Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 385 - 336 Out of Control

Lumbar vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae, ribs.

The black tendrils, like parasitic vines strangling trees, centered on the spine and spread outwards, winding and clinging to the bones.

What’s going on? Mo Si, are you out of control?!

The incident occurred abruptly, and intense, excruciating pain assaulted his entire body. Li Ang felt as if his head would explode in the next second. He used all his reason, desperately trying to suppress the erosion of Mo Si.

BUZZ—

Under the constraint of his will, the internal Mo Si suddenly paused, shifting from its original rapid expansion to a slow crawl, clinging to the outer layer of the periosteum as it climbed forward.

The pain slightly subsided. Li Ang’s expression turned rigid. He gently released his Telekinesis, turning his body and heading toward the living room of his residence.

Chai Chai was still immersed in the joy of the grand wedding they had just attended, hopping and following beside Li Ang. "It’s July now, and there are still large swathes of peach and apricot blossoms blooming in Furong Garden," she chattered.

"According to Le Ling, those trees were originally planted in the glasshouse of the Imperial Palace. It was only a few days ago that the Flower Gardeners transferred them to Furong Garden, with the goal of gathering a thousand different types of flowers.

"But forcefully relocating the roots... I reckon those trees will find it hard to survive. It’s really such a waste and luxury..."

Li Ang’s ears buzzed, deafening him to Chai Chai’s chatter. He walked slowly into the study and sank into his seat, his eyes vacant and unfocused.

The erosion from Mo Si inside his body continued, a mass of its tendrils expanding recklessly along his bones as if meeting no resistance.

SWISH—

A strand of Mo Si pierced through the skin at the tip of his finger, exposing itself to the air beneath his cuff, wildly stretching, searching for the scent of gold and silver in the study.

Stop! Now!

Li Ang silently roared in his mind. His Qi Sea churned violently, Spiritual Energy surging turbulently to suppress the Mo Si that was on the verge of losing control.

The tendril at his fingertip slowly retracted, but more of Mo Si was burrowing outwards along his bones and blood vessels. They were like fish beneath the ice of a winter lake, frantically ramming the frozen surface in search of fresh air.

This can’t go on. Li Ang could fully imagine the scene: Mo Si losing control, countless tendrils bursting from his body, greedily devouring the gold and silver in the study. Still not satisfied, they would burst through the house, transforming him into a mindless Demon rampantly looting precious metals in Chang’an City. Continuous expansion, continuous strengthening.

He might be killed directly by the endlessly expanding Mo Si, or he might die at the hands of the Academic Palace Professors—which would be worse.

Chai Chai stopped talking. She looked at Li Ang, who was dazed and lost in thought, with some unease and asked softly, "Young Master, what’s wrong with you?"

"Nothing." Li Ang spoke with difficulty, using Telekinesis to control his facial muscles, forcing a slight smile. "It’s the Qixi Festival. I’m just a bit nervous."

"What’s there to be nervous about..."

While Chai Chai was still confused, Li Ang stood up.

He hid his right hand under his sleeve and, with his left hand, pulled a talisman from a paper tube on the desk. "I have some urgent matters to deal with and will need to leave for a while," he said.

"This is a Sound Mimicking Talisman. It can imitate my voice after use.

"Le Ling might come by later. You need to stay in the study and use this talisman to impersonate me. Don’t let anyone know I’m gone; don’t let them find me."

"What, what?" Chai Chai took the talisman, not having processed the situation, and stammered in alarm, "Young Master, what’s the matter with you? Have you encountered some trouble? Do you need to inform the Academic Palace..."

"No." The Mo Si inside his body roiled and expanded. Li Ang felt he couldn’t suppress it much longer and said sharply, "Trust me, I can handle it."

His expression was resolute and stiff. Chai Chai gazed at him intently, took a deep breath, and tried her best to suppress her panic.

In her memory, Li Ang was always capable of anything; no problem was too difficult for him, no setback or peril could trap him.

Being by Li Ang’s side, there was no need to worry or fret about anything. It was best just to happily live through each day.

Until now, when she had become the one who was relied upon, trusted.

"...I understand." Chai Chai slowly exhaled a shaky breath, nodding seriously. "Come back early."

"Mm."

Using Telekinesis, Li Ang lifted his arm, wanting to stroke Chai Chai’s hair, but realizing he might lose control at any moment, he had to lower his palm. He stepped back, moving toward the corner of the study, and pushed the bookshelf aside, revealing the hidden chamber behind it.

In the chamber were items that Li Ang believed should not be exposed to the light, such as unpublished draft papers and mechanical blueprints.

He entered the chamber and pulled the bookshelf back into place.

The surroundings were pitch black.

Accompanied by a soft, incessant rustling, hordes of Mo Si burrowed through his skin, searching the confined space for gold and silver ore.

Li Ang knew without turning on a lamp just how terrifying his current appearance was.

He clutched his throbbing forehead, released Spiritual Power, and activated the arbitrary gate ability he had acquired from the Bronze Earthenware Vessel Fragment found in Bingzhou.

The air fluctuated continuously, gradually solidifying into the shape of a door in front of him.

Li Ang pushed through the door and disappeared.

In the study, Chai Chai clutched the Sound Mimicking Talisman in her right hand, her left fist clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white, devoid of any blood.

She stared intently at the bookshelf, waiting quietly for a long time, before finally unable to help whispering, "Young Master?"

There was no response, only silence behind the bookshelf.

Chai Chai stood up, walked forward hesitantly, and gently pushed the bookshelf open a crack.

Through the crack, she saw the chamber was empty, with nothing but stacks of scrolls.

What on earth is going on...

Thoughts swirled in Chai Chai’s mind. She pulled the bookshelf closed and leaned against it, her heart in turmoil.

Li Ang’s expression and tone just now had been very odd, as if he had encountered some particularly serious trouble. At the same time, he was adamant about not letting anyone, including the Professors at the Academic Palace, know.

With Li Ang’s current status and achievements, even if he burned down the Administration Hall of the Great Ming Palace, at the very worst, his nobility would be stripped, but his enrollment at the Academic Palace wouldn’t be terminated.

Chai Chai’s mind involuntarily pondered the worst possibilities. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the Sound Mimicking Talisman, and her spirits plunged again.

She was now also a student of the Academic Palace. In the talismanic study classes, they taught not only how to write talismans but also imparted the history of talismanic study.

The talismanic study Professors had mentioned with regret that the havoc of the Late Sui era was immense, resulting in the loss of a great number of Cultivation Techniques and unique talismans, including the Sound Mimicking Talisman.

Although such talismans were not beyond the Rain Listening Realm, they could mimic any sound, from insect chirps to bustling human voices.

There were even musicians who used a single Sound Mimicking Talisman to simulate the bustle of an entire workshop.

Removing the screen revealed only a person, a table, a chair, a fan, and a talisman.

Where on earth did Li Ang learn the Sound Mimicking Talisman that had long been lost?

Chai Chai lightly bit her lip. What exactly has the Young Master encountered...

RUMBLE.

The sound of a carriage stopping came from outside the residence. Chai Chai hurriedly sat back behind the desk.