The Unruly Immortals

Chun Xiaoman continued to help Bai Lingmiao wipe her body. "I don't see anything wrong with this. You've already consummated your marriage with Li Huowang, what can't we talk about? Don't shrink back, stand up straight."

"..." A bashful Bai Lingmiao could only respond with silence.

She still felt that such private matters shouldn't be shared with others.

After a long time of frolicking in the water, it wasn't until the sky was almost dark that they returned with their washed clothes.

They had set out before dawn that day, and by nighttime, everyone was tired, with the exception of those on night watch, who went to bed early.

"I have a lot of fur, so I can only wipe it half dry. Don't be disgusted by it."

In their bed, hearing this, Bai Lingmiao opened her arms and hugged Chun Xiaoman tightly, joyfully burying her face in the thick black fur and rubbing against it. "How could that be? I really like Sister Xiaoman."

Xiaoman naturally lifted her furry legs and rubbed them against the other's smooth body.

"Haha, don't do that, Sister Xiaoman, I'm ticklish."

"You like me? But I'm no match for your Brother Li. I'm afraid that once I fall asleep, you will slip into his bed wearing just a camisole."

"Brother Li is still injured. I have to take care of him."

"Does he still need care? Apart from that 'activity,' I don't think there's anything you could help him with."

"Sister Xiaoman… why are you like this too…"

As they whispered under the covers, they suddenly saw a shadow sneaking toward the riverbank.

"Who's that?"

"Who else could it be? It's Sun Baolu. He's always like this; he never bathes with others, more secretive than us women about being seen."

That night, besides the distant howling of wolves, nothing else happened.

The next morning, Li Huowang, holding Bai Lingmiao, slowly opened his eyes.

"Brother Li, you had a nightmare." Bai Lingmiao said tenderly, gently stroking his chin with her soft fingers.

"It's nothing, I'm used to it." Li Huowang, with some dark circles under his eyes, sat up and looked again toward the women's mountain, his vigilance easing somewhat.

"I didn't reveal anything; they may not know I am Xinsu. Besides, those disciples, whether Lion Dance Palace is good or bad, we should be safe."

After freshening up, Sun Baolu brought over a bowl of brown liquid to Li Huowang. "Brother Li, breakfast is ready."

"What's this?" Li Huowang's keen sense of smell made him lean back involuntarily; the smell was simply too pungent.

"Fresh sheep's milk mixed with fresh blood, seasoned with some salt to make a blood and milk soup—delicious. And it's good for healing wounds." After taking a sip himself, he offered it again to Li Huowang.

Li Huowang took a sip and almost vomited, but he suppressed the nauseating feeling and forced down the milk and blood concoction.

It might be nutritious, but it sure was hard to swallow.

Excited, Sun Baolu stood there and said, "Brother Li, didn't I tell you? As long as we have enough sheep, we don't have to worry about meals thrice a day!"

Wiping his mouth with his sleeve, Li Huowang shoved the bowl into his chest. "Alright, enough talk. Once we get past the women's mountain, we should be close to your home, right?"

At this news, Sun Baolu's face immediately lit up, "Right, right, right! Let's hurry! They're just up ahead!"

While the blue sky and green earth seemed the same to Li Huowang and the others, Sun Baolu clearly saw them differently.

"Look! That mountain over there! I used to herd sheep over there! My back left molar broke off on that very spot!"

"I saw a white wolf to the east! Really, no lie, a white wolf! My parents said there's no such thing as white wolves, but I swear I really saw one!"

"Look at this! See the imprint under this grass? These are the traces left by our tribe's tents! No mistake!"

As Sun Baolu became increasingly excited, they drew ever nearer; in the last two days, Sun Baolu couldn't sleep at all, and he took over the job of keeping watch for the entire night.

Finally, after they climbed over a small hill, they saw a patch of white amid the green in the distance—that was sheep, and beside them, some black—that was cattle.

Next to the sheep was a large cluster of tents, and tiny people, akin to ants in size.

"Hey!!!" With tears brimming in his eyes, Sun Baolu yelled frantically in Qingqiu dialect toward that direction, then excitedly dashed toward it, leaving the others behind.

When Li Huowang and the others approached, they saw Sun Baolu being surrounded by a group of Qingqiu People, crying out excitedly as they held and embraced him.

Although they didn't understand the Qingqiu language, Li Huowang could still hear the strong emotions in their voices.

At this moment, Li Huowang felt a touch of warmth in his heart; more than successfully bringing Sun Baolu home, he was happy for the attitude Sun Baolu's family showed toward him.

It was then that Li Huowang saw a Qingqiu woman step out from a tent nearby, carrying a milk basin.

When she saw Sun Baolu, her expression stiffened, and the milk basin was flung straight to the ground.

The sound drew Sun Baolu's attention; looking at the woman, he cried.

Under the gaze of everyone, the two embraced and let out heart-wrenching sobs together.

"So the kid wasn't boasting after all... there really is a woman waiting for him..." Dog Wa said sourly.

In the midst of their impassioned embrace, a trembling old man with colorful rings around his neck walked over.

He spoke to Sun Baolu in Qingqiu dialect.

It seemed that his status was quite respected here, and his words finally calmed the two people who were hugging.

After talking with the old man for a moment, Sun Baolu excitedly came over to Li Huowang.

He warmly put his arm over his shoulder and began introducing him to his tribespeople.

Unable to understand the language, Li Huowang had no clue what they were saying.

However, when the succulent smell of roast lamb chops with steam, along with honey water, was placed before him, he understood their intent.

It was rare to have a full meat feast, and how could the others resist? Seeing that Li Huowang had no intention of refusing, they reached out directly and grabbed with both hands.

The bonfire was lit, and the group shouted around Sun Baolu; with a cup of wine in each hand, Sun Baolu responded vigorously, turning around and around.

Li Huowang looked on at the lively scene, lifted the Ox Horn Cup to his lips, and took a sip, "Is this honey? It's really sweet, and not cloying at all."

"This isn't honey, it's ant honey, a kind of honey brewed by ants, tastier and rarer than bee honey,"

Li Huowang looked up to see a good-looking woman; though she was dressed in Qingqiu People's leather clothes, her pale skin proved she was not a local.

The woman, noticing Li Huowang's gaze and with slightly reddened eyes, knelt down solemnly at the stall and gave a profound bow to Li Huowang.

"Thank you, Li True Person, for going through so much trouble to travel thousands of miles to bring my son home!"