Chapter 27: Gaze
Having been here for several years, Li Qi had long mastered the unique skill of falling asleep anywhere.
There was no other way; sometimes, pulling a boat meant hauling from dawn till dusk, ending up as tired as a dead dog, and simply lying down on the riverside gravel to sleep.
What else could a hauler do?
As for staying at an inn, it would cost twenty qian a night, and that was for a shared dormitory. If he wanted a private room, it would be no less than forty or fifty qian, and he couldn't bear such extravagance.
Thinking about it, his previous world was actually quite similar.
Many farmers would cultivate their land for a year, haul their produce to the city, and after selling it, only have two or three thousand yuan left in their pockets.
Going to the city and earning that much money, but for one night’s stay… not to mention the grand hotels, even those budget hotels would easily cost one or two hundred, or three or four hundred yuan.
So, they would rather sit by the roadside and endure the night than stay in a budget hotel.
Li Qi was currently in this very situation.
However, the good thing was that he was at least full tonight.
Curled up in a corner, sheltered by an eaves, that was enough.
Li Qi closed his eyes, preparing to rest. After all, he had been traveling for an entire day and night yesterday and was utterly exhausted. He tied his bundle to his hand and tucked it into his embrace, ensuring that no one could touch it without startling him.
He was asleep.
However, a faint gaze, piercing through the deep night sky, rested upon Li Qi.
“His temperament is decent, he’s more than resourceful, not lacking in bravery and he’s calm and composed even facing his own wanted poster as if nothing happened. This kid, how is he like a mere commoner hauler? Indeed, is he an Outsider?”
Back then, on the River-Observing Tower, the “Mister Zhu,” who had shared the stage with the Prefect of Li Prefecture and even received the Prefect’s respectful bow, stood in a guest room of an inn not far away, looking at Li Qi through the open window.
“I painstakingly performed a grand ritual, and the divination result said that the Outsider would appear, which would be greatly auspicious for me,” he muttered to himself: “It’s difficult to divine for Outsiders, but I finally managed to find a trace after much hardship. But this Outsider, does it refer to this thing… or that person?” Mister Zhu was toying with the broken game console in his hand.
He had already tested it with various methods, earth, fire, water, wind, thunder, netherworld, divine light, will, all had tentatively contacted this object. He finally determined that this object only reacted to weak electric currents.
But it was only a reaction; all the internal components were already broken and could not be activated at all.
Was it the effect of this external object, or the effect of this person?
Mister Zhu pondered.
“Ooh… mmph mmph mmph!” But at this moment, a woman’s voice came from nearby, a muffled sound made as if her mouth was gagged.
“Stop struggling, your cultivation has already been dispersed; you can’t break free from this Silence Spell.” Mister Zhu put away the game console, turned around, and sat on a stool, looking at the beautiful woman on the bed.
If Li Qi were here, he would instantly recognize her as Shen Shuibi, the demon he had gone to great lengths to escape from.
“Lady Luofu’s personal maidservant… Heh, truly a big fish. The result of the grand ritual was indeed spot on: the Outsider appears, greatly auspicious for me. Such a heaven-sent merit is practically delivered to my mouth; I just need to open it and take it,” Mister Zhu said to Shen Shuibi.
Shen Shuibi’s face was filled with terror. Although she appeared to have no physical restraints, she seemed to be firmly bound, thrashing about like a fish pulled onto shore, yet unable to stand up or get off the bed.
Watching her struggle, Mister Zhu seemed a bit bored and said to her: “I will release your restraints and let you speak, but you’d best cooperate well. Can you do that?”
“If not, don’t blame me for taking you back to Wushen Mountain.”
“Although my ability is insufficient to divine Lady Luofu’s location through you, among the many Grand Diviners of Wushen Mountain, there will surely be one who can. By then, you won’t even have the chance to cooperate with me,” Mister Zhu said.
“You are Lady Luofu’s personal maidservant, and your karma is extraordinarily entwined with hers. Do you suppose the Grand Diviners of Wushen Mountain can directly trace Lady Luofu’s location through you?”
“By then, she will have died because of you.”
After speaking, Mister Zhu waited for Shen Shuibi’s reply.
He then saw Shen Shuibi stop struggling, but tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down.
She sobbed for a while, then quickly wiped her tears on the pillow, and nodded.
It seemed she had agreed to cooperate.
Seeing this, Mister Zhu waved his hand casually, releasing her restraints.
She suddenly gained freedom, but she didn’t move.
“This Grand Priest…” Shen Shuibi shiveringly looked at Mister Zhu.
“No, no, I am merely a ritual priest, not a Grand Priest. But it doesn’t matter, you can call me whatever you like,” Mister Zhu said.
He still retained his youthful, scholarly appearance, looking very benevolent.
“Shen Shuibi, is it? No need to be so afraid. I only restrained you before because I feared you might have some secret art. Now that you’ve decided to cooperate and possess no secret arts, why would I make things difficult for you?”
“Besides, you must have noticed, haven’t you? If I truly intended to take you back to Wushen Mountain, I would have done so already. Why would I wait until now?” Mister Zhu said.
After all, she was a maidservant by Lady Luofu’s side, so she should be able to comprehend his goodwill.
However, Mister Zhu didn’t expect Shen Shuibi to pause, then suddenly realize and nod, her trembling body also relaxing.
Ah? This… Lady Luofu’s maidservant, why does she seem a bit foolish?
But, it was good that she calmed down. Since she wasn’t the main person in charge, whether she was foolish or not didn’t matter.
However, seeing Shen Shuibi still dazed, Mister Zhu spoke again: “Shen Shuibi, do you believe that the land of Baiyue is already under the Human Way’s dominion?”
Shen Shuibi was suddenly startled awake and quickly nodded: “The Lady said… the nations of Baiyue have been too deeply influenced by the Tang Dynasty and no longer revere the Shamanic Way, only worshiping the Human Way.”
These words were so blunt that Mister Zhu’s face darkened by a third.
“Cough, cough. Although Lady Luofu is insightful, she is not from Baiyue, and her understanding of the current situation is insufficient. Wushen Mountain, after all, is still the master of Baiyue. The Ten Thousand Great Mountains and the nations of Baiyue still obey the commands of Wushen Mountain!” Mister Zhu said with a gloomy expression.
“Then why are there county towns and prefectural cities everywhere? And county magistrates and officials? And why do they govern according to laws? I heard these are all characteristics of the Human Way, aren’t they?” Shen Shuibi asked, confused.
“Don’t ask such useless questions!” Mister Zhu snapped in exasperation: “Let’s get to the point. Wushen Mountain is not idly sitting by. We still have a say in the land of Baiyue. Lady Luofu was wronged in the Tang Dynasty and fled to Baiyue. Perhaps she can come to Wushen Mountain and meet with the various Shamnic Lords.”
“But… Lady isn’t here, so what good is telling me?” Shen Shuibi’s face showed some grievance.
“Therefore, I plan to have you take a messenger and notify Lady Luofu,” Mister Zhu said, letting out a long breath and regaining his composure.
(Chapter End)