Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 121
>Chapter Title: Wound
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> “Alright, Yingzi, let me ask one more question. Besides the self-mutilation rituals from the Great Thousand Record, does the Ao Jing Sect have any other techniques or divine abilities?”
> Hearing Li Huowang’s words, a trace of difficulty appeared on Yingzi’s face.
> “They do, but Benefactor, it’s really impossible for me to teach them to you right now. They’re just like the Great Thousand Record—they all require having the specific items on hand to use.”
> “Hand Three definitely won’t give them to you.”
> “All their abilities require books? What kind of bizarre cult is this?” Li Huowang wondered to himself.
> “Then let me ask you this: who wrote these books?”
> “I heard it was the Great Elders in the caves who wrote them. All the books come from them.”
> Great Elders...?
> Seeing the confusion on Li Huowang’s face, Yingzi added, “Everyone else needs the books, but I heard the Great Elders don’t. They can use any divine ability effortlessly. I’ve just never seen it myself.”
> “Oh... I see.” Li Huowang nodded.
> From the looks of it, Hand Three wasn’t the leader of the Ao Jing Sect. Within the cult, he was at best mid-level.
> “Do the Great Elders come out often?”
> “No, they never meddle in worldly affairs. I’ve been here for four years and only saw them once.”
> “Wait, if those Great Elders can perform rituals without the Great Thousand Record, doesn’t that mean they can borrow Ba Hui’s power at any time?”
> The thought had just crossed his mind when Li Huowang immediately shook his head. “No, summoning Ba Hui comes at a cost—a terribly agonizing one. It’s only drawn to extreme pain; it’s not that easy to borrow its power.”
> Yingzi glanced uneasily at Li Huowang, who was deep in thought. “Benefactor, why are you asking about this?”
> Li Huowang’s heart tightened at once. He quickly feigned a calm tone. “You know I’m making a deal with them. This is my first time dealing with the Ao Jing Sect, so I want to learn more to avoid being tricked.”
> Though he had already decided to use Yingzi to probe for information about the Ao Jing Sect, Li Huowang didn’t reveal his true intentions to this girl he’d known for less than half a day.
> This girl had been persecuted by the Ao Jing Sect for over four years, and this time, they’d even used her as cannon fodder to send her to her death.
> Logically speaking, she shouldn’t have any loyalty left for them. She probably wouldn’t betray him.
> But Li Huowang didn’t want to take chances on something like this—not even a sliver of risk. Losing that bet could cost him his life.
> Telling her outright that he planned to stir up trouble within the Ao Jing Sect was too dangerous. If she turned around and spilled his plans to Hand Three to save herself, he’d be done for.
> “Benefactor, are you really going to make a deal with them? They... they’re not good people.”
> Li Huowang nodded. “Of course. I know they’re not good people, and they’re very dangerous. But that doesn’t mean they’re useless. Their deal seems fair enough; I’ve got no reason to turn it down.”
> On this point, at least, Li Huowang wasn’t lying to her. He planned to pursue both paths at once: finding a way to generate ultimate mental anguish on one hand, while trying to steal the Ao Jing Sect’s method to heal himself on the other.
> Whether through cooperation or theft, as long as he could remove the Danyangzi that was gradually taking over his body, any method would do.
> That evening, Li Huowang chatted with Yingzi for a long time, all the way until deep into the night.
> From her, Li Huowang learned much about the Ao Jing Sect and gained a general understanding of the cult.
> These people rarely interacted with the outside world. Their highest doctrine was to exhaust every means to steal Ba Hui’s power and ultimately replace their god.
> And according to her, though the Ao Jing Sect was cruel and bloody, they were extraordinarily rule-abiding.
> Even the tools for self-torture had to be cleaned and neatly arranged after use.
> They believed that without rules, nothing could be accomplished. Breaking the sect’s regulations was a grave taboo.
> Li Huowang also learned that the Ao Jing Sect was a major organization, unlike Zhengde Temple or Anci Nunnery. This outpost was merely one of many.
> They had five such locations, scattered in different places.
> Every year on the thirteenth day of the sixth lunar month, they would gather once to share insights with each other.
> Late at night, Li Huowang furrowed his brows in contemplation. Yingzi’s information had given him a fuller picture of the Ao Jing Sect—and a clearer sense of just how great the challenges he faced truly were.
> “Both of these approaches are tricky...” Li Huowang muttered to himself.
> “What two approaches?” Yingzi asked, puzzled.
> Compared to her earlier trembling fear and later emotional collapse, she seemed much more stable now.
> “It’s nothing. Time to sleep.” Li Huowang stood and walked toward the stone bed nearby.
> Yingzi said nothing, silently following behind him.
> In this dangerous place, Li Huowang had no time for idle thoughts.
> Moreover, having her share his bed was partly a test as well.
> The Danyangzi he loathed and rejected so intensely actually served as a safety fuse in this moment.
> That night, in a hazy daze, fierce barking jolted Li Huowang awake.
> He quickly lit the oil lamp and saw Mantou at the bedside, barking furiously at the bed.
> Seeing Li Huowang awake, Mantou immediately stopped and began wagging its tail wildly at him. “Woof~”
> Li Huowang glanced at Yingzi beside him, who was sitting up sleepily. “Dad, what’s wrong? Why’s our dog barking?”
> As she came to her senses, she realized her slip-up, and a hint of embarrassment crossed her face. “I just dreamed I was home celebrating the New Year.”
> Her expression was utterly genuine, as if she’d truly just woken up.
> Li Huowang gave her a look, then scanned the dim, empty cave. He reached out with his right hand, pinching the loose skin at Mantou’s nape with two bent fingers, and lifted the dog onto the bed.
> “Go back to sleep. It’s fine.” Li Huowang hugged the dog to his chest and closed his eyes again.
> “Mm...” Yingzi murmured softly and lay back down beside Li Huowang.
> The room returned to darkness. Li Huowang listened to the steady breathing beside him.
> “You’re a young woman sharing a bed with me. You sure that’s alright?”
> No sooner had Li Huowang spoken than he heard the rustle of fabric being shed beside him.
> “I’m not even a woman anymore. What’s it matter sharing a bed with you, Benefactor? If you don’t mind, do as you please.”
> The oil lamp’s flame illuminated the room. Li Huowang stared in shock at Yingzi’s naked body.
> Everything that defined a woman was gone from her body, replaced by two large, gruesome scars the size of bowls.
> Beyond that, her youthful frame was covered in wounds of every sort, some still oozing pus.
> (End of chapter)