Chapter 120 - Injury
“Yingzi, I have another question. Other than the self-mutilating rituals recorded within the Profound Records, does the Ao Jing Sect have any other kinds of power or techniques?” Li Huowang finally asked the most important question.
When she heard this question, Yingzi was slightly troubled. “Yes, but I cannot teach them to you right now; you need a specific item to use those techniques, similar to the Profound Records. Senior Shou San would never give it to you.”
Every single ability they have requires the use of a book? This sect is weird.
Li Huowang thought to himself.
“Who wrote these books?” asked Li Huowang.
“I’ve heard that it was the elders within the cave who wrote them. Every single book within the sect originates from them,” replied Yingzi.
Elders?
Noticing Li Huowang’s confused face, Yingxi continued, “Everyone needs a book to use their corresponding powers, but I’ve heard that the elders don't require them; they are able to use their powers at whim. However, I’ve never seen such a scene with my own eyes.”
“Oh... So that’s how it is.” Li Huowang nodded.
It seems that Shou San is not the leader of the Ao Jing Sect. At most, he’s somewhere on the middle level in the hierarchy.
“Do the elders reveal themselves regularly?” Li Huowang asked another question.
“No, they don’t usually meddle in worldly affairs. They have only ever come out once throughout the four years I have been here,” replied Yingzi.
“Wait, since those Elders don’t need the Profound Records to use their abilities, doesn’t it mean that they are able to use Ba-Hui’s power anytime they need it?” asked Li Huowang.
However, he shook his head when he thought about it. “That can’t be right. Summoning Ba-Hui requires one to pay a heavy price. Ba-Hui is only interested in extreme pain, so it shouldn’t be that easy borrowing its strength.”
Yingzi was concerned as she looked at him. “Sir, why are you asking these questions?”
Li Huowang was startled. He quickly regained his composure and calmly said, “You know that I am making a deal with them. This is the first time I have made contact with the Ao Jing Sect, and so I would like to know more about them. This time around, I don’t want to get fooled.”
Even though Li Huowang wanted to use Yingzi to gain more information about the Ao Jing Sect, he still couldn’t trust her enough to inform her about his actual plans.
She had suffered within the Ao Jing Sect for four years, and this time around, she was even sent as a fodder! Logically speaking she would not align herself with the Ao Jing Sect and would never betray him, but he did not want to bet on it; he would never gamble with his life, even if the chances of her betraying him were slim at best.
There was too great a risk in telling her what he planned to do. If she wanted to save herself, she could sell him out to Shou San and cause everything to fall apart.
“Sir, are you really going to make a deal with them? They... They are not good people,” warned Yingzi.
Li Huowang nodded. “Of course I know they are not good people and that it could be dangerous, but that doesn’t mean that they are useless. The deal they offered was fair enough, and so there’s no need for me to refuse it.”
Li Huowang did not lie. He had decided to find a method to induce maximum mental pain while searching for the method that the Ao Jing Sect would use to heal him.
He didn’t care if he needed to cooperate with them or steal it as long as he could get rid of Dan Yangzi.
Li Huowang continued talking to Yingzi up until midnight. Through his talk, he learned a lot of information about the Ao Jing Sect and now had a rough understanding of it.
The Ao Jing Sect rarely interacted with the outside world. Their highest edict was to steal Ba-Hui’s power regardless of the method and ultimately replace Ba-Hui, following in the steps of their Sacrificial God.
Yingzi also told him that while the Ao Jing Sect was bloodthirsty and cruel, they always adhered to their rules strictly.
They would wash their torture tools and arrange them methodically after they used it.
Breaking a rule within the Ao Jing Sect was considered a grave sin, since they are necessary for the order of the sect.
Li Huowang even found out that the Ao Jing Sect was quite a massive sect. Unlike the Righteous Monastery and the Benevolent Nunnery, the Ao Jing Sect in the mountain here was merely one of its branches. There were five more places just like the one Li Huowang was staying at right now.
On the thirteenth day of the sixth month each year, all the branches would gather to share their findings.
Late into the night, Li Huowang was deep in his thoughts. Yingzi’s information not only gave him a better understanding of the sect, but also how difficult his current situation was.
“Both the methods are equally hard to use successfully... “Li Huowang mumbled to himself.
“Both methods?” Yingzi was confused.
Compared to how she had been on the verge of breaking down a few hours ago, she was much more emotionally stable now.
“It’s nothing, go to bed.” Li Huowang stood up and walked to a stone bed.
Seeing this, Yingzi silently followed him.
However, Li Huowang had no time to think about such trivial things in this dangerous situation. He could also use this opportunity to test what her true intentions were. As much as he hated Dan Yangzi, Li Huowang could still use his master as a safety net if he encountered dangerous situations.
That night, the intense barking of a dog woke Li Huowang. He quickly lit the oil lamp and saw that Bun was barking toward the bed.
When Bun saw Li Huowang was awake, it quickly stopped and started wagging its tail. “Uuuu~”
At that moment, Yingzi also sat up groggily. “Father, what’s wrong? Why is our dog barking?”
It was only after a moment that she realized her mistake and was embarrassed. “Sorry, I dreamt that I was celebrating the new year with my family.”
Her acting was very good. She made it look like she had indeed just woken up.
Li Huowang took one look at her and scanned the cold cave. Then, he extended his right hand and pinched the back of Bun’s neck before picking it up and placed it on the stone bed.
“It’s alright, go to bed.” Li Huowang hugged the dog as he went back to his bed.
“Mmm ...” Yingzi lied down beside Li Huowang once more.
Soon, the room was once again plunged into darkness as Li Huowang listened to the regular breathing sound coming from Yingzi.
“Is it really okay for a woman like you to lie down on the same bed with me?” asked Li Huowang. He had just finished saying that when he heard the sound of clothes rustling behind him.
“I can’t be considered a little girl anymore. So what if I lie down on the same bed as you? If you want to, then just use me,” Yingzi’s voice rang out. At the same time, the oil lamp was reignited, allowing Li Huowang to see her naked body.
Her breasts were gone. All that was left in their place were two large scars on her chest. Various injuries and scars covered her body, with some of them still leaking pus.
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