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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 108 (363): [Intercepted by Lord Jiang Again]
(108th of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Li Weiyi experimented word by word, searching for a secret character that could merge with the runes of the Body-Fixing (Immobilization) Talisman.
After hundreds of failed attempts, he discovered that the character "Jie" (All) connected most smoothly with the runes of the Body-Fixing Talisman, with the least resistance, suggesting the possibility of fusion.
The next step was to continue researching and experimenting to find the method of fusion.
Of course, he couldn't test this on the Transcendent Leather Talisman Paper; he wasn't that extravagant.
"Boom! Boom..."
Hundreds of failures, yet his mind remained intensely focused.
After three days and four nights of relentless work, he finally succeeded.
The Spiritual Light Talisman runes stabilized before him, suspended in mid-air.
Li Weiyi held his breath, daring not even to exhale.
A hearty, unrestrained laugh echoed through the Blood Mud Space, startling Tang Wanzhou, who was in the midst of cultivation.
She pondered silently, sensing a dark, demonic side to Li Weiyi.
Next came another period of frustration for Li Weiyi.
Drawing the runes was difficult, but imprinting them onto the talisman paper was even harder.
In the end, he exhausted all fifty-eight remaining sheets of Transcendent Leather Talisman Paper, managing to create only one "Jie" All-Character Body-Fixing Talisman.
.....
Li Weiyi pushed open the door, his head throbbing violently.
Bloodshot eyes, pale lips, and an overall air of exhaustion made him appear dazed and unsteady.
The intense seven- or eight-day period of talisman crafting within the Cocoon of Time had taken a heavy toll on his psychic energy.
"It's alright," he muttered to himself, "Once I've found the right method, the success rate will only improve."
Clutching three Body-Fixing Talismans, a Divine Swiftness Talisman, and the precious All-Character Body-Fixing Talisman, Li Weiyi's confidence soared.
Tang Wanzhou's words rang true: a Spiritual Master's combat strength hinges on thorough preparation.
The setting sun cast long shadows.
Tonight was the time he and Zhuang Yue had agreed upon to meet and obtain the list from her.
He underwent simultaneous transformations in his bones, muscles, and gaze, disguising himself as Zuo Ning.
He prepared to keep his appointment, intending to satisfy his hunger along the way.
Before he could even leave the Cloud Pavilion District, a voice echoed from the silent alleyway: "You've shown remarkable patience. At least three factions in Yongquan City are currently searching for you."
Li Weiyi stopped and looked to his right.
Tai Shi Yu stood alone in the center of the alley, as if he had been waiting there for a long time.
When Li Weiyi had emerged from the Wei Yi Residence, he had noticed a retainer from a neighboring residence rushing towards the Ancestral Manor to report his emergence.
It was clear the retainer had been sent to inform Tai Shi Yu of his return.
Li Weiyi clasped his hands in a respectful bow: "Greetings, First Commander! Are you speaking to me?"
Tai Shi Yu's gaze sharpened: "Why is the Phoenix Terrace investigating you? Who exactly are you?"
"Let me remind you, I saw everything that happened at Pale Moon Square that day."
Li Weiyi remained composed, confident that Tai Shi Yu had already investigated him.
He replied calmly, "Everyone has a past! As of now, I am Young Master Bai's retainer."
"Haha, you're quite the tough one, kid. Facing me alone, enduring my Psychic Field, and not even flinching. No wonder Tai Shi Bai values you so highly. I won't scare you anymore!"
Tai Shi Yu retracted his Psychic Field: "If the Phoenix Terrace is investigating you because of your past with the Earth Wolf King's Army, I can help you resolve this crisis. Additionally, Shi Jiuzhai and Shi Liuyu seem to know you've joined the Tai Shi Clan and are lying in wait outside Cloud Pavilion District. I can also take care of them for you."
Tai Shi Yu had clearly misunderstood, but his ability to detect the two Dharma Kings lying in ambush outside the district demonstrated his formidable Psychic Power and vigilance.
This was a formidable individual!
Li Weiyi responded cautiously, "First Commander, are you trying to recruit me as your disciple, or do you need something from me?"
"Talking to a smart person is so much easier!"
Tai Shi Yu said, "Tai Shi Bai considers you a brother. If I were to force you into my tutelage, it would make things difficult for all three of us. But if your brother were in trouble, would you help him?"
Li Weiyi asked, "Is Young Master Bai in danger?"
Tai Shi Yu's expression turned grave.
He sighed, "For a great clan, the person who ascends to the position of Clan Head must possess exceptional wisdom and ability, of course. But even more crucial is that they must be upright, conduct themselves with integrity, maintain impeccable character, and have a clear sense of right and wrong."
"If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked as well, and even the most magnificent and sturdy building will collapse."
"As for conspiracies, dark schemes, and bloody underhanded tactics - those unsavory tasks must be left to someone else."
"Tai Shi Bai is the future Clan Head of the Taishi Clan. He lacks neither ability nor talent. However, his judgment of character is still lacking, making him easily deceived. This is especially true when it comes to women!"
Li Weiyi's heart skipped a beat: "First Commander, are you referring to?"
Tai Shi Yu looked at him: "Long Xiangcen! My prejudice against her isn't because she comes from the Dragon Sect. It's because I've seen too many women. No matter how pure and saintly they pretend to be, they can't fool my eyes. She's been intimate with no fewer than three men."
Li Weiyi's face showed shock: "Impossible!"
"You can question my motives, but you can't question the weight of my nickname, Qingshi Yu - 'History of Love Feather'."
Tai Shi Yu continued, "Tonight, she'll accompany me to the West Sea Royal Manor for a banquet. On the way back, she'll be ambushed. I'll subdue her, and you'll take her out of Lingxiao City and get rid of her far away."
Li Weiyi said, "If this is exposed, you want me to take the blame?"
Tai Shi Yu nodded: "As a retainer, you must bear the burden for your young master. As a brother, can you bear to see him ruined by such a woman? I can't do this myself. If I fought him, it would be internal strife within the Tai Shi Clan."
"Why not just kill her?" Li Weiyi asked.
"You're ruthless!" Tai Shi Yu's expression shifted from surprise to a bitter smile, "I'd love to end this once and for all, but Brother Bai has already fallen for Long Xiangcen. If he found out the truth, his personality would make him sever ties with us."
"If he were like me - able to let go easily - I wouldn't bother playing the villain."
"But he's a man of deep emotions! A man like that, falling for a fickle woman, is destined to suffer greatly."
"Forget it, just name your price! You and Brother Bai can talk about loyalty, but with me, it's all about business."
Li Weiyi found himself somewhat admiring the First Commander of the Tai Shi Clan. He was doing this not for his family, nor did he know that Long Xiangcen was involved in even more terrifying Demon Clan activities.
He was acting solely for his brother's sake.
"You're asking me to betray Young Master Bai," Li Weiyi said.
"Ten Star Spiritual Pills," Tai Shi Yu countered, naming an exorbitant price.
"Young Master Bai and I are like brothers. He's been good to me. And Fairy Long's true nature is just your word against hers. Who knows what your real intentions are?"
Tai Shi Yu frowned, thinking his persuasion had failed.
"First Commander, how about adding a bit more? Twenty Star Spiritual Pills might just be enough to make me compromise my principles."
Tai Shi Yu was speechless. He finally realized the other man was haggling.
Twenty Star Spiritual Pills were worth two million Yongquan Coins to most people. But for Tai Shi Yu, it was just a batch of pills he could refine himself using the Imperial Court's resources.
So the price was acceptable.
"If this is exposed..." Tai Shi Yu began.
Li Weiyi replied, "I take money to do a job. I'll take the blame and won't reveal a single word about Young Master Yu."
"When the time comes, I'll ensure your safe departure from Lingxiao City. You won't have to worry about anything."
After agreeing on a meeting place, Tai Shi Yu and Li Weiyi parted ways. One left the district, the other returned to his residence.
Li Weiyi surveyed the streets and buildings near the Cloud Pavilion District's gate, searching for Shi Jiuzhai and Shi Liuyu's hiding place.
To his surprise, he noticed several spies with considerable cultivation immediately released message-carrying insects upon his appearance.
Li Weiyi dared not make any rash moves.
The fact that these spies could monitor the district where the Tai Shi Clan resided without being eliminated suggested their backgrounds were far from ordinary.
"Whoosh!"
Li Weiyi activated his movement technique, swiftly dodging away. He weaved through the bustling crowds, constantly changing his clothes.
He didn't bother with disguise. He didn't want too many people to know that Zuo Ning, who was proficient in the Disguise Technique, was involved.
Zhuang Yue had given Li Weiyi an address in Azure Cloud Market, located in East City.
Therefore, despite taking a circuitous route, he continued heading east.
As dusk deepened, lanterns hanging from the eaves on both sides of the street began to glow.
Strangely, the bustling street ahead was completely deserted.
Li Weiyi sensed something amiss and turned to flee, but a hundred yards behind him, Jiang Ning, clad in a white official robe and riding a flaming Exotic Beast, emerged from the shimmering light of a Formation.
The Exotic Beast had feathered wings, a bird's head, and a beast's body - a truly majestic creature.
Spiritual Qi white feathers drifted down from the sky.
Footsteps echoed as Phoenix Terrace's hidden experts burst from the shops lining the street, each shop fortified with Formations.
Half were female officials, the other half eunuch officials.
Li Weiyi spotted Zhuang Yue among them, forming a Formation with six other female officials. Her eyes were filled with urgency and worry, yet also a helpless pain. She had desperately wanted to warn Li Weiyi in advance, but had never found an opportunity.
Jiang Ning, her face veiled, spoke: "Master Zuo Ning, we meet again! This time, if you attempt to flee, you will be executed without mercy. No one in Lingxiao City can escape Phoenix Terrace's pursuit."
"Boom! Boom!"
Two elderly women materialized, unleashing two Dao Heart Manifestations that crashed down upon Li Weiyi, binding him in countless strands of Spiritual Qi.
Li Weiyi remained utterly unfazed, turning to Jiang Ning: "Lord Jiang, is there some misunderstanding between us? Why do you always greet me with threats of violence?"
Jiang Ning replied, "Have you forgotten your actions at South Yan Pass? You can explain yourself at the Phoenix Terrace prison. Take him away. If he resists or tries to escape, execute him immediately."
"Wait," Li Weiyi said quickly, "I'm a retainer of the Taishi Clan."
He continued, "I admit I shouldn't have knocked out that Attendant Hall official at South Yan Pass and disguised myself as him. But... I was driven mad by longing... I just wanted to see Yue'er once."
"Yet I knew I couldn't... couldn't meet her openly. The female officials of Phoenix Terrace are forbidden from contact with men. I had no choice. Yue'er, I truly had no choice. I can't bear this hiding anymore. Leave Phoenix Terrace, and I'll provide for you!"
His gaze fell on Zhuang Yue. Combined with his exhaustion from the day, his pale lips, and the lingering bloodshot veins in his eyes, he perfectly embodied the image of a tormented man, unable to sleep or eat, consumed by unrequited love.
The female officials present who were close to Zhuang Yue were deeply moved.
After all, Jiang Ning only knew that Li Weiyi had disguised himself as an eunuch official to send messages to Zhuang Yue, and that the two had secretly met at a noodle stall. No one knew who had truly opposed Phoenix Terrace at South Yan Pass.
Even if Li Weiyi had used a mental imprint on Zhuang Yue, it could be explained as a desperate measure to prevent their secret meetings from being discovered and punished by Phoenix Terrace.
Of course, that depended on Zhuang Yue's cooperation.
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END OF CHAPTER
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