Chapter 370: Goodwill

Chapter 370: Kindness

Seeing the face-changing actor before him trembling in terror, Li Huowang was about to peel back his mask and see how many faces he truly had.

Noticing the situation was spiraling out of control, the innkeeper—who had been preparing to flee—hurried over to smooth things over. "Good sir! Good sir! Forgive us, truly forgive us! Our subordinate has offended you. How about this—your meal is free of charge, and I’ll even offer you a bowl of soup as an additional gesture?"

Li Huowang paused for several seconds before slowly lowering himself back into his seat.

"What’s wrong? Why so tense?" Bai Lingmiao looked puzzled at his unusual behavior.

Li Huowang let out a soft sigh. That face-changing actor reminded him too much of the way the Sect of Forgetfulness switched faces, causing him to react a bit too strongly.

Holding his bowl, Li Huowang continued eating while explaining to her, "Nothing serious. This place is Shangjing—it falls under the jurisdiction of the Supervisory Bureau of Heaven. The Sect of Forgetfulness shouldn’t be able to infiltrate here."

After finishing his meal quickly, Li Huowang changed inns, choosing one without a troupe of actors, and then set off alone toward the address written on the letter.

Unfamiliar with the layout of Shangjing, it wasn't until deep into the night after curfew that Li Huowang finally found the place.

A creaking sound echoed as the wooden door opened. A man holding a lantern peered out, glanced around cautiously, and upon seeing no one else, quickly pulled Li Huowang inside.

Looking up into the courtyard, Li Huowang saw a small yard. Except for a well, most of the space was taken up by a large jujube tree. He was somewhat surprised—the official seemed to live in such a modest place, with no servants in sight.

Still, despite its size, the place was remarkably refined. It would have been just right for a family of three.

"Erjiu, we’ve been waiting day and night for you," said the white-faced old eunuch with a smile, gripping Li Huowang's hand tightly.

Li Huowang yanked his hand free and bowed respectfully to the attendant. "Thank you for your help, I won’t forget this kindness!"

"Nonsense, nonsense," the attendant chuckled, eyeing Li Huowang with a curious expression, his mind clearly occupied with thoughts of his own.

Now that he had seen the real person, Li Huowang didn’t hold back. After all, the man already owed him a favor. "Attendant, did you mean what you wrote in your letter—that you can contact the Military Family and remove the curse binding me? Is that true?"

Some matters are more urgent than others. Despite that, Li Huowang still felt Bai Lingmiao’s situation was more pressing.

"Yes! Yes, yes! I knew you’d ask, so I prepared everything in advance. Shall we go now?"

Though he didn’t understand why the other seemed even more anxious than he was, Li Huowang had no complaints about speed—he was eager to follow the attendant through the corridor and arrive at the rear gate, where two sedan chairs were already waiting.

"Please, sir, step into the sedan chair!" Four bearers knelt down gracefully, their movements practiced and precise.

This was Li Huowang’s first time riding in a sedan chair. Honestly, it made him feel quite uncomfortable, swaying like a boat on the sea, giving him a slight case of motion sickness.

The attendant lifted the curtain and called out eagerly to the sedan chair beside Li Huowang, "Brother Erjiu, you’ve just arrived in Shangjing. Where will you stay? Did you like that courtyard earlier? If you do, I’ll let you keep it."

"Thank you, Attendant, but I cannot accept such generosity without merit. I am unworthy of such a gift."

He couldn’t explain why, but ever since that incident with the heart turbidity, this eunuch’s warmth seemed excessive. Who gives a house away after only a few words?

Upon hearing Li Huowang’s refusal, the attendant feigned displeasure. "Ah, Brother Erjiu, you’re being too formal. How can you say you don’t deserve a reward? You helped me so much—what’s a little house compared to that? This was meant for our retirement. Don’t worry about the location; just don’t disdain it."

"Then it’s settled then. The keys and land deed are underneath your seat. And there’s some worthless trinkets left in the house."

Li Huowang reached beneath his seat and immediately felt three brass keys and several pieces of paper.

Sitting in the swaying sedan chair, Li Huowang pondered the reason behind this generous gesture.

After much thought, he finally realized—this man wanted to repay his debt by giving him the house outright. The “worthless trinkets” left in the house were probably not ordinary either.

Giving me a retirement home… What does this mean? Does he plan to quit the Supervisory Bureau of Heaven?

As Li Huowang pondered this question, the sedan chair curtain was lifted, and the bearer’s humble voice rang out, "Please, sir, step down from the sedan chair."

Li Huowang stuffed the keys and deed into his chest, stepped down, and just as he raised his head, a grotesque lion’s head with bared teeth leaped in front of him.

Taking a few steps back, Li Huowang got a clearer look at the building ahead—it was another prison. It seemed the attendant was completely tied to this place.

With a creak, the prison gate opened slightly. The attendant led Li Huowang inside.

The entire prison had double gates and double walls, appearing extremely sturdy. Beyond the main gate came a second, smaller one. One had to bend low and even squat to pass through.

Further inside lay the third gate. On its frame was carved a tiger—but after the attendant whispered a quick explanation, Li Huowang realized it wasn’t a tiger, but a legendary beast known as Bi’an.

Once the third gate opened, eyes like solid beams turned toward them. After adjusting to the dim light of the prison, Li Huowang finally recognized who was watching him.

If he had to describe it, what stood before him was a full room of Peng Longteng.

These prison guards, with their harsh expressions, lounged or stood, some drinking, others playing cards. All were members of the Military Family, their presence keeping the aura of ill fortune from dissipating. Even breathing was difficult.

It was hard for Li Huowang to imagine what kind of entity could require such a group to suppress it.

"Oh, isn’t this Comrade Chen? What wind brought you here?" An elderly prison guard, mid-drinking, looked at the attendant with surprise, his thick white beard stretching from ear to ear.

"Heh heh heh... Captain Cao, long time no see, I’ve missed you. How are things at home?" The attendant smiled warmly as he approached.

"Not bad, just the usual. My daughter-in-law and son fight every other day. Give me a moment—I’ll light incense for the prison god first."

As Captain Cao moved, Li Huowang noticed a shrine embedded halfway up the left wall. Inside were three small clay statues of deities. The central figure was an old man, his expression mild and dignified. But flanking him were two small demons—ferocious, terrifying, with grotesque features.

That old man was the so-called Prison God.

(End of Chapter)