Chapter 510: Live

The yellow-robed Taoist priest, fear evident in his eyes, glanced again at Scholar Lü, who was still kneeling. A flicker of doubt crossed his mind: *Could this boy be trying to trick me?* Ultimately, however, he didn't dare to take the risk. He swiftly formed the Vajra Mudra with both hands, chanted an incantation, and then passed straight through the wall, disappearing from the courtyard.

Once the Taoist priest was gone, the evil spirit he had raised naturally wouldn't linger. The empty black robe floated in the air and swiftly followed after him.

It was a while before Gouwa finally reacted, realizing that he had genuinely escaped death at the hands of the Taoist priest!

Gouwa, his face etched with disbelief, cradled his hand and approached the dumbfounded Scholar Lü, giving him a forceful kick. "Hey! What did you just do? How did you scare him off?"

Scholar Lü belatedly snapped back to reality. He stared blankly at the white lotus canvas on the ground, muttering, "I... I don't know either."

"How can you not know? You must have done something to make his sword explode like that!"

"Sword?" That word jolted Scholar Lü fully awake. He quickly dropped to the ground, fumbling in the darkness to pick up the copper coins.

"You coward, get lost! These are all mine! Damn it, you actually ran away just now! Bah!"

"Are you blind? Didn't you see me strategizing from a distance just now?" Gouwa bent down, wiped the decayed wooden scepter he found on the ground, and tucked it into his clothes.

"Bullshit! Where did you pick up those fancy words? You're just showing off! Do you even know what 'strategizing' means? You're just a coward who's afraid to die!"

"So what if I'm afraid to die? No matter what you say, my daughter can't grow up without a father! Ouch—damn it, my hand!"

Amidst their bickering, Scholar Lü had almost finished collecting the copper coins from the ground. Just as he was still bent over, searching for any he might have missed, footsteps echoed from the front yard.

"Quick, quick! Hide now! Don't let anyone think we were involved!" The two swiftly crouched behind the rockery, concealed by the night.

"Father! Father! What happened to you, Father!" Hearing the footsteps move towards the house, the two quickly and stealthily retraced their steps. They were on edge the entire way, but fortunately, it was late and quiet, so they didn't encounter anyone else and returned safely to the Lü Family Troupe.

The Lü Family Troupe, exhausted from a full day's work, began to eat around a table the host had prepared, not even bothering to remove their stage costumes. Everyone looked surprised to see the two of them in such a disheveled state.

"Did you two go into the forest and fight a bear?" Luo Juanhua asked, her mouth full.

Before Scholar Lü and Gouwa could catch their breath and explain, the commotion from the Zhang family manor began anew.

Master Lü, who was gnawing on a chicken head, cocked his ear and listened, his face instantly lighting up with a wide smile. He put his greasy fingers into his mouth, sucked them clean, then wiped them vigorously on his pants. "Hey! Two strokes of luck! More work for us!"

The capital city remained as prosperous as ever, evident by the long queue forming at its gate. Li Huowang, seated in his carriage, looked up at the imposing city gate tower. When he had left before, he thought he would never return to the capital, yet here he was, back so soon.

"Show your travel permit! Why are you coming to the capital? Everyone out for inspection!" the city guards demanded imperiously from Li Huowang.

When they saw Li Huowang produce his Imperial Censorate waist token, the city guards instantly recoiled, straightened their backs, and stood at attention. "Welcome, honored sir!"

Li Huowang didn't even spare them a glance, leading his carriage towards the Imperial City at the very heart of the capital.

"Father, why is Auntie gone too? Was Auntie really kidnapped by that bad person? But he seemed so nice; he even helped you up and healed your wounds."

"Li Sui, remember this: no matter what anyone else says in the future, you must believe me. If I'm in conflict with someone, what I say will always be the truth. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand. Father, I will definitely help you kill that bad person and rescue Auntie."

"Just be obedient. As long as you behave, I will bring Auntie back."

"And Second Auntie too."

The carriage moved slowly along the wide street, unhurriedly approaching the gates of the Imperial City. Just as Li Huowang cleared his throat, preparing to address the Imperial Guards, the massive Imperial City gates slowly creaked open with a ponderous sound. The moment the gates opened, Li Huowang could feel various gazes piercing him from behind.

"It seems I haven't even stepped into the Imperial Palace, and I've already been branded as part of the Ji Lin faction."

Li Huowang chuckled self-deprecatingly, gave the reins a light shake, and drove the carriage into the Imperial City. Inside the vast and magnificent Imperial Palace, palace maids, eunuchs, and guards were all in their designated places, seemingly oblivious to the unexpected arrival of the carriage.

When the carriage wheels reached the white marble steps, Li Huowang dismounted, ascending them one by one as he walked towards the majestic palace above. After finally ascending all the steps, Li Huowang, his expression solemn, reached into his robe and touched the faintly aching scar.

Ordinarily, Li Huowang's body possessed astonishing regenerative abilities; even severe internal injuries would heal quickly. However, things had changed. His body still healed, but the scars remained and no longer faded away. This had never happened before. The situation only began after his last failed attempt to confront the Dice. This seemed connected to Ba Kui, but to Li Huowang, this issue was far less important than shaking off the Dice's threat. If it only meant leaving scars, he wouldn't mind how many he had if he could kill the Dice and bring Miaomiao back.

"Announcing: Imperial Censorate, Geng Banner, Er Jiu!""Announcing: Imperial Censorate, Geng Banner, Er Jiu!""Announcing: Imperial Censorate, Geng Banner, Er Jiu!!"

Hearing the eunuchs' names being announced, growing louder as they approached, Li Huowang withdrew his hand from his robe and strode forward. The hall was vast, seemingly a place where the emperor held morning court. However, to Li Huowang's surprise, the entire hall was quite dimly lit. The solid gold dragon throne was half-shrouded in darkness, and only the feet of the Great Liang Emperor sitting upon it were visible.

"Er Jiu, have you come to your senses? Good! Hahahaha!!"

"A timely act of kindness is worth more than lavish embellishments! You returned to aid me in my time of peril; I will not forget this!"

Hearing these words, Li Huowang slowly frowned. It was undeniably Ji Lin's voice, but the tone and the emotions conveyed within it seemed wrong.

Li Huowang took a step forward, and from the darkness came a eunuch's sharp rebuke: "How dare you! Why do you not bow before His Majesty!"

"Ah! No need for such formalities! Er Jiu is exempt from kneeling from now on!"

Hearing this, Li Huowang took another step forward, and then another. When he was close enough, Li Huowang saw Ji Lin's face, hidden behind the strings of pearl Mianliu, a face completely different from what it once was.