Chapter 563: Dice

“Those people don't even have guards; they're just ordinary folks. Once we of the Zuo Wang Dao find someone, we don't even need to lift a finger. We just need to stir things up a bit from the sidelines, and they'll bring about their own demise. Don't you agree, Hong Zhong?” While Dice's words seemed directed at Li Huowang, they were actually more of a reminder.

A round jade pendant? Li Huowang immediately recalled the jade pendant he had stolen from his deceased Senior Brother Xuanyang's residence in Qingfeng Temple! It was the very same pendant he had recently used to trade for a horse! Xuanyang... was actually of the Great Liang imperial bloodline? A shocked Li Huowang's mind flashed back to the young man who had tried to escape Qingfeng Temple, only to be fed the Black Grand Sovereign by Daoist Danyang. Was the cause of his death actually the Zuo Wang Dao's doing? Had the Zuo Wang Dao already infiltrated Qingfeng Temple back then?! He knew that Daoist Danyang's Heavenly Tome was given by the Zuo Wang Dao, but what he didn't know was that there was another Zuo Wang Dao member right there in Qingfeng Temple!

“Who is it? Who is disguised as a Zuo Wang Dao member?!” Xiaoman, Gao Zhijian, Bai Lingmiao, Yang Xiaohai—their faces rapidly flickered through Li Huowang's mind. With a 'pop,' like the sound of a bubble bursting, something suddenly appeared in Li Huowang's mind: his own face. Some long-buried memories from the past began to resurface, scene by scene. These were his previous memories, deliberately sealed away by the Zuo Wang Dao's divine abilities. “Was it me? Did I hint to Xuanyang to escape? Was I the Zuo Wang Dao member within Qingfeng Temple?” Li Huowang's body began to twitch uncontrollably, and he clutched his head in pain. He suddenly remembered the full sequence of events from before he transmigrated to this world: he had actually pretended to encounter Daoist Danyang and allowed himself to be captured, all to deal with Xuanyang, the dragon's posthumous son. Even the 'Old Lord' whom Daoist Danyang claimed gave him the Heavenly Tome was a disguise of his own! He was Hong Zhong; he had fooled everyone!

“No! That’s wrong! My memory has been tampered with by Doumu Taiyin! This isn’t my memory; I’m not Hong Zhong, I’m Li Huowang! Don’t let the Zuo Wang Dao deceive you!” Li Huowang repeatedly shouted to himself in his mind. But no matter how he tried to convince himself, everything in his memory concerning Hong Zhong became increasingly clear. Those memories of Hong Zhong began to multiply, starting to encroach upon Li Huowang's own memories. When the past memories of Hong Zhong started to outweigh Li Huowang's own, he could no longer clearly distinguish whether he was Hong Zhong or Li Huowang.

Such an unusual reaction from Li Huowang would normally have been noticed by the Imperial Advisor long ago. However, at this moment, Huangfu Tiangang's full attention was on Dice's recent words, leaving him no time to pay heed to Li Huowang.

“Don't even think about deceiving me! You think these lies can disturb my Dao heart? Do you think I wouldn't have other contingencies prepared?” A purple bolt of lightning struck down, charring Dice's lone arm and leg, causing them to curl up. Even though he was on his last breath, close to death, Dice's demeanor grew increasingly spirited. “Hahaha! Lies? Tiangang, it seems you still don't understand our Zuo Wang Dao enough. Using lies to deceive people is a trick only used by the minor pawns of the Zuo Wang Dao! I am the dignified Dice! I only ever use the truth when I deceive people! It doesn't matter if you don't believe me. Anyway, the dragon's vein of Great Liang has been severed, and the Child God has arrived. All you have to do now is wait for the grand spectacle to unfold, heheheh.”

The opponent's arrogant manner was too much for an old general nearby to bear. He raised his guan dao and pressed it against Dice's neck. “You scoundrel! What good will it do you if Great Liang's dragon's vein is severed?! The whole world will descend into chaos, and you yourself will die!”

“Hehehe, what's death? Do you think the leaders of our Zuo Wang Dao are afraid?” Dice arched his back, stretched his neck, and his half-severed head instantly fell to the ground. “Everyone, farewell! I'll be going first! Oh, and Hong Zhong, you don't need to burn ghost money for me on Qingming Festival; we of the Zuo Wang Dao don't follow that custom.” With that, the head lying in a pool of blood showed no further signs of life.

“You want to die? It's not that easy! I will make sure your soul and spirit are scattered!” As Huangfu Tiangang fiercely waved his Constellation Sword towards the sky, bolts of purple lightning were drawn down, striking Dice's corpse repeatedly. After more than a dozen strikes, there was nothing left of Dice's half-corpse on the ground. The Imperial Advisor of Great Liang's face twitched slightly. He let out a cold snort at the charred floor tiles and turned to walk towards the palace.

“Wuwuwu, Boss Dice, you died so terribly! How can I live without you! Wuwuwu.” The illusory Zuo Wang Dao member lay prostrate over the charred spot, weeping uncontrollably without tears. “Monk! Monk! Aren't you supposed to be a good person? Can't you see my boss is dead? Hurry and perform a ritual for Boss Dice's salvation!!”

With a solemn expression, Zhuge Yuan walked past the wailing figure and approached Li Huowang, who was now scratching his scalp. “Brother Li! Brother Li! Hold on! This isn't over yet!”

“I…” Li Huowang stood up, clutching his head, and looked at Zhuge Yuan in confusion. “Who am I? Am I Hong Zhong or Li Huowang?”

“No matter who you are, do you want everything that happened in Great Qi to play out in Great Liang? Think of your Ox-Heart Village! Think of your fellow disciples! And your daughter, Li Sui! Your Bai Lingmiao! Do you really want them to suffer the same fate as the people of Great Qi?” Zhuge Yuan's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Li Huowang's head, pulling him out of his self-doubt. “Dice's scheme isn't flawless! Catch up to the Imperial Advisor of Great Liang quickly; there's a way to reconnect Great Liang's foundation!” Feeling his mind growing increasingly muddled, Li Huowang slapped himself hard and rushed in the direction the Imperial Advisor of Great Liang had departed.

The Imperial Advisor of Great Liang hadn't gone far. He entered the main hall where Ji Lin had previously summoned Li Huowang. As soon as Li Huowang entered, he saw Huangfu Tiangang, his face grim, walking towards Ji Lin, who was on the emperor's throne, surrounded by a group of teetering eunuchs.

“Im... Imperial Advisor! How dare you! I am the Emperor! How dare you deceive your sovereign and commit treason!” Ji Lin's fierce face showed panic, knowing that this was the Imperial Advisor making a move against him. However, in response to Ji Lin's questioning, Huangfu Tiangang remained silent. He walked directly to the side of the throne and roughly pulled Ji Lin to the ground.

“Guards! Guards, protect the Emperor!” Ji Lin struggled to support himself on the golden bricks with his right hand, which only had two fingers remaining, and cried out in desperation. Just as he was about to stand, the Imperial Advisor directly lifted him. He bit his fingertip and quickly drew talismans on Ji Lin's body.

“Imperial Advisor? Imperial Advisor! Huangfu Tiangang! How audacious of you! I am the Emperor! I am the only bloodline of the Ji family! Don't you fear that no one will be able to bear the fate of Great Liang if you disrespect me?” While Ji Lin was speaking, the Imperial Advisor finished drawing. He then forcefully slapped Ji Lin's face.

The next moment, the red talismans on Ji Lin's body came alive, swiftly moving across him like swimming dragons. Soon, the talismans seemed to seize onto something, and their movements intensified. An extremely detailed voice emanated from beneath Ji Lin's imperial robe. “Oh my, oh my, you've found me. You're so clever. How did you know the vital essence of this 'little girl' was actually my own?” No sooner had the voice fallen silent than something rolled out from beneath the imperial robe, rolling towards the door in Li Huowang's direction. “Hong Zhong! Hong Zhong! What are you gaping at?! Hurry and help!” But before it could roll far, Huangfu Tiangang's large foot stomped down, utterly crushing it.