally reached the Bai family compound in Niuxin Village. Everyone sat on stools, listening as Gao Zhijian stammered through the letter's contents. When they heard that Gouwa hadn't found Li Huowang or Bai Lingmiao in the capital, everyone's expressions darkened.

Chun Xiaoman, in particular, was as anxious as a flea on a hot pan.

"How long has it been? Why is there still no news at all? Could Miaomiao really have had an accident?"

"No, no, that won't happen," Zhao Wu gently reassured Chun Xiaoman, though it didn't do much good. "Li Huowang is so powerful; who could possibly defeat him? Perhaps something has delayed them; they'll be back in a while." "I... I... I... I'll go!" Gao Zhijian stood up with a determined look in his eyes.

"Gouwa couldn't find them, so what good would your going do? Senior Brother Li is so strong, nothing will happen to him." However, Gao Zhijian seemed to have already made up his mind and walked towards his room. He didn't take much: heavy armor, a massive halberd, and money to buy provisions.

When he was packed and turned around with his bag on his back, he saw Xiaoman standing at his courtyard gate, leading a carriage.

"Don't worry, I won't try to dissuade you," she said. "I know you're not foolish, just a bit slow-witted. Since you say you're going, there must be a reason. The village now has seven people who can use 'Divine Speech' besides me, plus your soldiers, so the village is very stable." Gao Zhijian nodded silently, took the reins, and walked towards the village entrance.

After a few steps, he turned back, looked down at Chun Xiaoman, and stammered: "I... I am the Emperor! I... I... I... I can... find... them!" "I've found them! They're right ahead!" Li Huowang exclaimed, looking at the perfectly clear carriage tracks on the ground. The tentacles on his body swayed with his legs, accelerating his pace. With two talismans pasted on his legs, Li Huowang's body became a blur.

Just as he crested a low ridge, Li Huowang's body suddenly twisted, dodging an incoming vajra pestle.

Pushing hard off the ground with his arm, Li Huowang, now airborne, immediately pulled out his Sky-Watching Bureau waist token. "Hold on! I have an urgent matter to report to the Grand Astronomer!" The attack ceased, and as Li Huowang landed steadily, he found himself surrounded. A black bird, circling in the air, landed firmly on one of the men's shoulders. Li Huowang scanned his surroundings but didn't find the distinctive appearance of the Grand Astronomer.

Li Huowang considered for a moment as he looked at the people staring at him, then slowly began to speak: "Where is the Grand Astronomer? I have an urgent matter to report concerning the Zuowang Dao." "You can just tell me; you're not qualified to see the Grand Astronomer," a grim-faced man said, stepping forward with his hands behind his back, a compass in his hand pointing directly at Li Huowang. A long braid hung from the back of his head all the way down to his calf.

"I know how to locate the hidden dice! I want to ask the Grand Astronomer for help to deal with that heinous monster!" Li Huowang had no intention of hiding anything, knowing the Grand Astronomer would surely hear this.

"Er Jiu, real name Ji Zai, Grand Elder of the Aojing Sect, who has ascended three times. He is Geng Banner of the Sky-Watching Bureau, and a military advisor to the Left and Right Golden Guards. He is always accompanied by a dog-faced evil spirit. Forty-six days ago, he stole the Tai Xu Sword from the Jixiang Buddha's jade censer. His home is at the foot of Niuxin Mountain. Right?"

The man's casually delivered words sent a chill down Li Huowang's spine; the other party knew more than he had imagined. "Yes, that's right! But you missed one thing: I am sworn enemies with the Zuowang Dao!" Li Huowang shouted, clenching his fists at the man. "You may speak now. Remember who you are speaking to, and think carefully before you open your mouth." Li Huowang took a deep breath and recounted everything, including his experiences in Great Qi and even at Shangji Guankou. To deceive someone, the truth is often the easiest tool.

"Nonsense! I've lived this long and have never heard of any 'Shangji Guankou'!"

Zhuge Yuan, standing nearby, frowned at these words. "Does not having heard of it mean it doesn't exist? It's precisely because of such ignorant people that Shangji Guankou is becoming rarer."