Mutated Tao

Chapter 713: Courtesy

“Kill them!” Li Huowang pasted yellow talismans on his knee as he charged into the group of people. The bloodbath made his robes even redder than usual.

Even though Li Huowang was surrounded by enemies, he still held the upper hand. With his keen sense of hearing, Li Huowang noticed the ground shaking slightly.

He looked back and saw a war chariot pulled by four horses charging towards him. Li Huowang turned his wrist and a rift shot out, cutting the chariot in half.

Suddenly, a dark figure shot out from Li Huowang’s shadow. Using a dagger crafted from black stone, the figure attempted to stab Li Huowang’s waist.

Li Huowang had seen this trick one too many times and had prepared countermeasures to prevent it. He asked Li Sui to grow an eyeball behind his head.

Li Huowang twisted himself to dodge the attack before using his sword to cut the Witch down.

Suddenly, Li Huowang was thrust into complete darkness. Something affected the Dharma Sect surrounding him. An invisible call unified them, and they all jumped towards Li Huowang.

They covered the sky and blotted out the sun above Li Huowang as they raised their weapons high to stab him.

The Witch that was cut in half by Li Huowang refused to die and restrained Li Huowang’s arms using her legs.

They realized Li Huowang was not someone they could fight with their strength, so they laid out traps with their own lives just to kill Li Huowang.

The weapons stabbed Li Huowang without mercy. Li Huowang clenched his fist and howled angrily, his skin and flesh opening up like fish scales. Numerous tentacles holding torture tools burst forth from his body and started decimating the people around him.

Li Huowang twisted his body so hard that he snapped his own spine. His tentacles started spinning, too.

With the torture tools and his three swords, Li Huowang turned into a deadly spinning top as he spun and mowed down everyone.

The sun shone brightly above him by the time the sound of tearing flesh and agonized cries had vanished.

He stomped on one of the corpses with his right foot, barely catching his breath before noticing Lu Xiucai was in danger. Li Huowang ran forward to rescue him.

Minor skirmishes like these were easy for him to handle—the battle ended in ten minutes. Afterward, Li Huowang washed his swords and hands in a nearby creek.

He remembered being here before, back when they escaped from Zephyr Temple. At the time, he had set up a fireplace and stove to cook their meals. Li Huowang sighed when he thought about what he had become.

Suddenly, something flew past his head and landed in the water. Several tentacles danced happily in the water.

“Suisui, stop playing now. It’s time to go,” Li Huowang said, walking towards the shore.

Li Sui’s, or rather, Princess Anping’s alluring skin, walked up the shore with her wet clothes stuck to her body. She also had a carp in her mouth.

On the road, Li Huowang frowned as he stared at the corpses strewn everywhere. Many of the corpses were dressed in the uniform of officials.

Si Qi differed from Hou Shu. Hou Shu was still fighting against the Dharma Sect, but Si Qi had completely fallen.

In Hou Shu, they only had to worry about getting stuck in the crossfire between the Dharma Sect and the army. But in Si Qi, Li Huowang felt that he was wading through thick mud—there were only enemies here.

They experienced too many minor skirmishes after entering Si Qi.

“I’m struggling even though there are not that many Dharma Sect members here. I imagine things are tougher on your side,“ Li Huowang said to Xuan Pin.

“Correct.”

“How’s the frontline? Is it alright?”

Xuan Pin shook his head and remained silent. Li Huowang was unsure whether Xuan Pin didn't want to tell him or didn't know.

“What are you scheming? I doubt you think of me as a friend. Why can’t you tell me anything?”

“Li Huowang, successful people ignore the minor details. Don’t be too anxious.”

Li Huowang glared at Xuan Pin and saw the illusion start to waver. “Bullshit. I don’t want to be successful. I just want to live peacefully.”

As long as Li Huowang willed it and focused his thoughts, he could make Xuan Pin’s illusion actually disappear.

“Wait. I have a gift for you.”

All six of Xuan Pin’s arms gestured at his own stomach before producing a mirror and giving it to Li Huowang.

The monk’s illusion was confused, picking it up to inspect it under the sun.

“Wait, don’t touch it!” Li Huowang pushed the monk away and checked the mirror in the air and its contents.

He wasn’t sure what it was at first. There were lines, flags, banners, and several blinking red dots.

But Li Huowang soon realized what it was. It was a map of Si Qi.

“This is… A map of Si Qi? Are the red dots the battles occurring right now?” Li Huowang asked, pointing at the red dots in the mirror.

“That’s not all. This artifact I refined has other uses. Try reaching your arm into it.”

Li Huowang hesitantly touched the mirror with one finger.

When he touched one of the red dots, he felt as if he had been transported into the war zone. Screaming and crying could be heard everywhere, with a murderous area permeating the surroundings.

The deep sound of a horn came from afar, making Li Huowang’s skin tingle. Then, the ground began to tremble, and the vibrations grew stronger and stronger.

The cavalry from Qing Qiu charged towards the Dharma Sect, who was carrying a massive statue.

Li Huowang felt his blood boiling. He took a deep breath and retracted his finger before realizing he was back in his original location.

He looked at Xuan Pin and placed his finger on one of the flags. This time, he saw several generals from Qing Qiu discussing in a war tent.

Hearing their discussions, Li Huowang realized they were giving out orders and strategizing. Li Huowang understood how powerful the artifact was.

“How is it?” Xuan Pin asked. “With this, you can understand the situation on the battlefield and locate our forces.”

Xuan Pin’s arm extended from his red robes and patted Li Huowang lightly. “We are allies, so… How about you forgive me for the incident with the Earth Dragon?”