Chapter 3 Huahua Lang

The next morning at daybreak, the old man was no longer in a mournful state.

He sprang up energetically, poking Tian Lin awake with a bamboo pole: "Let's set off, set off, set off."

Tian Lin rubbed his eyes and yawned as he got up.

Looking outside at the sky, Tian Lin said, "It's not even fully light yet, where is this energy coming from?"

The old man replied, "The long Immortal Road is ahead, do not waste precious time. Get up quickly, we must hasten our pace to catch up with Zhang Dalang and the others."

Zhang Dalang was the leader of their Immortal Seeking Team, as well as the most skilled martial artist in the group.

"I feel like we might be stronger going on our own rather than following Zhang Dalang."

Tian Lin muttered this remark, only to be immediately refuted by the old man.

The old man said, "That's where you're clueless. We Huahua Langs need to stick together, twist into one single strand. Only by doing so can we cross the four seas and scale the nine mountains."

Tian Lin had no interest in his rambling because his stomach was starting to feel hungry again.

The two buried their heads in travel, crossing hills and rivers as they went.

The old man was right about one thing: even the strongest person could not traverse mountains and seas without companions.

They barely found a small cave to dwell in, each standing watch for half the night before continuing on their way the next early morning.

On the road, apart from eating insects and grass, Tian Lin discovered a plant named 'Writher Flower.'

This thing could cause diarrhea if eaten by humans, but the hint told Tian Lin that Stinky Grass could refresh the mind and even treat headaches.

With plenty to eat along the way and the old man picking lots of wild greens, their journey became much more leisurely.

After crossing another river, the old man suddenly asked Tian Lin, "Do you hear something?"

"What sound?"

After saying that, Tian Lin stopped and listened.

From the mist in the distance, a voice sang, somewhat like a song but not quite:

"The sun was still down this morning, the door open, my wife saw me across the stone platform, her hand reluctant to let go. Oh, my foolish wife, I'll be back once I'm done with cultivation. Last night, the moon had just risen, the whole family was around, my worried mother's frown wouldn't fade, her heart couldn't settle. Oh, my timid mother, your son will return soon."

Hearing the tune, the old man joyfully said, "It's Zhang Dalang and his group, quick, let's join in their singing."

From the other side of the mountain, as the voices soared to the skies, the old man quickened his pace while howling along, "Huahua Lang, wandering the lands, through mountains of swords and seas of flames I dare venture, through dragons' dens and tiger's pits I dare charge. Huahua Lang, away from home, one day I shall return a cultivator, in grand style to see my parents."

"Alright, alright, shut it for now, there are people ahead."

Tian Lin didn't know where the old man got his energy and strength, as singing seemed to give him wings on his feet.

By the time he finally caught up with the old man, they had already crossed over the hilltop.

"It's the two Liu brothers!"

Hearing Tian Lin's words, the old man stopped in his tracks, delightedly telling Tian Lin.

Indeed, in the pine forest ahead, a bald man was limping along, supported by a skinny young man beside him.

"Old Liu, what happened to you?"

The old man ran over to ask the bald man, who turned around and saw it was the old man and Tian Lin, his face showing a look of surprise.

"You two fell behind the team half a month ago, didn't you?"

However, the speaker wasn't the bald man, but his younger brother Little Liu.

"Heh, I've traveled through all corners of the land, let alone this little distance."

After boasting, the old man then asked the bald man: "Old Liu, you haven't said yet, who's the one that injured your leg?"

Old Liu's face turned sullen, a flash of fierce light in his eyes: "Who else could it be but Zhang Dalang? He complained that I ate too much, wanted to take my rations, pity that my brother and I couldn't fight four hands with two."

Little Liu also asked Tian Lin and the old man: "You two are going after Zhang Dalang and his crew, aren't you? I suggest you not stick with them, us a bunch of old, weak, sick and handicapped, who knows when he'll use us as rations."

It wasn't without precedent; in times when not even wild vegetables could be found, the leader of Huahua Lang had used the weak among the team to stave off hunger.

"We're about to reach the Yao Yue Sect, why bother killing each other? Anyway, I won't talk with you guys any longer, the brat and I are going on ahead."

After finishing his words, the old man started to pick up his pace and ran.

As Tian Lin passed by Old Liu, he nodded at both brothers and chased after the old man.

"Those two brothers are no good either. Now that they're injured, they want to drag us into opposing Zhang Dalang. But Zhang Dalang is a petty man, we can't afford to offend him even the slightest."

As they walked, the old man warned Tian Lin, and soon they saw a group of people resting in the mountains, not far off.

These people were all dressed in tattered clothes, carrying broken pots and worn-out shovels, looking just like starving refugees fleeing famine.

But there were also those dressed neatly, even adorned with gold and silver.

Tian Lin and the old man's gaze were drawn to a man sitting on a large boulder with a knife, who had gold rings on his fingers and a green jade bracelet on his wrist, presumably snatched from some woman.

While slapping the boulder with the flat of his knife, he looked at the old man and Tian Lin with a smile and said: "Ah, it's you two. How rare, you actually managed to catch up with us."

Underneath the boulder, the old man fawned and said: "That's because Zhang Dalang cares for the old and weak, deliberately slowing down. Otherwise, at this dying old age, how could I ever catch up with Zhang Dalang?"

Zhang Dalang burst into laughter and said, "You old coot sure know how to talk, keeping you in the team does have its uses."

Then his face turned serious and he said: "But remember one thing, when you're hungry, find your own food."

The old man quickly nodded obsequiously and dragged Tian Lin to blend into the group.

This team formed by Huahua Lang consisted of about a dozen people, always subject to decreases or increases in numbers.

Tian Lin noticed that there were three fresh faces in the group, unclear where they emerged from along the way.

"We're just two mountains away from Lin'an County. Once in Lin'an County, you're in the territory of Yao Yue Sect, got to pull in your hooliganism and behave."

Zhang Dalang stood up from the boulder, looking high and mighty as he watched the people below.

Then someone stood out and said: "Since we're going to Lin'an County, why not hit a village before we leave Qinghe County and do one last job?"

Some people chimed in: "Yes, the food we robbed last time is already running out."

Another added: "Right, I'm still thinking about the flavor of that woman last time; she might be fat but was soft and tender."

The bunch erupted into laughter, but Zhang Dalang's face hardened as he said:

"Everyone better behave themselves, do you think the villagers near the Yao Yue Sect are kind folks? A good number of them are also Huahua Lang who had to leave their homes, they'd eat you without even spitting out the bones."