A Gaze

For years here, Li Qi had mastered the incredible skill of falling asleep anywhere.

He had no choice. Sometimes, when pulling the boat, they'd go from dawn till dusk. By the end, he'd be exhausted as a dog and just sleep on the sandy riverbank.

What choice did a boat-puller have?

Staying at an inn cost at least twenty coins a night, and that was for a shared room. If he wanted a private room, it would be forty to fifty coins. He wasn't willing to be that extravagant.

He thought about his past world. It was much the same.

Many farmers would work their fields for a year, then haul their produce to the city. After selling it, they'd only have two or three thousand yuan left in their pockets.

To go into the city and earn that much money, but then to spend a night… never mind the grand hotels, even the budget motels cost a hundred to two hundred, even three to four hundred yuan.

So, they'd rather stay up all night by the roadside than spend money on a budget hotel.

Li Qi was in that situation now.

But fortunately, he had at least eaten his fill tonight.

Curled up in a corner, with the eaves providing shelter, it was enough.

Li Qi closed his eyes, ready to rest. He had been traveling for a day and a night and was utterly exhausted. He tied his bundle to his hand and kept it close. No one could touch his belongings without him noticing.

He fell asleep.

However, a faint gaze pierced the deep night sky, fixed upon Li Qi.

"His temperament is acceptable, he's resourceful, and not without bravery. Moreover, he's calm and steady. Even when facing his own wanted posters, he acts as if nothing's wrong. This kid, how can he be just a common boat-puller? Could he truly be an Outer Way individual?"

Standing not far away, in a guest room of an inn, Young Master Zhu watched Li Qi through the open window. He was the one who had stood on the Guanhe Terrace with the Prefect of Lishui Prefecture, even receiving a respectful bow from the Prefect.

"I've spent great effort performing a grand ritual, and the result indicated that the appearance of the Outer Way is highly auspicious for me," he muttered to himself. "The Outer Way is difficult to divine, but after much hardship, I've finally found a trace. But does this Outer Way refer to this thing… or that person?" Young Master Zhu toyed with the broken game console in his hand.

He had tested it through numerous methods: earth, fire, wind, water, lightning, the underworld, divine light, and will. He had tentatively interacted with the device, ultimately concluding that it only reacted to weak electrical currents.

But it only reacted; the internal components were all damaged and could not be activated at all.

Was it the effect of this external object, or the effect of this person?

Young Master Zhu pondered.

"Mmm… mmmph!" But at that moment, a woman's voice came from beside him, the muffled sound of someone whose mouth had been gagged.

"Stop making noise. Your cultivation has dispersed, and you can't break this silencing spell." Young Master Zhu put away the game console, turned, and sat on a stool, looking at the beautiful woman on the bed.

If Li Qi were here, he would have recognized her immediately as Shen Shuibi, the demon he had tried so hard to escape.

"A personal attendant of Lady Luofu… Heh, what a big catch. The divination results were indeed accurate: the Outer Way appears, and it's greatly beneficial to me. Such immense fortune has been delivered right to my doorstep, ready to be snatched." Young Master Zhu spoke to Shen Shuibi.

Shen Shuibi's face was filled with terror. Although she appeared to have no physical restraints, she felt as if she were tightly bound. She thrashed like a fish pulled ashore, unable to stand or even move from the bed.

Watching her struggle, Young Master Zhu seemed to grow bored. He said to her, "I'll release your restraints and allow you to speak, but you'd best cooperate. Can you do that?"

"If not, don't blame me for taking you back to Wushen Mountain."

"Although my abilities are insufficient to divine Lady Luofu's location through you, there are many Great Diviners at Wushen Mountain who can. By then, you won't even have the chance to cooperate with me," Young Master Zhu said.

"You are Lady Luofu's personal maid, and your karmic connection to her is extraordinary. Guess, can the Great Diviners of Wushen Mountain directly trace Lady Luofu's location through you?"

"At that time, she will die because of you."

After speaking, Young Master Zhu waited for Shen Shuibi's reply.

Shen Shuibi stopped struggling, and tears welled up in her eyes, falling drop by drop.

After sobbing for a moment, she quickly wiped her tears on the pillow and then nodded.

It seemed she had agreed to cooperate.

Seeing this, Young Master Zhu waved his hand, releasing her restraints.

She suddenly regained her freedom but did not move.

"This Great Diviner…" Shen Shuibi looked at Young Master Zhu, trembling.

"Not so. I am merely a Diviner, not a Great Diviner. But it doesn't matter, you can call me whatever you like," Young Master Zhu replied.

He still had the appearance of a young scholar, looking very kind.

"Shen Shuibi, is it? There's no need to be so afraid. I restrained you earlier because I feared you might have some secret techniques. Now that you've decided to cooperate and have no secret techniques, why would I make things difficult for you?"

"Besides, you should have noticed, right? If I truly intended to take you back to Wushen Mountain, I would have done so already. Why would I still be here?" Young Master Zhu said.

After all, she was a personal attendant to Lady Luofu; she should understand his goodwill.

However, Young Master Zhu did not expect Shen Shuibi to be stunned for a moment before nodding in realization, her trembling body relaxing.

Huh? This Lady Luofu's attendant seems a bit slow?

But as long as she calms down, it doesn't matter if she's slow, since she's not the one in charge.

Just as he thought this, seeing Shen Shuibi still dazed, Young Master Zhu spoke again, "Shen Shuibi, do you perhaps believe that the Baiyue region is already under the dominion of the Human Way?"

Shen Shuibi was suddenly jolted awake and quickly nodded. "Her Highness said… the Baiyue kingdoms have been too influenced by the Tang Kingdom and no longer revere the Shamanic Way, only the Human Way."

Her direct words caused Young Master Zhu's expression to darken by three parts.

"Ahem, while Lady Luofu is knowledgeable, she is not from Baiyue after all and doesn't fully understand the current situation. Wushen Mountain, in the end, is the ruler of Baiyue. The hundred thousand mountains and the Baiyue kingdoms still obey the command of Wushen Mountain!" Young Master Zhu said with a somber expression.

"Then why are there county and prefectural cities nearby? And county magistrates and officials? And why do they rely on laws to govern? I heard these are all characteristics of the Human Way, aren't they?" Shen Shuibi asked, confused.

"Stop asking useless questions!" Young Master Zhu said irritably. "Let's get to the important matters. Wushen Mountain isn't just for show. We have a say in the Baiyue region. Lady Luofu was wronged in the Tang Kingdom and fled to Baiyue. Perhaps she can come to Wushen Mountain and meet with the various Wushen."

"But… Her Highness isn't here. What's the use of you telling me this…" Shen Shuibi looked a little wronged.

"Therefore, I plan to have you take a messenger to inform Lady Luofu," Young Master Zhu said, letting out a long breath, his composure restored.