"Was 'Li Thunder' protecting me?"
Li Fuchan had already come to a realization: he had not become one of the Four Aspects of Slaying Bandits.
When the karma of the Ghost of the Five Thieves was about to entangle him through the name Li Yaoshi, "Li Thunder" had blocked that connection for him. Then, using the name Li Yaoshi, it had carved out an unknown position for him in the cracks of karma—the Fifth Aspect.
A bandit-slayer outside every Purple Mansion's default arrangements, who could establish a karmic connection with any of the Five Thieves and seize the Changze of slaying a bandit, yet remain undetected by anyone.
Even if a Purple Mansion Lord came in person, they would not be able to see through the karma of this Fifth Aspect.
Moreover, this karma was not bound irrevocably to him. It was tied to the name "Li Yaoshi."
As long as he abandoned that name, he could abandon this karma.
Clean and pristine, without a trace left behind. He could advance or retreat with room to spare. This opportunity was generous indeed.
Yet there was not the slightest excitement in Li Fuchan's eyes. Instead, a dim light flickered incessantly within them, its waxing and waning revealing an indescribable chill.
At that moment, an inexplicably horrifying thought echoed through his mind.
"Why did this 'Li Thunder'... seem so much like a person?"
"Embrace-Lock Crouching Cicada."
After locking that thought firmly away, he drew a deep breath and returned his attention to weighing the advantages before him.
The instant he had noticed something was wrong, his first instinct had been to find a secluded place and immediately perform a round of Tribulation Divination.
After all, however terrifying tribulation qi might be, it could not compare to danger already thrust right into his