Why won't Li Huowang even consider cultivating the False?

Accepting the premise from the Dice, a known liar, is a trap. For a Heart-Element, just believing the idea could make the 'Qi Deviation' threat real.

Is Li Huowang's approach actually correct?

Zhuge Yuan and the narrative suggest it is, for now. For a normal cultivator it might be wrong, but for a Heart-Element, the simplest defense—total denial—is the safest.

Why is Li Sui cleaning the torture tools so significant?

It shows her growth from a passive parasite to an active, caring agent. She's trying to find a way to be useful and earn her father's approval, a deeply human and touching act.

Inside the Room

1,306 words

Chapter 514: Inside the Room

In response to the monk’s mockery, a flicker of anger passed over the hallucinatory Zuowandao’s face, but it quickly vanished.

Then, slowly, he picked himself up off the ground, made a show of dusting off his clothes, and rubbed his dislocated left cheek back into place.

“Red Center boss, you’ve got some power now. You want to beat me up, you make me solid to take the hits, and when you’re done, you send me back.”

“But what good does bullying a dead man like me do you? It’s not like you can kill me twice, right?”

“Believe it or not, my worry for you just now was genuine. We’re in the same boat now, after all. If you die, we’re all gone just like that.”

As he spoke, the Zuowandao hallucination had imperceptibly drawn closer to Li Huowang, staring at him silently with the two hollow pits on his face.

“What I’m saying is, we should put the Dice aside for now. Let’s focus on the problem right in front of us. Like this issue of yours—cultivating the True but not the False.”

“If we don’t solve that, if you keep cultivating like this, even before the Dice boss gets you, you’ll be the one who falls into Qi Deviation.”

Seeing Li Huowang stand there in silence, the Zuowandao hallucination pressed on. “And this isn’t even hard to fix, right? Red Center boss, the Zuowandao’s method for cultivating the False is right there, in your head. Why don’t you just practice it?”

Crack!

Li Huowang’s fist slammed into the Zuowandao hallucination’s face, snapping his head back for a second time. Red blood sprayed through the air.

The next instant, Li Huowang’s right foot shot out, kicking him square in the stomach and sending him flying backward.

“Li Huowang, have you lost your mind?! I’m trying to tell you something important!”

Clatter. With a metallic rasp, Li Huowang, holding his head, unfastened the bundle of torture implements hanging from his waist. The gleaming, blood-stained tools were laid out in a row in front of the Zuowandao hallucination.

At that, even with a look of utter reluctance on his face, the hallucination fell silent and retreated to a safe distance.

“Li-xiong, what he said does carry a grain of reason. Why won’t you even listen?” Zhuge Yuan approached, asking from the side.

“Zhuge-xiong, think about it. Who was it that said cultivating the True requires cultivating the False?”

“The Dice.”

“Yes, exactly! The Dice said it! I’m a Heart-Element. What do you think he told me that for?”

“Now that I have Red Center’s memories, I can understand how the Zuowandao think! You have to be constantly on guard against their influence. So, what he said is a lie. Cultivating the True means cultivating the True. There’s no need to cultivate the False!”

When Li Huowang said this, his tone was uncharacteristically resolute.

“But isn’t there a possibility that…”

“No! Absolutely not! There’s not a single doubt in my mind right now! Think of all the heinous things the Zuowandao have done in the name of cultivating the False! If I cultivate the False, would I become just like them? The Dice is trying to trick me, and I won’t fall for it!”

Li Huowang stared at Zhuge Yuan with unwavering determination. “If I truly started cultivating the False, I wouldn’t be Li Huowang anymore. I’d become the Zuowandao’s Red Center! So, I say what he said is a lie, and that’s the end of it!”

“Oh…” Zhuge Yuan nodded in understanding. Hearing this, he seemed to grasp the other man’s thinking.

Faced with the Dice’s statement that cultivating the True without the False leads to trouble, Li Huowang hadn't been passive at all. On the contrary, this steadfast attitude was his chosen countermeasure.

“You suspect the Dice is using your Heart-Element ability to make the idea that ‘cultivating the True but not the False leads to Qi Deviation’ become real?”

“So, to prevent that from happening, you’re fighting the lie directly from its root, aren’t you?”

“No.” Li Huowang shook his head firmly. “The Zuowandao cultivate the False without the True and they’re fine. So why would it be a problem for me to cultivate the True without the False? There’s no need to overthink this! It’s definitely a lie!”

“Li-xiong, I understand. I have to say, for a Heart-Element, this approach might just work.” Zhuge Yuan nodded in comprehension and stepped back to stand with the other hallucinations.

The Zuowandao hallucination sidled up to him and whispered something, but Zhuge Yuan just shook his head with a faint smile, waving his fan.

Li Huowang watched them from afar, a look of exhaustion on his face. He stood up and headed toward the bedroom on the second floor.

All the recent events had worn him down, body and soul. On top of that, corporealizing the Zuowandao hallucination twice had drained him completely. He needed a good rest.

As Li Huowang passed by, Li Sui silently followed.

When she saw him lie down on the bed with his eyes closed, Li Sui crawled up beside him, pressing close, feeling the familiar heartbeat within the flesh and muscle.

She liked sleeping next to her dad; it made her feel like she was back inside his body again.

As she curled up head-to-tail, a thought occurred to Li Sui. She gently nuzzled Li Huowang. “Dad, is there anything I can do to help? I really want to help.”

Feeling Li Sui’s concern, a rare warmth spread through Li Huowang. He reached out with his eyes still closed and gently patted her on the head.

“I appreciate it, but for what comes next, you really can’t help. Just behave yourself and don’t cause any trouble. That would be a big help.”

But for the first time, a feeling of unwillingness stirred in Li Sui’s heart. She was obviously very powerful; even her second aunt praised her. Why did her dad always think she couldn’t do anything?

Perhaps because of the rough travel and poor food on the road, Li Huowang slept very soundly that night.

When he finally woke up, it was already late afternoon the next day.

“How long was I out? Thirteen, fourteen hours? No, a day in this world is only twenty-two hours. I shouldn’t have slept that long.”

As Li Huowang began to get up, Li Sui, who had been lying on the floor, quickly scrambled over, her voice excited. “Dad, I did a lot last night! I swept the floor! I swept the whole house! And I filled the water jar!”

“Yeah, yeah, good girl. Well done.” Li Huowang said, sitting up on the bed. He picked up his Daoist robe and copper coin mask from the stool and began to put them on.

But as he dressed, something felt off. The bundle of torture instruments at his waist was gone.

“Did you take them?” Li Huowang looked at Li Sui. He didn’t think any thief would bother stealing some blood-stained iron tools.

“Uh-huh. I washed all the blood off. I noticed some were a bit dull, so I sharpened them all on the whetstone.”

Li Sui held out the collection of implements from within her body. They were polished to a bright shine, gleaming like new. She presented them to Li Huowang like a child offering a prized treasure.

Li Huowang nodded, took the bundle, and reattached it to his waist. Then, as a reward, he reached out and patted her on the head.

“Dad, did I do good?”

“Good.”

“Great, just fucking great. Such a filial daughter.”

Li Huowang whipped his head around, glaring fiercely in the direction of the Zuowandao hallucination who had just spoken.

The hallucination immediately shrank back, cowering as he slipped out the door.

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Reading Guide Decoding

The False Path Denied and a Daughter's Devotion

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

The core conflict here twists a foundational xianxia principle: Cultivating the True (修真). In standard xianxia, this means seeking the genuine Dao, cutting through illusion and falsehood. The Zuowandao, true to their name (“Sitting in Forgetfulness”), propose its opposite: Cultivating the False (修假). Their power comes from making lies real. The Dice’s trap is a classic example of a self-fulfilling prophecy weaponized by a Heart-Element's reality-bending nature. For a normal cultivator, ignoring half a technique might just be dangerous. For Li Huowang, even entertaining the idea is a risk. His head-down refusal isn't stubbornness—it's a survival mechanism. Also notable is the dynamic with Li Sui. Her desire to help by cleaning and sharpening his tools is a deeply human gesture, but her identity as the Black Tai Sui—a grotesque parasite—casts it in a poignant, unsettling light. The Zuowandao hallucination’s snide commentary reminds us that even in moments of peace, corruption is always watching.

Chapter Overview

Li Huowang digs in his heels. Hard. This chapter is a masterclass in psychological trench warfare, as he faces down the most insidious trap the Dice has laid for him: the idea that cultivating the True requires cultivating the False. It’s a classic Zuowandao poison pill—a premise that, if accepted even for a second, starts rewriting your reality from the inside out. Li Huowang’s response? A bone-deep, almost violent refusal. He doesn’t debate; he denies. The chapter pivots from this heated internal standoff to a much quieter, more tender scene with Li Sui, who tries her best to prove she’s more than just a parasitic passenger. It’s a brief breather, but the tension from the philosophical battle still hangs in the air like smoke.

Key Plot Points

The hallucinatory Zuowandao (Red Center’s remnant) tries to persuade Li Huowang to practice the False cultivation method stored in his mind, warning that pure True cultivation will lead to Qi Deviation. Li Huowang physically attacks him twice—corporealizing him just to silence him. Zhuge Yuan intervenes as a voice of reason, pressing Li Huowang to explain his staunch refusal. Li Huowang reveals his logic: the “True requires False” doctrine came from the Dice himself, a Zuowandao. For a Heart-Element, accepting such an idea could turn it into reality. Therefore, his only defense is to reject it absolutely, stamping it out as a lie before it can take root. Zhuge Yuan understands and approves of this countermeasure. Exhausted, Li Huowang rests, sleeping through until the next afternoon. He wakes to find Li Sui has cleaned and sharpened his torture implements without being asked, a gesture of love that both warms him and draws a bitter, mocking comment from the Zuowandao hallucination.

Reading Guide

This is a chapter you feel in your gut, not just your head. Li Huowang’s stance is a powerful character beat—he’s not just fighting monsters and cults anymore; he’s fighting the very framework of the beliefs that define his world. Watch how he handles the debate with Zhuge Yuan. It’s not the calm reasoning of a scholar; it’s the frantic barricading of a man besieged by ideas. He’s not trying to be right; he’s trying to stay himself. Also, pay close attention to the quiet aftermath with Li Sui. This is a rare moment of peaceful connection in a life of horror. The fact that it’s immediately punctured by a sarcastic comment from the very embodiment of his internal conflict shows that for Li Huowang, there is no rest, only a ceasefire.

The Mechanics of a Heart-Element Defense

Let’s get into the weeds on why Li Huowang’s strategy works. Standard cultivators suffer consequences from their own spiritual deviations—bad qi flow, damaged meridians. But a Heart-Element’s power is to make the intangible tangible. The Dice’s lie isn’t just a persuasive argument; it’s a seed that, if planted in Li Huowang’s fertile conceptual ground, could grow into a real spiritual disaster. By categorically refusing to accept the premise—essentially shouting “That’s a lie!” with all his being—Li Huowang is performing a kind of exorcism on his own thoughts. It’s crude, it’s violent, and it works. Zhuge Yuan’s approval is crucial here: he recognizes that for this specific constitution, the simplest solution is often the most effective. Sometimes, the best way to win a battle against reality-warping lies is to refuse to play the game.

Li Sui’s Coming of Age

This chapter is a quiet but important milestone for Li Sui. Her eager, almost childlike desire to help—“Dad, did I do good?”—is a clear sign of her developing independence and sense of self. She’s no longer just a passive tumor; she’s an agent trying to carve out a role and earn approval. The act of cleaning the grisly torture implements is symbolically rich. She’s not just tidying up; she’s taking care of her father’s tools of survival, domesticating the monstrous aspect of their shared life. Her pride in her work is heartbreakingly innocent, a stark contrast to the cynical commentary of the Zuowandao hallucination, who immediately twists her good deed into a weapon of mockery. It’s a reminder that even Li Huowang’s most genuine connections are subject to the world’s relentless corruption, but also that those connections are his strongest bulwark.

Quick Q&A

Lore recap (TL;DR) drawn from this chapter's Cultural / Xianxia Notes — same text as the FAQ structured data on this page.

Why won't Li Huowang even consider cultivating the False?: Accepting the premise from the Dice, a known liar, is a trap. For a Heart-Element, just believing the idea could make the 'Qi Deviation' threat real.
Is Li Huowang's approach actually correct?: Zhuge Yuan and the narrative suggest it is, for now. For a normal cultivator it might be wrong, but for a Heart-Element, the simplest defense—total denial—is the safest.
Why is Li Sui cleaning the torture tools so significant?: It shows her growth from a passive parasite to an active, caring agent. She's trying to find a way to be useful and earn her father's approval, a deeply human and touching act.