Chapter 58: Li Zhi

"Ding-a-ling-ling!!" A piercing bell sound instantly cut through the shouting, causing everyone present to clutch their ears with pained expressions.

As the bell sound slowly faded, Li Huowang's sword was already pressed against the man's neck.

"Hehe, Master, what are you doing?" The man remained calm despite the sharp sword at his throat.

"You ask me what I'm doing? I should be asking you! What god are you inviting?"

The fire-blackened blade pressed down slightly, immediately drawing a thin line of blood.

Whatever deity this man was inviting, it couldn't be anything good. Li Huowang hadn't encountered anything positive in this cursed place since he arrived.

Feeling misunderstood, the man chuckled wryly.

"Master, you're not from Siqi, are you? I didn't invite any god; I didn't even beat a drum, so no god could come. I was just demonstrating that I'm a spirit medium."

At that moment, Xiaoman walked over and whispered, "Yes, that's right. Spirit mediums do need to beat drums."

Li Huowang, still wary, glanced at the colorful drum hanging from the man's waist before slowly withdrawing his sword.

"My friend, don't joke like this in the middle of the night. It's easy to misunderstand. You should go."

The man scrutinized the wary Taoist for a moment, then awkwardly nodded and turned to leave. "Alright then, my name is Li Zhi. We'll meet again. Goose, let's go."

With that, he said nothing more, leading the woman in the red bridal veil directly into the dark forest path.

Only after they had completely disappeared did Li Huowang turn back to the others and say, "No one sleeps tonight. Stay vigilant; this guy might not have left."

It's always wise to be cautious of others. Who knew what this fellow's intentions were, appearing suddenly in the dead of night?

With scattered affirmations, the medicinal ingredients, clutching their weapons, gathered around the bonfire, one by one.

Li Huowang picked up a piece of deadwood and tossed it into the fire, its hot glow illuminating the unease on everyone's faces.

The long night passed in this agonizing wait, and nothing happened except for everyone becoming noticeably haggard.

"We'll rest this morning, then continue our journey. Gouwa, you stand guard first," Li Huowang said before slowly closing his eyes.

Li Huowang didn't know how long he had dozed before he was gently shaken awake. "Brother Li, that man is back."

"Huh? What?" The news instantly jolted Li Huowang awake. He turned his head and saw Li Zhi from last night, accompanied by his veil-covered wife, standing smiling not far away.

"Last night, I thought about it for half the night and realized I must have startled you, Master, didn't I? My apologies, apologies, so I specifically came to atone."

Sunlight filtered through the branches, striking Li Zhi's somewhat darkened face, making the mole on his face stand out prominently.

Without the drum at his waist, he looked no different from a farmer who toiled in the fields all year round.

Under the bright sun, he appeared much less threatening than he had last night.

After a quick internal deliberation, Li Huowang performed a hand seal in return. "Brother Li Zhi, you're too kind. I was also rash yesterday."

Regardless of the man's intentions, with a spirit medium right in front of him, it would be a missed opportunity not to try and glean some information from him.

"Just heard this young lady say you're also surnamed Li, Master? Isn't that quite a coincidence? I'm also Li; perhaps we were from the same family five hundred years ago."

Li Zhi, with his amiable expression, casually took two steps forward and addressed Li Huowang.

"Brother Li Zhi, where are you headed?"

"Ah, my ancestor, Black Third Great-Grandma, is celebrating a big birthday in a few days. So, I'm heading there early to offer my felicitations."

A big birthday? Li Huowang mused to himself, "Spirit mediums seem different from monks and Taoists; they aren't free from worldly demands."

"And where are you planning to go, Master? With such a large group of people?" Li Zhi asked, his eyes flickering as he looked at Li Huowang's unwashed, blood-stained Taoist robe.

"To Liang State," Li Huowang replied concisely.

"Oh, so far? You'll have quite a hardship on your journey, Master."

After a brief exchange, the tension between them significantly eased; at least, they no longer had to be so confrontational.

The donkey cart's wheels began to turn, moving forward alongside the red embroidered shoes.

"Half-Moon Gully isn't far ahead. There's a village there where you can rest for a few days, Master. The next habitable place is at least fifteen days' journey away. You know, border regions are always sparsely populated and desolate like this," Li Zhi advised warmly, like an old friend.

"Thank you. Brother Li Zhi, since you're a spirit medium, which immortal do you worship in your home?"

Upon hearing Li Huowang's direct question, the woman with the red veil subtly tilted her head back at the same time.

"Hehe, I am a disciple of the Bei Family. Since you've asked, I won't be coy. May I ask, Master, from which mountain and sect do you hail?"

"Xishan Donghua Sect, Qingfeng Temple, Xuanyang," Li Huowang immediately recited the same lineage Dan Yangzi had given him.

He didn't know which sect the Xishan Donghua Sect was, but saying this would at least make others believe he had a proper lineage, rather than being a fake Taoist.

Li Zhi shook his head. "Hehe, I haven't heard of it. But then again, the world is so vast, no one knows everything."

Li Zhi was very talkative, and his face always wore a smile, which made being around him quite pleasant.

As they continued walking, it was time for lunch. They set up a makeshift stove and boiled noodles, a task made easier by the widening river nearby.

Li Zhi didn't take any food from his small bundle but simply squatted by the roadside, grinning as he watched, making Li Huowang and his companions uncomfortable.

"Brother Li Zhi, would you like some?"

"Oh, yes! That would be wonderful; I haven't eaten all day yesterday." Li Zhi eagerly ran over, grabbed a bowl, and started serving himself noodles.

He slurped down bowl after bowl, causing Bai Lingmiao to frown deeply.

"Brother Li, that's nearly three catties... How can he eat so much? Could he have been trying to get close to us all this time just for this meal?"

Everyone watched as Li Zhi scooped up the last noodle from the pot. He showed no shame, continuing to slurp under the tree.

Li Huowang walked over to him, squatting down in a similar fashion. "Is that enough noodles? Should we cook more?"

"Oh, that's very kind of you, but I actually haven't had enough," Li Zhi said, taking a large gulp of noodle soup.

"Cook another two catties of noodles!" Li Huowang called out towards the iron pot.

"Why are you the only one eating? Your wife isn't eating. Isn't she hungry?" Li Huowang glanced at the woman with the red veil. He noticed her fingernails were somewhat blackened and extremely long.

"I am the Great God, and she is the Lesser God. My eating is sufficient," Li Zhi stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh? Why is that?"

The slurping stopped. Li Zhi raised his right hand, still holding his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with his elbow, and turned his head to say with a smile, "Hehe, Master, asking so many questions... are you interested in becoming a spirit medium yourself?"