Chapter 312: Yinling City

Chapter 312: Silver Ling City

Silver Ling City remained as bustling and vibrant as ever. Li Huo Wang, pulling a carriage with a straw hat over his head, moved through the crowd, utterly unremarkable.

The lively throng around him made the steamed bun tremble with fear, its tail tucked between its legs, hiding beneath the carriage as it slowly followed along.

Once they arrived at an inn, Li Huo Wang took out the loose silver he had prepared on the carriage to pay for the room.

Everything was ready on the carriage—silver, spare clothes, even several types of dried provisions.

“Whoosh,” the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing the bound Black Great One before him. Li Huo Wang shoved a piece of dried meat into the slimy crevices of its body.

Then he pulled out a knife, sliced off a large chunk, and stuffed it into his mouth to chew. The flesh of the Black Great One was repulsive and disgusting, but he had long since grown accustomed to it.

Despite being eaten so much, the Black Great One didn’t seem to have lost much.

After checking the tough ox sinew that bound it, Li Huo Wang looked at the Black Great One and said, “Can you hear me? Can you repeat what I say?”

The Black Great One gave no response to his question, still writhing its repulsive body, spewing thick, filthy liquid from its many crevices.

Not only couldn’t it speak, but it didn’t even react.

Li Huo Wang stroked his belly thoughtfully. “Could it be that the Black Great One can only read once it’s inside my stomach? Or perhaps because my hearing is too keen, only I can hear it?”

He didn’t know how others reacted when eating the Black Great One; whether his case was normal or unusual.

He covered the curtain again and turned to the steamed bun squatting nearby. “Keep watch. If the Black Great One moves or if anyone tries to approach, yell loudly—I’ll be in the room next door.”

“Woof woof!!” The steamed bun jumped up, wagging its tail.

Li Huo Wang patted the steamed bun’s head and then turned toward the guest room.

He opened the window and gazed down at the bustling market below. From his pocket, he took out a book—the *Three Character Classic*.

He wasn’t sure whether teaching the Black Great One inside his stomach would work, but he’d try anyway. Multiple attempts were not a bad thing.

If successful, perhaps the Black Great One could be of help in future matters.

Even if it didn’t help, as long as it didn’t cause trouble, that would already be enough.

“Man begins life, nature is good. Nature is similar, habits differ. Without education, nature changes. The way of teaching lies in dedication…”

A black, writhing tentacle emerged from Li Huo Wang’s navel, swayed slightly, then disappeared back inside.

“Litchi, this is litchi,” Li Huo Wang said, peeling the shell open. “Eat.”

He shoved the semi-transparent flesh into his mouth. “No, not kill—it’s eat.”

When he saw the oil lamps lit in the windows of the houses outside, Li Huo Wang judged it was time. He stood up and walked out.

It was the same place where he had drunk with Tuoba Danqing. As soon as he entered and explained his purpose, he was immediately invited in by the waiter.

Clearly, arrangements had been made beforehand. As soon as he stepped in, all kinds of fine wines and delicacies were brought in.

In the old-fashioned, elegant room, Li Huo Wang waited for only a short while before he heard Tuoba Danqing’s distinctive laugh echoing from outside. The man hadn’t even arrived yet, but his voice came first.

“Heh heh～ Young brother Er, haven’t seen you in ages, I’ve missed you so much,” creaked the door as Tuoba Danqing entered, dressed in brocade silk. “Don’t just stand there, come sit, come sit. We’re brothers, why be so formal?”

As Tuoba Danqing shut the door behind him, Li Huo Wang removed his black straw hat.

Seeing the dark and pink patches on the skin beneath Li Huo Wang’s coin-shaped mask, Tuoba Danqing’s eyes flickered with an unusual glint.

But he said nothing, instead laughing again, pouring himself a cup of wine from the pot on the table. “Come, come, let’s drink!”

Knowing the other’s ways, Li Huo Wang didn’t rush.

He poured some wine and drank it down. Fortunately, he had drunk plenty of water before drinking, so he wouldn’t get drunk too quickly.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food, Tuoba Danqing coughed lightly and began to speak.

“Young brother Er, I’ve made progress on the yin-yang mirror you asked about. It was stolen from a blind hermit by the School of Forgetfulness.”

“Oh? So the blind man’s surname is Chen?”

“Huh? Young brother Er, I haven’t even spoken yet, how did you know?”

Li Huo Wang looked mockingly at the red-faced man across from him. As expected, the identity of the blind man named Chen had also been stolen.

“Young brother Er, the hermit said that he cannot give you the method to activate the mirror. But if you return the mirror to him, he will exchange it for a talisman scroll.”

“What kind of talisman scroll?”

“He says that scroll records various talismans and incantations. Once you learn it, you’ll master mountain arts, medicine, divination, destiny, and physiognomy.”

After saying that, Tuoba Danqing paused, a sly smile appearing on his face.

“But honestly, I think that old man is mostly bluffing. That talisman scroll might be useful, but probably not as powerful as he claims.”

Li Huo Wang took out the mirror, pondering the pros and cons. However, he had no experience in such matters and didn’t know how to weigh them.

After thinking for a moment, he turned to Tuoba Danqing beside him.

“Brother Tuoba, could you offer some advice on this matter?”

Tuoba Danqing was, after all, a seasoned veteran. His opinion might be worth hearing.

Tuoba Danqing picked up his chopsticks and picked a translucent fish skin, placing it in his mouth.

“Hmm… In my view, you should agree. Though the hermit doesn’t say much, he clearly values that mirror greatly. If you don’t give it to him, he may come looking for you.”

“Besides, though the artifact is good, it’s useless to your Aojing Sect. If you’re willing to cut yourself loose, you don’t need that broken mirror.”

“In fact, the special talisman papers recorded in that scroll can fill gaps in your sect.”

“And besides, in these times, having one more friend means one more path. Who knows, maybe that blind man Chen will help you someday.”

After careful consideration, Li Huo Wang realized Tuoba Danqing’s words made sense. “Thank you, Brother Tuoba.”

“We’re brothers within the organization, no need for formality. If you really want to thank me, remember to look out for your elder brother in the future.”

Tuoba Danqing raised his cup again.

As they drank, their relationship grew closer.

When they had eaten enough, the tipsy Tuoba Danqing suddenly straightened his expression.

“Young brother Er, we’ve finished our idle talk. Now it’s time for business. If you want to rise higher, you must be diligent, yes? Coincidentally, there’s something in the south that needs handling.”