Chapter 425: Friends

Under Nangong Yun's lead, Li Huowang arrived outside the Liang Mansion. Li Huowang's excellent eyesight even allowed him to see Zhuge Yuan painting on the second floor. He couldn't see any other Qi people for now, unsure if they were in other rooms or had gone out.

"Brother Nangong, isn't this Zhuge Yuan a wanted criminal by the Directorate?" Li Huowang asked, voicing his confusion. "Why is he still allowed to stay here? Why don't we just take him down in one go and seize his powerful magical artifact?"

Nangong Yun frowned slightly and shook his head gently. "Now is not the time to provoke him. The Emperor has issued a decree, and most of the Directorate's personnel have gone to the palace. We're already short-handed. If we were to deal with Zhuge Yuan and the Forgetful Daoists took the opportunity to ambush us from both sides, it would be a huge problem."

"However, if we deal with the Forgetful Daoists first, this storyteller at least won't help those utterly evil deceivers." Having said that, Nangong Yun prepared to leave. "Ear Nine, travel safely. Once you're inside, as long as you don't provoke Zhuge Yuan too much, you'll definitely come back alive. Generally speaking, if you bear him no ill will, he won't do anything to you. Remember, don't let a trace of killing intent show on your person."

"Thank you, Brother Nangong!" After thanking Nangong Yun for his advice, Li Huowang turned around and walked towards the distant Liang Mansion with a solemn expression. Just as Li Huowang walked through the main gate, which had stone drums hanging on either side, it slammed shut behind him with a sudden whoosh.

Li Huowang swallowed with difficulty, taking heavy steps through the front courtyard and heading inside. As Zhuge Yuan's painting brush lightly swished, the doors and windows clanged shut, and the two men exchanged a smile.

"How did it go?" Zhuge Yuan continued painting the verdant landscape on the table.

"Thank you, Brother Zhuge. The matter is settled. It won't be long before they start fighting. Now, I just fear the Forgetful Daoists might get wind of it and leave Shangjing ahead of time."

"Don't worry, Brother Li. They're not afraid of death, so why would they be afraid of this? All the Forgetful Daoists are here; they won't leave without causing a world-shattering event."

"You're right." Li Huowang picked up the tea beside him and took a sip. As for what the Forgetful Daoists would do next, he was indifferent. If the sky fell, the Directorate of Celestial Masters would bear the brunt; as long as the target wasn't himself, it was fine.

"Brother Zhuge, I've attributed all the previous incidents to the Forgetful Daoists. After today, it will probably be difficult for us to meet again. There are too many eyes in the city; the Directorate of Celestial Masters will surely suspect things."

"No matter, no matter. This humble one can resolve the matters of Great Qi alone. As for your side, Brother Li, if you truly encounter Heart-Element Beifeng, will you be able to deal with him?"

"Don't worry, this time is different from the previous few; I won't be fighting alone. The main force engaging the Forgetful Daoists will be the Directorate of Celestial Masters. I only need to seize the opportunity to sneak attack and abduct him when he's injured."

"Is that so... Very well. Please extend your hand. I'll provide a disguise for you; it will be more convenient when you make your move."

"Hmm? How will you disguise me?" When Li Huowang raised his hand, Zhuge Yuan's brush touched his palm, and the three characters "Li Huo Wang" in black ink appeared. With a stroke of the brush tip, a horizontal line was added to the character 'Li' (李), transforming it into 'Ji' (季). Immediately after, the brush tip quickly folded a few times on the character 'Huo' (火), adding a 'cover' to it and turning it into 'Zai' (灾). Finally, Zhuge Yuan wiped over 'Wang' (旺), directly removing the character and using it as his signature on the painting scroll on the table.

"There, it's done. Like this, as long as you cover your face, no one will recognize you as Li Huowang." This was the first time Li Huowang had witnessed such a supernatural ability, and he was greatly astonished.

Li Huowang looked at the characters "Ji Zai" in his hand and nodded. "Great kindness needs no words of thanks, Brother Zhuge. Rest assured, once I find Beifeng, I will definitely return to help!"

Looking up at Li Huowang, Zhuge Yuan asked, "Brother Li, my matters are truly not urgent. However, if you encounter trouble here in Shangjing, remember to consult me with a divination. This humble one can help with both minor and major issues. Just don't die."

Hearing this, Li Huowang paused, his expression gradually becoming complex. After a moment of thought, he sat down on a nearby meditation chair.

"Brother Zhuge, to be honest, I've indeed encountered something. However, I don't need your direct intervention. I just want you, as a friend, to help me decide what I should do about this matter."

"Oh?" Zhuge Yuan put down his brush. This kind of request was truly a first for him.

Li Huowang's hands alternately clenched and relaxed. Finally, he sighed deeply and said, "Brother Zhuge, tell me, is it possible that the other world is real?" In a low voice, Li Huowang revealed the confusion hidden in his heart, sharing his conjecture that the gold might have been manifested by himself. Regarding the possibility that the other world was real, he wanted to hear how others would judge it. Or perhaps Li Huowang didn't expect any direct feedback from Zhuge Yuan; he just wanted to confide in a friend. He couldn't tell anyone else about such things, because anyone who heard it would only think they had met a madman. But Zhuge Yuan wouldn't, because Li Huowang knew they shared a similar plight.

After Li Huowang finished speaking, silence fell in the room. Zhuge Yuan didn't speak immediately but thought carefully before slowly beginning. "Brother Li, do you know? This humble one once had a confidante, a confidante in Great Liang. Yet, in Great Qi, she was merely a concubine to a wealthy official."

"I once foolishly tried to change myself, forcing myself to believe that Great Qi was false and Great Liang was real." Zhuge Yuan's voice wavered slightly as his gaze shifted to a painting of a court lady on the nearby wall. "But things went against my wishes. Ultimately, she still left me, because Great Qi is indeed real. What is real cannot be faked, and what is fake cannot be made real."

"But what if? What if it's real?" Li Huowang clenched his fists.

"Fish, what I desire; bear's paw, also what I desire; if I cannot have both," Zhuge Yuan began painting again. "Brother Li, the sages say: one cannot have both fish and bear's paw. This applies not only to my Great Qi and Great Liang, or your reality and illusion, but also to the Fates above the Heavens beyond Heaven, down to the common folk. It is all the same."

Li Huowang stood up from the meditation chair and cupped his hands. "Thank you, Brother Zhuge. Talking with you has made me feel much better. It's truly uncomfortable always keeping things bottled up inside." As Li Huowang finished speaking, he turned and walked downstairs. "Brother Zhuge, if everything is resolved in the future, I hope we can still sit down for tea and play chess in your bamboo house, just like before."

After Li Huowang pushed open the door, Zhuge Yuan's voice drifted down from the second floor. "Tea, yes. But chess? Let's not. To say you're a bad chess player would be a compliment."