Chapter 978: Questioning

Chapter 978: Interrogation

As Zhao Shuangdian and Qing Wanglai stood face to face, their respective followers gathered behind their leaders, and the atmosphere in the study grew sharp and hostile.

Yi Donglai, an outsider to this circle, watched the scene with a hesitant expression, seemingly trying to decipher the true weight of the confrontation.

Qing Wanglai suddenly chuckled, looking at Zhao Shuangdian as he said, "I have my secrets, and I have the right to keep them from you. I suggest we set this matter aside. After all, no matter who dies, it only harms our upcoming struggle; there is no benefit in it."

"Zhao Shuangdian, do not forget our previous cooperation. Do not let this trivial matter, for which you have no evidence, derail our greater cause. Wouldn't you agree?"

Zhao Shuangdian did not speak immediately, standing still as if weighing something in her heart.

Before she could respond, Li Huowang stepped forward. "You didn't just kill Zuo Qiuyong, did you? When the Death Siming, Qian Fu, perished, you were involved in that as well, weren't you?"

Li Huowang advanced step by step until he was right in front of Qing Wanglai, staring fixedly into his eyes. "You want the Dao of Death, too, don't you? Even if Qian Fu was on your side, you didn't hesitate to strike him down for the sake of the Dao!"

"Qing Wanglai, oh, Qing Wanglai, you truly are cold-blooded!"

"It is a pity that although Qian Fu seemed foolish, he was not truly a fool. What you didn't expect was that, just as Zhao Shuangdian arrived to help, he handed the Dao of Death to the Wusheng Laomu!" Li Huowang gripped Yang Na's hand tightly.

"Sanqing, why are you so insatiable? Why must you have everything? What exactly are you trying to do by seizing so many Daos? Whose side are you really on?"

Qing Wanglai lowered his head slightly, the reflection on his lenses obscuring his eyes. "I am naturally on our side; that is beyond doubt. But I have my own plans, and I cannot tell you."

"Why? I just want to ask why!! Is it because you control the Dao of Secrets that you must act like a riddle-monger day and night? The enemy is already at our gates, and you are still hiding things!"

"Because I do not trust you. You are a lunatic; why on earth should I tell you anything?" Qing Wanglai's words left Li Huowang frozen in place.

"Heh... you don't trust me..." Li Huowang shook his head repeatedly, slowly backing away. "Heh... you don't trust me either... I should have expected this..."

"That is correct, I do not trust you. Are you satisfied now?" Qing Wanglai asked softly, smiling at Li Huowang.

"I have my own intentions. Besides, are we not standing together now only because the situation forces us to? Is it not natural that I would withhold my plans from you?"

"Furthermore, you have already joined Zhao Shuangdian's side. Why would I need your consent for anything I do?"

Sensing Li Huowang's expression turning savage, Chen Hongyu stepped in to mediate. "Alright, alright, stop arguing. We haven't even faced the enemy yet; is this really the time for infighting?"

"Didn't we come here to treat Li Huowang? Why are we drifting further and further away from that? Let's focus on the task at hand."

At these words, everyone turned to look at Yi Donglai, who sat there with a notebook, seemingly recording everything the group said.

"What are you writing? Stop that, just finish the treatment so we can leave." As the conversation shifted back to Li Huowang's condition, a shout of "Wait!" brought everyone to a halt.

It was Li Huowang who had spoken. The man who had been shaking his head a moment ago was now staring at Qing Wanglai with an expression of extreme hatred and disgust.

"It wasn't just Zuo Qiuyong and Qian Fu! Everything you have done goes far beyond that! You have been preparing for this for a very long time! I finally understand!"

"Whatever I intend to do is my own business; it has nothing to do with you, does it, Li Huowang?" Qing Wanglai said with a smile.

"Nothing to do with me? Does it really have nothing to do with me? Then why did you change my name! Why did you steal the 'Wang' from it!"

"You weren't just targeting Zuo Qiuyong and Qian Fu; you had already targeted me long ago!" As he spoke, Li Huowang's expression grew increasingly ferocious. "And you used your Xinpan, Zhuge Yuan, to do it!! Speak! What exactly did you take from me!!"

Li Huowang was certain that a Siming's name could not be missing a character by mere coincidence. Sanqing's designs were vast, and the 'Wang' character he had stolen must represent something of vital importance!!

"Hey, don't be like this. We're all on the same side, sit down and talk it out," Wu Qi said, stepping in to mediate.

"Fifth Sister, you're still helping him? Five worlds are too many; you can't even manage one Siming's duties, can you? Sanqing has already turned Zhuge Yuan into a Buddha statue in Zhengde Temple! And you're still helping him! Do you think he hasn't been secretly tampering with your Dao?"

Thinking of Zhuge Yuan in that shrine, his brow marked with vermilion, Li Huowang felt a burning urge to tear Sanqing limb from limb.

Zhuge Yuan was his brother, yet Sanqing had treated him like a marionette, manipulating him at will!! Even after Zhuge Yuan's death, he continued to exploit his reputation as the savior of the Great Qi to seize the Dao of the Five Wisdom Tathagatas!

He had insulted Zhuge Yuan, and he had made a fool of him!

"I do not know what you are talking about. Li Huowang, your illness is worsening; you should seek treatment immediately."

Li Huowang shook his head. "No, your importance far outweighs my illness! If your affairs are not resolved, the entire White Jade Capital might be destroyed by your hand!"

"Growth, Death! Confusion! Flesh! Do you think I haven't noticed? You have been calculating from the start to steal all of our Daos! You would see us all dead if it meant getting what you want! It has been this way from the beginning! You want everything!"

Zhao Shuangdian began to calculate rapidly, the clicking sounds of her device echoing through the study.

Hearing Li Huowang's accusations, everyone in the room turned to look at Qing Wanglai, waiting for an explanation.

"I truly do not know what you are talking about. Everyone, do you really believe him over me?" Qing Wanglai adjusted his glasses.

"Everyone, do you truly think I would kill you all just for some Dao he speaks of?"

"Heh." Ba Nanxu, with her brother in tow, walked behind Li Huowang with a chuckle. "He may be a lunatic, but in my dealings with him, I've come to know him a little. I don't think his intelligence is high enough to fabricate such a complex web of lies."

Wu Qi looked at Qing Wanglai with hesitation. "Qing Wanglai, can you tell us what your plan is? Does it really have anything to do with the Dao Li Huowang mentioned? If you just say it, the misunderstanding will naturally be resolved."

Under the gaze of everyone present, Qing Wanglai pulled out two dice and began to roll them rapidly between his long, pale fingers.