Chapter 521: Letter

Chapter 521: Letter

When Li Huowang learned from Zu Yi that the Heavenly Surveillance Bureau had invited the Aojing Sect to join forces against the Forgetful Dao, he realized at once that his attempt to find a solution from Zu Yi had been misguided.

If the Aojing Sect truly had a way to counter the dice, the dice would not have had the time or energy to threaten him.

Sitting on the long bench, Li Huowang let out a soft sigh and said to Zu Yi before him, "Alright, you may go. Our grudge from that night is settled. From now on, you take your path, and I shall take mine."

Hearing this, Zu Yi was momentarily stunned, his voice tinged with anxiety as he said, "Elder Brother, what about the secret of ascending the steps..."

"There are no secrets, none at all!" Li Huowang seemed to recall something, his emotions suddenly flaring up in irritation.

"Do you know how excruciating and despairing the ultimate pain of mind and body can be?! You sadists actually want to rush headlong into such torment! Get out! Get far away!"

Under Li Huowang's tirade, Zu Yi slowly retreated into the courtyard. Looking at Li Huowang seated on the bench inside the house, he hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "Elder Brother, have you encountered trouble today?"

"As the Grand Elder of the Aojing Sect, if there is anything a disciple can do to help, please command us without hesitation."

Li Huowang shook his head. He waved his hand impatiently, "You can't help. If you really could, you'd have already done so."

Upon hearing this, Zu Yi said nothing more and turned to leave the courtyard.

But just as his hand closed around the wooden door latch, a voice emerged from beneath his wide cloak. "Elder Brother, perhaps it's improper of me to speak, but all the troubles of the mortal world pale in comparison to the pain of ascension."

"As disciples of the Aojing Sect, we should focus our energies on the righteous path."

Li Huowang had no patience to argue with these self-torturing lunatics. He turned his back on him, refusing to look.

"Elder Brother."

"Are you finished yet?!"

Li Huowang spun around abruptly, gripping the hilt of his sword. But unexpectedly, he saw Zu Yi bending down to pick up an envelope of pale yellow from the ground.

"Elder Brother, this seems to be a letter for you."

"A letter?" Suspicious, Li Huowang approached and took it, glancing at the contents.

"Since you have private matters, I will take my leave first. Should anything urgent arise at the temple, I will send someone to report to you. After all, you are the Grand Elder of the Aojing Sect."

Yet Li Huowang paid no attention to Zu Yi's words. His eyes were fixed on the letter's content.

"Bai Lingmiao? Bai Lingmiao, who was kidnapped by the dice, wrote me a letter?!"

Li Huowang's fingers trembled slightly as he quickly tore open the envelope and pulled out the paper.

"Senior Brother Li, are you well? It's been so long since we last spoke; I'm truly sorry."

"I had wanted to contact you long ago, but they wouldn't allow it. I cannot write who 'they' are, for fear they might alter it. But they've treated me well, without mistreatment."

"After I left, you'll surely search the world for me, Senior Brother. Don't worry, I'll return soon. Not even two years like you mentioned. In a bit more time, I'll be back. Oh, the persimmon cakes here are sweet. I'm sending some to you. Love, Bai Lingmiao."

"Two years? Two years?! How did Bai Lingmiao know two years?!" Li Huowang's pupils contracted sharply, and he was instantly transported back to earlier.

The words he had spoken to Yang Na through the iron mesh, as she was carried away by his father.

"Yang Na, wait for me! Give me three years! No! Two years! Just give me two more years!!"

"That's right! There's no mistake! Bai Lingmiao left me at that time. At that moment, Yang Na was actually a reflection of Bai Lingmiao in this world! She was taken away by someone!"

Li Huowang held the letter tightly, pacing excitedly within the room! This letter carried great significance!

It meant that the dice hadn't actually taken Bai Lingmiao!! All along, it had been a lie!!

This was a heartening speculation. Yet as Li Huowang pondered further, a ragged little beggar stuck his head through the doorway, apologetic.

"Brother Hongzhong! Oh, I'm so sorry, so sorry! I was so focused on delivering the letter that I almost forgot the persimmon cakes."

He carried a bamboo basket in his filthy hands, breathing heavily as he entered.

The beggar placed the basket down and walked over to Li Sui with familiarity. "Oh, pleasure to meet you! You must be Brother Hongzhong's dog, right? I've heard much about you."

Li Huowang looked at the letter in his hand, then at the beggar chatting away to Li Sui, and his excitement cooled rapidly.

"What does this mean? The dice think I've been too active lately and are sending me a letter to warn me?"

"Or maybe the dice are trying to trick me! Bai Lingmiao isn't even with them!!"

"Bang!" Li Huowang reached out with one hand, pinning the beggar's throat against the wall.

Without asking the man's name, Li Huowang drew a dagger and peeled back his face.

After several faces were revealed, Li Huowang saw one that was winking at him—a face of nine million.

"What exactly do you want?!" Li Huowang gritted his teeth.

"Oh, what else can I do? I'm just delivering a letter, right? I didn't steal any of those persimmon cakes, I swear. I brought them as they were."

"Don't worry, it's fine if you don't tell the truth. I'll make you speak the truth! I'll deal with both the Aojing Sect and the Forgetful Dao! Choose for yourself!" Li Huowang snarled, opening his hidden tool kit.

With the clatter of metal, Li Huowang noticed something odd in the mocking smile on the man's face.

As he quickly released his grip on the man's throat, the nine-million face collapsed to the floor, motionless. He was dead.

—————

"Officer, we're just a troupe, nothing to investigate. Look, these are just costumes. Hahahaha," Lü ZHUANGYUAN explained eagerly to the city guards inspecting the carriage.

However, the guards from Shangjing barely glanced at him. After rummaging through everything inside the carriage, they threw the travel permit coldly onto Lü ZHUANGYUAN's face.

Lü ZHUANGYUAN quickly caught it with both hands, carefully holding it. This document was essential; without it, one couldn't move in Daliang.

More importantly, it was left behind by the Little Dao Lord. Once lost, it was gone forever.

Once he carefully tucked the travel permit back into the pocket sewn inside his undergarments, Lü ZHUANGYUAN led the others through the thick city gate.

Just beyond the gate, the scene before everyone's eyes left them dazzled. This was Shangjing—the largest city in the land.

Many marveled at the towering wooden buildings lining the roads, and were curious about the distinct architectural style of Shangjing compared to other places.

(End of Chapter)