Chapter 395: Storyteller

After listening for some time, Li Huowang finally understood the other party's meaning.

In essence, Zhuge Yuan's purpose in telling him all this was to suggest that a righteous path was available, making it unnecessary for Li Huowang to remain by his side, ambushing Beifeng, and thus avoiding danger.

"But right now, I only know I have this ability; I have no idea how to use it. I don't even have the slightest clue how to find cultivation techniques. How am I supposed to search for them?"

Seeing Li Huowang's troubled expression, Zhuge Yuan comforted him, "Brother Li, don't panic. I will also help you keep an eye out, and I will certainly inform you if I hear anything."

Observing the other party's unhurried manner, Li Huowang's heart pounded with urgency. He knew that if Zhuge Yuan didn't understand his predicament, he likely wouldn't agree.

Immediately, he rolled up his sleeve, revealing his forearm covered in scabs. He pulled out his Purple Tassel Sword and, with a strong stroke, sliced at his arm as if peeling sugarcane. The flesh, riddled with convoluted blood vessels, was exposed to Zhuge Yuan.

Within each of these large and small blood vessels, black tentacles of varying sizes writhed. Some tentacles even emerged from weaker points, swaying like maggots.

"Brother Zhuge, I also wish I could take my time, but look, I truly don't have any left. Although the Black Grand岁 can suppress my illusions, it's constantly eroding my body."

"I don't know how much time I have left, but I fear it's not much. If I keep slowly searching for those so-called cultivation techniques, the Black Grand岁 will have already taken over my body long before then!"

"Wuwuwu," Li Sui's wronged cries echoed in Li Huowang's mind. It had learned to express sadness through crying.

Although it pained him, at this moment, he had to make things clear to Zhuge Yuan. While cultivation techniques were certainly tempting, Beifeng was right in front of them, and it was impossible to give up so easily.

While comforting Li Sui in his mind, Li Huowang nervously watched Zhuge Yuan's expression.

"Furthermore, Brother Zhuge, isn't there a possibility that Beifeng is also using this type of cultivation technique?"

Zhuge Yuan seemed to find it difficult to decide, lightly fanning himself with the paper folding fan in his hand.

"Are you truly set on this? Without the Black Grand岁's suppression, Brother Li, at most you'd experience hallucinations; you wouldn't die. Why rush into this now?"

Just the thought of that scene made Li Huowang's pupils dilate and his breathing quicken. "You don't know what I do over there! I know it's an illusion, but I'd rather die than fall back into that state! I truly don't want to lose my sense of reality again..."

The bamboo house instantly fell silent. The two remained motionless, like statues. A kingfisher flew to the windowsill, gently pecked at the bamboo frame with its beak, then turned and swiftly flew away.

"Ah, since this matter is causing Brother Li such distress... very well, then. Very well. When the Sitting Forgetfulness Daoists come seeking vengeance, stay very close to me."

"Thank you, Brother Zhuge, for your help!" Li Huowang was overjoyed. Regardless, his purpose in coming to Apricot Island had been achieved!

Not only that, but he also gained a powerful external ally. Even if Beifeng was incredibly strong, Li Huowang now had more confidence.

Since the other party had a way to escape illusions, he wouldn't be content without understanding it.

Watching Li Huowang's overjoyed expression, Zhuge Yuan sighed softly in his heart. He knew that even if he didn't agree, Brother Li would likely follow secretly anyway.

Since that was the case, it was better to simply agree. It would be easier to look out for him in the open. They were all pitiful people of the 'Heart' generation; he might as well help if he could.

"Brother Li, calm down. Since you insist on accompanying me, I'll give you a heads-up on what I plan to do next, so you're not caught off guard later."

"Alright! Tell me!" Li Huowang immediately perked up. He was eager to understand why Zhuge Yuan had seized the Skysight Bureau's Heart Turbidity and what he planned to do with it.

Zhuge Yuan picked up his tea and took a small sip. "Recently, things have been a bit restless within the Eight Desolations, Brother Li. You must have sensed it, right?"

Recalling Jixiangdi's departure and the massive warships on the sea earlier, Li Huowang, though it didn't directly concern him, could still sense a storm brewing.

"Indeed. However, since it didn't concern me much, I didn't deliberately inquire about it."

"Alas~" Zhuge Yuan sighed softly. "Ultimately, it's about the imperial family. The Empress Dowager of Great Qi, in order to rule from behind a curtain, actually refined the prematurely deceased six-year-old emperor back to life. Heh, heh. How tragic and ridiculous, for the dignified Great Qi to have a walking corpse without a soul as its emperor."

"Great Qi? Didn't Great Qi disappear centuries ago? Isn't it Great Liang now? Does he think Great Liang is the successor to Great Qi, and just calls it that out of habit?" The more Li Huowang listened, the more confused he became, and more questions arose in his mind.

Unaware of Li Huowang's confusion, Zhuge Yuan continued to speak unhurriedly.

"If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad. Even a starving camel is bigger than a horse; although Great Qi is in decline, it's not something just anyone can meddle with. But the real trouble lies with those eunuchs clinging to imperial power."

"They used some unknown method to give the walking corpse emperor a mind, and he began issuing false edicts to select maidens for the imperial harem."

"Never mind that the young emperor is dead; even if he were alive, he's only six. Why would he need to select maidens? What's more, they are all maidens born in a Yin year, Yin month, and Yin hour."

"A while ago, I went out and inquired among my acquaintances. It's not just maidens; many men across Great Qi have also been summoned for conscripted labor."

"Think about it: in all these years, when have there ever been so many conscripted laborers? Even building the Great Wall to protect the nation didn't require this many. I believe they've been summoned to build a mausoleum!"

"Building a mausoleum?" Li Huowang's mind struggled to process this for a moment. This clearly didn't align with his knowledge; he had been in Great Liang for a while and had never heard of any large-scale conscripted labor.

Zhuge Yuan ignored Li Huowang and continued, "A walking corpse emperor, maidens born in a Yin year, Yin month, and Yin hour, plus building a mausoleum—think about it, this matter is absolutely no small feat."

Zhuge Yuan picked up the tea in front of Li Huowang, poured it out, and served him a fresh, steaming cup.

"Although the eunuchs wield immense power and have far-reaching influence, and they've also become entangled with the Zhengde monks, turning the entire capital into a chaotic mess, fortunately, there are still principled individuals within the court."

"As an ordinary storyteller, I originally didn't want to get involved in these affairs. But seeing them continue like this, leading to widespread suffering, I simply cannot stand by any longer."

"That's why I prepared the Heart Turbidity in advance and entrusted an old friend to refine it into a scroll artifact that erases memories, in preparation for my trip to the capital."

Li Huowang stared at the eloquent Zhuge Yuan, but the words went in one ear and out the other as his mind was already occupied with other thoughts.

"I used to think that Heart Coil was better, but now it seems that Heart Plain, Heart Coil, and Heart Turbidity, despite their vastly different abilities, are completely identical in some aspects."