Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

"Go back and say what needs to be said. What's done is done. This is such a large forest, and we only have so few people. It's impossible to miss anything. It's alright, I'll take responsibility. We've been chasing all night, and the brothers are tired too. Let's regroup and go back to rest." Li Longcheng didn't immediately respond to his subordinate. He thought for a while before speaking.

"Yes, I understand, General." The person who could become Li Longcheng's lieutenant was no ordinary person. Although Li Longcheng did not say it explicitly, the lieutenant still understood Li Longcheng's meaning. This matter should be left behind if possible. When gods fight, it is not good for ordinary people like them to take it too seriously.

Having received Li Longcheng's instruction, the lieutenant turned and waved to his men behind him, signaling them to turn back to the city. After giving his orders, the lieutenant turned back to call out to Li Longcheng, only to find Li Longcheng still staring intently at the deep, dark land of Heavenly Punishment before him. The lieutenant suppressed his impulse.

The lieutenant glanced at Li Longcheng, then at the place of divine punishment, took a deep breath, turned around, and rushed to the side of the group, leading them forward.

After looking at the place of divine punishment for a while, Li Longcheng suddenly laughed, then took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and raised his head to move his stiff neck.

"Old Huang, I hope this kid can use his brain, and I also hope your sacrifice won't have been in vain. This game is too big and too cruel."

After muttering a sentence to himself, Li Longcheng shook his head slightly, gave a bitter laugh, and after taking one last deep look at the dark and mysterious Land of Heavenly Punishment, he turned his horse around and rode back in the direction his troops had left.

"Longcheng, there's something I'd like to ask you to do." Old Huang took a sip of tea, pondered for a moment, and then looked up at Li Longcheng, who was sitting opposite him.

"Just say what's on your mind. There's no need for us to be so polite. Don't stand on ceremony." Li Longcheng laughed and waved his hand gently when he heard Lao Huang's words.

"Didn't you tell me last time that your city lord is a bit restless?" Old Huang said seriously, ignoring Li Longcheng's nonchalant attitude.

“Yeah, he’s been a bit restless lately. Although he hasn’t shown anything on the surface, I have a feeling something’s not quite right.” When Li Longcheng heard Lao Huang say this, he also put away his carefree attitude.

“If one day he decides to rebel against the Wen family and issues an order to hunt down the Wen family in Linghai City, then do as he says. I will also go to Linghai City then, and I will kill them.” Old Huang looked at Li Longcheng with a serious expression.

"Old Huang, are you alright? How could I possibly kill you?" Li Longcheng waved his hand, but his expression quickly turned cold again.

"why."

"Don't ask why. Just know that we are both in the same big game. There are some things you can't change." Old Huang lowered his head and stopped looking at Li Longcheng.

“But I…” Li Longcheng couldn’t finish his sentence.

"No buts, just do as I say, you'll understand later." Old Huang chuckled softly.

Chapter 1254 Account

"Old Huang, are you alright? How could I possibly kill you?" Li Longcheng waved his hand, but his expression quickly turned cold again.

"why."

"Don't ask why. Just know that we are both in the same big game. There are some things you can't change." Old Huang lowered his head and stopped looking at Li Longcheng.

“But I…” Li Longcheng couldn’t finish his sentence.

"No buts, just do as I say, you'll understand later." Old Huang chuckled softly, then put down his teacup, slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the bustling traffic outside.

"Old Huang, I just want to know. Is there really no other way? Is it really necessary to..." Li Longcheng sighed, picked up his teacup, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. Then he put down the teacup, wiped his mouth, and walked to Old Huang's side with a complicated expression.

When Li Longcheng asked Lao Huang that question, his voice suddenly trembled, and Li Longcheng seemed unable to continue. He also shifted his gaze elsewhere, no longer looking at Lao Huang beside him. Moreover, a few silvery tears were faintly visible in the corners of Li Longcheng's eyes.

“There is a way, but…” Old Huang did not answer Li Longcheng’s question immediately, but after saying a few words, he suddenly fell silent.

“But…the effect isn’t as good as this, right?” Li Longcheng picked up where Lao Huang left off, took a deep breath, and said the second half of Lao Huang’s sentence.

"Yes... the effect isn't as obvious." Old Huang lowered his head and answered softly.

"But... what could be so serious that you would risk your life... to pay such a high price..." Li Longcheng's voice choked with emotion. He really couldn't understand what could possibly make Lao Huang give up his life like this.

"Longcheng, remember this. There are some things you shouldn't know, so never ask about them. The consequences and the truth of asking around will be unbearable for you." Old Huang didn't directly answer Li Longcheng's question.

"Longcheng, after I'm gone, you must take good care of yourself. Your identity is still top secret. Besides me, there's only one other person who knows. If he's gone after I die, then you'll have to suffer." Old Huang sighed deeply as he said this, reaching up to rub his temples.

"Longcheng understands, so don't worry. I'm fine, everything's alright. Whether it's in the open or in the shadows, I'll do my best."

"Longcheng." After Li Longcheng finished speaking, Lao Huang remained silent for a while. After a long pause, Lao Huang suddenly called out to Li Longcheng. Then he turned around and looked at Li Longcheng's face, his eyes filled with apology and reluctance.

"Old Huang... no, Uncle Huang, please speak." Looking into Old Huang's eyes, Li Longcheng felt a pang of pity, and an overwhelming sense of sorrow welled up inside him. However, Li Longcheng forced himself to suppress the sorrow and smiled calmly at Old Huang, trying to leave the best impression on him.

"I'm sorry." Old Huang's heart stirred, and an overwhelming sense of sorrow welled up within him. He uttered these three words and then bowed deeply to Li Longcheng. The instant Old Huang bent down, large tears streamed from his eyes and slammed onto the floor.

Upon hearing Lao Huang's words, Li Longcheng, the person involved, froze on the spot for a long time, his eyes wide and mouth agape as he stared blankly at Lao Huang in front of him. Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably. After a while, Li Longcheng quickly bent down and helped Lao Huang up.

"Uncle Huang, please don't say that, please don't say that. If it weren't for you and Third Uncle, how could I, Li Longcheng, be where I am today? Third Uncle, please don't say that." Li Longcheng said, choking back tears, while supporting Old Huang.

After being helped up by Li Longcheng, Old Huang turned his head to wipe his tears, then looked at Li Longcheng again. Li Longcheng was now crying like a child, tears streaming down his face. Old Huang took two steps forward and gently lifted Li Longcheng's face, carefully wiping away his tears like a loving elder tending to his grandson.

“Longcheng, you’ve been with us for so long, and we haven’t been able to give you a single day of a good life. You suffered so much when you were little, and now that you’re grown up, you still have to shoulder such a heavy burden. I feel so guilty. If only I had let you live as an ordinary person in the countryside, you wouldn’t have had to suffer so much.”

"Uncle Huang, I don't care. This life was given to me by you and Third Uncle, so you can take it whenever you need it. I, Li Longcheng, may not know or do anything else, but I do know how to repay kindness. Uncle Huang, please don't say that. I'm very happy to live with you. Really, I'm very happy."

In that instant, Li Longcheng recalled all the moments he had shared with Lao Huang. There were happy times and times when he broke down and cried, but no matter what, Lao Huang was always by Li Longcheng's side, which made Li Longcheng feel extremely happy.

"Alright, no matter what, I, Huang Long, owe you my life in this lifetime. I helped you rise to power, and then I gave you all this disgusting scheming and backstabbing. If there is an afterlife, if I, Old Huang, meet you again, I will definitely give you an ordinary life, peaceful and undisturbed by worldly troubles." Old Huang took a deep breath as he spoke.

"You always told me you didn't want anything, just a peaceful life. I'm sorry. Longcheng, I'm sorry, but I'm counting on you for this." After saying this, Old Huang gave Li Longcheng a deep look, then walked past him resolutely downstairs.

When Li Longcheng saw Lao Huang leave, he quickly turned around. Looking at Lao Huang's back, he was overwhelmed with emotions and opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

"Uncle Huang!" Just as Old Huang was about to walk downstairs, Li Longcheng shouted at his back. Upon hearing Li Longcheng's voice, Old Huang froze on the spot.

With a thud, Li Longcheng suddenly knelt heavily on the ground. Upon hearing this sound, Old Huang felt as if his heart was being torn apart.

"Uncle Huang... Father, thank you. Longcheng kowtows to you here to thank you for raising me." As he spoke, Li Longcheng kowtowed heavily. Old Huang's tears, which had just stopped, welled up again. Hearing the thud of Li Longcheng's kowtow, Old Huang felt a deep sadness in his heart.

After taking a deep breath, Old Huang picked up his foot again and started walking downstairs. Li Longcheng had finished kowtowing, but he no longer had the strength to lift his head, remaining in that final position. Li Longcheng knew that Old Huang was gone, and he knew that this might be their last farewell.

"Uncle Huang, can I call you Dad?" Li Longcheng raised his head, which was buried deep in the corncob, and looked at Old Huang sitting next to him.

"Silly boy, how can you call me Dad? Call me Uncle Huang." Old Huang affectionately patted Li Longcheng's head and said softly.

“But I don’t even know who my father is, and he doesn’t come looking for me.” Hearing Lao Huang’s answer, Li Longcheng’s mood plummeted. He pouted and looked at the green grass in front of him with a wronged expression.

"Your father is right there. As long as you have him in your heart, he will be very happy." Old Huang felt a sharp pain in his heart, but he still forced a smile and pointed to the blue sky above his head.

"But he never comes to me. What's he doing living up there? Is it that fun in the sky?" Li Longcheng looked up at the blue sky above him and muttered with a hint of complaint.

"Your father is building this empire for you. Without your father's hard work, how could Longcheng have such a good life? Don't you think so? Back then, your father told Uncle Huang that as long as you grow up, Longcheng, he would definitely come back to see you." Old Huang gently hugged Li Longcheng and slowly explained to him, word by word.

“But I don’t want Dad to build an empire for me, I just want Dad to be by my side. I don’t care how powerful he is, I just want to be with Dad and live the life I have with you, how wonderful that would be.” Li Longcheng looked up at Lao Huang, and the moment their eyes met, Lao Huang’s heart ached.

"Hey, by the way, Uncle Huang roasted a pheasant for you. Aren't you going to go check on it? It looks like it's almost burnt." Old Huang exaggeratedly sniffed around.

"I can smell the burning smell. Aren't you going to check it out? If it keeps burning, it really won't be able to be eaten."

"Ah? No, no! I want to go see, I want to eat roasted pheasant, I want to go see!" As soon as he heard Lao Huang say there was roasted chicken, Li Longcheng's eyes lit up instantly, and he looked around anxiously.

"Over there, right in front of our thatched hut," Old Huang said, pointing to the thatched hut behind him.

"Ah! I can see smoke! Is it really going to burn?! I want roasted pheasant, I want roasted pheasant!" Following Old Huang's hand, Li Longcheng looked back and indeed saw a wisp of white smoke rising from the thatched hut behind him. He hurriedly shoved the corncob in his hand into Old Huang's hand and then rushed towards the direction of the white smoke.

Watching Li Longcheng's anxious back, Old Huang smiled. Children's attention is indeed easy to divert. But after smiling, Old Huang put away his smile, looked up at the sky above him again, shook his head after a complicated expression, and then stood up and walked towards the thatched hut.

"General! General. The city lord wants you to go to his residence. He says he has important matters to discuss." By the time Li Longcheng returned to Linghai City, it was already dark. Li Longcheng's face had returned to its usual cold and stern expression, devoid of any emotion.

"Did he say anything?" Li Longcheng asked the soldier beside him coldly as he walked quickly forward.

"The city lord didn't say, but he's come looking for you several times. He said you must go to the city lord's residence immediately after you return," the soldier said after carefully recalling the events.

"Alright, I understand. Go prepare the horse, I'll be there soon." Li Longcheng nodded and gave an order to the soldier beside him.

"Yes, General." The soldier beside Li Longcheng nodded in response and hurriedly ran towards the door to prepare a horse for Li Longcheng. Li Longcheng also left his residence shortly afterward.

"My lord, I heard you were looking for me." After entering the bedroom of the city lord of Linghai City, Li Longcheng gave a slight bow, then raised his head and looked coldly at the city lord sitting above.

"Oh my great general, you're finally back! What have you been up to all day? I've been looking for you everywhere!" Upon seeing Li Longcheng arrive, the city lord jumped up from his bed, a smile plastered on his face, and quickly walked to Li Longcheng's side, reaching out to tightly grasp Li Longcheng's hands.

"Reporting to you, sir, I've been feeling a bit bored in the military camp lately, so I decided to take a stroll around the outskirts of the Heavenly Punishment Land. Thank you for your trouble, sir." Li Longcheng nodded slightly.

"Ah, it's alright, it's alright. But you should probably avoid going to the Land of Heavenly Punishment in the future, in case those inhuman creatures suddenly attack and hurt you." The city lord waved his hand.

"Thank you for your concern, sir. May I ask what brings you here?" Li Longcheng smiled faintly, not wanting to embarrass the city lord.

"Ah! That's right! I want to entrust you with something." The city lord pretended to suddenly realize something.

"Please speak, my lord. As long as it is within my power, I will do my utmost to accomplish it." Li Longcheng nodded slightly.

“Someone will be coming to Linghai City in a couple of days. I need you to kill two people for me. One is called Huang Long, and the other is called Wen Long. I think you should have heard of them.”

Chapter 1255 Raw Stone

“Someone from Linghai City will be coming in a couple of days. I need you to kill two people for me. One is named Huang Long, and the other is named Wen Long. I think you should have heard of them.” As the city lord said this, he released Li Longcheng’s hand, and the smile on his face disappeared, replaced by an extremely cold expression.

"The Wen family, I don't understand." Li Longcheng's heart skipped a beat when he heard the city lord's words. Sure enough, this matter was unavoidable. But Li Longcheng couldn't show his thoughts, so he could only pretend to be indifferent when talking to the city lord.

"This matter was ordered from above. You don't need to inquire about the specific reasons. Knowing too much will only do you harm." The city lord turned around with his hands behind his back and slowly took two steps towards his bed. His voice was unusually cold and devoid of any emotion.

"Yes, Your subordinate obeys." Li Longcheng sighed inwardly. He had hoped that the city lord would tell him something substantial, but he did not expect that Old Huang would not tell him anything, and even the city lord, who usually trusted him the most, would not say a word. This made Li Longcheng, who wanted to know some inside information, feel a little disheartened.

"If you have nothing else to do, Lord City Lord, I shall take my leave." After a while, Li Longcheng bowed slightly to the Lord City Lord and made as if to leave. He really did not want to stay here any longer.

"Wait! Longcheng, take this." The city lord suddenly called out to Li Longcheng, who was about to turn and leave. He took out an object from his pocket, turned around, walked quickly to Li Longcheng's side, and stuffed the object into Li Longcheng's hand.

Li Longcheng subconsciously glanced down at it, and his expression instantly changed. He recognized it; it was a raw stone that, when combined with arrays and other complex techniques, could instantly turn a cultivator into an ordinary person with no strength whatsoever. Li Longcheng truly hadn't expected things to escalate to this extent.

Although Li Longcheng received orders from both Lao Huang and the city lord to execute Lao Huang, he still harbored a sliver of hope. He had thought that relying on Lao Huang's cultivation and insight, he could escape with a glimmer of hope, and when he finally reported back to the city lord, he could use the excuse of insufficient strength to cover it up. But unexpectedly...

The appearance of this raw stone instantly shattered Li Longcheng's hopes, and his face turned deathly pale. However, the city lord didn't think much of it, because Li Longcheng himself was a cultivator, so it was perfectly normal for him to recognize the raw stone and show this expression.

"City Lord, this..." Li Longcheng stared blankly at the raw stone in his hand, then looked up at the city lord in front of him. For the first time, Li Longcheng felt that the city lord in front of him was such a stranger.

"No need to ask. This raw stone is meant to deal with Huanglong. You should know that with his cultivation level, it would be very easy for him to get rid of us. So... we have no other choice but to resort to this." The city lord waved his hand lightly, lowered his head, and stopped looking at Li Longcheng.

"But City Lord, if this raw stone is discovered by other experts, then our Linghai City will really... really be finished. This is no longer just the consequence of killing the Wen family." Li Longcheng was having some difficulty processing this information.

"Do you think the pressure on Linghai City will lessen if we don't use this raw stone? No way." Upon hearing Li Longcheng's words, the city lord suddenly laughed, raised his head, walked to the door, and looked at the blue sky above him, somewhat lost in thought.

"Once we make our move against Huanglong and Wenlong, our Linghai City will be on the verge of destruction. But what can we do? Who can disobey orders from above? Who dares to say no? I can only hope that this storm will subside a bit." The city lord sighed softly.

Seeing the city lord's complicated expression, Li Longcheng suddenly felt lost again, unsure of how to respond. So he could only stand there blankly, staring at the raw stone in his hand.