Chapter 28: Test
“You’re going to let me go?!” Shen Shuibi looked at Mister Zhu in surprise.
“Not letting you go, but having you take my messenger to find Lady Luofu, and tell her that Wushen Mountain is willing to accept her and willing to withstand the pressure from the Tang Dynasty for her,” Mister Zhu said.
“Oh, I see… But, I have another question, Great Shaman…” Shen Shuibi carefully considered her words: “I heard that initially, weren’t all the Baiyue people wearing animal skins? Why are you all wearing the Tang Dynasty’s cloth clothes now, and the latest styles at that?”
This time, however, she didn't get an answer, because Mister Zhu’s expression changed, and he angrily waved his sleeve.
Thump! Shen Shuibi felt as if her head had been struck by a large hammer!
Then, she felt her soul being forcibly separated from her body. Everything before her eyes became ethereal, and she uncontrollably fell downwards, losing her physical form and becoming a spirit body.
Around her was an indescribable whistling, and the wooden floor and walls offered no obstruction to her.
Then, it was as if ropes had bound her tightly and pulled her back.
Strange, fleeting scenery whizzed past her eyes; everything in the world seemed distorted.
Then, she saw Avīci Hell.
From the five hundred yojanas of the Scorching Thirst Hell, the tormented souls of this hell ran wildly in every direction, relentlessly assaulted by its infernal flames. Their bodies were simultaneously roasted and boiled, and countless beings wailed in agony beyond words.
However, these hallucinations did not last too long. Soon, she was pulled back into her body.
Still deeply shaken, unable to utter a sound, Shen Shuibi clutched her chest, feeling wave after wave of overwhelming nausea.
“I have carved an imprint onto your divine soul that only my Wushen Mountain lineage knows. This imprint is also a letter, containing what I wish to say to Lady Luofu.”
“This thing has no tracking function, so you can rest assured. After all, if I wanted to find Lady Luofu, I could just bring you back, use you as a sacrifice and have a Grand Diviner divine once,” Mister Zhu explained patiently to Shen Shuibi, though his expression didn’t look too good.
“And my messenger is that one,” Mister Zhu walked to the window and pointed at Li Qi below.
Then, ignoring Shen Shuibi, his figure flickered, and he suddenly vanished from the spot. Leaving the rabbit demon staring blankly.
Li Qi was sleeping soundly.
Honestly, he rarely slept so deeply. After all, he had eaten his fill and drank plenty, so sleeping was very comfortable.
Besides, he had been traveling for two days and a night straight, and most of that time was spent frantically running on mountain roads. He was utterly exhausted, so a good rest now was the best thing.
After all, no one who had run a two-day and one-night marathon could sleep anything but soundly.
However, as he slept, he suddenly felt someone beside him.
Almost instantly, Li Qi flipped over!
He still had nine hundred ninety-two Great Lu Five Zhu coins on him! Even while sleeping, he dared not fall into a deep slumber.
However, after getting up, he looked over and instantly almost stumbled to the ground, nearly falling flat on his face.
Because the person who appeared before him was the young scholar who had appeared in the Strong-Force Gang before!
“Hush, don’t shout. It’s late at night; shouting and disturbing the people will also attract others,” Mister Zhu put a finger to his lips and shushed.
Li Qi was still shaken but quickly calmed down.
This young scholar could casually unleash divine will inheritance, bestowing spiritual arts upon others, and now he had appeared silently before him…
He had no ability to resist in front of this person, so there was no need to struggle.
Besides, appearing next to him late at night couldn’t be due to boredom; he must have a purpose, something he sought from him.
What could he, a poor hauler, possibly have that such a great figure would desire?
For someone like him, what could truly pique his interest… would probably be the identities of an Outsider object and an Outsider person, right?
At this thought, Li Qi felt his blood run cold, but he dared not move even more, just standing there awkwardly yet alertly.
Although he knew that vigilance was useless.
However, this person had not killed or abducted him upon appearing, which meant he still had value for conversation. To take the initiative in the dialogue… he needed to understand what he wanted from him, or what he needed him to do. Then… even if he didn’t foolishly haggle, he could at least gain something.
At the very least… he couldn't let this important figure harbor murderous intentions towards him, right?
Li Qi thought helplessly.
“My surname is Zhu, you can call me Mister Zhu,” the young scholar introduced himself to Li Qi.
Li Qi immediately bowed and saluted: “This humble one greets Mister Zhu. Mister Zhu seeks this humble one late at night, surely for an important matter. This humble one will certainly agree to anything, willing to serve Mister Zhu at his beck and call, to offer my humble strength!”
“Hmph, you are indeed a clever one. Your words are much more pleasing than that ignorant woman from before.” Mister Zhu smiled, his previously gloomy expression recovering somewhat: “You guessed right. I have indeed come to you with something I need you to do, but before that, I have something else to tell you.”
“Do you know, you are about to die,” Mister Zhu said with a smile, stroking his palm.
Li Qi’s heart skipped a beat, but then he quickly relaxed.
The other party bringing up that he was about to die meant that he probably truly had some unknown crisis approaching, and his life might genuinely be in danger.
However, Mister Zhu had previously admitted that he had something to entrust to him. And bringing up his impending death immediately after that clearly indicated that this important figure was preparing to resolve the matter, and presumably wanted him to repay this favor by diligently completing the task he was about to assign him.
Li Qi immediately cooperated, bowing his head: “Young Master! This humble one’s life is cheap, and dying is not worth regretting. But I fear that it would delay the important matter Young Master wishes to entrust to this humble one…”
Mister Zhu nodded in satisfaction: “Although I know you are not entirely sincere, it at least proves you are a clever person. Do you know that the matter with the Strong-Force Gang was initially planned by me, and the target was the Outsider object and the Outsider person? Do you know why I did this?”
“Although the incident was sudden, it was ultimately a grave matter. This humble one’s heart has been filled with unease, contemplating day and night, and I have indeed managed to discern a few clues… However, Young Master’s ambition is too vast. This humble one is like an ant entering a great mountain; although I can glimpse the rocks and trees, I cannot see the full panorama of the mountain…” Li Qi immediately replied respectfully, yet he seemed hesitant to say more.
“I believe you have the ability to infer the whole from a glimpse. How about I give you a few clues, and you deduce the situation yourself? If you can’t do that, it will be difficult for me to entrust this matter to you,” Mister Zhu said.
(Chapter End)