Chapter 144: Drunk

Chapter 144: Intoxication

Riding the wave of his drunkenness, Zhao Qin rambled on and on to Li Huowang, seemingly hoping to use this opportunity to dissuade him from becoming an escort.

But Li Huowang's attention had already drifted elsewhere, captivated by a specific term in the other man's words.

"Escort Chief Zhao, what exactly is this Ministry of Celestial Monitoring you just mentioned?"

Although Li Huowang had been in this place for several months, this was the first time he had heard of such matters.

It was the perfect opportunity to learn more about it.

"The Ministry of Celestial Monitoring, well, I've heard it's filled with extraordinary masters patronized by the Emperor. Whenever some eerie and inexplicable incident occurs that the constables and garrison troops cannot handle, they are the ones called upon to resolve it."

Li Huowang was not surprised by this; if the Siqi court could maintain its stability, it must have an institution to deal with such supernatural anomalies.

He only wondered whether these people were specially trained within the palace or specially recruited from the outside world.

Seeing Li Huowang say nothing, Zhao Qin continued, "But then again, talk is cheap, and in reality, they aren't always that reliable."

"Take this for example, four years ago, the people of a certain town were somehow all slaughtered to the last man."

"Tsk tsk tsk, tens of thousands of souls, wiped out in a single night."

As Zhao Qin spoke, he sighed deeply, completely oblivious to the fact that Li Huowang's fingers gripping his wine cup had turned bone-white.

Wang Chengxing, standing nearby, also chimed in. "I've heard about that too. It was said to be horrific; the dead weren't even left with intact bodies."

"How could they bring themselves to do such a thing? Were they not born of mothers and fathers? They are worse than beasts."

Just then, Li Huowang saw Jiang Yingzi, her expression twisted in a grimace, leaning in close to his face.

"See that? Look at what others are saying about you! Why do someone like you deserve to live? Why don't you just die!"

Li Huowang's chest began to heave more violently.

Others did not notice, but Bai Lingmiao sensed Li Huowang's abnormality.

She quietly swapped seats with Xiaoman and covered Li Huowang's trembling hands with her own. "Senior Brother Li, are you alright?"

Li Huowang took a deep breath and looked at Zhao Qin with a smile. "Escort Chief Zhao, let us refrain from discussing state affairs; such matters are not for us common folk to worry about."

"Right, right, right! Let the big shots worry about their own affairs. Drink, drink! I'll toast another cup to Brother Li on behalf of Jiannei!"

"Drink, drink!" Li Huowang grabbed the wine jug and poured it straight down his throat.

Li Huowang actually didn't know how to drink, and strong liquor was even more than he could handle.

That night, he didn't even know when he had passed out drunk.

He only felt that the tipsy sensation was quite pleasant, with nothing to think about and nothing to fret over.

"Li Huowang... Li Huowang!"

Hearing the voice, Li Huowang abruptly opened his eyes in his sleep, coming face to face with a pair of eyes filled with extreme hatred—it was Jiang Yingzi.

Jolting awake from his slumber, he was met with the sight of a girl drenched in blood, her limbs severed; anyone else would have been terrified.

But Li Huowang was long accustomed to it. He glanced once more at Danyang Zi floating on the ceiling, then pushed himself up from the bed with both hands.

Dressed only in a thin garment, the moment he stepped out of bed, a pained expression crossed his face as he clutched his head and sat back down.

"I really shouldn't drink after all..." Li Huowang experienced the agony of a hangover for the first time, though it might also be due to his heightened senses.

With a creak, the door was pushed open from the outside, and Bai Lingmiao walked in carrying a copper basin with both hands.

Seeing Li Huowang sitting by the bed clutching his head in agony, she hurried over and placed the basin on the wooden stand.

The sound of splashing water filled the air; after wringing out a cloth, she walked over, supporting the back of his head with one hand while gently wiping his face with the other.

Taking advantage of the moment she was wiping his neck, Li Huowang looked at her face so close to his and asked, "Where are we?"

"Still at the escort agency. Escort Chief Zhao told me to tell you not to rush off once you wake up; he's already asked someone to go look for the sword manual."

Glancing at the two long swords resting alongside his red Daoist robe, Li Huowang nodded in understanding.

As if reading his mind, Bai Lingmiao seemed to know exactly what Li Huowang was thinking.

She walked over and placed the long sword into Li Huowang's hands.

This was the first time Li Huowang had carefully examined the sword since taking possession of it.

The sword was three chi and two cun long, half a finger wide, with an overall dark hue; on the black hilt fluttered a strip of dark purple silk over an inch long.

The hilt was shaped like a ferocious mythical beast with its fangs bared, and touching it gave the sensation of cutting one's fingers.

Judging solely by its appearance, the sword was remarkably ordinary, lacking any semblance of a divine weapon.

After some thought, Li Huowang ultimately decided not to draw it to test the blade.

Not to mention the commotion drawing the sword might cause, the very feel of it was different.

For some reason, this object gave him a sense of unease, much like the Record of a Myriad Worlds.

"Although the Abbess said this sword poses no threat to me, I think it's best to keep it sheathed as much as possible."

"Senior Brother Li, can you still walk? If not, I can bring breakfast to your room."

"No need, I just need a moment to recover. Now that Danyang Zi isn't chasing us from behind, we can take our time."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a chilling, triple-layered laughter echoed from the ceiling.

Li Huowang looked up to see his master's three heads all staring down at him simultaneously, their eyes brimming with sheer mockery.

"What are you laughing at!"

"S... Senior Brother Li?" Bai Lingmiao glanced at the empty ceiling, then looked back at Li Huowang, a trace of unease rising in her heart.

"It's nothing, let's go down to eat." Li Huowang placed his right hand on her shoulder and stumbled toward the door.

When he stepped outside, he saw that the sky had already grown bright.

The entire escort agency, both the front and rear courtyards, had come alive with bustling activity.

Zhao Qin had clearly given some instructions, as everyone they passed on the way bowed to Li Huowang with great respect.

Li Huowang's gaze swept past the wooden pillar on the right, looking toward the lively martial arts courtyard in the distance.

He saw Gouwa, Gao Zhijian, Chun Xiaoman, and Sun Baolu practicing some moves with a few of the escorts.

"What are they doing?" Li Huowang couldn't help but ask in confusion.

"Earlier, Gouwa suggested they give him some pointers, and then the others ran over to watch the fun, and it turned into this."

"Heh, they sure know how to take advantage. By the way, go to the inn later and speak to Troupe Leader Lu; if he doesn't see us, he might think we've left them behind."

"Mm, understood."

Glancing up at Danyang Zi, Li Huowang thought for a moment and asked, "There's no trouble on the Immortals' side, is there?"

Bai Lingmiao's eyes flickered. "No? Why do you ask, Senior Brother Li?"

"Good, if there is, remember to tell me. And remember, you are not Li Zhi; if anything truly happens, I'll figure out a way to handle it."

"Mm, alright."

The surroundings fell quiet as the two enjoyed this rare tranquility, walking slowly toward the rear kitchen.

They had been on the road constantly during this time, and it was rare to have such a leisurely moment.

Bai Lingmiao leaned softly into Li Huowang's embrace, a tender sweetness blooming within her heart.

"Whatever troubles you face, never keep them from me. No matter how dire the circumstances, we can find a way through them together. After all, right now... you are all I have left."

"Mm..."

(End of Chapter)