Mutated Tao

Every conversation Li Huowang had with Ji Zai made him feel that his flames of anger could never be extinguished.

“I don’t care if you did or didn’t know! We can’t let the Great Liang repeat the fate of the Great Qi! I need your help! Don’t forget that when you asked for my help, I didn’t say any nonsense!” Li Huowang yelled.

“How should I help you, then?” Ji Zai asked.

Li Huowang clenched his fists. “Aren’t you a Siming? Make me stronger. Use your power to keep me in the elevated state of the Ba-Hui’s Cang-Qiang Ascension. This is all to deal with the god Yu’er!”

“I can’t do that. After all, I control bewilderment. You may not be aware of it, but I have helped you.”

“Helped me? Bullshit! How have you helped me? How come I’m not aware?”

“Exactly.”

“What do you mean! I’m asking how you helped!”

Li Huowang’s anger flared at Ji Zai’s nonsensical replies. “I should have chosen to be Ba-Hui’s Twisted One instead of yours!”

Li Huowang calmed down and glared at his reflection.

“Ji Zai, you claim to be my future self, but your actions and words make me doubt if your goals are the same as mine.”

“Would you believe me if I said otherwise? Ever since Zhuge Yuan deceived you, have you trusted anyone?” Ji Zai said, sighing lightly.

“Don’t mention Zhuge Yuan! Aren’t you a Siming? If you have the power, bring Zhuge Yuan back to life!”

“I can’t. In this world, the dead can’t be brought back to life. There’s no such Heavenly Dao in the Baiyu Capital.”

“......”

A long silence ensued between them.

After a while, Li Huowang took a deep breath and said, “You can’t do this, you can’t do that. Fine. Then tell me, how are the others in the future? The people of Cowheart Village? The Great Liang? Have I really managed to protect them in the future?”

“The future depends on your present actions. You know this world is alive and constantly changing.”

Li Huowang looked seriously at Ji Zai. “Stop with the vague talk. I have no other demands. I’ve sacrificed myself to protect those I care about so that they can survive in this abnormal world. Can you promise me that you will protect them?”

Sensing the seriousness in Li Huowang’s words, Ji Zai nodded with certainty. “I can promise you that much, as long as you’re my Twisted One.”

Li Huowang finally relaxed a bit. If Ji Zai couldn’t guarantee anything, he would have to reconsider his options.

“Alright, enough of that. Let’s talk about the current problem. The crisis caused by the god Yu’er is imminent. I need to increase my strength. There were risks with cultivating the ‘Truth’ previously because the ‘Truth’ and ‘Lies’ Heavenly Daos were controlled by Doulao. Now that you’re in charge, can I continue my ‘Truth’ cultivation safely?”

“You don’t need to ask me about such things. If you think you can, then you can.”

Li Huowang’s heart sank. He suddenly felt like his thoughts were being manipulated by Ji Zai.

As he hesitated and prepared to ask something else, an eagle swooped down from the sky and dropped a scroll in front of him.

Li Huowang’s pupils trembled as he opened the scroll. Across the Great Liang’s six divisions, the Dharma Sect was instigating numerous uprisings in large cities and small villages. The Dharma Sect had rebelled.

“God Yu’er is using his power to cause chaos! You’re a Siming too. Stop talking nonsense and do something!” Li Huowang said, urging Ji Zai to help.

“I have. I influenced things.”

“What exactly have you done?!”

“Early on, I sent people to hunt down the Dharma Sect. I also informed my Twisted One that the Dharma Sect’s actions are a diversion. Their real target is Shangjing.”

Li Huowang’s pupils dilated in alarm. “What?! Their target is Gao Zhijian?”

He rushed to his horse. On the way, he quickly contacted Liu Zongyuan, urging him to relay the message to Shangjing.

As Li Huowang rode off, Ji Zai’s wavering inverted image in the water remained and watched Li Huowang leave. Ji Zai looked a little dazed as if he had recalled something.

Soon after, Shangjing contacted Li Huowang.

A black-feathered crow with one leg stood on Li Huowang’s horse and said, “Lord Er, His Majesty is aware and assures you that everything will be handled properly.”

“Forget His Majesty. Does the Surveillance Bureau know?” Li Huowang asked the crow.

Gao Zhijian said that things would be handled properly, but Li Huowang was uncertain about this. After all, Gao Zhijian had only been emperor for less than half a year, and it was doubtful how much power he actually held in the court.

“They do. Both the Imperial Preceptor and the Chief of the Surveillance Bureau are aware. They will be on guard.”

Li Huowang felt slightly relieved.

If the other party wanted to cause a diversion, the biggest fear would be falling into their trap. Since the enemy’s plan was exposed, their scheme had already faced setbacks.

This was the first time Li Huowang had received help ever since becoming Ji Zai’s Twisted One.

“Tell them to be vigilant. I’ll head there myself to ensure everything is secure.”

The crow replied, “No need, Lord Er. Please return. The Surveillance Bureau definitely won’t allow a repeat of what happened last time.”

“You know nothing. Get lost!”

Li Huowang waved the crow away and spurred his horse towards Shangjing.

After learning of the Dharma Sect’s high-level plans from Ji Zai, Li Huowang decided he had to oversee the protection of Gao Zhijian himself. This was more important than dealing with the scattered remnants of the Dharma Sect.

He had to go even if it could be a wasted trip. The Great Liang couldn’t end up like the Great Qi. The victims from the Great Qi could come over to the Great Liang, but there was nowhere those from the Great Liang could head to.

The one-legged crow circled overhead and repeated this message. “Lord Er, you really don’t need to. Please return.”

Li Huowang was lying on his ward bed as he shouted at the voice outside the window. “Enough! Get Lost!”

However, it didn’t stop speaking.

“What is mental illness? Who defines it, and who gave them that right? I believe this label is wrong. Mental illness doesn’t exist. It’s a false label defined by external politics, economics, or culture! It’s just a means to maintain the existing social order!”

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