Chapter 589
Chapter 589
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 589
>Chapter Title: Talk
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> Ji Zai was the name Zhuge Yuan had deliberately given Li Huowang back then to cover his identity.
These days, that name belonged to the Si Ming who controlled the Dao of Bewilderment—the future Li Huowang.
Li Huowang didn’t know his future self was called this, but the moment he recalled the name, he instinctively felt that it belonged to him.
And the figure who had just dissipated like yellow sand was probably Ji Zai, or at least part of Ji Zai.
Li Huowang wasn’t entirely clear himself. Faced with his future self who had become a Si Ming, he could only guess at the rough outline.
Compared to his identity, what Li Huowang couldn’t figure out right now was what that parting remark had meant before he left.
“He should be called Ji Zai.” Li Huowang’s words left the Sitian Supervisor utterly bewildered.
If he remembered correctly, wasn’t Ji Zai just Li Huowang’s alias? Could it be that he’d just been talking to himself?
Meanwhile, taking advantage of this moment, Gao Zhijian and Bai Lingmiao hurried back from behind. Seeing that Li Huowang was fine, the two of them finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After learning that the other Sitian Supervisor had been a fake, they’d been terrified that the impostor might do something to Li Huowang.
“Men! Send the imperial guards to seal off this area! Verify the identity of anyone who tries to approach!” With Gao Zhijian’s shout, a clatter rang out as over a dozen eunuchs who’d appeared out of nowhere dropped to their knees and kowtowed in acknowledgment.
“No need to make such a fuss. I’m doing just fine. You all go handle your business—don’t hover around me.”
Li Huowang tugged at the blanket over him and lay back down, gently resting his head on the pillow.
“Senior Brother Li, that Sitian Supervisor earlier was a fake!”
Bai Lingmiao approached again, holding the food box.
“I know, I know.”
Li Huowang reached out and patted the back of her hand lightly.
“No need to worry. Don’t let my current injured state fool you. If anyone really tries something, they might not be able to take me.”
After all, he was now Ji Zai’s heart anchor.
Hearing this, Gao Zhijian thought it over and realized it was true. With how effortlessly the guy had dealt with the Dice now, who could possibly sneak up on him?
“Senior Brother Li, then... who was that guy just now?”
Gao Zhijian stepped forward and asked.
“Just a friend. Don’t mind him—it’s got nothing to do with you all.”
Li Huowang eyed the transformed Gao Zhijian before him, a glint of approval in his gaze. He deftly changed the subject.
“Not bad, Gao Zhijian. Those clothes really suit you.”
He didn’t want the others knowing he’d become a Si Ming’s heart anchor. He didn’t want them worrying about him.
Because he didn’t know himself when he’d turn into the future Ji Zai.
Maybe a year from now, maybe ten years, maybe after his death. But Li Huowang didn’t care. He’d already considered the consequences before coming up with this way to deal with the Dice.
Hearing Li Huowang’s words, Gao Zhijian wanted to scratch his head again. His Senior Brother Li looked perfectly fine, no issues at all, but something about him felt subtly different from before.
His appearance hadn’t changed a bit, yet he seemed far more open-minded somehow.
Gao Zhijian glanced at the Sitian Supervisor, who hadn’t chimed in, and remembered why he’d come.
“Senior Brother Li, is the Dice really... gone? It can’t control me anymore?”
Li Huowang recalled the eighteen-sided die that Yi Donglai had taken away and nodded lightly.
“Rest easy on that front. He shouldn’t be coming back.”
Hearing this, Gao Zhijian finally relaxed. He trusted Senior Brother Li’s word—if he said the Dice wouldn’t return, then it truly wouldn’t.
“Right, Zhijian, call a carriage to take me back to Niuxin Village. My wounds are pretty much healed here.”
Gao Zhijian shook his head vigorously at that. With only his mouth left on that head, how could it possibly look “pretty much healed”?
“No way. There are imperial physicians here to care for you. You’re badly hurt right now—you need rest.”
“I’m pretty much good. What rest do I need? You think I can’t handle a little injury like this?”
Li Huowang threw off the blanket and stood up.
Gao Zhijian immediately rushed over in a panic, his two massive hands hovering protectively around Li Huowang’s lotus-root head, terrified it might accidentally fall off.
But just as Li Huowang prepared to leave, Bai Lingmiao grabbed him tightly.
“Senior Brother Li, I’m begging you—wait until your wounds heal before you go. You really can’t travel far like this.”
Seeing her pleading, Li Huowang didn’t insist and sat back down.
“Fine, I won’t go. But it’s stuffy here. I want to go out for a stroll, breathe some fresh air.”
Gao Zhijian naturally wouldn’t object to that. As long as Senior Brother Li stopped recklessly risking his life, anything was fine.
After chatting idly for a bit, Gao Zhijian couldn’t hold back anymore and asked,
“Senior Brother Li, I heard from Junior Sister Bai that your illness is cured?”
“Yeah, it’s gone.”
Li Huowang nodded frankly.
“Somehow, it just... went away on its own.”
Gao Zhijian’s face lit up with genuine joy for him. Senior Brother Li was great in every way—it was just that illness from Clear Wind Temple that had been the worst.
Now that it was cured, Senior Brother Li could finally live a normal life.
And with himself as the emperor of Great Liang now, whatever Senior Brother Li wanted in the future, he could provide.
“Zhijian, how’s it feel to be emperor?”
Li Huowang asked Gao Zhijian again.
Gao Zhijian grinned broadly and honestly.
“Good. Being emperor is great. I like it. Lots of food I’ve never seen before, all delicious. Once your wounds heal and you’re off restrictions, I’ll have the chefs make some for you.”
“And soon, I’ll have a ton of wives. Over a hundred.”
“That many? Don’t tell Gouwa, or he’ll die of jealousy.”
Gao Zhijian’s mouth gaped even wider, his grin happier than ever.
“No way, with this many wives, I’ve gotta show off to him.”
The mood in the room lightened considerably. They seemed to forget their respective statuses, slipping back into their old roles as fellow disciples.
After some more casual talk, at the Sitian Supervisor’s urging, Gao Zhijian left Li Huowang’s sickroom. He was emperor now—a brand-new one who knew nothing—and had much to learn. He couldn’t waste time lounging around.
But after they’d walked some distance from the room, the Sitian Supervisor spoke slowly.
“I can’t see through him anymore, Your Majesty. Be cautious in your dealings with him from now on.”
Gao Zhijian turned to look at him, his expression turning displeased.
“Why? He’s my Senior Brother Li. He wouldn’t harm me.”
“It’s not about harm or not, Your Majesty. The human heart is unpredictable. Remember, the Dice was once the emperor of Great Liang. If he can deal with the Dice so easily, dealing with you would be child’s play. Can you really sleep soundly with someone like that at your side?”
“Not to mention his ties with the White Lotus Saintess...”
“Naturally, the White Lotus Cult rendered great service in protecting the emperor. I’ve already removed them from the Juntian Division’s wanted list, so we should still court them where appropriate. I’m just laying out the pros and cons for you.”
“How you proceed is up to you. After all, you’re the emperor of all Great Liang, while I only manage the Juntian Division. But for the sake of Great Liang as a whole, I had to give you this heads-up.”
Gao Zhijian’s face darkened as he strode forward.
“Being emperor might seem hard, but it’s actually simple. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask the Dragon Vein. Whether it’s keeping the civil and military officials in check, handling memorials, or figuring out the factions and parties in court—they can teach you all of it.”
The Sitian Supervisor lectured methodically, while Gao Zhijian listened in silence.
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