Zhao Changhe originally headed to Jiangnan with the intention of finding something to do even when there was nothing pressing.
His enemies were quickly running out...
The Blood God Sect seemed to be taking a break for reasons unknown, even their bounties had gone cold. This was a good thing; Zhao Changhe didn’t really want to be their enemy – apart from not having any real grudges, Sun Jiaoxi still counted as a teacher’s grace, and Sect Hierarch Xue was... quite entertaining.
However, with the bounties going cold, Listening to Snow Tower, which had once caused Zhao Changhe so much pressure with their high-priced assassination attempts, also ceased its activities. Zhao Changhe had no idea what these assassin organizations were thinking – were they planning a massive retaliation for the failure that had cost many lives? Anyway, for now, they seemed to have stowed their flags and kept quiet.
Having offended some people from the local underworld while escorting Yangyang through Hebei, those people wouldn’t pursue him across thousands of miles, especially since they were likely quaking in their boots under Cui Wenjing’s retribution.
Because of internal affairs within the Cui Family, he crossed Cui Wenjue and others, leading to blockades as he left the family estate. That too had now dissipated; Cui Wenjing wouldn’t allow such matters to go unchecked for long, and by now, the necessary purge would have been long completed.
Hmm, the imperial wanted list was gone, and he had become a secret agent for the Demon Suppression Department.
Upon reflection, Zhao Changhe was surprised to find that the pressures of survival he had felt upon first arriving in this world were gone. It was quite normal; after all, who would be embroiled in murder and conflict all day long without some sort of taunt aura? Yet, being a natural-born bandit, he felt uncomfortable and worried that he might lose the environment that spurred his martial arts improvement.
Moreover, since both Cui Wenjing and Tang Wanju were unable to improve his meridian conditions, he needed to find a way to improve them himself.
So, he headed south, for the vast Worldly Society always had more wonders waiting for him to discover.
But this journey was relatively aimless, without a clear objective. Considering the Maitreya Sect as a target for causing upheaval, he had no idea where to start, leaving him feeling rather stifled along the way, as if he was conducting social research.
Unexpectedly, upon arriving in Yangzhou, he stumbled upon the overly enthusiastic Wan Dongliu, who might be involved with the Maitreya Sect. This was Cao Gang’s Young Master, a top local power. Zhao Changhe was overjoyed; all the listlessness of the journey swept away, excitement surging through him, invigorating him with renewed vigor.
The born bandit, Zhao Changhe, couldn’t help but label himself as such.
Wan Dongliu, as expected, did not stay over at Xiao Xiang Inn, nor did he bring the courtesans with him; he leisurely returned home alone.
Not long after, a tortoise-like figure followed and whispered, "Young Master Wan, Zhao Changhe and Ruyan have entered the house, quickly threw themselves on the bed – Ruyan called him impatient."
Wan Dongliu laughed, "What else can you expect from a bandit? Fancy he would sit with Ruyan and play music or paint? It’s quite normal."
The toady laughed along, "It shows that this man is actually quite easy to win over."
Shaking his head, Wan Dongliu said, "They say he has a rebellious streak; easy to win over temporarily, but a likely turncoat later. A little affair probably won’t contain him."
The toady added, "That’s why the Buddhas also think it would be better to take control of him, given his potential, to bring him into the Sect." The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the NovєlFіre.net
Wan Dongliu said slowly, "I suggested to the Upper Buddha that letting this go might be for the best. Ruyan hasn’t practiced secret techniques, just a normal believer; no big deal. Whether or not we can win hearts, at least we create good karma. She’s just a top courtesan, no loss if given as a plaything. To force control might provoke his rebellious side, which would be rather unsightly... imagine what the outcome of using the Blood Evil Skill to control him would be."
The toady chuckled disdainfully, "We’re not like those Blood God Sect weaklings."
Nodding, Wan Dongliu agreed, "Exactly, the divine skills of Maitreya are vast, and the Buddhist Law is boundless, incomparable to a mere blood-thirsty Evil God. Anyways, I’ll leave Zhao Changhe to his own devices; after all, it was but a chance encounter, not within my duties."
Lowering his voice, the toady inquired about the matter Wan Dongliu was overseeing...
Wan Dongliu shook his head gently, "Not a place for such discussions."
Realizing they were in the street, where chatting about Zhao Changhe might pass, but significant issues should be saved for the still of the night, the toady whispered, "Alright, the Upper Buddha awaits Young Master’s feedback."
The toady hurried back as Wan Dongliu ambled a few steps, then suddenly "pff" chuckled and, employing his lightness skill, swiftly departed.
Zhao Changhe, who was hiding on a rooftop afar, suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, not daring to follow any further.
He didn’t know whether Wan Dongliu’s chuckle was directed at the toady, the Maitreya Sect, or at him, the tailing eavesdropper.
If it was the latter, Wan Dongliu’s strength was unnervingly enigmatic. Due to his heightened Five Senses, he had been able to repeatedly evade assassination attempts; these were his main advantages. But if Wan Dongliu’s Five Senses had surpassed even his enhanced abilities, what level was he then?
But if that was true, why mock and signal a warning? Was it merely the disdain of a stronger man...
And if it was the former, if Wan Dongliu was mocking the Maitreya Sect and the toady, it would suggest that while Wan Dongliu outwardly followed the Maitreya Sect, he had other intentions... which might give another layer of meaning to his overt warmth towards Zhao Changhe.
From his conversation with the toady, it seemed he didn’t harbor much malice towards Zhao Changhe – at most, just mild disdain.
And that Xiao Xiang Inn was directly affiliated with the Maitreya Sect – no wonder when he rode up, the madam was particularly keen to draw him in... just like the Wan Hua Tower in Sword Lake City, it wasn’t because he was particularly attractive; both madams had their motives.
Damn, they’re all actors.
Zhao Changhe thought about it and still slipped back into the brothel, sneaking into Ruyan’s side.
He had originally intended to knock her out and had no plans to keep mingling there, but since Ruyan was an ordinary person, the problem was not big. Ordinary people have no clue how they black out in front of martial artists...
He lay quietly next to her, cultivating the Six Harmonies Divine Skill. After a few cycles, a moan sounded beside him as Ruyan woke up.
Zhao Changhe hadn’t entered deep meditation, so he quickly opened his eyes and smiled, "Beauty, awake?"
Ruyan shrank back into the bed in terror. From an ordinary person’s point of view, this brute had been too rough when he pounced on her, and she had no idea what he hit that knocked her out.
How could she possibly take care of such a customer? If things really got started, she might be killed by him in the process.
Sure enough, she heard Zhao Changhe laugh, "You’re too delicate, fainting at a touch. I didn’t have my fun. Shall we go again?"
Ruyan was scared to death and pleaded for mercy, "Sir, please spare me. I can use my mouth..."
"That won’t do much good!" Zhao Changhe widened his eyes, "It’s like scratching an itch through a boot, better not to bother!"
Ruyan thought to herself that this was actually more comfortable, but the oaf just didn’t understand. Yet she dared not argue and shivered with fear.
"Forget it." Zhao Changhe rolled out of bed and grabbed a wine pot from the table, "Join me for a few drinks. If it’s going to be your mouth, I’d rather hear stories from those lips. It’s my first time in Jiangnan, and I’m quite interested in the happenings here. That stuff you women have, it gets boring fast."
Ruyan was overjoyed inside. It turned out that the uncouth brute who didn’t care for sentiment also had his advantages. He enjoyed listening to stories, so that would be easy to handle! She could keep chatting with him all night long!
She quickly filled Zhao Changhe’s cup with wine, fearing he would change his mind, and asked anxiously, "What stories would you like to hear, young master?"
"Does Yangzhou have Twenty-Four Bridges?"
Ruyan was taken aback and glanced at Zhao Changhe with caution. She thought to herself, You seem quite knowledgeable, even aware of ancient poems. How could you not know what a mouth is for? Oh right, the original meaning of the poem isn’t that at all. I feel like I’ve tainted it by being in the brothel. Young Master Zhao certainly didn’t mean that.
With that thought, she steadied herself, "There is, but I’m not sure if it’s that one. Everyone assumes it is, so it must be."
God knows that was exactly what Zhao Changhe meant, and his interest was piqued, "Oh, so Twenty-Four Bridges is actually just one, and not twenty-four?"
"There’s also this theory that the total number of bridges in the city adds up to it. However, there are now far more than just three or five dozen bridges in the city. No one can clearly say which twenty-four they are anymore."
"Hmm..." Zhao Changhe sipped his wine and nodded, "I’ll have to check it out when I have the chance."
Once the conversation started rolling, Ruyan no longer felt nervous and smiled, "Does the young master enjoy poetry?"
"Not really, I’ve just heard some in the brothels before."
Zhao Changhe asked rather casually, "Hey, by the way, there hasn’t been an update on Wan Dongliu in the Chaotic World Book for a long time. He was at the Mystical Gate Five Layer, ranked seventieth. Is he still at the Fifth Layer now?"
"I don’t know about that," Ruyan replied, "Young Master Wan hasn’t had many conflicts with others in these past two years, and no one in Yangzhou dares to provoke the Cao Gang."
"Aren’t there any new tough guys from out of town? This is the hub of the canal transport, and there should be lots of travelers."
"Indeed, there are many travelers, but no one is that foolish. Actually, besides you, young master, there have been other notable figures from the Hidden Dragon List in Yangzhou recently."
Zhao Changhe was surprised, "Oh? Who else is there? I would like to meet them."
Ruyan looked at him and hesitated before continuing.
"What’s the matter, just say who they are!"
"There’s Daoist Xuan Chong from the Taiyi Sect, and Young Master Tang Buqi from the Tang family of Gusu..."
"Eh?" Zhao Changhe took a sip of wine, clearly looking forward to it, "It seems I’ve come at the right time. It’s a gathering of talents... Why the hesitation? I have no quarrels with them."
Ruyan paused and with a strange look, continued, "There’s also Yue Hongling from Luoxia Manor."
"Pffft!" Zhao Changhe spat out his drink.