Chapter 561: Dice

Chapter 561: The Dice

“Those people had no guards around them—they were just ordinary folks. When our Sect of Forgetfulness found them, we didn’t even have to lift a finger. Just a little provocation from the sidelines and they’d kill themselves. Isn’t that right, Hongzhong?”

The Dice’s words seemed directed at Li Huowang, but in truth, they were more like a warning.

A round jade pendant? Li Huowang instantly recalled—his stolen jade from the late Xuan Yang’s quarters within Qingfeng Monastery! The very one he had used not long ago to trade for a horse!

Xuan Yang... was actually a descendant of the Great Liang imperial bloodline? A look of shock crossed Li Huowang's face as his mind recalled that young man who had tried to escape Qingfeng Monastery, only to be fed black Tai Sui by Dan Yangzi in the end.

Was it really the work of the Sect of Forgetfulness that caused his death? Had the Sect already infiltrated Qingfeng Monastery back then?!

He knew that the celestial book Dan Yangzi had given him was sent by the Sect of Forgetfulness, but what he hadn’t known was that there was another member of the Sect hiding inside Qingfeng Monastery!

“Who? Who among you is pretending to be a member of the Sect of Forgetfulness?” Xiao Man, Gao Zhijian, Bai Lingmiao, Yang Xiaohai—each of their faces flashed through Li Huowang’s mind in rapid succession.

“Pop!” A sound like a bubble bursting suddenly echoed in Li Huowang’s mind. His own face appeared in his own thoughts.

Long-buried memories began to surface one by one—a past version of himself, deliberately sealed away using the powers of the Sect of Forgetfulness.

“Me? Me who suggested Xuan Yang escape? The Sect of Forgetfulness hidden within Qingfeng Monastery… me?” Li Huowang’s body began to convulse uncontrollably. He clutched his head in agony.

Suddenly, he recalled everything—the full sequence of events before his arrival in this world. Before he had even come here, he had pretended to meet Dan Yangzi and feigned capture, all to deal with Xuan Yang, the illegitimate son of the dragon line.

Even the old immortal who supposedly gave him the celestial book was a fake he had created himself! He was Hongzhong—he had fooled everyone!

“No! No! My memories have been tampered with by Doumu Taiyin! This isn’t my memory—I’m not Hongzhong! I’m Li Huowang! Don’t let the Sect of Forgetfulness deceive you!” Li Huowang screamed inwardly, trying to convince himself.

But no matter how hard he tried, the memories of Hongzhong grew clearer and clearer.

Those memories of Hongzhong began to multiply, gradually encroaching upon Li Huowang’s own recollections.

When the memories of Hongzhong surpassed those of Li Huowang, he could no longer tell whether he was Hongzhong or Li Huowang anymore.

Such an abnormal reaction would have been noticed by the Grand Minister long ago under normal circumstances.

Yet now, Huangfu Tiangang’s attention was entirely focused on the Dice’s words, leaving no room for him to pay heed to Li Huowang’s current state.

“You think you can fool me with lies?! You dare try to shake my spiritual resolve with such nonsense? Do you think I haven’t prepared other contingencies?” A purple thunderbolt struck down, burning the Dice’s single arm and leg black and curling them up.

Even though he was near death, the Dice’s expression grew more spirited.

“Hahaha!! Lies? Tian Gang, it seems you still don’t understand our Sect of Forgetfulness well enough. Using lies to deceive others—that’s a trick only low-ranking soldiers in our sect would resort to! I am none other than the great Dice! I only use truth when deceiving people!”

“If you don’t believe me, it doesn’t matter. The dragon vein of Great Liang has already been severed. Yu’er’s god has arrived. All you have to do now is wait and watch the show unfold. Hehehe~”

His arrogance made an old general beside him unable to bear it. With a mighty swing of his Guan Dao, he pressed it against the Dice’s neck.

“Rascal! If the dragon vein of Great Liang is broken, what good does it do you? When chaos engulfs the land, you’ll die too!”

“Heh heh, so what if I die? Do you think the leader of the Sect of Forgetfulness fears death?” The Dice arched his body forward, stretching his neck out. His half-head instantly rolled off.

“Fellow disciples, farewell! I’ll go first! Oh, Hongzhong, no need to burn paper money for me during Qingming Festival—we Sect of Forgetfulness don’t do such things.” Saying that, the head lying in the pool of blood lost all signs of life.

“You want to die? Not that easy!! I’ll scatter your soul and spirit!!”

As Huangfu Tiangang’s Star Sword swung violently through the air, a series of purple lightning bolts descended, striking the Dice’s corpse again and again.

After dozens of strikes, nothing remained of the half-body of the Dice.

The Grand Minister’s face twitched slightly. He snorted coldly at the charred bricks beneath his feet and turned toward the palace.

“Wooohhh~ Dice Lord, you died so pitifully!!! Without you, how will I live?! Woooooohhh.” The Illusion Sect of Forgetfulness lay sprawled over the charred remains, crying without tears.

“Buddhist monk! Buddhist monk! Aren’t you supposed to be a good guy? Haven’t you seen my lord died? Come quickly and give him a Buddhist blessing!”

Zhuge Yuan, his expression grave, walked past the wailing figure and stood before Li Huowang, who was scratching his head in frustration. “Brother Li! Brother Li! Hold on! The worst is yet to come!”

“I...” Li Huowang stood up, clutching his head, looking confusedly at Zhuge Yuan. “Who am I? Am I Hongzhong or Li Huowang?”

“No matter who you are, do you want all of Qi’s fate to repeat itself in Great Liang? Think of your Niu Xin Village! Think of your fellow disciples! And your daughter Li Sui! Bai Lingmiao! Do you really want them to suffer the same fate as the people of Qi?”

Zhuge Yuan’s words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Li Huowang’s head, pulling him out of his self-doubt.

“The Dice’s plan isn’t flawless! Quickly catch up with the Grand Minister of Great Liang—the root of Great Liang can still be restored!”

Feeling his mind growing cloudy, Li Huowang slapped himself hard and rushed after the Grand Minister.

The Grand Minister hadn’t gone far. He entered the main hall where Ji Lin had summoned Li Huowang earlier.

As soon as Li Huowang stepped in, he saw a group of disoriented eunuchs scattered about, while Huangfu Tiangang stood with a dark expression, walking toward Ji Lin seated on the dragon throne.

“Grand Minister! Bold! I am the Emperor! How dare you defy me?!” Ji Lin’s fierce face showed panic. After all, this was the Grand Minister attacking him directly.

But facing Ji Lin’s accusations, Huangfu Tiangang said nothing. He strode straight to the dragon throne and roughly dragged Ji Lin to the ground.

“Help! Help! Protect the Emperor!!” Ji Lin, using only two fingers, struggled to push himself up from the golden tiles, shouting desperately.

Just as he tried to rise, the Grand Minister lifted him up again. He bit his fingertip and quickly drew talismans onto his body.

“Grand Minister? Grand Minister?! Huangfu Tiangang! How dare you! I am the Emperor! I am the last heir of the Ji family! How dare you disrespect me? Don’t you fear the consequences of abandoning the destiny of Great Liang?!”

While Ji Lin spoke, the Grand Minister had finished drawing the talismans. Then, he struck Ji Lin’s face with his palm.

In the next moment, the red talismans on Ji Lin’s body came alive, slithering like dragons across his skin.

Soon, the talismans seemed to grasp something, increasing their speed.

A voice, extremely clear, emerged from beneath Ji Lin’s dragon robe. “Oh oh, you found me, how clever you are~ How did you know the little girl’s life essence was actually mine?”

As soon as the words faded, something rolled out from under the robe, rolling toward the door in Li Huowang’s direction. “Hongzhong! Hongzhong! What are you staring at? Come help!”

But before it rolled far, Huangfu Tiangang’s massive foot stepped down, crushing it completely.

———

Next chapter update time: 00:02

(End of Chapter)