The Unruly Immortals

On the shores of Reed Island, Li Huowang stood there holding the blood-drenched bamboo slips in his hand.

The other people, with ghastly pale faces, stood not far away, huddled together, watching him.

They had not yet recovered from the shock of the recent events.

Li Huowang's expression was hesitant, for now, all he had to do was throw with force, and these extremely evil bamboo slips that could make one vomit from just looking at them would sink into the lake's mud, never to see the light of day again.

This seemed like a very good choice, as the power of Bahu was not something to be borrowed lightly. If left in the world, the slips would only bring endless suffering to others.

After pondering for a long time, Li Huowang ultimately stuffed the bloodstained bamboo slips back into his chest.

Despite the extreme bloodthirstiness of the methods recorded within, they were indeed very effective.

If a common water bandit like Yuan Er could use them, then he certainly could as well.

It was better to have such things and not need them. Perhaps, in some extreme situation, he might actually have use for them.

If he did not wish to become Master Danyang completely, then in future dangers, he would have to find a substitute, even if that substitute came at a high price.

Li Huowang turned his head back and looked at the others behind him. "Bring the boat over, then get the dead and the gold ready, we're leaving this damned place."

With the troubles resolved in an unexpected manner, there was no need to stay amidst the corpses any longer.

The small boats used by the water bandits to commit robberies were pushed to the shore by Sun Baolu, who was adept at water. The others climbed aboard with the bodies of their companions and the gold ornaments.

"Get on board, paddle, and take us to the other side of this great lake," Li Huowang threateningly glared at the young man before him.

"If... if I lead you out, will you spare my life?" the frightened young man asked hesitantly.

As he saw Li Huowang reach for the sword sheath behind him, the young man scrambled onto the boat in terror.

As the young man rowed, the boat turned and headed into the depths of the reeds. The others awkwardly paddled to keep up.

The dense Reed Marshes were quiet, except for the sound of the oars slicing through the water. No one spoke.

The events that had unfolded on the island had left everyone unsettled, their faces ashen.

"The gentleman… my name is Yuan Fu," the boy paddling the boat suddenly spoke up.

Li Huowang, with furrowed brows, did not respond, his eyes scanning the pitch-black surroundings like an eagle.

"Sir, the thing is, I know that robbing and killing on the water isn't good. I never join in when my dad engages in that," the young man with a nervous face tried to explain.

"In fact, I want to try for an official examination, to head to the Capital City and become a high official; I've been tired of this place for a long time. I know this area very well, where do you want to go, sir? I can guide you there."

These words finally caught Li Huowang's attention, and he looked down at the boy rowing the boat. "What do you know about the Nun Temple on Henghua Mountain?"

This was his next destination. Perhaps he could learn something from this man, considering that Henghua Mountain should not be far from the lake.

"Nuns, eh? I know about them. I once encountered them while working with my brother. We had already scoped out the details of our targets on the boat, but at the last moment, my brother said we were not going ahead with it."

"He told me that it was our grandfather's will, the black-clothed nuns, the bald-headed bird-keepers, the drum-bearing deities. These are the 'three nos' we do not rob from."

"What do these nuns look like? Is there anything special about them?"

"They're fat, really fat, one of them is as big as three of me. And they're lazy, they'd never stand if they could sit, never sit if they could lie down."

"And they reek, just filthy; one time, a nun took off her shoes, and I could smell it from across the boat."

"Master, are you going to look for those nuns? I can show you the way."

Fat, lazy, dirty, these words could hardly be associated with the Buddhist term 'nun'.

"Li Zhi said they were barely good people? But are there really any so-called good people in this world?"

Having been through this series of events, Li Huowang expressed serious doubt.

After winding their way through the Reed Marshes for a long time, the vast lake reappeared before them,

and when the boat finally reached the shore, dawn had started to break. From sunset to sunrise, they had actually stayed on the island all night.

As the sun shone on everyone's faces, the heavy weight in their hearts finally lifted. Having rowed the boat all night, they were now exhausted and collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

Li Huowang said to the others, "Don't rest just yet, go find some firewood in the forest, we need to burn these three bodies before they start to stink."

Seeing the three drowned companions on the boat, the others struggled to their feet and staggered toward the nearby forest.

Li Huowang stopped Xiao Man, who was clutching her arm; a large piece of skin had been ripped off her right arm, exposing the blood-red muscle to the air.

"How are you doing? Are you okay?" Li Huowang asked as he pulled an Elixir out of his waistband and handed it to her.

Xiao Man did not take the Elixir, "I'm fine, it's a miracle I survived; a minor injury like this can be covered with ash from plants and trees later."

After spending these days together, Li Huowang had learned about her stubborn nature and said no more.

Soon three large bonfires were lit on the shore, and Li Huowang carried the bodies of the three deceased, throwing each into the flames.

All watched as yesterday's lively companions were gradually engulfed by fire.

By the time the sun was high in the sky, the flames had slowly died out.

Li Huowang poked through the ashes with his longsword, breaking the larger bones into smaller pieces, then gathered them along with the ashes into ceramic jars.

Looking at the jars of ashes before him, Li Huowang felt very somber; last night's events had left his mind in turmoil.

At that moment, Bai Lingmiao, with eyes veiled, reached out gently tugging at the hem of his clothes.

Sensing his mood was off, she leaned in and rested against Li Huowang's back.

"I am quite alright; you don't need to console me," Li Huowang said, bending down to pick up the three jars and placed them in the arms of an idiot.

Yuan Fu, who was as fawning as a lapdog, stood by Li Huowang's side and said, "Master, do you want to rest? If you don't want to rest, then I'll take you to find the nuns, I know the way."

The calm Li Huowang flicked the ash from his sword, then suddenly swung it toward the source of the voice and swiftly sheathed it.

"Take the ashes with us. Let's go."

Yuan Fu's eyes widened in disbelief, covering his bleeding neck with his hands.

He opened his mouth as if wanting to say something to Li Huowang's departing back but could only cough.

Eventually, he staggered a few steps, then his body softened, and he fell to the ground, his gaze gradually losing its luster.