Chapter 120: Wound

Chapter 120: The Wounds

"Very well, Yingzi, let me ask you another question. Aside from the self-mutilation rituals of the 'Record of the Myriad Realms,' does the Xuanjing Cult possess any other martial arts or divine abilities?"

Hearing Li Huowang's words, a trace of hesitation flickered across Yingzi's face.

"There are, but if you want me to teach you right now, Benefactor, it is simply impossible. They are just like the 'Record of the Myriad Realms'; they all require an object at hand to be used."

"Elder Shousan would certainly never give them to you."

"All abilities require a book? What kind of bizarre cult is this?" Li Huowang mused inwardly.

"Then let me ask you, who wrote these books?"

"I've heard they were written by the Grand Elders in the mountain caves; all the books were penned by them."

Grand Elders...?

Seeing the look of confusion on Li Huowang's face, Yingzi added, "Everyone else needs the books, but I've heard the Grand Elders don't. They can conjure any divine ability at will, though I've never seen it myself."

"Oh... I see." Li Huowang nodded.

It seemed, then, that Shousan was not the leader of the Xuanjing Cult; within the sect, he was at best a mid-level figure.

"Do the Grand Elders ever come out?"

"No, they usually remain aloof from worldly affairs. In the four years I've been here, I've only seen one once."

"Wait, if those Grand Elders don't need the 'Record of the Myriad Realms' to perform rituals, doesn't that mean they can borrow Bahui's power at any time?"

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Li Huowang shook his head. "No, that's wrong. Summoning Bahui demands a price, and a terribly agonizing one at that. It is only interested in ultimate agony; it is not so easily borrowed."

Yingzi cast an uneasy glance at the contemplative Li Huowang. "Benefactor, why are you asking about this?"

Li Huowang's heart tightened instantly, but he quickly feigned a calm tone and said, "You know I'm making a deal with them. This is my first time dealing with the Xuanjing Cult, so I just want to understand more to avoid being deceived."

Although he had long made up his mind to use Yingzi to gather information on the Xuanjing Cult, Li Huowang did not reveal his true thoughts to the girl before him, whom he had known for less than half a day.

It seemed this girl had been persecuted by the Xuanjing Cult for over four years, and now, on top of that, she had been directly used as cannon fodder to be sent to her death.

Logically speaking, it should be impossible for her to collude with the Xuanjing Cult, making it unlikely she would betray him.

Yet in matters like this, Li Huowang did not want to gamble. He dared not take even a sliver of a chance, for losing such a gamble meant losing his life.

Telling her directly that he planned to stir up trouble within the Xuanjing Cult was far too risky. If she turned around and revealed his plans to Shousan to save herself, it would be the end of him.

"Benefactor, are you truly making a deal with them? They... are not good people."

Li Huowang nodded. "Of course. I know they aren't good people, and that they are dangerous. But that doesn't mean they aren't useful. Their deals seem fair enough, and I have no reason to refuse."

Li Huowang was not lying about this. He planned to pursue a dual approach: finding a way to generate ultimate inner agony on one hand, and attempting to steal the Xuanjing Cult's method of curing himself on the other.

Whether through cooperation or theft, as long as he could rid himself of Danyangzi, who was increasingly influencing him, he would do whatever it took.

That evening, Li Huowang and Yingzi talked for a long time, well into the dead of night.

From her words, Li Huowang learned much about the Xuanjing Cult, gaining a rough understanding of the religion.

These people rarely interacted with the outside world. Their supreme doctrine was to find every possible way to steal Bahui's power, ultimately replacing their god.

Moreover, according to her, although the Xuanjing Cult was cruel and bloody, they were exceptionally strict about their rules.

Even the instruments of self-torture, after use, had to be washed clean and neatly arranged.

Believing that nothing can be accomplished without rules, breaking the cult's precepts was a grave taboo in the Xuanjing Cult.

Li Huowang also learned that the Xuanjing Cult was a massive sect. Unlike the Zhengde Temple or the Anci Nunnery, this stronghold was merely one of many.

They had five such locations, scattered in different places.

On the thirteenth day of the sixth lunar month every year, they would gather once to share their insights with one another.

Late into the night, Li Huowang pondered with a tightly furrowed brow. Yingzi's information gave him a more comprehensive understanding of the entire Xuanjing Cult, and made him realize just how immense the difficulties he faced truly were.

"Either of these two methods is quite difficult to pull off..." Li Huowang muttered to himself.

"What two methods?" Yingzi asked in confusion.

Compared to her earlier trembling fear and subsequent emotional breakdown, she seemed much more composed now.

"Nothing. Let's sleep." Li Huowang stood up and walked toward the stone bed nearby.

Yingzi said nothing, silently following him.

In this dangerous place, Li Huowang had no time to dwell on trivialities.

Moreover, having her lie on the same bed as him was not without an element of testing her.

Danyangzi, whom he deeply loathed and repelled, once again served as a fuse at this moment.

That night, in a state of drowsy slumber, Li Huowang was awakened by fierce barking.

When he quickly lit the oil lamp, he saw Mantou by the bed, barking wildly at it.

Seeing Li Huowang awake, Mantou quickly stopped and began wagging its tail, shaking its head back and forth at him. "Whimper~"

Li Huowang glanced at Yingzi, who was sitting up sleepily beside him. "Dad, what's wrong? Why is our dog barking?"

Only after she fully woke up did she realize she had misspoken, a hint of embarrassment instantly flashing across her face. "I just dreamed I was home celebrating the New Year."

Her expression was incredibly genuine, looking as if she had truly just woken up.

Li Huowang glanced at her, then surveyed the cold, quiet cave. He reached out his right hand, pinching the scruff of Mantou's neck with two curved fingers, and lifted the dog directly onto the bed.

"Go to sleep. It's nothing." Li Huowang held the dog in his arms and closed his eyes once more.

"Mm..." Yingzi responded softly, and lay back down beside Li Huowang.

The room returned to darkness, and Li Huowang listened to the steady breathing beside him.

"You're a young woman, lying here with me. Are you truly alright with this?"

No sooner had the words left Li Huowang's mouth than he heard the sound of fabric being slipped off beside him.

"I can't even be considered a woman anymore, so what does it matter if I lie here with you, Benefactor? If you don't mind, please, do as you wish."

The flickering light of the oil lamp illuminated everything in the room, and Li Huowang stared in shock at Yingzi's naked body.

The attributes a woman should have were nowhere to be seen on her; only two bowl-sized, hideous scars remained.

Besides that, her tender body was covered in wounds of all kinds, some of which were even oozing pus.

(End of Chapter)