Chapter 29: Test (II)

“I will do my best, Young Master!” Li Qi immediately responded.

“Shh, lower your voice.” Young Master Zhu put a finger to his lips, then said, “Do you know Baiyue?”

“Uh… I saw it on a notice. I heard that Great Deer Kingdom belongs to the Baiyue Area?” Li Qi replied.

“That’s right. Great Deer Kingdom is but a tiny place. In the Baiyue Shiwan Mountains, there are hundreds of countries like Great Deer Kingdom. Yet, the entire Baiyue is only the size of a single prefecture in Tang Nation. And I, I come from Shaman God Mountain, and I am a Shaman Dao Invoker.”

“Not just Baiyue, but also the later Annam, and then Annam and Hou Li, occupying who knows how many thousands of miles. The so-called Great Deer Kingdom is less than one-thousandth of my Shaman God Mountain’s Domain.”

“However, this part of Baiyue is close to Tang Nation and is deeply influenced by Tang Nation. Great Deer Kingdom and Song Kingdom are particularly affected. So you can see that this area, compared to Shaman God Mountain’s jurisdiction, looks more like a vassal state of Tang Nation.”

Upon hearing this, Li Qi immediately perked up his ears, silently committing these matters to memory.

Clearly, these were not things ordinary people could hear, and remembering them would certainly not be a loss.

“And now, you’ve also seen Empress Luofu’s wanted poster. She has escaped from Jiannan Road and fled to the Baiyue Area.” Young Master Zhu said, “Considering the relationship between Baiyue, Great Deer Kingdom, and Tang Nation, what do you think I want you to do?”

Before he even finished his question, a cold sweat had already broken out on Li Qi’s back.

Because he immediately thought of something.

Jiannan Road!

He had encountered a monster on the road who claimed to be from Jiannan Road.

What was her connection to Empress Luofu?

And what was her connection to Baiyue!?

He immediately understood how deep the water was behind this matter.

Connecting all the pieces, with just a little thought, it wasn't difficult to draw a conclusion.

That Shaman God Mountain and that Tang Nation must be in a competitive relationship, but these two are probably vast powers occupying hundreds of millions of miles. Their struggle would inevitably affect countless people.

Now it seems… this chessboard of struggle is in Great Deer Kingdom?

No, Great Deer Kingdom is not even qualified. It should be the entire northern Baiyue, including a bunch of countries like Song Kingdom and Great Deer Kingdom, that are the chessboard for these two great powers’ struggle!

So, Great Deer Kingdom now… is it why they use the prefecture-county system? Is it why they have this current chaotic political structure?

He had previously complained about the chaotic identification system, but now he saw that the chaos seemed… not limited to the identification system. It also included the government’s attitude and the strange situation of the populace, which seemed to have early signs.

The government had rules, and its control was very strict. Various laws were very detailed, even requiring that all murder cases be solved.

But in practice, it was very lax, even to the point that if officials were too lazy to act, even murder cases would not be filed.

Even an identification system similar to an ID card existed, but each identification card only circulated within the city. It was useless outside the city, and one could even get another one with a different identity in other cities.

Laxity and strictness, orderly laws and Gang autonomy—all these conflicting phenomena highlighted strange points.

This… perhaps this is the difference between Shaman God Mountain and Tang Nation?

So, from this perspective, Shaman God Mountain… seems to be at a disadvantage?

The original Baiyue Area has now adopted Tang Nation’s system, including its laws, various official positions, and even the government itself has taken on the form of Tang Nation’s system.

So, at this time… with this Empress Luofu incident, what would Shaman God Mountain want to do?

Undoubtedly, an enemy’s enemy is a friend. Although it’s unknown how powerful Empress Luofu is, being personally ordered to be hunted down by the Tang Nation’s emperor suggests her status wouldn’t be low.

Shaman God Mountain wants to find Empress Luofu? To discuss cooperation?

Was the woman he met Empress Luofu?

Bah, impossible. If Empress Luofu had that intelligence, she would have died before escaping Tang Nation.

But that monster also said she was from Jiannan Road.

If it wasn’t just a shared place name, then she was ninety-nine percent related to Empress Luofu.

It’s just that from her appearance, her status wouldn't be too high.

In other words, his identity as an outsider had the characteristic of being un-divinable.

This meant that Young Master Zhu didn’t actually divine his location to come here. He might have… been following him for a long time.

Then, pushing it further, including the Ox Strength Technique, was it part of the other party’s plan?

Were his fabricated sacrificial prayers really useful?

Could something like the River Opening Ceremony really be exploited by him?

Could it be that… at that time, Young Master Zhu was watching him from above, tinkering with the sacrificial prayers?

So, inferring from this hypothesis, was his situation on the road also constantly being observed by the other party?

An investigation?

Related to what he wanted to entrust him with?

And then, he just happened to encounter a monster related to Empress Luofu.

Did that monster escape?

She certainly couldn’t have escaped. This Young Master Zhu clearly possesses great Divine Ability. That monster was foolish, as if her brain was filled with water. She might have some Divine Ability, but she definitely wasn't a match for this one.

Combining the clues, let’s make a bold guess.

That monster related to Empress Luofu was captured, and he was chosen by this Young Master Zhu because of his identity as an outsider…

Will the characteristics of an outsider produce a special effect in this incident? Is it necessary?

In a flash, all of this clicked in Li Qi’s mind within a few seconds.

Pondering these thoughts,

“Young Master, do you perhaps want me to be your envoy, led by Empress Luofu’s people, to meet Empress Luofu and discuss the matters between Shaman God Mountain and Tang Nation?” Li Qi cautiously replied.

Young Master Zhu showed a surprised expression but still nodded: “Indeed, intelligent. Only with such quick wit can one be qualified to meet Empress Luofu. That is what I mean. Do you remember the rabbit monster you met yesterday?”

“That demon was a rabbit monster?” Only then did Li Qi realize that the one named Shen Shuibi was a rabbit monster.

“She’s a rabbit, and as foolish as a rabbit, but she happens to be Empress Luofu’s personal maid. I’m sure she can find Empress Luofu’s location. At that time, as an outsider, you cannot be located by divination, and you can also show Shaman God Mountain’s sincerity to Empress Luofu.”

“Take her and go find Empress Luofu. This is the task I give you, and the reward… joining Shaman God Mountain and becoming my apprentice. What do you think?” Young Master Zhu said.

Upon hearing this, Li Qi immediately bowed: “Disciple greets Master!”

Are you kidding? Not clinging tightly to such a powerful figure would be foolish!

“Don’t be so hasty. It’s an apprentice, not a Disciple. You don’t need to call me Master. Also, back to the main topic, do you know why I said you were about to die?”