Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 110: Tang Buqi

Zhao Changhe rode his horse back to Yangzhou City in a daze.

His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of transforming his meridians. This matter was incredibly important to him, and it left his thoughts in disarray, causing him to daydream throughout his journey. It was not until he returned to the city that the hustle and bustle of the city reached his ears, and he snapped out of his reverie. He chided himself silently, recognizing that he needed to remain more composed.

He reflected on how easy it was for people to be drawn into cults when they promised to fulfill their deepest desires.

In fact, upon further thought, even figures as influential as Cui Wenjing believed that such a feat was as unattainable as heavenly treasures. Furthermore, even Tang Wanzhuang, who controlled the empire’s martial resources, avoided discussing the matter. With that being the case, how could resolving the issue with his meridians be something that a mere cult or sect of the jianghu easily solve? Even if it was possible, the price would have to be unbearable.

It was possible that they possessed some sort of unparalleled treasure, but they had to be absolute idiots to let him use such a valuable resource. Also, the possibility of that being the case was extremely low. It was much more likely that it was pure deception.

And if he took the initiative to ask for it, that would be offering them his weak spot on a silver platter. He would be slowly prying off his defenses, sliding step by step towards the abyss, unable to struggle anymore.

Zhao Changhe had overheard Wan Dongliu and the guard talking the previous night, and they had mentioned something about secret control techniques. With that in mind, it was almost certain that when the abbot mentioned that they would send someone to teach him about the scriptures, he meant that they would send a celestial maiden and provide him with certain stimulants. In that state, it would be much easier to control him.

This kind of secret technique that would make oneself stronger by making use of one’s dual cultivation typically had soul-controlling effects or a way to make the target become extremely infatuated and unable to break free. This was most likely what they were trying to do.

Zhao Changhe chuckled self-deprecatingly, realizing that he still held some value to them.

While he was in thought, a shout suddenly came above and to his right, “Oi, you there riding the horse on the bridge, are you the Bloodthirsty Asura Zhao Changhe?”

Zhao Changhe turned his head and saw a restaurant that had no walls, doors, or windows. It was an open pavilion for guests to drink and enjoy the scenery. A young man stepped on the railings and gazed down at him disdainfully.

Wan Dongliu hurriedly ran up behind the young man and pulled him aside anxiously, “Brother Tang, brother Tang, an even temper brings wealth...”

It looked like Wan Dongliu had invited this young man for a meal, but upon seeing Zhao Changhe passing by on the bridge below, the latter had inexplicably decided to provoke him.

Zhao Changhe said calmly, “Yes, I’m Zhao Changhe, but not the bloodthirsty asura you mentioned. And you are?”

The young man said proudly, “I am Tang Buqi of Gusu.”

“Ah, I know you.” Zhao Changhe waved his hand. “Twenty-four years old, number 102 on the Ranking of Hidden Dragons. You would do well to learn more from your older sister. You should avoid going out to drink wine.”

“Older sister?” The young man choked for a moment. “First Seat Tang is my paternal aunt.”

“Cough, cough, cough...” Zhao Changhe almost choked on his own saliva. He suddenly thought of Cui Yuanyang. He secretly wondered why she did not have a higher-generation title. It would be amusing if a bunch of old men called her “aunt.” Well, maybe she did have such titles and it was just that he had not heard them.

His mind briefly wandered off, but then he snapped back and playfully said, “Be a good nephew and go back to drink your milk. Yangzhou is a place for adults to have fun, kids should stay at home.”

Tang Buqi became furious. “You insolent scoundrel! How dare you spout such nonsense?! Behold my sword!”

A stream of spring water descended from the sky, heading straight at Zhao Changhe.

The railing above was crowded with spectators, and pedestrians on the street stopped to watch.

This was a rare clash between heroes on the Ranking of Hidden Dragons! It was an opportunity not to be missed!

“Brother Wan,” someone in the restaurant said. “Why does Mister Tang’s sword look so slow? Even I feel like I could easily dodge it.”

Wan Dongliu smiled and sipped his wine, not bothering to reply.

In fact, there really was no need to answer because that person’s words were cut short. Zhao Changhe suddenly unsheathed Dragon Bird on his back and struck Tang Buqi’s sword. Although their weapons were visibly still several cun[1] apart, the crisp sound of metal colliding against metal rang loud and clear.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear that the sword and saber had actually made contact. It was as if Tang Buqi had instantly changed the path of his sword, which would have normally missed Zhao Changhe, and shifted the edge straight toward his throat.

Those in the restaurant erupted in a buzz of excitement.

This showdown between two people who were merely at the fourth layer of the Profound Gate surprisingly had very few spectators that could follow the action!

Tang Buqi was struggling in mid-air, so he was forced to retreat and landed gracefully back on the restaurant’s railing. He glared down at Zhao Changhe with a newfound seriousness. The disdain in his gaze had completely disappeared, replaced by intense focus.

This guy actually managed to see through the intricacies of the Spring Water Sword Art at a glance... no, wait a second. His saber move just now...did it contain a hint of the Tang Clan’s style? Am I seeing things?

The person who had asked Wan Dongliu about Tan Buqi’s seemingly slow sword move had fallen silent. He was fully aware that if he had been the one to face that strike, his throat would have been left with a bloody hole. He looked at Tang Buqi with a mixture of awe and respect, then softly asked Wan Dongliu, “Brother Wan, can you enlighten me about the clash between that sword and saber?”

Wan Dongliu smiled and replied, “The Spring Water Sword Art is elusive and incredibly difficult to read. If you can discern the sword’s path, then you are already at the level of those on the Ranking of Hidden Dragons. Moreover, brother Tang has his own unique style of swordplay, and he already has the aura of a master. Even if it was me facing him, I would find myself in a bit of trouble.”

When Tang Buqi heard this, he turned around and nodded slightly, acknowledging the compliment.

After all, he had just been forced to retreat by Zhao Changhe’s saber, and everyone present knew that he had lost the earlier exchange. However, Wan Dongliu’s comment helped salvage his pride.

Wan Dongliu continued, “Brother Zhao’s saber cut straight through the illusions, going straight for the essence. This kind of combat instinct is honed through bloodshed and battles in the jianghu, and it isn’t something that ordinary people can comprehend. What is particularly remarkable about brother Zhao is that he seems to have glimpsed the path of combining hardness and softness. In my opinion, his current ranking of 88th on the Ranking of Hidden Dragons is too low. He will most likely move higher up on the rankings in the future.”

Zhao Changhe raised his head to look at him and smiled to show his appreciation.

He was well aware that this was just a bit of posturing. He did not really want to hurt Tang Wanzhuang’s little nephew. It was thanks to Wan Dongliu’s explanation that he did not need to display an even stronger saber move or posture further.

Although the last part of what Wan Dongliu said seemed to serve as a reminder to others that Zhao Changhe was not as malicious now as compared to before, it was difficult to really tell.

Zhao Changhe rode away with a smile on his face. “Little nephew, that move was not bad, but you still have a lot of work to do.”

Tang Buqi shouted angrily, “If I hear you disrespecting my elders again, I won’t rest until one of us dies!”

So this all happened because of what I said to his aunt in the past. This kid just wanted to challenge me to defend the honor of his elders.... Man, your aunt doesn’t even care about what I said, so what are you getting all worked up for? But your reasoning is still pretty valid, I guess.

Zhao Changhe waved his hand indifferently. He leisurely rode his horse across the bridge, disappearing into the streets in the blink of an eye.

Not long after his encounter with Tang Buqi, a middle-aged man stopped him at the end of the street. “A former wanted criminal, riding a horse through the busy streets, and engaging in armed combat... Sir, please come with me to the Demon Suppression Bureau.”

“...”

Did that damn Tang Buqi seriously run to the Demon Suppression Bureau and get them to bring me in right because he couldn’t pester me any further? Am I in some weird TV drama?

Zhao Changhe could not help but feel exasperated.

He had initially planned on looking for the Demon Suppression Bureau to get a better idea of what the situation in the area was. However, openly asking about where the Demon Suppression Bureau was located would look too suspicious. But now, with the bureau having come to look for him first, things had become much easier.

Of course, he still had to be careful as he did not know if he could actually rely on the Demon Suppression Bureau in this area.

“My arrest warrant has long since been revoked, and I am now no different from an ordinary person. If I am to be arrested for engaging in combat with my saber, then what about Tang Buqi, who started the fight? Does the Demon Suppression Bureau belong to the imperial court or the Tang Clan?”

The middle-aged man became a little embarrassed. He looked left and right at the passers-by who were watching in the distance and said, “The cancellation of your arrest warrant was to give face to the Cui Clan. It does not mean that you have been acquitted. Besides, you are a bandit, why did you enter the city? It is our bureau’s duty to seek clarity on such matters.”

Zhao Changhe retorted, “I came to this city for two reasons: to enjoy the scenery of Yangzhou and to meet the people of the Jiangnan region. Now that I’ve seen both, I can say that while the scenery is quite enjoyable, the people are rather ordinary.”

The middle-aged man sighed helplessly, then sent a secret message. “The Maitreya Cult makes use of spiritual illusion arts that can make you be more trusting of others. Be cautious and do not trust others too easily.”

Zhao Changhe was taken aback by the message for a moment, but he maintained his disgruntled appearance as he rode away without acknowledging the warning.

It appeared that this person was a trusted associate of Tang Wanzhuang, possibly aware of his identity as a “secret agent.” He had sought to communicate with Zhao Changhe but had difficulty finding the opportunity to do so, and it was only by complying with Tang Buqi’s extravagant request that he was able to meet with him.

As he continued to make his way through the city, Zhao Changhe could not help but reflect on how everyone, regardless of their affiliation to righteousness or evil, seemed to be merely playing roles in a grand theatrical performance.

Dark clouds gathered overhead, casting a shadow that left everyone in the city feeling suffocated.

Meanwhile, Yue Hongling followed Zhao Changhe all the way into the city. When Zhao Changhe clashed with Tang Buqi, she did not want to be discovered by Wan Dongliu and the others, so she pondered for a moment before finally deciding to head to Xiaoxiang Pavilion first.

After a brief investigation, she quickly discovered several women, who clearly practiced the cultivation techniques of the Maitreya Cult, playfully changing their attire.

Among them, one tall and particularly pretty woman stood out. She exuded a heroic spirit. Several old brothel madams smiled and draped her in a red warrior’s costume, tied her hair into a ponytail, and adjusted her clothes. “Look at this, isn’t our flower-picking celestial maiden a perfect replica of Yue Hongling?”

Yue Hongling could not help but admit that this so-called flower-picking celestial maiden did resemble her quite a bit.

The maiden said, “It’s mainly the heroic spirit that is difficult to imitate. We are not exactly the same in that regard... If I really get close to him, it will be difficult to keep him believing in the facade.”

“It doesn’t matter. Right now, his mind is filled with thoughts of refining his meridians. With the woman he has a crush on soothingly teaching him, he will only become more deeply infatuated. Furthermore, he wouldn’t know what Yue Hongling looks like in bed.”

Yue Hongling: “...”

This is unbearable. Not only are you pretending to be me, but you’re actually planning on making Zhao Changhe think that he’s having fun with the real Yue Hongling!

The celestial maiden sorted it out, looked at her reflection in the mirror, and said with a smile, “I really do resemble her. Even I can hardly tell us apart.”

Everyone chuckled and said, “Besides, how well does he really understand Yue Hongling? Once the secret technique is used, with a bit of guidance, he won’t be able to tell the difference at all. We just got news that he’s currently engaged in a scuffle with Tang Buqi at the bridge. You might as well wait for him in his room. That way, when he opens the door, his heart will surely melt when he sees that the girl he has a crush on is sitting on his bed right in front of him.”

With mischievous smiles, the old madams escorted the flower-picking celestial maiden into Zhao Changhe’s room and then dispersed.

Inside the room, the flower-picking celestial maiden rehearsed several poses, trying to evoke the feeling of Yue Hongling. Suddenly, her vision blurred, and it seemed like another Yue Hongling had appeared in the mirror.

Startled, she turned to look around, but everything suddenly went dark as she lost consciousness.

Zhao Changhe returned to Xiaoxiang Pavilion burdened with all kinds of thoughts. He pushed open the door to his room mindlessly.

Yue Hongling was sitting at the table, pouring herself a drink. When she saw him enter, she smiled slightly and asked, “You’re back?”

Damn, this illusion art is seriously convincing! Zhao Changhe’s heart began beating wildly. She looks just like the real Yue Hongling!

1. 1 cun (寸) is equal to 3.33 cm ☜