Chapter 543: East Gate

Chapter 543: The Eastern Gate

Li Huowang stood within the great hall, gazing at the dragon throne shrouded in dimness, his mind already calculating how to respond to the question that would surely come.

“Ertou,” said Ji Lin in a casual tone, her voice drifting down from behind the pearl curtain, “where have you been these days?”

“I was busy with some private matters,” Li Huowang replied.

“Heh, you still dare speak so boldly. You were meant to serve me, yet you still found time for your own affairs.”

“Well, isn’t Prince Ren already dead? My lord, who’s next for you to kill?” Li Huowang asked bluntly.

Ji Lin struck the armrest of the dragon throne with her right hand—only two fingers remained—and slammed it down hard. “Fine, you’re direct. I’ll be direct too. There’s only one princess left, and you’ll finish her off.”

“Only one!?” Li Huowang’s pupils contracted slightly, his eyes widening in shock.

He remembered killing only three people. How could the worms in the jar grow so quickly?

Ji Lin seemed to sense his surprise and chuckled lightly. “Ertou, it’s always you who stirs up trouble. Otherwise, how could I have ascended the throne so swiftly?”

“And besides, your blade is no bad weapon, but I must keep a few more in reserve. So, heh, don’t get too full of yourself.”

As soon as she finished speaking, figures emerged from the shadows behind the dragon throne. Among them were eunuchs and unfamiliar faces.

Li Huowang didn’t recognize any of them, but one figure stood out—someone holding a golden ingot in his arms, which felt oddly familiar.

It was the former Prince Ren’s god of wealth, the man who had once served him. And now, he had become one of Ji Lin’s subordinates!

Looking at Ji Lin in the darkness, a chill settled in Li Huowang’s heart. The Ji Lin before him had changed drastically—far more dangerous than the one he had known. While he had helped open the way, Ji Lin had quietly expanded his influence in secret.

“Ertou, will you take this task or not? Speak up. Or do you have other private matters to attend to?”

A eunuch with copper coins hanging from his eyes presented a golden edict to Li Huowang on a tray.

“I accept,” Li Huowang said, snatching it and turning to leave the hall.

Under the gloomy sky, Li Huowang opened the edict. It listed the identity of the target—Princess Anping.

To ensure he wouldn’t mistake her, a portrait was attached.

The so-called Princess Anping was a delicate, youthful girl, even younger than Yang Na.

The beauty mark on the corner of her right lip added a hint of allure.

But Li Huowang did not underestimate her. With only two of the nine worms remaining, this woman was far from harmless.

After exiting the palace, Li Huowang bought a pigeon and immediately began searching through his body.

When a full moon appeared within his flesh, he reached out and pulled it free.

This was a means of contacting Liu Zongyuan of the Moon Gate. Since he was well-informed, he might be able to ask about the Celestial Observing Bureau.

Binding the moon and a scroll to the pigeon's leg, Li Huowang gripped his weapon tightly and slowly made his way toward the palace of Princess Anping.

“What are you planning to do with this princess?” Zhuge Yuan floated over and asked.

Li Huowang’s expression darkened. “I won’t do anything. I’ll just delay as much as possible. If necessary, I’ll even help Princess Anping weaken Ji Lin’s power.”

“Ji Lin has grown faster than I expected. He’s getting out of control. I’m not sure if he’ll still help me fight the Dice now.”

Hearing this, Zhuge Yuan nodded in satisfaction and withdrew.

Li Huowang never forgot his goal—kill the Dice, save Bai Lingmiao.

Who becomes emperor is secondary. As long as he can buy enough time to deal with the Dice, everything else will follow.

That same day, Li Huowang infiltrated the palace of Princess Anping. When he saw a decoy standing in her place, he let out a sigh of relief.

She was smarter than he had thought. That worked in his favor—he could use the opportunity to find the real one and stall Ji Lin for a while.

For several days afterward, Li Huowang visited the princess’s estate, but took no action. Occasionally, he eliminated suspicious spies lurking around.

On the third day, a change occurred. Li Huowang received a reply from Liu Zongyuan.

“Brother Ertou, you want to see the Celestial Observing Bureau? They’re not your family’s business. We don’t have the credentials to meet them.”

“But you can wait at the Eastern Gate on the twenty-third of this month. They’re said to be leaving the city with many people.”

“As for whether you’ll actually see them… that depends on your own skills. I can only help you so far.”

Li Huowang tucked the letter away and leapt down from the tree, heading toward the eastern gate with Li Sui by his side.

At this moment, the Celestial Observing Bureau mattered more than any princess.

There were two Celestial Observers in the Great Liang Empire. With his position in the Dice, if he could convince both to act together, he’d already succeeded halfway!

The eastern gate of Shangjing was soon reached. Li Huowang sat beside a cool tea stall, anxiously waiting.

According to Liu Zongyuan’s intelligence, the Celestial Observers were leaving in large numbers, making it easy to spot them.

Time passed. As the sun moved across the sky, Li Huowang grew increasingly anxious.

“Why hasn’t anyone arrived yet? Could Liu Zongyuan’s information be wrong? Isn’t he supposed to be the most informed among the Moon Gate?”

“Master Li! Master Li!! I finally found you!!”

Suddenly, someone grabbed his foot. Li Huowang almost slashed out with his blade, but the grating voice of Gouda saved him.

Not only Gouda, but upon hearing the news from the beggar, the entire Lü Family Gang had arrived.

Seeing this, Lü Xiucái refused to be outdone and lunged to embrace the other leg—but was kicked away by Li Huo.

“What are you all doing here?” Li Huowang hoisted Gouda like a chicken.

“We came to look for you, Master Li! You said you'd go with Sister Bai to treat her eyes, and it's been so long—we haven’t seen you return. I’ve been feeling empty inside. It’s unbearable!”

Gouda pretended to rub ginger from his sleeve onto his eye.

“Get back to where you belong! Do you hear me?! This isn’t a place for you! Do you know how dangerous it is in Shangjing now?!”

While looking toward the road, Li Huowang spoke urgently.

“That’s right! Master, Shangjing is too dangerous! These past few days, we’ve suffered so much at their hands. You must stand up for us!”

Lü Xiucái ran back and clutched Li Huowang’s leg again, complaining bitterly.

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