Chapter 351: Meeting Up

Li Huowang listened silently as Ji Xiang rambled on. If the person in question had merely fabricated historical records, it wouldn't have terrified Ji Xiang so much. There had to be another reason.

"He's very easy to recognize," Ji Xiang continued, his eyes filled with apprehension. "He carries a fan inscribed with four characters: 'Heaven gave me talent.' If you ever meet him, remember to stay as far away as possible. He's not someone to be trifled with."

Li Huowang pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Lord Ji Xiang, that day after we left the Buddha Bone Temple, you asked me about him in a specific way. Is it because Zhuge Yuan's abilities are very unusual?"

"Hmm," Ji Xiang nodded. "This person can alter destiny, though I don't know what method he uses."

"Alter destiny?"

"He doesn't change human lives; he changes the will of Heaven," Ji Xiang explained. "He possesses an ancient almanac. Whatever he declares auspicious will certainly come to pass, and whatever he declares inauspicious will invariably bring misfortune to anyone who attempts it."

"His words become reality?!" Li Huowang was utterly stunned. He had seen a great deal during his travels, but this kind of supernatural ability was completely new to him.

If such a person held goodwill towards him, it would be like having an incredibly powerful patron. But what if they harbored ill intentions...?

After pondering for a moment, Li Huowang asked again, "Lord Ji Xiang, does this person use this ability more for good or for ill?"

"How would I know?" Ji Xiang retorted. "All I know is that whenever he shows up, nothing good ever happens! He's truly a jinx."

Having said this, Ji Xiang, feeling a bit parched, picked up a teacup and took a sip.

"Alright, I've told you this much, which is already an exception," Ji Xiang stated. "Do a good job; you're a promising young man. If you perform well this time, I'll make sure to help advance your position within the department when I return."

"Thank you, Lord Ji Xiang," Li Huowang said, then turned and left. His expression remained solemn as he looked down at the wrapped spindle.

Although he had gained some information about Zhuge Yuan from Ji Xiang, he still couldn't tell if the other party's goodwill towards him was genuine or not.

If it were true, it defied logic. But if it were false, that was even more illogical! What was this person's true motive for acting this way?

Simply asking wouldn't suffice. He needed to figure out the spindle first, to understand what it truly was.

However, that matter could wait. The most important task was to help Ji Xiang find the Heart Turbidity in exchange for information about Beifeng.

In the humble study, not long after Li Huowang's departure, an old woman with graying hair emerged from behind a nearby screen.

Although her face was covered in wrinkles, one could tell from her features that she must have been beautiful in her youth.

The old woman asked Ji Xiang with some concern, "My Lord, is this person reliable?"

"Alas, I can't say for sure," Ji Xiang sighed. "This person came to Daliang from a distant place; heaven knows where his roots are. Reliable or not, we have to use him. We absolutely cannot let the capital find out that I've botched things up!"

The old woman, looking worried, walked over to Ji Xiang and gently held his bejeweled hand.

"Oh, My Lord," she said, "if it's truly too much, why don't we retire? What's the point of living a few more decades if we're constantly consumed by fear?"

"Alas, that's easier said than done. It's not that simple," Ji Xiang sighed.

With a bitter expression, Ji Xiang pulled a red handkerchief from his left sleeve and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"This matter comes from a very high authority," he explained. "It's the Grand Preceptor's business, and it might even have the Emperor's implicit approval. For a small official like me to get tangled in such a major affair, merely escaping unscathed would be a tremendous blessing."

The old woman gently embraced Ji Xiang, her voice tinged with a plea. "Brother," she said, "once this is over, let's go back. Let's return to Liupan and grow old together under the mulberry tree where we used to play as children."

"When we left the village, you promised me a comfortable life," she continued, "but truly, no matter where we are, as long as I'm with you, I am the happiest."

Ji Xiang gently patted the old woman's back with his red handkerchief but said nothing.

Ji Xiang seemed very rushed. He had instructed them to meet at the Silver Tomb City Gate at the fifth watch, well before dawn, the next day.

Therefore, before dawn, Li Huowang woke up very early. He first went to the stable, pulled back the carriage curtain, cut a piece of meat from the writhing tentacled monster inside, wrapped it in cloth, and set it aside for the journey.

After tossing all the meat into the carriage, Li Huowang took a wooden board and began nailing it in place.

He didn't know how long this trip would take, so to be safe, it was better to secure everything thoroughly.

Before long, under Li Huowang's hammering, the carriage was transformed into a large coffin.

After finishing all this, he placed his luggage on the horse's back, mounted his horse, and rode towards the city gate.

"Woof woof!" Mantou, as expected, followed him.

"Stay put and guard the carriage!" Li Huowang warned. "If I hear that you've gone out fighting with other dogs again when I return, I'll stew you in a pot!"

In the early morning, apart from a few vendors preparing their stalls, there were hardly any people on the streets. Li Huowang quickly reached the city gate.

Hong Da and Tuoba Danqing were there, as expected, but to Li Huowang's surprise, there were two new faces beside them.

Including Ji Xiang and himself, there were a total of six people, which clearly indicated the other party's determined attitude.

The two newcomers were the young man from the Moon Gate sect, surnamed Liu, and a shaman.

Li Huowang carefully observed the drum at his waist, certain it was a shaman's drum, identical to the one Li Zhi had once carried.

However, compared to Li Zhi, who lived like a beggar, this person was distinctly different.

Dressed in black fur, with a broad, fleshy face, his face also bore two diagonal black knife scars. A machete would have suited him better than the leather drum he carried.

After greeting the others, Li Huowang looked at the scar-faced man. "Are you a shaman? Where's your spirit guide?"

The scar-faced man, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, glared and snapped, "Who the hell are you? How dare you meddle in my business?"

When he saw Li Huowang had drawn his sword half an inch from its sheath, Liu Zongyuan, the Moon Gate disciple, quickly stepped in front of Li Huowang to mediate.

"Hey, hey, hey~ Brother Ear," Liu Zongyuan pleaded, "it's not worth it, truly not. How about you do it for my sake?"

Li Huowang looked at Liu Zongyuan in front of him, and with a single downward gesture of his hand, the malevolent aura around him instantly vanished.

"Come, come, let's go over there," Liu Zongyuan urged. "Don't make things difficult for Ji Xiang."

While Li Huowang might not have given face to others, for Liu Zongyuan, who had helped him once, Li Huowang decided not to stoop to that man's level.

Looking at the wooden mask on Liu Zongyuan's face, Li Huowang asked him, "Brother Liu, how have you been lately?"

"Still the same," Liu Zongyuan replied. "We should still focus on helping Ji Xiang overcome this difficulty. If he's not well, neither will we be."

This was indeed true. They were all in the same boat now; if Ji Xiang faced repercussions, then the promises he had made to Li Huowang would come to nothing.

"What's that person's background?" Li Huowang asked. "Why would Ji Xiang seek out another shaman? From what I know, shamans aren't particularly capable."

"Alas, what you're saying is a bit presumptuous," Liu Zongyuan replied. "There are masters in every trade; there are formidable shamans too."