Red Bloom

“Senior Brother Li! Senior Brother Li, wait!” Seeing Li Huowang so resolute, Gao Zhijian hurried to stop him.

“Senior Brother Li, going to Qingqiu alone is far too dangerous. Why not stay here?”

“No thanks. I’m not that weak. Besides, if I stayed by your side, I’m afraid some people wouldn’t sleep soundly at night.” Li Huowang shot a glance at the State Preceptor as he spoke.

The State Preceptor, knowing that Li Huowang was about to set off for Qingqiu to deal with the Fa Sect, was naturally very satisfied. “Excellent! Brother Li understands the greater good! I admire that!”

Li Huowang let out a cold snort and said nothing more, leaving the oppressive Imperial Capital behind.

The road to Qingqiu was long, and with the situation on the battlefield uncertain, Li Huowang decided to leave that very day. No point in dragging it out.

But just as he stepped out through the main gate, he saw Lyu Xiucai standing there, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

Suddenly, Lyu Xiucai’s knees buckled, and he fell to his knees before Li Huowang. He pressed his forehead heavily to the ground and spoke through gritted teeth. “Master, I want revenge! I want revenge for my family!”

Li Huowang studied him for a moment before speaking. “Who do you want revenge against?”

Lyu Xiucai jerked his head up, his eyes brimming with absolute hatred. “The Fa Sect! It was the Fa Sect who killed my elder brother and sister-in-law, and drove my father mad!”

In the brief time Li Huowang had been in the palace, Lyu Xiucai seemed to have figured some things out.

“Facing those Fa Sect Wu Ministers, do you think your pathetic skills will keep you alive?”

“When it comes time to fight, don’t count on me to help. If I’m bringing anyone, I’m bringing help, not a burden. And remember, I’m not your master. We’re settled.”

“I’m not afraid to die! I’ll throw my life away! Kill one, I break even. Kill two, I profit!” Lyu Xiucai roared, thrusting out his chest.

Li Huowang looked into his utterly fearless eyes and knew that this time, he meant it.

The Lyu Xiucai Li Huowang remembered had always been a flippant, unreliable sort. This was the first time he had seen him like this.

It seemed the tragedy that had befallen the Lyu Opera Troupe had finally made him grow up. He was no longer the ignorant youth he had been.

After staring at him for a while, Li Huowang reached out and tossed him his Sitian Jian medallion and the gourd containing the Yang Life Pills.

“If you’re brave enough to come, take that to the Sitian Jian’s inner treasury and trade it for something that might keep you alive. Tell them Er Jiu sent you.”

“Yes, Master!” Without a moment’s hesitation, Lyu Xiucai picked up the items and left, looking as though he had already made up his mind.

When Li Huowang returned to his quarters, he said to the eunuch who was looking after Lyu Zhuangyuan and Xiu’er, “I might be away for a while. Take good care of them until I get back. When Xiu’er is old enough, find a scholar to teach her. And if I die, ask His Majesty what to do with them.”

“I understand, Master. Your orders are the Emperor’s orders. I would never dare to be negligent!”

With his loose ends tied up, Li Huowang pulled out a map of the Imperial Capital and studied it, looking for a route out of the city.

“Dad, are we leaving again?” Li Sui asked, holding Xiu’er.

“Yeah. We’re leaving. Go pack your things. We’ll set out as soon as Lyu Xiucai gets back.”

Hearing this, Li Sui nodded obediently and went to prepare their belongings. After all the traveling she had done with her father, she knew exactly what was needed. She had been a great help to him with the little things.

As Li Huowang swapped his tired horse for a fresh, vigorous one at the inn, a knock came at the door.

When Li Huowang opened it, he saw Lyu Xiucai, his eyes a little red. “Back already? That was quick. What did you get?”

Trembling slightly, Lyu Xiucai pulled a roll of blood-red bamboo slips from his robes and held them out to Li Huowang.

“The Thousand Greats Record?”

“Yes.” Lyu Xiucai nodded. “I didn’t recognize the other stuff, and I wouldn’t know how to use it anyway. But this… I’ve seen you use it before, Master. It’s effective, and it doesn’t require any breathing exercises or cultivation. You can just pick it up and use it!”

“Do you know what it costs to use this?” Li Huowang asked, taking the slips and opening them. He stared at the various horrifying torture methods and rituals recorded within.

“I’m not afraid of the pain! I want revenge!”

Lyu Xiucai’s answer was resolute, a fierce bloodlust burning in his eyes.

“Maybe you should forget it. You’re the last man of the Lyu family. If you die, your family line ends.”

Li Huowang’s heart softened for a moment, and he tried to persuade the young man to go back and live a peaceful life.

But Lyu Xiucai’s stance was unshakeable. “No! I have to take revenge! They killed my family! I have to make them pay!”

“My whole family is gone! If I don’t repay that tenfold, a hundredfold, then what was the point of all this effort I put into cultivating my abilities? Did I just cultivate them for my dog to use?!”

Seeing that his persuasion was useless, Li Huowang stopped trying. He tossed the Thousand Greats Record back into Lyu Xiucai’s arms and prepared to leave.

But just as his hand was an inch from the door latch, the courtyard gate was knocked on again. “Another visitor? Who is it this time? I don’t think I know anyone else in the Imperial Capital.”

As Li Huowang opened the door, a delicate, refined oval face appeared before him. Her bright, clear eyes were staring at him with excitement. This was his soulmate in this world.

“Huowang!!” Yang Na could no longer contain her excitement. She threw her arms open and lunged toward him.

Her body was light. She practically leaped onto him, and he caught her securely in his arms.

Breathing in the faint fragrance of her hair, Li Huowang was completely stunned for a moment.

A few seconds passed before he snapped back to reality. Yang Na had come to find him. He was seeing Yang Na again!

“Nana?” Li Huowang loosened his grip, looked at the young woman in front of him once more, then pulled her back into a crushing embrace.

“It’s me! It’s me!” Yang Na hugged him back, jumping up and down with joy.

After they had held each other for a while, Li Huowang felt something strange behind him. He turned to see Sun Xiaoqin standing there, holding a bowl of fruit, a knowing, maternal smile spread across her face.

A faint blush crept onto Yang Na’s cheeks. She grabbed Li Huowang’s hand and pulled him into his bedroom, shutting the door behind them.

The two of them looked at each other, then suddenly rushed together again in another tight embrace. They had been waiting for this moment for far too long. No amount of time spent holding each other seemed like enough.

Li Huowang leaned his face in and gently pressed his lips against hers, soft and red with lipstick.