Chapter 648: Beacon Fires Rise

Chapter 648: Smoke of the Wolf

"Xuan Pin? What brings you here?" Li Huowang stared at the dark shadow beneath the red robe.

"The world is in chaos now; we must unite the forces of the Imperial Observatory to weather this crisis. As a member of the Celestial Watch, am I not allowed to come to the palace?" Xuan Ping's wide robes fluttered as he drew closer to the two men.

Li Huowang examined him for a moment before turning to Gao Zhijian and saying, "There will surely be activity from the Law Sect soon. I'm uneasy about it, so I came to take a look."

"How about this—starting tomorrow, I'll live within the palace walls to personally protect you,"

Before Gao Zhijian could respond, Xuan Pin spoke up from beside them. "No."

"I didn't ask your opinion."

"We have already received your information. Rest assured, the safety of the Emperor is under the protection of the Grand Minister, the Military Masters, and the Celestial Observatory. You may return now."

Li Huowang, seated on the steps, slapped his knees and stood up, looking at Xuan Pin with anger in his voice. "What exactly are you afraid of! I am the heart of Ji Zai's soul, and all your illusionary arts were learned from him. Who exactly are you secretly guarding against!"

The arrival of the Grand Minister, the attention of the Celestial Observatory, and this sudden visit—all should have made it clear to Li Huowang that these people did not trust him. If he couldn’t see through their intentions, then perhaps his eyes had lost their clarity.

"If it weren’t for me, the dice would’ve already seized the dragon vein! If I harbored ill intent, why would I risk my life to save it? I could just watch the show!"

"But now you turn around and guard against me? No, what do you mean? Aren’t you part of Ji Zai’s faction? Isn’t it said that he’s pursuing members of the Law Sect, excluding you?"

"Firstly," Xuan Pin paused before continuing, "I have confirmed that if not for you, the dice never would’ve taken the dragon vein. By saving it, you’ve merely balanced out your actions."

"Secondly, everything I’ve learned came from spiritual enlightenment. I do know someone named Ji Zai—he is you."

Li Huowang almost laughed. "Xuan Pin, are you pretending to be confused, or are you truly ignorant?"

"I used my cultivation abilities right before your eyes to conjure the Star Master of Confusion. Don’t pretend you didn’t see it!"

Yet after speaking those words, the Celestial Observatory remained silent. A strange gaze shot out from beneath the black robe, pinning Li Huowang in place.

"Hmm? What’s going on? Is he really unaware? Is he deceiving me? Or has the past been altered again?" Li Huowang felt a chill in his heart, raising his head toward the sky.

The Celestial Observatory slowly drifted backward, as if preparing to leave, but Li Huowang grabbed him by the arm. "Wait, wait! I need to confront you about Ji Zai! This matter must be sorted out."

As soon as Li Huowang spoke, both he and Xuan Pin raised their heads to gaze at the sky above the overlapping tiles far away.

Suddenly, a flock of birds soared from the imperial garden's sky, circling frantically as if startled.

"It seems something’s wrong," Li Huowang’s heart sank. Though he didn’t know what was happening, he instinctively sensed that the entire world had shifted.

From beneath his red robe, Xuan Pin’s six long arms emerged, his six fingers pressing together in a calculation.

In mere moments, he lowered his hand, and a deep voice came from within his robe. "A heavenly disaster."

"A heavenly disaster?! The sky is bright and clear—where could such a disaster come from!" Li Huowang had barely finished when his pupils contracted. He knew there were more than just solar eclipses among heavenly disasters.

Then, three black smoke columns rose rapidly from the eastern sky.

"What does that mean!" Li Huowang pointed at the smoke and shouted.

"An army is approaching the city gates."

"Where did these troops come from?"

Before anyone could answer, three more black smoke columns rose from the southwest and northern directions.

"That’s not smoke from outside the city—it’s inside the city. Someone has entered."

Hearing this, Li Huowang ignored his questions to Xuan Pin and immediately moved. "I’ll go check first. You stay with the Grand Minister and protect Gao Zhijian! Li Sui, let’s go!"

As soon as Li Huowang opened his mouth, he swallowed Li Sui whole. Instantly, two of Li Sui’s tentacles emerged from Li Huowang’s body, quickly pulling out two sheets of yellow paper and drawing talismans with their own blood, sticking them directly onto Li Huowang’s knees.

At the moment the talismans adhered, Li Huowang’s body left behind a blur, rushing out like the wind.

At that moment, within Shangjing City, Lü Juren held his daughter Xiuer in his arms, walking from the theater’s outer gate into the inner courtyard, still carrying a box of pastries wrapped in oiled paper.

Just entering the second gate, Lü Juren saw his wife lying on a lounge chair, pretending to nap while listening to the opera on stage, gently swaying her long fingernails.

Two pretty girls stood nearby—one massaging his legs, the other kneading his shoulders. In all of Shangjing, it would be hard to find someone who enjoyed life so much.

"Juan’er, you should get some exercise. Since coming to this city, you’ve gained weight."

"So what if I’m fat? Being plump is better—it takes a wealthy family to raise a fat person." Luo Juanhua opened her eyes unhappily.

When she noticed the pastries in Lü Juren’s hands, she asked in surprise, "Juren, what are those?"

Lü Juren looked embarrassed and told the two girls to leave. Then, somewhat ashamed, he placed the pastries on the slightly protruding belly of his wife.

When Luo Juanhua opened the box with confusion, she found neatly stacked white square-shaped cakes and her face lit up with joy. "Oh! It’s lamp wick cakes!"

She picked up two and put them in her mouth, savoring the soft sweetness.

"They’re delicious. I haven’t seen these since leaving Si Qi. Husband, how did you think to buy these for me?"

Lü Juren scratched his head awkwardly. "I didn’t specifically buy them. There’s a new fruit shop near the market. The master happened to be a refugee from Si Qi. I saw them and bought a bit."

Luo Juanhua felt sweetness not only in her mouth but also in her heart. She knew these treats were hard to find in the Great Li Empire.

Back when they were poor, such pastries were unaffordable. Only on their wedding day had they bought six taels.

That was the first time she’d tasted something so delicious. She had eaten all six taels herself. She hadn’t expected this stubborn man to remember it for so many years.

"Um... on the way, you suffered, and said some harsh things. Don’t take it to heart."

Seeing her husband’s embarrassed expression, Luo Juanhua recalled the red-faced young man who looked like a monkey’s rump, and couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh.

"You’re trying to talk seriously, and you’re laughing?" Lü Juren tried to keep his dignity, set his daughter down, and headed toward the theater.

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Next chapter coming soon.

(End of Chapter)