"Hmm? What is he saying?" Li Huowang went to check on Simpleton.
As soon as he walked into the forest, he was shocked by what he saw—Simpleton and the old monk were squatting in front of a small mound of dirt, eating something. There were a few pieces of yellow paper weighed down by a rock and placed on the mound.
Li Huowang tried to suppress his anger as he kicked Simpleton. "Get up! How dare you eat the food people made as offerings to the dead?! Do you have a death wish?! Didn't I tell you not to talk to him?!"
Simpleton stood up awkwardly. "I... I didn't... didn't talk to him."
"Kneel down and apologize to the grave!" Li Huowang ordered.
After Simpleton had apologized to the grave, Li Huowang pulled him up with only his hands.
This was a strange world with many supernatural beings. He didn't dare to risk anything. It would be bad if something happened just because he didn't handle this properly.
Li Huowang unsheathed his sword and pointed it at the old monk. "I don't care what your goal is, but leave me and my people alone, or you'll regret it!"
Before the old monk could say anything, Li Huowang had already pulled Simpleton away.
"I'm just a monk," the old man mumbled as he continued eating the food meant for the dead.
Everyone soon resumed their journey. Meanwhile, Li Huowang's face was serious as he started giving orders. "Don't sleep too soundly these next few nights. We might have trouble."
Even though Simpleton had apologized, no one knew what kind of attitude the thing in the grave had; Li Huowang didn't want to risk it.
Hearing what he said, the rest of them understood and nodded.
As the sun started to set, everyone stopped their journey and went into the forest to gather firewood. Li Huowang made sure the fire burned extra bright today. He even asked some people to chop extra firewood.
There was no moon, and the surroundings were pitch black. The tree branches swayed in the wind, as if numerous things were hiding in the darkness, watching them.
As time passed, their surroundings grew quieter and quieter. Soon, everyone was fast asleep.
However, Li Huowang was still awake, almost as if he were waiting for something.
He was wary not only of the dark forest but also of the old monk.
If something were to emerge from the grave to haunt them, it would probably go after the old monk first.
It might actually be good if something came. At least I would then have an opportunity to see what the old monk's true identity is.
The first half of the night passed, and the second half began—when everyone would be the most groggy from sleep.
"Senior Li, over there... I think I just saw a face," Puppy's voice shook as he spoke. He was on guard duty along with Li Huowang.
However, when Li Huowang quickly scanned the darkness, he saw nothing.
"Are you sure?" whispered Li Huowang.
Puppy swallowed hard and replied, "I'm not sure... maybe I just saw something else."
"Stay quiet, and don't talk," Li Huowang said as he pretended to tend the fire while keeping an eye on that spot.
After some time, under the glow of the fire, he saw an ugly face emerging from the darkness with a cruel smile on its face.
What made Li Huowang shudder was the fact that more and more faces were slowly emerging from the darkness. At the same time, a metallic reflection could occasionally be seen beneath their faces.
"Wait, a metallic reflection?" Li Huowang immediately stood up and threw a flaming branch in their direction. "Stop! Who are you people?!"
Li Huowang's shout shook everyone awake.
As the flaming branch landed near the faces, Li Huowang saw that they had hands and feet. They were human!
At this point, not only Li Huowang but everyone else saw them too. Some also noticed the blades in their hands and shouted, "Bandits! Run!"
This shout pierced the darkness, and everyone acted immediately, scattering as fast as they could.
"Shit! We've been spotted! Quickly, bring the horses!" the bandits shouted as they ran after them.
"Run into the forest! Their horses can't run well there!" shouted the old monk.
Hearing the old monk, everyone rushed into the forest.
Li Huowang and the rest ran too, but their donkey cart was not as fast as horses.
Hearing the thunder of hooves, Li Huowang turned back and saw a bandit on horseback swinging his blade toward an old woman.
"We have to fight!" Li Huowang shouted before immediately taking out a pill and swallowing it. The warm feeling coursed through his body once more.
Then, Li Huowang leaped toward the bandit.
At the same time, the old monk suddenly appeared beside the old woman and pushed her down.
The bandit pulled on the reins, causing the horse to rear up, its front hooves aimed at the people on the ground.
The bandit smiled cruelly, anticipating the bloody mess that would soon follow. He enjoyed stealing and toying with women.
But in the next moment, he saw someone rushing toward him and punching his horse.
The horse neighed in pain and turned away, causing its hooves to slam heavily beside the old monk.
Meanwhile, the bandit could do nothing as he fell off the horse. At the same time, he saw the horse's head suddenly explode, shocking him completely.
Then, with a dull thud, his own head exploded as well.
Meanwhile, seeing their comrade in danger, the other bandits whistled to call for reinforcements.
Li Huowang needed to make sure the bandits realized they had picked the wrong group—while Dan Yangzi's pill was still in effect.
As the sound of fighting echoed in the dark night, the bandits fled after a few of them were killed.
"Retreat! He's too strong! He might be from the Surveillance Bureau!"
Li Huowang stood there, gasping for air, his knuckles covered in blood.
Then he turned and looked at the old monk. After this fight, he realized that the old monk was just a plain old monk and nothing more.
Under Li Huowang's gaze, the old monk stood up and approached one of the people who had been cut down by the bandits, kneeling down and chanting something.
Li Huowang walked over and tried to hear what he was chanting.
"Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha..."
He was chanting "Amitabha" over and over again with a strange pronunciation.
After chanting it dozens of times, the old man walked into the forest and dug a grave for the deceased.