The Unruly Immortals

In the freezing cold, Gao Zhijian, dressed in light clothing, approached Li Huowang with steam rising from his head, excitedly pointing to the military tome and said, "Train."

Li Huowang understood what the other meant—they wanted him to practice this military cultivation technique. He shook his head slightly. "No need, you practice it yourself. I don't need it now."

If he had just come out of Qingfeng Taoist Temple and acquired this, he certainly would have treasured it.

But compared to the Cultivation of Truth technique he was currently practicing, and the Oblivion Path Divine Skills from Hong Zhong, this rigid and forceful military stuff seemed rather superfluous.

As for being unkillable unless beheaded, he could achieve that now too, as long as he didn't notice his head had fallen off.

"But on second thought, won't practicing this technique cause any changes in personality?" Thinking back to Peng Longteng's personality, Li Huowang couldn't help but worry for Gao Zhijian.

"No." Even though Gao Zhijian's response was brisk, Li Huowang still sensed the change in him. He remembered the foolish things Gao Zhijian had done in the past, like squatting on someone's grave with a monk to eat wild rice.

If the old Gao Zhijian gave the impression of being simple and naive, the current Gao Zhijian seemed full of vigor.

"Alright then, practice well. This technique is good for you."

At least from what he could see at the moment, while the military Evil Qi could make one's personality more extroverted, it wasn't necessarily a severe change.

After chatting idly with Gao Zhijian for a while, Li Huowang prepared to return to the Bai Family Courtyard for dinner.

Just as he reached the door, he suddenly thought of something, turned his head towards Gao Zhijian, and said, "These Body Refining Divine Abilities of the Military are not very effective when practiced alone; they're meant for armies. Aren't there many tenants in the village? You can try teaching them and selecting some with aptitude."

If Bai Village had such a small squad of military bodyguards, he wouldn't have to worry about the rear being attacked, no matter where he went.

Gao Zhijian, who seemed somewhat dejected at Li Huowang's refusal to accept the Military cultivation technique, suddenly brightened up and vigorously nodded while gripping the military tome.

When Li Huowang returned to the Bai Family Courtyard and mentioned this at dinner, Bai Lingmiao replied, "Great, that's even better. They'll have something to do during the slack farming season."

"Pay them a bit more. Even though they are our private serfs, we still need to win their hearts."

Holding a porcelain bowl, Bai Lingmiao gave him a glare, "What nonsense are you talking about? They are like our godsons, would I mistreat them?"

After speaking, she stood up and went to serve the rice with her bowl.

"What's wrong with your foot?" Li Huowang, with his keen senses, immediately noticed something off about Bai Lingmiao's gait.

"It's nothing, just tripped over a hole in the ground."

"Stop running around when you've got your eyes covered," Li Huowang said, as he scooped up half a bowl of soup with a porcelain spoon and drank it to moisten his throat before standing and heading outside.

"Hey! Li Huowang! Where are you off to again late at night? Can't you just stay put for a while?" Bai Lingmiao chased after him and asked.

"You don't need to wait up for me, just leave a window open for me tonight."

Li Huowang quickly moved across the roof tiles, leaping towards the towering Niuxin Mountain behind the village.

As he dashed past an empty house, Li Huowang called out below, "Li Sui, follow me!"

"Okay." Li Sui's tentacles swiftly let go of the struggling Mantou and followed.

The two walked along the path until they stopped halfway up the mountain. Li Huowang was taken aback by the dense array of graves before him. "How did so many people die here?"

The graves covered the hillside densely, with some green ghostly fires flickering between them, creating a creepy atmosphere in the dim light.

But Li Huowang didn't care; he had been in this spooky place for so long, seen everything there was to see except for ghosts.

After looking around, Li Huowang entered a clear open space, which also seemed to have been prepped for burying the dead but was left empty since it was filled.

He then said to Li Sui beside him, "I'll go down there. Keep watch for me, and if any strangers or danger approaches, hide in my stomach to wake me up."

Things here were temporarily stable, but there were heaps of trouble on the other side of reality.

"Okay," Li Sui said, clutching his double-pupiled eyeballs, as his slimy body revealed a mouth.

Li Huowang took a deep breath and sat cross-legged on the open ground, revealing a faint trace of the Innate Qi wrapped in his Divine Light.

As his surroundings twisted and collapsed, his pupils gradually lost focus, calmly surveying the area around him.

Li Sui, engrossed in his work within the bushes, suddenly sensed footsteps approaching.

But when he saw the newcomer's appearance with his own eyeball, he immediately relaxed his vigilance.

"Mom, it's so late, won't you go back to sleep?" Li Huowang whispered to a wooden stele in front of him.

A pale hand, as smooth as jade, slowly reached out and gently caressed Li Huowang's cheek.

"Li Huowang, oh, Li Huowang, is this what you call getting over your hysteria?" Bai Lingmiao squatted in front of him, staring at his face, her voice laden with a hint of helplessness.

"Mom, it's clean enough, stop wiping," Li Huowang said, but his words were cut off by a wet towel placed over his face.

"What's wrong with washing a few more times, can it wash off a layer of skin? It's better that you're awake now—go brush your teeth." A tube of soft plastic toothpaste was stuffed into Li Huowang's mouth.

Despite another round of Li Huowang's complaints, smiles that couldn't be concealed spread across both their faces.

Looking at Sun Xiaoqin wiping his hands, Li Huowang thought for a while before saying, "Mom, what did the doctors here say, when can I leave this place?"

This place is called a hospital, but frankly, it's just a prison, a special one that detains the mentally ill. Here, he didn't just lack personal freedom—even moving a finger was difficult.

Since it had been decided to turn this into reality, it naturally had to be treated as such.

If he wanted to do something on his own from now on, the first step was to get out of here, even if it meant being sent back to a private hospital.

"Do you feel oppressed staying here?" Sun Xiaoqin looked up at him.

"Not really, it's just that I'm a bit worried about Yang Na, and I don't know how her illness is now."

Without saying another word, Sun Xiaoqin picked up the towel and the basin, and walked towards the door.

The night ward was so quiet that one could hear the argument between the mother and someone else.

"Comrade, are you joking... do you think...."

"Look, my son's illness is already...., he can totally transfer into a better environment..., what are you doing... treating him like a prisoner... it's not auspicious...."

As footsteps began, the voices of the two people drew closer and became more intense.

"If you don't let my son go, then I won't pay! You can keep him for free!"

"What you are saying... this prison is public, funded by the authorities, adding or subtracting a share won't go into my pocket. Even if you don't pay, we won't let him leave!"

The man's voice softened. "You should consider others, too. Your son, who knows what he's capable of. He's strong as iron, doesn't feel pain, he's no match for most people. If he goes mad on the main road, then what will happen?"

"If your son can kill seven robbers, he can kill seven students!"

"My son wouldn't do that!"

A large hand pointed in through the doorway window. "Wouldn't do that? Can he even tell the difference now? Your son, he's mentally ill!"

Upon this remark, the ward fell silent for a moment.

Li Huowang, lying on the hospital bed, thought for a while then asked toward the direction of the large hand, "So what exactly should I do to leave here with honor?"

But the large hand paid no mind to Li Huowang's mentally ill ramblings, leading Sun Xiaoqin out the door while their conversation faded into a peaceful murmur.

A "snap" sound and all the lights in the ward went out.

Li Huowang, with furrowed brows, looked at the flickering night vision camera in the corner, pondering how to extricate himself from this dilemma.