The Unruly Immortals

"Inside... it was just too tragic, really too tragic," Hong Da continued to speak with a sigh.

"Trapped in the karmic obstacles of Heart Turbidity, unable to live or die as one wishes, not starving to death nor succumbing to exhaustion, yet having to endure the torment of hunger and fatigue, just being tormented incessantly, constantly tormented..."

"Do you know? When she saw me come in, her father told me that he actually didn't resent his daughter, thinking that if she was suffering inside, at least it proved she was still alive."

Having said all this, Hong Da sighed deeply with a look of sorrow, clearly affected by what he had experienced inside.

After listening to Hong Da's words, Li Huowang's heart remained unsettled for a long time.

He lifted his arm and cradled the Heart Turbidity from his back into his arms, looking at this person with a very complex expression.

"If her consciousness is still there, she probably doesn't want to torment her family and friends like this, right?" The most pitiable one is still Heart Turbidity herself. Her unconscious actions torment everyone who can see her.

Compared to her, the confusion of one's own Xinsu seemed much better.

"Taoist, she's just too miserable, let's let her go," said the Monk, coming up beside him with a sympathetic expression.

Li Huowang let out a light sigh but shook his head. "We can't release her. Let's not even mention whether her existence will help us gather information about the Oblivion Path. More importantly, if you release her, you'll only end up killing more people. Do you really want to do that?"

Even if she had no intention to harm, just her gaze could injure others. If he wasn't mistaken, this village used to be full of people, and as for where they were now, it went without saying.

Hearing this, the Monk's expression twisted into one of conflict. He only wanted to do good deeds, but when two good deeds clashed, he really didn't know what to do.

Li Huowang himself had always wondered why the Astrological Bureau dealt with Xinsu in such an uncompromising and harsh manner.

Yet, seeing Heart Turbidity's actions and capabilities, Li Huowang finally understood why they acted this way.

Setting other matters aside, just on this account alone, they were indeed protecting the common people of the world.

Someone like this Heart Turbidity, and himself with Xinsu, were simply too dangerous, inadvertently causing huge disasters.

"Er Xiongdi [Junior Brother]? Who are you talking to?" Tuoba Danqing stared at Li Huowang with surprise.

Li Huowang blinked and patted his stomach. "I'm talking to the Nascent Soul."

For a while after that, no one spoke. Everyone put away their weapons and their expressions relaxed.

Shentu Gang even yawned and stretched.

As Li Huowang walked into the village, Tuoba Danqing, who was rolling two large walnuts in his hand, approached him, deliberately pulling him back a bit and whispering tensely.

"Er Xiongdi [Junior Brother], let me give you a heads up. If after this Record of Appearance is sent back to Capital City and there's no word for ten days or half a month, then let's both head off to Qingqiu to lay low together. It doesn't matter where we go for our duties."

Li Huowang was startled, the other party was suggesting he flee? "Tuoba Brother, do you know something?"

Hearing Li Huowang's question, Tuoba Danqing sighed lightly with resignation, said nothing, and gestured with his hand to quicken their pace and catch up.

"Now that we've caught Heart Turbidity, the Record of Appearance shouldn't have any issues, right? But if something does go wrong, what should I do about the information he promised me?"

Upon associating with the Heart Turbidity ability, coupled with the frantic actions of Record of Appearance, Li Huowang couldn't shake the feeling that the Astrological Bureau was in a rush to get their hands on Heart Turbidity, seemingly for some grand purpose.

However, as a new recruit to the Astrological Bureau, he had not perceived the slightest hint of what was happening above.

But there was no need for him to perceive it, as these times, for the moment, seemed unrelated to him.

Casting a glance at Hong Da beside him, who was visibly anxious about gain and loss, Li Huowang followed Tuoba Danqing's steps toward the village.

The group moved quickly, and before long, they had reached the edge of the village. The mist outside the village gradually dispersed, and Liu Zongyuan, wearing his mask, also approached.

"Record of Appearance, how did it go? Did you manage it?" Liu Zongyuan eagerly surveyed his somewhat disheveled companion.

"Little Liu, call the carriage over. I feel like resting for a while," said Record of Appearance, revealing a hint of listlessness on his plump, pale face, sounding breathless and weak.

"Since you've returned, I won't be going back to Yinling with you. Erniu, remember this, we're now even. Even if you kneel and beg me in the future, I won't bother to help you," Shentu Gang said, turning around, ready to leave.

Seeing this, Li Huowang hastily stepped forward to stand in front of Shentu Gang. "Brother Shentu, may I inquire about something?"

Shentu Gang's thick eyebrows furrowed slightly. He didn't curse as usual. "Hurry up, I'm in a rush."

Li Huowang's gaze lowered to Shentu Gang's drum, "I've heard that those who perform spirit possession rituals are always the slaves of the Immortal Sects, never to gain freedom in their lifetime, yet it seems that's not the case for you, Brother Shentu. Could you tell me why that is?"

Li Huowang had noticed earlier that the incantation Shentu Gang chanted was distinctly different from the one Bai Lingmiao sang; there was no respect for the Immortal Sects in the words, and on the contrary, there seemed to be veiled threats.

"Are you asking for your big sister?" Shentu Gang, arms crossed, saw through Li Huowang's intent at a glance.

Li Huowang did not deny it and nodded lightly. If possible, he wanted to change Bai Lingmiao's current situation.

Not necessarily to completely break free from the control of the Immortal Sects, but at least to take the initiative in negotiations with the Immortal Sects, like Shentu Gang did.

Shentu Gang nodded, leaned in, and whispered something in Li Huowang's ear.

As he spoke, Li Huowang's eyes widened in apparent astonishment. "Is that really so?"

"I'm off, and if we meet again, I'll treat you to a meal," Shentu Gang said, punching Li Huowang's chest wound forcefully and then walking away from everyone's sight.

Just at this moment, the carriage quickly arrived, and Li Huowang hurriedly put away the shock on his face, following the others onto the carriage quickly.

As he pondered the method that the other man had shared with him, Hong Zhong's words made him look up.

"Li Huowang, wake up, stop thinking, how did an extra person appear across from you?"

Li Huowang raised his head and saw a man in ragged clothes, thin as a rail, certain that this person was not part of their group.

Seeing this man shocked Hong Da the most, as his eyes widened in an expression of stark terror.

"How did you get out!?"

The man first looked around at the others who were staring at him and then spoke very woodenly, "I suddenly remembered, I seem to be Heart Turbidity too. I had this woman hide me as I wanted to go in and see if my family was there, but then she forgot, and I forgot too."