The Unruly Immortals

Li Huowang looked at the people in front of him, prostrated on the ground like dogs, his previous understanding of Pi County starting to waver.

The stealing of men's vital essence by a ghost, and such humiliating treatments, as well as that last sprinkle of chili powder, were just too absurd.

Although everyone in the county was talking about the ghost that stole men's vital essence, causing shrinkage of their private parts.

But could it be possible that what they said was not true? Maybe such a thing didn't exist at all?

Recalling the hanged waiter and everything he had seen in Pi County, Li Huowang questioned the people lying on the ground: "You always talk about the shrinking, but have you actually seen anyone shrink?"

A few people looked at Li Huowang, no one spoke as they exchanged glances.

In the end, it was a constable who spoke first. "My father said it! He saw someone's private parts shrink with his own eyes!"

"I'm not asking about your father, I'm asking you! Have you seen it with your own eyes?"

Li Huowang's gaze, sharp as a sword, made the constable stumble over his words, unable to speak.

Li Huowang turned his gaze back to Pi County's County Magistrate Yang Hongzhi, "You said before that your son had gotten smaller, and you wanted to lock it up with a silver lock. But isn't it natural for children to be small? Could it be possible that your son was completely fine, and it's just you suspecting ghosts where there are none?"

"Have you never doubted this matter at all?"

"Is that so? But how could this be possible! That person clearly said——"

"Who is that person?! Where is he now!" Li Huowang suddenly raised his voice, questioning him.

No matter who this person was, he must be heavily related to all this absurdity.

"He... he's dead. He died because he told others about that... he was shrunk to death,"

"Heh!" A sneer appeared on Li Huowang's face, causing his suspicions to grow even more.

There was no ghost stealing men's vital essences, nor was there a method to drive such a ghost away. It was all fake!

As this thought crossed his mind, the identity of that person became almost palpable.

Seeing his enemy filled him with even more rage, especially when recalling what they had done to him. Li Huowang clenched his fists so tightly they creaked, his expression ferocious and teeth clenched as he exclaimed, "Oblivion Path!"

Li Huowang tore off the copper gong from his neck and flung it fiercely onto the ground.

He kicked aside the arrest officer blocking his way and charged at County Magistrate Yang, grabbing and hurling him up into the air with his hands.

At that moment, he finally realized where that odd, familiar sensation in his mind came from. It was the feeling of being deceived by Oblivion Path, and he had fallen for it once before!

With a kick to his chest, Li Huowang's longsword sliced through the magistrate's chin.

Accompanied by Yang Hongzhi's screams, Li Huowang lifted a corner of his face.

But there weren't several masks underneath this man's face; he was not Oblivion Path, nor were the other arrest officers. They had all been deceived by Oblivion Path.

Pi County was hurt not by a ghost that stole men's vital essences, but by ridiculous rumors deliberately spread by Oblivion Path.

Just by using rumors, Oblivion Path fooled everyone in Pi County as if they were fools.

"Who told you these treatments for the shrinking? Where are they now?"

If Oblivion Path still existed in Pi County, then he had to be found.

The bloodshot eyes of Li Huowang frightened the injured Yang Hongzhi into not daring to hide anything.

If Li Huowang had an arch-nemesis, Oblivion Path would definitely make the list.

"A spirit medium! He's the one who said that one's lifeforce could be locked away with a lock! As a result of divulging the secrets of heaven, he too shriveled up and died two months ago."

County Magistrate Yang tried to calm himself down, answering hurriedly.

"Yes, right after spreading that rumor, he shriveled up and died, didn't he? A bit too convenient. Where is his body? I will open the coffin and examine the corpse!"

Under the authority of the Astrological Bureau and with Li Huowang's firm attitude, Yang Hongzhi eventually complied.

Accompanied by a creaking sound, the nails of the black coffin were pried out once more.

Li Huowang held his nose and approached, and when he saw that there was no body inside the coffin but rather a Liuwan mahjong tile, he knew his guess was right.

This was indeed the handiwork of Oblivion Path, except the real Oblivion Path had long since departed; the entire Pi County was merely a toy that Oblivion Path had grown tired of and tossed aside.

Li Huowang wasn't too disappointed, as his goal this time was to join the Astrological Bureau, not to go against Oblivion Path singlehandedly.

After figuring out what exactly had transpired in Pi County, Li Huowang also thought of a way to deal with it.

"Come on over and take a good look! See for yourselves this so-called spirit medium!"

Li Huowang sheathed his sword and called out to the others who were keeping their distance.

However, Li Huowang's abnormal behavior just now had frightened them, and they clutched their chins where they were injured, not daring to come too close.

"I said come over here, didn't you hear?" As Li Huowang's tone grew more severe, the others started to move closer.

When they saw the empty coffin, all of them were startled, their eyes widening in disbelief, for they remembered this man being buried.

Watching them, Li Huowang carefully chose his words before slowly saying, "You've been deceived; there's no such thing as shrinking lifeforce, it's merely a rumor. No need to be on edge."

"How is that possible?" Yang Hongzhi's face showed extreme astonishment. Was the fear that had gripped them for so long merely their own scaremongering?

"The evidence is right before your eyes, do you still not believe it? Gather all the people of Pi County. I have something to tell them."

Hearing Li Huowang's words, that person hesitated, his expression uncertain as he stood there pondering something.

"What's the matter, don't forget who I am. Do you, a mere scholar, understand these matters better than the Astrological Bureau?"

These words finally spurred Yang Hongzhi into action. He covered the injury on his chin and walked outside. "Please wait, my lord... I shall go check on my child first."

Having said that, he dispersed with a group of constables, while Li Huowang reinserted his bloodied sword into Sword Sheath and headed back towards the inn.

Upon arriving at the inn, Li Huowang informed Gao Zhijian, who was still scared out of his wits, that the whole situation was just a rumor.

"There's nothing to worry about, they're just a bunch of poor fools who've been duped. It'll be fine once I've explained everything."

Li Huowang sat at the Eight Immortals table, speaking to the burly man in front of him.

Li Huowang felt much more relaxed after knowing that everything was a scam and that there was no real danger in Pi County; he was no longer so tense.

Helping these people escape Oblivion Path's deception was one thing, but Li Huowang also hadn't forgotten the real reason he had come to this place.

No matter which inspector from the Astrological Bureau they sent, as long as he solved their problem beforehand, they would have no choice but to meet with him.

The beginning is the hardest; as long as he made contact with the Astrological Bureau, everything after would be much simpler.