The Unruly Immortals

Seeing his daughter-in-law no longer distressed, Top Scholar Lv turned his head to look at his youngest son, who was following at the rear of the carriage with a dispirited and pale face.

"Little guy, what's wrong? You haven't been scared, have you?"

Scholar Lv's face showed a forced smile, his head lolling about like a sick hen.

"Don't be afraid, those stinking soldiers are nothing but paper tigers. If they were truly capable, why wouldn't they go to the battlefield to fight the enemy?"

Although Top Scholar Lv's dry comfort did nothing to improve Scholar Lv's complexion.

It was as if the marauding soldiers, with knives held to his throat, were right in front of him.

"Dad... Dad, why are we leaving the border? Aren't we going home first?"

Top Scholar Lv lit his dry pipe and started puffing away. White smoke covered his eyes.

"I've been thinking, this isn't just common military disaster, the world is descending into chaos, so, our family needs to lay low for a while."

"Dad, if our Emperor has lost the war, does that mean we'll become prisoners of a fallen state?"

A strike from the dry pipe sent sparks flying around Scholar Lv's head,

"What does it matter to us who becomes Emperor? Is this really what you should be worrying about?"

Seeing Scholar Lv covering his head, feeling wronged, Top Scholar Lv sighed softly, patiently advising him.

"So many soldiers have been defeated, it's likely that a dynastic change is upon us. With the military disaster, greater turmoil will follow. That's why it's better for us to steer clear for a while."

"It doesn't matter if our money has been stolen, as long as we're safe and sound. As long as people are alive, they can go anywhere they like."

"But... but I've never been to Siqi before, dad... I'm a bit scared..."

Seeing his youngest son's timidness, Top Scholar Lv was unable to contain his irritation.

"What's there to be scared of! Are the people in Siqi not the same, with two eyes and a nose? Can they grow a few extra ones? Siqi has, at most, more rivers and lakes compared to our place."

At that moment, Lv Elevated Man, who had been quietly listening by the side, asked, "Dad, we're unfamiliar with this territory...I actually think it might be better to stay in our hometown. Maybe things aren't as bad as you say."

"You think military disasters are a joke? Not as serious as I say? I've consumed more salt in my life than you've eaten rice; could I be wrong?"

Continuing on, he then explained to his son: "Don't worry, I've thought it through already. When that Taoist Master was looking at the map before, I sneaked a peek. They're heading for Liang State, a long journey. All we need to do is to follow him, and we'll be certain to be safe by his side."

"Wherever he goes, we'll go. He follows his path, and we'll perform our plays, no one will hold up the other."

"Once the Emperor is settled and the military and natural disasters are gone, we'll come back. Wouldn't that be very comfortable?"

"But will he let us follow, seeing as we are neither kin nor kith?" Lv Elevated Man's face showed a twinge of unease.

"Eh, look, the role of those salted duck eggs we gave comes into play now, doesn't it?"

With that, a smug expression crossed Top Scholar Lv's face. "Do you remember what the Taoist Master said when we left the border before? 'We shall meet again if destined to do so.'"

"Never mind whether he meant it or if it was just pleasantries. Since he said it, as long as we humble ourselves when the time comes, you guys put up a pitiful front, coupled with the goodwill from those duck eggs before, could he really have the heart to send us away?"

Seeing the realization dawn on his son's face, Top Scholar Lv's own face beamed with satisfaction. "Heh heh, the old ginger is still spicier. You all should learn a bit from this."

"You're right, dad. We're performers, after all. Wherever we go, we play our roles. Maybe the folks in other places will like our performances even more, and we could earn some extra money."

As Top Scholar Lv confidently laid out the plan, the atmosphere within Lv's Troupe eased a bit, everyone beginning to fantasize about their bright prospects.

The carriage rumbled along, when suddenly, they saw several black balls rolling on the road ahead.

As they drew closer, Top Scholar Lv realized those were a dozen or so plump nuns following the carriage.

There were six carriages, the wheel tracks imprinted deeply. It seemed as if they were carrying something very heavy.

"These nuns reek, Dad, let's pick up the pace," Luo Juannhua said with a frown, pulling out a handkerchief to cover her nose.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Didn't you see all these people from Siqi are following these nuns? They follow, and we will too," Top Scholar Lv said, looking at the other travelers beside the plump nuns.

His extensive experience told Top Scholar Lv that since the people of Siqi could endure the stench and still follow these nuns on the road, there must be a reason for it.

"But... it's really too stinky..." Luo Juannhua muttered under her breath with a slight frown.

Following those nuns, they walked for less than an hour, when Top Scholar Lv saw the nuns stop and begin to eat their dry rations with big bites.

Seeing others eat made Top Scholar Lv and his companions eat too. Actually, after spending some time with these nuns, they didn't find it so hard to bear.

While eating, Top Scholar Lv suddenly stood up and, with a bit of excitement, walked toward those travelers.

The man wearing a black veil hat seemed to have some difficulty walking and relied on an old horse for support while eating.

When Top Scholar Lv approached, the man also saw him and exclaimed, "Band Leader Lv, what are you doing here?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Top Scholar Lv's eyes immediately brightened. "Ah, it's you, you are that little Taoist Master's..."

Before he could finish, the man took off his black veil hat and revealed Zhao Wu's ordinary face.

Reuniting with an old acquaintance in a foreign place, both parties felt especially cordial.

After a brief exchange, when Top Scholar Lv learned that the other party was going to find Li Huowang, he immediately lit up with a smile.

"With your injury, it's dangerous to go alone. I'll take you to him; it's on the way," he said.

Just by delivering this person, that little Taoist Master would owe him a favor. He couldn't refuse him outright without finding it awkward.

Moreover, the man was the Taoist Master's junior brother, and he might have divine skills, which meant another bodyguard for the journey.

Top Scholar Lv enthusiastically helped Zhao Wu over to Lv's Troupe for introductions and even kicked his own daughter-in-law out of the carriage to seat him.

While they were engaged in a warm conversation, a sentence from the side interrupted the harmonious scene.

"Zhao Wulang, wasn't it said you went back home? Why have you come out again?" asked Scholar Lv.

Scholar Lv's words gradually wiped the smile off Zhao Wu's face.

It seemed as if he was about to let a strong emotion surface, but in the presence of strangers, he managed to suppress it. "It's nothing, something just... came up at home," he said.

Feeling the change in atmosphere, Top Scholar Lv quickly raised the smoking pipe in his hand and slammed it towards his younger son's head.

"Can't you hold your tongue? After so many years of teaching, has it all gone to the dogs? Who told you to call him Zhao Wulang? Don't you know your manners? Call him Young Master Zhao!" he scolded.

Watching Scholar Lv tear up from the pipe blow, Zhao Wu hurriedly intervened with some embarrassment. "Band Leader Lv, there's no need for this. The name Zhao Wulang is fine," he said.

As he reached out to stop the intervention, a gust of wind blew by, blinding everyone's eyes.

Just as they opened their eyes, everyone was stunned; the curtains of the nuns' carriages had been blown up, revealing a shining pile of silver to their view.

Top Scholar Lv's eyes went wide. "My heavens! So much silver!" he exclaimed.