Chapter 182 - Great Deity

Chapter 182 - Great Deity

The commotion caused by Li Huowang unsheathing his sword startled Lady Cui, instantly jolting her awake.

“Ah, what’s happening? Weren’t you asking rice? Why are you so worked up?” She asked in a flustered voice, as though genuinely unaware of what had just transpired.

Li Huowang had been ready to strike, but paused and looked at the bewildered Lady Cui with an uncertain expression. He couldn’t determine whether she was pretending or whether she was truly perplexed. Logically, if they were interested in him as a Strayed One, then they shouldn’t be acting this way.

“Are you going to ask or not? If not, I’m leaving,” Lady Cui said as she lifted her basket and prepared to leave.

After a moment, Li Huowang decided that he did not want her to leave. He dragged over a nearby wooden stool and sat down with his sword. “I want to continue asking questions. Summon that supreme being back.”

Hearing this, Lady Cui hesitated for a few moments, then placed down her basket and re-lit the incense sticks.

The same sequence of actions as earlier were repeated, and then the male voice reappeared.

After learning that Li Huowang lacked his five elements, the voice gave a very strange answer. “Change your name and surname! Lack five elements~ Fill five elements!”

Then, ‘Lady Cui’ reached into the basket and grabbed a handful of rice, scattering it onto the ground before Li Huowang.

Jin Zaomu[1]. These words appeared before Li Huowang.

Change my name?

Li Huowang looked at the name on the floor and was rather puzzled.

Could having the five elements in my name really compensate for the missing elements? Is this person just trying to deceive me?

After pondering for a while, Li Huowang decided to once again test the ability of this entity. He faced Lady Cui who was drinking the tea and wine, and then asked, “Thank you for the clarifications. I have another question I wish to ask; could you help provide an answer for it?”

“Ask~!”

“Why has the process of ‘decay’ stopped in this world recently?” asked Li Huowang. If this unknown entity could provide a real answer, then Li Huowang would immediately change his name.

“This again? You’re quite skilled at pretend acting! I’ll repeat this one last time! Get lost!” shouted Li Huowang.

At this point, it was evident that Lady Cui was quite frightened by Li Huowang’s killing intent. In a panicked state, she picked up her belongings from the ground and stumbled outside.

Clang!

Once she left, Li Huowang sheathed his sword, and the room gradually returned to normal.

“Let’s go get some sleep. We should have a good rest while we still have a bed,” Li Huowang said. As he stepped into the inner room, he put on the bronze-coin mask.

Feeling the weight of the mask, he let out a sigh of relief. “I’ll need to bring this thing with me from now on. My identity as a Strayed One is too enticing to some people.”

“Master~ What if... What she said was true?” asked Bai Lingmiao.

“That was the only reason I didn’t strike her body. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let her leave through the door. Also, don’t call me Master!” said Li Huowang.

That night, Li Huowang hardly slept, fearing a night-time ambush by the other party.

Next day, even though nothing had happened, Li Huowang had everyone hastily pack their luggage and leave this troubled area.

It was only after they arrived at the bustling streets of the border town of the kingdom of Si Qi that Li Huowang finally relaxed.

Compared to before, there was much less tension over here, suggesting that they might no longer be at war.

Li Huowang and the others took some time to rest in the town, and then prepared to re-enter Hou Shu. But before that, there was something that they needed to do.

At the Hutou Escort Office, the burly Chief Escort read the recommendation letter in his hand, while scrutinizing the peculiar red-robed Daoist with a mask of bronze coins on his face.

After much consideration, he placed the letter back. “Alright, since Leader Zhao is taking your guarantee, then I’ll trust you! However, let’s make it clear beforehand. If you’re escorting goods, then we’ll take a twenty percent cut from each deal. After all, we’re the ones signing the contracts. Is this agreeable?”

“Yes,” Li Huowang readily agreed. Escorting cargo was quite convenient for his group, and the earnings were essentially free money.

“If the goods are lost, I won’t hold you accountable. We have our own guarantors too. Since you said Leader Zhao is your friend, don’t disappoint him,” said the Chief Escort.

1. the three characters of the name Jin Zaomu has the radicals of the five elements, 金灶沐 ?