Chapter 680: Killing

"Thud." Chi Baishui's head hit the ground and rolled, finally coming to rest at the feet of Yang Xiaohai's elder sister.

Her expression shifted from indifference to astonishment, then from astonishment to terror. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Father!"

As soon as she spoke, it was as if a switch had been flipped. The surroundings erupted in a buzzing frenzy, and angry shouts and fishing spears alike flew towards Li Huowang.

The spears pierced Li Huowang's chest, emerging from his back without changing their course.

Li Huowang stomped his feet firmly on the ground, then charged towards them, wielding his Zisui sword.

He was busy and had no time for lengthy discussions with these people.

Given Yang Xiaohai's injuries, the old man's previous act of stealing the Ruyi Scepter, and that Dharma Sect woman, there seemed to be nothing left to discuss. Direct action was more practical.

Seeing Li Huowang was alone, the younger, stronger Tanka people attempted to surround and kill him, using their coordinated fishing techniques.

But once Li Huowang truly began to act, the scent of blood quickly permeated the air. He had started a massacre with no suspense.

The tattoos that allowed them to move like fish in water offered no protection at this moment. Li Huowang's sword continuously slashed through the bodies of the Tanka people, cutting through their dragon-scaled tattoos.

Yang Xiaohai and Zhao Xiumei stood by, dumbfounded, watching the growing pile of corpses on the ground. These were all his relatives.

At that moment, Yang Xiaohai wanted to shout something at Li Huowang's retreating back, but he didn't know what to say.

The battle ended almost before it began. Witnessing Li Huowang's terrifying strength, the Tanka people's rising anger quickly dissipated.

They scattered like birds and beasts, desperately rushing towards the distant seashore. This only made them easier targets for Li Huowang, who faced no resistance.

"Senior Brother Li! Enough! That's enough!" Yang Xiaohai finally managed to cry out.

Li Huowang didn't stop, but he ceased chasing the others. Instead, he charged directly towards the small-footed woman with the black cloth head covering on her shoulder; among these people, she was the only one from the Dharma Sect.

Just as Li Huowang reached the small-footed woman and raised his long sword, Yang Xiaohai's voice came from behind him. "Senior Brother Li! Don't!!"

The sword blade, aimed at her head, shifted down an inch, severing her left foot.

Holding his dripping sword, Li Huowang turned to look at Yang Xiaohai, who was not far away. "What? Do you know this Dharma Sect follower?"

"I... I..." Yang Xiaohai looked at the dismembered Chi Baishui and the Tanka people lying in pools of blood. His trembling lips parted again, and he said with anguished hesitation, "No... I don't know her."

"Swish!" As the sword blade carved a bloody line on the ground, Yang Xiaohai, with wide eyes, watched his elder sister's body split diagonally into two halves.

The next moment, Yang Xiaohai's body went limp, and he collapsed onto the ground.

Had Senior Brother Li done anything wrong? No, he hadn't. He had come to save him. But for some reason, Yang Xiaohai felt that things shouldn't have turned out this way.

"Father." Li Sui walked over from a distance, followed by the White Lotus Sect's carriages.

At the same time, Bai Lingmiao also approached, her expression conflicted. She seemed to have heard something, looking first at Li Huowang, then at Yang Xiaohai, then at Chi Baishui's corpse on the ground. The sarira within her allowed her to hear much farther than anyone else.

"Are the Dharma Sects of Later Shu all this weak? Is it because they expanded too quickly?" Li Huowang nudged the bloody three-inch golden lotus at his feet with his foot, pondering in confusion.

The Dharma Sect followers he had encountered before, regardless of their strength, would at least not flee after so few casualties.

After a few moments of thought, Li Huowang picked up his long sword, wiped both sides on his red robe, and sheathed it behind him.

He walked back to Yang Xiaohai, looking at him with some displeasure. "What's wrong with you? You knew the Dharma Sect was causing trouble in Later Shu, so why did you still come here? Do you not value your own life?"

"When you saw the situation wasn't peaceful, you should have returned to Niuxin Village immediately! Wait until this situation passes before doing anything else!"

Yang Xiaohai sniffled, trying hard to hold back tears, and looked at Senior Brother Li in front of him. "Senior Brother Li, why are you here?"

"I came to Later Shu to deal with some matters. When I visited Sun Baolu in Qingqiu, he told me you were also heading this way."

"It's a good thing I knew you were ahead; I hurried. If I had been even a step slower, you and your wife would have been killed by the Dharma Sect."

As Li Huowang spoke, he reached out, grasped the fishing spears in Yang Xiaohai's hands and feet, and pulled them out. He then took out the "True Scripture of Fire Robes" to heal him.

Amidst the crackling of burning flames and Yang Xiaohai's screams, the profusely bleeding wounds were gradually replaced by horrifying burns.

After Li Huowang finished, Bai Lingmiao came over, took out gauze, and began to bandage Yang Xiaohai.

Li Huowang looked at the dark sky above, then at the dark sea in the distance. After a moment of frowning thought, he said to Yang Xiaohai, "I don't feel comfortable with you two returning the way you came. Follow me for now. Once we find the Later Shu's Celestial Observation Bureau, I'll have them send a few people to escort you back to Niuxin Village."

Yang Xiaohai clutched his injured hand and nodded silently. "Okay, I understand."

"What are these three?" Li Huowang shifted his attention to the three children.

Although they were dressed as children, their behavior was like monkeys, appearing very strange. At first glance, the strong sense of disharmony made Li Huowang think they were three evil spirits.

"They... they're people I rescued along the way, poor souls just like us." Yang Xiaohai then recounted the origin of the monkey-children to Li Huowang.

As he spoke, he gradually calmed down, and his emotions became less volatile.

Even though his biological father had just died, he couldn't bring himself to feel sad for a man who had tried to sell his own wife.

He wasn't his family, nor were any of the Chi family members. Senior Brother Li and the others were his true family.

Still, he felt a certain sadness for his relatives and elder sister. They had certainly wronged him, but their sins weren't worthy of death.

"Let's go," Li Huowang said, leading Yang Xiaohai towards the dirt road by the distant sea.

Because his feet were injured, Yang Xiaohai walked with a limp and appeared to be in great pain. Although the wounds had been treated, the burns still hurt.

Seeing this, Li Huowang turned and called out to the carriage behind him, "Xiucai! Come here and carry the child onto the carriage!"

"Yes, Master." Lu Xiucai walked over, and without a word, carried Yang Xiaohai towards the carriage.

Lying on Lu Xiucai's back, Yang Xiaohai looked at his somewhat haggard face. As if remembering something, he asked with some hesitation and caution, "Xiucai, how is your eldest brother, Juren?"