Drunk

Zhao Qin, emboldened by the liquor, rambled on and on at Li Huowang, seemingly trying to talk him out of becoming an escort.

But Li Huowang's attention had already drifted away from that topic. He'd been caught by a single term the man had used.

"Chief Escort Zhao, this 'Supervisory Heavenly Office' you mentioned—what is it?”

He’d been in this place for months, but this was the first time he’d heard of it. This was a good chance to learn.

"The Supervisory Heavenly Office? I hear it's full of high-level masters paid by the Emperor. If someplace runs into evil troubles that the constables and the garrison can't handle, they're the ones who go and deal with it."

Li Huowang wasn't surprised. If the Siqi court had managed to hold together, they'd definitely have a department to deal with this sort of uncanny business. He just wasn't sure if these people were trained inside the palace or recruited as special talents from outside.

Seeing that Li Huowang had nothing to add, Zhao Qin continued. "But, even so, they're not always that reliable, you know."

"For instance, four years ago, there was this one town. Nobody knows how it happened, but every single person in it was slaughtered."

"Tsk tsk tsk. Tens of thousands of people, just gone in a single night."

Zhao Qin shook his head in pity, not noticing at all that Li Huowang's fingers had gone white around his wine cup.

Wang Chengxing spoke up from the side. "I heard about that too. Heard it was brutal. None of the dead were even whole."

"How can people do that? Weren't they born from a mother too? They're worse than animals."

It was at that moment that Li Huowang saw Jiang Yingzi, her face twisted with rage, lean in close to him.

See that? See how they talk about you? What right do you have to keep living? Why don't you just die!

Li Huowang’s chest began to heave.

Nobody else noticed, but Bai Lingmiao detected something was wrong with him.

Quietly swapping places with Xiao Man, she reached over and covered Li Huowang's trembling hands with her own. "Brother Li, are you all right?"

Li Huowang took a deep breath, then looked at Zhao Qin with a smile. "Chief Escort Zhao, let's not talk about affairs of state. Matters like that aren't for small fry like us to worry about."

"Right, right, right! Let the big shots worry about their own business. Drink up, drink! On behalf of my worthless wife, I offer another toast to my young brother Li!"

"Drink! Drink!" Li Huowang grabbed the wine jug and poured it straight down his throat.

Li Huowang wasn't really a drinker. Baijiu, especially, was too much for him.

That night, he had no idea when he'd finally passed out.

He just remembered that the feeling of being drunk had been good. He didn't have to think about anything. He didn't have to worry about anything.

"Li Huowang… Li Huowang!"

Hearing the voice, Li Huowang's eyes snapped open in his sleep, meeting the gaze of a pair of eyes filled with nothing but hatred—Jiang Yingzi's.

Jolting awake from a dream to find a blood-soaked, limbless girl right in front of you would frighten anyone. But Li Huowang was used to it by now. He glanced at Danyangzi floating on the ceiling, then pushed himself up with his hands, sitting on the edge of the bed.

He was still in his underclothes. The moment he stood up, he grimaced, clutching his head as he sat back down.

"Can't hold my liquor after all..." It was the first time Li Huowang had ever felt a hangover this bad, though it might also have been because his senses were sharper now.

With a creak, the door was pushed open from outside, and Bai Lingmiao walked in, carrying a bronze basin.

Seeing Li Huowang sitting on the edge of the bed, clutching his head in pain, she hurried over and set the basin on the wooden stand.

The sound of splashing water filled the room. She wrung out a cloth, then walked over, supporting the back of his head with one hand while gently wiping his face with the other.

As she was wiping his neck, Li Huowang looked at her face, so close to his own, and asked, "Where are we?"

"Still at the escort agency. Chief Escort Zhao said not to rush off when you wake up. He's already sent someone to look for the sword manual."

Li Huowang's eyes fell on the two long swords lying next to his red Daoist robe, and he nodded in understanding.

Bai Lingmiao seemed to know what he was thinking without him having to say it.

She walked over, picked up one sword, and placed it in Li Huowang's hands.

This was the first time he'd had a chance to examine the weapon since he'd taken possession of it.

The blade was three chi and two cun long, half a finger's width across. Its overall color was dark. The black handle had a streamer of dark purple silk about an inch long hanging from it.

The pommel was carved into a savage beast, its fangs bared. When he ran his fingers over it, they felt like they might be cut.

To Li Huowang’s eye, it was a very plain-looking sword. There was nothing about it that suggested a divine weapon.

After thinking for a moment, he decided not to draw it to test it. He couldn't have said whether it was the interference his actions might cause, but something about the sword just felt… wrong.

For some reason, it gave him an uneasy feeling, just like the Thousand Greats Record.

"Even if the abbess said this sword isn't a threat to me, I think it's best to keep it sheathed as much as possible."

"Brother Li, can you walk? If you can't, I can bring you breakfast in the room."

"No, I just need a minute. There's no one pushing us from behind now. We can take it slow."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a chilling, layered laughter came from the ceiling.

Li Huowang looked up to see his master's three heads all staring at him, their eyes full of mockery.

"What are you laughing at?!"

"Brother... Brother Li?" Bai Lingmiao looked at the empty ceiling, then back at Li Huowang, a flicker of unease stirring in her heart.

"Nothing. Let's go downstairs and eat." He put his right hand on her shoulder and, stumbling slightly, made his way toward the door.

When he stepped outside, he saw that the day had grown fully bright.

Both the front and back courtyards of the escort agency were bustling with activity.

Zhao Qin had obviously given his orders. Everyone they passed bowed to Li Huowang with deep respect.

His gaze drifted past a wooden pillar toward the lively practice grounds in the distance.

He could see Gouwa, Gao Zhijian, Chun Xiaoman, Sun Baolu, and the others, all busy learning something from a few of the escorts.

"What are they doing?" Li Huowang asked, puzzled.

"Gouwa suggested it before. He asked if the escorts could give him some pointers, and then everyone else went to join in the fun. That's how it ended up."

"Heh, they sure know how to take advantage. Listen, go to the inn later and let Troupe Leader Lü know what's going on. If he doesn't see us, he might think we left without him."

"Mm, I understand."

He glanced up at Danyangzi. After a moment's thought, he asked, "No trouble with the Immortal?"

Bai Lingmiao's eyes flickered. "No, nothing. Why do you ask, Brother Li?"

"Good. If something comes up, remember to tell me. Don't forget, you're not Li Zhi. If something really happens, I'll figure out a way."

"Mm. Okay."

They fell quiet, the two of them savoring the rare moment of peace as they slowly made their way toward the kitchen.

They'd been pushing so hard to travel lately; it was a luxury to have this kind of leisure.

Bai Lingmiao leaned her body gently against his chest, a faint sweetness rising in her heart.

"Don't ever hide anything from me, no matter how hard it gets. We can figure it out together. After all... you're all I have left now."

"...Mm."