The Unruly Immortals

Sitting on the long bench, Li Huowang silently stared at Captain Cao, offering incense to the Prison God on the wall, bowing in respect.

Logically, burning incense and worshiping Buddha did not seem like the style of the military, but since he knew very little about them, perhaps the soldiers of Da Liang Kingdom had their own unique customs.

After finishing offering incense, Captain Cao returned to the front of Li Huowang and the Record of Appearance, glanced casually at the copper coin face mask on Li Huowang's face, and asked, "Eunuch, it's rare for you to come to such an ominous place, there must be a matter, right?"

"Hehe, Captain Cao is straightforward, so I won't beat around the bush. This is Brother Er Jiu, someone in his family has been affected by evil qi, a minor matter which should be easily handled by you, Captain Cao, right?"

Seeing Captain Cao nodding his head with a chuckle, Li Huowang immediately tensed up, as the other's reaction was beyond his expectations, as if being affected by evil qi was a trivial matter.

Li Huowang immediately reached for the gourd at his waist and poured out all the Yangshou Pills. "Captain Cao, this is a small token of respect, not worth mentioning."

To his surprise, the other party did not accept them and even pushed the Yangshou Pills back. "Ah, you're treating me, Cao, like an outsider now. Although we serve different government offices, we are still working for the entire Da Liang Kingdom, aren't we?"

Hearing this, the Record of Appearance broke into a wide smile and cheekily asked, "So, Captain Cao, does that mean you'll help us with this little favor—"

The Record of Appearance was quickly interrupted by Captain Cao. "In principle, I, Cao, should give a helping hand, but..."

An hour later, the Record of Appearance and Li Huowang walked out of the prison with unsightly expressions.

The Record of Appearance spit fiercely at the gradually closing gate. "What kind of people are they? They actually demand a favor in return for this small help! Instead of having a Xiezhi on that door, you might as well hang a Pixiu!"

Li Huowang held him back, "Enough, Lord Record of Appearance. Since we are asking for their help, it's reasonable to offer a little assistance."

"That's easy to say, but..." The Record of Appearance, clearly annoyed, slapped his hands together, "Alas, it's all my fault for being useless and getting you such an uncooperative party."

Although Li Huowang knew the Record of Appearance's act was probably a pretense, he certainly played it convincingly.

"No worries, it's just a small favor. I'll take care of it." Li Huowang had come without expecting any free favors from the other side.

If merely escorting a prisoner could lead to Bai Lingmiao's recovery, then the deal would be incredibly beneficial.

"Ah, my apologies, truly sorry." The Record of Appearance kept apologizing with a face full of shame.

"Lord Record of Appearance, no more apologies, let's go back. You're making me feel uncomfortable. If you really can't let it go, I would like to hear anything you know about this escort mission," Li Huowang said.

Suddenly taking on a task from the Da Liang military without consulting someone familiar left him feeling rather uneasy.

"That's not a problem. Old Man Cao is right; it's just a minor matter. As long as you don't pursue a career in civil service, you won't be much affected."

"A career in civil service?" At that moment, Li Huowang grew curious about what kind of prisoner the military wanted him to escort.

Two sedan chairs, one following the other, arrived at the back door of the small courtyard. Out of gratitude, Li Huowang insisted on inviting the Record of Appearance in for a cup of tea.

The Record of Appearance, with a face full of smiles, accepted the invitation. However, as he sat in the main hall, Li Huowang's words caused his smile to freeze. "Lord Record of Appearance, are you really leaving? Won't you reconsider?"

Li Huowang didn't think there was anything secret about this matter, and if he didn't clarify now, who would he turn to if he left and Tuoba Danqing died later?

The Record of Appearance sighed deeply and slowly put down the tea in his hand. "As you know, what we went through last time, and this year, I've reached the age of knowing destiny, it's time for me to rest. Besides, there are people at home waiting for me. The future belongs to your younger generation—"

He then pressed his hands together and bowed humbly toward the northeastern corner, saying, "As for what the Official intends to do, we dare not ask and dare not listen. After much thought, it still seems that preserving one's own life is the most important."

Li Huowang's brows furrowed slightly as he lifted his tea and took a sip, interpreting the Record of Appearance's words to imply that the Capital City may not be peaceful in the future.

He would need to be cautious going forward, lest he be implicated in whatever was happening above—whatever it was, it did not concern him.

He had only one goal, to find Bei Feng and obtain the method to undo the illusion caused by Xinsu.

It was as if the Record of Appearance knew what Li Huowang was worrying about. He reached into his robe and slowly pushed a more delicate waist tablet toward him, holding one side with his fingertips. It bore the character for the Geng Banner.

Li Huowang took the waist tablet in hand and studied it carefully, a hint of surprise showing in his eyes, "I've been promoted again? And it's a jump from the Xin Rank straight to the Geng Banner?"

At that moment, the Record of Appearance spoke at length, "Er Jiu, this is the highest I can promote you. Beyond that, I will no longer have the authority."

"After I leave, you can take this waist tablet directly to the Ministry of Revenue and find the Astrological Bureau to get work, which won't interfere with your grand revenge plan."

"With the Geng Banner rank, other Records of Appearance can't order you around either, and you can choose your own missions. Plus, you can give orders to ordinary soldiers as long as they are not on duty," the Record of Appearance explained.

Li Huowang looked at the waist tablet in his hand without a word. If giving him a house was a way of repaying a favor, then adding this meant he would owe the other a favor in return.

"Record of Appearance, for you to do so much... I..." the Record of Appearance gestured with his hand, stopping Li Huowang from continuing.

"Er Jiu, you are a capable person, even more so than my Second Bull; as long as you don't forget about me when you have risen high above," the Record of Appearance said with a smile, brushing off nonexistent dust from his clothes before bowing solemnly to Li Huowang, who was seated, and then he walked toward the back door without looking back.

Li Huowang sat silently in the empty hall, staring at the waist tablet in his hand.

Suddenly, he stood up and walked inside; he remembered that the other had mentioned leaving him some small items in the house.

The item the Record of Appearance had left was rather conspicuous; Li Huowang quickly found it, but it was not light in weight—it was his Rotten Wood Ruyi!

Feeling a presence, the withered tongue of Xinsu twitched slightly.

Li Huowang's expression was complex as his fingers gently brushed over the tongue and the coffin nails on the ruyi.

The value of this item was no ordinary matter, and yet the Record of Appearance had left it behind for him without a word.

He did not know what the other party had assumed about him, but he could be certain of one thing—the other party was probably mistaken.

Taking advantage of the pitch-black night, a hurried Record of Appearance arrived alone at a small courtyard gate; on opening it, a brand-new carriage had been waiting for a while.

Upon hearing the noise, a gray-haired woman poked her head out from inside the carriage and asked the Record of Appearance, "Brother, how did it go?"

The Record of Appearance, agile as ever, leapt into the carriage and drove it northward from the city. "That young Ao Jing Sect member has come to the Capital. Everything he asked for, I've arranged, and moreover, I've given him quite a few things. The favor he owes us is without a doubt not small; we can leave with ease now."

"Really? That's wonderful! Brother, we can finally go home!" A girlish innocence of joy appeared on the old woman's face, which was obviously well cared for.

She reached into the carriage and pulled out a piece of hardtack, breaking off a small chunk to offer to the Record of Appearance. "Brother, why be so cautious with that Ao Jing youngster? To even wait for him so long."