The Unruly Immortals

Hearing that his youngest son, after being suspended for so long, had uttered such heretical words, Top Scholar Lv was instantly so furious that smoke might as well have been billowing from his seven orifices.

"You—!" Just as Top Scholar Lv raised the rattan to lash it across his face, Li Huowang grabbed it with one hand as he walked over.

Li Huowang had recognized the young Scholar Lv for quite some time and had come to understand him somewhat.

As far as he knew, this youngster had always been weak in character and would never say such things, there must be something wrong.

Li Huowang stepped forward, scrutinizing the upside-down Scholar Lv, his round, bulging eyes filled with hatred and murderous intent, looking exactly like a wounded wild animal.

Having been through so much, Li Huowang could be considered as having seen it all, and such a gaze could definitely not have been shown by an inarticulate young man.

For some reason, seeing this pair of eyes gave Li Huowang a very familiar feeling.

Upon reflecting, Li Huowang suddenly turned his head to look at the headless female corpse behind him.

Peng Longteng, he suddenly realized that the current state of Scholar Lv was exactly like a little Peng Longteng.

Li Huowang, with a surprised look on his face, held the Purple Tassel Sword in front of him for inspection.

Scholar Lv had become like this simply by using this sword.

Although the sword was useful, Li Huowang had always underestimated its side effects, just because his own Xinsu had been completely unaffected.

"The abbess said that although military items carry evil Qi, this evil Qi cannot scatter the confusion of Xinsu, but she never told me what would be the consequences for an ordinary person who came in contact with a weapon," he reflected.

And now, Scholar Lv had answered that question for Li Huowang, showing what happens to an ordinary person after coming into contact with such a weapon.

He turned his head to look at Scholar Lv again, reevaluating those eyes filled with malevolence.

"Could it be that Peng Longteng wasn't like that before and, just like Scholar Lv, had undergone some sort of influence that changed her so drastically?"

Li Huowang tried hard to remember every detail about Peng Longteng, thinking that if you took away the flamboyant green tattoos on her face, she would look just like a maiden ready for marriage.

Yet such a woman had slaughtered thousands without even blinking an eye.

Through the changes in Scholar Lv, Li Huowang had gained a deeper understanding of the military sect.

Clearly, people like Peng Longteng were also ordinary people before.

But in the pursuit of great power, whether through cultivation or something else, their bodies were forced to acquire certain things, and it was these things that caused their temperament to change drastically.

Li Huowang recalled the monks of Zhengde Temple and the acts they had done with the flesh Bodhisattva, as well as the foul-smelling An Ci Nunnery.

"It seems that no matter how they cultivate, they end up absorbing certain things that influence their own temperament and behavior."

"The abbesses have corruption, the monks have lust, but what about the military sect? Brutality? Bloodthirstiness? Or slaughter??"

Seeing Li Huowang with a deep frown on his face pondering over these issues, Band Leader Lv also clearly sensed that something was amiss, and, not caring about his anger, a look of concern appeared on his aged face.

It didn't seem like his youngest son was simply disobedient; the problem appeared to be much bigger.

Even if Scholar Lv had hit him or cursed at him, no matter what, that was still his son.

"Taoist Master, what's wrong with my son? Could he be bewitched? Can you think of a way to cure him?"

Bai Lingmiao, who had been brought back for questioning, reexamined Scholar Lv before turning his head and speaking the truth to Top Scholar Lv.

"I'm not very familiar with Scholar Lv in this state, but generally speaking, if his temperament can gradually soften, there may still be hope for redemption. If not, Band Leader Lv, I advise you to prepare yourself," Li Huowang warned.

Li Huowang's words spoke volumes.

Upon hearing this news, as though struck by a bolt from the blue, Band Leader Lv staggered, nearly unable to maintain his balance.

Before anyone could react, Top Scholar Lv was suddenly kneeling before Li Huowang.

Li Huowang quickly turned his body, partially dodging the other's kowtowing with a furrowed brow. "Band Leader Lv, you're going to be the death of me," he said.

"No, no, no!" Top Scholar Lv scrambled to his feet, waving his hands dismissively. With a hint of panic, he said, "Taoist Master, this is all my fault. If it weren't for me setting a bad example, he wouldn't have been deluded and tried to steal your sword!"

The crowd, silently listening to Top Scholar Lv's words, felt the atmosphere turning heavy.

After glancing at Scholar Lv who was hung upside down, Li Huowang exhaled softly and turned to Bai Lingmiao, "Why don't you give it a try?"

"Dong dong dong~" The rhythmic beating of the drums began.

"The sun sets behind the hills and darkness falls, each household shuts its door; the magpies and crows fly for the big trees, and the sparrows and turtles scurry for the eaves. The road shortens as stars illuminate the sky; the journey is fraught with challenges without a light within. Out of ten homes, nine are locked tight, leaving but one with an open door…"

The chanting started, and the Bei Clan had been summoned. Sticks of incense emitting dark red sparks were inserted into the throat-like mouthpiece, yet there was no response from Scholar Lv.

"Brother Li, the Immortal Sects said that Scholar Lv is doing very well," Bai Lingmiao observed.

Li Huowang snorted. The Immortal Sects, it seemed, were always good at complicating things for their own people, but when faced with a real problem, they proved to be no more than superficial.

An indignant Top Scholar Lv turned, trembling with rage, and slapped Scholar Lv's face.

"He deserves it! You can't blame yourself. It's his own fault! A grown man stooping to theft! This is his retribution!!" Top Scholar Lv's outburst became louder.

Despite the evening's unexpected event, the journey had to continue.

During the day, Scholar Lv was still bound, but he was no longer hung from a tree; instead, he was tied to an ox cart.

Although a shadow had fallen over the faces of all the Lv's Troupe members, the incident with Scholar Lv, even if he died, was not a significant matter to the battle-hardened Li Huowang.

Li Huowang had enough troubles of his own and had no spare capacity to worry about others.

As the days on the road went by, everyone gradually adapted to the new changes in Scholar Lv.

Scholar Lv was eventually untied because he was no Li Huowang. If a person is weak enough, their hatred seems laughably pitiful.

The change in his disposition did not significantly increase his strength. In the end, he was still a frail youth, who, in the face of Band Leader Lv's smoking pipe and his older brother's fists, had no choice but to travel obediently.

Band Leader Lv discovered that although his younger son's temper had become more volatile, he had not changed much in other respects.

For instance, he would still make the same lewd jokes with the dogs, and still playfully tease his niece, Xiu'er, only now his voice was much louder.

However, he hadn't turned over a new leaf regarding his own father hanging him up and beating him. He always stared at his back with a cold expression.

Yet, he only glared at Top Scholar Lv and didn't even dare to look at Li Huowang, who had also hit him.