Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 146
>Chapter Title: Drunk
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Chapter 146: Drunk
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> Emboldened by the alcohol, Zhao Qin chattered endlessly to Li Huowang, seemingly trying to use this chance to talk him out of becoming an escort.
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> But by now, Li Huowang's attention was no longer on that. He had been drawn in by a certain term in what the man had just said.
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> "Escort Head Zhao, what is this Supervising Heaven Division you just mentioned?"
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> Though Li Huowang had been in this place for several months now, this was the first time he had heard of such things.
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> It was a perfect opportunity to learn more.
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> "The Supervising Heaven Division? I hear it's full of experts kept by the emperor. Whenever there's some wicked business that the constables and garrison troops can't handle, they send those folks to take care of it."
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> Li Huowang wasn't surprised by this. For the Siqi court to hold steady, they surely had some outfit to deal with these bizarre supernatural matters.
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> He just wondered whether these people were specially trained within the palace or specially recruited from outside.
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> Seeing that Li Huowang had nothing to say, Zhao Qin continued. "That said, sometimes they aren't all that reliable either."
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> "For instance, four years ago, there was a town where everyone got slaughtered overnight—who knows how."
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> "Tsk tsk tsk, tens of thousands of people, gone in the span of a single night."
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> As Zhao Qin spoke of this, he let out a sigh of sorrow and regret, completely failing to notice that Li Huowang's fingers were gripping his wine cup so tightly that his knuckles had gone white.
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> Wang Chengxing chimed in from the side. "I've heard about that too. They say it was gruesome—none of the bodies were whole."
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> "How could they bring themselves to do it? Didn't their own parents raise them? They're worse than beasts."
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> At that moment, Li Huowang saw Jiang Yingzi, her face twisted in rage, leaning right in front of him.
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> "See that? See how everyone talks about you! Why should someone like you still be alive? Why don't you just die?!"
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> Li Huowang's chest began heaving violently.
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> No one else noticed, but Bai Lingmiao sensed something was off with him.
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> She quietly switched places with Xiaoman and covered Li Huowang's trembling hands with her own. "Senior Brother Li, are you alright?"
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> Li Huowang took a deep breath and turned to Zhao Qin with a smile. "Escort Head Zhao, perhaps we should avoid talk of state affairs. Matters like that aren't for little folk like us to worry over."
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> "Right, right! Let those big shots handle their own troubles. Drink up, drink up! Let me, on behalf of my wife, toast you again, Brother Li!"
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> "Drink! Drink!" Li Huowang snatched up the wine jug and poured it straight down his throat.
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> Truth be told, Li Huowang wasn't much of a drinker—hard liquor was even tougher for him to handle.
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> That night, he had no idea when he passed out.
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> All he knew was that the hazy, drunken feeling was quite nice—no need to think about anything, no need to worry about anything.
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> "Li Huowang... Li Huowang!"
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> Hearing the voice, Li Huowang's eyes snapped open in his sleep, locking onto a pair of eyes brimming with utter hatred. It was Jiang Yingzi.
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> Waking suddenly from a dream to find a blood-soaked girl with severed limbs right in front of him would startle anyone.
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> But Li Huowang was long used to it by now. He glanced once more at Danyangzi floating on the ceiling before pushing himself up with both hands on the bed board.
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> As soon as he got out of bed in his thin undergarments, a wave of agony hit him. He clutched his head in pain and sat back down.
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> "Guess I really can't hold my liquor..." It was Li Huowang's first time experiencing the torment of a hangover—though it might also have been due to his heightened senses.
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> With a "creak," the door was pushed open from outside. Bai Lingmiao came in, carrying a copper basin in both hands.
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> Seeing Li Huowang sitting on the edge of the bed, clutching his head in agony, she hurried over a few steps and set the basin on the wooden rack.
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> Water sloshed as she wrung out a cloth. She came over, one hand gently supporting the back of Li Huowang's head, the other wiping his face tenderly.
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> While she was wiping his neck, Li Huowang looked at her face, so close now, and asked, "Where are we?"
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> "We're still at the escort agency. Escort Head Zhao said not to rush off once you wake up—he's already sent someone to fetch that sword manual."
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> Li Huowang glanced at the two long swords placed beside his red Daoist robes and nodded in understanding.
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> As if reading his mind, Bai Lingmiao went over and placed one of the long swords in his hands.
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> This was the first time Li Huowang had examined the sword closely since getting it.
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> The blade was three feet and two inches long, half a finger-width wide, with a dark tone overall. The black hilt bore a fluttering dark purple tassel about an inch long.
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> At the base of the hilt was a ferocious mythical beast with bared fangs—running his fingers over it felt like they might get cut.
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> From its appearance alone, the sword looked utterly ordinary, with no hint of being some divine weapon.
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> After some thought, Li Huowang decided against drawing it to test.
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> Never mind the commotion it might cause—the feel of it was just different.
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> For some reason, it gave him an uneasy feeling, just like the Great Thousand Record.
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> "Though the abbess said this sword poses no threat to me, I still think it's best kept sheathed."
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> "Senior Brother Li, can you walk? If not, I can bring breakfast here to the room."
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> "No need. I'll be fine after a bit. With no Danyangzi driving us from behind anymore, we can take our time."
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> No sooner had the words left his mouth than a chilling triple cackle echoed from the ceiling.
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> Li Huowang looked up to see his master's three heads all staring down at him, their gazes full of mocking scorn.
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> "What are you laughing at?!"
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> "Li... Senior Brother Li?" Bai Lingmiao glanced at the empty ceiling, then back at Li Huowang, a flicker of unease stirring in her heart.
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> "It's nothing. Let's go down for breakfast." Li Huowang placed his right hand on her shoulder and staggered toward the door.
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> When he stepped out, he saw that it was already bright daylight outside.
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> The entire escort agency, both front and back courtyards, buzzed with activity.
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> Zhao Qin had clearly given instructions, for everyone Li Huowang passed on the way bowed to him with great respect.
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> Li Huowang's gaze drifted past the wooden pillars on the right, toward the lively training ground in the distance.
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> He saw Gouwa, Gao Zhijian, Chun Xiaoman, and Sun Baolu sparring with some of the escorts.
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> "What are they up to?" Li Huowang asked, puzzled.
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> "Gouwa suggested they give him some pointers earlier, and the others all ran over to join in the fun. It turned into this."
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> "Heh, they sure know how to take advantage. Oh, right—head to the inn later and let Troupe Leader Lv know. He must be thinking we've left them behind."
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> "Mm, got it."
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> Li Huowang glanced up at Danyangzi and, after a moment's thought, asked, "No trouble from the sitting spirits, right?"
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> Bai Lingmiao's eyes flickered. "No? Senior Brother Li, why do you ask?"
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> "Good as long as there isn't. If there is, remember to tell me. You're not Li Zhi—whatever happens, I'll figure out how to handle it."
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> "Mm, alright."
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> Silence fell around them as the two savored this rare moment of peace, slowly making their way toward the kitchen.
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> They had been rushing nonstop lately—it felt good to have such leisure for once.
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> Bai Lingmiao leaned gently into Li Huowang's embrace, a sweet warmth blooming in her heart.
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> "If anything comes up, don't hide it from me. No matter how tough, we can face it together. After all... you're all I have left now."
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> "Mm..."
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> (End of Chapter)