Chapter 652: Death

Inside the Lu family's theater, the entire building, made of wood, was excellent fuel. Red and yellow flames blazed fiercely, engulfing everything within the theater. Crackling sounds accompanied the acrid smell of smoke that drifted into Li Huowang's nostrils.

Meanwhile, the deranged Scholar Lu completely ignored his surroundings, still standing on the stage, loudly singing opera lyrics, performing a final act with his son and daughter-in-law. This distant scene was deeply imprinted in Li Huowang's mind, leaving him with a mix of emotions.

"Hahaha!!! Good riddance, good riddance!!" Laughter came from Li Huowang's left; it was Qiu Chibao. Holding half a rotting infant corpse, she seemed to be stimulated by something, excitedly bouncing and leaping as she watched the bodies burning in the surrounding flames.

"Wuwu…" Crying came from Li Huowang's right; it was Jin Shanzhao, who, lacking his lower body, lay on the ground, wiping away tears with heart-wrenching sorrow.

The moment the monk's chanting for salvation began, Li Huowang walked over and rescued Scholar Lu. As soon as Li Huowang brought Scholar Lu out, the entire theater completely collapsed.

Li Huowang looked at the disoriented Scholar Lu in his arms, then at the disappearance of Master Lu in the flames. Honestly, he wasn't particularly close to the Lu family. He knew they had treated him as a bodyguard throughout their journey, but he had chosen not to expose it. Yet, seeing this scene unfold before him, his heart felt heavy.

"Troupe Master Lu! Hold on! Your granddaughter is still alive! Don't give up!"

Li Huowang brought Scholar Lu and Xiu'er to the foot of the Imperial City. He had no other choice; the entire Great Liang was in chaos, and only here was safe. The Imperial City had clearly reacted. Outside the date-red city walls, a formidable group of military strategists had encircled it layer upon layer. This was merely the outer defense; heaven knew how many precautions were taken within the city walls.

"Guard them for me!!" Li Huowang, suppressing his anger, pushed the old man and the young girl forward. "If I return and find so much as a single hair on their heads missing, I'll kill you all!!"

As soon as Li Huowang finished speaking, Peng Longteng's tall figure suddenly appeared behind him. With one hand, he grabbed the tentacles on Li Huowang's body and hurled him forcefully towards the sky. Amidst the howling wind, the entire capital city of Shangjing came into full view. He could see that the largest city in the Great Liang dynasty was now completely engulfed in chaos.

Outside the city gates, countless Dharma followers surged towards the city walls like ants. Inside the city walls, rebellion had also erupted everywhere, with crowds incited by the Dharma sect. They shouted words they didn't understand, unleashing the malice hidden within their hearts.

At this moment, Shangjing's constables and the Si Tianjian (Observatory Bureau) had all been mobilized. They clashed with each other, one replacing another, and the entire city of Shangjing descended into complete pandemonium.

Li Huowang had known that the Dharma sect was a scourge; if allowed to expand, it could overthrow the entire world. In his heart, he had always regarded fighting the Dharma sect as self-preservation and an obligation, without any strong feelings towards the sect itself. However, just now, his attitude towards the Dharma sect had changed, now mixed with anger and hatred. The Dharma sect could not only destroy the entire world of Great Liang but also bring immense suffering and despair to countless people. This entity wanted to share the torment it had experienced with everyone in the world!

Li Huowang did not want this. He knew how unbearable that feeling was; one Li Huowang suffering in this world was enough.

"Ji Zai! Do something! The Dharma sect is attacking the city!! So many people have died, are you blind?!"

Li Huowang, suspended in mid-air, shouted loudly towards the sun in the sky, yet received no response. Seeing no movement from the other side, Li Huowang gritted his teeth in silent resentment. Relying on mountains, mountains fall; relying on water, water flows. At this moment, he could only rely on himself.

Peng Longteng reappeared beside Li Huowang, grabbing him and throwing him directly towards the most chaotic area in Shangjing below. After Li Huowang landed heavily in the mud from high above, his entire body sprang out of the earth as his tentacles forcefully pushed. Armed with various sharp weapons and brimming with fury, he charged towards the Dharma followers who were looting and burning before him. He had to completely vent his anger, or else he would go utterly mad.

Wherever Li Huowang went, he unleashed a bloodbath. Ordinary Dharma followers were no match for him, nor were some of the shamans hidden among them. At this moment, Li Huowang moved through Shangjing as if unopposed, cutting down enemies relentlessly. Now, his only thought was to kill every single Dharma follower, leaving none alive. The more Dharma followers there were, the more tragedies like the Lu family troupe's would occur!

As Li Huowang became thoroughly drenched in blood, the Purple Tassel Sword in his hand was enveloped by malevolent energy that had almost solidified, letting out roars like a dragon. The sword pulsed continuously as if alive, and streams of warmth consistently restored Li Huowang's stamina. With a powerful swing from Li Huowang, a red sword aura lashed out, slicing both a person and a wooden hut in the distance clean in half.

Witnessing this, Li Huowang suddenly understood that he had underestimated the Purple Tassel Sword all along; he hadn't killed enough people in the past. Wielding the sword, Li Huowang fought from dawn until dusk, and from dusk until nightfall, until a film of blood covered his eyes. When Li Sui's exhausted tentacles dragged on the ground, he finally saw no more Dharma followers.

The city gradually quieted down. Members of the Si Tianjian, with their waist plaques, stood high on rooftops, scanning their surroundings like vultures of various colors. Each of them had a strong killing intent in their eyes; any Dharma follower who dared to show themselves would face their severe crackdown.

Li Huowang stood blankly, looking down at his daoist robe, which was covered in blood. As he looked at the bodies strewn around him, Li Huowang felt as if his side had won, yet he felt no joy, only profound exhaustion.

"Dad, I'm hungry. Can I eat some of your flesh?"

Li Huowang nodded, pulled over a three-legged stool, and sat down. "Yes, eat."

"Thank you, Dad."

"Ji Zai." Li Huowang called out to his shadow again, but still received no response.

Li Huowang looked up at the distant Imperial Palace. Xuanpin, Zheng Boqiao, and the Grand Preceptor had not appeared, seemingly all having gone to protect the Emperor. It appeared Gao Zhijian should be fine.

"Why did they do this?" Li Huowang pondered this question, looking at the bodies of the Dharma followers on the ground. Although it seemed exceptionally tragic, only ordinary people had died. Neither the imperial family, the military strategists, nor the Si Tianjian had suffered significant losses. Reflecting on it now, it was as if these Dharma followers had willingly sacrificed themselves.