Chapter 145: Drunk

Fueled by alcohol, Zhao Qin rambled on to Li Huowang, seemingly trying to dissuade him from becoming an escort.

However, Li Huowang's attention had already drifted. He was drawn to a term Zhao Qin had just mentioned.

"Head Escort Zhao, what is this 'Jiantian Directorate' you just spoke of?"

Although Li Huowang had been in this place for several months, this was the first time he had heard of such matters. This was a good chance to learn more about them.

"Oh, the Jiantian Directorate. I heard it's full of highly skilled individuals revered by the Emperor. If strange and evil events occur somewhere that constables and soldiers can't resolve, they're the ones who go and fix it."

Li Huowang wasn't surprised. Since the Siqi imperial court had managed to maintain stability, there had to be an entity dedicated to handling supernatural disturbances. He just wondered if these people were specially trained within the palace or recruited from outside.

Seeing Li Huowang remain silent, Zhao Qin continued, "But, that's what they say. Honestly, sometimes they aren't very reliable. For instance, four years ago, somehow, everyone in a certain town was massacred. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Tens of thousands of people, just vanished overnight."

As Zhao Qin spoke, he let out a deep sigh, completely oblivious to Li Huowang's fingers, which were gripping his wine cup so tightly they had turned white.

Wang Chengxing, who was nearby, also chimed in. "I heard about that too. It was supposedly horrific; none of the dead had their bodies intact. How could they do such a thing? Weren't they born of parents too? They're worse than animals!"

Just then, Li Huowang saw Jiang Yingzi, her expression distorted, creeping up to him. "See?! See what others are saying about you! How can someone like you still be alive?! Why don't you just die?!"

Li Huowang's chest began to heave. No one else noticed, but Bai Lingmiao sensed Li Huowang's unusual state. She quietly swapped seats with Xiao Man and covered Li Huowang's trembling hands with her own. "Senior Brother Li, are you alright?"

Li Huowang took a deep breath and looked at Zhao Qin with a smile. "Head Escort Zhao, let's not discuss state affairs. Such matters aren't for us common folk to worry about."

"Right, right, right! Let the important figures worry about their own affairs. Drink, drink! I'll toast Brother Li again on my wife's behalf!"

"Drink, drink!" Li Huowang picked up the wine pot and poured it directly into his mouth.

Li Huowang wasn't much of a drinker, and he certainly couldn't handle strong baijiu. That night, he had no idea when he finally succumbed to the alcohol. He just felt that the tipsy sensation was quite pleasant, allowing him to stop thinking and stop worrying.

"Li Huowang... Li Huowang!"

Hearing the voice, Li Huowang suddenly opened his eyes from his slumber and found himself staring into a pair of intensely hateful eyes – Jiang Yingzi's. Waking abruptly from a dream to see a blood-soaked girl with severed limbs right in front of him would startle anyone. But Li Huowang had long grown accustomed to it. He glanced again at Dan Yangzi, who was floating on the ceiling, then propped himself up on the bed with both hands.

Dressed in only his undergarments, he had just gotten out of bed when he immediately sat back down, clutching his head with a pained expression. "Looks like I really can't drink..." Li Huowang was experiencing the misery of a hangover for the first time, though it might also have been exacerbated by his enhanced perception.

With a creak, the door was pushed open from outside, and Bai Lingmiao entered, carrying a copper basin with both hands. Seeing Li Huowang sitting on the edge of the bed, clutching his head with a pained expression, she quickly walked over and placed the copper basin on the wooden stand. With a splash, she wrung out a cloth and then approached, supporting the back of Li Huowang's head with one hand while gently wiping his face with the other.

As she wiped his neck, Li Huowang looked at her close face and asked, "Where are we?"

"We're still at the escort agency. Head Escort Zhao told me not to rush off when you woke up; he's already sent someone to look for sword manuals."

Li Huowang glanced at the two longswords placed next to his red Daoist robe and nodded knowingly. Bai Lingmiao seemed to telepathically know what Li Huowang was thinking. She walked over and placed a longsword in Li Huowang's hand.

This was the first time Li Huowang had carefully examined the sword since acquiring it. The sword was three chi and two cun long, with a width of half a finger. Its overall tone was dark, and a dark purple ribbon, a little over an inch long, fluttered from its black hilt. The hilt was shaped like a ferocious mythical beast with wide-open fangs. Touching it gave one the sensation of cutting one's fingers. Purely from its appearance, the sword seemed quite ordinary, bearing no resemblance to a divine weapon or an enchanted blade.

After some thought, Li Huowang decided not to draw the sword and test it. Aside from the commotion it might cause, the sensation of holding it was simply unsettling. For some reason, it gave him a sense of unease, similar to "The Grand Record."

"Even though the Buddhist nun said this sword poses no threat to me, I think it's best to keep it sheathed."

"Senior Brother Li, can you walk? If not, I can bring breakfast to your room."

"No need. I'll be fine after a bit of rest. Now that Dan Yangzi isn't rushing us, we can take our time."

As soon as the words left his mouth, an eerie triple laughter echoed from the ceiling. Li Huowang looked up and saw his master's three heads all staring at him, their eyes full of mockery.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Li... Senior Brother Li?" Bai Lingmiao glanced at the empty ceiling, then looked at Li Huowang, a hint of unease stirring within her.

"It's nothing. Let's go down and eat." Li Huowang placed his right hand on her shoulder and staggered towards the door.

Once he was outside, he saw that the day had fully dawned. The entire escort agency, from the front to the back courtyard, was bustling with activity. Zhao Qin had clearly given instructions, as everyone Li Huowang encountered on the way greeted him with great respect.

Li Huowang's gaze drifted past a wooden pillar on his right, toward the lively training ground in the distance. He saw Gouwa, Gao Zhijian, Chun Xiaoman, and Sun Baolu gesturing or sparring with some of the escort agents.

"What are they doing?" Li Huowang asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"Earlier, Gouwa suggested they teach him a few things. Then everyone else went to join in, and that's how it became this."

"Heh, they certainly know how to seize an opportunity. Oh, by the way, you should go to the inn later and speak with Manager Lu. If he doesn't see us, he might think we've left them behind."

"Understood."

Li Huowang looked up at Dan Yangzi, then thought for a moment and asked, "There's no trouble with the immortals, is there?"

Bai Lingmiao's eyes flickered. "No, why do you ask, Senior Brother Li?"

"Good, if there isn't. If there is, remember to tell me. Remember, you are not Li Zhi. If something really happens, I'll figure out how to deal with it."

"Okay."

The surroundings grew quiet. The two of them slowly walked toward the back kitchen, savoring the rare tranquility. They had been constantly on the road lately, so this leisure was a rare treat.

Bai Lingmiao leaned gently into Li Huowang's embrace, a sweet feeling blossoming in her heart. "If anything happens, please don't hide it from me. No matter how difficult, we can figure it out together. After all, now... I only have you left."

"Mmm..."