Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 183
>Chapter Title: Great Venerable
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Chapter 183: Great Venerable
> The commotion Li Huowang caused instantly snapped Cui Xian back to her senses.
>
> “Hey, what’s going on? Weren’t you just divining with rice? How’d it turn into a fight?” Her voice was panicked, as if she truly had no idea what had happened.
>
> Li Huowang, who had been ready to strike, paused. He eyed the bewildered Cui the Rice Granny with a darkening expression.
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> He couldn’t tell if she was faking it or genuine. Logically, if they were truly interested in his Heart Elemental essence, they shouldn’t be acting like this.
>
> “Are you gonna ask or not? If not, I’m leaving.” With that, Cui the Rice Granny hoisted her basket to go.
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> Seeing this, Li Huowang changed his mind and didn’t want her to leave. He dragged over a nearby stool and sat down boldly with his sword, legs spread wide. “I’m continuing. Summon that Heavenly Venerable again.”
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> Cui the Rice Granny hesitated for a moment before finally setting her basket down again and relighting the incense.
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> It was the same ritual as before, and soon the man’s voice returned.
>
> Upon learning that Li Huowang lacked the five elements, he offered a very strange solution. “Change your name~! Lacking five elements~? Supplement with five elements!!”
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> With that, he casually grabbed a handful of rice from the basket and scattered it on the ground before Li Huowang.
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> Jin Zaomu. Those three characters appeared before him.
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> Change his name? Li Huowang stared at his new name on the floor, utterly baffled. Just add the five elements to the name and it’s fixed? Is this guy trying to scam me?
>
> After pondering for a bit, Li Huowang decided to test this thing’s abilities further.
>
> Li Huowang turned to Cui the Rice Granny, who was now sipping wine and tea, and asked again, “Thanks for the guidance. I have one more question. Can you answer it?”
>
> “Ask~!”
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> “Why have all things in the world stopped rotting lately?” If this mysterious entity could answer that, Li Huowang would change his name on the spot.
>
> The disappearance of rot was surely tied to the abbess’s death, and Li Huowang couldn’t let that go. He wanted to know exactly what had happened.
>
> “Bodhisattva’s compassion~ pities the suffering of all beings from corruption.”
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> “You liar! Caught you! There’s no Bodhisattva, no Buddha ancestors!! Above the heavens beyond heavens, there are only those… those…”
>
> Terror gradually filled Li Huowang’s eyes, but he couldn’t continue. He didn’t know how to describe those things.
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> Those entities he’d been deliberately avoiding thinking about since waking up.
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> He’d thought that if he didn’t think about them, he could pretend they didn’t exist—those beings far vaster and stronger than mortals, those that could slaughter everyone effortlessly if they wished!
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> The moment he recalled them again, Li Huowang could no longer ignore them. Pain twisted his face, his breathing grew ragged, and indistinct voices began whispering in his ears.
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> “Senior Brother! Don’t think about it! Don’t!!” Bai Lingmiao’s anxious voice yanked Li Huowang’s mind back.
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> Looking at her delicate, worried face, Li Huowang took a deep breath and nodded. “Right, I won’t think about it. I won’t…”
>
> “Yeah, exactly. No matter what those things really are, no matter if she’s telling the truth or lying, this world’s already gone mad. I can’t do anything about it. I just need to live my life quietly.”
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> With Bai Lingmiao’s comfort and his own reassurances, Li Huowang gradually calmed down, shoving those forbidden thoughts aside.
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> Now composed again, Li Huowang turned back to Cui the Rice Granny. His trust in her had plummeted.
>
> “I’ll ask you one more thing. What exactly is a Heart Elemental?”
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> Li Huowang’s question halted her movements. She turned her milky white eyes toward him, and he sensed eight gazes staring from those blind orbs.
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> “This Venerable surely knows, but if I tell you, you’ll drop dead on the spot.” This made Bai Lingmiao tug desperately at Li Huowang’s sleeve.
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> “Hmph!” Li Huowang sneered. There was no trust left in his gaze toward Cui the Rice Granny.
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> “Playing mysterious with me, huh? The Sitting Oblivion Dao taught me one thing: don’t follow someone else’s script.”
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> He raised his sharp, murderously gleaming sword, pointing the tip straight at Cui the Rice Granny’s head. “Get lost! Whatever you are, whatever you want, get out! Hear me?!”
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> “Petty~ Heart Elemental~ ridiculous~ ridiculous~ Very well, then this Venerable shall tell you~~ what a Heart Elemental is~ *hic*.”
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> But before he could say more, with a “crack,” the black tripod, the rice basket, and the bronze mirror were all sliced in half. The sword blade now pressed against the rice granny’s neck.
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> “Hey~! What’s that for?!” Cui the Rice Granny’s voice returned to normal.
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> “Back already? Nice ghost act. I’ll say it once more! Get out!!”
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> Cui the Rice Granny was clearly terrified by Li Huowang’s killing intent. Clutching her scattered items in panic, she stumbled out the door.
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> “Clang~!” The sword slid back into its sheath, and the room fell quiet once more.
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> “Let’s go. Time for bed. Rest while we have one.” With that crisp command, Li Huowang entered the inner room and donned the copper coin mask over his face.
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> Feeling its heavy weight, Li Huowang exhaled in relief. “I’ll have to wear this from now on. Being a Heart Elemental draws way too much covetous attention.”
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> “Husband~ what if she was telling the truth?”
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> “That’s exactly why I didn’t cleave her with that sword just now. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have made it out the door. And stop calling me husband!”
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> That night, Li Huowang barely slept, fearing a nighttime ambush.
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> Even though nothing happened, he still hurriedly had everyone pack up at dawn and flee this troublesome place.
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> It wasn’t until they reached the border town of Siqi, strolling its bustling streets, that Li Huowang finally relaxed. No incidents so far.
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> Things here were clearly much laxer than before. It seemed the war really was over.
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> After resting in town, Li Huowang’s group prepared to reenter Hou Shu—but first, one more task.
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> At Tiger Head Escort Bureau, the burly chief escort eyed the recommendation letter in his hand while sizing up this odd Daoist in red robes, copper coin mask, and twin swords on his back.
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> After some thought, he tucked the guarantee letter away. “Fine. Since Head Escort Zhao vouches for you, I trust you. But I’m warning you upfront: for every escort job you take, we take twenty percent. We’re the ones signing the policy, after all. Sound fair?”
>
> “Fine by me.” Of course it was— these were free gigs, pure profit.
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> “If anything goes wrong, I won’t trouble you; the guarantor covers it. Since you say Head Escort Zhao’s your friend, don’t let him down.”
>
> (End of chapter)