Mutated Tao

In the spacious hall, a scholar bowed deeply to Li Huowang. “Liu Yifang from the Minglun Hall greets Daoist Li. Yesterday, agents from the Tianchen Kingdom secretly contacted my subordinates and claimed there was no conflict between the Tianchen Kingdom and the Great Qi.”

He continued, “They said that as long as the people of the Great Qi stand by and watch, the Tianchen Kingdom will always provide three times the amount of food you send.”

This was a blatant attempt to sow discord and a very overt, cunning scheme.

In the past, Gao Zhijian wanted the Great Qi to act as his henchman. If the Great Qi were to become the Tianchen Kingdom’s pawn, it would be a significant problem.

“Are you the only ones they’re trying to sow discord with?” Li Huowang asked, his voice cold.

Liu Yifang quickly explained, “That should be the case. If others were aware, they would likely report it too.”

“No, since the Tianchen Kingdom is sowing discord, they wouldn’t just target you. You being the only one who has informed me suggests that others are either on the fence or already divided by the Tianchen Kingdom!” Li Huowang said.

He slapped the stone seat in a fit of anger, cracking it open.

“There is also me!” someone yelled from above.

As Li Huowang looked up, he saw the leader of the Mo family approaching. “Rest assured, Daoist. The Mo family will never turn our backs on our ancestral rules!”

Li Huowang’s expression remained indifferent, creating significant tension in the hall.

After thinking for a moment, Chan Du said, “Benefactor Li, it might not be as you think. The Tianchen Kingdom might not be sowing discord with everyone. Many people might not even be aware of the situation. At the very least, no one from the Righteous Monastery has had contact with them.”

“It’s fine, I’m not angry.”

Li Huowang paused for a long time before speaking again. “I was just contemplating how to deal with their scheme. You two, if anyone contacts you again, agree to their demands and consent to the Tianchen Kingdom’s discord.”

“What?!”

Everyone present thought they had heard wrong.

“You two should infiltrate and negotiate with the Tianchen Kingdom. Whatever route they suggest is fine, but there is one requirement. They must first send the food.”

Liu Yifang hesitated and looked at Li Huowang. “And after the food arrives…”

“Once the food has arrived, what is there to fear? By then, we can just ambush them. Ideally, we’d find a way to capture their Twisted One.”

Playing along with their scheme was better than exposing it directly.

Li Huowang didn’t know if there were other methods to cross between two different worlds. However, resolving the issue regarding the Tianchen’s Kingdom Twisted One was a priority. Once he had had their spine, he could go to their world and be less passive.

The others in the hall heaved a sigh of relief when they finally understood Li Huowang’s intentions.

“But this is not in accordance with the rules,” the leader of the Mo family said, frowning in dissatisfaction.

“Don’t you know that everything is fair in war? Besides, there are two conflicting rules now. Which do you think is more important?”

Noticing that the Mo family’s leader had fallen silent, Li Huowang waved his hand. “Alright, you can go now. Wait until they contact you again.”

”Yes!”

After the two left, the entire hall felt empty and cold.

“I’m tired. I’ll take a nap,” Li Huowang said, standing up and walking to the back.

Chan Du quickly followed. “Benefactor Li, I have an idea about the Dragon Veins.”

“Don’t tell me. I’ve already said that I only care about having enough food. Matters concerning the Dragon Veins of the Great Qi are for the people of the Great Qi to handle, not me!”

Chan Du watched Li Huowang gradually disappear, letting out a soft sigh before continuing to turn the Buddhist beads in his hand. “Ah, it’s a real shame. If it weren’t for the Tianchen Kingdom’s enmity with him, he might have already returned to the Great Liang.”

However, Chan Du could empathize as he understood the situation from Li Huowang’s perspective. After all, Li Huowang had previously helped wholeheartedly, only to be betrayed by the people of the Great Qi. It was pretty disheartening.

“This won’t do. I must find a way to keep this Twisted One of Ji Zai.”

Although the Great Qi had no more divisions, time still passed little by little. Half a month later, spies from the Tianchen Kingdom approached Liu Yifang again.

“Follow me quickly.”

A shadow emerged from the trees and climbed onto Liu Yifang’s shadow.

Liu Yifang said nothing and silently followed the shadow’s guidance. They headed towards the outskirts of the city.

With food now available, You Capital was no longer an isolated city. Four smaller towns had sprung up around it, used to accommodate refugees from other places. As such, leaving You Capital would not be enough—there were still too many people around.

Liu Yifang and the shadow pressed on, walking steadily until they reached a truly desolate wilderness.

The spot they stopped at had very tall grass and small trees. Then, Liu Yifang walked through the waist-high grass and headed toward a valley.

The valley was dark without sunlight. Faint, indistinct music could be heard from deep within.

Liu Yifang saw other members of the Surveillance Bureau. Although their faces were covered, he could still recognize them.

As they moved further in, Liu Yifang saw more people gathered there, and the music grew clearer.

It was a kind of pleasant string music, accompanied by the gentle sound of bubbling springs, the crisp chirping of birds, the joyful bleating of sheep, and the thunderous galloping of horses.

Liu Yifang saw the source of the music when they reached the valley's depths.

A woman sat there gracefully, with waist-length hair and a transparent veil. She held a peculiar black instrument with a long, slender neck and a gourd-shaped soundbox.

What made it even more peculiar was that two of her fingers were wrapped in thin threads that ran through the center of a circular stool, tied to the two small wooden sheep on the stool.

As her fingers plucked the strings on the instrument, the two wooden sheep were pulled back and forth in sync with the music. They performed strange and eerie movements as if in a ritual.

Liu Yifang had traveled extensively but had never seen such an unusual instrument.

As the music accelerated, the two wooden sheep moved faster and oozed blood. Eventually, amid the stormy music, the two wooden sheep collided heavily, intertwining to form a bizarre, twisted bloodwood tree on the round stool.

“Has everyone arrived?” the woman asked.

Her voice was unexpectedly melodious. It sounded like a gentle spring, soothing and captivating.

Liu Yifang quickly surveyed the surroundings and found a total of twelve people.

The woman continued, “Although there aren't many of you, everyone here is a hero who cares for the Great Qi. The Great Qi ultimately belongs to the people of the Great Qi. It must not be occupied by others, and the lives of the people should not be used as a wager.

“By His Majesty’s decree, as long as the people of the Great Qi do not take action, the Tianchen Kingdom will not act against them.”

Liu Yifang could not contain himself and said, “Miss, does the Tianchen Kingdom really intend to send three times the amount of food to the Great Qi?”

“Yes,” the woman said, gently plucking a string.

A door in the nearby mountain opened instantly, and a flood of white rice surged out like a tide.

The sight of the mountains of rice made everyone tremble. So much food would genuinely save the Great Qi!

A thunderous voice rang out, “Wait!”

Everyone turned to look at Liu Yifang. He opened his hand to let the rice fall from his fingers.

He pulled at his skin, and Li Huowang’s enraged face appeared before everyone.

“You deceitful scoundrels!”

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!