Chapter 617 - White Lotus

Bai Lingmiao was taken aback by Li Huowang's question. “Senior Li, I haven't lied to you. We’ve been through such a tough journey, and you know how well I've been treating you. Is there any reason for you to be suspicious about me?”

“I know, but there have been times when the people close to me had lied, either out of ill will or good will. I’m sensitive to such things at this point.”

Bai Lingmiao sighed, “Senior Li, what do you want to know? I will tell you everything, but can you please stop being suspicious of me? It feels uncomfortable.”

Li Huowang held her hands gently and pulled her closer, “Are there any hidden dangers to becoming the Saintess?”

“None.”

“Is that so? Then why were you chosen to become the Saintess? Did the Heavenly Mater choose you to become her Twisted One?”

Bai Lingmiao was confused, “Senior Li, what’s a Twisted One? I don't think the Heavenly Mater needs something like that.”

“No! She needs one. She’s a Siming, so she definitely has a Twisted One! Tell me everything that happened without leaving out any details. We will face any troubles together.”

Bai Lingmiao remained silent for a very long time before she began. “When Senior Lian took me away on that day, we met with the leader of the White Lotus Sect's branch. They saw me and were thrilled upon seeing me because I was exuding the aura of the Heavenly Mater. They all kneeled and worshiped me.”

“I thought I’d met some liars, but I suddenly felt the presence of the Heavenly Master after they drew some runes and texts on me,” Bai Lingmiao said with a devout expression.

“Senior Li, I'm not sure if you know, but it turns out that my family was wrong. Those worshiping the Heavenly Mater do not need to sacrifice humans. The Heavenly Mater is a good God.”

Hmph!

Li Huowang did not believe it at all.

The Heavenly Mater had probably gotten robbed of her Heavenly Dao related to human sacrifice, which is why she no longer needs human sacrifice. It’s not related to whether she’s good or not.

While Li Huowang was thinking about the Heavenly Mater’s motive, Bai Lingmiao continued with her recount. “She's a really good God, and She even told me that you were in trouble. The Heavenly Mater also said that She could teach me some techniques; She also allowed me to teach them to the White Lotus Sect members so that we can save you.”

“Senior Li, I'm sure you know that we owe Her at this point. If it hadn't been for Her, you would have been in a lot of trouble."

“You were the one who saved me, so I owe you not Her.”

“But my powers are from the Heavenly Mater. I couldn’t have saved you if it hadn't been for her.”

Li Huowang knew that it was useless to argue, so he changed the topic, saying, “Tell Her that regardless of Her goal, we're allies fighting against God Yu’er. We can form an alliance for now. Once the issue is over, we can talk about the terms.”

Li Huowang was no longer naive. Bai Lingmiao was praising the Heavenly Mater a lot, but he knew that the Simings were nothing but trouble. He didn’t want to place Bai Lingmiao’s life under the Heavenly Mater’s control.

Bai Lingmiao nodded and said, “Don’t worry, Senior Li. I think that our situation is fine right now. I'm happy, and my parents are also happy living in the Void Home of the Heavenly Mater. Once I die, I'll return to the Void Home and meet them again!”

Li Huowang couldn’t bear it anymore. He wanted to correct her, but he realized that Bai Lingmiao’s expression had changed.

The familiar presence reminded him of the Second Deity The Second Deity was still alive!

Li Huowang wanted to say something when the Second Deity spoke first, “Why are you so annoying? Do you really like to see Miaomiao shrouded in pain and despair?”

“But it’s fake!”

“So what? We believe it! Also, who lets you dictate what is real and what is fake? How do you differentiate between the two?”

Li Huowang was stunned as several thoughts popped into his mind.

Bai Lingmiao's expression returned to normal, and she apologized to the silent Li Huowang. “I actually wanted to tell you that the Second Deity is still alive, but she didn't want me to do so. We're technically two people but in one body. Our upper half is separated, but our lower half is fused.”

“Wait, let me ask someone about this,” Li Huowang said. He stood up and retrieved his phone from his pocket. Li Huowang soon reached the pond, and he stared at his reflection, shouting, “Ji Zai! I need your help! The future is ever-changing, and this world is still alive, so can you revive Bai Lingmiao’s family for me?”

“I cannot.”

“Why?”

“I cannot do it directly, or everything will change. Also, it was your doing. If I invalidated what you had done, everything that had happened afterward would change, and even...” Ji Zai trailed off.

“Even what?”

“Good. Carry on,” Ji Zai said, staying silent afterward.

“Screw you!” Li Huowang scolded. Ji Zai was his future self, but Li Huowang hated the former. He really wanted to use his cultivation base to manifest Ji Zai’s physical body and punch the latter in the face.

“Senior Li, what’s wrong?” Bai Lingmiao hurried over in a panic. She panicked upon seeing Li Huowang shouting at his own reflection in the pond.

“Don’t worry. I really am cured,” Li Huowang said, patting Bai Lingmiao's shoulder.

“Really?”

“Yes, but there's an issue, and it's a bit confusing. Anyway, let’s focus on the refugees first. I think that their issue is a bit more pressing than mine.”

Bai Lingmao nodded and said, “All right.”

They were afraid that the refugees would attack Cowheart Village, but they soon realized that the refugees couldn't possibly attack the village with their malnourished figures. They wouldn't even be able to breach the city walls of Shangjing.

Cowheart Village and its surroundings remained peaceful. Cowheart Village provided the refugees with some straws, tattered clothes, and wood, allowing them to build simple houses around Cowheart Village.

The houses were ugly and crude, but they'd keep the wind out.

Soon, no more refugees were appearing around Cowheart Village. Li Huowang pondered over it and was convinced that the refugees were finally popping up somewhere else instead of around Cowheart Village.

On that same night, a noise woke him up in the middle of the night.

The noise was faint, but he heard it clearly. It was the sound of a wooden fish—a wooden fish that monks usually played.