Chapter 527
Chapter 527
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 527
>Chapter Title: Method
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“No, Brother Zhuge, you don’t understand Dice. That letter was a warning from him! As long as there’s any connection to him, no matter how slim the worst possibilities seem in my mind, without a doubt, they’ll come true!”
Li Sui opened her mouth wide, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth and three wriggling tentacles as she let out a big yawn.
She stretched her arms forward, nails extending, while the rest of her body pushed backward forcefully, stretching lazily before curling up on the Eight Immortals table, resting her slender head on her arms as she continued watching Li Huowang muttering to himself in midair.
“Is Dad talking to those invisible people again? I used to be able to see them, but now I can’t.”
“I really wanna know what they’re talking about. Just listening to Dad, I can’t make heads or tails of it.”
Li Huowang, brows furrowed tightly, pinched his temples as he paced back and forth for a moment before speaking again. “Brother Zhuge, Brother Zhuge, let’s drop it for now. Arguing like this is just a pointless waste of energy.”
“Fine, let’s say you’re right, and Bai Lingmiao’s fine. She’ll be back on her own before long. Then we don’t have to do anything, right? We just sit and wait, and everything gets resolved. That’d be great, of course. But... is that even possible? In this godforsaken place, I’ve never had any good luck!”
“What if Bai Lingmiao really is in Dice’s hands? If I just sit here doing nothing, it’ll only end with her dead! I can’t afford to gamble!”
“And besides, this isn’t just for Bai Lingmiao—it’s for us too. Dice has already made his move against me! If we don’t strike back, this kind of thing will never end!”
“The stuff in that letter doesn’t mean anything! Maybe it really was written by Bai Lingmiao! But don’t forget, they’re Sit-Forget Daoists! I’ve seen scams like this plenty of times—hell, even my memories as Red Middle have them! Maybe Bai Lingmiao’s already imprisoned, and she doesn’t even realize it!”
“Sit-Forget Daoists don’t even need force to trap someone. With just their words, they can make anyone stay put willingly until they drop dead!”
The room fell silent, filled only with Li Huowang’s rapid breathing. The two starkly opposing possibilities left him deeply anxious.
He wanted Bai Lingmiao to be fine too. He wanted no part in all this mess, just head back to Oxheart Village and live out his quiet little life. But he really didn’t dare to bet on it.
After pacing a few more circles, his tone softened a bit as he spoke gently toward the distant window. “You’re right. I am getting a little hot-headed right now. But in a situation like this, with absolutely no chance of winning, how can I not be anxious?”
“To deal with an enemy whose location we don’t know, whose motives we don’t know, who’s holding Bai Lingmiao hostage... I really, I really...”
Li Huowang’s words trailed off halfway, and he froze. A spark of hope suddenly lit up in his anxious eyes as he turned back to the empty window and asked anew. “Brother Zhuge, you mean that for real?”
“Mmhmm... That’s a problem. I need to find an opportunity to test it out! But no worries, that’s a small thing. If it’s really like you say, then at least we won’t be totally helpless against Dice anymore!”
“Is the Ear Vanguard home?”
Hearing the voice from beyond the wooden door, Li Huowang’s face lit up with joy. “Brother Zhuge, look! Speak of the devil! Here’s our chance!”
“I’m here. Door’s open! Come on in!”
No sooner had Li Huowang spoken than the courtyard gate was pushed open from outside. In walked an old eunuch with white powder caked on his face, a golden silk whisk in hand. He came alone, empty-handed.
Li Huowang recognized him—the same eunuch who’d passed messages to Ji Lin before.
“Ahem.” The old eunuch stepped up to Li Huowang, chin raised, and cleared his throat. “Ear Nine, receive the decree~”
Before Li Huowang could react, the eunuch pulled a scroll of yellow silk from his robe, shoved it into Li Huowang’s arms, and turned to leave without another word.
Puzzled, Li Huowang unrolled the dragon-embroidered imperial decree, and Li Sui scooted over beside him to peek as well.
But she lost interest after a glance. There were tons of characters, many she recognized, but strung together, she had no clue what it said. “Dad, what’s it say?”
“Don’t go to the palace. Ji Lin’s coming out himself.” As soon as Li Huowang finished speaking, the yellow silk in his hand burst into spontaneous flames, burning to nothing in moments.
“Fight time again?” Li Sui perked up her half-ear in excitement. “Dad, want me to peel the skin?”
“Can’t. Gotta wait till it grows back inside. Right now, all I’ve got left is skin. Peel it now, and I’d have nothing.”
“Oh, got it. So we going now?”
“Hold on. Got some things to take care of first.”
Li Huowang stepped into the inner room and hoisted a pickle jar from the corner. He didn’t pickle vegetables; inside was the corpse from his previous death.
Though this body lacked organs and skin, it was still a Heart Spirit’s body. A heavenly treasure like that might come in handy someday.
Carrying the jar to a hidden cellar beneath the bed, Li Huowang set it inside, then stood and grabbed another pickle jar from the corner.
This one held another Heart Spirit corpse too—one with organs but no head. It was the headless body he’d used to fake Red Middle’s death and fool the Surveillance Bureau.
Back then, things were rushed; he’d just preserved it roughly and buried it somewhere.
With everything that’d happened since, he’d been too busy to remember. If not for thinking of it while handling the other body this time, he might’ve forgotten where he’d stashed it.
Seeing the two large jars now safe in the cellar, Li Huowang slammed the lid shut. “Let’s go. See what Ji Lin’s got us doing this time.”
The meetup spot was a gambling den. After Li Huowang smoothly won 318 taels of silver, he was escorted to the cellar in the back courtyard.
Surrounded by a cluster of eunuchs, Li Huowang met Ji Lin again. But he looked rough—half his left ear gone, face scarred deep to the bone.
“Your Majesty, what happened to your face?”
Ji Lin, cradling and stroking his fake cat, cracked a cruel smile. “Nothing serious. When this One sends men to kill others, naturally others send men to kill this One in return. Fair’s fair.”
“Didn’t expect the palace to be this filthy, though. Looks like it needs a good cleaning.”
Hearing this, Li Huowang’s heart jolted. Ji Lin couldn’t die now. “Your Majesty, when I’m not on assignment, want me watching your back?”
“No need. This One has capable men at his side. Self-defense is no issue. You stick to what you’re good at.” With a wave of Ji Lin’s hand, a nearby eunuch approached on a tray with a scroll painting.
(End of chapter)