Chapter 56: Beyond the Pass

"Brother Li, what's wrong?" Seeing Li Huowang's troubled expression, Ling Miao instinctively tightened her grip on his hand.

Li Huowang smiled and shook his head. "It's nothing. I just realized we're about to leave the pass, and I'm a bit worried about the world outside. Come on, let's help the Lu family dismantle their stage. Once it's done, we should leave quickly."

Though Li Huowang spoke lightheartedly, his gaze was cold. His temper was becoming increasingly similar to Dan Yangzi's.

This change sent shivers down Li Huowang's spine. Coupled with the fact that others saw him as Dan Yangzi, his earlier suspicion was no longer just a theory; it was gradually becoming a reality.

If it were just a change in personality, it would be tolerable, but Li Huowang was more concerned that, over time, he would completely transform into Dan Yangzi himself.

"If that's the case, then everything before makes sense. Dan Yangzi wasn't protecting me; he was protecting himself!"

The thought of this possibility made Li Huowang's heart uneasy. If there was anyone he truly hated in this world, that old madman Dan Yangzi would undoubtedly top the list.

He didn't want to become Dan Yangzi; if that happened, he'd rather die!

Li Huowang even had a sudden impulse to turn back to Zhengde Temple immediately. No matter what hardships awaited him, he wanted to first have the monks perform the Grand Universal Salvation Ceremony to deal with Dan Yangzi.

However, this was just a fleeting thought. Before, when they hadn't completely fallen out, there was still hope for reconciliation. But after he killed the seven Buddhas, he believed the monks would try to eliminate him the moment they saw him.

Those monks were not true ascetics who merely prayed; they were capable of anything.

Fortunately, according to the abbot's previous description, there were other sects besides Zhengde Temple. He could only seek solutions from them now. Whatever Zhengde Temple could do, other sects surely could too.

Li Huowang walked to the donkey cart and meticulously examined the map.

He had previously avoided contacting those people because Zhengde Temple had set a bad precedent.

But now he couldn't avoid it. If Zhengde Temple had a way to get rid of Dan Yangzi, then other sects could too.

Although he didn't know what they wanted, their actions clearly indicated they coveted something he possessed.

"Is it the Heavenly Book left by Dan Yangzi?" Li Huowang wondered to himself.

If he didn't want to become Dan Yangzi, he had to find a solution through them.

"If push comes to shove, I'll offer the Heavenly Book as a trade," Li Huowang silently decided. It was the only bargaining chip he currently possessed.

With a feeling of unease, Li Huowang and his companions finally arrived at the small town near the pass.

The small town was bustling with merchants coming and going, some dressed in different styles, all entering the pass for trade.

Gazing at the distant pass, Li Huowang turned to Lu Zhuangyuan. "Master Lu, it seems we'll be parting ways."

Lu Zhuangyuan sighed with emotion and cupped his hands to Li Huowang. "Young Daoist, you've worked hard. We would have suffered greatly on this journey if not for you."

The Lu family troupe, of course, couldn't go beyond the pass. At the checkpoint, they would take another road back to their village.

After resting at home, they would repeat the cycle. This was the fate of small theatrical troupes like theirs. To escape this nomadic life of eating and sleeping outdoors, they would have to buy a theater and settle down permanently.

"Have a safe journey. I don't know what you're planning, Young Daoist, but I wish you immediate success! Here are some salted duck eggs we pickled ourselves; take them for the road."

Lu Xiucai carried the jar of salted duck eggs and, with a reluctant expression, placed it on the donkey cart.

"I'll take your kind words to heart. If there's a chance in the future, we'll certainly watch the Lu family troupe's performances again. Honestly, after seeing them repeatedly, I've really grown fond of them."

After exchanging farewells, the donkey cart, loaded with newly replenished provisions, slowly approached the pass.

Watching their receding figures, Lu Zhuangyuan puffed on his dry pipe, then raised it and playfully tapped his youngest son's head, who looked on with lingering reluctance in his eyes.

"Stop thinking about that pale girl. Our family is humble and can't afford trouble. Go home and find a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for you."

"Dad, what are you talking about? I didn't, I really didn't," Lu Xiucai stammered in frantic denial as the horse turned towards the bustling street.

"Dad, you're so stingy, how could you bear to give him a jar of salted duck eggs?" Lu Juren, holding his daughter, asked curiously.

"What nonsense! Don't think your dad is cheap. Remember, be frugal when you need to, but don't hold back when you should be generous. That Young Daoist isn't an ordinary person. If we build a good connection, our Lu family will have a valuable contact."

After much meandering, they finally left the pass. Although the dirt road was still surrounded by forests, Li Huowang felt something was different.

They weren't the only ones on the road; there were many other carriages and people carrying shoulder poles.

Distinguishing their identities was simple: by their clothing styles. Those from within the pass wore left-overlapping robes, while those from outside, in Siqi, wore right-overlapping robes.

Li Huowang thought for a moment, then opened Lu Zhuangyuan's jar, finding it full of salted duck eggs.

Gouwa leaned over and exclaimed, "In these times, duck eggs are valuable, and so is salt. It's rare for old man Lu Zhuangyuan to be so generous!"

Li Huowang put the lid back on the jar, his impression of the old man significantly improved.

"Enough with the useless talk. Who among you has family in Siqi State? Get ready to go home."

Everyone exchanged glances. Xiaoman, whose body was covered in black fur, raised her right hand and said with a slight tremble in her voice, "My family is in Siqi."

Hearing her words, the surroundings immediately fell silent. Everyone knew about her grievances with her parents and what she intended to do upon returning home.

"Sister Xiaoman, why don't you..." Bai Lingmiao began, her face troubled, but Li Huowang immediately cut her off.

"Alright, then you should be quite familiar with this area. Tell us, what kind of place is Siqi, and are there any major sects like Zhengde Temple?"

Xiaoman, her face hidden by a black bamboo hat, took a deep breath. "I don't know. Although I live here, I've never left the village in over a decade. I only saw a shaman perform at the village entrance once when I was nine."

"Shamans..." The mention of the word "god" inexplicably made Li Huowang feel a chill. The Joyful God had cast too long a shadow over him.

"Do these shamans have any communal living places?"

"No, I heard shamans live in their own homes and worship immortal masters there."

"Immortal masters? Do they have names?" Various strange things from this world flashed through Li Huowang's mind.

"Red, Yellow, White, Liu, Bei. I've only heard of five different types of immortal masters, but I don't know what each of them represents."