Chapter 332
Chapter 332
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 332
>Chapter Title: Attending the Banquet (Debt from Two Days Ago)
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When he felt the sky outside the window gradually darkening, the parched-throated Li Huowang finally slowly came to a stop.
He touched his belly with his hand, recalling how Black Tai Sui had truly helped him when dealing with that man-fiend earlier.
After thinking about everything that had happened recently, he came up with a strategy in his mind for how to get along with Black Tai Sui moving forward.
Although Black Tai Sui was constantly taking over his body, it didn’t seem malicious toward him. Since it harbored no ill intent, there was no need to treat it the same way he had treated Danyangzi.
After all, back then he had exhausted every effort to escape Danyangzi, but with Black Tai Sui, not only could he not shake it off, he couldn’t even survive without it.
With it inside his body, improving their relationship would only bring benefits and no downsides. Perhaps once they grew more familiar, he could even persuade the thing to stop eroding his body.
“Dad?”
Li Huowang steadied his breathing and touched his belly again with his hand.
“Listen up. From now on, you’re called Li Sui. Until we find a way to solve the heart prime problem, let’s try to get along peacefully.”
“We’re all grasshoppers on the same string. As long as you help me, I won’t abandon you. Let’s work toward an outcome that’s good for both of us.”
“Good.”
Hearing the response, Li Huowang was immediately a bit surprised. It had even said “good,” which meant the primer books over these past days hadn’t been wasted—it could already understand him and respond.
“Goo goo~”
The familiar sound made Li Huowang instinctively look up toward the rafters, where a pigeon was perched watching him.
“Alright, when it’s time to eat later, you behave yourself.”
Li Huowang stood up, slung his two swords over his back, and headed out of the inn.
It was still the same old spot, and still the voice arriving before the person.
“Hahaha~ Oh my, oh my, Brother Er Jiu, it’s been so long, I’ve really missed you.”
Tuoba Danqing walked in, his kindly round face beaming, followed by a line of maids carrying fine dishes and wine.
After so many interactions, Li Huowang knew the man’s routine. He sat down and began eating and drinking alongside him.
He didn’t know if it was this guy’s quirk or if all Celestial Surveillance Division folks were like this, but it seemed they couldn’t speak without eating and drinking something first.
After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes, once the mood felt right, Tuoba Danqing reached into his robe and pulled out a waist token, placing it on the table and sliding it over.
“Come on, come on, Brother Er, take a look at this. You did great work this time—probably better than I could’ve managed back in the day.”
Li Huowang picked up the waist token. The “Ren Wu” engraved on it immediately made his eyes burn with desire—he was one step closer to success.
“Come on, come on, what’s so great about a lousy token? Eat up, eat up. Brother Er Jiu, what’s the deal with this job? Tell your brother about it.”
There was nothing to hide about this. Li Huowang tucked the token into his robe and slowly recounted the events to Tuoba Danqing.
After explaining what happened, Li Huowang followed up with the doubts in his heart.
“Brother Tuoba, what exactly was up with that man-fiend? Why was it so bizarre?”
“Hey, what’s bizarre about it? That guy lived too long. Without ascending to immortality, he naturally turned into an evil being. After all, birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of heaven and earth. Trying to defy fate and reverse the heavens isn’t that simple.”
“I’ve seen plenty of this sort of thing. They’re all stubborn cultivators who forcibly extend their lives with Lifespan Pills and end up as man-fiends.”
“I just didn’t expect it to cause such a commotion. Him being a man-fiend is one thing, but a man-fiend raising other man-fiends? That’s a first.”
“Forcibly extending life with Lifespan Pills always turns you into a man-fiend?”
Li Huowang was utterly shocked. Didn’t that mean Lifespan Pills were completely useless?
“Not exactly. Normally, one hundred and twenty is the limit. The closer you get to it, the weaker the Lifespan Pills become. Past one hundred and twenty, you need to find a way to dispel your obsessions. Otherwise, forcing more Lifespan Pills will just turn you into a man-fiend.”
“Every sect and school has their methods, some good, some bad. But don’t expect anyone to tell you for free—they guard those secrets tightly.”
“Some methods are known to all, though. But if everyone knows them, they’re no good to accomplish. For example, using a heart prime’s bewilderment to dispel obsession is the simplest and best.”
Hearing this, Li Huowang’s finger imperceptibly twitched.
“But think about it—that living heart prime is so dangerous. And afterward, you have to watch out for others trying to steal it. Saying it is as good as not saying it, right?”
At this point, Tuoba Danqing kept grumbling on, like old friends chatting idly.
As they drank, Tuoba Danqing suddenly thought of something and slapped his forehead with his hand.
“Hey, look at me and my brain, Brother Er. Since you’re at Ren Wu now, why not head to the capital and get yourself promoted?”
“Afterward, at the Ministry of Rites, you can exchange Lifespan Pills earned within the bureau for stuff. Not only is the variety huge, some things you can’t even find at outside ghost markets. But remember, it has to be Lifespan Pills earned inside the bureau—outside ones don’t count.”
“The capital?”
Mention of the Celestial Surveillance Division’s headquarters immediately put Li Huowang on edge.
“No rush. I haven’t earned much yet. I’ll go exchange when I have more.”
“Heh heh heh, Brother Er really is different. Others rush straight to the capital the moment they find out, but you keep dodging it. Heh heh heh.”
Tuoba Danqing raised his cup, tossed it back, and scooted his stool closer to Li Huowang, eyes glazed.
“Brother, since we’re so close now, it’s not overstepping for your brother to ask something, right?”
“Brother Tuoba, go ahead.”
He chuckled and pointed at the copper coin mask on Li Huowang’s face.
“Why do you always wear that thing? Hiding something behind it?”
At that moment, Hong Zhong suddenly appeared beside Li Huowang.
“This old guy’s been probing you since he arrived. Be careful.”
The words made the atmosphere tense at once. Li Huowang knew that no matter how nicely the man talked, the moment his identity was exposed, it was all over.
Seeing Li Huowang stay silent, Tuoba Danqing lightly slapped his own cheeks.
“Hey hey, your brother’s got a big mouth. I misspoke after a few drinks. Don’t mind me, Brother Er, don’t mind me. I’ll punish myself with three cups.”
Li Huowang knew this was a retreat to advance. If he didn’t resolve it today, there’d be even more trouble later.
Various thoughts flashed through his mind. Li Huowang pressed his belly and began dry-heaving.
“No worries. If Brother Tuoba wants to see, I’ll show you. I have some things that like to come out, so I have to seal them in.”
Soon, two pitch-black sticky tentacles slowly extended from either side of the mask. Even more striking, each tentacle was coiled around a double-pupiled eyeball.
The sight made Tuoba Danqing’s eye twitch wildly.
“Alright, alright, put it away quick.”
He took a bite of food to steady his nerves, then looked at Li Huowang with a uneasy expression.
“Brother Er, I won’t pry into what you’re cultivating, but cultivating such a mess—aren’t you really worried about cultivation deviation?”
Li Huowang shoved the tentacles back into his mouth with his fingers, then forced down the revulsion and swallowed.
“It’s fine.”
(End of chapter)