Chapter 376
Chapter 376
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 376
>Chapter Title: Coffin
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Li Huowang slowly walked along the road back from the execution ground, his mind still replaying that scene from moments ago.
That belly swollen huge from pills—it was hard to imagine a normal person's stomach could be stretched that big by them.
Considering the man's former status, it was obvious why he'd swallowed so many.
In Li Huowang's memory, plenty of emperors had sought immortality through pills, and it was probably the same in this world.
"Even an illiterate like Danyangzi dreamed of ascension. As the strongest ruler of Great Liang, he'd surely be even more obsessed," Li Huowang thought to himself.
"But people are all greedy for life and afraid of death. It's human nature, only..."
Li Huowang still remembered how Xu Fu had taken five hundred boys and girls for his immortality elixir. In this utterly mad world, he could hardly imagine what extremes the emperor of Great Liang might go to.
Gradually, Li Huowang returned to the towering palace walls. He craned his neck, peering inside and wondering what scenes might unfold within.
When he noticed the guards atop the walls scanning warily, Li Huowang shook his head and turned toward the prison.
Whatever horrifying events were happening inside, they had nothing to do with him. His task was done, so it was time for Cao Baihu to cure Bai Lingmiao as promised.
It was still that stifling underground prison. When he saw Li Huowang return, Cao Baihu grinned broadly. "Oh? Brother Er Jiu's back? Tell me all about it—what happened along the way?"
There was nothing to hide, so Li Huowang quickly recounted everything. "Cao Baihu, with the matter settled, please hold up your end."
"Sure, sure, no problem at all." Smiling, Cao Baihu reached into his robe and slid an arm-sized black lacquered coffin across the table to Li Huowang.
Maybe Li Huowang was just too sensitive, but the bold red "longevity" character on the coffin struck him as ominously deathly. It was as if a corpse truly lay inside.
Looking at it, Li Huowang immediately recalled the densely packed dead sheep under Qingqiu—they'd given off the same vibe.
"This thing definitely isn't from the military faction. It's from some other sect." Li Huowang was certain without hesitation. It was the complete opposite of anything military.
"Tap tap." Cao Baihu drummed his callused fingers on the table. "Take this coffin, open it toward the person for exactly three breaths, and it'll draw out the baleful qi possessing them. Remember—exactly three breaths. Not one more."
"That's all?" Li Huowang picked up the black lacquered coffin. Surprisingly light, it didn't feel like wood—more like paper.
"Heh, a little baleful qi invading the body? Piece of cake. If I weren't tied up, it'd be a snap of the fingers." Cao Baihu scoffed as he lifted a bowl of wine to his lips.
Just then, the ground trembled faintly. An inexplicable aura surged up from below, making Li Huowang's skin crawl with goosebumps.
Clearly, whatever was imprisoned underground had caused it.
"Damn it! That fucking thing!" Irritated, Cao Baihu slammed the bowl onto the table, snatched up a straight saber nearby, and stormed toward the distant cell door. "I've got urgent business—won't keep you. Bring the coffin back when you're done. I don't want to fetch it myself."
As Li Huowang emerged from the prison, a surreal feeling washed over him. Staring at the coffin in his hands, he thought: "This simple? And Bai Lingmiao will be back to normal?"
"Are they all deceiving me? In on it together? They already know I'm a heart elemental?" The mad thought bubbled up, chilling him to the bone.
His expression twisted savagely, pupils contracting as he scanned everything around him. In that instant, the rooftops, stone lions, floor tiles—everything seemed laced with malice.
After a long pause, Li Huowang steadied himself in place, cradling the coffin. He meticulously reviewed every detail of the ordeal from start to finish.
Finally, he let out a long breath. "No, they don't know yet. Otherwise, they wouldn't let an unstable element like me near the palace."
Li Huowang realized he'd overthought it. If the military could drive out baleful qi, they could surely reel it back in. Maybe this really was just a minor matter.
"Got the item. Next..." Li Huowang tucked the coffin into his robe and headed grimly toward the inn.
When Li Huowang pushed open his room door, Bai Lingmiao sat before a copper mirror, combing her hair with an iron comb dipped in black liquid.
"What are you doing?"
"Combing with a lead comb soaked in vinegar turns hair black. This white is so ugly."
Staring at Bai Lingmiao's back, Li Huowang took a deep breath and pulled out the small coffin.
He'd already paid someone to test it—it really could remove baleful qi from a person.
Bai Lingmiao spotted it in the mirror. "What's that? A coffin?"
Steel ing himself, Li Huowang dug his nails under the lid and yanked it open toward her.
An intensely bizarre suction erupted from within, swiftly drawing away the tangle of guilt and worry knotted in his heart.
Li Huowang even felt that Beifeng's method for shaking off hallucinations no longer mattered—this coffin was sucking away the very foundations keeping him alive.
"One! Two! Three!" He snapped the lid shut and whipped his gaze to Bai Lingmiao.
The vinegar-soaked lead comb slipped from her hand, clattering crisply to the floor. Li Huowang watched as she slowly turned, staring at him in shock, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.
Seeing the familiar Bai Lingmiao restored, Li Huowang rushed forward trembling, enfolding her in a tight embrace, hot tears welling up in excitement.
After a long moment of emotion, Li Huowang released her and examined her closely. "How do you feel now? Any discomfort? Tell me right away if there is!"
Bai Lingmiao, eyes brimming with tears, said nothing. She reached out toward the purple-tasseled sword on his back.
As Li Huowang swiftly pinned her hand, her gaze filled with resentment and deep pain.
"Senior Brother Li, I beg you... Without it, I really can't go on living."
(End of chapter)