Chapter 869: Liar

Chapter 869: The Swindler

In the vast hall, a scholar stood before Li Huowang, bowing deeply in reverence. "I am Liu Yifang of Minglun Hall, honored to meet the immortal master. Yesterday, the people of Tianchen secretly contacted my subordinates. They claim that Tianchen has no conflict with Great Qi."

"As long as Great Qi merely watches from the sidelines, no matter how much grain the immortal master sends, Tianchen will always provide three times that amount."

A ploy, and an open, brazen stratagem at that.

Previously, Gao Zhijian had wanted Great Qi to act as a proxy, but if Great Qi became a tool of Tianchen instead, the trouble would be immense.

"Are they only trying to sow discord among you?" Li Huowang's voice was cold.

Seeing that Li Huowang had spoken, Liu Yifang quickly explained, "That should be the case. If other colleagues learn of this, they would certainly report it too."

"No," Li Huowang suddenly erupted, his single hand slamming down so forcefully that the stone seat cracked open.

"And me!"

As Li Huowang raised his head, he saw the Grand Master of the Mohists approaching. "Fear not, Master, our ancestors' laws—Mohism keeps its word!"

Li Huowang's expression remained indifferent, devoid of joy or sorrow, creating a heavy pressure for all others in the hall.

Beside him, Chan Du considered for a moment before speaking, "Master Li, perhaps it is not as you think. Perhaps Tianchen did not attempt to corrupt everyone. Many may have been unaware. At least, no one from Zhengde Temple had contact with Tianchen."

"It's fine, I'm not angry."

After a long pause, Li Huowang spoke again, "I was just thinking about how to deal with their tactics this time."

"You two—should anyone contact you again, agree to their demands and consent to Tianchen's scheme."

"What?!" Everyone present thought they had misunderstood.

"You two will infiltrate them, negotiate with Tianchen, discuss any route or arrangement. But there's one condition: make them deliver grain first."

Liu Yifang hesitated, looking at Li Huowang, "And once the grain arrives..."

"When the grain is here, what do we fear? We strike immediately. Best yet, capture their Heart Pillar!"

It was better not to expose them directly; instead, play along with their game.

Li Huowang didn't know whether, besides the Heart Pillar, there were other ways to cross between worlds.

But resolving the Heart Pillar first couldn't be wrong. At least, with the spine of the Heart Pillar, he could go to Tianchen, no longer remaining in such a passive position.

Only then did the others in the hall finally understand what Li Huowang intended, and they exhaled in relief.

"But this violates the rules," the Grand Master of the Mohists frowned, voicing his dissatisfaction.

"Don't you know that war favors deception? Besides, two sets of rules now conflict. Which one matters more?"

Seeing the Grand Master fall silent, Li Huowang waved his hand dismissively. "Enough. Go now. Wait until they contact you again."

"Yes!" As the two departed, the great hall grew eerily empty and cold.

"I'm tired. I'll rest for a bit." Li Huowang stood up and walked toward the back.

Chan Du hurriedly followed. "Master Li, regarding the dragon vein, I have an idea."

"Don’t tell me. I’ve said it already—I care only about eating well. The dragon vein of Great Qi is your problem, not mine!"

Watching Li Huowang’s figure fade into the distance, Chan Du sighed softly, continuing to turn his prayer beads. Ah, his heart has grown cold. If not for his grudge against Tianchen, he might have returned to the Northern Liang long ago.

Yet, putting himself in their shoes, Chan Du could understand. After all, Li Huowang had helped wholeheartedly, only to be betrayed by the very people he aided. It was truly disheartening.

"No, I must find a way to keep this Heart Pillar of calamity."

Though Great Qi had little time left, time still passed slowly. Half a month later, Tianchen’s spies approached Liu Yifang again.

"Come quickly." A shadow slithered from beneath the trees and attached itself to Liu Yifang's shadow.

Without a word, Liu Yifang silently followed the shadow’s guidance, walking outside the city.

With the grain supply, Youdu now had more than one city, with four smaller towns built around it to house refugees fleeing from elsewhere.

So leaving Youdu wasn’t enough. They continued past the city walls, deep into the wilderness, where they finally stopped.

The grass was tall, reaching his waist, and scattered low trees dotted the landscape. Liu Yifang walked through the grass toward a valley.

The valley was dim, shrouded in shadow. From its depths came a faint, muffled melody.

Liu Yifang recognized the others from the Celestial Observing Bureau, though they wore face coverings. He could still identify them.

As they ventured deeper, more people appeared, and the sounds grew clearer.

It was a pleasant stringed instrument, accompanied by the babbling of streams, the chirping of birds, the galloping of horses, and the bleating of sheep—all played on the same instrument.

At the deepest part of the valley, Liu Yifang discovered the source of the music.

A woman with long hair reaching her waist, wearing a translucent veil, sat gracefully, holding a peculiar black instrument with a slender neck and gourd-shaped body.

Even more unusual were her two fingers wrapped in fine threads, which passed through a circular stool and tied to two small wooden sheep.

As she plucked the strings, the wooden sheep moved rhythmically, pulled by the threads.

These two sheep danced in sync with the music, performing strange and eerie movements as if in worship.

Liu Yifang had traveled far and wide, but had never seen such an instrument.

As the music accelerated, so did the wooden sheep, and blood began seeping from their bodies.

In the storm of sound, the two wooden sheep crashed together, entwining, forming a grotesque twisted tree of blood upon the stool.

"Have we gathered everyone?" Her voice was surprisingly melodious, like a clear spring, soothing the soul.

Liu Yifang looked around and counted twelve people.

"Though few in number, each of you are heroes who care for Great Qi."

"Great Qi belongs to the people of Great Qi, not to be seized by others. Not to risk the lives of Great Qi’s people as a gamble."

"The Emperor’s decree states: as long as the people of Great Qi do not act, Tianchen will not harm them."

Hearing this, Liu Yifang couldn’t hold back, "Miss, does Tianchen really offer three times the grain?"

"Yes." As she plucked a fine string, a mountain beside them opened like a door, revealing a flood of white rice like ocean waves.

All were trembling before the mountain of rice.

With so much grain, Great Qi truly lived again!

"Wait!" A thunderous shout echoed.

Everyone turned to look at Liu Yifang. He spread his hands, letting the rice spill from his fingers.

Then, tearing off his mask, Li Huowang’s furious face appeared before them all. "You bastards, swindlers!"