Chapter 669: Trouble

Chapter 669: Trouble

“You are from Qingqiu’s Astronomical Bureau?”

“I know Li Huowang’s name well. I know who you are. What brings you to Qingqiu?”

“Did Xuan Pin tell you that?” Li Huowang frowned involuntarily. It seemed intelligence between the various celestial observation bureaus of different states was being shared.

“Regardless of who told me, you must answer my question now. Why have you come to Qingqiu?”

“Why have I come to Qingqiu? Of course, I’m here to help fight the Sect of the Law! Do I really need to ask that?”

Hearing Li Huowang’s reply, the woman on the other side gave a faint cold smile. “I’ve heard you’re one of the Emperor of Great Liang’s men. So he refused the Great Khan’s request for military aid without hesitation, then sent you like a charity gift to help out?”

Looking at the woman before him, Li Huowang’s brow furrowed further. Her attitude seemed off somehow. Did Qingqiu and Great Liang have some complicated history he didn’t know about?

“You know me, so you should also know my strength, right? Isn’t that enough?”

“Heh, I’d very much like to test that theory—just how formidable is Li Huowang, as others claim?” With those words, the woman stood up. “Xiao Nü, Bian Zhen, trained in the left path. Please enlighten me.”

“The left path?” Li Huowang studied the woman before him, his right hand slowly gripping the spine sword.

Just as the atmosphere began to grow tense, Li Huowang saw the woman’s body gradually melt and reform, eventually taking on the tall form of Xuan Pin.

“Xuan Pin, what do you mean? Are you just playing games with me at a time like this?”

With a delicate finger, Xuan Pin lightly pointed at Li Huowang’s forehead, inserting it slightly, then withdrew it just as casually. His forehead remained untouched.

“I wasn’t here. I just received word that you had arrived, so I came as quickly as possible. Bian Zhen, no need to test him. I already know Li Huowang’s capabilities.”

Bian Zhen stepped out of the Astronomical Bureau’s body, took a moment to inspect Li Huowang once more, and then turned on her heel, leaving gracefully.

Once they were alone, Li Huowang said immediately, “Fine, since we’re all old acquaintances, let’s cut the chatter. How is the overall battlefield situation? How has the Sect of the Law expanded?”

Only by understanding everything that had happened here could Li Huowang determine how best to improve their chances of victory.

However, instead of answering, Xuan Pin posed another question. “You brought the Holy Maiden of the White Lotus along with you this time? Why?”

“Do I really need to ask that? The Sect of the Law has expanded so rapidly because of the people’s faith in Yu’er Shen, right?”

“They act in one way, so we must act in the opposite. We should believe in the Old Mother Without Birth rather than Yu’er Shen. At least now, the Old Mother Without Birth is on our side.”

Xuan Pin nodded silently. “Indeed. But you must think several steps ahead. You need to find multiple sects to shake the foundation of the Sect of the Law, avoiding the danger of driving away the tiger only to invite the wolf, which will bring endless consequences.”

“In fact, we’ve already discussed with other sects and mountain monasteries. Many disciples have gone down from the mountains and entered Shu to begin operations.”

“I don’t manage that. I need to know the current situation in Shu.”

“The situation is dire. Though the Shu army is fighting steadily, it’s close to collapse. Yesterday at noon, the dragon vein of Shu was severed,” Xuan Pin said. The atmosphere in the room instantly became heavy.

Though Shu was not large, Li Huowang knew the consequences of a severed dragon vein. Soon, the entire state might become a hell on earth.

“Didn’t you say Shu was fighting the Sect of the Law to the death? How could the dragon vein be severed so quickly? What exactly happened?”

“I don’t know. We spoke with Shu’s Astronomical Bureau the day before, and the dragon vein was still intact, surrounded by a celestial net. At that time, the Sect of the Law hadn’t even reached the capital.”

“How could such a drastic change occur in just one day? I cannot calculate it. There must be a great cause behind it.”

Li Huowang frowned deeply, pacing inside the room, calculating how he could best assist.

Recalling Gao Zhijian’s experience, Li Huowang said, “Even if the dragon vein is severed, it can be reconnected. Can we try to reconnect the dragon vein of Shu?”

“Of course, the dragon vein can be reconnected. But where do we find the unborn child? More importantly, the dragon vein is now in the hands of the Sect of the Law. How do we reclaim it?”

Just as he said that, the Celestial Bureau chief paused briefly and corrected himself. “Just now, news came from Zhengbo Bridge in Shu—the Sect of the Law is now using Shu’s dragon vein.”

Li Huowang frowned tightly, gritting his teeth as he pondered the issue. He knew well the power of the dragon vein. This would only worsen Shu’s situation.

After thinking carefully, Li Huowang looked up at Xuan Pin and said, “I’ll go to Shu now. I’ll handle the dragon vein issue. You find the unborn child, right? Forget about everything else for now—let’s just reconnect the dragon vein first!”

“It’s hard to find. Royal bloodlines across nations are limited. And one emperor cannot serve two purposes. Unless you can find another royal from Qi.”

“So if it’s hard to find, we won’t look for it? What if we switch roles? You deal with the dragon vein?”

Saying that, Li Huowang pulled out a map from his sleeve and spread it on the table. “Look closely. If Shu falls, plus Nanping, the territory controlled by the Sect of the Law will be larger than Great Liang!”

Xuan Pin looked at the map on the table and nodded thoughtfully. “Fine. Go reconnect the dragon vein of Shu. I’ll find the unborn child. Even if we can’t find a royal, keeping them from using the dragon vein is good enough.”

“Alright. Tell me the approximate location of the dragon vein. I’ll set off immediately!”

As soon as Li Huowang finished speaking, Shangguan Yuting emerged from beneath Xuan Pin’s wide red robe and gave Li Huowang a shy bow.

“She will tell you the general location of the dragon vein. I will also order those remaining in Shu to assist you as much as possible.”

“Fine, it’s settled then.” After saying that, Li Huowang turned to leave the dimly lit inner city.

But before he took a few steps, Xuan Pin’s voice made him pause slightly. “Be careful. The Sect of the Law will surely guard the dragon vein tightly. There are probably many people nearby. And…”

“And what? Speak clearly. Why do you always leave things half-said?” Li Huowang’s tone was impatient.

“And... I have a feeling something is fishy about the loss of Shu’s dragon vein. Although we overlooked it earlier due to the Forgetful Daoist’s dice, the other celestial bureaus aren’t idle. The strength of the Sect of the Law’s followers has risen too quickly.”

“What do you mean by that?” Li Huowang’s brow furrowed to its tightest.

“I suspect what we’re dealing with isn’t just Yu’er Shen. There’s another, or possibly two others, secretly aiding the Sect of the Law.”

(End of Chapter)