Turmeric

A type of paper used for drawing talismans; in Daoist folk practice, it was believed to carry protective or empowering properties when inscribed with spells.

Definition

A type of paper used for drawing talismans; in Daoist folk practice, it was believed to carry protective or empowering properties when inscribed with spells.

Story context

Get ready, because Li Huowang finally gets to throw down with a Zuowandao—and not just any impersonator, but one who’s been masquerading as the Great Qi Emperor himself. This isn’t a quiet infiltration or a test of wits; it’s a full-frontal, fire-and-teeth assault that pays off chapters of tension. Zhuge Yuan steps up with a brush and almanac that rewrite the rules on the spot, and the chapter ends on a classic Zuowandao twist: the enemy you thought you cornered was just a burning shadow puppet all along. It’s action-packed, lore-heavy, and leaves you questioning how deep the deception goes.

Why it matters

Li Huowang’s opening move—yanking out his own teeth—isn’t just shock value; it’s a direct callback to his time under Danyangzi, where he learned to weaponize self-mutilation. The fact that he does it *joyfully* (“You’re finally here!”) is the real character beat here: he’s no longer a victim of body horror, but its active, grinning practitioner. Keep an eye on how the Zuowandao’s escape—leaving only a puppet—connects to earlier lore about “shadow puppets” and illusions. This chapter doesn’t just advance the fight; it crystallizes the philosophical divide between “cultivating the true” and “cultivating the false.” Li Huowang burns everything down with raw, painful reality; the Zuowandao slips away with a clever, fake-out veneer. The game isn’t over, and the next move belongs to the deceivers.