Chapter 562: Trap Within a Trap

Chapter 562: A Game Within a Game

Gazing at all that the Grand Minister had done, and feeling the strange changes in her own body, Ji Lin grew visibly flustered.

"What exactly is this..." Ji Lin's words trailed off as she herself froze, her voice no longer that of a man but instead soft and feminine.

Soon after, more transformations began to manifest. Her facial features softened, her Adam’s apple gradually flattened, until finally, she had become entirely a woman.

Just as Huangpu Tiangang, his face dark with displeasure, turned to leave, Li Huowang, clutching his head, stepped forward to block him. “Grand Minister, do not panic! There is still a way to resolve this! The root of the Great Liang dragon vein has not been severed!”

“You little fool have no idea what is happening! This goes beyond just the dragon vein! Hmph! You understand nothing!!”

Huangpu Tiangang suppressed his anger and strode quickly toward the palace exit.

Li Huowang was about to speak again when he suddenly paused, his thoughts sluggish, staring at Zhuge Yuan. “Brother Zhuge, what exactly did you mean by your solution?”

Zhuge Yuan closed his eyes, drew in a deep breath, then slowly opened them.

“The Great Qi! We can use the royal bloodline of Great Qi to connect with the dragon vein of Great Liang. In doing so, the connection will be restored.”

“Brother Zhuge, what nonsense are you spouting? Where is there even a trace of Great Qi blood now? Have you forgotten? The last emperor of Great Qi was already slain by me!”

“He cannot die! Back then, the Empress Dowager of Great Qi, in order to secure her son’s ascension, even defied fate itself, transforming him into a hundred-soul, bone-woven body—hardly something to be easily killed! The Emperor of Great Qi is now in Great Liang thanks to you. If we find him, reconnect the dragon vein of Great Liang, we can break the dice’s trap!”

“Really?! That would be wonderful!”

Li Huowang, still holding his head, prepared to chase after the Grand Minister, but as he walked, his steps gradually halted. “Brother Zhuge... did you know about the dice’s scheme all along?”

“Brother Li, we’ll discuss these matters later. Quickly relay this to the Grand Minister of Great Liang!”

Yet Li Huowang didn’t pursue. Instead, he continued, “Brother Zhuge, in Great Liang, must you rush to find the Grand Minister so urgently? Or perhaps you’re just changing the subject? Do you realize? I’ve always sensed something amiss, but I thought it was just my imagination.”

“How could I doubt you? I’m too paranoid. Zhuge Yuan, such a fine man, we are sworn brothers!”

“But since I absorbed the memories of Hongzhong, those doubts I once had have grown stronger. For instance, you told me to go to Great Qi to seek the source, and by sheer coincidence, I met the Emperor of Great Qi? And then, I brought him to Great Liang?”

“And the dice’s scheme was precisely designed to sever the root of Great Liang, while the Emperor of Great Qi just happened to be the one who could restore it? How coincidental is that? It’s as if it were planned!”

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Yuan sighed deeply. “Indeed, I saw through the dice’s trickery long ago.”

“Then why didn’t you stop it? Even a hint from you earlier—there were eight other contenders for succession! Even two or three surviving would have changed everything!”

“Because I must save Great Qi!!” This was the first time Zhuge Yuan raised his voice to Li Huowang.

His lips trembled slightly as he said, “Do you know how many people are left alive in Great Qi? Do you know how many lives will be lost if Great Qi falls completely? Imagine that little girl who cried herself hoarse, tugging at your sleeve—each of them is a living soul!”

“You have friends, you care for people. Do I have none in Great Qi? Indeed! All of this was my doing! When I said I’d leave a letter for my friend, that was the false year’s message! She was my friend!”

“She is my confidante. The Emperor of Great Qi was brought here by her. She played her part with you, and ultimately arranged for the Emperor of Great Qi to come to Great Liang. Just as the dice’s scheme was set, that young emperor could break it—and also save Great Qi.”

“Rest assured, even if the Emperor of Great Qi connects to Great Liang’s dragon vein, it won’t harm Great Liang in the slightest. Because Great Qi is nearly gone. I only want to give the remaining people of Great Qi a path to survival…” Zhuge Yuan’s voice grew softer, fading almost to silence.

After a moment, Li Huowang laughed—but it was a bitter, hollow laugh. “Why? Why didn’t you tell me directly? Why go through all this? Even if you had told me, could I really have refused? I would sacrifice my life for you! In this world, I trusted no one fully—except you, Zhuge Yuan! I truly consider you a friend!”

Zhuge Yuan said nothing, merely standing silently.

But Li Huowang guessed the answer. He stepped forward, his red eyes blazing, shouting at him, “Is it because you suspect I am Hongzhong? Or that you think I’m mad? You gave no hint, you don’t trust me at all, do you?”

“Yes.”

That single word struck Li Huowang like a hammer to the chest, turning his pain into burning rage. “I’m mad! I’m Hongzhong! Then what are you? Maybe you aren’t even Zhuge Yuan! You’re just an illusion!”

At these words, Zhuge Yuan’s form flickered in and out.

But his gaze, in contrast, grew ever more resolute. “So what if I am the real Zhuge Yuan? So what if I am a fake Zhuge Yuan? I remain steadfast in adversity, never abandoning my lofty aspirations!”

Li Huowang gritted his teeth, pointing a finger at his face. “Don’t give me that scholarly nonsense! I don’t understand! I’ve endured enough from you!!”

“Brother Li!” Zhuge Yuan took a step closer, looking at Li Huowang with utmost sincerity. “Brother Li, does it really matter who we are? Does it matter if I’m an illusion? Does it matter if you are Hongzhong? What matters is our true hearts!”

“Our true hearts... hah... true hearts...” Li Huowang laughed bitterly, shaking his head, staggering backward and colliding with a massive dragon pillar behind him.

After a pause, he looked at Zhuge Yuan again, his voice numb as he asked, “Brother Zhuge, if you suspect I am Hongzhong, what if I truly am? Do you really believe that the Red Middle of the Seat of Forgetfulness would help you sabotage the dice’s plan?”

At these words, the Spine Bone Sword on Li Huowang’s back moved on its own. He tore off the purple talisman from his head and collapsed to the ground, using his white-bone fingers to carve deeply into the stone tiles.

In a moment, the Spine Bone Sword struck the carved characters with one hand, sending them flying across the floor, trailing shadows as they raced after the Grand Minister of Great Liang.

———

Next chapter update at 00:01

(End of Chapter)