Definition
- **The Art of War (兵家, Bīngjiā) vs. 'Cheap Tricks':** Peng Longteng's mocking line about "military arts" being superior is a direct reference to the *Bīngjiā*, the School of Military Strategy from the Hundred Schools of Thought. Think Sun Tzu's *Art of War*, but in its purest, most ruthless form. She explicitly names a classic ploy: **"Feint to the east, attack to the west" (声东击西, Shēng dōng jī xī)**. This isn't just a saying; it's a textbook tactic for forcing an opponent to split their focus and resources. Li Huowang's supernatural abilities are powerful, but Peng Longteng's strategic mind, honed by real warfare, treats them as just another variable on the battlefield to be countered with centuries-old wisdom. - **The Gobi (戈壁) as a Psychological Stage:** The open plains here are described as the "Gobi," a vast, rocky desert. In the context of ancient Chinese warfare, the Gobi was a nightmare for infantry. It was a cavalry's paradise—flat, open, and offering zero cover. For a lone individual, being caught in such terrain by mounted archers is not a fight; it is a slaughter. This setting choice deliberately strips Li Huowang of any environmental advantage, forcing him to rely solely on his supernatural abilities and raw grit. It's a masterful touch of "setting as horror." - **The Thousand Greats Record (《大千录》, Dà Qiān Lù):** We see the *Thousand Greats Record* in action once more. This cursed text acts as a reality-altering ledger. Li Huowang's self-mutilation is not a spell; it's a *payment*. The cost—the pain and tissue of his palm—is recorded alongside a chosen effect (tripping the cavalry). It's a fundamentally horrific system: power is not earned or channeled, but physically *bought* from a higher, indifferent entity. The more power he needs, the more of himself he must spend.