Staring at the pieces of silver in Bai Lingmiao's hands, Li Huowang immediately took out another piece of silver and gave it to her.
However, before he could even say anything, Bai Lingmiao hurriedly told him, "The anklet has already been melted. I saw it with my own eyes. There's no way to buy it back."
Seeing how shocked Li Huowang was, Bai Lingmiao chuckled as if she had finally won against him. She then placed all the silver in Li Huowang's hands.
"It's fine. The anklet was just something my mom gave me as an accessory. It wasn't some family heirloom."
Seeing Bai Lingmiao insist that it was alright, Li Huowang did not ask about it anymore. He counted all the pieces of silver before keeping them safely. "Once everything has died down, I'll buy you an even bigger one."
"Ok! I'm looking forward to it!" Bai Lingmiao smiled and nodded.
Just then, the door opened, and Puppy entered the room. He saw the two of them in a corner and immediately turned around. "Oops, sorry. Wrong room. I'll head out now."
Bai Lingmiao blushed, pushed Puppy away, and ran off.
On the other hand, Puppy just chuckled as he walked into the room again. "Senior Li, even though Senior Bai is afflicted with albinism, that shouldn't be an issue when it comes to marrying her. Her heart and personality are much more important. Please don't leave her behind."
Li Huowang was too lazy to argue with him. "Stop babbling. Wash up and go to sleep. We finally have the chance to sleep in a bed."
In his dream, Li Huowang was walking through a forest toward a light. He used his sword to chop down bushes and trees in his way as he approached it.
When he reached the source of the light, he realized it was Bai Lingmiao, his mother, and Yang Na. All three were roasting sweet potatoes by a campfire.
Looking at the heartwarming scene, he sighed and approached them.
At that moment, however, the sky suddenly turned dark, and Li Huowang saw a towering monstrosity—it was Dan Yangzi with his three heads and feathered body!
"Hahaha! My dear disciple! Not bad! You brought all the guiding drug ingredients."
The monstrosity that was Dan Yangzi laughed and picked up a stone pillar even larger than his body. Then, he smashed the pillar down toward the campfire.
"No, wait!"
At that moment, Li Huowang woke up, completely drenched in cold sweat. He gasped for air and calmed down, realizing it had all been a nightmare.
"Senior Li, you woke up? I bought some dumplings for you. Eat them while they're still hot." Puppy, who had been looking at the streets while Li Huowang was sleeping, retracted his head from outside the window.
"What time is it now?" Li Huowang asked as he clasped the side of his head to soothe his headache while looking at the dumplings on the table.
"It's just past 9 AM. You could have slept a while longer; after all, we're not starting our journey so soon today."
Li Huowang ate the dumplings one by one and even drank the soup in the porcelain bowl. He finished eating in no time. "Who said we don't have anything to do? Let's go and buy some supplies we'll need for our journey."
The scene he saw in his nightmare flashed through his head again. Li Huowang told Puppy, "I'll take someone else with me to buy supplies. Meanwhile, I need you to ask Lu Zhuangyuan and find out when we'll be starting our journey again. The sooner, the better. If they can't travel anytime soon, we'll have to leave without him."
Li Huowang had some silver left over after buying the donkey and cart. Adding the silver he got from Bai Lingmiao, there would be no issue purchasing extra supplies. At the very least, they needed to buy some sheets and blankets. It was tough sleeping in the wilderness without them. More often than not, his back would be warm while the front of his body remained chilly as he slept by the campfire.
He also needed to buy a simple pot. Then, at the very least, they could cook something rather than munching on dry rations.
Li Huowang bought many things, to the point their cart had no space left. When he reconvened with Lu Zhuangyuan at the town gate, Li Huowang had even purchased another donkey cart.
"Hoho? Young Taoist, you're quite talented. To think your assets are growing so fast as you travel. Another year and a half, and you might just end up having an entire caravan." Lu Zhuangyuan didn't forget to praise Li Huowang as they traveled.
"Old man, is the Western Capital City far from Jianye Town?" Li Huowang asked as they traveled on the wide dirt road.
The road was wide, and there were many other travelers—it wasn't just Lu Zhuangyuan and Li Huowang's groups. Many others were carrying their belongings as they traveled. It seemed everyone was heading toward the Western Capital City.
"It's not too far. We should arrive there in another ten days or so." Lu Zhuangyuan smiled as he recalled something pleasant.
Li Huowang nodded. "About the Monastery—other than everyone going there to pray, what else do you know about it?"
"Haiya... It's a Monastery. They're all the same, with older monks leading the younger ones to be vegetarian and chant sutras."
Li Huowang sighed. It seemed he had no choice but to check the place out himself; someone like Lu Zhuangyuan, who was busy making ends meet and living as a commoner, definitely wasn't an expert on such topics.
"Young Taoist, look, there's a Monk just up ahead. He's... peeing under the tree. Why not ask him? Maybe he's from the Monastery."
"Huh?" Li Huowang turned to look in the direction Lu Zhuangyuan was pointing. Sure enough, there was a Monk.
When Li Huowang approached the Monk, the Monk also turned around to face him. The robe he wore was filthy.
When Li Huowang saw his face, his brows furrowed uncontrollably; rather than a Monk, the man looked more like a bald beggar. He looked absolutely filthy and ragged. His Monk robe was even riddled with holes.
"Amitabha. Is there a reason you approached me?" the filthy man opened his mouth, revealing yellow teeth. He was even missing one of his front teeth.
"Are you a Monk?" asked Li Huowang.
"Yes, I am a Monk!" the old Monk replied, holding the prayer beads around his neck, which were made from fruit seeds.
"May I ask which Monastery you're from?" Li Huowang asked, quite suspicious.
"I'm not from any Monastery. That's why I'm traveling north. I heard there are many Monasteries there, and I want to become a Monk there. I heard they even feed you for free!"
Upon hearing such a response, Li Huowang nodded and returned to his group. He had a hunch.
But just as Li Huowang decided not to bother the fake Monk further, the Monk approached him instead.
"Are you looking for a Monastery too? But aren't you a Taoist? Taoists don't really believe in Buddha, do they?"
Don't tell me he's trying to make me lower my guard?
Li Huowang immediately heightened his alertness and smacked the rump of his donkeys, urging everyone to walk faster and ignore the old Monk.
Unfortunately, Simpleton didn't understand and just kept talking to the old Monk.
"You... You didn't bring... any food? You... will... starve!"
"Why would I? There are plenty of mushrooms, fruits, and vegetables in the forest."
"I've... I've eaten wild fruits before too! And..."
"Simpleton, don't talk to him," Li Huowang interrupted.
"Oh." Simpleton nodded in understanding.
Without anyone to talk to, the old Monk left. At the same time, Li Huowang sighed in relief and released his grip on the bronze bell hidden in his sleeve. He needed to stay alert at all times in this strange world—regardless of whether the other person was truly an idiot or not.
After walking for two hours, it was finally midday. At this point, many people stepped off the path and sat under trees, munching on their rations. Li Huowang and his group did the same. Even though he was anxious to keep traveling, it was safer to move in a large group.
He then passed out the freshly bought buns to everyone; they ate them with some pickled vegetables.
He had just drunk some water from the gourd Bai Lingmiao had passed to him when he realized someone was missing. "Huh? Where's Simpleton?"
"He went into the forest to pee. But why isn't he back yet? Did he go for number two instead? Simpleton! What are you doing there?"
When Puppy shouted into the forest, Simpleton's large head popped out from behind a tree. He was munching on something.
"What are you eating?" Li Huowang asked, feeling confused.
"Some... Some free... free rice... in the forest! No... no money needed!" Simpleton said before hiding behind the tree again.