The Unruly Immortals

"What's wrong? Elder Brother Li, the items we went through so much trouble to retrieve, they couldn't possibly be fake, could they?"

Seeing Li Huowang stop, the nervous tone in Gouwa's voice changed.

He was really hoping that this thing would be useful, as the sick Elder Brother Li was quite a handful to deal with.

Li Huowang furrowed his brows and shook his head, holding the Black Taishui in his hand and stopping in his tracks.

"What am I hesitating for? That is just an illusion over there."

With this thought, he lifted the Black Taishui to his mouth, but then he stopped himself abruptly once again.

Everyone in the tent could tell that the recently recovered Elder Brother Li was deep in thought, as to what about, only he himself knew.

When Chun Xiaoman, who had just returned from practicing swordsmanship, approached Bai Lingmiao and asked something in a soft voice, Li Huowang slowly put the meat back onto the Black Taishui.

"Miaomiao, how much gold do we still have in our travel funds?"

Although Bai Lingmiao found the question strange, she nevertheless answered truthfully.

"We exchanged some for silver at Women's Mountain, there should be several dozen taels left."

"Several dozen taels? Not enough, it's a bit short."

Li Huowang muttered to himself, then suddenly turned his head to look at Sun Baolu.

"Your kinsmen must have quite a bit of ready money, right? Could you help me borrow some? Don't worry, it's just a loan, I'll return it to you once it's used."

Sun Baolu showed a rare hint of hesitation on his face. "Okay, I'll ask around."

"Elder Brother Li, what do you need so much gold for?"

"Yeah, our travel funds are enough to get us to Liang State."

In response to these inquiries, Li Huowang sighed, shook his head, turned around, lifted the curtain, and left the tent.

"Don't ask, it's none of your business. Is there anything to eat? I'm hungry."

Sun Baolu was much more efficient than Li Huowang had expected; he had only just begun his first meal when he entered the tent carrying a small, round package, followed by his mother.

Sun Baolu did not speak first but looked at his mother with an inquiring gaze.

After seeing his mother nod slightly, he carefully pulled apart the cloth in his arms. Instantly, the glittering gold nearly blinded everyone else.

It was an oval-shaped gold box, palm-sized and inlaid with agates and jade of excellent quality.

Inside the gold box, there were several gold ingots and pieces of gold jewelry.

It might not look big, but gold was extremely heavy—an item of considerable value.

Seeing that Li Huowang was amazed by the value of the item and wondering where an ordinary person could have acquired such valuable things, Sun Baolu's mother spoke, "Real Man, please don't refrain; this isn't from a tomb but my dowry, given by the master's family back in the day."

"Given by the master's family?" Li Huowang grabbed and weighed it in his hand, nearly failing to hold it—gold was indeed heavy.

The woman's expression grew complex. "Yes, given by the master's family. After all, only the rich and noble can afford 'beauty papers.' This item might be priceless in the eyes of common folks, but it's nothing to some."

"Real Man, you saved my son; consider this item as repayment. I hope you will accept it graciously."

"I didn't say I wanted it; I just needed to use it. I'll return it to you once I'm done," he said, watching as she seemed intent on using the item to completely write off her debt of gratitude.

It seemed the woman didn't wish to interact more with Li Huowang than necessary, as she bowed deeply and respectfully, then backed out of the tent through the curtain.

"What's wrong with your mother? Why has her attitude changed so much before and after?"

Sun Baolu hesitated, seemingly hiding something difficult to express. He thought to himself, "Li Huowang, your return has scared so many people. Being able to come out alive from that place, and even bringing two strange things back, the clan members are probably talking behind your back now."

"Forget it, I don't want your family's things. When I'm done using them, you can take them back. Did you hear me clearly?"

Sun Baolu looked slightly troubled. "Then, Li Huowang, when do you plan to use the gold?"

Upon hearing this, Li Huowang, with his hands cradling the golden box, showed a slight slump in his expression.

"Wait. I also don't know when. Baolu, thank you for your hard work during this time. We might have to stay here for a little longer."

"Brother Li, you're being too formal. You saved my life, after all."

In the following period, the other brothers and sisters noticed that the injured Brother Li always kept the golden box close to him, clutching it like a miser. But he clearly wasn't that kind of person.

Among them, only Bai Lingmiao knew some details. She understood why he was doing so.

At night, as Bai Lingmiao turned over, she saw that the person beside her had already sat up at some point, sitting on the bed motionless like a wooden statue, clutching the golden box.

Bai Lingmiao sighed softly, turning slightly and facing away from him with her back.

"Brother Li, are you really attached to that place? Or do you still believe that it could be real?"

Li Huowang in the darkness did not respond.

"So, Brother Li, do you hope that place is real or hope that it is fake?"

Li Huowang let out a deep sigh. His very tired and hoarse voice echoed slowly within the tent. "I'd like to know the answer to that myself."

Days passed by, and as time went on and after several adjustments, the completely changed Li Huowang gradually returned to his original self.

His wounds had almost healed, and just as Li Huowang was about to interrogate little Han Fu's mind, Baolu, dressed again as a Qingqiu person, came looking for him.

"Brother Li, the chieftain sent me to ask you something," he said, approaching Li Huowang.

"What is it?" Li Huowang ran through recent events in his mind quickly. It seemed quiet in Qingqiu recently, with no issues.

"It's about those women you rescued from the village. A few of them have taken a liking to some of the young men in the clan, and the chieftain's intention is actually to probe the ground. If you don't nod in agreement, those men wouldn't dare to act rashly."

"Sure, why not."

Seeing Baolu's mother's condition, this place seemed like a good, peaceful place to settle in, certainly better than following him around on exhausting travels.

Back at the border, because of Peng Longteng's business, several had died. If these women continued to follow him, who knew how many would be left upon reaching Liang State.

"Alright then! I'll go back and tell the chieftain right away!" The normal Bassolu was no longer as silent and reserved as before, his personality much more cheerful.

An excited Baolu turned to leave, but Li Huowang's large hand tightly gripped his arm, instantly turning it bruised and blue.

Sun Baolu turned his head and saw Li Huowang looking at him with a fierce expression, "Quick! Tell Zhijian to bring the chains!!"

"Ah! Okay!"

Feeling that everything around was changing, Li Huowang stuffed the golden box into his embrace as quickly as possible.

The noisy and bustling tent camp was replaced by a quiet, pristine infirmary. Yet it was still nighttime here.

Li Huowang stared blankly at his mother sleeping on the recliner beside him, covered with the small blanket from his own room.

"Mom."