Chapter 885: Change

Chapter 885: Change

Li Sui clutched paper money and golden ingots, trailing behind Li Huowang as he approached the crossroads. There, he watched him draw two circles on the ground with his spine sword, casual and effortless.

Then, Li Huowang tossed the paper money into the circles. No need for a match—immediately, the yellow paper within the rings burst into flame.

Li Sui didn’t ask who the offerings were for. She simply stood silently by, helping. Then she heard her father chuckle softly.

“Heheh, Sui Sui, what if there really was the Underworld? If there were such a place, then these two kinds of people wouldn’t just die and be done with it—death would not erase their debts.”

Li Huowang stared at the flames dancing in the circles, red flickers reflecting in his eyes.

“If there were an Underworld, then the King of Hell would judge each ghost based on all they had done in life. Those utterly wicked would be sent to the Eighteen Levels of Hell, where demons would gouge out their eyes, cut out their tongues, and fry them in oil.”

“Those who did good deeds would be rewarded according to their merits, reborn into wealthy families to enjoy long lives, free from illness or disaster.”

Li Sui raised one of her tentacles, scooping up a handful of golden ingots and tossing them into the fire. She watched them twist and blacken in the flames.

“Father, do you really want every world to be like that?”

Li Huowang picked up sheet after sheet of yellow paper and threw them into the circles, watching them burn. “Don’t you think such a world would be far better than this completely mad one we live in now?”

As soon as the words left his lips, a gust of wind swept through, lifting the ashes from the burning paper into the air, spinning them rapidly in a vortex.

The rift was slashed open once more by the mud-caked spine sword. Li Huowang dodged swiftly, slipping through the gap.

Just as he returned to Dachi, a sudden wave of non-force pressure hit him so hard he could barely breathe. It was overwhelming.

Looking up, Li Huowang saw a towering statue of himself, several stories high, standing in the distance.

The massive stone figure was bound with ropes, being hoisted upright by laborers shouting in unison.

Watching the common folk bowing and shouting toward the statue, Li Huowang instantly understood where this non-force came from.

Few in Dachi dared to do such things. Most likely, it was the will of Chan Du. But Li Huowang didn’t intend to stop it.

With the Tianchen Kingdom about to attack, he needed non-force—more was better.

Whether it was the tricks of the Way of Forgetfulness or the needs of Wang Tianbao Hao, both required non-force.

“Master Immortal, you’re back,” a soldier from the military camp hurried forward to salute respectfully.

“Summon Chan Du, the Minister of Celestial Observations, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Dachi military. Go quickly.”

“Master Li, I’m here,” came an aged voice from behind him.

Li Huowang turned around and saw Chan Du sitting cross-legged on a straw mat, slowly turning prayer beads in his hands.

“You still have time to chant sutras? The Tianchen Kingdom is attacking in three days,” Li Huowang walked toward him. By the time the Minister of Celestial Observations, Liang Yuxuan, and the military commander, Chen Yurong, arrived, Li Huowang had already explained everything concisely.

“We’ve finally gotten this information. We must find a way to break this deadlock. How many people can Dachi still field?”

The faces of the three men darkened. Fighting the unstoppable army had cost Dachi most of its newly gathered troops.

“Send as many as possible. This is a matter of life and death for Dachi. Chan Du, isn’t there a Buddha in Zhengde Temple? Use them all.”

Chan Du’s hand trembled slightly as he held the Buddha’s hand. “Senior Brother Li, that is the root of Zhengde Temple. We cannot show disrespect to the Buddha.”

“If Tianchen destroys Dachi, or if Dachi fails to secure the dragon vein, Zhengde Temple will have no root either!”

Chen Yurong, standing nearby, offered his advice. “Master Immortal, since this is a surprise attack, perhaps we can strike with intent while they are unprepared. We may not need so many.”

Li Huowang thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No. Even if the news is true, from what I know of him, he won’t hesitate to betray us and sell our movements to Tianchen.”

“To deal with Tianchen, there’s no room for trickery. We must have the strength to fight head-on, or we’ll never stand a chance.”

After a moment of contemplation, Chan Du said, “Master Li, Dachi belongs to you. We will give our all. But you must consider carefully—Dachi has only this much left. If we waste it all here, it will be meat on someone else’s plate.”

“If we can’t win, don’t fight recklessly. Our main goal is for me to slip away into Tianchen and figure out what’s really going on. Knowing your enemy and yourself ensures victory in battle.”

After all, if the Great Li Dynasty truly sent help, it wouldn’t come lightly—it would require thorough reconnaissance.

“But Master Li, how will you return?” asked someone.

Li Huowang patted his back, where the spine sword was strapped. “I have this. I can return anytime.”

“But that sword—” Chan Du began, but was interrupted.

“That’s right. You can indeed return using that sword.”

Li Huowang looked toward the voice and saw Xuan Pin. He walked over and pinched the robe of the man before him—only to discover it was real.

“What are you doing here? Get back. It’s dangerous,” Li Huowang didn’t want his daughter to risk her life with him.

“I know it’s dangerous. That’s why I came to help you. I won’t rest easy knowing you’re going alone to Tianchen.”

“No. Go back. Be good.”

“What does ‘be good’ mean?”

Before Li Huowang could answer, a flurry of tentacles shot out from beneath the red robe, rushing into his throat.

Just as Li Huowang pulled his robe open and reached for a dagger to slit his own belly, one of the tentacles emerged from his navel, wrapping around his wrist.

“Father, I’m going to Tianchen not just for you—it concerns the entire Great Li Dynasty. Don’t forget—I am of the Celestial Observing Bureau.”

“And I can actually help you. Stop shouldering everything alone.”

Seeing Li Huowang’s grip loosen, Li Sui released his wrist, patting his hand gently before retracting her tentacles.

“I just don’t want you to come with me.”

“Father, don’t treat your life so lightly. If you die, I’ll be heartbroken.” Li Sui extended a tentacle to touch Li Huowang’s beating heart.

Feeling the familiar presence in his body, Li Huowang recalled Xuan Pin’s strength and finally nodded in agreement.

He had decided: with Sui Sui by his side, this mission would be reconnaissance only—he wouldn’t get entangled with Tianchen.

Just as Li Huowang bent down to pick up Li Sui’s red robe, he noticed the three men from Dachi standing frozen in place.

“What are you staring at? Move!”

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