Chapter 666: Red Beauty

"Brother Li, Brother Li, wait a moment!" Seeing Li Huowang's determined expression, Gao Zhijian quickly tried to stop him.

"Brother Li, it's too dangerous for you to go to Qingqiu alone. Why don't you stay here?"

"No thanks, I'm not that weak. Besides, if I stay by your side, I'm afraid some people won't be able to sleep peacefully at night." Saying this, Li Huowang glanced at the Imperial Preceptor.

Knowing that Li Huowang was about to leave for Qingqiu to deal with the Dharma Sect, the Imperial Preceptor was naturally very pleased. "Excellent! Brother Li truly understands righteousness! I admire you!"

Li Huowang snorted, said nothing more, and left the uncomfortable imperial city of Shangjing.

Qingqiu was far away, and the combat situation there was unclear, so Li Huowang decided to depart that very day, without delay.

However, just as Li Huowang walked out of the main gate, he saw Scholar Lu standing there with a blank stare.

Suddenly, Scholar Lu's knees buckled, and he knelt directly before Li Huowang, then heavily knocked his forehead on the ground, gritting his teeth as he said, "Master, I want revenge! I want to avenge my family!"

Li Huowang watched him for a moment, then spoke, "Who do you want to avenge?"

Scholar Lu suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with intense hatred. "The Dharma Sect! It was the Dharma Sect who killed my elder brother and sister-in-law and drove my father mad!"

During Li Huowang's brief time in the palace, Scholar Lu seemed to have figured some things out.

"With your amateur skills, can you survive against the Dharma Sect's shamans?"

"When it comes to actual fighting, don't expect me to help you. If I bring anyone, I'll only bring helpers, not burdens. And remember, I'm not your master; we're even."

"I'm not afraid to die! I'll risk my life! Killing one is breaking even, killing two is profit!" Scholar Lu roared, puffing out his chest.

Li Huowang looked at his fearless eyes and knew that this time, he was serious.

In Li Huowang's impression, Scholar Lu had always been a carefree person. This was the first time he had seen Scholar Lu like this.

It seemed the tragedy of the Lu Family Troupe had finally made him grow up, no longer the ignorant youth he once was.

Staring at him for a moment, Li Huowang reached out and threw him the Bureau of Celestial Supervision's waist token and a gourd containing Longevity Pills.

"If you dare to come, take this to the Bureau of Celestial Supervision's inner treasury to exchange for some life-saving items. Tell them Ear Nine sent you."

"Yes, Master!" Scholar Lu unhesitatingly picked up the items and left, looking as if he had already made up his mind.

After Li Huowang returned to his residence, he spoke to the eunuch who was looking after Scholar Lu and Xiuer: "I may be away for some time. Before I return, take good care of them. If Xiuer reaches a suitable age, find a scholar to teach her. If I die, ask His Majesty what to do with these two."

"Yes, Your servant understands. Your orders are the Emperor's orders; your servant would never dare to be negligent!"

Having resolved his worries, Li Huowang took out a map of Shangjing and began to study it, looking for a travel route.

"Father, are we leaving again?" Li Sui asked, hugging Xiuer.

"Yes, we're leaving. Go pack. Once Scholar Lu returns, I'll depart."

Hearing this, Li Sui nodded obediently and went to prepare her belongings.

These days, she had traveled north and south with her father and knew exactly what to prepare, proving quite useful to him in various minor tasks.

Just as Li Huowang replaced his tired horse and went to an inn to swap it for a fresh, energetic one, a knock sounded at the door.

When Li Huowang opened the door, he saw Scholar Lu return, his eyes slightly red. "You're back? That was fast. What did you exchange for?"

Scholar Lu's hands trembled slightly as he pulled a scroll of blood-red bamboo slips from his embrace and presented it to Li Huowang.

"The Great Thousand Records?"

"Yes." Scholar Lu nodded. "I don't recognize the others, and some things I can't use, but this one... I saw Master use this before; it's very effective. And you don't need to cultivate or breathe; you can use it right away!"

"Do you know what price you have to pay to use this thing?" Li Huowang reached out, took it, and opened it, staring at the astonishing array of tortures and rituals depicted on it.

He asked.

"I'm not afraid of pain! I want revenge!"

Scholar Lu replied resolutely, his eyes filled with intense murderous intent.

"Maybe you should reconsider. You're the last male of your Lu family. If you die, your family line will end."

Li Huowang finally softened a bit and tried to persuade him to go back and live a peaceful life.

However, Scholar Lu's attitude was exceptionally firm. "No! I want revenge! They killed my family! I must get payback!"

"My family was wiped out! If I don't retaliate tenfold, a hundredfold at a time like this, then what was the point of me cultivating all these divine powers through so much hardship? Did I cultivate them for nothing?!"

Seeing that persuasion was useless, Li Huowang stopped trying. He tossed the Great Thousand Records into Scholar Lu's arms and prepared to leave.

But just as Li Huowang's hand was an inch from the door latch, another knock sounded at the courtyard gate. "Someone else? Who is it this time? I shouldn't know anyone else in Shangjing."

Li Huowang opened the door, and a beautiful, delicate, oval-shaped face appeared before him. Her bright, clear eyes looked at him excitedly—this was his confidante in this world.

"Huowang!" Yang Na could not contain her excitement. She spread her arms and embraced Li Huowang.

Yang Na was light. She practically jumped onto Li Huowang and was caught steadily in his arms.

Smelling the faint fragrance from her hair, Li Huowang was completely taken by surprise at that moment.

After a few seconds, Li Huowang finally came to his senses. Yang Na had come to find him; he was seeing Yang Na again!

"Nana?" Li Huowang released his hands, carefully scrutinized the girl before him again, then opened his arms once more and hugged her tightly.

"It's me! It's me!" Yang Na hugged Li Huowang back, excitedly bouncing on her feet, overjoyed.

After a moment of embrace, Li Huowang suddenly felt something amiss behind him. When he turned, he saw Sun Xiaoqin, holding a basin of fruit, standing there with an aunt-like smile on her face, watching them.

Yang Na's face flushed slightly. She pulled Li Huowang into his bedroom and closed the door.

The two inside looked at each other, then suddenly opened their arms again and embraced tightly once more. They had waited for this moment for so long that it felt like no amount of embrace was enough.

Li Huowang leaned his face in, gently pressing his lips, now smudged with lipstick, against hers.