Chapter 763
Chapter 763
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 763
>Chapter Title: Tired
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> “Aren’t you supposed to be so damn capable? Aren’t you the scheming mastermind? Aren’t you the one who treated me like a pawn? Didn’t you even summon the ghost of a dead Si Ming deity from God knows where? And that’s it? That’s all you’ve got? You just die like that? Are you messing with me?”
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> Li Huowang ranted hysterically at his surroundings, not caring whether Xuanyin could hear him at this moment. He just needed to vent the emotions churning inside him—otherwise, they’d drive him insane.
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> “What are you so smug about? What gives you the right to meddle in the clashes between Si Mings? You talked all that mysterious nonsense, making me think you had some grand ability! And it turns out it’s just this? Pathetic! Xuanyin! Utterly pathetic! You’ve humiliated yourself!!”
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> The fury twisting Li Huowang’s face suddenly shifted into a giggling grin. “Heh heh heh, you’re tricking me again, aren’t you? Faking your death, right? Don’t pull that crap on me! I’m not buying it!! Get out here! You can’t fool me!”
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> “Xuanyin! Xuanyin, get out here! Siting Dao has pulled this trick countless times already!”
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> “Senior Brother Li!” Gao Zhijian, his face etched with grief, stepped up to Li Huowang and grabbed hold of him with both hands as he muttered to himself at thin air.
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> “Senior Brother Li, please don’t do this. Calm down. I know you’re utterly heartbroken, but—”
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> “Heh, heartbroken? What’s he to me that I should be heartbroken? He’s tricked me again! This isn’t the first time! I was all set to settle the score with that bastard once and for all! And he just up and dies?”
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> Li Huowang stood there, laughing in sheer exasperation. “Is this right, Zhijian? Tell me, is this right!!”
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> “Why! Why do they just kick the bucket and dump everything on me! I just want to know why!”
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> This wasn’t aimed solely at Xuanyin—far from it.
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> Gao Zhijian had no answer for Li Huowang’s outburst. He simply stood there, watching his bizarre behavior.
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> After another half-stick of incense had burned, seeing that Li Huowang was gradually coming to terms with the devastating news, Gao Zhijian spoke up, his voice heavy with sorrow. “Senior Brother Li, I know you two didn’t see eye to eye, but Master Xuanyin never once slacked off! He worked tirelessly in the shadows, risking his life more than anyone, and no less than you.”
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> “You might not have known, but I did. He was gravely injured the whole time, never fully recovered, yet he never let it show. He was afraid you’d overthink things, so he kept it completely under wraps.”
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> Gao Zhijian recounted the entire sequence of events from start to finish. “The Dharma Cult’s recent actions were all a ploy to ambush Master Xuanyin in secret. Their moves against you were just a smokescreen.”
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> “They knew you were tough to handle, but you weren’t the linchpin. Xuanyin was the one who rallied the Surveillance Divisions of every nation, coordinating with the Military School to push the Dharma Cult back step by step. He was the key to defeating them.”
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> “So they went straight for the kingpin. No matter the cost, they had to take out Xuanyin.”
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> “They?” Li Huowang slowly lifted his head. “Besides Xuanyin, who else died?”
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> Gao Zhijian’s lips quivered slightly, as if he dreaded speaking the words, but he finally forced them out. “Great Liang’s National Advisor, Later Shu’s National Advisor, Qingqiu’s Celestial Supervisor, Great Liang’s Celestial Supervisor—they’re all gone.”
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> Li Huowang could scarcely believe his ears. He stared at Gao Zhijian in shock. “All of them? Dead?”
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> “Mm.”
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> At those words, Li Huowang’s mind went blank with a buzz. He didn’t want to admit it, but despite their mutual distrust, schemes, and deceptions, both sides had still regarded each other as allies.
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> Yet now, they were all dead. Gone with a single casual sentence. The Surveillance Division’s mightiest warriors, snuffed out just like that.
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> A hollow emptiness settled in Li Huowang’s chest. He’d always figured that if the sky fell, taller men would hold it up. But now, he was the tallest one left standing.
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> From here on out, it seemed, he’d have to face the Dharma Cult—that colossal behemoth—entirely on his own.
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> For the first time, Li Huowang felt bone-deep exhaustion. He collapsed into the blood-soaked battlefield, gazing up at the clouds slowly parting overhead as he let out a long breath.
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> He suddenly wanted nothing more than to do absolutely nothing, just head back to Oxheart Village and live out his quiet little life. Why should this hopeless, near-impossible fight fall on his shoulders? He felt stifled. He felt indignant.
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> He slowly closed his eyes, as if shutting out the entire world around him. But after a long moment, Li Huowang finally exhaled once more.
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> “Now that Xuanyin’s dead, who’s taking over the Surveillance Divisions of the nations?” Li Huowang asked, eyes still shut, lying amid the blood.
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> “For now, Later Shu’s Celestial Supervisor is stepping in temporarily. The top brass has taken a massive hit, and I’m worried about morale, so the news hasn’t spread yet.”
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> Summoning every ounce of strength, Li Huowang pried his eyes open and forced his bloodied body to sit up.
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> He snatched a broken blade from the ground and jammed it viciously into his abdomen, roaring furiously as he twisted it wildly.
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> Once he’d churned his guts into a pulpy mess, Li Huowang dragged his bleeding form upright, his gaze reigniting with resolve.
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> Li Huowang shouldered on in silence. He had no choice. Everyone else was dead; he was the only one left to carry the burden.
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> Just then, as thunder rumbled from the distant thunderheads, a standard bearer with four flags on his back galloped up to Gao Zhijian’s imperial guard procession.
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> “Report~~~!! Victory at Xuzhong! Victory at Xianyang! Victory at Tiger Trap Pass!”
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> An elderly eunuch swiftly took the dispatch from the standard bearer, scanned it quickly, then leaned in to whisper excitedly into Gao Zhijian’s ear.
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> Gao Zhijian’s previously grim expression finally cracked into irrepressible elation. He turned to the blood-drenched Li Huowang. “Senior Brother Li! Xuanyin and the others didn’t die in vain!! And with your victory here! The Dharma Cult knows they’re beaten—they’re pulling back beyond the passes! We’ve reclaimed the Four Qi!”
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> News that could rattle morale was naturally hushed up, while tidings to boost spirits were shouted far and wide. Soon, the message reached every ear.
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> Amid the battlefield, the Military School disciples who had clashed with Matuo—regardless of rank or station—erupted in ecstatic cheers. Their shouts rolled forth like waves upon waves crashing onto shore.
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> Everyone felt they were on the cusp of victory. They’d be heading home soon. This great war was almost over.
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> Brimming with confidence, they remained blissfully unaware that their own leadership had been decapitated by the Dharma Cult.
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> And there stood Li Huowang, soaked in blood, utterly at odds with everything around him.
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> (End of Chapter)