Mutated Tao

Li Huowang stood at the top of Shangjing’s east gate and looked down.

Even though the murderous aura had tainted the people, they needed to continue their lives. However, there were more criminals now, and the people were rowdier.

Though the murderous aura had tainted the people, life continued. Still, crime surged, and the people became rowdier.

“Are you selling it at fifty coins or not? I will stab you if you’re not!”

“You bastard! Look at my neck—go ahead and stab if you’ve got the guts! Think I’m scared of you?”

“How dare you trick me?! It’s one catty lighter than you promised! I will shave the weight off your flesh!”

Li Huowang’s eyes scanned their faces, but his mind wandered elsewhere.

Suddenly, something caught his eye, and his pupils shrank. He leaped and dashed across the algae-covered roof tiles.

He brushed past the white banners and saw Bai Lingmiao sitting on a lotus seat. She was okay.

Bai Lingmiao blushed when she sensed the gazes from the others. “What are you doing? Look at where we are!”

She waved all four of her arms, and the two of them disappeared.

When Li Huowang regained his senses, he realized they were back in Bai Lingmiao’s room.

He let her go and noticed that all four of her eyes were emitting a murderous aura.

“You… were tainted by the murderous aura too?” Li Huowang was stunned momentarily. “That’s fine. As long as you are alive.”

He was worried that Bai Lingmiao would never return when he saw Yang Na and Bai Lingmiao superimposing on one another.

Bai Lingmiao was still alive. That was all he cared about. Her changed personality was nothing serious.

Li Huowang hugged her once more, holding her incredibly tightly.

Bai Lingmiao pushed him away slightly before unbuttoning her clothes. “Hurry up. There are still issues for me to handle in the Tianchen Kingdom.”

“Wait, Miaomiao. This isn’t what I intended to do.” Li Huowang laughed, quickly stopping her. Bai Lingmiao had become more brazen after being tainted by the murderous aura.

“Miaomiao, that’s not quite what I wanted. I just wanted to hug you, even though it’s been so long since we’ve had time for ourselves.”

Li Huowang carefully hugged her again.

He sniffed her fragrant hair and recalled what they had all been through. After a long while, Li Huowang broke the silence. “Miaomiao, you can’t leave. You’re the only one I have left…”

The murderous aura in Bai Lingmiao’s eyes softened as she felt the change in his emotions.

She gently patted his back with all four hands and sighed. “Don’t worry. I won’t go anywhere. We still need to find a way to revive Suisui.”

“Yes.”

Li Huowang nodded and closed his eyes. Too many things had happened in a short period of time. He was exhausted and could feel himself going unconscious.

For the first time in a long while, he felt safe. He could finally relax a little.

“Senior Li, what’ll we do once we save Suisui?” Bai Lingmiao asked, her voice laced with longing, as if she had just escaped the Zephyr Temple.

“Once we find Suisiu, we can return to Cowheart Village. We don’t have to do anything. I just want to live peacefully. I’m too tired…”

“Is that so? What do you think a peaceful day should be?”

“As long as no one dies, that’s enough. To me, that’s a normal day,” Li Huowang replied, his voice barely audible as though speaking in a dream.

Their conversation drifted to other topics, unhurried and aimless. They held each other close, and their injured hearts seemed to mend a little.

One division later, Bai Lingmiao rested on Li Huowang’s chest, draped in his red Daoist robe while listening to his heartbeat. “I have to go soon. I can’t stay away from the Tianchen Kingdom for long. Most of the people and evil entities now worship the Heavenly MaterWhite Lotus Sect, but there are still stubborn bandits who resist.”

“Sure. I need to find Gao Zhijian to discuss some matters too.”

Li Huowang took off Bai Lingmiao’s golden anklet and gave her some white clothes.

“Senior Li,” Bai Lingmiao said, putting her silk eye covers back on, “we should talk like this more often. It makes me feel at ease.”

Li Huowang nodded as he put on his boots and robes. He froze as he turned to the bronze basin to wash his face.

He saw Ji Zai in the water instead of his own reflection. Ji Zai was panicking.

“Li Huowang! Quick! The Baiyu Capital needs Dragon Qi! The sky will tear open if we don’t patch it up!”

Li Huowang’s thoughts spiraled. Baiyu Capital existed outside the flow of time. The nightmare wasn’t over—it was only beginning!

“What’s wrong? Are you alright?”

Li Huowang shook his head as if he was hiding from something. He stumbled towards the front door. “I… I need to go and find Gao Zhijian. The Baiyu Capital requires Dragon Qi.”

Li Huowang ran out, using his cultivation to travel quickly. He phased past the walls of the palace and finally found Gao Zhijian. He was eating while holding onto his imperial son.

Gai Zhijian stuffed a scallion pancake into his own mouth and asked, “Senior Li, what’s wrong?”

“Dragon Veins!” Li Huowang shouted. “The Baiyu Capital is in danger. I need two Dragon Veins and the support of all five emperors to send them up!”

Hearing the urgency in Li Huowang’s tone, Gao Zhijian turned serious and stood up, abandoning his meal. “Understood.”

Soon, five emperors stood before a bronze tree Li Huowang had conjured. The Dragon Veins were also there, each dragging the past emperors behind them. Their chains had long been undone.

“Daoist Li,” the Khan of Qing Qiu said, “for the sake of our nations, I am more than happy to ascend. I don’t doubt you, but this is an important matter—why will you not come with us?”

“You can just ascend to find me up there. My past self is up there waiting for you!”

Li Huowang started to snarl uncontrollably, as if afraid of something up there.

The Khan wanted to say more, but Gao Zhijian interjected, “Senior Li’s word is law. Without him, the Dharma Sect would’ve destroyed us. We cannot doubt him.”

The dragons roared, and the five Dragon Veins brought two other Dragon Veins to the Baiyu Capital. The people of Shangjing kneeled in worship.

Li Huowang pounded his head in pain as the dragons’ roars grew weaker. He murmured to himself, “Don’t worry… There’s still hope. There must be.”

As he muttered, his reflection spoke again, its voice mirroring his panic. “We still need more help! We need allies! Call everyone you can!”

Suddenly, Li Huowang heard quiet footsteps behind him. A gentle hand patted Li Huowang’s shoulder. “Senior Li, is it my turn?”

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