A malicious glint flashed in Gui Mudan's eyes as he deliberately brought up the other two volumes of The Book of Transmigration to provoke Tang Licci. He laughed with vicious satisfaction, "The other two volumes—as miscellaneous texts—ended up in Xingyang Bookstore."
Tang Licci stiffened slightly. "Xingyang Bookstore?"
Gui Mudan sneered. "Indeed, Xingyang Bookstore. That 'old friend' of yours, Lord Liu, and Bing Chuanhou Hao Wenhou both first met A'Shui there." After speaking, Gui Mudan scrutinized Tang Licci's expression—this man was cunning, ruthless, and unpredictable, with unknown depths of schemes. Even though they now held Xue Xianzi and the Plum Blossom Control blade, had driven Mo Ziru and Shui Duopo to their deaths, and even had A'Shui under their thumb, Tang Licci remained an enigma—calm yet frenzied, indifferent yet passionate, his reactions impossible to anticipate. He was the most formidable adversary Gui Mudan had ever faced.
Tang Licci closed his eyes briefly, instantly grasping the implications—Liu Yan and Hao Wenhou had fought over The Book of Transmigration , and A'Shui had merely been collateral in their struggle. Gui Mudan's true intention in revealing her connection wasn't about the authenticity of the books but to emphasize her deeper involvement with the tome, far earlier and more intimate than Tang Licci had imagined.
What was he implying?
Tang Licci suddenly lifted his gaze, his eyes sharp with murderous intent, cold and piercing as a blade. "What are you trying to say?" Though his tone was soft, the venom beneath was unmistakable, like poison poised to drip.
Gui Mudan laughed heartily. "Surely Young Master Tang already knows? Back then at Xingyang Bookstore, who can say whether A'Shui ever laid eyes on those other two volumes? That girl is sharp-witted and resilient—no simple village fool. Who else but you would believe she could walk away unscathed and let her return home? Hao Wenhou wanted to capture her, Liu Yan sought to claim her—was it merely for her beauty? I’ve never believed in love at first sight. If not lust, then ulterior motives. Isn’t that true for you as well, Young Master Tang?"
"I do have ulterior motives," Tang Licci replied coolly. "So the Revered Master’s meaning is—even as a ghost, you wouldn’t let her go. And if you did, it would only be to tighten the noose later?"
"Precisely," said Gui Mudan. "But in playing this game, I stumbled upon a little secret—back then, she entrusted the child she had with Hao Wenhou to you." His smirk deepened as he eyed the trembling sword in Tang Licci’s hand, its light flickering like a serpent or dragon. "What does it matter to you whether that brat lives or dies? You’re not truly devoted to A'Shui. So why raise her son?"
Tang Licci sighed faintly. "Perhaps I’m simply compassionate. Couldn’t bear to see an innocent child perish. Saving a life builds greater merit than erecting a seven-tiered pagoda, no?"Gui Mudan said with a sinister tone, "What exactly is so special about Hao Wenhou's biological son? This venerable one is quite curious. He was already killed by Liu Yan, yet I managed to capture an old physician from the Hao family back then. That wretched old man claimed that Lady Hao had long since administered an abortifacient to that woman. With the potency of such a violent drug, even if the child had been born, it wouldn’t have lived long—yet not only did he survive, he even lived until now." He tilted his head slightly. "That’s the peculiar part. If that child was supposed to be dead, then what exactly is the one you’ve been holding all this time?"
"Young Master Tang... is omnipotent," Tang Lichen said slowly.
He wasn’t smiling.
Gui Mudan scoffed. "Who do you think you are?"
Tang Lichen’s sword suddenly stilled. With a swift motion, he raised it, pointing directly at Gui Mudan’s nose. "I’ll kill you first. That way, there’ll be one less person who knows ‘the child was supposed to be dead.’" His voice was soft. "Before you die, you must tell me how many others know... I’ll kill them one by one. Once they’re all gone, no one will know anymore." He didn’t even deny that "the child was supposed to be dead."
Gui Mudan’s sleeves fluttered as numerous figures silently emerged from the thick smoke surrounding Jiang Family Garden. This had been a trap from the start, meant to lure him in. But Tang Lichen had arrived too quickly—Gui Mudan’s ambush wasn’t fully prepared before this man had already barged in. Gui Mudan had deliberately spoken at length earlier, all to buy time.
When Tang Lichen wasn’t smiling, his features appeared even gentler than usual. Yet beneath that gentleness was an icy aura of death.
"Killing more people won’t make a difference now," someone said from nearby. "Before coming to kill you, I’ve already warned that woman—Fengfeng isn’t her real son. Her real son died the very night she entrusted him to you."
Tang Lichen slowly lifted his gaze to the speaker. This person was as weak as an ant, yet utterly detestable—it was Cao Wufang.
Cao Wufang smiled with great delight. "I don’t know what you’re scheming by getting entangled with a mere maidservant. You pretend to be omnipotent in front of her, insisting on saving her son who was beyond saving. When the child died, you held onto a fake one to deceive her... forcing her to be grateful, to revere, love, and trust you for a lifetime? Spending so much effort on a mere maid—if you claim there’s nothing to gain from her, no one in this world would believe you."
Tang Lichen didn’t respond. He stared at Cao Wufang, but what he saw seemed to be an illusion from not long ago—someone frowning slightly, sighing softly, and whispering, "In that case... A’nuo thanks Young Master Tang for saving her life. She would repay this debt with her life, even through fire and water, without hesitation... Is that enough?"
She had asked: Is that enough?
And he had nothing to say.
Yes, all his pretenses, all his schemes, were merely to demonstrate his superiority over all living beings—that joy and sorrow, fortune and misfortune, all must be bestowed by him. Everyone in this world—every single one—should weep with gratitude for him, ready to repay him with their lives, through fire and water, without hesitation...
That was how it should have been.
But it wasn’t.
It wasn’t.
Gui Mudan had asked, "What are you raising her son for?"
Cao Wufang had said, "I don’t know what you’re scheming by getting entangled with a mere maidservant... Spending so much effort on a mere maid—if you claim there’s nothing to gain from her, no one in this world would believe you."Tang Lici thrust his sword at Gui Mudan. He did not answer these questions—nor could he answer them.
To wield the power of gods and demons and act as they do, one must bear the sins of gods and demons.
No one had told him, and he had never considered before—what if one day he could no longer endure it?
What then?
OpenNovel