Chapter 544: Transaction

"Clink." Two wine glasses clinked together, then quickly tilted, pouring their contents down Hong Da and Li Huowang's throats. The dishes on the table were a mess. Besides their own efforts, Li Sui's contribution was indispensable; he had simply brought his mouth and focused solely on eating.

"Erzhou, do you know why I helped you with this matter?" A red-faced Hong Da leaned over, holding his cup. "Because we are both comrades in the Directorate of Celestial Observation!" Li Huowang clinked his own glass against Hong Da's. "Haha, we were comrades with Monk Xinzhi back then too, and what was the outcome?"

"Actually, from what I saw of you back then with Xinzhuo, you're a genuine person. I, Hong Da, am determined to be your friend. People like you are rare these days." As Hong Da spoke, a hint of melancholy appeared in his eyes.

"However, Erzhou, since you're taking the path of an official, I'm afraid we'll meet less and less in the future. If you ever achieve great success, don't forget your old drinking buddy." Observing the changing emotions of the Eight Sufferings on Hong Da, Li Huowang replied, "That might not be true. After I'm done here, I might continue working within the Directorate of Celestial Observation." "Hmm, why would you go back?"

Li Huowang glanced at Qiuchifan, who was sitting beside him in ragged clothes.

"Anyway, I'll be idle once all this is over. It would be a waste to let my full set of divine abilities go unused. It'd be good to keep contributing to the common people of the world."

Li Huowang didn't know if Great Liang would repeat the mistakes of Great Qi. Whether for his own peace of mind or for other reasons, as long as all his troubles were resolved, he wouldn't mind becoming a true member of the Directorate of Celestial Observation.

"Haha, I never thought you had such a heart. I assumed young people like you usually gravitate towards power and nobility, which is why you got involved with the royal family."

As he watched the drunken Hong Da, Li Huowang, while picking up food, asked casually, "Brother Hong, is the Director of the Observatory currently within the Directorate?" He wasn't asking idly, of course. Since he knew the die's location, he naturally had to find someone who could deal with it. The Director of the Observatory who had fought the die in the palace that day was, of course, Li Huowang's first target to consider. Time was pressing; the sooner the die was dealt with, the better, as every extra minute was torment. Since Hong Da was right there, Li Huowang naturally had to ask.

"Which Director of the Observatory?" Hong Da replied. "Don't forget, after the Siqi Directorate of Celestial Observation merged, we now have two Directors." Hearing this, Li Huowang's heart lifted. He now had another potential helper against the die – the one from Great Liang.

"Why are you suddenly asking about such a big figure?" Hong Da continued. "I haven't been in Shangjing for long. If you want to inquire about news, you'd be better off asking that kid Liu Zongyuan instead of me. Don't let his absence from Shangjing fool you; he specializes in certain arts, and being from the Moon Gate, he has more reliable information than us."

Li Huowang nodded in agreement. "Ah, how could I have forgotten him? Come, let me toast you again, Brother Hong." That night, Li Huowang and Hong Da talked late into the night, enjoying their conversation immensely.

By dawn, as Li Huowang walked home with Li Sui, he was still pondering the question. Nearing home, Li Huowang looked up at Zhuge Yuan, who was beside him.

"Brother Zhuge, do you think... I should use the secret of the Supreme Gankou to find out where Miaomiao is, and rescue her first?" Li Huowang asked. "I'm just afraid that even if I ambush and kill the die, I still won't be able to find Miaomiao."

Zhuge Yuan shook his head. "No, no. If you don't kill the die, you won't be able to save her. Even if you were lucky enough to rescue her, there's only the saying of a thief for a thousand days, never guarding against one for a thousand days. Furthermore, the die has already targeted you, and its power is far beyond yours. If you don't seize this opportunity to eliminate future troubles, the consequences will be endless." "Sigh... you're right." With a creak, Li Huowang pushed the door open and walked inside with Li Sui.

The next day, although Hong Da had only said he would "try," his speed was beyond Li Huowang's imagination. "Ten years," the Buddha Jade Brazier, Hong Da's proxy, stated with an indifferent expression and crossed arms. "This *Xinsu* corpse of mine can only buy ten years of use for the Grand Void Sword? Are you serious?" Li Huowang frowned, vigorously slapping the large jar he had just unearthed beside him.

"What? You think you can exchange just one *Xinsu* for a *Xinpan*?" the Buddha Jade Brazier retorted. "*Xinpan* are far rarer than *Xinsu*. And don't forget, you snatched that sword from me! You have no right to bargain!"

"Heh, so what if I'm bargaining? You want to calculate time, right? Fine, a hundred years!" Li Huowang challenged. "You're asking for death!" A thumb-sized gilded Buddha statue repeatedly popped in and out of the Buddha Jade Brazier's robe. "Revered Master Jixiang, there's no need for this. Since we're here to talk, let's talk properly and calmly," Hong Da quickly interjected, seeing the situation escalate, acting as a mediator.

Both parties gave Hong Da some face. Although the atmosphere was tense, a fight ultimately didn't break out.

Under Hong Da's coordination, both sides finally compromised: one *Xinsu* body was exchanged for twenty years of use of the Spinal Bone Sword. Furthermore, to prevent Li Huowang from reneging, the Buddha Jade Brazier specifically arranged for the Directorate of Celestial Observation to guarantee the transaction.

Inside a partitioned area of the Directorate of Celestial Observation's main hall, Li Huowang extended his thumb, pressed it into red clay, and then left his handprint on the several papers. Seeing the slight upward curve of the Buddha Jade Brazier's lips, Li Huowang knew that the other party had definitely profited more from this deal than he had.

But he didn't care. Twenty years was twenty years; after that time, his cultivation would have long been complete.

If he was still alive then, he should be able to retire. If worst came to worst, in twenty years, he could just exchange another *Xinsu* corpse. Taking the guarantee document from the eunuch, Li Huowang cupped his hands to Hong Da. "Brother Hong, we'll meet again."

Hong Da returned a wry smile and followed the Buddha Jade Brazier out from behind the partition.

Once he was alone behind the partition, Li Huowang unfastened the Spinal Bone Sword from his back and examined it closely again. "It's good that this hidden danger is resolved," he mused. "Now I can openly use this sword in Great Liang without needing to hide it anymore." Just as Li Huowang was about to unwrap the cloth strips from the sword, his heart suddenly tightened. Someone was there! The next moment, Li Huowang gripped the Spinal Bone Sword and swung it forcefully to his left.

"Clang!" Two fingers with long, manicured nails, as if cast from iron, firmly gripped the sword. When he saw the owner of the fingers, Li Huowang's brows furrowed slightly. "Eunuch, I hope you've been well." The person was an old eunuch from the palace, one of Ji Lin's people.

Seeing Li Huowang speak, the old eunuch's hand loosened its grip on the sword's blade. "Xian, you are now a favorite of the Emperor! How could you just disappear?" he asked. "Where have you been lately? His Majesty has looked for you several times and couldn't find you." "Ji Lin is looking for me?"