Mutated Tao

Chapter 446: Cowheart Village

Li Huowang had his veil on as he held the reins of his horse and stood by the road, looking at Cowheart Village from afar.

He had stood here a few months before, thinking about how to explain to Bai Lingmiao that he had killed her entire family.

He was now standing in the same location, thinking about how to explain to the villagers what he had gone through during the past few months.

Li Huowang had accomplished his goal and was no longer plagued by his hallucination. He should be happy to meet the villagers again, but he felt hesitant instead.

Unlike in the stillness of winter the last time he was here, Cowheart Village was much livelier in spring. There were people and cows working in the fields around the village.

The people working in the fields looked young and clumsy, but they worked hard. They looked quite disheveled though.

Woof! Woof!

Buns barking tore Li Huowang's attention away, and he looked at Bun. Bun was arching its back and growling at Li Sui hiding in the bushes.

Even though Li Huowang had reprimanded Bun many times, it still refused to acknowledge Li Sui as a companion and viewed him as an enemy.

Li Sui asked, Father, why is it barking at me? I like playing with it, but it doesnt like me."

Li Huowang looked at Li Sui. Li Sui was covered tightly in a straw robe and wore a hat with a black veil too.

If someone were to see Li Sui, they wouldve thought he was a short, plump kid, rather than a bundle of tentacles.

Li Huowang answered, Since it doesnt want to play with you, you should play with something else instead. Stop bothering Bun.

Li Sui had been instrumental in suppressing Li Huowang's hallucination in the past, but Li Huowang no longer needed him for that. So, Li Huowang didnt know what to do with Li Sui now.

Should I let him go? Li Huowang thought.

However, he really didnt want to. He had taught Li Sui how to speak one word at a time ever since he developed a consciousness. Li Huowang would be lying to himself if he said he didnt feel attached to Li Sui even though he was an evil being.

Still, Li Sui might look horrifying, but he was a pure-hearted evil being. It would be too easy for someone to manipulate him. A Black Taisui was technically also a pill ingredient, and Li Huowang was afraid that the moment he released Li Sui into the wild, someone would snatch him up.

Li Huowang decided to raise Li Sui like Bun instead. Thankfully he wasn't a handful.

Once you enter the village, you mustnt take off your robe and veil. Also, do not extend your tentacle outside the veil; you'll scare the others.

Father, I understand, Li Sui replied quietly.

As his tentacles continued to wiggle, he followed Li Huowang to the entrance of the village, leaving a trail of slime in its wake.

Two people, a horse, and a dog approached the village. It was clear to the villagers that they were not peddlers. The villagers in the field quickly took notice of them.

Senior Li! Senior Li, you are back! Yang Xiaohai yelled.

He ran out of the fields excitedly, and a plump lady followed him out of curiosity.

Bun wagged its tail excitedly when it saw familiar faces and ran over. It jumped into Yang Xiaohais embrace.

Yang Xiaohai hugged Bun tightly and asked Li Huowang excitedly. Senior Li, where have you been? Weve been thinking of you! Are you alright?

More and more people gathered around Li Huowang. By the time he arrived at the Bai Family's estate, almost everyone in the village had crowded around him.

Gao Zhijian appeared to have grown even taller, and he looked like a goose among chickens. He stammered as he tried to say something.

However, Puppy interrupted him. Senior Li, look! This is my wife! Look at her belly! Shes going to give birth soon! Im becoming a father! Hahaha!

Puppys laughter didnt last long though.

Chun Xiaoman pushed him away and told Li Huowang, Senior Li, youve finally returned. Miaomiao kept talking about you. Shes worried.

Zhao Wu walked over with a cane and shared excitedly, Senior Li, when you werent here, I kept tabs on the finances of the entire Cowheart Village! We did not go bankrupt, and we even earned a lot of money!

Everyone was chattering excitedly about what had happened to them during the time Li Huowang was gone. None of them remembered what Li Huowang had done before he left.

Li Huowang looked at the people around him and felt relieved. His heart was no longer as tense as before.

Maybe this is what having a home feels like.

Hohoho~ Young Daoist, youve finally returned. Come, youve traveled far. You should step over the fire pot to remove your bad luck, Lu Zhuangyuan said, placing a pot of fire near the entrance. [1]

He was happy now that Li Huowang was back. The villagers would feel more at ease too. Li Huowang strong, and he was also Lu Zhuangyuans employer. It would be easier to justify why Lu Zhuangyuan should be staying in the village.

Once Li Huowang stepped over the pot of fire and entered the Bai Family's estate, he saw Bai Lingmiao looking down from the second-floor window. She was smiling at him as if it had been a different Li Huowang that left the village previously.

Bai Lingmiao called out, You're back? Yang Xiaohai, go and slaughter a lamb and a pig. Tonight, we are having a feast.

Alright! Yang Xiaohai replied excitedly and let Bun down before running towards the kitchen.

Lu Zhuangyuan was very adept at reading the room. He shouted orders, and everyone got busy preparing for the feast. Some went to get the pigs while others looked to see what they could help with. Before long, no one else was in the Bai Family estate, and it fell quiet again.

Is that Junior Lis wife? Should we stay outside then? Zhuge Yuan suggested, seeing Li Huowang climb towards the second floor.

Why should we stay outside? You are still new, so you dont know what happened between them. The next scene will be very interesting, and Ive been waiting to see it, Hong Zhong replied excitedly.

He tried to follow Li Huowang but was pulled back by Zhuge Yuan.

I think we shouldnt do that. This is not a gentlemanly way to conduct ourselves, my dear Sitting Oblivion Dao junior.

Im not a gentleman in the first place. Im a trickster of the Sitting Oblivion Dao!

No matter what Hong Zhong said, Zhuge Yuan did not let him go upstairs.

Li Huowang went up to the second floor, and Bai Lingmiao approached him. She acted like a wife and removed the weapons and the torture tool that Li Huowang carried.

Bai Lingmiao was about to say something when she glared at the dwarf following Li Huowang. Who is this guy? Why did they come into the room? What an idiot.

Li Huowang said, This is Li Sui. Li Sui, greet your mother.

Mother.

Mother?! Bai Lingmiao uttered in shock. She stared at the "boy" in the straw robe and veil. Explain this to me! Why do you have a child? And the child is already so old! Did that bitch Yang Na birth him for you?!

1. Usually seen in weddings, though I think some villages do it for non-wedding occasions too. Crossing a small fire burns off bad luck and turns them into good luck.