Chapter 366: Carriage

Seeing everything above him, Li Huowang finally understood what ZHUGE Yuan had described as a "big problem, difficult even for him to handle."

What exactly are the Heart Corruptors? How can they shake heaven and earth? Li Huowang couldn't help but ponder this question.

He then recalled what Ji Xiang had once said: the Heart Corruptors and Heart Pures are the most troublesome. This implied that Heart Pures also possessed abilities comparable to the Heart Corruptors.

"My ability to swap places? Or the illusions around me? No, no, no." Li Huowang vigorously shook his head.

That's not right. Such abilities were completely insignificant in the face of a Heart Corruptor capable of concealing an entire sky.

As a Heart Pure, he must possess some unmanifested ability, a power within him strong enough to rival the Heart Corruptor that could hide the sky!

However, recalling the plight of the male and female Heart Corruptors, Li Huowang was momentarily stunned. Was it truly a good thing to possess such immense power?

Li Huowang didn't know. He had never encountered anything good in this world.

He didn't believe such good fortune would befall him. Perhaps the day he gained that power, he would live an even more agonizing life than the Heart Corruptors.

"Huowang, someone's falling from up there! It looks like that old eunuch!"

Hearing Bai Lingmiao's words, Li Huowang turned his head and immediately saw a few scattered black specks falling from the shattered sky, which was now becoming increasingly unstable.

Li Huowang and Bai Lingmiao found Ji Xiang among a pile of emaciated corpses. His head bleeding, he tightly clutched the male Heart Corruptor's body in his arms.

Others were found one after another. Based on the blade marks on his hands, Li Huowang realized someone was missing: Tuoba Danqing. He had been hidden away forever, whether by the male or female Heart Corruptor; he would never return.

Ji Xiang and the others gave Li Huowang the same explanation: Tuoba Danqing had been too slow while escaping and was ultimately left behind.

Although Li Huowang felt some doubt, wondering why he alone was left behind when they were all fleeing together, he nevertheless believed their story.

At the entrance of the Silver Mausoleum City inn, Li Huowang, Liu Zongyuan, and Hong Da respectfully saw Ji Xiang off on his journey back to the capital.

"This old one is leaving now. You may return. Once I reach the capital, I'll send you a reply. Don't worry, your compensation will definitely not be shortchanged this time."

"If those above dare to mistreat us, I'll be the first to make trouble for them! We risked our lives for this; not a single copper coin can be withheld!"

After these righteous words, Ji Xiang turned to look at Li Huowang, who was being supported by Bai Lingmiao. After a moment's thought, he reached into his robe, pulled out the copper coin mask, and presented it to Li Huowang with both hands.

"Erjiu, isn't this yours? We spotted it while fleeing and brought it out for you." Ji Xiang's words were incredibly warm, a stark contrast to his previous demeanor.

Li Huowang had deliberately moved away from them to perform the Scarab Ascent; logically, they shouldn't have known what he did.

However, after emerging, Ji Xiang's attitude towards Li Huowang had undergone a massive change. It couldn't be described as mere closeness; it was more like respect, tinged with a hint of fear.

Taking the opportunity to return the copper coin mask, Ji Xiang lowered his voice and said, "Don't worry, what I promised you will absolutely be done. In ten to fifteen days at most, I'll send what you need via carrier pigeon!"

"Farewell, Lord Ji Xiang!" Li Huowang took the copper coin mask and placed it on his face.

Although he already possessed the black spindle given by ZHUGE Yuan, which was far more effective, there was no harm in having an extra layer of protection.

"You saved this old one's life. I acknowledge this debt. When I retire, this position of Ji Xiang will be yours."

Li Huowang gently pushed Bai Lingmiao aside, leaned close to Ji Xiang's ear, and spoke in a very low voice, "Lord Ji Xiang, if you truly wish to repay me, please introduce me to the School of Military. I urgently need their assistance."

Restoring Bai Lingmiao to her original state was even more crucial than escaping the Heart Pure's influence. His own life or death didn't matter, but hers did. He had already let her down enough.

"Alright, alright, this old one understands," Ji Xiang said with a smile. He then pulled out a red silk scarf from his sleeve, wiped some dust from Li Huowang's Daoist robe, and turned to board his carriage.

To the sound of hooves, Ji Xiang departed in his carriage, carrying the Heart Corruptor's body. The remaining three exchanged glances. Liu Zongyuan scratched his head. "A new brothel just opened in the east of the city, how about we..."

Before he could finish, the other two turned around and left without a word.

The heavily injured Li Huowang got into a carriage, slowly making his way back to the inn where he was staying.

Lying in the soft cotton bedding, Li Huowang slowly exhaled. For the sake of the Heart Corruptor, he had endured immense suffering and hardship on this journey, but his objective was finally achieved.

Now, he just needed to wait patiently for Ji Xiang's carrier pigeon. His plan had finally taken a significant step forward.

More importantly, Ji Xiang now owed him a huge favor. If it weren't for Li Huowang, Ji Xiang would have been left behind. This favor, if used well, could prove to be of great help.

"Woof..." Mantou, who was beside him, gently rested its head on Li Huowang's elbow. It seemed to sense Li Huowang's severe injuries; its normally upright ears were pressed tightly against its head.

Two blackened fingers reached over from the side, grabbed Mantou by the scruff of its neck, and tossed it out of the carriage.

"Huowang, why don't you throw away those bamboo slips on your back? You get injured every time you use them. How can you bear it? Don't you really feel any pain?"

Bai Lingmiao picked up a soft pillow from beside her and placed it under the back of her head, gazing at the young girl's face so close to her. Li Huowang gave a bitter smile. "I'm in pain, I'm in so much pain I want to die... But Miao Miao, is anything else easier? Compared to cultivating those messy things, the *Grand Thousand Records* is at least simple."

A hint of disdain appeared on Bai Lingmiao's face. "Try it then. How will you know if you don't try? If you keep doing this, you might just die one day if things go wrong."

"Die..." Li Huowang slowly exhaled, his eyes devoid of fear. "Actually, there's nothing to be afraid of in death."

As if sensing the death wish in Li Huowang's words, Bai Lingmiao pounced like a leopard, her blackened fingers tightly gripping Li Huowang's neck, her eyes fixed on his like a wild beast.

"You want to die again!? Every time you use the Scarab Ascent, you always want to end it all! Are you even a man?! Let me tell you! You killed my entire family! You'll spend this whole life repaying me! You don't have the right to die!"

When Li Huowang nodded slightly, Bai Lingmiao leaned down and, gritting her teeth, left a bloody, jagged bite mark on his shoulder.

When Bai Lingmiao stood up, the atmosphere inside the carriage grew heavy. Mantou, who had just poked its head out the window, sensed something was wrong and immediately withdrew.

"Miao Miao, I met someone earlier. His name is Shen Tu Gang, and he's also a spirit medium."

Li Huowang then, in a gentler tone, described Shen Tu Gang's unique way of interacting with the immortals, and the atmosphere inside the carriage gradually eased.