The Eternal Way

"Little one! I will do my utmost!" Li Qi immediately responded.

"Shh, lower your voice." Young Master Zhu signaled with his fingers and then said, "Do you know of Baiyue?"

"Uh... I've seen it on the notices. I heard that the Great Deer Kingdom belongs to the Baiyue region?" Li Qi replied.

"Correct. The Great Deer Kingdom is but a small speck. There are hundreds of countries like the Great Deer Kingdom in the Ten Thousand Mountains of Baiyue. And all of Baiyue is merely equivalent to one state of the Tang Dynasty. I come from the Witch God Mountain, a practitioner of Wu Dao."

"Not only Baiyue, but further south to Nanyue, An Nam, and Hou Li, the territories span countless miles. The Great Deer Kingdom is less than one-thousandth of the domain controlled by the Witch God Mountain."

"However, Baiyue, being close to the Tang Dynasty, has been heavily influenced by it. Countries like the Great Deer Kingdom and Song Kingdom are particularly affected. Hence, this place resembles more of a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty than under the rule of the Witch God Mountain."

Li Qi listened attentively, silently committing these details to memory.

Clearly, such information was not something ordinary people could hear. Remembering it would certainly be beneficial.

"And now, you have seen the wanted notice for Luo Fu Niangniang. She has fled from the Jian Nan Dao to the Baiyue region," Young Master Zhu continued. "Considering the relationship between Baiyue, the Great Deer Kingdom, and the Tang Dynasty, what do you think I want you to do?"

Before he could finish his question, cold sweat broke out on Li Qi's back.

Because he immediately thought of something.

Jian Nan Dao!

He had encountered a demon who claimed her family came from Jian Nan Dao.

What connection did she have with Luo Fu Niangniang?

And what connection did she have with Baiyue?!

He instantly realized how deep the waters were behind this matter.

Connecting all the dots, it wasn't hard to deduce the conclusion.

The Witch God Mountain and the Tang Dynasty were clearly in competition. Both were vast powers spanning millions of miles. Their struggle would inevitably affect countless lives.

Now it seemed... the chessboard of their power struggle was in the Great Deer Kingdom?

No, the Great Deer Kingdom wasn't significant enough. It should be across the entire northern Baiyue, including Song Kingdom and the Great Deer Kingdom, all part of this grand chess game between the two major powers!

So, the Great Deer Kingdom now... uses the prefecture-county system? Is this chaotic political landscape due to this?

Previously, he had complained about the confusing Chuan Yan system. Now, looking at it, the chaos wasn't just limited to the Chuan Yan system; it included the government's attitude and the peculiar behavior of the populace, which seemed to have hints of deeper causes.

The government had strict rules, detailed laws, even requiring mandatory resolution of murder cases.

Yet, in practice, enforcement was very lax, to the point where officials wouldn't bother with cases if they felt lazy, even if it involved murder.

Even the Chuan Yan system, similar to an ID card, existed but was only valid within cities. Outside the city, it became useless, and in other cities, another identity could be used to obtain a new Chuan Yan.

The contradictions between strictness and leniency, between law and gang autonomy, highlighted strange points.

Perhaps these were differences between the Witch God Mountain and the Tang Dynasty?

From this perspective, the Witch God Mountain... seemed to be at a disadvantage?

Originally, the Baiyue region had adopted Tang Dynasty systems, including laws, various official positions, and even the structure of the government.

So, with this Luo Fu Niangniang incident, what would the Witch God Mountain want to do?

Undoubtedly, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Although it wasn't clear how powerful Luo Fu Niangniang was, being personally pursued by the emperor of the Tang Dynasty suggested she wasn't insignificant.

Did the Witch God Mountain want to find Luo Fu Niangniang? To discuss cooperation?

Was the woman he met Luo Fu Niangniang?

No way, if Luo Fu Niangniang had such low intelligence, she would have died in the Tang Dynasty.

But that demon also said she came from Jian Nan Dao.

If it wasn't a coincidence, she was almost certainly related to Luo Fu Niangniang.

Judging by her appearance, her status wouldn't be high.

In other words, his identity as someone from the Outer Path couldn't be divined.

That meant Young Master Zhu hadn't located him through divination; he might have been following him for some time.

Further deduction led to questions: Was everything, including the Ox Power Technique, part of his plan?

Had his fabricated ritual truly worked?

Could the river-opening ceremony really be exploited?

Was it possible... that Young Master Zhu had been watching him from above while he was fiddling with the ritual?

Therefore, continuing this hypothesis, had Young Master Zhu been observing him throughout his journey?

Was it a test?

Related to the task he wanted Li Qi to undertake?

Then, coincidentally, he had encountered a demon related to Luo Fu Niangniang.

Had that demon escaped?

She definitely couldn't escape. This Young Master Zhu looked extremely powerful, while that demon seemed foolish. Though she might have abilities, she certainly wasn't a match for him.

Combining clues, making bold guesses:

That demon related to Luo Fu Niangniang had been captured, and Li Qi, because of his identity from the Outer Path, had been chosen by Young Master Zhu...

Would the characteristics of someone from the Outer Path play a special role in this event? Was it necessary?

In just a few seconds, Li Qi had pieced together all these thoughts.

Thinking about these,

"Master, are you asking me to act as your messenger, leading Luo Fu Niangniang's people to meet her and discuss matters between the Witch God Mountain and the Tang Dynasty?" Li Qi cautiously asked.

Young Master Zhu showed surprise but nodded. "Indeed, you are smart. With such intelligence, you qualify to meet Luo Fu Niangniang. That's exactly what I mean. Do you remember the rabbit demon you met yesterday?"

"That demon was a rabbit demon?" Li Qi now understood that Shen Shuibei was a rabbit demon.

"Yes, a rabbit, so as stupid as a rabbit. But she is Luo Fu Niangniang's personal attendant. She must know where Luo Fu Niangniang is. By then, as someone from the Outer Path, undetectable by divination, you can show the sincerity of the Witch God Mountain towards Luo Fu Niangniang."

"Take her to find Luo Fu Niangniang. This is the task I give you. As for payment... join the Witch God Mountain and become my apprentice. What do you think?" Young Master Zhu said.

Upon hearing this, Li Qi immediately bowed. "Disciple greets Master!"

Kidding aside, he couldn't miss such an opportunity.

"Don't rush. You are an apprentice, not a disciple. You don't need to call me Master. Let's return to the topic. Do you know why I said you're about to die?"