Chapter 483: Relic

Chapter 483: Relic

"Mm." Facing Li Huowang's explanation, the Great Li National Master turned around and stroked his white beard while nodding approvingly.

Li Huowang felt somewhat uneasy at this moment, unsure whether the other party believed him or not. The opponent's strength was formidable; if things came to blows, he might not escape easily.

Just as he was formulating alternative excuses in his mind, the other party spoke again. "Since His Majesty is so fond of you, being able to connect with the royal family is indeed a great fortune for you. Seize it well."

"Yes!" However, inside his heart, Li Huowang did not consider it a great fortune. With others vying for the throne, who could say how long that reckless young man Ji Lin could remain on the imperial seat?

"Go now, do your best. The Great Li Dynasty needs people like you," said the National Master of Great Li, patting Li Huowang's shoulder.

When Li Huowang keenly sensed something piercing into his tongue root through his shoulder, he immediately understood—after a threat, the other still didn't trust him and had placed a restriction upon him.

But Li Huowang didn't care about that. He never intended to tell anyone about such things; once spoken aloud, they would surely bring trouble.

"As commanded, I take my leave," Li Huowang bowed once more and turned to exit the imperial temple.

Once he followed Lian Zhibei out of the towering vermilion imperial city with the Yangshou Pill, Li Huowang looked back at the oppressive palace and exhaled deeply.

He still disliked this place, as if the entire city were alive, constantly devouring people.

Though there had been some setbacks along the way, at least the ending went smoothly.

But since he knew several princes were fighting for the throne, it seemed the capital would soon be filled with undercurrents again. He should finish his business quickly and leave this place.

As for helping Ji Lin consolidate power, it wasn't even considered by Li Huowang. Although that youth appeared suitable for friendship and showed him considerable kindness.

However, they had only met once, and such a shallow acquaintance was not worth risking one's life over. Moreover, that boy didn’t seem suited to be an emperor.

"Now it's time for you to keep your promise," Li Huowang turned to Lian Zhibei, who was excitedly looking at the jade token in her hand.

The Pure Yangshou could not be condensed into pills without being personally administered by someone specific. That jade token was the credential to obtain Pure Yangshou.

"Don't worry, of course," said Lian Zhibei, about to leave, but Li Huowang stopped her immediately. Now it was his turn to feel uneasy. "Where are you going?"

"Do I need to ask? Of course to fetch my mother to fill up her lifespan! Didn't we agree on that?"

Li Huowang reached out and snatched the jade token from her. "Wait until you bring your mother here before coming to see me. You'd better hurry. If you don't show up within a month, I'll use this Pure Yangshou for my wife directly."

"No way, we're already in the capital, and you still don't trust me? What if I pledge my Watch Heaven Bureau badge to you?" Lian Zhibei pleaded desperately.

But Li Huowang didn't want to waste words with her. He waved the jade token in front of her and walked toward the Watch Heaven Bureau office.

No hare, no hawk—trying to make a deal without putting anything on the table was out of the question.

At the inner treasury, Li Huowang didn't bother with the eunuch who wore two copper coins on his head, just poured out the four hundred Yangshou Pills from his gourd. "The relic I asked about earlier! Hurry!"

The relic was kept inside a seven-tiered treasure pagoda. As the eunuchs opened each layer of the nested pagodas, when the last one opened, a red agate box shimmering faintly appeared before Li Huowang.

This red agate box was very translucent, allowing Li Huowang to clearly see the relic inside glowing with Buddhist light—a human bone. A small, crystal-clear pinky finger.

"A relic made of human bones? And to gain the ability of mind's eye, one must consume human bones?" Li Huowang looked suspiciously at the money-eyed eunuch beside him. This practice looked far from honorable.

"Please rest assured, Master, this is the last one. The previous six have all been used. Those who consumed them are fine. But I must remind you again, you must be kind-hearted, absolutely kind-hearted!"

"Enough, how many times do you plan to repeat that phrase? Just give me this one," Li Huowang began to feel troubled. How would he convince Bai Lingmiao to swallow this human bone when he returned?

Perhaps due to the shadow left from Qingfeng Monastery, Bai Lingmiao strongly resisted eating human flesh or bones, even refusing ordinary pills when possible.

But when Li Huowang returned home with the agate pagoda containing the relic and two roasted geese, seeing Bai Lingmiao fumbling in the pitch-black room, he realized he had overthought it. Bai Lingmiao couldn't see anything at all now.

"Senior Brother Li, you're back?" Bai Lingmiao, looking worn out, listened intently toward Li Huowang's direction.

"How did you know it was me?" Li Huowang placed the wrapped roasted goose on the table.

"I can tell. I recognize your footsteps. Senior Brother Li, since my eyes have gotten worse, my ears have become much more sensitive."

Li Huowang walked over and gently helped her sit on a nearby zazen chair. "Miaomiao, don't worry. Your eyes can be cured."

Saying that, Li Huowang took out a water gourd and the palm-sized agate pagoda from his robe. "Come, open your mouth."

"Senior Brother Li, what kind of miraculous medicine is this? It can cure blindness?" Bai Lingmiao's face showed five parts curiosity and five parts anticipation as she opened her small mouth.

Li Huowang didn't answer, just pinched the relic between his fingers and placed it at the base of her tongue. "Don't chew, just swallow it with rootless water."

When the rainwater from the gourd was poured into Bai Lingmiao's mouth, she coughed violently as if choking. Seeing this, Li Huowang patted her back repeatedly. Neither of them noticed a golden swastika flash across Bai Lingmiao's chest.

When Bai Lingmiao finally calmed down, she frowned and said, "Senior Brother Li, what was that? Why..."

At that moment, Bai Lingmiao suddenly froze. She suddenly realized she could see again.

More accurately, it shouldn't be called seeing—it was sensing their qi.

The table, the stool, Li Sui, even the two short trees outside the yard were all distinctly felt.

This sensation was truly unique, as if everything around her was vividly imprinted in her heart.

"Senior Brother Li?"

Bai Lingmiao looked puzzled at the strange object before her. This thing was completely different from anything else.

It seemed like a person, yet appeared and disappeared intermittently, accompanied by violent trembling.

Moreover, there were some shadows that sometimes coalesced and sometimes dispersed around it.

(End of Chapter)