Chapter 380: Storyteller

"Does this mean Beifeng is different from ordinary Zuo Wang Dao followers? Is my inability to control illusions because I can't harness this Innate Qi? And is Beifeng immune to illusions because he can fully master the Innate Qi within his body?"

Li Huowang carefully analyzed everything Sima Lan said.

However, as he thought about it, Li Huowang calmed down again. According to Sima Lan, all of this information came from the deceased Grand Master.

Could it be possible that the Grand Master was mistaken? Having experienced so much on his journey, he found the words of people in this world to be highly unreliable.

Li Huowang hesitated for a moment and didn't voice his doubts. Directly questioning the authority of the highest-ranking Mohist would likely cause the other party to become hostile on the spot.

"You want to deal with Beifeng? What did he do to you?" Sima Lan seemed to sense Li Huowang had a story and asked directly.

Hearing this, Li Huowang's expression turned grim. He quickly clenched his fists and said in a low voice, "I'm not just going after Beifeng! I hate all Zuo Wang Dao followers to the core! Back then, Zuo Wang Dao disguised themselves as the six grand elders within the Aojing Cult..."

After listening to Li Huowang's account, Sima Lan nodded knowingly, showing no surprise, as if he had witnessed such things many times before.

"Don't be too obsessed with revenge. Approaching those deceivers with such an obsession makes you easy prey for them to exploit."

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Sima. I understand."

"Then take your time looking around. If there's anything you don't understand, find Nangong, who was here just now. I have matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving first," Sima Lan said, standing up to depart.

"However, if you want to confront the Zuo Wang Dao now, you probably won't find them. The Storyteller killed Fa Cai, so they're now entangled in a conflict and likely won't appear anywhere else."

The other party's casual remark immediately made Li Huowang's heart tense. The Storyteller, Zhuge Yuan?

Li Huowang immediately rushed forward, quickly blocking his path, and asked with a very tense expression, "Brother Sima, is this really true?"

"Of course. The Storyteller killed a San Yuan, so the other Zuo Wang Dao followers will naturally fight to the death. Just the day before yesterday, some common folk saw the Storyteller clashing with the Zuo Wang Dao."

"For this kind of thing, you just need to relax and watch the show. Isn't it wonderful to have someone avenge you?"

Once Sima Lan disappeared behind the screen, Li Huowang immediately turned to look at the eunuch kneeling there.

"Help me search the Siku repository. I need all records regarding Zhuge Yuan and the Storyteller. Hurry!"

The eunuch quickly returned, but unexpectedly, unlike the stacks of documents from the previous two times, this time there was only a thin booklet.

"Is this the only record about Zhuge Yuan?" Li Huowang asked, greatly surprised.

"To answer your question, my lord, there are more records in the Liuku repository, but only a General Class C can access them. You are not yet at that rank."

Hearing this, Li Huowang couldn't help but inwardly grumble: "I really don't understand why the Directorate of Celestial Observation does this, hiding everything. Could knowing some things truly change the sky itself?"

Li Huowang didn't bother pondering it further. He focused his mind and began reading the book in his hand.

The information in the book didn't differ much from what Li Huowang already knew, but it offered a few details.

According to the Directorate of Celestial Observation's records, Storytellers have always existed, but they haven't all been named Zhuge Yuan.

Every time they appeared, the world would undergo significant changes, and Storytellers were elusive, their whereabouts impossible to pinpoint.

Logically, the Directorate of Celestial Observation should have been indifferent to Storytellers, as their existence posed no threat to the stability of the Great Liang Kingdom.

However, that wasn't the case. "'The Storyteller Zhuge Yuan, for spreading heretical ideas and misleading the public, shall have his three generations exterminated.' This was the exact wording of the imperial decree issued by the Great Liang Emperor."

If they didn't encounter one, it was fine, but if they did, the Directorate of Celestial Observation's personnel were required to find a way to execute them.

Li Huowang was certain that the Directorate of Celestial Observation had much more information about Zhuge Yuan that they hadn't shared with him.

For example, his personality. Was he truly a benevolent and charitable person? What was his purpose for traveling and telling stories? And what was his objective when he previously seized the Heart of Turbidity?

Li Huowang pondered, silently mulling over these questions.

After a long while, Li Huowang pressed his hand against his stomach, sensing the presence of the spindle through his skin.

He had helped him; if it weren't for that item, he might have found himself in serious trouble during his previous encounter.

"And besides..."

"'Until we meet again, Er Jiu. I am Zhuge Yuan. If you encounter trouble you can't resolve, remember to come to Almond Island in the West Sea to find me. Although my abilities are limited, I will do my best to help you if I can.'"

These were Zhuge Yuan's original words. Li Huowang knew he couldn't completely trust others, but what if? What if he really could help him?

After much deliberation, Li Huowang shook his head, stood up, and walked out past the screen.

In truth, whether he believed it or not, both choices were much the same. Since the Zuo Wang Dao was currently engaged with him, and he needed to confirm Beifeng's location, he would ultimately have to seek him out.

"If this is your first time here, my lord, your humble servant will escort you."

"Do you have a map of Great Liang? Give me one, the more detailed, the better."

Led by the eunuch, Li Huowang arrived outside the Directorate of Celestial Observation. He stared at the colossal armillary sphere in the distance and slowly exhaled.

On the map in his hand, the West Sea was already marked — the location Zhuge Yuan had told him about.

To get there, he would need to traverse half of the Jiangnan Province.

Li Huowang had initially intended to leave that very day, but by the time he hastily purchased some rations and other essentials for the journey, dusk had already fallen.

Sitting at a roadside stall, Li Huowang silently watched the distant sun gradually set behind the buildings of Shangjing City.

"I'll get a good night's rest today and depart tomorrow. Regardless of Zhuge Yuan's attitude towards me, a fierce battle surely awaits."

"Customer, here's your plain noodles, and your two meat buns. Your vinegar dish is placed here."

Li Huowang pushed the vinegar dish further away. Having buns for dinner was one thing, but to serve a vinegar dish with them? This world truly was mad.

"Woof... woof..." Mantou, smelling the aroma of the buns, kept nudging Li Huowang's pant leg with its large black nose.

After scooping a few noodles and small pieces of bun skin for it, Li Huowang ignored it. Its excess fat needed to be reduced.

At this moment, the noodle stall owner wiped his hands on his apron and said cheerfully, "Customers, eat slowly. Although the sun has set, there's no rush. Today is Minor New Year, and there's no curfew in Shangjing City."

Li Huowang, slurping his noodles, paused his chopsticks for a moment before continuing to eat heartily. "Another year has passed without me even realizing it..."

That evening, Li Huowang lay in bed, listening to the commotion outside. It sounded as if there was some activity in the small alleys of Shangjing.

However, he had no interest in it whatsoever. His mind was entirely preoccupied with the dangers he might face, and he couldn't help but feel anxious.

He knew the path ahead was perilous, but improving his strength in a short amount of time seemed impossible.

He couldn't possibly use Heart Essence to forge some extraordinarily powerful magical artifact. Was he supposed to refine himself?

"Hmm?"