Chapter 827 - Luck

Chapter 827 - Luck

As Li Huowang was gazing at the road, a carriage emerged in the distance.

The sound of bells filled the air as the extravagant carriage moved towards him.

Eight well-groomed horses trod gracefully and slowly pulled the carriage along. It was clear that the owner of the carriage was not someone ordinary.

Li Huowang's face lit up with joy when he saw Xuan Pin open the carriage curtains. He put down his sword and leaped onto the carriage.

However, his face fell when he saw the people inside the carriage. Xuan Pin was not the only one there. There was also the current Emperor of the Liang Kingdom, Gao Zhijian.

“Sit.” Xuan Pin pulled Li Huowang down and let him sit.

Xuan Pin stared at the two before disappearing into the back of the carriage.

“Senior Li, Shangjing’s food prices have skyrocketed because of your purchases.”

“Really? Are you sure it's not because of the Emperor's hundred and eight dishes that day?”

Gao Zhijian did not deny it. He just remained silent.

It was only when they heard the sound of people talking outside that Gao Zhijian slightly opened the curtains. They were back in Shangjing.

“To destroy the Dharma Sect, many people in Shangjing had to relinquish much of their fortune. Also, since we’ve lost a couple of divisions in a day, our calendar is obsolete now. Food is hard to grow, and since you keep sending food to the Qi Kingdom, it would be useless for us to open our granaries.”

To the left was a grain shop. Several civilians exited the place as they sighed and cursed.

Li Huowang replied, “At least they are still alive and don’t have to eat human flesh. Compared to the Qi Kingdom, the Liang Kingdom could be considered Heaven.”

“That’s true, but Senior Li, don’t forget that people in the Liang Kingdom cannot die right now.” Gao Zhijian closed the curtains, and the carriage continued trudging into Shangjing.

Soon, the carriage stopped. Gao Zhijian opened the curtains to reveal an alleyway filled with beggars. All of them were extremely skinny from starvation. Their limbs were like chopsticks, and their abdomens were engorged. They looked exactly like the hungry ghosts depicted in operas.

They were all lying on the ground without moving. Some of them were even rotting.

An old man was pulling over a cart, picking out the beggars in a more advanced state of decay and transporting them elsewhere to be incinerated.

“Do you think we will successfully annex Si Qi and Nan Ping into the Liang Kingdom? They are separated by Qing Qiu and Hou Shu.”

“I am the Chief of the Surveillance Bureau. I cannot interfere in the matters of the palace.”

“Hm...” Gao Zhijian pondered before he waved his arms. “Return to the palace and call for the six ministers[2].”

Li Huowang walked on the road, feeling distraught as he recalled what Gao Zhijian had told him.

If the Qi Kingdom is real, then the Liang Kingdom is fake. If the Liang Kingdom is real, then the Qi Kingdom is fake. So which side is real?

The two sides aren’t parallel worlds—they’re part of a single timeline that existed a thousand years ago. It’s impossible to split them now.

But then, why is it impossible for the two of them to exist simultaneously? It’s contradictory.

“What’s going on with this world?” Li Huowang had a headache.

“That’s because it's crazy,” someone interrupted. Li Huowang looked down and saw Ji Zai in the reflection of a pool of water.

He stared at his future self and asked, “And then?”

“Nothing else. I can’t say anything else right now since I haven’t said it yet.”

“Do you think I don’t know this world is crazy? Do you think can’t see that? Go away.”

“You are indeed missing an eye.” Ji Zai disappeared, and Li Huowang saw that his reflection had returned.

He squatted down and splashed his face with the water to wake himself up.

As he shook his head to remove the excess water from his hair, he realized he had traveled back to Cowheart Village.

Even though he could cultivate the “Truth,” it still took him two days to reach Shangjing from Cowheart Village. However, he had somehow instantly traveled back to Cowheart Village.

Li Huowang entered the village and saw Puppy. “Senior Li, you’re back early this year!”

1. Previously translated 气运 as luck, but fate would be more appropriate. ☜

2. The six ministers representing Official Affairs, Revenue, Rites, Military, Justice, and Industry. ☜