Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

With King Zhou's orders, the soldiers began pouring into Bi Gan's residence. It was late at night, yet the sight of armored soldiers weaving through the streets and alleys was truly menacing.

Li Mingzhu had not yet left Chaoge. For one thing, his injuries had not healed, and for another, he anticipated that the Heavenly Court wouldn't act so quickly, given the lore of "a day in the heavens being a year on earth."

Pushing open the window and gazing at the troops in formation, Li Mingzhu felt a tug at his heart. He calculated with his fingers and realized that Bi Gan was destined for calamity.

While fate indeed dictated this tribulation for Bi Gan, it wasn't immutable. Take Shi Ji, for instance—hadn't she evaded her destined catastrophe?

With the Nine-tailed Fox now subdued under his control, perhaps Bi Gan might be spared the ordeal of losing his heart. If he hadn't meddled today, perhaps...

After a moment's deliberation, Li Mingzhu decided to intervene and offer Bi Gan some advice. As for the ultimate outcome, that was beyond his control.

Each person has their own fate. If, after his guidance, Bi Gan were to still perish, it would be because he had a death wish of his own making.

With a fleeting movement, Li Mingzhu vanished and reappeared inside Bi Gan's residence.

Though Bi Gan was a Vice Minister and an Imperial Uncle, his home was exceedingly modest.

It was even shabbier than that of minor officials of no importance. Within the estate, there was only a single elderly servant—truly a testament to his loyalty and virtue.

In the study, the lamps remained lit. Despite the lateness of the hour, Bi Gan was still poring over government documents.

"Greetings, Virtuous Minister!"

Stepping forth into the study, Li Mingzhu gave a slight bow to Bi Gan, who was engrossed in his paperwork.

"Ah, it's the Daoist. I wasn't expecting to meet you again. Did the peach wood sword have any effect?"

Recognizing Li Mingzhu, Bi Gan rose and greeted him with a smile.

"To my shame, the demon in the palace is of profound cultivation. The peach wood sword was of no use and even I was injured in the confrontation. Now, I've even implicated the Virtuous Minister,"

Li Mingzhu sighed, admitting. Who could have guessed that Lady Xi was a being from the Heavenly Court, with cultivation THIS powerful?

Li Mingzhu couldn't help but lament how far Hao Tian was willing to go. At the very least, Lady Xi was no less than a Daluo Golden Immortal. Clearly, Hao Tian's schemes were monumental.

"What do you mean by this?"

Bi Gan asked suspiciously. Even if the attempt to slay the demon failed, how did this implicate him?

"The demon in the palace failed to slay me with the peach wood sword and now harbors resentment against the Virtuous Minister. She desires your Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart. The Virtuous Minister would do best to heed my advice and hide away for a time,"

Li Mingzhu suggested after some thought. This was the safest course of action. Though he knew Bi Gan would surely reject it, he felt compelled to say it anyway.

"Does the king approve of the demon's request?"

Bi Gan sidestepped Li Mingzhu's suggestion to hide and instead asked this question.

"He has agreed!"

Li Mingzhu replied helplessly. He knew that no matter what, Bi Gan would not leave.

"If the ruler commands a minister's death, the minister has no choice but to comply. Daoist, say no more. I have made up my mind—it is but death!"

Bi Gan spoke with grief and indignation, yet who truly wishes to die?

He only hoped his death could awaken King Zhou, though the king had never truly cared for his life.

"If that is the case, I won't press further. But I must remind the Virtuous Minister of one thing: if the opportunity arises, please consider seeking out Uncle Ziya once,"

Li Mingzhu said his final words and disappeared once more.

If Bi Gan was intent on seeking death, there was nothing Li Mingzhu could do.

Whether Jiang Ziya could save Bi Gan, Li Mingzhu didn't know. But Li Mingzhu was certain of one thing: if Jiang Ziya revealed himself, Lady Xi would not let the opportunity slip away.

As for whether Bi Gan heeded his words, Li Mingzhu no longer cared. He had done all he could.

Whether for himself or for others, everything that needed to be done had been done. What happened next had little to do with him.

A group of armored soldiers stormed into Bi Gan's residence, attempting to arrest him. They all knew Bi Gan would not live long, so they had no fear of his power.

At any other time, not even with a hundred lives would they dare to lay a finger on Bi Gan.

Such is the way of those who thrive off borrowed authority.

"Stand aside! I remain the Vice Minister, and you have no grounds to act insolently!"

With a flick of his sleeve, Bi Gan's commanding presence surged. Clad in his court attire, he strode toward the Royal Palace.

Though outnumbered, the soldiers dared not lay a hand on Bi Gan. His authority commanded respect even in silence.

Bi Gan walked alone at their forefront, proceeding toward the palace as he would on any ordinary morning court session.

Alone in his resolve, leaving behind his old wife and young child in tears.

There is no greater sorrow in the world than the separation of life and death, and in this moment, they bore it all.

Bi Gan did not visit Jiang Ziya, but Jiang Ziya sought him out. Clad in white robes with flowing white hair and holding a horsetail whisk, he blocked Bi Gan's path.

"Greetings, Virtuous Minister!"

Jiang Ziya clasped his hands in respect, his expression grim.

"Honored Immortal, my respects. What advice might you have for me today?"

Although Bi Gan had never met Jiang Ziya before, he knew this was none other than Jiang Ziya.

"Take this talisman, Virtuous Minister; it should keep you safe,"

Jiang Ziya said gravely as he handed over a talisman to Bi Gan. However, it was not the Heart Protecting Spell but a Protection Spell—designed not to save him, but to harm him.

Imagine, if the spell activated inside the palace and struck at the soldiers, would Bi Gan have any chance of survival?

Of course, this assumed Bi Gan wouldn't voluntarily surrender his heart. If he did, Jiang Ziya's schemes would be for naught.

Regardless, Jiang Ziya's goal was achieved. All he sought was to weaken the power of Yin Shang at any cost.

Jiang Ziya was never foolish. Though it seemed he wanted to save Bi Gan, in reality, he was pushing him toward death, ensuring his demise no matter what!

In truth, Jiang Ziya's visit to Chaoge likely shared the same purpose as Lady Xi's—to gather intelligence and learn the enemy's weaknesses.

Yet who could uncover the deep layers of Jiang Ziya's cunning?

This was Jiang Ziya's most terrifying trait: to be manipulated by him without ever realizing it, even feeling grateful for his "help."

Jiang Ziya, Lady Xi, and Li Mingzhu—all of them had their own schemes. Each believed they had succeeded, and indeed, they had.

Lady Xi sought to eliminate Bi Gan and capture Jiang Ziya. She succeeded.

Li Mingzhu intended to assist Bi Gan while trapping Jiang Ziya. He succeeded.

Jiang Ziya aimed to weaken Yin Shang's strength, ensuring Bi Gan's death. He succeeded as well.

As for the price they each paid, it was something they all found acceptable.

This battle, hidden beneath the guise of brute force, was ordinary on the surface but fraught with peril—a clash of three cunning foxes.

The one truly pitiful was Bi Gan. Then again, he sought death himself.

After entering the palace, Bi Gan tore open his chest, offering his heart while cursing Lady Xi and King Zhou. With his heart removed, he miraculously survived long enough to leave the palace, only to die at dawn.

There's a saying in later generations: "A vegetable thrives without a heart, but a man without one dies." Yet, it's but a legend; there's no truth to it.

The reason Bi Gan lived without a heart for so long lay not only in his unique constitution but also in his unyielding will.

Li Mingzhu observed all of this with a detached heart, unmoved by the events unfolding before him.

To him, Bi Gan sought this end himself. Why should he prevent it? Besides, Bi Gan was neither friend nor kin. There was no obligation to intervene. If death be his choice, so be it.

With Bi Gan gone, Jiang Ziya's time in Chaoge turned grim. He had intended to linger a while longer, but a decree from Lady Xi labeled him as a practitioner of the Demon Path.

Left with no choice, Jiang Ziya departed Chaoge that very day. At the same time, Li Mingzhu also left the city.

However, their paths diverged greatly. Li Mingzhu ventured east, while Jiang Ziya headed west.

Thus concluded their time in Chaoge—for now. Li Mingzhu knew he would return someday, though what awaited him then remained an enigma.