Otherworldly Merchant

Chapter 495: Besieging Cao Cao in the Eight Diagrams Formation

The rat heard me. It jumped a few times on my shoulder, then dashed forward like a lightning bolt.

I ran after it. Soon, I noticed a wisp of Yin energy that was quite similar to the Yin energy that had swirled above Li Mazis head.

After around ten minutes, I saw a shadow pulling Li Mazis ghost ahead of me. Li Mazi didnt want to go with it, and was trying to resist at every step.

I exhaled in relief once I saw Li Mazis complete soul. I strode forward, shouting at the shadow, How dare you! You stole a living mans soul!

The shadow was startled and shivered. He took a few steps back, talking in a dark and glum voice, He unearthed my body. Im taking revenge

The shadow pestering Li Mazi was undoubtedly Zhang Yangs ghost. Although he had strong resentful energy, he was a new ghost. He was still afraid of me. I made good use of this point, yelling, You fool! Youve been deceived! We were there to help investigate your death. We wanted to find the real murderer!

Is it true? Zhang Yangs expression froze, his face puzzled.

I took the chance and used the Hundred Ghost Pouch to collect his and Li Mazis souls. Then, I turned to find the rat. I wanted to ask it to take me to Senior Shu. However, it had already left.

It seemed Senior Shu didnt want to show up. Otherwise, he would have saved Li Mazi already. I sighed and returned to the Police Bureau.

While crossing the small bridge, I heard the water splashing underneath. As I was reminded about the scene from before, my scalp became numb. I closed my eyes and sprinted away.

Along the way, I became increasingly worried that Cao Cao would wreak havoc and kill more people while I wasnt in the Police Bureau. I rushed to the guest room as soon as I entered the building.

The arrangement in the room remained the same. Li Mazi was lying on the bed while Chief Liu was sitting on the edge, looking at the Eight Diagram with a stern face. When I entered, he heaved a sigh of relief. How did it go?

Everything should be fine now I answered him, asking him to leave right after. 

When I was alone in the room, I released Li Mazis soul and chanted the spell to make his soul return to his body.

Li Mazi started to breathe as soon as his soul returned. His three Yang flames were burning again. However, as his soul had been affected by Zhang Yangs Yin energy, his Yang flames were still weak. That was why he had yet to wake up. I placed his body at the center of the formation.

I could protect him there, and I could even use him to lure Cao Cao.

Afterward, I invited Chief Liu to the room to wait with me. At this moment, the wind had subsided outside and snow started to fall.

At first, the snowflakes were as big as rice grains. However, they grew bigger with time, reaching the size of a feather. Snow fell and stacked on the tree branches in the courtyard, eventually breaking them.

It was the first time I had seen such a strong snowfall. I couldnt help but go out to watch. The entire world seemed to have only one color, with the gray sky connected to the white earth. This was the most beautiful natural scenery I had ever seen.

Chief Liu followed me. He brushed the snow off his shirt, asking, The snowfall is getting heavier. Would that thing still come?

It certainly will! I sounded resolute.

We were talking about Cao Cao. He wouldnt let a storm or snow hinder him from what he wanted to do.

As soon as I said that, I heard the wind howling and rushing toward the Police Bureau.

My spirit was boosted. Here he comes! 

I pulled Chief Liu to hide behind a trash bin. After all, the wind was so fast that we couldnt get into the house before it.

As soon as we hid away, Cao Cao entered the gate of the Police Bureau. His figure flashed and reappeared in the dormitory.

He went to Chief Lius room first. Seeing no one there, he went to Li Mazis room.

Seeing that, Chief Liu sweated in fright. His voice shivered as he spoke, That was incredible!

Then, he gave me a thumb-up.

I shook my head with a smile and turned to look at Cao Cao.

After seeing no one in Li Mazis room, Cao Cao eventually went to my room. My door was left open so that he could see Li Mazi lying inside at first glance. However, he didnt get in, and only paced back and forth in the same spot.

Young master, whats he doing? Chief Liu was puzzled.

I put on a serious face and asked Chief Liu not to talk. I fixed my eyes on Cao Cao, my heart racing.

I just realized I had underestimated Cao Caos mistrustful nature. He would have entered the room if I had closed the door. But as the door was wide open, he wouldnt take the initiative to get in.

If this continued, all of my preparations would have been in vain. And, it would be even more difficult to subdue him later.

What you feared the most would eventually come true!

Cao Cao lingered at the door for a while, then he turned to leave.

I couldnt be subtle anymore. When he passed by our hideout, I jumped out from behind the trash bin, yelling, Blacky Cao!

Cao Cao was the second son of his family, and he had a dark skin tone. When he was young, people had always made fun of his dark skin. Blacky was the nickname people had given him, which he hated a lot. That was why he turned around right away when I yelled his nickname; his eyes turned red as he gazed at me.

My plan was to provoke him and quickly run to my room. However, I tripped when I jumped out, landing on my face like an idiot.

Cao Cao stormed after me. Although he couldnt behead me now, he would still be able to hurt me!

The swords cold light was reflected on the white snow, blinding my eyes.

I wanted to run, but it was too late. So I directly rolled on the ground. At the same time, I grabbed a handful of peanuts and threw them at the Seven Star Sword.

Chief Liu had prepared the peanuts while we were waiting for Cao Cao. He wanted to drink some liquor with peanuts to warm up. However, they became quite handy for me at the moment.

Cao Cao changed his expression when he saw the peanuts. He was frightened and backed off, which was out of my expectation. The peanuts could only damage his Yin energy a little bit. He didnt need to react in such an exaggerated way.

However, it didnt end here. Cao Cao took a few steps back to avoid the peanuts, but his Seven Star Sword got hit, sending sparks everywhere. Then, it disappeared. 

What the heck? 

I dropped my jaw, not believing what I saw. I couldnt understand why a divine weapon was so easily broken.

However, before I could pull myself together, Cao Cao laughed and threw himself in the snow. Then, something even more surprising happenedthe broken Seven Star Sword recovered. When Cao Cao got up, the sword was radiating cold light in his hand one more time.

Why are you still standing there? Hurry, get in!

I didnt have time to think much. Before Cao Cao came, I pulled Chief Liu and rushed into the room. Then, I banged the door shut.

I realized that the Seven Star Sword had recovered thanks to the Yin energy Cao Cao absorbed from the snow.

Water had Yin properties. That was why spirits and ghosts often liked to live in rivers or wells. Snow was a sort of frozen water with highly-concentrated Yin energy!

Moreover, while falling from the sky, the snowflakes had absorbed the dirt in the air. When the snow piled up on the ground, it looked white and clean, but it was actually filthy underneath.

Chief Liu patted his chest and looked at the door. He asked me cautiously, Did he leave?

I closed my eyes, although still looking at the door. I saw Cao Cao lingering there.

I then explained to Chief Liu. No, hes hesitating, deciding whether to enter the room or not.

But I still hadnt figured out how the peanuts could smash the Seven Star Sword.

The peanuts I used were fried ones, which had thin Yang energy. But if they were enough to hit and break the Seven Star Sword, it could only mean one thingthe sword was fake!

Actually, after Cao Cao was forced to offer the sword to Dong Zhuo, the Seven Star Sword had disappeared from history. Luo Guanzhong, the author of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, didnt mention the sword in his book. I was certain that the sword wasnt returned to Cao Cao later. If so, the sword in Cao Caos hand was just a counterfeit. It could have been made of wood or mud. That was why it couldnt even withstand a light attack.

I was afraid of him because of the sword. But now, Cao Cao didnt seem so dangerous.

Chief Liu, dont worry. We should just wait.

Around ten minutes later, the closed door was blown open. Cao Cao charged in with bloodshot eyes. Seeing the three of us sitting at the center of the room, he hesitated, carefully watching the Eight Diagrams underneath our feet.

Hahaha, its the formation that peasant Zhuge Liang used to play with. Are you trying to make yourself look like a joke?

Cao Cao recognized the Eight Diagrams. However, he ignored it and dashed forward.

Success!

I couldnt control the joy in my heart. Chief Liu and I removed Li Mazi from the Eight Diagrams. Then, we pulled the rope. As the rope was pulled, the raincoats and fabrics we used to cover the mirrors were all lifted. Except for the direction towards the door, the other seven directions began to reflect light.

A white halo burst from the center of the formation, directly imprisoning Cao Cao.

Actually, when Chief Liu and I were taking those steps, Cao Cao could have seized the time to leave the Eight Diagrams formation. However, he missed the chance due to his initial hesitation.

His face changed when he saw the white halo. He knew he had been trapped and that it wouldn't be easy to escape. He used his hands to hit his head and fell to the ground.

At this time, he was facing the most perilous gate of the formation: The Death Gate! It didnt look special to the naked eye, but to people in this business, the Death Gate had mountains of skeletons that fumed green smoke. In the distance, I could still feel the strong breath of Death. I backed off out of reflex.

What are you looking at? I see nothing over there.

Chief Liu studied the door, not getting what was happening.

I smiled, then dripped two drops of ox tears from a small bottle on my palm. I used my finger to smear the ox tears on Chief Lius eyelids. Take a look now!

Chief Liu turned and looked. His face instantly changed. Can we escape this place?

Dont worry. After I deactivate the formation, the Death gate will disappear.

Then, I slowly stepped forward, respectfully bowing to Cao Cao. Chancellor Cao, please receive my greeting.

Cao Cao knew he was imprisoned; his face paled. Under the light from seven mirrors, he was like Sun Wukong after having been confined by the Band-tightening Spell. He kept hitting his own head, his face twisting due to the pain.

He had attempted to escape from the Death gate several times. Ultimately, he failed.