Chapter 468: Solution

Li Sui's appearance was largely as he had imagined, though she was even more terrifying than he had expected. Her body was not entirely solid; some parts were even hollowed out, leaving certain organs exposed. Mantou's body was clearly insufficient to support Li Sui; all her broken bones were entwined with black tentacles. Although it felt wrong to say this about his daughter, she was truly terrifying now.

Li Sui's chest was pulsating, and with each beat, a book wrapped in flesh and blood could be seen through the gaping cracks. Li Huowang remembered it was the Complete Compendium of Talismans he had given Li Sui.

"Father, what's wrong?" Li Sui didn't understand why Li Huowang was staring at her.

"Nothing, just looking," Li Huowang said, reaching out to pat her head. "Go on. Go find the child and eat steamed egg custard, and while you're at it, please call a few people over for me."

In Niuxin Village, after-dinner was typically a time for rest, with no one wandering around, so the people Li Huowang wanted to see quickly gathered. The tall Gao Zhijian, the hairy Chun Xiaoman, Zhao Wu, who walked with a crutch and had one shoulder higher than the other, and Gouwa, whose face was mottled with white and blue patches – these were all his sworn brothers who had faced life and death with him. In addition to these four, there was also Yang Xiaohai, who was noticeably shorter than the others.

Li Huowang looked at the Niuxin Village cook. "I didn't call for you. Why are you here?"

"Hehe, I saw everyone else coming, so I thought I'd take a look. Should I leave now, Senior Brother Li?" The embarrassed Yang Xiaohai scratched the back of his head and grinned. They had clearly become familiar after spending so much time together. In the past, he wouldn't have dared to act like that.

Li Huowang ignored him, turning his gaze to Gao Zhijian. "How are the village militia recruits progressing? Approximately how long will it take for them to form a fighting force?"

Gao Zhijian twitched his nose and shook his head in dissatisfaction. "A long time."

Li Huowang soon learned from Gao Zhijian that very few villagers were suitable for martial arts training; most either had disabilities or poor physical constitution. After half a day of selection, only two were deemed barely satisfactory. However, this seemed reasonable, as these individuals were all "damaged goods" Bai Lingmiao had acquired from human traffickers. This, however, did not meet Li Huowang's expectations; he needed to accelerate the process.

"Zhao Wu, previously in Qingqiu, I separated the gold Sun Baolu's mother gave me. Use that money to help Gao Zhijian purchase more qualified house servants. Even if it costs more, ensure they are loyal."

"A village militia must be formed as soon as possible. That way, even if I'm not here and you encounter another natural disaster, you can protect yourselves."

"Yes, Senior Brother Li," replied Zhao Wu, who was in charge of the money. "Senior Brother Li, are you going out again?"

"Yes, I have something to take care of outside. If all goes well, I shouldn't be gone for too long this time."

Next, he looked at Chun Xiaoman. "I heard you're practicing the White Lotus Sect's cultivation method from under the ancestral temple?"

"Yes, I am."

"This sort of practice must be kept quiet. You can teach others, but only those loyal to us. Unlike the military strategists, while the spirit medium seems interesting, the White Lotus Sect is a notorious group. Their cultivation methods and divine abilities are likely highly recognizable. Being too conspicuous could easily attract the attention of the Bureau of Celestial Observation."

After Li Huowang thoroughly explained the Bureau of Celestial Observation and what had happened to the Bai family, Xiaoman nodded grimly, immediately feeling a heavy burden on her shoulders.

Next, Li Huowang turned to Gouwa, the last one. The formerly boisterous Gouwa had become much quieter since his daughter was born. "Gouwa, are you alright?" When Li Huowang asked, Gouwa immediately put on his signature playful grin.

"Oh, nothing, nothing, what could be wrong with me? I'm eating and drinking as usual. Senior Brother Li, go with peace of mind. I'm here to keep Niuxin Village in order; it won't descend into chaos."

Li Huowang nodded, then pointed to the Ruyi scepter made of decaying wood on the table. "This artifact is for you. It can disrupt people's minds and can be used in conjunction with your white-haired needles." This was a gift from the eunuch Jixiang, a unique artifact refined from a pure heart and tongue, capable of filling people's minds with confusion. Li Huowang had never used it since he received it, so he decided to simply give it to Gouwa.

"Oh, this... this is a divine artifact! Senior Brother Li, you are too generous, just giving it to me for free!" Gouwa, beaming, examined it up and down in his hands, exclaiming in wonder.

"Also, this alchemy prescription: I copied a volume containing recipes for Blood Nourishing Pills and Root Strengthening Pills, along with some other alchemy methods. That bald man in Qingfeng Temple taught me this. It also includes some talisman drawings for medical use. There's no doctor in the village, so find someone literate, and they can serve as a makeshift doctor."

"Me, me, me! I can read! My teacher praises my comprehension every day! I already know thirty characters!" Yang Xiaohai eagerly stepped forward, picked up the alchemy prescription booklet, and examined it intently.

Li Huowang frowned slightly, watching him. "You're holding it upside down."

"Oh... oh..."

Li Huowang re-examined the five people before him. "We've all faced life and death together. This world always feels unstable to me. If something truly happens, relying on mountains means mountains fall, and relying on water means water flows away. Only you yourselves are truly dependable."

"Oh, it's fine. Don't we still have you, Senior Brother Li? With your vast divine powers, who would dare disrespect you?"

Gouwa's flattery, however, only earned him a cold stare from Li Huowang. "What if I die one day? What if I go mad again? What will you do then?"

The moment Li Huowang uttered these words, the atmosphere in the room immediately became oppressive. Gouwa opened his mouth, seemingly intending to lighten the mood, but ultimately said nothing.

"Alright, everyone else may leave for now, except for Gao Zhijian."

The other four glanced at the tall Gao Zhijian, then took the items Li Huowang had given them and departed.

Li Huowang looked at the tall Gao Zhijian before him. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Zhijian, your past must not have been simple, was it? Although others often call you foolish, I believe you are truly wise, feigning ignorance."

Gao Zhijian nodded silently.

"Do you want to go back?" Gao Zhijian shook his head.

"Alright, since you don't want to go back, I won't ask further. From now on, this is your home. Besides Miaomiao and me, you are the strongest. When I'm away, help me protect this home."

Li Huowang cut open his stomach with a knife, reached inside, and pulled out a blood-stained skin puppet. "Take this. It can save your life at a critical moment."

Seemingly aware of its preciousness, Gao Zhijian gasped and repeatedly waved his hands in refusal.

"I told you to take it, so take it!" Li Huowang forcefully placed it in his hand. The words "My skin is almost healed" lingered in his mouth for a moment before he swallowed them back down.

Li Huowang patted his shoulder. "We're brothers who've faced life and death together. Being so polite makes you seem like a stranger."

Gao Zhijian looked at the human skin in his palm and carefully put it away. Next, he reached into the toolbag hanging from Li Huowang's lower hem, pulled out a dagger, cut his own palm, and then cut Li Huowang's palm. Then, he firmly clasped their two bleeding palms together.

Li Huowang looked at the gradually congealing cut on his palm and chuckled softly. "What custom is this?"

After Gao Zhijian left, Li Huowang pulled out a sheet of Xuan paper from his robes. It contained something he had written when he was blind, and the four lines listed his current troubles.

"This trouble does not exist!" As Li Huowang slowly traced his trembling finger across the second line, the words on it rapidly disappeared.

Two: The anomaly of the natural disaster. Since the Bureau of Celestial Observation's plan was disrupted by the Sit-and-Forget Sect, such disasters might continue. He wasn't afraid himself, but how could Niuxin Village endure?