Meeting an Old Friend in a Strange Land

Chapter 334: Meeting an Old Friend in a Strange Land

Li Huowang turned and came to the bedside, lying down with his eyes closed.

As Red Center beside him was contemplating something with a smile on her face, the monk walked over and said, “What crooked idea are you cooking up now? Let me warn you—don’t think about harming the Daoist. He’s a good man.”

“A good man, huh. Good man.”

That night, perhaps because of the wine, Li Huowang slept deeply. When he woke again, the sun was already high in the sky.

He yawned and began to wash and dress.

Since Tuoba Danqing said to stay here for now, he might as well remain in Yinling City for the time being.

Besides, he had nowhere else to go right now.

Exactly how long he would stay depended on Tuoba Danqing, but judging from how things had gone so far, it probably wouldn’t be too long.

“Flatbread~ Delicious flatbread~”

“Honey~ hey hey~ Ice sugar gourds~”

“Sharpening scissors~ Honing cleavers~”

“They say that General Jiang, eight feet tall and four feet wide at the waist, stood his ground and bellowed at the enemy camp, ‘HEY~ HEY!!’ Instantly, a thousand Qi soldiers were so terrified their guts burst and they dropped dead! And then—”

Li Huowang walked slowly through the streets of Yinling City, listening to the sounds coming from every direction.

“How much for one flatbread?”

“One coin each. Look how big they are. My flatbreads are cheap and filling~”

He bought four flatbreads that were like steamed buns split open, holding them in his hands as he walked and ate.

He wasn’t walking fast. The reason he had come to the street was to let Li Sui learn from the voices of the people around.

Before, just a few casual words from others and “Dad” had remembered them so clearly—it was enough to prove that this one could imitate not only his own voice but other people’s voices too.

Today, he wanted to test whether Li Sui would learn faster if exposed to more people.

When he heard sporadic imitative sounds at the edge of his hearing, Li Huowang felt he had guessed correctly.

But there was one difference: Li Sui’s imitation was all-inclusive. Even the curses of a shrew arguing in the street were absorbed.

Frowning at the grating sounds, Li Huowang quickened his pace and left the spot.

Standing in the middle of the street, Li Huowang looked at the bustling surroundings. He had to admit, Da Liang was Da Liang—it was genuinely prosperous. All kinds of things were available.

Yet the rulers of this prosperity were using things like “Beauty Paper” and “Skin Cups.” The contrast was hard to ignore.

Then again, maybe it was precisely this kind of prosperity that gave rise to such things.

Just as Li Huowang was lost in thought amid the crowd, he suddenly noticed something. His expression turned grave as he rushed forward.

To pick up speed, he even used his dislocation ability through the crowd.

After weaving left and right, Li Huowang slapped his hand heavily on the shoulder of a man staring blankly at a wonton stall. “What are you doing here?”

The man turned around, looking dazed. But when he saw Li Huowang, he cried out in excitement, “Master!”

It was Lü Xiucai. Seeing Li Huowang, he was so thrilled he almost threw himself forward.

“I asked why you’re here. Where’s Troupe Leader Lü?”

At the mention of his father, Lü Xiucai’s face twisted with disdain. “I got sick of him a long time ago. Damn it, if it weren’t for me still being—”

Seeing Li Huowang’s icy stare, Lü Xiucai shut his mouth. “Master, I have divine powers now! How could I still go around acting in operas with him? I’m out to make my own way, of course!”

Li Huowang glanced around, then pulled him over to sit at the wonton stall.

“Make your own way? Where’s your change of clothes? Your travel money? Your weapon? You’re going to make your way empty-handed like this?”

Hearing this, Lü Xiucai clenched his teeth, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes as he said bitterly, “I did bring them! But some bastard stole them yesterday! If I catch them—damn it—when I get my hands on them—”

“Alright, alright.” Li Huowang’s face showed a trace of impatience. The feeling Lü Xiucai gave him now was like the neighbor’s yappy dog back home—pathetically weak, yet unbearably arrogant.

The Purple-Tasseled Sword had changed his personality, but even with a changed personality, Lü Xiucai was still just a raw seventeen-year-old boy.

“Your travel money got stolen yesterday? So you probably haven’t eaten all day? Boss, two bowls of wontons.”

When the wontons, sprinkled with sesame seeds and dried shrimp, were set before him, Lü Xiucai forgot everything else, almost wanting to grab them with his hands.

Watching him wince from the heat but refuse to spit them out, Li Huowang frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, “After I left, how was the village?”

“It’s—hah—hah—still the same.”

After forcing the wonton down, Lü Xiucai said, “Everyone’s doing well. That old geezer bought a few more oxen, planning to plant all the fields around the village come next spring. He said we’re short on hands and is worried about finding tenant farmers.”

“And Miao Miao?”

“Miss Bai is fine. She eats and sleeps well, but she’s often a little distracted.”

Li Huowang let out a long breath, resting his elbows on his knees. He closed his eyes and scrubbed his face hard with both hands. “Good, as long as she’s fine. Good.”

By now, Lü Xiucai had downed half the bowl, his hunger eased. His flagging spirit began to lift.

“Master! Let me stay by your side from now on!”

Li Huowang shook his head firmly. “After this meal, I’ll give you travel money to go back to Niuxin Village. You’re not going anywhere else—you’re going straight home.”

He couldn’t afford to carry a burden, especially one he had no connection with. Providing travel money was already the limit of his goodwill.

“I’m not going back! If I go back, my big brother will force me to work in the fields!”

Li Huowang grabbed Lü Xiucai by the collar in one swift motion, staring at him with extreme severity. “Only your father would indulge you—but I’m not your father!”

“I have enough troubles of my own! I don’t have time to deal with you! If you say one more useless word, I swear I’ll break your legs and leave you begging on the street!”

Lü Xiucai’s lips trembled. Faced with Li Huowang’s harsh gaze, he ultimately dared not say another word.

“After you go back, don’t mention that you saw me.” Li Huowang slapped a piece of silver the size of his thumb on the table in front of Lü Xiucai, then turned and walked away.

Watching Li Huowang’s figure grow distant, Lü Xiucai’s face burned with resentment.

Just as he was about to disappear into the crowd, Lü Xiucai shouted after him, heatedly, “You were the one who said you’d teach me divine powers! But all you taught me was how to use a sword—and you didn’t even leave me one! What kind of master are you! You broke your word!”

Seeing Li Huowang turn back, Lü Xiucai quickly stuffed the silver into his robe, looking ready to bolt at any moment.

Li Huowang flicked his hand. Five blackened copper coins flew like coin darts and embedded themselves in the wooden table right in front of Lü Xiucai.

They were removed from Li Huowang’s copper coin sword. There were only five, but with the Xiandu Zi Seal Imprint to control them, they would still be quite effective.

“We’re even now! Don’t ever call me master again!”

Encountering an old acquaintance in a strange land, Li Huowang had lost his interest in wandering. He turned and headed back toward the inn.

“Miao Miao?” The Black Tai Sui’s voice rang in Li Huowang’s ears.

“Since Li Huowang is your father, you should call this one ‘Miao Miao’—‘Mother.’” Red Center, back to her usual grinning self, hopped over beside him and prompted.

“Mother?”

At these words, Li Huowang froze for a moment. “Li Sui can actually hear hallucinations talk?”