The Unruly Immortals

"Clip-clop, clip-clop," the sound of horse hooves echoed continuously as Li Huowang's carriage, accompanied by shoulder poles and unicycles, gradually approached Da Liang's most solemn and grand city, the Capital City.

Sitting boldly on top of the carriage canopy, Bai Lingmiao looked up at the walls of the ancient city in the distance.

The thick black walls stood majestically in the distance like a series of low mountains connected together. The spots of green moss on the walls bore witness to the vicissitudes of the Capital City's years.

"Is this the Capital City? It truly is extraordinary," said Bai Lingmiao, sitting on top of the carriage canopy, curiously sizing up the city that claimed to be the largest in the Eight Desolates.

The horse handler, Li Huowang, stood up, reached out to hold her, and brought her down, then proceeded to unwind a ribbon from her wrist and bandaged it around her eyes. "It's harmful to your eyes to look during the day like this."

This was the stronghold of the Astrological Bureau. If it weren't for acquiring that black spindle, Li Huowang might not have dared to come here.

Facing Li Huowang's actions, Bai Lingmiao seemed somewhat irritated, but in the end, she did not tear off the ribbon from her eyes.

Bai Lingmiao shifted her bottom and sat in Li Huowang's embrace. Then she stretched her arms out straight and yawned lazily. "These two useless eyeballs, I'll replace them one day!"

Li Huowang secured her restless hands and feet with his hand, "Stop talking nonsense. We're about to enter the city, behave yourself."

Following the slow-moving stream of citizens into the city, Li Huowang quickly arrived at the city gate. Looking at Li Huowang's carriage, shaped like a coffin, the guards at the city gate would naturally suspect something if they weren't blind.

However, after seeing the Astrological Bureau waist token in Li Huowang's hand, they said nothing and directly allowed him to pass through.

Li Huowang felt incredibly grateful for his decision to join the Astrological Bureau. Without it, entering and exiting the city would have definitely been troublesome.

Upon entering the Capital City, the surging crowd continued unbroken until it reached the indistinct Drum Tower in the distance before stopping.

"We should find a place to stay first," Li Huowang said as he flicked the reins in his hand, and the horse pulling the carriage slowly progressed with the crowd.

The red glow of the setting sun cast over the blue-tiled red walls, the abruptly flying eaves, the high-hanging banner flags, and the ceaseless stream of people and vehicles, all reflecting Da Liang's prosperity.

Although this place seemed similar to Yinling City, anyone could distinguish between the two.

If one had to use a word to compare them, it would be "heritage." After all, the Capital City was one of the legacies of the former Da Qi Kingdom.

As Li Huowang was observing the capital of the Da Liang Kingdom, the flow of people around him accelerated and started pushing towards a street on the left, each face filled with excitement as though anticipating something.

Li Huowang's carriage followed the crowd and soon arrived at an open crossroads. There stood three tall white towers, around which a group of bare-chested youths formed a circle, holding bags in their hands, eager to begin.

Just as Li Huowang was wondering what was going on, a little dwarf emerged under the watchful eyes of everyone. He carried a large copper gong on his back, which made him look rather comical, like a turtle.

Ignoring the laughter from the crowd, the dwarf held up three sticks of incense and started to worship the three white towers.

"What are the people of the Capital City commemorating?" Li Huowang thought with a hint of curiosity, but it seemed nothing was strange in this crazy world.

While he was still puzzled, the dwarf took off the gong from his back and struck it hard, shouting loudly, "The scramble for buns begins!!"

At these words, there was a hustle and bustle as the young people holding bags excitedly rushed towards the three towers.

Using their hands and feet, they kept taking something from the towers and stuffing it into their bags.

"Hmm?" Li Huowang's pupils contracted, his gaze focusing on the three white towers. Only then did he realize that the towers were made up of mantou, each the size of a human head.

As the crowd passed along, those three packed hills gradually turned into three writhing flesh mountains, with the people on top pulling on each other and stacking up like Arhats, hindering others from climbing up.

They were all young people, and as they fought, it seemed that their tempers flared up. With their commotion growing louder, the buns on the hills splattered everywhere like scattered flowers from a goddess.

Many of the falling buns were snatched up by the onlookers, while a good number mingled with the horse dung and cow pies on the ground.

Mantou, who had been hiding under the carriage, poked its head out and picked up a fallen white bun, using its two front paws to hold it while eagerly gnawing away. The bun was stamped with a bright red "longevity" character on the front.

Looking at the buns wasted on the ground, Bai Lingmiao said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice, "Heh, people in the Capital City really are different, huh? They squander such fine white flour buns, when in other places, people can't even get them during the New Year."

However, Li Huowang seemed to be focused on something else. "Do those look like three sticks of incense to you? I think this ritual must be about commemorating something."

"Commemorating whom? Don't speculate without basis."

Li Huowang looked around at the crowd and did not reply. He gently tugged on the reins, and the carriage slowly turned, pushing through the crowd to move forward.

The crowd was packed, and since they were unfamiliar with the place, it wasn't until the sun had set that Li Huowang finally found a suitable inn.

This inn seemed quite upscale, having set up a stage in the middle of the lobby to attract customers.

A group of diners and tea-drinkers watched with interest, and even Bai Lingmiao's entry with her white hair did not attract too much attention.

Seeing newcomers, a waiter with a white towel draped over his shoulder came over with a smile and asked, "What would you like to order, esteemed guests?"

"Some seasonal vegetables, and two meat dishes."

"Alrighty, please wait a moment, and they'll be right out."

Once the waiter had left, Li Huowang placed his two swords on the table, feeling greatly relieved. "After we've eaten, you rest at the inn, and I will go find the Record of Appearance."

"What do you need to see that old eunuch for? Perhaps I could help." Li Huowang glanced at Bai Lingmiao, who had slumped onto the table, and caressed her head without offering any explanation.

"Fine, fine, fine, you're the boss, your word is law, and you don't need to discuss anything with me." Bai Lingmiao turned her head away to the other side with a snort.

The two of them said no more, silently waiting for the food to be served.

After the dishes were served, they poured some out for Mantou and then Li Huowang and Bai Lingmiao began their meal.

Perhaps it was due to the long journey, or the inn's food was truly delicious, but Li Huowang found himself with an unusually hearty appetite.

Amidst the whining and chanting of the opera, Li Huowang quickly filled his stomach.

Just then, the actors on the stage sang and interacted with the guests, circulating among them.

As they sang and moved about, one actor came up to Li Huowang, and clearly unsatisfied with Li Huowang's indifferent demeanor, decided to pull off a showstopper.

As he approached Li Huowang, his head jerked suddenly, and the old man makeup on his face instantly changed to a young lady's, and with a raise and drop of his arm, the young lady's face turned into a young man's.

Just as he proudly awaited the guests' astonishment, he suddenly felt a chill on his neck, and a longsword was pressed against it.

Then he saw a fiercely menacing face, "Who said you could change your face?!"