The next morning, snowflakes flew densely.
Wuzhui trampled the snow and left Beimang.
The last time he exited Beimang was when he first ventured into the Worldly Society, testing the world with his sword.
This time, leaving Beimang, he was the center of attention, on a quest to find the Grandmaster.
Heading south from Beimang, it wouldn’t take many days to reach the Capital. Zhao Changhe gazed at the massive snow-engulfed city walls from afar and chose not to approach.
He had heard that the situation in Jiangnan was in dire straits. Tang Wanju once again went to Gusu and was no longer in the Capital. As for the Miss Winged Fire Snake, he wasn’t sure if she was still in the palace. With her nature, certainly, she wouldn’t let herself be trapped within the palace walls, free to leave whenever she wanted.
Apart from that, there was nothing appealing about the Capital to him.
It was a city like a vortex... the center of worldly politics, the core of the battle between the Human Emperor and the God Demon. Ignorance was bliss, and knowing only warranted caution.
If he could bridge the gap between heaven and humankind, prove himself on the path of the Grandmaster, he wondered if he would be qualified to visit this place again.
To what extent must one reach to not leave hurriedly and incompletely like last time?
And at what level could he loudly say to Xia Longyuan, "I disagree with what you are doing."
Zhao Changhe stared for a long time and then spurred his horse away.
His destination was the Western Border, truly a long distance. On the road, without Yue Hongling riding side by side amidst this harsh winter, he couldn’t help but feel a solitude and desolation, akin to having his sword covered with snow alone.
At times, he even missed the days when he had to worry about the Blood God Sect and the Listening Snow Tower organizing ambushes against him. Although perilous, it was never dull...
Where had the Listening Snow Tower assassins gone?
The assassins of the Listening Snow Tower were at Yanmen Pass.
"Zhao Changhe? He left early." The Worldly Society men who lingered around the county looked oddly at the White-clothed Swordsmen, "You’re only coming now? The fight finished long ago, what are you here for?"
Ying Shuang: "Do you know where he went?"
"We don’t know that... It’s said he left soon after the fight, Cui Yuanyong couldn’t even find him for a drink."
If Zhao Changhe had heard this, he would know that worrying about assassination wherever one goes in ancient martial arts tales was incredibly unreliable... Assassin’s don’t fear the strength of their target, they just need a traceable pattern of movement. No matter how strong, there’s always a way to ambush you. The most troublesome targets don’t stick to one place, the vast world making them impossible to find. By the time they receive information on their whereabouts, they’re gone again.
In fact, many villains roam free because of this reason; information was scarce in ancient times.
At this time, not only Ying Shuang longed to kill Zhao Changhe, Wang Daozhong, tasked by the Family Head to handle the assassination of Zhao Changhe, was also infuriated. Previously hearing he was at the Capital, they arrived late. By the time they learned his renown reached the Northern Border, planning to stir issues through the Wang Family in Yanmen, he was gone again.
Ying Shuang felt the same.
Unable to glean any information from passersby, he helplessly headed towards a gambling den in Yanmen County.
They often exchanged intelligence with Ying Wu’s men here; everything used to run smoothly previously, but this time the credibility crumbled... The master of the house had already gone to negotiate with Ying Wu, having heard that Sha Qi had been demoted. However, hearing Sha Qi was a young lord from Ying Wu’s old brotherhood, Ying Wu would likely protect him; a mere demotion was insubstantial, merely a position change and he’ll rise again.
Reflecting on it, this could be why the young lord acted so recklessly. A normal person in charge wouldn’t behave so irrationally; better to ask at this gambling den.
Upon entering the gambling den, Ying Shuang was about to ask for the person in charge when his eyes widened.
Sha Qi, with a flushed face, sat at the banker’s seat rolling dice, "Final bets, final bets!"
Seeing one’s adversary truly makes one’s blood boil. Ying Shuang, who wandered Jiangnan for three months, stormed over furiously, grabbed Sha Qi by the collar, "Sha Qi! You dare to be here!"
Yet, Sha Qi was even angrier, "I was comfortably in Sword Lake City, transferred to this godforsaken place because of you? You still have the nerve to scold me?"
Ying Shuang almost laughed out of anger, "I tricked you?"
"Of course!" Sha Qi proclaimed righteously, "He was already headed south when he left. I just provided the direction but didn’t send anyone to follow him! Haven’t you from Listening Snow Tower also ambushed him before? Don’t you know he would take detours? Mate! You are his adversary; you should be familiar with his habits, not me! In the end, his misleading tactics led me astray, resulting in Ying Wu punishing me, don’t you think I’m wronged?"
Ying Shuang knew this guy was talking nonsense. If Zhao Changhe had really headed south, there would always be clues along the way, it wouldn’t end up with absolutely no information. If he had gone north, they would’ve undoubtedly heard about Zhao Changhe’s exploits in the Capital. How could they completely lose track of him?
But with Ying Wu’s protection and their desire not to confront Ying Wu directly, Listening Snow Tower could only respond coldly, "What about this time? Which way did he go?"
Sha Qi was surprised, "You tricked me, and you still want me to inform you?"
Yes, yes, I tricked you. Ying Shuang’s face remained expressionless, "Was my gold given for nothing?"
"Oh, that’s true too," Sha Qi sighed, "For the sake of the gold, I won’t bicker with you. This time, Zhao Changhe went to Beimang, absolutely no mistake. You better not complain about being misled if you can’t find him there."
Ying Shuang turned coldly, "If there are more mistakes, our families will sever ties for good!"
"Wait a moment." Sha Qi called him back and handed over a dagger, "There’s been a misunderstanding this time, let’s not dwell on it. Take this gift and let’s be friends."
Ying Shuang could not keep up with this leap in logic, and somewhat speechless, he took the dagger, noticed its fine material, and the faint hint of cold light. He couldn’t help but feel a slight fondness, "What is this dagger called?"
Sha Qi told him very seriously, "Sha Dagger."
Ying Shuang was not in the mood to savor the details here and hurried off to Beimang.
Once he arrived, he indeed found traces of human habitation. In the Village Chief’s house, he could even see old clothes discarded by Zhao Changhe. This time, he was really not mistaken.
Unfortunately, the village was deserted, let alone Zhao Changhe; there wasn’t even a minion left behind. Trying to capture someone to interrogate was impossible as he didn’t know where they had all gone. The village was left with only the howling wind and snow, silent as death.
Ying Shuang hesitated, stepping through the thick snow, looking everywhere, trying to find a clue. Suddenly, his foot slipped, there was a "crack," and he fell into a pit.
Luckily, as a Human List assassin, he had his ways. Before he hit the bottom, he changed his balance in mid-air and leaped up, narrowly avoiding a urine trap that had almost frozen into ice.
"Who the hell digs pits next to a martial arts arena? Zhao Changhe, are you out of your mind?" the assassin bellowed to the skies, "Don’t let me find out where you are!"
At this time, Zhao Changhe was already nearly at the Western Border...
In Hua Xia mythology, Kunlun is not the same as the Kunlun Mountain in the present world.
But in this world, there isn’t much difference; it’s broadly the Kunlun Mountain Range that spans to the west of the continent.
To go to Kunlun Mountain does not mean this vast, unending mountain range; who knows how long it would take to search... Generally, when people in this world refer to Kunlun, they specifically mean Yuxu Peak and the surrounding mountains.
There is a city at the foot of the mountain.
However, as San Niang said, it is a city of chaos.
Zhao Changhe led his horse inside, observing the local customs, thinking that he had experienced many cities of chaos. Sword Lake City was chaotic, after all, there was no official managing it; Yellow Sand Market too was chaotic, given it’s a barbaric place beyond the border.
However, the cultivation levels in Sword Lake City are low, making it relatively easy to achieve balance; Yellow Sand Market, on the other hand, had Wu Balu keeping order, and a market must have regulations, otherwise, there is no basis for trade. Thus, the chaos in both places is limited; essentially, they operate within certain rules, just more barbaric and violent.
But outside Kunlun, reputed to be filled with almost entirely wicked people, any random vendor might be a murderer from Central Earth hiding under a false name, making one wonder what kind of rules govern this place...
Zhao Changhe did not believe there could exist a place of complete chaos, especially when the Heavenly List exerted control above. The so-called chaos must have its own unique order behind the scenes.
As he was observing, a sly-faced man came running toward him, smiling from afar, "Foreigner, need a guide? This city is large, you won’t find your way without help."
Zhao Changhe asked, "How much for your guidance?"
"It depends on how long the guest needs my services," the man said, coming close with a grin, leaning in as if they were old friends, "There’s all sorts of fun to be had here..."
Zhao Changhe’s smile was ambiguous.
From the ’Moon Reflected in Water’ perspective, it was clear to see that as the man leaned in to whisper, his hand stealthily drew a dagger, silently aiming for Zhao Changhe’s ribs.
Indeed, it was a city of chaos, unlike any place he had previously encountered, where an attempt on your life was made without even knowing why, as soon as you arrived. The rightful source is NovelHub(.)net
Zhao Changhe suddenly reached out, grabbed the man’s wrist, and twisted it back.
A pig-like scream echoed down the long street, "Assault! This foreigner is assaulting us!"
Suddenly, a large crowd surged around Zhao Changhe, looking menacing, "Who is this outsider! Release him now!"
Zhao Changhe, with a smile, twisted the man’s arm further, then exerted force.
With a "snap," the arm was completely broken, hanging loosely at the shoulder.
The screaming intensified, almost tearing the vocal cords.
The crowd surrounding Zhao Changhe changed their expressions; this outsider was incredibly strong and harsh!
A burly man asked sternly, "Who are you? Dare you reveal your name?"
Zhao Changhe leisurely looked around, his expression unchanging, and spoke lightly, "Wang Daozhong from Langya, paying respects to Kunlun."
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