The Unruly Immortals

Upon hearing that Li Huowang was engaged in the business of face threading, the child seemed very happy.

"Really? Can you do face threading? My sister is getting married. My mom said she needs to have her face threaded. Will you help her? Once it's done, she can get into the bridal sedan and I can have wedding candies."

"Sure, but my skills aren't cheap. It'll cost at least half a peck of new rice," Li Sui feigned a calculating demeanor.

"We have rice. My brother-in-law's family is the landlord; they have lots of rice. Come with me!" The child, hugging a ball, led the way.

With just a few casual inquiries, Li Sui easily gathered some information about the village. The child was named Chen Junyu, and this place was called Chen Family Village, which was over a hundred miles from the nearest county town, making it relatively remote.

Based on what Li Sui had learned over the past few days, she judged that the scouts from the Astrological Bureau hadn't yet reached this place, allowing her anxious heart to relax a little.

"Miss, sit on the stool, won't you? How am I supposed to thread your face while you're standing?" Li Sui playfully scolded the thin girl before her.

The dark-skinned woman behind them pinched her daughter's arm hard. "She's asking you to go over there! Are you deaf?"

When the young girl sat in front of her, Li Sui took out a small package from her bosom, removed a small tuft of cotton, dipped it in some powder, and gently patted it on the girl's face.

Next, Li Sui took out a thin thread. The thread crossed each other with her thumbs and forefingers holding one end, pulling the line with her left hand, biting the other end with her mouth. Coordinating with her right hand, the thread was pulled across the girl's face, back and forth.

As the thread moved, the powder on the girl's face, along with the fine fuzz, was scraped off, revealing a smooth and delicate face in no time.

Seeing her daughter looking prettier, the woman beamed with joy. "Wow, your skills are really good! Half a peck of rice isn't expensive, really."

"Madam, could you prepare a room for me to rest for a bit? I'm really tired from the journey, just consider the half a peck of rice as a wedding gift for the young lady."

"Sure, sure!" Seeing she didn't have to give any rice, the dark-skinned woman went off gleefully to prepare the room.

If half a peck of rice was taken to the market, it could be exchanged for Copper Coins, letting an outsider stay for the night without asking for anything in return, anyone could see which is more advantageous.

After the woman left, Li Sui planned to extract some information from the young girl. After all, her younger brother was still small, didn't know much, and wasn't fully informed.

Licking the thin thread with her tongue, Li Sui began to trim the girl's eyebrows with it. "Miss, would you like crescent eyebrows or consort eyebrows?"

"Either's fine..." the young girl murmured in a mosquito-like voice.

"Since you're getting married, I'll give you consort eyebrows," said Li Sui as she began coaxing information from the girl's mouth.

Although the young girl was not talkative and wasn't very responsive, the information Li Sui gleaned made her feel somewhat at ease.

This place was safe. She could rest here properly, regain her strength, and then set out again. For the past few days, she had lived in constant fear and hadn't prepared any rest for nearly half a month.

After threading the girl's face and arranging her hair, Li Sui secured her right to use a low-set house.

Li Sui lifted the sheet, bundled up the straw underneath into a pile, and then took off all her belongings, hugging Li Huowang's clay figure, satisfied as she lay down.

She didn't like sleeping in beds; she preferred the feeling of being completely buried.

"Dad, I'm doing well. It's been three years since I came to this place. Just another 177 years, and I can see you again."

In the straw heap, Li Sui softly confided to Li Huowang's clay figure.

After talking to her dad, Li Sui took out her mom's clay figure to share her worries. "Mom, I've taken too many vessels. I can hardly fit them all under my skirt anymore. What will I do when I can't fit them anymore?"

She knew the clay figures couldn't respond, but at least after expressing some of her thoughts, she felt a little better.

And by talking to the clay figures, she constantly reminded herself that her identity was none other than Li Sui.

As Li Sui was preparing to rest with the clay figures, the wooden door was gently opened and then closed again.

With a "whish," Li Sui's clothes were rapidly pulled into the straw pile, observing any changes.

Various Magic Artifacts had already been raised in the straw; should something go wrong, she would act immediately.

Soon, the dim room was filled with the sound of a woman sobbing. "Mistress, it's me, I beg you, please take me away. I'll learn face threading from you, I don't need money, just give me some food on the way, that'll be enough."

When Li Sui's eyes protruded a bit from the straw, she saw that it wasn't the Da Qi Astrological Bureau sent to kill her, but rather the girl whose face she had threaded earlier.

At that moment, she was lying on the ground, her hands offering some Copper Coins, Pieces of Silver, and a Silver hairpin, presenting them at Li Sui's bedside.

"Mistress, I'm begging you! I really can't get married; if I marry, my life will be over!"

Hearing the girl's purpose, Li Sui pretended to dress as she emerged from the straw pile. "Oh dear, oh dear, what are you doing? Get up and talk."

With Li Sui supporting and comforting her, she learned the backstory from the girl's mouth.

Her mother wanted this girl, named Chen Zhaodi, to marry an old man. It was said to be a marriage, but it was actually a sale. More importantly, the old man had already lost five wives.

The exact cause of their death was unknown to the girl, but she was certain that if she married him, her life might end there.

After understanding the situation, Li Sui showed a trace of hesitation. She was in no position to protect herself, and taking the girl along could add more trouble.

At that moment, the sound of the woman shouting curses came from outside the house, "Big girl! Where have you gone? The pigs in the pen are squealing! Didn't you hear? Go feed the pigs, quick!"

Seeing Li Sui sitting motionless, Chen Zhaodi's expression quickly darkened. Looking like she lost her soul, she turned and walked towards the door.

"Mistress, I'm sorry, I'll just hang myself."

Watching the girl's back, Li Sui couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy. "Wait a minute, let me think of a way to help you."

Ultimately, Li Sui chose to help. Although her situation was dire, if her father encountered such a thing, with his temperament, he certainly would help too.

"Here's what you do." Li Sui instructed the wide-eyed Chen Zhaodi, "First, go feed the pigs, and then come find me tonight at the third watch."