Chapter 416: Confused Siming

"You didn't want the past arranged by Doumu, so you cut that history out and forged a Red Middle Li Huowang, then, to amuse yourself, you planted psychological suggestions into him."

"Yeah, including the lawsuit against the Yuzhe Sect for cyberfraud was something you two did together."

"That illusionary Red Middle was a scapegoat—the real culprit behind the destruction of Song Shuhang's resurrection artifact is you."

"."

Su Lin placed both arms on the table, interlaced his fingers beneath his nose, and remained silent for a full half-minute.

How to put it? The most honest, least reckless young man in the group had done the most horrifying thing—and even Su Lin hadn't expected it.

"Sorry, I got too excited when I first encountered other worlds, and when I realized I couldn't cut it, I completely forgot about him," Li Huowang said, clutching his head.

He now desperately wanted to split out Red Middle Li Huowang and stab him ten or twenty times; only when wave after wave of memories crashed over him did Li Huowang realize what this guy had actually done.

The final image showed Red Middle Li Huowang standing before a mirror, muttering to himself: "Xin Su is so fun~"

These damn Xiwang Daoists…

"Su Ge, I'm sorry, it's all my fault—punish me however you want," Li Huowang bowed his head, sincerely apologizing to Su Lin.

"Why would I punish you?" Su Lin blinked, shifted his posture, a smile still lingering at the corner of his mouth. "You played it brilliantly, Li Huowang—I should be praising you."

Li Huowang fell silent for a moment. "As long as you're happy."

He glanced warily at A Meng—the single eyepatch on A Meng's right eye socket had cracked into a long fissure. A Meng's face remained expressionless, merely moving slightly farther away from Su Lin.

Earlier, this man had peeled back his face to reveal Red Middle's mahjong visage and mocked him; then Su Lin had clapped A Meng on the shoulder, A Meng turned and met Su Lin's gaze, and instantly transformed into an upright youth, endlessly apologizing until the eyepatch shattered and he returned to normal.

The scene was utterly bizarre—like his mind had been washed and he'd become a completely different person.

Li Huowang had originally planned to stare directly at Su Lin as his punishment; hearing Su Lin had no intention of blaming him, he exhaled slightly in relief.

"Very peculiar," Meng Qi mused.

"The causal laws here differ from those in the worlds I've experienced—causality can be inverted, can be the cause of all effects, or the effect of all causes; everything has a cause, everything is an effect."

"Thinking carefully… this method of stirring the river of history and freely writing within time bears some resemblance to the style and traits of the Primordial Beings beyond the Veil."

Of course, only in style and traits—strictly speaking, it resembles the temporal interference methods used beyond the Realms beyond the True World.

Red Middle Li Huowang was a genuinely existing life; before Modern Li Huowang's consciousness arrived in this world, Red Middle Li Huowang had already existed—and existed for a very, very long time, long enough that history itself held his presence.

From the perspective of a normal world's timeline, everything only began to change the moment Doumu Yuanzun set her gaze upon Li Huowang.

Like someone from the future traveling to the past, triggering a butterfly effect that ripples into the future—he could distinguish between the world before the effect and the world after.

But here, Red Middle Li Huowang's life had always existed, and his influence permeated all of Li Huowang's time in the Da Liang era.

"Confused Siming: neither past nor future."

Li Huowang gave a bitter laugh and said:

"Gentlemen, I have no idea what to do—Su Ge, any suggestions?"

Suggestions? I can't even tell what's real anymore, and you want me to give you advice? Su Lin stared blankly, silenced by Li Huowang's hopeful gaze.

Enough already—why does every world I visit lately involve this nonsense of fighting myself?

"I think you don't need to resist so strongly—after all, in the original fate, the two of you eventually merged into one," Meng Qi smiled, forming a yin-yang fish of black and white qi in his hand. "Like the yin and yang of Taiji—there's no clear boundary between them; harmony and unity are the true state."

"What you dislike is the pair of hands stained with the blood of commoners, and your resistance against a destined fate."

As Meng Qi spoke, Li Huowang's furrowed brow gradually relaxed.

If he ever reached a point of desperation and needed power, he would still merge with Red Middle to protect those around him, accepting that absurd, alienating true life—but if he had a choice, he still wanted to try changing it.

After speaking, Meng Qi smiled at Su Lin beside him and asked: "Don't worry—I'm sure Su Ge can offer better advice, right?"

After dumping all this analysis and chicken soup on me, you're passing the problem to me now?

At that moment, Su Lin stared at the seemingly gentle, natural smile on Meng Qi's lips—and slowly formed a question mark in his mind.

At this moment, Su Lin gazed at the faint, seemingly warm and natural smile at the other's lips and slowly raised a question mark.

"A person has two hearts: one called greed, the other called resentment," Su Lin shed his earlier laziness and looked at Li Huowang. "For you now, does the distinction between true and false even matter?"

Li Huowang fell into thought, while Su Lin rose and stepped out of the cabin, wondering whether to add some special effects—only to see the boatman had already placed food on a rectangular tray at the bow.

Sour cabbage fish soup, raw fish, boiled lake shrimp, smoked duck meat—this was already a lavish spread in these war-torn times.

Li Huowang fell into thought, while Su Lin rose and stepped out of the cabin, pondering whether to add some special effects, only to see the boatman at the bow had already prepared food on a rectangular tray.

【53】 Where there are immortals, there is an immortal mansion, fellow cultivator, what do you think?

Su Lin picked up the food and returned to the cabin, saying to Li Huowang, still lost in thought: "It's done—let's eat first."

After a full meal, drunk and reeling, Li Huowang, supported by Bai Lingmiao, checked into the same inn in Shangjing with Su Lin and Meng Qi.

"Only this left—it's nothing compared to immortal caves, please forgive us," Li Huowang slurred. "One room… is enough?"

"Don't be formal, sister—take Li Huowang back to rest," Su Lin waved dismissively.

After the two left, Su Lin closed the door, glanced at Meng Qi behind him—who was already seated cross-legged on the armchair, his Inner World technique resonating with his acupoints, a world forming and dissolving intermittently, mist and chaotic qi swirling through the room.

In an instant, the small inn room became an entire world.

"Where there are immortals, there is an immortal abode—what do you think, friend?"

Meng Qi, now at the Immortal-Mortal Realm, smiled faintly, opening his eyes filled with thunderous seas: "This world is still in its infancy—just a prototype. Please don't mind, make do with this place for your cultivation."

Before he finished speaking, he saw Su Lin pull out a slightly larger teapot, hovering midair; Su Lin smirked and lifted the lid.

"Where there is an immortal, there is an immortal mansion—friend, what do you think?"

The illusory Dao, carrying countless laws, flowed through this world—this was merely the overflow from the teapot. Meng Qi could sense that if he followed this river to its source—inside the teapot—he would see an endless river of infinite Dao and Principle.

This realm is newly formed, merely in its infancy; please do not take offense, fellow cultivator, make do with this place for your cultivation.

Shouldn't you just create a small world right now and challenge me to a debate?

"Sorry," Su Lin said, glancing at Meng Qi with the corner of his eye, then turning with a smile.

Illusory Dao, carrying countless principles, flows through this world; this is merely a portion overflowing from the teapot. Meng Qi can sense that if he follows this river to its source—within the teapot itself—he would see the boundless river of Dao and reason.

「. 」

Shouldn't you just create a small world right now and compete with me? Then we could sit and discuss Dao, exchanging insights.

「Sorry. 」 Su Lin glanced at Meng Qi with the corner of his eye, turned, and smiled.

I'm just an ordinary Great Ascension cultivator, nowhere near as lofty as you, Immortal, so I'm accustomed to carrying a few portable celestial mansions when I travel.

I left in a hurry and only had time to bring this stone, which draws forth a phantom of the Great Dao River, to serve as a spirit gathering array—forgive my crude offering, Immortal Meng.

If you don't mind, care to step into my humble abode for a chat?

Forgive? Disdain? Humble abode? Meng Qi suddenly fell silent as he met the other's sincere gaze.

You fucking

The Awakening Tea is already prepared.

They are the same type of Stand users.

The next day, morning.

In the inn's backyard, the rooster raised its voice at dawn. Li Huowang dispersed the last of his divine power and woke from his drunken stupor. He glanced at Bai Lingmiao, still asleep beside him, and gently withdrew his arm from her embrace.

Without a sound, Li Huowang rose from the bed and pulled the blanket over Bai Lingmiao.

He walked into the backyard and saw the rooster—wearing a monocle, overalls, and a center-parted hairstyle…

You've been in the modern world too long. You've picked up these stale memes.

I saw many cultivators customizing this outfit. There's also an ancient Void Whale boss in the instance. It seems to be the Light God's peculiar taste.

But occasionally, it's kind of fun to look at.

Li Huowang had no intention of debating this with Amon. He asked bluntly:

Have you found the Dao of Forgetting?

Previously, on the boat, Li Huowang had given Amon some contact methods for finding the Dao of Forgetting, based on Red Center Li Huowang's memories—of course, only the lowest-tier ones.

Of course.

A mahjong tile with the head of a One-Eyed Chicken, wearing a monocle, stepped forward. It was stout, clutching a butcher's knife:

"Big Brother Red Center, your command."

"I'm not…" Li Huowang shook his head and decided to ignore the thing:

"Next, you can infiltrate them—but don't even think about touching the Big Three Yuan."

"You're really giving orders now?" Amon chuckled.

"Red Center, yes, the Light God has restricted me—but how about a partnership?"

"Partnership? What are you scheming?" Li Huowang instantly grew wary and warned Amon:

"You're not still trying to see Su Lin's true form, are you?"

Partnering with Amon was like bargaining with a tiger. Li Huowang, who knew the events of the Miss Kelaien world, had never lowered his guard against Amon.

He knew his own limits. Even Kleine struggled terribly against Amon—he had no chance of outmaneuvering this thing.

"Heh." Amon adjusted the monocle, now fully repaired, and asked:

"So the wonders of other worlds exceed my imagination. In just one night, I've gathered many intriguing pieces of news: Dou Lao, Confused Siming, the Dao of Forgetting."

"Hmm, speak plainly—I'm very interested in Confused Siming's position. If I were to sit on that throne atop White Jade City, perhaps I could help you more, wouldn't I?"

"After all, in your story, your future needs more change—not this rigid, step-by-step path."

Amon's lips curled back into a smile, utterly unconcerned that Li Huowang might refuse.

Li Huowang's alarm bells rang loudly. He snapped: "My future is in a story? What nonsense are you spouting?!"

"Your reaction confirms one thing: you and the Fool are both protagonists in the story, aren't you?"

Amon's mouth stretched into an exaggerated grin. It pushed its monocle, carved from crystal, and laughed:

"Though the Light God has severed all my access to related information, I've long pondered one question."

"My plan in the Land of the Abandoned Gods failed completely—every link was meticulously connected. Why could the Fool anticipate my actions and prepare in advance? Why did they know so much—even my exact methods? Why was their trust among each other beyond reason?"

"Only after arriving in other universes and participating in your films and games did I form a vague guess."

Li Huowang's heart lurched, but he remembered Su Lin had restricted Amon's parasitic abilities—he couldn't read his mind now.

"You're overthinking," Li Huowang dismissed Amon's words irritably:

"Your vivid imagination should be writing novels, not wasting my time with this nonsense."

"You needn't be so tense. Relax," Amon said slowly, watching Li Huowang.

"He brought me to other worlds—he must have foreseen this day. And judging by your behavior, he never intended to hide anything from me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have discussed those matters right in front of me yesterday."

"Frankly, this is far more interesting—and valuable—than the Source Altar."

Li Huowang's face remained expressionless. He followed Zhuge Yuan's advice, staying calm, waiting to hear what Amon would say next.

"Let's make a deal?" Amon's voice was hypnotic:

"Help me become Confused Siming. Then, no matter what crisis this world faces—even apocalypse—I will save you. In return, I will sign a pact before the Light God, renouncing my claim to the Source Altar."

Amon's words sounded like a normal trade. For Li Huowang, it was merely assistance—not helping Amon seize a Heavenly Dao.

Li Huowang said nothing, as if weighing the pros and cons. The morning sun rose on the horizon, the sky brightened, and outside the inn, the sounds of carts and pedestrians filled the street.

Amon did not press. He waited silently for Li Huowang's answer.

After ten seconds, steam rose from the kitchen chimney. A cold breeze carried the scent of fresh meat buns. Li Huowang licked his lips and turned away.

"You were summoned here by Su Ge as hired labor. Why should I pay you? What pact?"

"You think I can outmatch Zhou Ge without giving up the Source Altar? Playing games with empty hands?"

Li Huowang walked off leisurely, leaving only the monocled Kun Chicken and One-Eyed Chicken standing there.

"." Amon's smile faded. It adjusted its monocle and chuckled:

"His refusal isn't surprising—but the speed of his analysis? That's beyond what his current mind should manage."

"Red Center is hiding something from me. He's holding back a lot."

"Fun."

(End of Chapter)