020 Master Danyang

When Li Huowang saw the two strange entities crawling in front of Master Danyang,who was also writhing continuously,a conjecture popped up in his mind."Are these two things here to help him find the ingredients for the elixir?"

Just as he was thinking this,Li Huowang witnessed Master Danyang bending down,grabbing a handful of mud from the ground,stuffing it into his mouth,and then babbling away at the two blobs.The voice was extremely strange,nothing like what a human could produce.Yet,those two things seemed to understand him.They bobbed up and down once and then quickly dispersed.

As they left,the writhing,pitch-black chaos gradually returned to normal.

"Don't be impatient,my boy.Although the items mentioned in the Heavenly Book are hard to obtain,they're no match for your master.Out there,I've got my connections,"Master Danyang said proudly.

"Of course,Master.You're destined to become an immortal.There's probably nothing in this world that can stump you!But Master,what were those things just now?"

"Hehe,my boy,you still have a lot to learn.Those things are the'Lord You'mentioned in the Heavenly Book."

The past crises had kept Li Huowang's nerves on edge,leaving him no time to ponder one question:What kind of world was this place?

The so-called Grand Granny and Lord You didn't seem like ordinary things at all.If it weren't for the normal pork and sheep's head he had eaten during meals,he would almost have thought that none of the living creatures in this world were normal.

"Ah,these things are precious treasures.It took me quite a bit of effort to get this one back then,"Master Danyang said as he put the copper bell back into his sleeve.

"Steal it?"

"Of course,I had to steal it.Do you think someone would just give it to you for free?Humph!If we don't have something but others do,what should we do?Steal it!"

"I learned this when I was five.A bigger beggar snatched a moldy bun from me."

"When I was young,I stole women,horses,and silver.Later,I stole cultivation techniques,magical artifacts,and even disciples.Heck,even the entire Qingfeng Temple was snatched by me!Did you see the clay-sculpted Patriarch complaining?Hehe."As he said this,a hint of pride flashed across Master Danyang's face.

"Boy,you should listen to what adults say.I'm teaching you how to be smart,got it?I'm telling you this because I consider you one of my own."

"But Master,what if I can't steal it?"

"Can't steal it?Then why don't you team up with others to steal it?Why are you so thick-headed with that literate brain of yours?If you can't succeed in a group,drug them.If drugs don't work,play dirty!"

These few words gave Li Huowang an insight into this scabby-headed master's way of dealing with things.It also explained why this guy's methods were so haphazard.It turned out that everything he had was obtained through random acts of theft.

"Master...You see things clearly."

"Humph!So what if I can't read?So what if I lack spiritual insight?They say I'm a heretic and have no Dao heart.Once I become an immortal,I'll force those guys to open their eyes wide and see who lacks insight and who has no Dao heart!"As he said this,Master Danyang gritted his teeth,and his ugly face was filled with hostility.

Li Huowang didn't know who those people were,but he was sure that the grudge between them and Master Danyang was deep.

For some time after that,Li Huowang ate and lived with Master Danyang,whole-heartedly trying to figure out the method of becoming an immortal from the Heavenly Book.

During this period,Li Huowang also secretly refined the method,making it seem even more credible.

The items Li Huowang mentioned were soon delivered.

Looking at the huge,sticky,gray-white body covered with black soft hair and the shapeless black blister beside it,which emitted a faint glow,Li Huowang was not only disgusted by their hideous appearance but also amazed at Master Danyang's ability to obtain them.

"Master,shall we start the furnace?"Li Huowang asked.

"Not yet.There's still some time until the Chinese New Year.Come on,let's go have the New Year's Eve dinner first."

Master Danyang's words surprised Li Huowang.Why were they having the New Year's Eve dinner now?Was there any connection between this and the elixir-making?

Although he had his doubts,seeing Master Danyang getting up and leaving the alchemy room,Li Huowang quickly followed.

When they arrived at the dining cave,the other disciples were already there.In fact,there were only three of them:Chang Ren,Chang Ming,and Xuan Yuan.

As soon as Master Danyang saw the somewhat empty round table,his face darkened instantly."Why aren't there chopsticks and bowls for the deceased disciples?Set them all up!Invite them back for the New Year."

Soon,when chopsticks and bowls were placed for all the deceased disciples,the round table was filled to the brim.

Master Danyang,who had regained his satisfied smile,nodded and sat back in the main seat.Li Huowang sat on his right,and the left side was empty,reserved for Zheng Kun."Come on,serve the dumplings."

The steaming dumplings were carried in by the young apprentices.The fragrant smell wafted through the air.They were carefully scooped up with spoons and placed in everyone's bowls,including those of the deceased.

"Hehe,it's the New Year.Relax and eat more."Despite his words,Li Huowang and the other three waited for Master Danyang to pick up his chopsticks before they started eating.

Master Danyang picked up a pair of chopsticks,夹起 a white dumpling,and put it into his mouth.He closed his eyes slightly and chewed with relish."MmmIt's filled with lard dregs and chives.So delicious!Hey!What's this?A copper coin?Good omen,good omen,haha."

Li Huowang stared at the dumplings in his bowl for a while,then gritted his teeth and started gobbling them up.

Master Danyang watched Li Huowang eat with a big smile."You're lucky to be able to eat such delicious dumplings."

"When I was your age,I didn't even know what dumplings looked like.I only heard how delicious they were.Hehe."

"Later,one New Year's Eve,I smelled the delicious food from a neighbor's house.When I rushed in,I finally saw what dumplings were like.I didn't even bother with the family's pretty daughter.I just took a knife and then sat on the kang and gobbled up two catties of dumplings.They were also filled with lard dregs and chives."

The other disciples forced out a smile,while Li Huowang continued to wolf down his food.

Seeing the tears in the corners of Li Huowang's eyes,Master Danyang carefully picked up his bowl and poured his dumplings into Li Huowang's."Alas,you're such a poor boy.Eat slowly and don't choke."

Amid the sounds of swallowing and the clinking of chopsticks and bowls,the New Year's Eve dinner for just five people came to an end.

Just when Li Huowang thought they were going to start alchemy,he saw Master Danyang patting his scabby head,taking out a bunch of red envelopes from his sleeve,and distributing them to Chang Ming,Chang Ren,and even the bowls of the deceased.

"Come on,it's the New Year.Remember to put these under your pillows.Hold on to them.When I was your age,no elders ever gave me lucky money."

Master Danyang placed the last red envelope beside Zheng Kun's bowl,then turned to Li Huowang with a beaming smile and said,"You don't need lucky money.We'll become immortals together,and live as long as heaven and earth!"

Li Huowang smiled,a truly happy smile."Master is absolutely right."

"Let's go back to the alchemy room and start the furnace!Boy,you tend the fire!"

"Sure thing,Master!"