Creak.
With a creak, the carriage slowly came to a halt. At that moment, a cacophony of gongs and drums abruptly sounded.
Li Xuan awoke at the sound and his gaze shifted to the old man.
As the old man was preparing to get out of the carriage, he stopped as if remembering something. Seeing that Li Xuan had opened his eyes, the old man's expression relaxed slightly.
"Young man, we've arrived at Minister Li's mansion. It's best if you don't enter in your current attire for now. I'll go find you something decent to change into. You must be hungry after all this time. Once you've changed, I'll take you in to eat."
Without waiting for Li Xuan's reply, the old man turned and stepped out of the carriage. Li Xuan chuckled bitterly at his words and lifted a corner of the curtain to look out.
The sky was a vast expanse of blue, clear and cloudless. The bluestone-paved ground, bathed in sunlight, gleamed exceptionally smoothly.
Beside it, a remarkably luxurious mansion caught Li Xuan's eye. A large red lantern hung prominently at the mansion's gate. On either side of the entrance, a festive wedding procession, complete with trumpets and drums, made for a lively scene.
At this moment, Li Xuan also saw the Second Young Lady of General Chen's mansion for the first time. She could, in a sense, be considered his "savior."
Assisted by a maid, Miss Chen, the second daughter, gracefully alighted from her carriage, her wedding gown trailing. In front of the carriage, a man around thirty years old was looking with joyous anticipation at the elegant Miss Chen.
This must be the person from Minister Li's mansion who was marrying Miss Chen, Li Xuan mused to himself.
"Young man, please wear this for now. It's a bit plain, but it's much better than what you have on. Change first, and then call out when you're done, and I'll take you to get something to eat. Later on, old man, I'll be very busy."
As Li Xuan was lost in observation, the old man's voice reached his ears. He then lifted the carriage door and presented a folded sleeve to Li Xuan.
"Thank you, old sir," Li Xuan said, taking the sleeve and smiling slightly.
"No trouble at all. These were all arranged by the Second Young Lady. Alright, you change first, and then call me when you're done," the old man nodded, returning the smile, and turned away.
Li Xuan wasted no time, quickly shedding his tattered robes and putting on the sleeve the old man had given him.
"Old sir, I'm done," Li Xuan called out to the outside of the carriage after a moment.
"Mm, come down when you're changed," the old man replied.
Li Xuan moved his body and then lifted the door curtain, stepping out.
"My, I didn't expect you to be so handsome, young man. Let's go, this old fellow will take you to get something to eat," the old man said, looking Li Xuan up and down with a hint of surprise.
Li Xuan smiled faintly and followed the old man, preparing to enter Minister Li's mansion through a side gate.
Bang!
Just then, a loud bang echoed into Li Xuan's ears.
The next moment, a tremendous tremor rapidly spread.
Instantly, the bluestone slabs of the ground shattered, and countless cracks appeared before Li Xuan's eyes.
"Ah!"
Screams erupted all around. The guests who had come to witness the wedding scattered in panic.
Hee hee.
Simultaneously, a sinister laugh echoed clearly from the sky. Li Xuan frowned at the sound and looked up.
Above the city of Luo, a colossal ghostly face appeared. The sinister laughter emanated from its mouth.
"Young man, run! That damned evil spirit is back!" the old man exclaimed, seemingly panicked. Despite his fear, he shouted towards Li Xuan, his gaze fixed on the ghostly face in the sky.
Li Xuan remained still, his expression calm as he watched Miss Chen, the second daughter, being pulled along by a man.
"Such a tender young lady. She shall be offered to this King instead," the ghostly face in the sky suddenly spoke as Miss Chen was being rushed into Minister Li's mansion by the man.
As the ghostly face finished speaking, a colossal hand materialized from thin air. In an instant, it crushed the man to death and then seized Miss Chen.
"Second Young Lady!"
Upon witnessing this, not only the maids and servants accompanying Miss Chen from General Chen's household cried out, but even the terrified old man, casting aside his fear, ran towards the giant hand.
Buzz.
At that moment, Li Xuan heard a buzzing sound again. Looking around, he saw that everyone, including the ghostly face and the giant hand in the sky, had frozen.
Li Xuan knew, at this point, that the voice asking him for his choice would appear next.
"Seeing your savior in grave danger, do you wish to step forward and help? But you, without the strength to even fend for yourself, how will you choose? Do you choose to reclaim your strength?"
Indeed, as Li Xuan thought this, the voice abruptly sounded again, entering his mind. Li Xuan scanned his surroundings, unable to locate the source of the voice, and felt a sense of helplessness.
Currently, although he knew everything here was an illusion, he couldn't bear to watch these mortals perish at the hands of this evil spirit. Li Xuan felt he wasn't that cold-blooded.
However, if he reclaimed his strength, he would likely fail the trial of suffering.
From the urgency in the voice's tone this time, Li Xuan sensed a strong desire for him to regain his strength and end it all.
"I refuse!"
After contemplating this, Li Xuan chose to refuse once more and slowly closed his eyes.
"No, Second Young Lady!" Li Xuan, with his eyes tightly shut, immediately recognized the old man's voice.
"Who can save our Second Young Lady!"
"The Second Young Lady has lived a life of good deeds, why must she suffer such misfortune?"
"Let's fight this evil spirit!"
"..."
Listening to the cries emanating from all around, Li Xuan's heart was filled with complex emotions. Yet, he turned around resignedly and slowly walked forward.
Buzz!
As Li Xuan walked away without looking back, his vision suddenly darkened. The moment he opened his eyes, he found himself in a desolate village.
Before him stood a dilapidated thatched hut. At this moment, the wail of a newborn abruptly reached Li Xuan's ears.
Li Xuan frowned slightly, and the next moment, the hut door was pushed open.