The Severed Vein

“You’re the Siming of Qingqiu?”

“I know Li Huowang’s reputation. I know who you are. Why have you come to Qingqiu?”

“Xuanpin told you?” Li Huowang frowned. So the intelligence services of the various kingdoms were sharing information after all.

“It doesn’t matter who told me. Right now, you need to answer one question: why are you here in Qingqiu?”

“Why am I here? I’m here to help deal with the Fa Sect! Isn’t that obvious?”

Hearing his reply, the woman let out a cold, thin smile. “I heard you work for the Emperor of Liang. So he refused the Great Khan’s request for troops without a second thought, and then tossed you over here like an alms offering to ‘help’?”

Li Huowang’s frown deepened. Her attitude was off. Was there some complicated history between Qingqiu and Liang that he didn’t know about?

“You know who I am, so you should know my strength too. Isn’t that enough?”

“Heh. Then I’d really like to test if Li Huowang is as formidable as everyone says.” She stood up. “I am Bian Zhen, a disciple of the Left Path. I await your instruction.”

“The Left Path?” Li Huowang looked her over, his right hand slowly tightening around the bone sword.

Right as the atmosphere began to sharpen, he watched the woman before him melt and reform, her body shifting until she became the tall, familiar figure of Xuanpin.

“Xuanpin, what is this? You’re wasting my time with games at a moment like this?”

Xuanpin’s long, slender finger reached out and gently pressed into Li Huowang’s forehead, then withdrew just as casually—leaving no mark behind.

“I’m not physically here. I just got word you’d arrived, so I hurried over. Bian Zhen, there’s no need for a test. I know Li Huowang’s measure.”

Bian Zhen’s body stepped out from within the Simian’s, gave Li Huowang one more appraising look, and then turned and walked away on her toes.

Once they were alone, Li Huowang cut straight to it. “Alright, since we’re old acquaintances, let’s skip the pleasantries. What’s the overall situation? How far has the Fa Sect’s influence spread?”

He needed a clear picture of what was happening here in order to figure out how to shift the odds in their favor.

But instead of answering, Xuanpin posed another question. “You brought the White Lotus Saintess with you? Why?”

“Do you even need to ask? The only reason the Fa Sect has expanded so fast is that ignorant villagers believe praying to Yuer Shen will save them from their suffering.”

“If that’s their angle, we have to counter it. If they’re going to believe in a god, let it be Wusheng Laomu—at least she’s on our side.”

Xuanpin nodded slowly. “Not a bad thought. But you need to think further ahead. We need multiple factions working to shake the Fa Sect’s foundation. We don’t want to drive off one tiger only to let a wolf in through the back door.”

“In fact, I’ve already spoken with several sects and temples. Many of their disciples have descended from their mountains and begun operations within the borders of Shu.”

“I can’t manage all that. Right now, I need the status of the war in Shu.”

“It’s grim. The Shu military is fighting steadily, but they’re on the verge of collapse. Because yesterday, at midday, the dragon vein of Shu was severed.” The moment Xuanpin spoke these words, the air in the room turned suffocating.

Though Shu was a small kingdom, Li Huowang knew exactly what it meant when a dragon vein was cut. Before long, the entire kingdom would turn into a living hell.

“I thought you said Shu was locked in a deathmatch with the Fa Sect? How did the dragon vein get severed so fast? What the hell happened?”

“I don’t know. Just two days ago, I was in contact with the Sitian Jian of Shu. The vein was intact then, and they had laid out a comprehensive defense. The Fa Sect hadn’t even approached the Shu royal city.”

“For such a dramatic change to happen in a single day… I can’t calculate it. There must be some deep cause-and-effect at work.”

Li Huowang paced the room, frowning deeply, trying to figure out what he could do to help.

Remembering Gao Zhijian’s past experience, he spoke up. “Dragon veins can be reconnected. Can we find a way to rejoin the Shu vein?”

“It’s possible, of course. But where do we find a posthumous son of the royal bloodline right now? And more importantly—the Fa Sect currently holds the dragon vein. How do we take it back?”

Just as he finished speaking, Xuanpin paused. “As of just this moment… a report from Zheng Boqiao in Shu. The Fa Sect has already begun using the Shu dragon vein.”

Li Huowang ground his teeth, his mind racing. He knew how powerful a dragon vein could be. This would only make things worse.

After a few seconds of intense thought, he looked up. “I’m going to Shu right now. I’ll handle the dragon vein. You find the posthumous son. Can you do that? Forget the other concerns for now—let’s get the Shu vein reconnected first.”

“That won’t be easy. Royal bloodlines are finite, and one emperor can’t serve two kingdoms. Unless you can find another banner-bearer from Qi.”

“So what? We just stop looking because it’s hard? Fine, let’s swap roles—you go deal with the dragon vein.”

As he spoke, Li Huowang pulled a map from inside his robes and spread it across the table. “Take a good look. If we lose Shu, and with Siqi and Nanping already gone, the Fa Sect’s territory will be larger than Liang’s.”

Xuanpin studied the map, mulling it over, then gave a slight nod. “Alright. You retrieve the Shu dragon vein. I’ll find the posthumous son. Even if I can’t find one, denying the Fa Sect its use is still a win.”

“Fine. First, tell me where the vein is. I’m leaving now.”

The moment Li Huowang finished, Shangguan Yuting emerged from Xuanpin’s wide red robe and greeted him with a shy bow.

“She will inform you of the vein’s approximate location. I’ll also order the people we still have in Shu to assist you however they can.”

“Done.” Li Huowang turned and started making his way out of the gloomy inner city.

But before he got far, Xuanpin’s words made him pause. “Be careful. The Fa Sect will undoubtedly guard the vein heavily. There will be many people stationed nearby. And…”

“And what? Spit it out. Don’t give me half a sentence.” Li Huowang’s voice was impatient.

“And… I find the fall of the Shu dragon vein suspicious. We’ve been distracted here because of the Zuowandao Dice, but the other kingdoms’ Sitian Jian aren’t incompetent. The Fa Sect’s followers have grown too powerful, far too quickly.”

“What are you trying to say?” Li Huowang’s brow furrowed tighter than ever.

“I suspect we’re not only dealing with Yuer Shen. There may be one, or even two other entities hiding in the shadows, secretly aiding the Fa Sect.”