Chapter 254: Failed Magical Revision

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Heimu Town on Outer Wild Ocean Giant Serpent Head Island.

On the spacious bluestone‑paved market street, most merchants had already finished their New Year celebrations.

They had reopened.

But pedestrians on the road were still sparse, and business looked unusually bleak.

At noon, the winter wind was bleak.

Zhang Gui, wearing a plain fine‑cotton long robe, entered the unguarded town alone.

He leisurely arrived at the former Town Office, now the outer area of the Tian'gang Chengzhu Fu.

This place, unlike a city gate that welcomes guests from all directions, was not heavily guarded.

He sought the duty officer in charge of the gate guards and first slipped a small golden token to him,

"Sir General, I have an old acquaintance with Brother Guan Xihui, one of the chief shopkeepers of the White Sail Trading Company that handles procurement for Zhen Wang's Xingzai."

Today I have come especially to pay my respects.

I also ask that you have someone report this.

The duty officer pompously flipped the golden token in his hand and tucked it into his chest.

Afterward, instead of summoning anyone for Zhang Gui, he leisurely said:

"This is the Tian'gang Chengzhu Fu under Zhen Wang's Xingzai.

We guard the residence's entrance, which has nothing to do with the White Sail Trading Company."

"I know that, of course.

However, several chief shopkeepers of the White Sail Trading Company are usually here in the residence, sigh, never mind.

You're a dog, clearly greedy, go rot in your mother's eggs."

Mid‑speech, Zhang Gui activated the myriad spiritual clusters within his body, transformed into an eight‑chi giant, and with one palm sent the duty officer flying.

He roared loudly: "Brother Guan, before you fled far away, you didn't even find me to say farewell.

Now I have to come looking for you.

What a huge face you have."

The guards stationed around the Tian'gang Chengzhu Fu rushed to surround him.

Facing opponents more than three times his height, whose eyes swayed when looking up, he lacked even the courage to scold them.

At that moment, a demonic creature with a massive shrimp head and a body cloaked in blue‑bearded shrimp shell appeared.

Using the breath of wind as waves, it leapt from the residence and vaulted to Zhang Gui's front, hovering in mid‑air.

"Dragon Tiger, we haven't met for three or five months; now I'm overseas…

…to see you off, I want to leave a deeper impression so that we can meet again later."

"Hahaha, indeed, indeed.

But if you want a deeper impression, better to host a farewell banquet."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go right now."

Zhang Gui laughed heartily, activating the internal spiritual cluster "Heavenly Phenomena Earthly Geography Grand Confluence".

He performed the Awakening of Insects technique, summoning a whirlwind that howled and reverberated.

When it dissipated, both he and the Green Shrimp Demon Guan Xihui had vanished without a trace.

After a short while.

In Heimu Town, a refined private room of the tavern called Huixian Ju.

Zhang Gui and Guan Xihui, having returned to their normal forms, sat down, drank three cups of wine, and then fell silent.

After an uncertain amount of time, Zhang Gui whispered, "Are we leaving soon?"

"Hmm." Guan Xihui poured himself a few more drinks and said in a low voice:

"Yan Laoda, who relies on Yin Xiansheng under Zhen Wang's Xingzai, was hidden by his junior sister, the Tao Goddess, in a move called 'One Move Ahead.'

Yan Laoda then went into hiding.

Later, after the Tao Goddess left, he reappeared, intending to continue his feud with the 'Son‑Killer's Enemy,' the Thousand‑Aid Guard Bo Zhi Jin Baori Eshen.

Unexpectedly, that person also went to the Di Ku Jie.

So Yan Laoda also pursued.

He discarded the White Sail Chamber of Commerce as a worn‑out shoe and gave it to me and He Kaihai.

Who could have guessed that He Kaihai, that simpleton, after learning about the myriad customs of the Di Ku Jie, would become instantly fascinated.

He spent all day saying he would descend into the caverns, battle the earth demons, and also vie for a Chang Sheng Jiu Shi.

As he kept talking, he even managed to stir my heart.

You may not know yet.

Some days ago, my most promising nephew Guan Zhenyong was foolish enough to fall under the lure of Zhen Wang's Xingzai's reward decree.

He died on the battlefield of Xianrong Island in pursuit of a Fourth Rank military officer's position.

So, people, if you want something, you must not rely on others; you have to depend on yourself.

Because hearts are separated by a belly, even if others seem to understand everything…

They may also be putting on a show just to please you.

In truth, deep down they're just a greedy fool!

At this point, Guan Xihui's eyes seemed wet, yet he forced a nonchalant chuckle.

He wiped his eyes,

"When you grow old, you always get watery eyes.

By the way, Dragon Tiger, how did you know I was going to the Di Ku Jie?"

Regarding this question, Zhang Gui naturally could not speak the truth plainly.

Giant Snake Head Island is his Earthly Divine Kingdom; every move Guan Xihui makes in Blackwood Town on the island is as simple for him to know as watching the pattern on the back of his hand.

He voiced the reason he had prepared long ago.

"You have quietly divided the White Sail Chamber of Commerce.

Others cannot see any clue, how could I fail to discern the meaning behind those actions."

"Indeed, someone like you can naturally see it."

Guan Xihui let out a dry laugh and said:

"Dragon Tiger, you now profit amid chaos, and you are at the age of 'finding endless joy in fighting others'.

You still have close friends and relatives, and capable subordinates whose assistance binds you.

Even if you could see through everything, you would still be unwilling to abandon this hundred‑thousand‑strong worldly enterprise to start a new 'pioneering' venture.

But one day you will understand that, aside from the 'self', everything else is merely emptiness.

Thus, the Di Ku Jie that can most fulfill the 'self' is humanity's 'reality'.

At that moment, snowflakes began to drift outside.

Guan Xihui fell silent, and with Zhang Gui they each raised a cup, drinking heartily.

Time slipped by slowly, and the winter sun finally began to set in the west.

Guan Xihui downed his cup, stood up, and briskly flicked his sleeve.

"Dragon Tiger, I must be going now."

"Shall we have another cup? I will treat you, sir."

Zhang Gui rose, filled a final cup, presented it before Guan Xihui, and intoned:

"Old island's dusk snow wets the light dust, the drunken aura hangs heavy, a fresh jade hue.

I urge you to finish another cup of wine, westward beyond the mortal world there are no old friends."

Such a style is a scholar's favorite.

Guan Xihui's eyes widened, he took the cup of Bamboo Leaf Green and drained it in one gulp.

He softly sang, "Old island's dusk snow wets the light dust… westward beyond the mortal world there are no old friends.

He walked on the snow, disappearing into the twilight.

Zhang Gui stared at the direction Guan Xihui vanished toward for a while, then let out a sigh,

"I not only concealed my fangs while he was present, but also took the ancient master poet‑Buddha's timeless masterpiece and gave it a 'demonic rewrite', performing it.

Yet that old brat Guan Xihui remained unmoved, demanding that I show him the Longgong.

Truly, you are no son of a man!

There is no scholarly camaraderie or noble spirit at all.

No wonder this life can only make you a bandit; with such a temperament, even in Di Ku Jie you wouldn't fare well.

Then, with a wave of his hand, countless soldiers clad in whale‑skin armor materialized; his gaze swept over them, and he calmly issued the order,

"You all, with me, shall eradicate this morning feast."

(End of Chapter)