Chapter 588

Ji Zai was the name Zhuge Yuan deliberately gave Li Huowang to conceal his identity. This name now belongs to the Si Ming who controls the Heavenly Dao of Confusion, who is the future Li Huowang.

Li Huowang didn't know his future self would bear this name, but when he thought of it, he instinctively felt it belonged to him. What had just vanished like yellow sand must have been Ji Zai, or a part of him. Li Huowang wasn't entirely sure; facing his future self who would become a Si Ming, he could only make an educated guess. More than his identity, Li Huowang now wondered what he had meant by his words before leaving.

"He should be called Ji Zai." Li Huowang's words left the Si Tianjian feeling bewildered. If he remembered correctly, wasn't Ji Zai Li Huowang's alias? Had he just been talking to himself?

Meanwhile, Gao Zhijian and Bai Lingmiao caught up from behind. Seeing that Li Huowang was alright, they both breathed a sigh of relief. Having learned that the other Si Tianjian was fake, they had feared the imposter would harm Li Huowang.

"Guards! Send the Imperial Army to secure this area! Verify the identity of anyone approaching!" As Gao Zhijian shouted, over a dozen eunuchs, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, knelt and kowtowed to receive the order.

"Don't make such a fuss, I'm fine. You should go about your business; there's no need to gather around me." Li Huowang pulled the blanket up, lay back down, and rested his head gently on the pillow.

"Senior Brother Li, that Si Tianjian just now was fake!" Bai Lingmiao, carrying a food box, approached him again.

"I know, I know." Li Huowang gently patted her hand. "Don't worry. Even though I'm severely injured right now, if anyone dared to try something, they might not be able to defeat me." After all, he was now Ji Zai's vital core.

Gao Zhijian considered this and realized it was true. Li Huowang could now easily deal with the dice; who else could launch a surprise attack on him?

"Senior Brother Li, who was that person just now?" Gao Zhijian stepped forward and asked.

"Just a friend. Don't worry about it; it has nothing to do with you." Li Huowang looked at the transformed Gao Zhijian, a hint of approval in his eyes, and skillfully changed the subject. "Good, Gao Zhijian, that outfit really suits you." He didn't want others to know he had become a Si Ming's vital core, nor did he want them to worry about him. Because he himself didn't know when he would become the future Ji Zai. Perhaps in a year, or ten years, or after his death. But Li Huowang didn't care; he had already considered the consequences before devising this method to deal with the dice.

Hearing Li Huowang's words, Gao Zhijian felt the urge to scratch his head again. Although Senior Brother Li seemed perfectly fine, he somehow felt different from before. His appearance hadn't changed at all, but he exuded a much more open-minded aura.

Glancing at the silent Si Tianjian beside him, Gao Zhijian remembered why he had sought out Li Huowang. "Senior Brother Li, is the dice really gone? Can he no longer control me?"

Li Huowang recalled the eighteen-sided dice that Yi Donglai had taken and nodded gently. "Don't worry, he shouldn't come back again."

Hearing this, Gao Zhijian finally breathed a sigh of relief. He trusted Senior Brother Li's words; if Senior Brother Li said the dice wouldn't return, then it truly wouldn't.

"By the way, Zhijian, arrange a carriage to take me back to Niuxin Village. My injuries here are mostly healed."

Hearing this, Gao Zhijian shook his head repeatedly. With only a mouth remaining on his head, Li Huowang certainly didn't look mostly healed. "No, there are imperial physicians here who can take care of you. Your injuries are still very severe; you need rest and recuperation."

"I'm almost fully recovered. Why would I need to recuperate? Do you really think I can't handle such minor injuries?" Li Huowang threw off his blanket and stood up.

Gao Zhijian immediately rushed forward, his large hands carefully cradling Li Huowang's lotus root-like head, fearing it might accidentally fall to the ground. Just as Li Huowang was about to leave, Bai Lingmiao grabbed him firmly.

"Senior Brother Li, I beg you, please wait until your injuries are healed before leaving. You really can't travel far in this condition." Seeing Bai Lingmiao's plea, Li Huowang didn't insist and sat back down.

"Alright, if I can't leave, this place is a bit stuffy. I want to go for a walk and get some fresh air."

Of course, Gao Zhijian wouldn't object to this. As long as Senior Brother Li didn't get into more trouble and risk his life, anything was acceptable.

After they chatted for a while, Gao Zhijian couldn't help but ask, "Senior Brother Li, did Junior Sister Bai say your illness is cured?"

"Ah, yes, it's cured." Li Huowang nodded frankly. "It just muddled through and healed by itself."

Hearing this, Gao Zhijian's face showed genuine happiness for him. Senior Brother Li was good in every way, except for this illness, which was the most severe in Qingfeng Temple. If his illness was cured, Senior Brother Li could finally live a normal, good life. Furthermore, now that he was the Emperor of Daliang, he could fulfill any wish Senior Brother Li might have in the future.

"Zhijian, how does it feel to be emperor?" Li Huowang asked Gao Zhijian again.

Gao Zhijian chuckled good-naturedly. "Good, being emperor is truly good. I like being emperor. I get to eat so many delicious things I've never seen before. When your injuries are better and you don't have dietary restrictions, I'll have the chefs make them for you."

"And soon, I'll have many, many wives. Over a hundred of them."

"That many? Then don't tell Gouwa. If he finds out, he'll definitely be green with envy."

Gao Zhijian's mouth stretched wide, laughing even more joyfully. "No way, I have so many wives, I absolutely must show off in front of him."

The atmosphere in the room eased considerably. They seemed to forget their current statuses and reverted to their original roles as fellow disciples.

After chatting for a while, prompted by the Si Tianjian, Gao Zhijian left Li Huowang's sickroom. He was now the emperor, a new one who understood nothing, with much to learn and no time to waste. However, after walking some distance from the room, the Si Tianjian slowly spoke, "I can no longer see through him, Your Majesty. You must be cautious and vigilant when interacting with him in the future."

Gao Zhijian turned his head to look at him, his expression becoming somewhat displeased. "Why? He's my Senior Brother Li. He wouldn't harm me."

"It's not about harming or not, Your Majesty. Human hearts are hard to fathom. Remember that the dice was once the Emperor of Daliang. If he can deal with the dice, then dealing with you would naturally be effortless for him. Can you truly sleep soundly with such a person by your side?"

"Furthermore, his relationship with the White Lotus Saintess..."

"Naturally, the White Lotus Sect rendered meritorious service in protecting you. I have now removed the White Lotus from the Jiantian Division's most-wanted list, so we should certainly try to win them over. I am merely clarifying the implications for you."

"How you plan to proceed is up to you. After all, you are the Emperor of Daliang, and I am only in charge of the Jiantian Division. However, for the sake of Daliang, I must give you this warning."

Gao Zhijian, his face somber, strode forward.

"Being an emperor seems difficult, but it's actually simple. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask the Dragon Veins. They can teach you everything, from balancing civil and military officials and handling memorials to understanding the various factions and parties in court." The Si Tianjian instructed him methodically, while Gao Zhijian listened silently.