Chapter 428: Cosplay (Please Refresh)

Golden and splendid palaces, with dragons coiled before the pillars.

"The Lingshan Lei Yinsi has recently had some problems."

Ji Lin put down the memorial, looking at Li Huowang and the others before him: "Their monks do indeed expel evil and quell banditry, but wherever they go, the common people and officials become fervent believers. Though I am grateful for the precious grain they offer, yet—"

"The foundation of the state cannot be allowed to falter."

"Er Jiu, I hear you're quite familiar with the monks of Lei Yinsi—do you have any insight into this matter?"

Li Huowang naturally understood what Ji Lin meant; the young emperor had gradually grown accustomed to his identity and status, and was beginning to handle it with ease.

He was probing Li Huowang, and also wanted this opportunity to explain why such chaos had arisen across the lands.

"Your Majesty, I only just learned of this matter," Li Huowang bowed and said: "Based on my understanding of the Lei Yinsi monks, they have no interest in reputation or power."

He had come to the palace today to seek Ji Lin about the dice, but on the way he heard rumors about Lei Yinsi.

In recent days, Lei Yinsi has dispatched numerous martial monks to roam the land, including the impressively named Master "Buddha Sword Divides Speech," who have been "gathering" heart-essence, purging evil and banditry, and visiting temples and monasteries across the realm.

The gathering of heart-essence went unchallenged because the court turned a blind eye, and the official cultivators of other sects were no match for these monks, so no major unrest arose.

Purging evil and calamities—after natural disasters, chaos erupted everywhere; Jian Tian Si was utterly understaffed, and Lei Yinsi's appearance truly eased the immediate crisis.

But precisely with this last matter: every temple or monastery these monks visited eventually chose to become a branch of Lei Yinsi, practicing its teachings, and the local populace began worshipping Tian Fo Zun and Zhen Ding Rulai.

"My latest report says these monks use divine powers to travel—now even Zhengde Temple has recognized Lei Yinsi as the supreme Buddha," Ji Lin tossed the memorial to Li Huowang, frowning, his voice heavy:

"In just seven days, beyond the borders of Da Liang—including the lamas of Qingqiu—all Buddhist sects across the realm now revere Lei Yinsi as supreme. Incense and golden halls now worship Tian Fo Zun and Zhen Ding Rulai; all monks journey toward Lingshan, seeking pilgrimage."

"Pilgrimage? Even I, the current Emperor of Da Liang, have no such prestige!"

Li Huowang picked up the memorial and read it; he did not find the account exaggerated—even felt it fell far short of the truth.

No wonder Ji Lin had sent people everywhere to find him; no emperor could ignore such a development. Even Li Huowang, though poorly read, knew that at this rate, Lingshan could summon a hundred responses at will and seize control of the Da Liang Empire anytime.

"Your Majesty, I hear you once met those two Buddhas—could you tell me," Ji Lin asked, "how much do you know about them?"

"Your Majesty… this matter need not be rushed," Li Huowang knew rushing would do no good: "Those two Confused Siming—"

"Confused Siming are confined within Bai Yu Jing and cannot descend to the mortal realm," Huangfu Tiangang, unable to bear Li Huowang any longer, stepped forward and pointed at his face:

"Er Jiu, what are you hiding from Your Majesty?!"

As Da Liang's State Preceptor, Huangfu Tiangang was the most normal-looking cultivator in this world.

Well, to use the words of the Flame Emperor who recently livestreamed himself beating up a Soul Temple envoy and didn't even bother going to Yunlan Sect—get used to outdated villains jumping out to cause trouble.

After all, dealing with them is a nuisance.

"I know Confused Siming are within Bai Yu Jing…" Li Huowang was about to speak, but froze in place. "Confused Siming… Bai Yu Jing…"

"I'm asking you a question!" Huangfu Tiangang's expression darkened, his aura beginning to spill forth.

Li Huowang glanced up at him, then spoke to the empty air:

"Amon, you missed one—Huangfu Tiangang is also Zuowang Dao."

In places Li Huowang didn't know—perhaps inside bottles, cups, or even beneath the Da Liang Emperor's groin—well, that was too far—there was certainly some amount of Amon in the air.

As expected, after Li Huowang spoke, everyone nearby—the Chief Eunuch, Huangfu Tiangang, and Ji Lin on the dragon throne—all wore expressions of "this man is insane."

To say the State Preceptor of Da Liang is Zuowang Dao, right before the Emperor?

"Sowing heresy!" Huangfu Tiangang, clad in a solemn ritual robe, drew his Star Constellation Longsword and pointed it at Li Huowang:

"Your Majesty, you did not purge the usurping Imperial Princes as per the late Emperor's edict—surely because of you and those bandit monks! Kindred scoundrels, die!"

He moved instantly—before the Da Liang Emperor and Jian Tian Si. The current Jian Tian Si, Gu Yuan, merely raised an eyebrow and made no move to stop him.

The longsword shimmered with purple lightning; the air seemed to press down like a towering mountain upon Li Huowang—but he did not dodge, only murmured a spell beneath his copper coin mask.

Just as the purple lightning was about to cleave Li Huowang to ashes, Huangfu Tiangang's facial muscles twitched; a flash of terror appeared in his eyes.

"Hmm, thanks for the reminder."

The disbelief still lingered on his face as he spun and flew back to the Emperor's side, sheathing the Star Constellation Longsword, now wearing a cheerful smile.

Then, Huangfu Tiangang pulled a monocle from his sleeve and placed it over his right eye.

"So that's how it is—they planned deeply," Huangfu Tiangang closed his eyes as if recalling something in his mind, then slowly opened them, smiling:

"What a brilliant script, my old friend Hong Zhong—you really did bring in a whole crowd to play you. Next time, just ask me to join you—I'll handle your enemies from other worlds, or help you play them, how about it?"

"State Preceptor, what are you talking about?" Ji Lin blinked, confused by his advisor's sudden strangeness: "Dice… Hong Zhong is…?"

"Your Majesty, I have something to report," Li Huowang did not forget his purpose here, nor did he pay attention to Amon's nonsense—he said directly: "You are, in fact, a woman!"

"Absurd!" The Chief Eunuch trembled, glancing between Huangfu Tiangang and Li Huowang, and probed cautiously: "State Preceptor, he has committed treason—accusing you of being Zuowang Dao and disrespecting the present Sovereign—please arrest him!"

"Back then, I became Da Liang's State Preceptor precisely by cooperating with the dice—he's not wrong. To be precise, I've long wanted to be the dice myself," Huangfu Tiangang looked like a transcendent Daoist, yet his grinning mouth now seemed grotesque:

"Your Majesty… you're really a woman~"

He spoke, then drew a red thread in the air; the thread coalesced into a talisman and struck Emperor Ji Lin.

"Audacious—" The Chief Eunuch turned pale, seeking help from Jian Tian Si—but…

Jian Tian Si was eating over there?!

Gu Yuan sat on a nearby step, holding a golden cake she'd pulled from nowhere, watching the scene with interest, making no move to stop it, and ignoring Li Huowang who tried to hold her back.

"Recently, a mysterious figure has appeared in Jingcheng, specializing in possessing Zuowang Dao practitioners—shouldn't that be you?"

Gu Yuan shoved the cake into her mouth, patted herself, and walked away. "Since there are other imperial bloodlines, I'll leave this matter to others."

Moments later.

"Villain!" The moment Ji Lin spoke, she realized her voice had grown shrill—then she felt a void between her legs, and something emerged from her robe.

"I—"

Ji Lin's face turned deathly pale; she touched her vanished Adam's apple, then stared at the thing on the ground, staggered back two steps, and collapsed onto the dragon throne.

Li Huowang and Huangfu Tiangang, monocle in place, surrounded the object.

"Oh my~ Found me already? Hong Zhong, do you have precognition?" The object emitted a sharp, piercing voice.

But before the words finished, a burst of flame turned it to ash.

The illusion of Sitting Forgetfulness Dao ran to the pile of ashes, crouched down, and buried its head in crying: "Dice Boss!!! No! You died so tragically~~~ Monk, come quick and chant the Sutra for the Departed for my Dice Boss!"

The illusion of the Monk nodded and began chanting the Sutra for the Departed.

Li Huowang shook his head, ignoring the bizarre actions of the two illusions, and said to Huangfu Tiangang: "Handle this. Don't let this incident leak out. I have other matters—don't let the Great Liang fall into chaos."

Then he turned to the dazed Emperor Ji Lin and said:

"Your Majesty, when we first met, you told me you never wanted to be Emperor—only a carefree prince. Though you were deceived by Sitting Forgetfulness Dao about your gender, you are no longer in danger of death."

"Now Sitting Forgetfulness Dao has been mostly eradicated. Until a new Emperor who controls the Dragon Veins is chosen, please continue posing as the Emperor in women's attire."

Emperor Ji Lin touched his empty crotch, still stunned.

"Don't worry." Huangfu Tiangang adjusted his single lens made of crystal, smiling:

"I once served as a Duke. If you want me to be Emperor, that's fine too—the Dragon Veins' power seems quite interesting."

"Dream on." Li Huowang ignored Confused Siming, warning: "If you make any other moves, watch out—Su Ge will come back to deal with you."

Watching Li Huowang's retreating back, Huangfu Tiangang smiled, gazing at the pile of ashes, muttering:

"Heh, under conditions where I could choose, I wouldn't deliberately parasitize this thing—but isn't this what they call 'plot'?"

Glass curtain walls reflecting skyscrapers glowed brilliantly; the blinding glare from the angle and the Oriental Pearl Radio & Television Tower, standing out as a landmark in view, drew particular attention.

"I know you're a top student. When I was in high school, the top students always had privileges—like being allowed to use phones without them being confiscated," Su Tianfu said, turning his gaze from the scene to Li Huowang. "But why are you here? You specifically came to Shanghai for just a two-day weekend break?"

"I feel like it." Li Huowang said. "I've never been to a big city—isn't it fine to come here on vacation with my girlfriend?"

"Of course it's fine." Su Tianfu gave a peace sign to the man beside him, Luffy, and took a photo. "But why did I run into you here?"

Meng Zhending picked up a doujinshi from the Penglai Mountain Huiye's stall, glanced at it, and said: "It's normal. Compared to certain middle-aged men, it's only natural for young people to enjoy events like this."

"Who are you calling middle-aged?!" Su Tianfu grabbed Meng Zhending's collar. "I'm still young!"

Meng Zhending suppressed a laugh and pushed Su Tianfu away. "Come on—at your age, other people's sons are already as old as Li Huowang."

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting, fellow middle-aged bachelor?" Su Tianfu cursed, yet felt only he was wounded. He turned to Li Huowang and asked:

"You're a grown single man too—what kind of nonsense are you talking?" Su Tianfu cursed, but he couldn't shake the feeling that only he was hurt; he turned to Li Huowang and asked:

Li Huowang, holding Yang Na's hand, nodded: "Sure."

As he spoke, he casually glanced at the few people beside Su Tianfu.

Yi Donglai, Zhao Shuangdian, Wu Qi.

Da Siming, Changsheng Tian, Wu Zhi Rulai.

"You're also into anime?"

(End of Chapter)

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