Chapter 363: Again Intercepted by Lord Jiang

Li Weiyi tried character by character, searching for a secret script that could merge with the immobilization talisman's runes.

After hundreds of trials and errors, he discovered that the character "皆" (jiē) connected most smoothly with the immobilization talisman's runes, showing the weakest repulsion and the potential for fusion. The next step was to continue research and trial and error to find a way to merge them.

Of course, he couldn't try this on the transcendental parchment; he wasn't that extravagant yet.

"Bang! Bang..."

Hundreds of failures later, his concentration remained intensely focused.

After three days and four nights of sleepless effort, the fusion finally succeeded. The luminous rune floated steadily before him.

Li Weiyi held his breath completely, not daring to exhale. A hearty, joyful laugh escaped his lips, echoing through the entire blood-mud space. It startled Tang Wanzhou, who was in meditation. She pondered silently, thinking that Li Weiyi also had a possessed side to him.

What followed was another period of breakdown for Li Weiyi.

Drawing the rune was difficult, but storing it onto talisman paper was even harder.

Ultimately, he exhausted all fifty-eight remaining pieces of transcendental talisman paper, succeeding in refining only one "Jie" Immobilization Talisman.

Li Weiyi pushed open the door and stepped out of the room, feeling a splitting headache. His eyes were bloodshot, his lips were pale, and he looked utterly exhausted and dazed.

Inside the Cocoon of Time, seven or eight consecutive days of high-intensity talisman crafting had severely drained his mental energy.

"It doesn't matter," he thought. "As long as the method is found, the success rate will only increase."

Li Weiyi carried three immobilization talismans, one swift travel talisman, and the "Jie" Immobilization Talisman, which he treasured. His confidence soared. It truly echoed Tang Wanzhou's words: a Thought Master's combat effectiveness depended on how thoroughly prepared they were.

The sun was setting in the west.

Tonight was his pre-arranged meeting with Zhuang Yue to get the list from her.

His bones, muscles, and gaze transformed simultaneously as he disguised himself as Zuo Ning, preparing to attend the appointment and, incidentally, to satisfy his hunger.

Before he had even left Yunxiu Ward, a voice came from a quiet alley: "You certainly have a lot of patience. Right now, at least three factions in Lingxiao City are looking for you."

Li Weiyi stopped and looked to his right.

Taishi Yu stood alone in the center of the alley, looking as if he had been waiting for a long time.

When Li Weiyi left Weiyi Residence, he had noticed a neighboring retainer rushing to the Ancestral Manor to report. Clearly, this was to inform Taishi Yu of his emergence from secluded cultivation.

Li Weiyi bowed with clasped hands: "Greetings, Chief! Are you speaking to me?"

Taishi Yu's gaze darkened abruptly: "Why is the Luan Terrace investigating you? Who exactly are you? Let me remind you, I saw everything that day in Danyue Ward."

Li Weiyi remained calm and composed, trusting that Taishi Yu had already investigated him. He replied, "Everyone has a past! As for now, I am Young Master Bai's retainer."

"Haha, you're quite resilient, kid," Taishi Yu chuckled. "Facing me alone and enduring my psychic field without a change in expression—no wonder Taishi Bai values you so much. I won't scare you anymore!"

Taishi Yu retracted his psychic field. "If the Luan Terrace is investigating you because of your background with the Earth Wolf King's Army, I can help you resolve this danger. Furthermore, Shi Jiuzhai and Shi Liuyu seem to know you've joined the Taishi family and are staking out Yunxiu Ward for you; I can also help you deal with them."

Taishi Yu had clearly misunderstood, but his ability to detect the two Dharma Kings staking out the ward entrance showed his high level of psychic power and alertness.

He was a formidable individual!

Li Weiyi responded cautiously: "Chief, are you looking to recruit me as your retainer, or do you have something you need from me?"

"Talking with smart people is much easier!"

Taishi Yu said, "Taishi Bai considers you a brother. If I were to force you into my service, all three of us would be uncomfortable. But similarly, if a brother is in trouble, will you help him or not?"

Li Weiyi asked, "Is Young Master Bai in danger?"

Taishi Yu's expression grew solemn, and he sighed: "For a great clan, the wisdom and ability of someone who sits as clan head go without saying. But more importantly, this person must be upright, act with integrity, have impeccable character, and clearly distinguish between good and evil."

"If the upper beam is not straight, the lower ones will go awry. Even the most magnificent and sturdy edifice will collapse because of it."

"As for conspiracies, dark and bloody deeds—these unsavory tasks must be handled by someone else."

"Taishi Bai is the future clan head of the Taishi family, possessing both ability and talent. However, he has significant shortcomings in judging people, making him easily deceived, especially by women!"

Li Weiyi's heart stirred: "Chief, are you referring to...?"

Taishi Yu looked at him: "Long Xiangcen! My prejudice against her isn't because of her Dragon Gate background. It's because I've seen too many women. No matter how pure and saintly she pretends to be, she can never deceive my eyes. The men she's been intimate with are no fewer than three."

Li Weiyi showed surprise: "That's impossible, isn't it?"

"You can question my motives, but you cannot question the weight of my nickname, 'Romantic Feather'."

Taishi Yu continued, "Tonight, she will accompany me to a banquet at the West Sea King's Mansion. On the way back, she will encounter an assassination attempt. I will subdue her; you will then take her out of Lingxiao City and dispose of her far away."

Li Weiyi said, "If word gets out, you want me to take the blame?"

Taishi Yu nodded. "As a retainer, you must bear responsibilities for your young master. As a brother, can you bear to see him ruined by such a woman? I cannot do this myself, because if I fight him over it, it will become an internal conflict within the Taishi family."

"Why not just kill her?" Li Weiyi asked.

"You're quite ruthless!"

Taishi Yu looked surprised, then sighed with a wry smile: "Of course, I want to solve this once and for all. But Brother Bai has already fallen for Long Xiangcen. If I kill her and he ever learns the truth, given his character, he will surely break ties with us."

"If he had a personality like mine, able to pick up and let go, I wouldn't bother being the villain."

"But he is, unfortunately, a man of deep emotions! Such a man, falling in love with a fickle woman, is destined to suffer greatly."

"Forget it, name your price! You can talk about loyalty and brotherhood with Brother Bai, but with me, let's talk business."

Li Weiyi began to feel a certain admiration for Chief Taishi. He was doing this not for the clan, and he didn't even know Long Xiangcen was involved in a more terrible demonic plot; he was simply doing it for his younger brother.

Li Weiyi said, "You're asking me to betray Young Master Bai."

"Ten Starlight Pills."

Taishi Yu offered a very high price.

Li Weiyi replied, "Young Master Bai and I are like brothers; he has treated me well. What kind of person 'Fairy Long' truly is, that's just your word against hers. Who knows what your real intentions are?"

Taishi Yu furrowed his brow, thinking his persuasion had failed.

Li Weiyi said, "Chief, perhaps you could add a little more? Twenty Starlight Pills might persuade me to do something against my principles."

Taishi Yu was speechless. Only then did he realize that the other party was bargaining.

To others, twenty Starlight Pills were worth two million Fountain Coins. But to Taishi Yu, it was just one batch of pills that he could refine himself using imperial medicinal ingredients and resources.

So, this price was acceptable.

"If word gets out," Taishi Yu said.

Li Weiyi replied, "I'll take the money and avert the disaster. I will bear the consequences and not reveal a single word about Young Master Yu."

"At that time, I will at least guarantee your safe departure from Lingxiao City, so you'll have no worries."

After Taishi Yu and Li Weiyi agreed on the meeting place, they parted ways: one left the ward, and the other returned to his manor.

Li Weiyi observed the streets and buildings near the entrance of Yunxiu Ward, looking for where Shi Jiuzhai and Shi Liuyu might be hiding. He was surprised to find several spies, not weak in cultivation, immediately releasing messenger insects upon his appearance.

Li Weiyi dared not act rashly.

The fact that they could monitor outside the ward where the Taishi family resided without being eliminated suggested that these individuals had anything but simple backgrounds.

"Whoosh!"

Li Weiyi used his movement technique, swiftly evading, weaving through the bustling crowds, and constantly changing his clothes.

He did not alter his disguise. He preferred not to reveal to too many people that Zuo Ning was proficient in the art of disguise.

Zhuang Yue had given Li Weiyi an address in Qingyun Ward, located in the eastern part of the city.

So, even though he was taking a detour, he continued heading east.

The sky gradually darkened.

Lanterns under the eaves along both sides of the street lit up one by one.

But strangely, the street ahead, which should have been bustling, was completely empty of pedestrians.

Li Weiyi sensed something was wrong, turned to change direction, only to see Jiang Ning, clad in white official robes, emerge from a shimmering formation a hundred paces behind him, riding a fiery exotic beast.

The exotic beast had two wings, a beast's body, and a bird's head, appearing exceptionally majestic and powerful.

In the sky, white feathers of magical energy drifted down.

Footsteps sounded as Luan Terrace experts, lying in ambush, rushed out from shops on both sides of the street that were equipped with formations.

Half were female officials, half were eunuch officials.

Li Weiyi saw Zhuang Yue's figure; she and six other female officials formed a battle array. Her eyes were filled with urgency and worry, yet also a sense of helpless pain.

She desperately wanted to give Li Weiyi a warning beforehand but had never found the opportunity.

Jiang Ning, wearing a veil, said, "Mr. Zuo Ning, we meet again! If you try to escape this time, you will be executed without mercy. No one in Lingxiao City can escape the Luan Terrace's pursuit."

"Boom! Boom!"

Two old women appeared, releasing two external manifestations of their Dao hearts, which suppressed Li Weiyi. Thousands of strands of magical energy coiled around him.

Li Weiyi showed no panic, looking at Jiang Ning: "Officer Jiang, is there some misunderstanding between us? Why is it that every time we meet, you're always calling for my death?"

Jiang Ning said, "Sir, have you perhaps forgotten your actions at Nanyan Pass? If you have anything to say, I'll listen to you slowly in the Luan Terrace's grand prison. Take him away. If he dares to resist or flee, execute him on the spot."

"Wait!" Li Weiyi immediately interjected. "I am a retainer of the Taishi family."

Li Weiyi then quickly added, "I admit that at Nanyan Pass, I shouldn't have knocked out that official from the Attendant Hall and disguised myself as him. But... I was truly consumed by lovesickness... I just wanted to see Yue'er once."

"Yet I knew I couldn't... couldn't openly meet her. Luan Terrace female officials are forbidden from contact with men; I had no choice. Yue'er, I truly had no choice. I don't want to keep hiding like this. Leave the Luan Terrace, and I will support you!"

His gaze fell upon Zhuang Yue. Combined with his extreme fatigue that day, his pale lips, and lingering bloodshot eyes, he instantly portrayed a lovesick man, unable to sleep or taste food, with utter vividness.

The female officials present who were close to Zhuang Yue were all moved.

In any case, Jiang Ning only knew that he had transformed into a eunuch official to relay messages to Zhuang Yue, and then the two had secretly met at a noodle stall. At Nanyan Pass, who was actually opposing the Luan Terrace, no one truly knew.

Even if Li Weiyi had used a mental imprint on Zhuang Yue, it could be explained as fear of their secret meetings being discovered and punished by the Luan Terrace.

Of course, the prerequisite was that Zhuang Yue was willing to cooperate with him.