Chapter 401 - Acquaintance

“Of course, it was deceived from elsewhere! The Sitting Oblivion Dao deceives the heavens, the earth, and the Simings.”

Zhuge Yuan smiled and opened his fan with a

snap.

Then, he gently fanned himself and said, “Who said that? They fooled you. However, there are indeed rumors disseminating similar accusations.

"They don’t want others to know, so they spread rumors that the powers of Sitting Oblivion Dao are all from deception. But think about it, Brother Li. What if a mortal could other Siming to bestow upon them power?”

Coaxing the Sitting Oblivion Dao’s Siming? Wouldn’t that mean controlling all "lies"?

Li Huowang thought. After careful consideration, Li Huowang said, “Brother Zhuge, what is the name of the Sitting Oblivion Dao’s Siming?”

“Doulao Taiyin.”

Doulao Taiyin? Is that Siming responsible for all the "lies" in this world?

Li Huowang fell into deep contemplation.

Was the Siming in Baiyu Capital back then? Have I seen them before?

Li Huowang tried hard to search through his memories from a year ago.

Zhuge Yuan seemed to have sensed something. He looked up at the sun and snapped his fingers before Li Huowang.

Li Huowang's mind cleared instantly, and he couldn’t remember his thoughts just now.

“Brother Li. Mere mortals like us should avoid matters beyond the heavenly realm. It’s better not to get involved, lest we disrupt our karma and destiny,” Zhuge Yuan said.

Li Huowang nodded, and he sounded exhausted as he asked, "None of them will work?”

“It’s best not to dwell on it.”

Li Huowang had many questions about the Simings, but he could only swallow them for now and change the subject. “Brother Zhuge, can you teach me your cultivation method? Once I learn it, the Sitting Oblivion Dao will no longer be a concern.”

Zhuge Yuan waved his fan once again.

He was about to speak when a mocking voice echoed from the side. "Look at this scholar. It's so cold, but he's waving his fan. He must be crazy."

Zhuge Yuan’s expression stiffened. Then, he snapped his fan shut and turned to Li Huowang, saying, “The Twisted One’s fate cannot be learned. However, once you master the Strayed One’s cultivation method, the members of the Sitting Oblivion Dao will flee quicker than a rabbit once they see you.”

Li Huowang smiled bitterly at Zhuge Yuan’s remark. It seemed that if he cultivated the Strayed One's cultivation method, he would become the Sitting Oblivion Dao arch-nemesis.

“I hope so. I just want to get rid of these illusions. The rest doesn’t matter.”

“Hehehe, here it comes! Hot and steamy fish soup noodles. Please try my old man’s masterpiece.”

Li Huowang picked up his chopsticks and took a few strands of noodles from each bowl before throwing them to the ground. Bun enthusiastically devoured the noodles.

“Brother Zhuge, let's make Bun eat first.”

Zhuge Yuan had just taken out a silver needle, and he nodded knowingly at Li Huowang's remark. “That’s not a bad method. I was wondering why you have a dog. What if it's a slow-acting poison? What if the dog dies after you’ve eaten it all?”

“No worries. I can just cut open my belly and expunge everything inside.”

Zhuge Yuan looked at Li Huowang in amazement. His mouth fluttered open to say something, but he couldn't find the words to say.

Bun squatted on the side, wagging its tail. Li Huowang saw that and picked up his chopsticks again. “Brother Zhuge, there’s no poison. Let’s eat.”

The kind-looking old lady was right—the fish soup noodles were delicious. The fish roe scattered in the soup went well with the milky-white broth, and it was an incredibly comforting meal amidst the cold weather.

Just as Li Huowang was contemplating whether to order another bowl or not, he suddenly looked up with furrowed brows, staring at the woods on the left.

Zhuge Yuan ate leisurely. He gulped and calmly asked, “What’s wrong, Brother Li?”

“Something’s happening in our south. Sounds like there are people fighting each other,” Li Huowang replied.

“Brother Li, how come your ears are so keen? You can actually hear quarreling from so far away,” Zhuge Yuan said, shaking his long sleeves and standing up.

Li Huowang stood up as well and followed him into the woods. They brushed aside the bushes and leaves, making a path for themselves. Eventually, they came to a halt upon getting hit by the strong smell of blood and stared at the chaotic scene in the distance.

Two groups were engaged in a fierce battle that was at its climax. Each one fought with determination, using unfamiliar and lethal techniques brand-new to Li Huowang. Lives were claimed every second as they fought.

Li Huowang's gaze landed on a corpse with a waistplate. Then, he turned to Zhuge Yuan and said, “One side is from the Surveillance Bureau, but I don’t recognize the other side. Brother Zhuge, do you know them?”

Zhuge Yuan watched as someone pulled out a white maggot and slapped it on his wound with an exposed bone. Zhuge Yuan shook his head and said, “I have no idea, but one of them should be a Sitting Oblivion Dao member.”

“Sitting Oblivion Dao? Who?!” Li Huowang exclaimed with a solemn expression. It seemed the word Sitting Oblivion Dao was now capable of evoking an instinctive reaction from Li Huowang.

“It should be that Miao woman with purplish lips.”

Li Huowang’s gaze darkened as he stared at the glimmering silver headdress fluttering amidst the tumult. However, Li Huowang decided not to make a move. “Brother Zhuge, she doesn't look like someone important from the Sitting Oblivion Dao.

"I'm afraid we'll alert them if we approach hastily."

Li Huowang’s objective was unchanged—to capture Bei Feng and extract information.

Li Huowang had no intention of getting involved in anything else.

“Brother Zhuge, let’s head back. Let's refrain from stirring up unnecessary trouble.”

Zhuge Yuan nodded and got ready to leave with Li Huowang.

However, a masked man in the crowd noticed them and shouted, “Lord Zhuge!”

Zhuge Yuan opened his fan swiftly and kicked off of a tree trunk, charging decisively toward the black-robed man.

Li Huowang couldn’t just stand by and watch Zhuge Yuan. He promptly drew the purple-tassel sword and joined the fray.

The deadlock shattered, and the enemies of the Surveillance Bureau were soon forced to retreat, all thanks to Li Huowang and Zhuge Yuan.

Li Huowang wiped away the blood on his face and walked up to Zhuge Yuan. Upon arrival, he saw the surviving individuals kneeling before Zhuge Yuan.

“Greetings, Lord Zhuge!” they shouted.

Li Huowang was dumbfounded.

Zhuge Yuan actually has such a high standing in the Surveillance Bureau? How come he seemed like the plague in the eyes of Lord Ji Xiang back then?

“

Ah,

Brother Li, you’re here,” said Zhuge Yuan, helping up the same masked man earlier with a smile. “He happens to be a dear friend from my younger years. Don’t let his affiliation with the Surveillance Bureau mislead you; he’s also a grandmaster player recognized at the national level in the Great Qi!”

“A Grandmaster recognized in the Great Qi?!”

"Oh, remember that game we played with black and white stones? He’s one of the strongest in the Great Qi at that game."