Chapter 134: Divine Phantom, You Are Not Mine! (Please Subscribe)
Li Tongzhen ran up to the gate of the Duke of Zhen’s mansion.
Today was the Duke’s grand wedding; even though the banquet had ended and servants had already cleaned the streets on both sides, remnants of red paper decorations still fluttered faintly in front of the gate.
The festive atmosphere in the air had not completely dissipated.
Li Tongzhen looked up at the mansion’s imposing entrance.
Immediately, he noticed the guards stationed at the gate fix their gaze on him.
He hurried forward.
“Um…”
Li Tongzhen stepped right up to the guards and prepared to ask if he could see the Duke’s heir.
However, before he could approach, he was sternly stopped.
“Stop right there!”
Facing the guards’ sharp command, Li Tongzhen furrowed his brows instinctively, feeling an inexplicable surge of irritation welling inside him.
Yet he restrained his emotions, straightened his posture, and respectfully saluted before speaking to the guards.
“I wish to meet the Heir of the Duke. Please inform him.”
The guards exchanged strange glances and then waved dismissively.
“You’re just a beggar, don’t make a fool of yourself. How could the Heir possibly meet with you? Go play somewhere else.”
Li Tongzhen clenched his fists slowly, opening his mouth to plead further, but knew the guards would not listen.
Given his current status, the gap between him and the Heir was as vast as heaven and earth.
Just as he was about to say more, footsteps sounded behind him.
Captain Zhao hastily arrived beside Li Tongzhen, panting.
He cautiously and respectfully nodded to the guards before turning his gaze to Li Tongzhen.
Even the guards of the Duke’s mansion could not be compared to a local county officer like him; proper respect was necessary to avoid offense.
Captain Zhao frowned slightly, then stepped forward to pull Li Tongzhen back.
“Listen to me. The Heir won’t see you. If you want to save that girl, you’d better think of another way.”
“The trouble you’ve gotten into now—don’t you have enough already?”
Captain Zhao spoke earnestly.
To be honest, there was no real need for him to treat a beggar like Li Tongzhen this way.
But Li Tongzhen gave him a peculiar feeling, stirring a vague fear deep within his heart.
It was laughable—he was afraid of such a young boy who hadn’t even grown his first beard.
Still, despite his doubts, Captain Zhao’s approach was gentle, mostly persuading.
Li Tongzhen was pulled back a few steps but then suddenly stopped, immovable despite Zhao’s efforts.
Noticing this, Zhao stared silently for a moment, then glanced down at his own palm, doubting his own senses.
Had his many trips to Hua River weakened him? Or was Li Tongzhen somehow stronger?
Li Tongzhen looked at Captain Zhao calmly.
“What other choice do I have?”
“If going with you means I can save Qingqing, I’m willing to do anything.”
Zhao was momentarily speechless.
After a pause, he sighed dejectedly.
“That’s forbidden medicine. Forbidden medicine means there’s basically no antidote. It’s used in the imperial wars, life-and-death battles. Only the Lantern Bureau has some antidotes.”
“Ordinary Lantern Bureau detectives aren’t allowed to inquire about such things; it requires someone above the Golden Lantern rank.”
“Those are big shots. Not even I have the privilege to look up to them, let alone you.”
“Right now, come back to the station. Once the investigation is done, if you’re innocent, you won’t be punished. Then we can think of other ways.”
Zhao paused, voice lowering.
“But if you don’t listen and try to run, I’ll have to call in the Lantern Bureau.”
Li Tongzhen glanced at Zhao, his youthful face showing an unexpected maturity.
“I’m not running.”
Zhao shook his head.
“I know. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be the only one following you.”
“You see, the Duke’s mansion isn’t a place you can just walk into.”
“Staying here won’t help much.”
Hearing this, Li Tongzhen lowered his eyes, clenched his fist tightly.
“Do you think...”
“Can I break in?”
At these words, Zhao’s eyes widened in shock, as if stunned.
“Are you crazy?”
“Do you think anyone can storm the Duke’s mansion? Do you know how many strong fighters tried last night when there was a strange phenomenon over the mansion? Not a single ripple was stirred.”
“Do you think you’re just a kid?”
Sweat dripped down Zhao’s forehead.
He bore no malice toward Li Tongzhen, just didn’t want to see the boy throw his life away.
Grabbing Li Tongzhen’s arm, he tried to drag him away.
“Don’t look for death. I admit, you’re strange—stronger than me and without any sign of cultivation. But even so, see? Any one of the guards here could crush you with a finger.”
This time, Li Tongzhen didn’t resist; he could be pulled along.
Zhao breathed a sigh of relief as he led the way, gripping the boy’s hand like an old ox dragging a stubborn mule through the bustling street.
“Don’t worry. That Zhu Xicheng is no good. He’s done plenty of bad things. If it weren’t for his ties with the officials, we would have dealt with him long ago.”
“If you killed Zhu Xicheng, you’ve done the people a favor. At worst, you’ll spend a few years in jail...”
Before Zhao finished, he suddenly felt a tremendous force at his arm. It was like a wild elephant breaking free from his grasp.
He turned sharply, face trembling with shock, looking behind him.
His towering figure seemed to shrink, overcome with fear.
“You brat! Don’t go! Don’t be foolish!”
Zhao shouted desperately.
But Li Tongzhen paid no heed.
Under the night sky, he moved like a wild wolf, breaking free from Zhao’s hand and darting toward the Duke’s mansion.
His figure weaved through the crowd like rolling waves.
Though tall, Zhao couldn’t catch up at once.
The mansion’s grand gate stood lofty and solemn, flanked by majestic stone lions.
Li Tongzhen charged forward recklessly.
The four guards at the gate immediately noticed his approach, eyes narrowing with suspicion.
“That beggar’s back again?”
“Pretty fast for someone with no cultivation aura. Strange for such speed to come from a kid.”
“Wait, his speed doesn’t lessen. He’s trying to force his way in!?”
The guards’ expressions darkened as they blocked the entrance.
Not wanting to harm the boy, they shouted stern warnings.
“Impudent! Don’t be rude!”
“Assaulting the Duke’s mansion? Are you courting death!?”
Li Tongzhen ignored them, resolute and determined, rushing straight at the guards.
Just as he neared them—
The four guards moved to strike.
Li Tongzhen suddenly stomped, leaping over them.
“Huh?” The guards were momentarily stunned, watching his body.
Then, gathering their energy, four powerful hands shot out like thunder from above, aiming for Li Tongzhen.
He felt the suffocating aura around him.
These guards were far beyond his ability to face; and they were still holding back.
If they struck with full force, he would likely be killed with a single blow.
Despair glimmered in his eyes, but even as the hands closed in, he didn’t waver.
With eyes closed, he turned sideways and charged headlong toward the gate.
“Stop!” one guard shouted, panic-stricken, slamming a heavy palm down.
All four energy-laden hands struck Li Tongzhen simultaneously.
Boom!
His body was slammed hard, flying back like a kite with its strings cut, crashing to the ground.
“Cough, cough!”
His face pale as paper, blood spat from his mouth—he was badly injured.
“Don’t be so reckless! Today is the Heir’s wedding—we have restrained ourselves for the sake of the celebration!”
“If you act up again, we won’t hesitate to kill you!”
The guards’ voices were cold and threatening.
At that moment, Captain Zhao caught up again, looking at Li Tongzhen’s stubbornness with a pang of regret.
He whispered in warning.
“Kid, don’t be impulsive. You can’t change anything.”
“The gap in status is far greater than you realize. Even if you meet the Heir, what can you do? Can you make him speak or bring you forbidden antidotes?”
Zhao’s words were reasonable and sincere.
But Li Tongzhen seemed not to hear, coughing blood as he struggled to stand.
Wiping the blood at the corner of his mouth, the crimson stained his youthful face.
He charged the mansion’s gate again and again, as if his very actions were a response.
Though hope was slim, he fought with all his might.
If he fought, Qingqing had hope, could survive.
If he didn’t, who knew how much blood she had left to lose.
He could bear any consequence, wait, or even die—but Qingqing could not.
The guards, enraged by his repeated attempts, grew increasingly harsh.
No one had ever dared such audacity.
Their blows became deadly.
Yet, to their surprise, though Li Tongzhen was repeatedly thrown back, he seemed impossible to kill.
Their attacks only fueled his fighting spirit, driving him madly forward.
After several rounds, his body trembled in pain, covered in wounds, blood staining his face into a fierce mask.
The four guards exchanged fearful glances.
“This beggar is strange. Normally, one strike like that would kill him, but…”
“He actually stands up again.”
They whispered among themselves.
“What should we do? Let him in?”
“Are you crazy? Let a beggar inside? If we get blamed, we’re done for.”
“Better to inform inside. If the Heir wants to see him, fine. If not, there’s nothing we can do.”
One guard went in to report.
When he returned, his gaze fell on the still charging Li Tongzhen, and he couldn’t help but feel a grudging respect.
“Stop. I’ve informed inside. If the Heir wants to see you, you can enter. If not, even inside you’re useless. Just leave.”
“You’re badly hurt. If you keep this up, even a deity can’t save you.”
The guard’s tone was indifferent, and the statuesque guards resumed their posts.
At this, Li Tongzhen hesitated, glanced silently at the guards, then clutched his chest and coughed, sitting beneath a nearby tree.
Blood dripped from his mouth, pooling on the ground.
Captain Zhao, who had not stopped him since, watched silently, feelings more complicated than he expected.
Though Li Tongzhen could not change much, his perseverance might just bring a sliver of hope for the girl.
***
Captain Zhao approached Li Tongzhen, gently checking his pulse.
Energy flowed from his fingertips through Li Tongzhen’s body for a moment.
His face twitched with a complicated expression.
“Do you know that your injuries are worse than the girl’s?”
“Even if you meet the Heir and save her…”
“You probably…”
Li Tongzhen coughed again, spitting blood.
Waving it off, he said, “You officials meddle too much. I killed someone; you just arrest me and judge me. Whether I live or die isn’t your concern.”
A faint smile lit his youthful face.
Zhao’s heart ached.
Li Tongzhen’s body was shattered, his organs in disarray—he was barely alive.
Breathing and speaking were already a miracle.
Zhao sighed, sitting beside him to wait quietly.
The four guards glanced at them but said nothing.
After a while, the heavy doors of the Duke’s mansion slowly opened.
Li Tongzhen weakly lifted his eyelids, gazing toward the gate.
No figure appeared at first.
Then, from the gate, the four guards respectfully called out.
“The Heir.”
Li Tongzhen forced himself upright, eyes fixed on the newcomer.
There stood the Duke’s heir, dressed in flowing crimson robes, hair bound with jade ribbons, exuding an otherworldly beauty and grace.
All who passed were stunned by his presence.
Though Li Tongzhen had never met the Heir before, he recognized the identity immediately.
He had never expected the Heir to come out himself.
He thought the Heir might only allow him inside, not meet him personally.
He stared in disbelief.
The Heir’s deep black eyes were clear and peaceful, with a gentle smile.
“You’re looking for me?”
Li Tongzhen lowered his head shyly, voice hoarse with respect.
“Yes, Your Highness! I beg you, please save Qingqing!”
The Heir’s eyes flickered in surprise.
“Qingqing?”
“Who is Qingqing?”
Seeing the confusion, Li Tongzhen hurriedly explained, “Qingqing is my only family.”
The Heir nodded slowly, piecing things together.
He had wondered why Li Tongzhen suddenly appeared.
It turned out the person he cared about was injured.
The Heir looked at Li Tongzhen’s wounds and frowned.
“I thought you wanted me to save you.”
“How did you get into this state?”
Li Tongzhen faltered, unsure how to answer.
The Heir’s attendant stepped forward quietly to explain.
After hearing the details, the Heir looked at Li Tongzhen’s humble appearance, unable to reconcile it with the powerful figure hinted at by system messages.
“Steward Wang.”
The Heir turned his gaze from Li Tongzhen to his attendant.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Go help him. If she can be saved, save her.”
He then asked Li Tongzhen, “What kind of injury or illness does Qingqing have? Tell Steward Wang so he can make arrangements.”
Li Tongzhen, hearing this, felt as if dreaming, barely able to believe the Heir would help so readily.
He hoarsely recounted how Qingqing was slashed with a dagger tainted by forbidden medicine.
Wang’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Your Highness, the antidote… this is serious. Should we give it to him?”
The Heir nodded slightly, saying nothing more.
Wang understood and ordered someone to fetch the antidote.
Soon, a servant brought it carefully.
The Heir handed it to Li Tongzhen.
With trembling hands, Li Tongzhen accepted it, kneeling and bowing deeply.
“Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you!”
He quickly passed the antidote to Captain Zhao.
“Officer, please take this to the doctor at the clinic and have Qingqing treated.”
Zhao took it instinctively, then looked up at Li Tongzhen’s pale face.
At the moment he saw the Heir, an energy burst from Li Tongzhen, uncontrollable and overwhelming.
If not for his last breath clinging on, he would have collapsed.
Now even speaking was difficult.
Zhao’s face darkened.
Biting his teeth, he tried to lift Li Tongzhen onto his back.
“Don’t you want to go see her?”
“You’re risking your life to save her. Are you ready to die like this?”
Li Tongzhen shook his head, struggling free and sitting down hard.
“Go ahead. I don’t want her to see me like this.”
Zhao froze, staring at him, then sighed and said nothing.
He bowed slightly to the Heir and rushed off.
The Heir paid little mind to who Qingqing was.
Instead, he focused on Li Tongzhen.
With his spiritual cultivation, he could see clearly without touching or probing Li Tongzhen.
His body was riddled with wounds; his organs nearly destroyed.
Chaos inside.
It was a miracle he was still alive.
The Heir wondered if in the alternate timeline of the system’s mission, Li Tongzhen had suffered such injuries.
Perhaps in that timeline, Li Tongzhen also sought the Heir’s help; otherwise, that Heir would not remember a mere beggar.
That Heir would never have given forbidden antidotes to a beggar.
So Qingqing might have already died in that timeline.
But Li Tongzhen had not.
Meaning, despite such grave injuries, he would survive in the future.
The Heir found this intriguing.
Li Tongzhen’s body was in such a state—death seemed inevitable.
Unless he possessed an indomitable divine bloodline, survival was unlikely.
The Heir was curious how Li Tongzhen would live through this.
Under the Heir’s gaze, Li Tongzhen leaned against a tree, breathing heavily.
His breath grew visibly weaker.
“Let’s go back,” Steward Wang whispered.
Noticing Li Tongzhen’s weakening breath, almost imperceptible, a sigh escaped as he moved to summon servants to take the body.
The Heir raised a hand to stop him.
“Not yet. Wait a little longer.”
Wang was puzzled but, out of respect, complied silently.
His eyes followed the Heir’s gaze back to Li Tongzhen.
Though cold and fading, Li Tongzhen still breathed.
“Hmm? What’s this…”
Wang’s eyes showed disbelief as he glanced at the Heir.
The Heir’s expression remained impassive, seemingly expecting this.
Had the Heir long known Li Tongzhen was no ordinary boy?
Wang was startled.
The Heir focused intently on Li Tongzhen’s body.
Suddenly, Li Tongzhen’s body trembled and emitted a brilliant white light.
A pillar of pure white radiance shot up into the sky, piercing the dark clouds.
The moon emerged, and the sky cleared.
The sudden spectacle shattered the quiet of the capital, like a stone thrown into still water, stirring countless ripples.
“What’s that?”
“That light pillar—it’s coming from the Duke’s mansion?”
“What’s going on? The Duke’s Heir caused such a stir, and now this?”
“Maybe it’s not the Heir this time.”
“Let’s go see!”
Li Tongzhen’s awakening drew countless gazes across the city.
As people looked to the mansion and saw Li Tongzhen bathed in white light, they were stunned.
“Who is that?”
“That’s a beggar?”
“Such a grand phenomenon caused by a beggar?”
The assembled strong ones were dumbfounded.
Before they could speak, someone pointed out the Heir standing nearby.
All eyes shifted.
If not for that, few would have noticed the Heir’s presence beside the hovering boy.
Was this spectacle the Heir’s doing?
Many began to suspect.
They scrutinized Li Tongzhen’s body closely.
A cold breath escaped some as they saw his weak aura, barely any pulse—almost like a corpse.
The wounds seemed inflicted by the Duke’s guards.
Some cried out in shock.
Then, as all watched, Li Tongzhen’s body began to change.
A mysterious flame ignited around him, glowing crimson-gold.
It seemed ethereal, yet radiated intense heat.
Even high-level strongmen and clan elders stepped back, unwilling to approach.
They instinctively feared he might soon be reduced to ashes.
But contrary to their expectations, Li Tongzhen’s body remained unchanged.
He lay peacefully within the flames, like floating on calm water.
Surprisingly, a tranquil serenity emanated from his blood-stained face.
The Heir stood close, feeling the heat wash over him.
He watched as Li Tongzhen’s wounds visibly healed.
As the healing progressed, faint cracking sounds echoed.
Not just the Heir, but all observers heard these sounds, leaving them momentarily dumbfounded.
They sensed fear and chill behind the noise.
The air grew quiet.
Then, as Li Tongzhen’s body finished healing, it vanished suddenly.
Simultaneously—
Boom!
Like thunderclaps or a blazing sun, a brilliant solar radiance exploded into the sky.
Many strong ones shielded their eyes, pained by the brightness.
“What is that?”
“Even without targeting us, its aura suffocates me!”
Shouts of shock rippled through the crowd.
The Heir calmly gazed upward at the radiant orb.
With his spiritual cultivation, he could discern the figure within—not a sun, but a godly figure radiating dazzling light.
Majestic and heroic, clad in ornate armor, a flowing cloak billowing behind him.
Though his face was unclear, his aura was mysterious and powerful.
A fierce aura emanated, more like a demon than a deity.
The Heir’s eyes fell to a small dark silhouette inside the divine figure—it was Li Tongzhen.
The boy’s eyes were tightly shut, brow furrowed, hands clutching his head in agony and struggle.
“Who are you!?”
“You’re not me!!”
“I am Li Tongzhen, not Nezha!!”
“My fate is mine, not heaven’s. I reject destiny—it’s Nezha’s fate!!”
His lips moved faintly; black veins crept around his eyes, and a red phantom flickered beside him.
“No, no,” he suddenly roared, eyes snapping open, shining with light, twin flames soaring.
A mighty roar shook the heavens.
Countless strongmen covered their ears, overwhelmed by the thunderous roar.
“Your Highness!”
Steward Wang shielded the Heir.
The Heir pushed him aside gently.
Wang’s intentions were good but unnecessary.
At that moment, in the mansion, several figures looked up at the blazing sun.
Some appeared beside the Heir.
“What’s happening?”
Cheng Zhihai stared at the fiery orb, asking the Heir.
He had noticed the changes since Li Tongzhen’s body shifted but had stayed silent.
Now he came forward out of concern.
Ning Liang and Granny Qianhua also looked on.
Ning Liang felt a sting to his eyes but endured.
With his cultivation, he could tolerate it; others might not even dare look.
“What is that?”
Ning Liang was shocked.
Granny Qianhua watched calmly, though her eyes eventually revealed astonishment.
As she prepared to speak, she noticed the Heir still watching the orb intently, as if seeing something others could not.
Before she could say more, Cheng Zhihai blocked the Heir’s gaze.
“Guang’er, don’t look.”
“That aura belongs to a powerful being. If your cultivation isn’t enough, staring too long might blind you.”
The Heir smiled faintly, withdrawing his gaze.
He had seen everything clearly.
Li Tongzhen must be the reincarnation of some mysterious powerful being.
Though calling it reincarnation wasn’t quite right.
If so, what was the divine figure behind him?
It was clearly Li Tongzhen’s grown form.
As the Heir withdrew his gaze, the radiant orb began to descend slowly.
“It’s coming down!”
Someone shouted.
Under all eyes, the light faded gradually.
Within moments, the capital, once bathed in blinding daylight, returned to normal.
Night fell again.
Li Tongzhen’s feet touched the ground lightly.
The strange phenomena vanished like a breeze.
The Heir looked at him, noting no major change in appearance, only a shift in aura and temperament.
He seemed more mature, bearing burdens beyond his years.
Pain still lingered in his eyes.
He stood quietly, gathering himself.
After a long moment, he looked up at the Heir.
“Thank you, Your Highness. I, Li Tongzhen, will repay this kindness.”
He then gazed skyward.
“Is the struggle for the Heavenly Dao’s fate approaching? No, I must have lifted the seal too soon. Something must have gone wrong.”
“Coincidence, or…”
Li Tongzhen murmured to himself.
He took a step forward.
In an instant, he vanished.
Only the moon remained in the night sky; no trace of Li Tongzhen lingered.
The blood he had shed disappeared without a trace.
The air grew even quieter.
…(End of chapter)