"Boy, if you won't listen to me, don't even think about getting out."
Ink flowed, and an old man stepped out of it, a tobacco pipe in hand. Dressed in a ragged blue tunic, he crouched on the jade steps, his eyes fierce.
"The lord was merciful just now, and happened to leave. Had it been another lord, one look back would have reduced you to flying ash."
"Senior."
"There's nothing to discuss. If you've got the ability, fight your way out, just as Taihao once did."
The old man sneered, raised his tobacco pipe, and tapped Liu Xiaowen lightly on the forehead. Ji Earth light sprang forth at once, and his Dharma Body gradually showed signs of turning into white paper and merging into this world.
"Stop, stop!"
The boy wearing a red cloth bellyband darted out from the stage and hurried over. With one leap, he landed on the white jade steps, leaned close to the old man's ear, and whispered a few words.
The old man's expression instantly grew exceedingly complicated. He waved a hand, and the Ji Earth light around Liu Xiaowen immediately dispersed.
"Fine, then. Hmph! Boy, break the rules again, and you'll obediently come take up a post in my Opera Troupe! Wang Qi, do as they said. We can't afford to offend them!"
"Grandpa, calm down. The Flame Palace said they'd compensate us."
The boy named Wang Qi chuckled and said only:
"Immortal Official Miao An said that when I descend to the lower realm, they'll find me a good family to be born into and make me a great general!"
"What?"
The blue-clad old man's expression changed, turning deathly pale in an instant. He raised his tobacco pipe to strike hard, but after wavering, he withdrew it and snapped:
"You fool! You've